bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design optimization of high-precision aerostatic equipment based on orifice restriction
Authors: Lai Tao , Peng Xiaoqiang , Liu Junfeng , Guan Chaoliang , Chen Xiaogang , Tie Guipeng , Guo Meng
Published: January 2019

The aerostatic lubrication model with orifice restriction is built based on finite difference method. The model is solved by combination of flux-error feedback and optimization of grids parameter. The stiffness of aerostatic bearing can be improved by reducing the diameter of the orifice, but the optimum working gas gap is reduced and the processing difficulty of surface throttle is improved. The experiments of load and stiffness are carried out on the slider (50 × 50 mm) with the diameter of orifice at 50 µm. The experimental results and theoretical calculation are in good agreement; thus, the model is verified. The structural parameter of two, three, and four orifice gas-bearings is optimized, respectively, based on the proposed model, and the optimum positions of the orifices are obtained. According to the results, the aerostatic bearing guideways, made up of optical material (K9), are manufactured by some optical ways, and the lubrication of the small gas gap is guaranteed; meanwhile, the straightness accuracy of the aerostatic bearing guideways is 0.1 µm/200 mm. The analysis result verifies that the calculation method and the aerostatic lubrication model are significant to the design of high-precision aerostatic equipment.
Small-sample performance and underlying assumptions of a bootstrap-based inference method for a general analysis of covariance model with possibly heteroskedastic and nonnormal errors
Authors: Zimmermann Georg , Pauly Markus , Bathke Arne C
Published: January 2019

It is well known that the standard F test is severely affected by heteroskedasticity in unbalanced analysis of covariance models. Currently available potential remedies for such a scenario are based on heteroskedasticity-consistent covariance matrix estimation (HCCME). However, the HCCME approach tends to be liberal in small samples. Therefore, in the present paper, we propose a combination of HCCME and a wild bootstrap technique, with the aim of improving the small-sample performance. We precisely state a set of assumptions for the general analysis of covariance model and discuss their practical interpretation in detail, since this issue may have been somewhat neglected in applied research so far. We prove that these assumptions are sufficient to ensure the asymptotic validity of the combined HCCME-wild bootstrap analysis of covariance. The results of our simulation study indicate that our proposed test remedies the problems of the analysis of covariance F test and its heteroskedasticity-consistent alternatives in small to moderate sample size scenarios. Our test only requires very mild conditions, thus being applicable in a broad range of real-life settings, as illustrated by the detailed discussion of a dataset from preclinical research on spinal cord injury. Our proposed method is ready-to-use and allows for valid hypothesis testing in frequently encountered settings (e.g., comparing group means while adjusting for baseline measurements in a randomized controlled clinical trial).
A Bayesian method to estimate the optimal threshold of a marker used to select patients' treatment
Authors: Blangero Yoann , Rabilloud Muriel , Ecochard René , Subtil Fabien
Published: January 2019

The use of a quantitative treatment selection marker to choose between two treatment options requires the estimate of an optimal threshold above which one of these two treatments is preferred. Herein, the optimal threshold expression is based on the definition of a utility function which aims to quantify the expected utility of the population (e.g. life expectancy, quality of life) by taking into account both efficacy (success or failure) and toxicity of each treatment option. Therefore, the optimal threshold is the marker value that maximizes the expected utility of the population. A method modelling the marker distribution in patient subgroups defined by the received treatment and the outcome is proposed to calculate the parameters of the utility function so as to estimate the optimal threshold and its 95% credible interval using the Bayesian inference. The simulation study found that the method had low bias and coverage probability close to 95% in multiple settings, but also the need of large sample size to estimate the optimal threshold in some settings. The method is then applied to the PETACC-8 trial that compares the efficacy of chemotherapy with a combined chemotherapy + anti-epidermal growth factor receptor in stage III colorectal cancer.
Long-Term Memory of Past Events in Great Apes
Authors: Lewis Amy , Berntsen Dorthe , Call Josep
Published: January 2019

It has been claimed that the ability to recall personal past events is uniquely human. We review recent evidence that great apes can remember specific events for long periods of time, spanning months and even years, and that such memories can be enhanced by distinctiveness (irrespective of reinforcement) and follow a forgetting curve similar to that in humans. Moreover, recall is enhanced when apes are presented with features that are diagnostic of the event, consistent with notions of encoding specificity and cue overload in human memory. These findings are also consistent with the involuntary retrieval of past events in humans, a mode of remembering that is thought to be less cognitively demanding than voluntary retrieval. Taken together, these findings reveal further similarities between the way humans and animals remember past events and open new avenues of research on long-term memory in nonhuman animals.
Chitosan-based hydrogels prepared by UV polymerization for wound dressing
Authors: Yao Han-Yun , Lin Hong-Ru , Sue Geng-Pin , Lin Yiu-Jiuan
Published: January 2019

Chitosan-based hydrogels were prepared by grafting with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) through ultraviolet polymerization to further improve its hydrophilic nature and enhance its mechanical properties. The epidermal growth factor (EGF) was incorporated inside the hydrogels to stimulate the wound healing. The physical characterization of chitosan-PAA-pHEMA hydrogel indicates that it is highly hydrophilic with adequate properties for wound dressing purpose. The biological characterization shows that chitosan-based hydrogel retains its thrombogenic and antibacterial properties. The in vivo wound healing experiment demonstrates that the hydrogel-incorporated EGF has better wound healing rate than other dressings.
Andronikos I Komnenos: Tyrant of Twelfth-century Europe
Authors: Neocleous Savvas
Published: January 2019

Few, if any, rulers in twelfth-century Christendom received as much attention by contemporary chroniclers as the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos I Komnenos (1183–85). Even though Andronikos ruled for less than three years, his rise to power, reign of terror, downfall and gruesome death at the hands of the lynch mob of Constantinople struck contemporaries. In contrast to medieval chroniclers, modern historians have shown little interest in this emperor. While some scholarly attention has been paid to the Greek sources in order to reconstruct the historical facts of Andronikos’s reign, there has been little focus on the Greek historians’ perceptions and representations of their ruler. As to the relatively large number of Latin accounts of Andronikos’s reign, these have been either completely disregarded by historians or dismissed as ‘full of imagined conversations and romantic fictions’ and therefore as being of limited value for the reconstruction of historical events. All these accounts, however, are important, among others, in giving great insight into how a harsh and oppressive rule was viewed in both Byzantium and the Latin world in the late twelfth and early thirteenth century. This article examines accusations of tyranny against Andronikos expressed uniformly across Byzantine, French, German–Austrian and English accounts, and explores their meaning and function. To gain a greater appreciation of their significance, these accusations against the Byzantine emperor are subsequently cast against the backdrop of charges of tyranny levelled against other Christian rulers in twelfth-century Christendom. Therefore, the significance of this article extends beyond Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire to the evolution of many other strands of political philosophy of rulership in medieval European history.1
Getting Dividend from Demography: Skills Policy and Labour Management in Contemporary Indian Industry
Authors: Ruthven Orlanda
Published: January 2019

This article is an analytical reflection based on a personal account of working with one of India’s new-generation vocational training and placement agencies implementing the government’s skills policy after its revamping in 2009. As the author struggles to search for decent jobs on behalf of trained candidates, she provides insights into the state of blue-collar jobs and the troubled relationships between company ‘human resources’ (HR) and industrial relations (IR) managers and their workforce. While the public programmes and policies referred to here are ostensibly about skill, the article reveals them to have quite a different purpose for industry: they offer ways by which employers can not only secure the flow of casual workers but also tie them in, thereby stabilizing their workforce in an era where the ‘permanent worker’ is no longer an acceptable or viable category. Presenting a backdrop of moral ambiguity and dilemma, the article highlights the disconnect between the declared intent of government ‘skills’ policy and the way in which it is actually realized, from the viewpoint of employer, student and vocational training provider.
Education Milestones for Newly Diagnosed Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancer Patients: A Quality Improvement Initiative
Authors: Dobrozsi Sarah , Tomlinson Kathryn , Chan Sherilynn , Belongia Meghan , Herda Carolyn , Maloney Kathleen , Long Catherine , Vertz Lori , Bingen Kristin
Published: January 2019

The diagnosis of cancer in a child, adolescent, or young adult is an emotionally overwhelming time. To improve the quality of education and support provided to patients and caregivers with a new cancer diagnosis, we executed a quality improvement initiative to (a) define key education milestones for the delivery of essential education during the first 2 months following diagnosis and (b) to define role accountability within the multidisciplinary team for delivery of content and execution of tasks. To develop education milestones, we (a) identified educational content from review of the literature, (b) determined the sequence of content delivery through qualitative interviews with patients and caregivers, and (c) developed education milestones by evaluation of existing workflows. To develop task lists, we (a) determined which multidisciplinary team member was best suited to deliver specific content and (b) defined discrete tasks required to execute education milestones. Key content topics and preferred sequence are as follows: Emotional Adjustment to Diagnosis, When and How to Call the Doctor, Medication Management, Practical Needs, Line Care, and Access to Nontherapeutic Clinical Trials. Eight education milestones were defined across the initial 2 months following cancer diagnosis. The education milestones are paired with task lists. The education milestones and task lists guide the execution of complex education across a multidisciplinary service line in an emotionally challenging time. Early information focuses on essential content, role responsibility is clearly defined, and psychosocial support services are purposefully and iteratively integrated into care during the initial weeks following a cancer diagnosis.
Learning Through Action: Creating and Implementing a Strategy Game to Foster Innovative Thinking in Higher Education
Authors: Franco Paul F. , DeLuca Deborah A.
Published: January 2019

Background. Interactive hands-on learning is effective for learners of all ages and professional backgrounds. A shift from traditional didactic classroom models to the adoption of an active learning approach through constructivism in the classroom, specifically, in higher education, is shown to encourage critical thinking and problem solving in learners based on learned experiences.

Aim. This article focuses on detailing a game used for healthcare leadership doctoral students that is adaptable and applicable for students in any program focused on teaching strategies in management and leadership and/or in critical thinking.

Method. Based on the Escape Room video games and social activity phenomenon, teams compete to solve content-specific challenges to attain puzzle piece clues which lead to the next challenge or obstacle set forth by the instructors (representing hurdles in management/leadership and/or an academic program). Traditional quiz-type exercises, pictograms, cryptograms and crossword puzzles are coupled with modern technological components (e.g. social media and smartphone apps). The first team to obtain all puzzle pieces is deemed most strategic winner. Depending on allotted class time, gameplay can range from 2 to 4 hours.

Results and Conclusion. This game mimics interdisciplinary team work environments. Participating in interactive collaborative learning environments enhances the overall learning experience, allowing learners to apply knowledge through gameplay, rather than just memorize concepts without context, which is characteristic of traditional didactic learning environments.
The Increasing Importance of Curriculum Design and Its Implications for Management Educators
Authors: Hrivnak George A.
Published: January 2019

In this essay, I explore the topic of curriculum design in business and management education from the perspective of my current role as Associate Dean, Learning and Teaching. Using Biggs’s constructive alignment as an organizing framework, I summarize a number of challenges for management educators and administrators in the design and evaluation of programs and courses and highlight the increasing complexity of the task. I conclude by arguing that, from an associate dean’s perspective, management educators must increasingly adopt the role of designer, rather than teacher, and offer suggestions to help with that transition.
The Electric Possibilities of Teaching and Learning
Authors: Moshavi Dan
Published: January 2019

In order to elevate the effectiveness of teaching and learning, business deans must manage the dynamic interplay among four elements—strategy, budget, curriculum, and delivery. When these elements reinforce and complement each another, a business school can generate powerful energy in the form of new curricular and cocurricular developments, strategic initiatives, and effective delivery modes. Imbalances among these elements, however, can significantly reduce faculty and student energy and cause teaching and learning to stagnate.
Effect of Pressure Injury Prevention Guides Used In a Pediatric Intensive Care
Authors: Uysal Gülzade , Sönmez Düzkaya Duygu , Yakut Tülay , Bozkurt Gülçin
Published: January 2019

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a pressure injury prevention guide used in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) on the occurrence of pressure injuries. The design is a pre-post intervention with a control group and a prospective intervention group. Pressure injuries occurred on 9.4% of children in the nontreatment group, and in 3.6% of children in the treatment group. There was a statistically significant difference in the occurrence of pressure injuries between the nontreatment group and the treatment group ( p = .033). The average Braden Q pressure injury score was 12.20 ± 2.280 at the beginning of the intensive care hospitalization, and 13.73 ± 3.312 at discharge in the treatment group ( p < .001). The results show that the risk of pressure injuries was reduced and pressure injuries occurred later when an evidence-based pressure injury prevention guide was used.
Flaws in Anticoagulation Strategies in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation at Hospital Discharge
Authors: Kartas Anastasios , Samaras Athanasios , Vasdeki Dimitra , Dividis George , Fotos George , Paschou Eleni , Forozidou Evropi , Tsoukra Paraskevi , Kotsi Eleni , Goulas Ioannis , Efthimiadis George , Karvounis Haralambos , Tzikas Apostolos , Giannakoulas George
Published: January 2019

Background:

Proper anticoagulation is a crucial therapeutic regimen in atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objectives:

To evaluate the real-life anticoagulation prescriptions of AF patients upon hospital discharge.

Methods:

We studied 768 patients with comorbid AF who were discharged from the cardiology ward of a tertiary hospital. We assessed the appropriateness of oral anticoagulation (OAC) regimens at discharge based on stroke risk (CHA2DS2-Vasc score), SAMe-TT2R2 (sex, age, medical history, treatment, tobacco, race) score for vitamin K antagonists (VKA), and European labeling for nonvitamin K oral anticoagulant (NOAC) dosing. Logistic regression identified factors associated with suboptimal OAC use.

Results:

Of 734 patients at significant (moderate or high) stroke risk, 107 (14.6%) were not prescribed OAC, which was administered to 23 (67.6%) of 34 patients at low risk. Nonprescribing of OAC to high-risk patients was associated with paroxysmal AF (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 2.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.47-3.99, P < .001), history of major bleeding (adjusted OR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.03-3.47, P = .039), and concomitant antiplatelet use (adjusted OR: 5.78, 95% CI: 3.51-9.51, P < .001). Anticoagulation control was inadequate (SAMe-TT2R2 score > 2) in 102 (50.2%) VKA-treated patients. Off-label dosing was evident in 118 (28.9%) NOAC-treated patients and was associated with a prior stroke/transient ischemic attack (adjusted OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.10-3.85, P = .023). Both outcomes were independently associated with low creatinine clearance.

Conclusions:

One of 6 patients with AF newly discharged from the hospital was treated discordantly for the corresponding risk of stroke. Suboptimal OAC use was evident in half of VKA regimens, twice as common compared to NOACs, and could be predicted by several clinical parameters.
Sexual Violence—“Victim” or “Survivor”: News Images Affect Explicit and Implicit Judgments of Blame
Authors: Schwark Sandra , Bohner Gerd
Published: January 2019

A pilot study ( n = 165) showed that images portraying women who have experienced sexual violence as survivors (e.g., at a self-help group) rather than as victims (e.g., in vulnerable positions) led to more positive ratings of the women depicted. In a subsequent experiment ( n = 236), participants viewed either survivor or victim images, read a rape vignette, and completed explicit and implicit measures of blame. Results showed that male (but not female) participants implicitly blamed the woman more after viewing victim images, but explicitly blamed her more after viewing survivor images. Discussion focuses on theoretical and applied implications.
Women Victims of Intimate Partner Violence in Shelters: Correlates of Length of Stay and Subsequent Reentries
Authors: Fernández-González Liria , Calvete Esther , Borrajo Erika
Published: January 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine which variables are associated with the length of stay at a shelter and the likelihood of reentering the shelter after a first stay in a sample of 777 women victims of intimate partner violence. The results showed that the women’s health, having been previously abused, and having children with them at the shelter were the best set of correlates for length of shelter stay; lack of social support, having been previously abused, and the abusers’ being unemployed increased the risk of repeated use of shelters. The implications for intervention are discussed.
Placental Chorionic Cyst Fluid Has Prothrombotic Properties and Differs From Amniotic Fluid
Authors: Stolla Moritz , Refaai Majed A , Conley Grace , Spinelli Sherry , Casey Ann , Katerji Hani , McRae Hannah L , Blumberg Neil , Phipps Richard , Metlay Leon A , Katzman Philip J
Published: January 2019

Introduction

Chorionic cysts of the chorion laeve, fetal chorionic plate, septum, and free membranes have been associated with placental hypoxia, but they have no clear clinical significance. Although immunohistochemistry has identified fibronectin and collagen IV in cyst fluid, the contents have yet to be fully characterized.

Methods

Placental chorionic cysts (N = 10) were sampled by fluid extraction and hemotoxylin and eosin-stained sections. Amniotic fluid samples (N = 8) were obtained from pregnant women who had cytogenetic evaluation. The content of the cysts was tested for thrombogenicity using thromboelastography. The cyst content was tested by Luminex multiplex and ELISA assays and for known prothrombotic and proinflammatory factors.

Results

We identified cysts, especially those in the chorionic plate, adjacent to intervillous thrombi with apparent cyst rupture. Thromboelastography revealed a significantly shorter R time compared to whole blood control samples. Concentration of creatinine, α-fetoprotein, and surfactant D in the cyst fluid differed significantly from amniotic fluid. Cyst fluids had a significantly higher expression of all prothrombotic and some proinflammatory factors.

Discussion

Our data provide the first evidence that chorionic cyst fluid is prothrombotic and different from amniotic fluid. The association of ruptured cysts with adjacent thrombi and the prothrombotic properties of cyst fluid suggest a causal relationship; however, further studies are needed.
Evaluation culture and good governance: Is there a link?
Authors: Dahler-Larsen Peter , Boodhoo Adiilah
Published: January 2019

An important motivation for the institutionalization of evaluation culture in countries around the world is the belief that accountability and transparency will thereby be enhanced. We subject this narrative about evaluation’s contribution to good governance to empirical analysis. We also argue that the meaning and relevance of this general narrative differs across national contexts. We build on data from a systematic assessment of evaluation culture in 19 countries (Jacob et al., 2015), add one country using the same systematic approach, and combine these findings with an indicator of transparency in government provided by Transparency International. We find a positive correlation between evaluation culture and transparency, and discuss threats to a causal interpretation hereof. We go into depth with two particular countries at either end of the transparency scale. We argue that the meaning of the link between evaluation culture and transparency differs whether the chosen perspective is generally comparative or situated in particular national, historical, and political contexts. In countries where transparency is high already, there might be diminishing marginal returns on evaluation, at least regarding its contribution to accountability and transparency.
Intersectional internalized stigma among Black gay and bisexual men: A longitudinal analysis spanning HIV/sexually transmitted infection diagnosis
Authors: Earnshaw Valerie A , Reed Natalie M , Watson Ryan J , Maksut Jessica L , Allen Aerielle M , Eaton Lisa A
Published: January 2019

Internalized stigma undermines health among people diagnosed with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI), yet limited research has examined how internalized stigma develops. Black gay and bisexual men ( n = 151) reported their race and sexual orientation internalized stigma once before HIV/STI diagnosis and their HIV/STI internalized stigma monthly for 1 year after HIV/STI diagnosis. Multilevel analyses demonstrated that race and sexual orientation internalized stigma before diagnosis were associated with greater HIV/STI internalized stigma after diagnosis. More research is needed to understand how internalized stigma develops, including within the context of other identities and broader environmental characteristics to inform intervention efforts.
Childhood heart problems, adulthood emotional stability, and sex associated with self-report heart conditions in adulthood
Authors: Cheng Helen , Montgomery Scott , Green Andy , Furnham Adrian
Published: January 2019

The present study investigated biomedical, social, and psychological factors associated with self-reported heart conditions in adulthood in a British cohort. In total, 5697 (50.7% males) participants with data on parental socioeconomic status, childhood cognitive ability, childhood heart problems, educational qualifications, current occupational levels, adulthood personality traits, and the prevalence of self-reported heart conditions in adulthood were included in the study. The prevalence of self-reported heart conditions measured at age 54 years was the outcome variable. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis showed that childhood heart problems identified by physicians (OR = 3.47:1.74–6.92, p < 0.001) and trait emotional stability (OR = 0.83:0.75–0.93, p < 0.001) were the significant and independent predictors of self-reported heart conditions in adulthood. There were also significant sex effects on the prevalence of the outcome variable (OR = 0.53:0.42–0.63, p < 0.001). Both a biomedical and a psychological factor were significantly associated with self-reported heart conditions in adulthood.
Emotion regulation and alcohol abuse in second-generation immigrant adolescents: The protective role of cognitive reappraisal
Authors: Laghi Fiorenzo , Bianchi Dora , Lonigro Antonia , Pompili Sara , Baiocco Roberto
Published: January 2019

The individual predictors of drinking behaviors among second-generation immigrant adolescents are still understudied. This study investigated emotion regulation strategies and alcohol abuse in 472 adolescents (86 second-generation immigrants and 386 Italian natives; age range: 17–18). The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test were used to assess cognitive reappraisal, emotional suppression, and alcohol abuse, respectively. Immigrants reported lower alcohol abuse than natives. A negative relationship between cognitive reappraisal and alcohol abuse was found for immigrants, but not for natives. Specifically, cognitive reappraisal was a protective factor against alcohol abuse only for immigrant adolescents. Clinical and research implications are discussed.
On the limitations of a unitary model of the proof process
Authors: Spottswood Emily
Published: January 2019

In defense of their “explanatory” theory of the proof process, Professors Ronald Allen and Michael Pardo maintain that a successful theory of this kind should correspond to the way that jurors actually reason, to the structure of American trials, and to typical jury instructions. They also demand that such a theory should be normatively defensible. This response suggests that using a single theory to cover such disparate ground obscures more than it clarifies, given the important gaps between psychological, doctrinal, and normative aspects of the fact-finding process.
Reassessing balance: News coverage of Donald Trump’s Access Hollywood scandal before and during #metoo
Authors: Blumell Lindsey E. , Huemmer Jennifer
Published: January 2019

Sexual abuse became an important part of news coverage in the months leading up to Donald Trump’s presidency and continued to dominate news cycles with the emergence of the #metoo movement. Yet, it remains to be seen whether the increasing amount of stories about sexual abuse have actually advanced social justice. We conducted content and textual analyses of newspaper, cable television, and online coverage of the Access Hollywood scandal before and during the #metoo movement ( N = 1890) to understand how the journalistic objectivity norm of balance via issue dualism influenced reporting on sexual abuse. Television and right-leaning media had the highest levels of rape myth acceptance in their coverage for both time periods. The use of issue dualism advantaged Trump as Bill Clinton and other prominent accused men shifted focus away from Trump and largely overlooked the women coming forward against Trump. The objectivity norm of balance reduced and politicized this complex issue, as well as gave power to Trump’s retaliation while minimizing the serious accusations that have been brought against him.
Cascade active disturbance rejection control–based double closed-loop speed tracking control for automotive engine
Authors: Feng Meiyu , Jiao Xiaohong , Wang Zhong
Published: January 2019

To improve tracking performance of engine speed in the face of nonlinearity and time-varying uncertainty, this article investigates the double closed-loop cascade active disturbance rejection control strategy for automotive engine control system. In this cascade control arrangement, the outer active disturbance rejection speed controller with the extended state observer for the speed error and its integral, and disturbance from load torque and time-varying uncertainty, drives the set-point of the inner loop to keep the engine speed to its set-point; meanwhile, the inner active disturbance rejection pressure controller with the extended state observer for the pressure error and its integral, and disturbance from the air mass flow rate leaving the intake manifold and the pumping fluctuation of air charge, manages the throttle valve to match the pressure with the set-point requested by the outer active disturbance rejection speed controller. The observer gains and controller gains of active disturbance rejection speed controller and active disturbance rejection pressure controller are determined by the linear matrix inequalities ensuring the stability and disturbance attenuation level of the closed-loop system. The effectiveness is validated by implementing the proposed strategy and a series of related control schemes in the simulator of a real V6 engine.
Market basket applications on short web links
Authors: Gallagher James , Smith Christopher M
Published: January 2019

Market research is an indispensable part of an organization’s ability to understand market dynamics. Over the past 20 years, data collection and analysis through Knowledge Discovery through Databases (KDD) has arisen to supplement the traditional methods of surveys and focus groups. Market Basket Analysis is a discipline of KDD that identifies associations between commonly purchased items. As social media use has grown, link shortening companies help users share links in a constrained space environment and, in exchange, collect data about each user when a link is clicked. This research applies market basket analysis techniques with graph mining to shortened web link data to identify communities of co-visited websites to help analysts better understand web traffic for a geographic area during a time range. Patterns within clusters of web domains regarding hardware platforms, operating systems, or referral sources are then identified and used to gain a better understanding of a geographic area.
Numerical simulation of the slamming phenomenon of a wave-piercing trimaran in the presence of irregular waves under various seagoing modes
Authors: Ghadimi Parviz , Nazemian Amin , Sheikholeslami Mohammad
Published: January 2019

Trimaran vessels have been of great interest to naval architects, due to their large deck space, low resistance at high speeds and stability. Meanwhile, determination of their slamming forces in the presence of highly nonlinear waves has always been a challenge for the structural designers. However, because of novelty and complexity of their hulls, there is insufficient information in this regard, which necessitates suitable effort in filling this gap. Accordingly, in this article, using Flow-3D, a commercial computational fluid dynamics code, seakeeping of a wave-piercing trimaran is simulated in the presence of irregular waves via standard Bretschneider spectrum in sea state 5 in various seagoing modes. These modes include two speeds and two waves with encountering angles of head sea and bow quartering sea. For validation purposes, seakeeping of a trimaran vessel and water entry of a wedge-shaped section are investigated and numerical results are compared against experimental and analytical data. Good compliance of the results confirms the accuracy of the proposed numerical model. In the slamming analysis of the considered trimaran, using the relative vertical velocity of the bow section from the seakeeping analysis, the water entry problem is investigated for the most severe slamming mode. Pressure distribution caused by water entry and instantaneous impact pressure, known as structural design pressure, is computed. The exerted slamming pressure on the bottom and bow flare region is determined to be 4300 and 2100 Pa, respectively. Results indicate that during slamming phenomenon, the maximum pressure exerted on the vessel’s floor occurs at the time of impact at which the pressure coefficient is 4.4. Accurate assessment of the vessel’s vertical velocity from the start of water entry until the water surface rise-up, and the utilized technique considered for slamming phenomenon in more realistic sea condition, can be considered as important features of this study.
The Role of Trauma and Mental Health in the Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Systematic Review of the Intervention Literature
Authors: Panisch Lisa S. , Tam Lauren M.
Published: January 2019

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a widespread health issue with unclear etiology that has been linked to a history of trauma among women. This condition is known to be highly comorbid with, and potentially exacerbated by psychiatric conditions, as well as other gynecological concerns and functional pain syndromes. Many comorbid conditions are also related to a history of trauma, and cases of CPP with comorbidity are known to be resistant to treatment. While the prevalence of a traumatic history among females with CPP has been established, less is known about how the role of trauma is addressed in the intervention literature. The purpose of this systematic review was to explore how the role of trauma, and to a lesser extent, mental health, is addressed in modern intervention studies for females with CPP. All qualitative and quantitative studies providing primary or secondary results of an intervention for females with CPP published between January 1998 and May 2018 were included and coded independently by two reviewers. Twenty-eight articles met inclusion criteria. Of these, none focused exclusively on patients with a history of trauma; one study implicitly focused on trauma-specific symptoms as an outcome, while two studies screened patients for a history of trauma. Of the 10 studies with a focus on mental health, only three simultaneously addressed trauma. To address this gap in the literature, future studies can prioritize intervention designs that place emphasis on the role of trauma in regard to patient characteristics and outcome variables.
Status of retraction notices for biomedical publications associated with research misconduct
Authors: Drimer-Batca Daniel , Iaccarino Jonathan M , Fine Alan
Published: January 2019

In order to assess the status of retraction notices for publications involving research misconduct, we collected and analyzed information from the Office of Research Integrity website. This site lists confirmed instances of misconduct in research supported by the National Institutes of Health. Over a 10-year period, 200 publications derived from misconduct were identified. For 20.5% of those papers, no retraction notice was published. We found that the majority of these cases were from investigations concluded at least two years before our analysis, and thus are unlikely to be explainable by timing considerations. These findings demonstrate that retraction notices for papers associated with misconduct are often not published and suggest that clear, adherent policies are needed in this circumstance to correct the scientific record.
Effects of network heterogeneity on social media on opinion polarization among South Koreans: Focusing on fear and political orientation
Authors: Lee Jiyoung , Choi Yunjung
Published: January 2019

Recent studies have shown mixed findings regarding the relationship between network heterogeneity on social media and opinion polarization. Focusing on individual-level variables (i.e., individuals' political orientation, fear of a risky situation, and fear of an out-group), the objective of this study was to investigate opinion polarization over North Korean issues that have brought out threats to South Koreans and tangled with political orientations in the nation. Our analysis indicated that network heterogeneity on social media could decrease polarization. Moderation effects of political orientation and fear of political opponents in the relationship between network heterogeneity and polarization were also found. Findings of this study extend previous discussions regarding the relationship between network heterogeneity and polarization in the context of social media by concentrating on North Korea's threatening situation.
Management of von Willebrand disease in patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty
Authors: Yaghmour Khaled M. , Peng Yuhan , Chisari Emanuele , Khan Wasim , McDonnell Stephen M.
Published: January 2019

Von Willebrand disease is the commonest bleeding disorder encountered in the medical and surgical field. As a result of the repetitive bleeding into the joints many patients suffer from arthropathy that can cause a significant amount of pain and functional limitation. Total joint arthroplasty is being utilised as the last resort in managing these patients; however, the presence of von Willebrand disease raises a number of dilemmas. In this review, we look at the effects of von Willebrand disease on joints and the perioperative management of von Willebrand disease patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty.
Factors associated with more frequent diagnostic tests and procedures in patients with irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Lacy Brian , Ayyagari Rajeev , Guerin Annie , Lopez Andrea , Shi Sherry , Luo Michelle
Published: January 2019

Background:

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) reduces quality of life and burdens healthcare systems. This study identified factors associated with frequent use of IBS diagnostic tests and procedures.

Methods:

Using a United States claims database (2001–2012), tests and procedures in IBS patients occurring in the 2-year study period (12 months before/following the first IBS diagnosis) were analyzed: endoscopy, GI transit testing, anorectal procedures, and radiologic imaging. Patients were classified based on test/procedure frequency (3+, 1–2, or 0). Multivariate logistic regression identified factors associated with more frequent tests/procedures.

Results:

Among 201,322 IBS patients, 41.7% had 3+ tests/procedures, 35.1% had 1–2, and 23.3% had 0. Patients with more tests/procedures were older [mean age 50.6 (3+ group), more likely to be female and had more comorbidities, including anxiety, depressive disorders, and somatization. Dyspepsia [odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.80 (1.72–1.87)], interstitial cystitis [1.60 (1.45–1.77)], gastroesophageal reflux disease [1.59 (1.55–1.63)], constipation [1.50 (1.45–1.54)], and dyspareunia [1.38 (1.25–1.52)] were significantly associated with more tests/procedures (3+ versus 1–2), while anxiety, depressive disorders, and somatization were not. Patients with more frequent specialist visits [emergency department (ED; 1.10 (1.09–1.11)) and gastroenterologists (1.26 (1.26–1.27))] or at least one GI-related ED visit or inpatient admission [1.95 (1.86–2.04) and 3.67 (3.48–3.87), respectively] were more likely to have more tests/procedures (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

Test frequency in patients with IBS is strongly associated with demographic and clinical characteristics, especially comorbid conditions related to IBS. Presence of common overlapping comorbid conditions should increase clinicians’ confidence in making the diagnosis of IBS, thus curtailing redundant testing and reducing healthcare costs.
Predicting mortality and adverse events in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer treated with palliative gemcitabine-based chemotherapy in a multicentre phase III randomized clinical trial: the APC-SAKK risk scores
Authors: Gargiulo Piera , Dietrich Daniel , Herrmann Richard , Bodoky György , Ruhstaller Thomas , Scheithauer Werner , Glimelius Bengt , Berardi Simona , Pignata Sandro , Brauchli Peter
Published: January 2019

Background:

The prognosis of advanced pancreatic cancer (APC) is poor and differs considerably among patients. Therefore, it is clinically relevant to identify patients with APC who are more likely to benefit from palliative chemotherapy with reduced risk of toxicity. To date, there is no prognostic score universally recommended to help clinicians in planning the therapeutic management.

Methods:

Using individual patient data from 319 cases of APC treated with gemcitabine-based chemotherapy and enrolled in the SAKK 44/00-CECOG/PAN.1.3.001 randomized trial, several baseline variables, including inflammatory markers, were analysed post hoc as predictors of mortality and/or grade 3 or 4 chemotherapy-related toxicity and separate risk scores were developed.

Results:

Median survival of the study patients was 7.9 months (interquartile range 3.7–13.3 months). Independent predictors of mortality included increased Aspartate transaminase (ASAT), low performance status, increased derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, increased Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), low haemoglobin, presence of pain, presence of metastasis and increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP). During the study, 117 patients experienced at least one grade 3 or 4 adverse event. Independent predictors of toxicity included white blood cells, ALP, renal function and bilirubin levels at baseline. Both models displayed moderate levels of discrimination (C-statistic 0.68 and 0.64 for mortality and toxicity, respectively) and adequate calibration.

Conclusions:

We developed simple-to-use prognostic scores for mortality and severe toxicity for patients with APC. These scores can be useful in daily practice to identify patients with increased risk of death or toxicity and to plan the most appropriate therapeutic strategy to improve survival and quality of life. Further prospective studies to validate such scores are needed.
Non-critical healthcare tools as a potential source of healthcare-acquired bacterial infections in eastern Ethiopia: A hospital-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Weldegebreal Fitsum , Admassu Desalegn , Meaza Dereje , Asfaw Mulatu
Published: January 2019

Background:

Outbreaks of healthcare-acquired infections have been linked to contaminated medical devices such as electronic thermometers, sphygmomanometers, stethoscopes, latex gloves, masks, neckties, white coats and other.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to assess non-critical healthcare tools as a potential source of healthcare-acquired bacterial infections and associated factors in public health hospitals of Harar, eastern Ethiopia from March 2016 to February 2017.

Methods:

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 212 non-critical healthcare tools owned by different health professionals. The data were collected from each owner using self-administered questionnaire. Swab specimens were collected from 187 stethoscopes and 25 sphygmomanometers using sterile cotton tips. Bacterial investigation and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed using standard culture tests. The data were double entered into EPI-Data version 3.1 and exported into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 16 for analysis.

Result:

The overall prevalence of non-critical healthcare tool contamination was 53.8%. A total of 137 bacterial strains were isolated. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent isolate (35%). Resistance to two or more different classes of antimicrobial was found to be 19.3%. The proportion of stethoscopes or sphygmomanometers contamination owned by the health professionals who were not cleaned regularly before and after examining each patient was found to be high (77%). The majority of non-critical healthcare tools used by health professionals working in the intensive care unit were contaminated (75%) followed by medical wards (73.5%).

Conclusion:

This study confirmed that the majority of the stethoscopes and sphygmomanometers were contaminated with pathogenic bacteria known to be associated with healthcare-acquired infections. Most of the healthcare workers did not practice stethoscope and sphygmomanometers disinfection. Strict and careful decontamination of stethoscopes and sphygmomanometers need to be in place before use.
Clinical features of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo of the posterior semicircular canal
Authors: Ciorba Andrea , Cogliandolo Cristina , Bianchini Chiara , Aimoni Claudia , Pelucchi Stefano , Skarżyński Piotr Henryk , Hatzopoulos Stavros
Published: January 2019

Objective:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between age, gender and affected ear, in patients presenting benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Methods:

This was a retrospective study. Data from benign paroxysmal positional vertigo clinical reports (January 2009–December 2014) were analysed. A total of 174 patients affected by benign paroxysmal positional vertigo of the posterior semicircular canal have been identified. Pearson chi-square test has been used to evaluate the probability of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo occurrence in relation to gender and side, within the studied groups. The level of significance was set at a p < 0.05.

Results:

Considering age as a discriminant factor, three groups of patients were identified: group 1: 16 patients with an age <40 years; group 2: 79 patients with an age between 40 and 65 years and group 3: 79 patients with an age >65 years. In each group, the right posterior semicircular canal was involved in the majority of cases (group 1 incidence: 12/16; group 2 incidence: 49/79 and group 3 incidence: 52/79). In all three groups, female patients were significantly more affected (9/16 in group 1, 61/79 in group 2 and 55/79 in group 3).

Conclusion:

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is most prevalent in female subjects having an age>40 years and mainly involves the right posterior semicircular canal.
Have party premiums disappeared in post-2000 China? The influence of negative ability bias from position conditioning
Authors: Zhu Ling , Tam Tony
Published: January 2019

Communist Party membership is often associated with higher incomes in socialist regimes because it is an important credential for obtaining state-sector jobs and cadre positions. During the first two decades of marketization in China, the income returns to Communist Party membership (the party premium) clearly persisted. However, recent studies have documented an insignificant party premium in post-2000 China. Considering the persistent role of the state in resource allocation, this phenomenon is puzzling and lacks clear interpretation. Drawing on the knowledge of collider conditioning, we hypothesize that this phenomenon stems from a negative ability bias generated by conditioning on endogenous job positions. Using the China General Social Survey 2008, we re-examine the post-2000 party premiums. The results support this hypothesis and demonstrate that this negative ability bias overwhelms the usual positive ability bias and any residual party premiums. Party premiums persist after 2000 and are reflected in positions where the negative ability bias is less influential.