bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrical and mechanical characterization of vulcanized natural rubber filled with BaTiO3 ceramic filler
Authors: El-Gamal AA
Published: April 2019

Ceramic rubber composites made of natural rubber (NR) loaded with various concentrations of barium titanate (BaTiO3) particles were prepared by mixing and hot pressing. A silane coupling agent (KH-570) was utilized to modify the BaTiO3 particles surface. The successful attachment of the coupling agent to the BaTiO3 particles was confirmed by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy. The influence of surface modified BaTiO3 (SMBT) particles concentration on the morphological, cure, mechanical, and electrical properties of the resulting samples was explored. The elongation at break and the tensile strength decreased with the addition of SMBT particles, while the hardness of composites increased. An enhancement of the dielectric constant ( ε′) of the composites was observed by incorporation of SMBT particles. The measured ε′ of the composites was modeled using the theories of a heterogeneous medium. The dielectric loss showed a clear peak at high frequency, indicating the relaxation process of the orientational polarization.
Fabrication and characterization of composites from recycled polyethylene and date palm seed powder
Authors: Appu Sreekumar P , Ashwaq Omar , Al-Harthi Mamdouh , Umar Yunusa
Published: April 2019

This article is devoted to the study of the effect of date palm seed (DPS) powder on the properties of recycled linear low-density polyethylene (RLLDPE) matrix. A series of composites was developed with a different filler loading varying from 0 to 30 wt% using twin screw extruder followed by compression molding. The result analysis showed that the addition of DPS decreases the percentage of crystallinity of RLLDPE (from 49.4 to 29.8). However, there were no changes in the heat of melting ( Tm) and crystallization ( Tcry) temperature which was determined by differential scanning calorimeter. Thermogravimetric analysis showed a decrease in thermal stability for RLLDPE with an increase in filler loading which was supported by the change in activation energy (700–456 kJ mol−1) calculated using Broido’s plot. Due to the poor fiber–matrix adhesion, the mechanical properties of the DPS/RLLDPE decreased as function of the filler content and the result was corroborated by the images taken by scanning electron microscopy.
Comparison of damage resistance of thermoplastic and thermoset carbon fibre-reinforced composites
Authors: Bajurko Piotr
Published: April 2019

The research presented in the article concerns the resistance to damage of thermosetting and thermoplastic fabric carbon composites. A comparison of these materials resistance was made on the basis of the results of residual strength tests which include impact tests and static compression of samples after impact. The impact tests consisted of two impact criteria: specimens impacted with energy adjusted to the specimen thickness, determined on the basis of ASTM D7136 (energy criterion) and specimens impacted in such a way so as to obtain a specific depth of indentation (indentation depth criterion). The specimens struck according to the indentation depth criterion were additionally divided into two subgroups: with the indentation depth of 1.3 mm and the indentation depth of 2.6 mm. In addition, after impact tests, each specimen was subjected to ultrasonic phased array testing in order to obtain information about the extent of the damage. Experimental results showed that with less impact energy, the thermoplastic laminate has a higher residual strength than the thermosetting composite. This difference decreases as the impact energy increases.
Co-Transplantation of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Human Neural Stem Cells Improves the Outcome in Rats with Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Sun Lei , Wang Fan , Chen Heng , Liu Dong , Qu Tingyu , Li Xiaofeng , Xu Daxia , Liu Feng , Yin Zhanmin , Chen Yunzhen
Published: April 2019

Neural stem cells (NSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promising graft materials for cell therapies in spinal cord injury (SCI) models. Previous studies have demonstrated that MSCs can regulate the microenvironment of NSCs and promote their survival rate. Furthermore, several studies indicate that MSCs can reduce stem cell transplantation-linked tumor formation. To our knowledge, no previous studies have determined whether co-transplantation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) and human neural stem cells (hNSCs) could improve the outcome in rats with SCI. Therefore, we investigated whether the transplantation of hUC-MSCs combined with hNSCs through an intramedullary injection can improve the outcome of rats with SCI, and explored the underlying mechanisms. In this study, a moderate spinal cord contusion model was established in adult female Wistar rats using an NYU impactor. In total, 108 spinal cord-injured rats were randomly selected and divided into the following five groups: 1) hUC-MSCs group, 2) hNSCs group, 3) hUC-MSCs+hNSCs group, 4) PBS (control) group, and 5) a Sham group. Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) behavioral test scores were used to evaluate the motor function of all animals before and after the SCI weekly through the 8th week. Two weeks after transplantation, some rats were sacrificed, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate the survival and differentiation of the transplanted stem cells, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was detected by ELISA in the injured spinal cords. At the end of the experiment, we evaluated the remaining myelin sheath and anterior horn neurons in the injured spinal cords using Luxol Fast Blue (LFB) staining. Our results demonstrated that the surviving stem cells in the hUC-MSCs+hNSCs group were significantly increased compared with those in the hUC-MSCs alone and the hNSCs alone groups 2 weeks post-transplantation. Furthermore, the results of the BBB scores and the remaining myelin sheath evaluated via LFB staining in the injured spinal cords demonstrated that the most significantly improved outcome occurred in the hUC-MSCs+hNSCs group. The hUC-MSCs alone and the hNSCs alone groups also had a better outcome compared with that of the PBS-treated group. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that local intramedullary subacute transplantation of hUC-MSCs, hNSCs, or hUC-MSCs+hNSCs significantly improves the outcome in an in vivo moderate contusion SCI model, and that co-transplantation of hUC-MSCs and hNSCs displayed the best outcome in our experiment.
‘The Saviors Are Also Humans’: Understanding the Role of Quality of Work Life on Job Burnout and Job Satisfaction Relationship of Indian Doctors
Authors: Srivastava Shalini , Misra Richa , Madan Poornima
Published: April 2019

The purpose of this study is to explore the mediating role of Quality of Work Life on Job Burnout and Job Satisfaction relationship. The present research constituted of 240 doctors belonging to 4 different states of India who were working in either in medical colleges, private hospitals or had their own private clinics. The data was assessed through statistical techniques like correlation, reliability and mediator regression analysis. The study results revealed that there is a significant and negative association between job burnout and job satisfaction, a significant and positive association between QWL and Job Satisfaction and a significant and negative relationship between Job Burnout and QWL. Doctors devote their lives to the practice of medicine, work sincerely in their pursuit to provide best care for patients. Hospital administration needs to encounter various imperative job demands that predict burnout by designing diverse interventions as all job demands cannot be condensed, also burnout can’t be entirely eradicated from the work place of doctors.
Performance Efficiency of Indian Private Hospitals Using Data Envelopment Analysis and Super-efficiency DEA
Authors: Chitnis Asmita , Mishra Dharmesh K.
Published: April 2019

India is expected to be ranked among the top three healthcare markets in terms of growth by 2020. The scale and scope for delivery of quality healthcare services demand high levels of service performance to provide effective and efficient services to patients. The purpose of this study is to assess the performance efficiency of Indian private hospitals using data envelopment analysis (DEA) and super-efficiency DEA. The analysis uses an output-oriented approach with a mix of four inputs and one output variables to identify the most efficient hospitals. In the first stage, a sample of 25 private hospitals is evaluated using DEA, and in the second stage, the same sample is analysed using super-efficiency DEA for discriminating the performance of the efficient hospitals. The results show seven hospitals as the most efficient ones using DEA in the first stage. Fortis Hospital Ltd emerges as the super-efficient hospital using super-efficiency DEA analysis in the second stage. The results obtained have managerial implications and provide the decision maker (DM) the requisite guidance for corrective actions.
Internal Service Quality: Insights from Healthcare Sector
Authors: Srivastava Shefali , Prakash Gyan
Published: April 2019

This article aims to identify dimensions of internal service quality (ISQ) which can be operationalized to deliver healthcare services. This article conceptualizes and assesses the relationship among ISQ, internal customer satisfaction and organizational performance. A 41-item questionnaire has been circulated among the Indian healthcare service providers including doctors, nurses and system staff and 237 valid responses had been received. Structural equation modelling (SEM) has been used to assess the interrelationship among constructs. Results show that high performance work environment, professionalism and collaboration, accountability and commitment and knowledge and competence are the specific dimensions that affect the ISQ. Among these dimensions, high performance work environment comes out to be the most important. It is inferred that ISQ influences organizational performance with the mediating role of internal customer satisfaction. The article highlights the autopoietic nature of the system where knowledge dissemination becomes the most relevant prerequisite for delivering quality care.
Accommodations, Accessibility, and Culture: Increasing Access to Study Abroad for Students With Disabilities
Authors: Johnstone Christopher , Edwards Paul
Published: April 2019

Student mobility is a key aspect of internationalization of higher education. Within the broad population of students who have the opportunity to study abroad, however, there are particular groups who are under-represented. In the United States, for example, approximately 11% of undergraduate students in postsecondary degree-granting institutions have disclosed that they have a disability, yet only 8.8% of those who study abroad disclosed to having a disability to their home institutions. To better understand why under-representation may be occurring, this article examined study abroad through Schwanke, Smith, and Edyburn’s “A3” model of inclusive education, which highlights efforts of institutions related to advocacy, accommodations, and accessibility. Findings indicate that institutions—even those with strong reputations in study abroad for students with disabilities—are heavily focused on ensuring appropriate accommodations for students and only beginning to explore the design of programs through the lens of accessibility. Implications for international education units, such as the role of partnership building and commitment to Universal Design principles, are discussed.
Family Functioning in a Collectivist Culture of Malaysia: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Sumari Melati , Baharudin Dini Farhana , Khalid Norfaezah Md , Ibrahim Nor Hasniah , Ahmed Tharbe Ida Hartina
Published: April 2019

A family is a social unit in society. The societal culture where a family exists contributes to the functioning of the family. A review of the literature on family functioning indicates that most studies on family functioning were conducted by researchers in Western countries, particularly in the United States, and were conducted using a Western sample. In most studies, quantitative measurements were used to measure family functioning. No family measurement has been developed so far to measure family functioning in a collectivist culture such as that found in Malaysia. Therefore, we decided to use a qualitative approach in order to explore and understand family functioning in a collectivist society and focused on Malaysia as a case example. Focus group discussions were used to gather the data. Eleven family practitioners from different settings participated in a three-series discussion. Six themes emerged from the data analysis: (1) family role, (2) parenting styles, (3) family rule, (4) communication, (5) value orientation, and (6) cohesiveness. The method used yields rich data and highlights the importance of understanding an issue within its cultural context. The implication for family practitioners and future researchers is discussed.
Personality Traits, Consumer Animosity, and Foreign Product Avoidance: The Moderating Role of Individual Cultural Characteristics
Authors: Leonidou Leonidas C. , Kvasova Olga , Christodoulides Paul , Tokar Sergii
Published: April 2019

Although personality and cultural traits were found to be important predictors or moderators of consumer attitudes and behavior, their relationship to consumer animosity has not yet been studied. This article reports the findings of a study conducted with 606 Ukrainian consumers, which aims to identify personality drivers and behavioral outcomes of consumer animosity as well as the moderating role of cultural characteristics. Structural equation modeling reveals that extraversion and conscientiousness have a negative effect on consumer animosity, whereas neuroticism and openness are positively associated with this feeling. However, no significant relationship was observed between animosity and agreeableness. In turn, consumer animosity was found to influence product avoidance, and this association became stronger in the case of consumers that have higher levels of power distance, uncertainty avoidance, collectivism, and masculinity. The study also showed that male and educated consumers are more likely to harbor animosity toward a hostility-evoking country, while age and income had no control effect on animosity. Several implications for theory and practice are derived from the study findings, and directions for future research are provided.
Deciphering the Signal From the Noise: Caregivers’ Information Appraisal and Credibility Assessment of Cancer-Related Information Exchanged on Social Networking Sites
Authors: Gage-Bouchard Elizabeth A. , LaValley Susan , Devonish Julia A.
Published: April 2019

With the rise in the use of the Internet for health-related purposes, social networking sites (SNSs) have become a prominent platform for cancer communication and information exchange. Studies of cancer communication on SNS have mostly focused on understanding the quantity, content, quality, and user engagement (eg, likes and comments) with cancer-related information on SNS. There is less of an understanding of when and why people coping with cancer turn to SNS for cancer-related information, and how users appraise the credibility of cancer-related information obtained on SNS. In this study, we use data from in-depth qualitative interviews with 40 primary caregivers of pediatric patients with cancer to examine how cancer caregivers engage in information appraisal and credibility assessment of cancer-related information obtained on SNS. Findings show that cancer caregivers turned to SNS for cancer-related information because information on SNS was immediate, targeted in response to specific caregiver questions and concerns, and tailored to the specific information needs of cancer caregivers. Cancer caregivers evaluated the credibility of cancer-related information obtained on SNS through assessment of the SNS user who posted the information, frequency the same information was shared, and external corroboration. Findings have important implications for cancer communication and information interventions and point to elements of SNS cancer communication that can be integrated into health professional–facilitated communication and cancer information strategies.
What Vox Pops Say and How That Matters: Effects of Vox Pops in Television News on Perceived Public Opinion and Personal Opinion
Authors: Beckers Kathleen
Published: April 2019

Interviews with ordinary people on the street are commonplace in everyday news coverage. These vox pops often voice an explicit opinion or talk about personal experiences. Editorial guidelines exist about the way they should be introduced, as they are not representative of the population. Drawing on an experiment using television news items, we test the influence of vox pop characteristics on perceived public opinion and personal opinion. Results show that vox pop viewpoints have a substantial influence. Moreover, vox pops stating opinions are more influential than vox pops giving personal testimonies. No influence was found of the vox pops’ introduction.
Cross-Validation of the Revised Version of the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG-R) in a Sample of Individuals Convicted of Sexual Offenses
Authors: Gregório Hertz Priscilla , Eher Reinhard , Etzler Sonja , Rettenberger Martin
Published: April 2019

The aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the German version of the revised Violence Risk Appraisal Guide (VRAG), the VRAG-R. Therefore, VRAG-R ratings were made retrospectively in an Austrian sample of 534 individuals convicted of a sexual offense who were followed up with an average of 7.62 years. The VRAG-R showed large effect sizes for the predictive accuracy of violent (AUC = .75) and general recidivism (AUC = .78) and significant but rather small effect sizes (AUC = .63 and .61, respectively) in predicting any sexual and sexual contact recidivism. Furthermore, for the prediction of violent recidivism but not for sexual recidivism the VRAG-R was incrementally predictive beyond the Sex Offender Risk Appraisal Guide (SORAG) and the Static-99. Finally, the VRAG-R absolute recidivism rates for the risk bins showed satisfactory calibration properties. Taken together, the results of the present study support the cross-national utility of the VRAG-R and its use in applied risk assessment settings also in German-speaking countries.
Elderly Sexual Abuse: An Examination of the Criminal Event
Authors: Chopin Julien , Beauregard Eric
Published: April 2019

The current study investigates the modus operandi specificities for the sexual abuse against the elderly. A comparison between sex crimes against adult and elderly victims is conducted following the criminal event approach. The comparison is based on the precrime, crime, and postcrime phases of the modus operandi, operationalized through 53 variables. The sample comes from a French national police database including a total of 1,829 cases—including 130 cases of elderly sexual abuse and 1,699 cases of sexual abuse against victims aged between 18 and 45 years. Bivariate and multivariate analyses are performed to examine the differences in the two groups. Several differences are observed between the two modus operandi. Findings indicate that the precrime phase is the most important to explain these differences, and this phase of the criminal event affects the rest of the decisions taken during the crime and postcrime phases. Specifically, we have highlighted that sexual crimes against the elderly are more violent and occur more often in the victim’s residence. This study suggests that offenders targeting the elderly use specific crime characteristics, and this allows to highlight practical implications in terms of investigation and offender management.
The Impact of Preconceptional Multiple-Micronutrient Supplementation on Female Fertility
Authors: Schaefer Ella , Nock Deborah
Published: April 2019

In industrialized countries, fertility has declined in recent years to the lowest recorded levels. Identifying modifiable factors that influence human fertility, such as diet, is therefore of major clinical and public health relevance. Micronutrient status is a modifiable risk factor that may have an impact on female fertility, as essential vitamins and minerals have important roles in the physiological processes that are involved. Adequate levels are important for oocyte quality, maturation, fertilization, and implantation, whereas antioxidants are vital to reduce oxidative stress, a process known to impair fertility. In women who are diagnosed as infertile, lower than recommended levels of certain micronutrients have been reported. A similar scenario has been found in a proportion of women of childbearing age in general, some of whom may be struggling to conceive. Supplementation studies with multiple micronutrients are still scarce, but the literature suggests that supplementation before conception can help restore micronutrient status to recommended levels and reduce oxidative stress when antioxidants are included. Overall, supplementation has a small but beneficial effect on fertility in healthy and infertile women, including a shorter time to pregnancy and an increased chance of becoming pregnant. Nevertheless, many studies are small or observational, and adequately powered randomized controlled trials of supplementation with multiple micronutrients are necessary to confirm any definite effects on fertility. This review substantiates the potential benefits of micronutrient supplementation beyond the prevention of neural tube defects, the traditionally viewed value of prenatal vitamin use.
Photodynamic Therapy for Genital Warts Causes Activation of Local Immunity
Authors: Xie Fang , Yu Haisheng S. , Wang Rui , Wang Dong , Li Yanming M. , Wen Haiying Y. , Du Jiangbo B. , Ba Wei , Meng Xianfu F. , Yang Jie , Lin Biwen W. , Li Hengjin J. , Li Chengxin X. , Zhang Liguo G. , Fang Xiangdong D. , Zhao Hua
Published: April 2019

Background:

5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (PDT) for genital warts is effective, safe, and can prevent recurrence. It is believed that PDT can induce immune responses, but the mechanism is not completely understood.

Objectives:

The objectives of this article are to confirm the effect of PDT for genital warts on local immunity and to investigate the recruitment and significance of immune cells in tissues.

Methods:

Local immune changes in T lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+), plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) (CD123+), and myeloid dendritic cells (CD1a+) after PDT in patients were evaluated by immunohistochemistry staining. Changes in mRNA levels of IFN-γ, IFN-α, IFN-ß, interferon-stimulated gene 15 kDa (ISG-15), Mx2, Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), and interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) were analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Results:

At 4 hours after PDT, CD4+ increased, accompanied by increased levels of mRNA expression of IFN-γ, but CD4+ and mRNA expression levels of IFN-γ were decreased at 24 hours after PDT. CD123+ pDCs showed an increasing trend. CD1a+ LCs in the epidermis gradually decreased, and DCs in the epidermis gradually increased. CD3+ infiltrated and migrated to the superficial dermis, but CD8+ did not change significantly after PDT. The mRNA expression levels of IFN-α, IFN-ß, ISG-15, Mx2, TLR9, and IRF7 showed an increasing trend after PDT. As compared with the patients without significantly increased IFN-α and IFN-ß after PDT sessions, patients with significant increases needed fewer sessions of PDT for remission.

Conclusions:

PDT for genital warts can activate T lymphocyte-mediated, DC-related, and pDC-related immunity. The clinical efficacy of PDT for genital warts may be related to the increased levels of IFN-α and IFN-ß after treatment.
Are country-of-origin stereotypes weaker among younger Chinese generations?
Authors: Li Yang
Published: April 2019

With extensive globalization, the effect of country-of-origin (COO) stereotypes has been continuously questioned by many scholars; a key dispute is whether younger generations still hold COO stereotypes. Some scholars have proved downward trends in developed countries, but there is little evidence in developing countries, such as China. This research employs three studies to investigate through both implicit and explicit measurement whether Chinese born in the 1980s and those born in the 1990s differ in their attitudes toward domestic and imported products in terms of function and image. The results show that the Chinese of the 1980s generation still hold strong COO stereotypes that imported products are better than domestic products for either a general product level or a specific product category. The 1990s generation does not follow suit. This result is explained by the life course theory, which highlights that family communication patterns can influence people’s COO stereotypes. It is highly recommended that marketers consider the different attitudes of China’s 1980s generation and 1990s generation toward imported and domestic products to better communicate the imported or Chinese imprint of the products.
Human Foragers: Searchers by Nature and Experience
Authors: Maya César , Rosetti Marcos F. , Pacheco-Cobos Luis , Hudson Robyn
Published: April 2019

Diverse studies of human foraging have revealed behavioral strategies that may have evolved as adaptations for foraging. Here, we used an outdoor experimental search task to explore the effect of three sources of information on participants’ performance: (i) information obtained directly from performing a search, (ii) information obtained prior to testing in the form of a distilled snippet of knowledge intended to experimentally simulate information acquired culturally about the environment, and (iii) information obtained from experience of foraging for natural resources for economic gain. We found that (i) immediate searching experience improved performance from the beginning to the end of the short, 2-min task, (ii) information priming improved performance notably from the very beginning of the task, and (iii) natural resource foraging experience improved performance to a lesser extent. Our results highlight the role of culturally transmitted information as well as the presence of mechanisms to rapidly integrate and implement new information into searching choices, which ultimately influence performance in a foraging task.
Recent Research on Asian and Asian American Hermeneutics Related to the Hebrew Bible
Authors: Sun Chloe
Published: April 2019

Compared to Eurocentric biblical interpretations, Asian and Asian American hermeneutics is a relatively late phenomenon. Yet in the past three decades it has gradually emerged as one of the critical interpretations in contemporary scholarship. The common themes shared among Asian and Asian American hermeneutics revolve around the issues and intersections of identity, race, gender, class, liberation, and how one’s social location shapes the ways in which one interprets scripture. As regards Asian and Asian American hermeneutics related to the Hebrew Bible, the book of Exodus has received particularly broad attention due to its migration and liberation motifs. In addition, border-crossing characters and characters with hybrid identities, such as Moses, Ruth, Hagar, Daniel, and Esther, become key subjects for theological reflection. Methodologies are centered on ethnographical, feminist, postcolonial, intercontextual, and culturally specific perspectives such as Dalit and Minjung theologies, as well as LGBTQ readings. As Asian and Asian American hermeneutics related to the Hebrew Bible continues to flourish, the future of this particular way of reading scripture will likely include intersectional and integrational approaches and reception history, and will contribute to the broad interpretive spectrums of the twenty-first century.
The Temporal Turn in Ancient Judaism and Jewish Studies
Authors: Gribetz Sarit Kattan , Kaye Lynn
Published: April 2019

Despite the apparent finality of Heschel’s pronouncement, in 1951, that Judaism is a ‘religion of time’, the past two decades have seen renewed scholarly interest in the relationship between time, time-keeping, and forms of temporality in Jewish culture. This vibrant engagement with time and temporality in Jewish studies is not an isolated phenomenon. It participates in a broader interdisciplinary examination of time across the arts, humanities and sciences, both in the academy and beyond it. The current article outlines the innovative approaches of this ‘temporal turn’ within ancient Judaism and Jewish studies and reflects on why time has become such an important topic of research in recent years. We address a number of questions: What are the trends in recent work on time and temporality in the fields of ancient Judaism and Jewish studies? What new insights into the study of Judaism have emerged as a result of this focus on time? What reasons (academic, historiographical, technological and geopolitical) underpin this interest in time in such a wide variety of disciplines? And finally, what are some new avenues for exploration in this growing field at the intersection of time and Jewish studies? The article identifies trends and discusses key works in the broad field of Jewish studies, while providing more specific surveys of particular developments in the fields of Second Temple Judaism, Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls, rabbinic literature, and some medieval Jewish sources.
Thirty-Five Years Later: A Summary of Didache Scholarship Since 1983
Authors: Wilhite Shawn J.
Published: April 2019

This article provides a summary of Didache scholarship over the past 35 years (1983–present). The review of literature focuses on the individual participants, including notable Didache scholars such as Jonathan Draper and Clayton Jefford, and the field’s respective contributions to Didache research. This article directly considers the vision of the Didache and its role in early Christianity via the literature of participants in Didache research. I consider the individual treatments of numerous Didache scholars and a list of their publications. In the conclusion, I highlight some points of agreement and disagreement to prompt further areas of specific research. I offer four suggestions to continue the work in Didache studies: (1) Wirkungsgeschichte and reception theory; (2) social-scientific methodologies (social identity theory; self-categorization theory); (3) exclusive attention given to H54; and (4) intertextual concerns beyond the Gospel of Matthew and Epistle of James.
Playing Christ: Participation and Suffering in the Letters of Paul
Authors: Davey Wesley Thomas
Published: April 2019

Paul’s theology of suffering has been the subject of a spate of recent scholarly investigations. This article provides a roadmap for the burgeoning conversation, doing so by targeting two objectives. First, it offers a historical account of the origin of interest in the concept of ‘participation with Christ’ in the Pauline letters. The genesis of participation studies played an indispensable role in catalyzing research into Paul’s perspective on suffering, as the article shows. Second, with that stage set, the article then turns to highlight authors who focus more narrowly on ‘suffering as participation with Christ’ in the letters of Paul. Although the current conversation about Paul’s theology of suffering hosts a wide array of approaches and opinions, there is a broad consensus that Paul interprets believers’ suffering as an indispensable part of what it means to be united to a crucified Lord.
Renal Stent Migration Following TEVAR for Complicated Type B Aortic Dissection
Authors: Iwakoshi Shinichi , Sakaguchi Shoji , Kakii Bunpachi , Yoshida Takeshi , Watkins Amelia Claire , Inoue Takeshi , Ichihashi Shigeo , Kichikawa Kimihiko
Published: April 2019

We describe renal stent migration following thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for type B aortic dissection. A 68-year-old male presented with type B aortic dissection. His course was complicated by renal and lower extremity malperfusion. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair was performed and completion angiogram showed no flow in the left renal artery. A renal stent was deployed with the proximal margin of the stent 1 mm into the aortic true lumen, providing improved renal perfusion. One week after TEVAR, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed that the renal stent had embolized to the aortic bifurcation. Additional endovascular therapy successfully crushed the renal stent against the iliac artery wall utilizing a larger bare metal stent. At 3 year follow-up, contrast-enhanced CT demonstrated good patency of the left renal artery and right iliac artery. This complication alerts physicians to consider subsequent aortic remodeling during endovascular intervention for acute aortic dissection with malperfusion.
A Community-Based Participatory Assessment of the Health Status and Obesity Risks in Children From Rural Farmworker Families in the Midwest
Authors: Muzaffar Henna , Raffaelli Marcela , Teran-Garcia Margarita , Wiley Angela , Gonzalez Martha , Hannon Bridget A.
Published: April 2019

Obesity prevalence is higher among Hispanic children (22.4%) compared with general U.S. children (17%). Children of migrant and seasonal farmworking families are at heightened risk for obesity and related conditions. Limited research, including needs assessments and health promotion programs, has been conducted in Latino migrant farm working communities. Our objective was to identify needs, opportunities, and barriers for designing health promotion programs for children attending a community agency in a small Midwestern town. As part of a community-based participatory research project, a needs assessment was undertaken with 38 children aged 5 to 12 years (74% Latino). Measures included demographics, dietary patterns, physical activity (PA), and anthropometrics. The study was approved by the university’s institutional review board and written parental consent, and child assent, was obtained. More than half of the sample had overweight (29%) or obesity (26%); 31% had elevated blood pressure levels. Participants did not meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommendations for most food groups and nutrients; 13% fell into the “poor” and 87% into the “needs improvement” category based on Healthy Eating Index scores. PA levels were low; only 34% of respondents engaged in sufficient exercise. Findings indicate the need for programs promoting improvements in dietary intake and increased PA.
The Shifting Architecture of Cognition and Brain Function in Older Adulthood
Authors: Spreng R. Nathan , Turner Gary R.
Published: April 2019

Cognitive aging is often described in the context of loss or decline. Emerging research suggests that the story is more complex, with older adults showing both losses and gains in cognitive ability. With increasing age, declines in controlled, or fluid, cognition occur in the context of gains in crystallized knowledge of oneself and the world. This inversion in cognitive capacities, from greater reliance on fluid abilities in young adulthood to increasingly crystallized or semanticized cognition in older adulthood, has profound implications for cognitive and real-world functioning in later life. The shift in cognitive architecture parallels changes in the functional network architecture of the brain. Observations of greater functional connectivity between lateral prefrontal brain regions, implicated in cognitive control, and the default network, implicated in memory and semantic processing, led us to propose the default-executive coupling hypothesis of aging. In this review we provide evidence that these changes in the functional architecture of the brain serve as a neural mechanism underlying the shifting cognitive architecture from younger to older adulthood. We incorporate findings spanning cognitive aging and cognitive neuroscience to present an integrative model of cognitive and brain aging, describing its antecedents, determinants, and implications for real-world functioning.
Development of an evidence-based e-health readiness assessment framework for Uganda
Authors: Kiberu Vincent M , Mars Maurice , Scott Richard E
Published: April 2019

Background:

While e-health readiness assessment is vital to the successful implementation of e-health innovations, there is little published guidance (i.e. e-health readiness assessment frameworks (eHRAFs)) for institutions and countries.

Objective:

To develop an evidence-based and locally relevant eHRAF for Uganda.

Method:

A list of possible e-health readiness domains and constructs was developed through a structured review of the e-health literature. This list was first refined using author experience, insight and reflection. Based on this refined list, an eHRAF questionnaire was developed, which was initially pilot tested for face and content validity. Thereafter, it was distributed to 13 purposively selected study participants who were Ugandan e-health experts from the fields of health, information and communications technology (ICT) and academia. The questionnaire was discussed in a focus group setting for consensus input, where study participants confirmed, rejected or revised proposed domains and constructs suitable to guide e-health readiness assessment at either the national or site-specific level within Uganda.

Results:

Of 148 identified literature resources, 13 met inclusion criteria. A subjective review highlighted 11 frequently used e-health domains. Further reflection reduced these to nine domains, which were shared with study participants by means of the questionnaire. Based upon prior use of, and familiarity with, a management tool (PESTEL), participants’ consensus on factors essential for readiness assessment in Uganda was aligned with PESTEL’s six domains: political, economic, sociocultural, technological, environmental, and legal and regulatory. The participants considered engagement, and core and societal readiness as optional domains. Based on this input, the authors developed a proposed eHRAF suitable for Uganda, comprised of domains, sub-domains and constructs.

Conclusion:

The eHRAF developed in this research is an evidence-based framework (literature and cross-sectoral expert opinion) and consists of primary domains, sub-domains and constructs suitable for assessing e-health readiness in Uganda, either nationally or locally, prior to implementation of any e-health system. The process and principles may have utility in other countries.

Implications:

A national, culturally relevant, context-specific Ugandan eHRAF could facilitate efficient and effective planning and implementation of new e-health programmes across the country and assist policymakers and legislators to develop consistent and reliable guidelines and regulations.
Interdisciplinary User Groups and the Design of Healthcare Facilities
Authors: Carthey Jane
Published: April 2019

Aim:

This Australian research explores how “user group” participants from diverse professional discipline backgrounds understand, define, perform their roles, and assess the outcomes of the healthcare design process.

Background:

Part of the design process in Australia and New Zealand, the purpose of interdisciplinary user group consultation is to design the best healthcare facilities possible within the parameters set by project clients and funding bodies.

Method:

An online survey was used to explore how user group participants viewed the process, including how well informed they felt they were about their role/s in it, its success in achieving specific outcomes for their project, and how they felt their project client, owner, or funding body assessed these same issues. It included both closed and open-ended questions, and data were then analyzed using an interpretative methodology by an architect researcher based in practice.

Results:

Emergent issues identified include governance of the process, knowledge asymmetries between participants, missed opportunities for innovation, composition and workloads of user groups, and the quality of resources available to guide the process.

Conclusions:

The interdisciplinary user group process could be improved, and future research will look at how drawing on participatory design methods used in sectors such as urban planning may support the development of new techniques for conducting user groups.
Efficacy of Abdominal Control Feedback and Scapula Stabilization Exercises in Participants With Forward Head, Round Shoulder Postures and Neck Movement Impairment
Authors: Shiravi Shirin , Letafatkar Amir , Bertozzi Lucia , Pillastrini Paolo , Khaleghi Tazji Mehdi
Published: April 2019

Background:

Signs and symptoms of impaired function of the musculoskeletal system may be targeted by treating dysfunction located elsewhere.

Hypothesis:

Abdominal control feedback and scapular stabilization exercise interventions would result in positive changes in pain intensity, strength, electromyography, and flexion-relaxation phenomena in women with forward head and round shoulder postures and neck movement impairment.

Study Design:

Pretest-posttest intervention.

Level of Evidence:

Level 1.

Methods:

A total of 135 women (aged 27.23 ± 1.9 years) with forward head and round shoulder postures were randomized to 3 groups. Group 1 received 6-week scapular stabilization exercises with abdominal control feedback (n = 45), group 2 received 6-week scapular stabilization exercises without abdominal control feedback (n = 45), and group 3 received active self-exercise as a control group (n = 45). Posture, pain, proprioception, strength, and electromyography were assessed before and after the interventions.

Results:

There were significant between-group differences in pain, proprioception, strength, and electromyography favoring group 1. There were significant within-group changes in posture, pain, proprioception, strength, and electromyography in both groups 1 and 2. No significant change was observed for muscle strength.

Conclusion:

The addition of abdominal control feedback to the scapular stabilization exercises was shown to be superior to the scapular stabilization exercises alone for decreasing neck pain and restoring proper proprioception, strength, and electromyography in females with forward head and round shoulder postures and neck movement impairment.

Clinical Relevance:

The addition of abdominal control feedback to scapular stabilization exercises is superior to scapular stabilization exercises alone on the neck for improving electromyography, strength, and function in females with forward head and round shoulder postures and neck movement impairment.
Hip and Groin Injuries in Professional Basketball Players: Impact on Playing Career and Quality of Life After Retirement
Authors: Ekhtiari Seper , Khan Moin , Burrus Tyrrell , Madden Kim , Gagnier Joel , Rogowski Joseph P. , Maerz Tristan , Bedi Asheesh
Published: April 2019

Background:

Professional basketball players are at increased risk of hip and groin pain. Epidemiologic data exist on the prevalence of hip and groin issues among players in the National Basketball Association (NBA), but little is known about how these injuries affect athletes after retirement.

Hypothesis:

A high proportion of retired NBA athletes would have hip and/or groin pain.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional survey.

Level of Evidence:

Level 4.

Methods:

A survey was developed through an interdisciplinary focus group. The survey was developed to capture data regarding demographics, collegiate and professional athletic injuries, and current quality of life and musculoskeletal health. The questionnaire was electronically distributed to all members of the National Basketball Players Association using SurveyMonkey (N = 900).

Results:

A total of 108 (12%) retired NBA players completed the survey. More than one-third (36.3%) of athletes report currently experiencing hip and/or groin pain, and 17.6% had received injections for hip or groin conditions since retiring from the NBA. Since retiring, 14.7% of respondents had undergone total hip arthroplasty. The median Tegner activity level scale was 3 out of 10. Nearly one-third (32.4%) of athletes report moderate to severe problems with mobility, and close to half (48%) had moderate to extreme pain/discomfort.

Conclusion:

Hip and groin injuries are common among NBA athletes, affecting players throughout their careers and into retirement. A subset of athletes may exist in whom intra-articular hip pathology is not appropriately identified and treated while playing in the NBA.

Clinical Relevance:

Retired NBA athletes are at high risk of hip and groin pain after retirement and are more likely to require total hip arthroplasty compared with the general population.
Building a high-technology product out of India: The Intelli-Fi way
Authors: Sridhar Varadharajan
Published: April 2019

There has been a constant debate over the last decade as to whether the Indian information technology sector should continue to be driven by services revenue or should the firms actively pursue in building high-technology products. Dr Prashant Joshi, former lead researcher at AT&T Research and IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Centre, New York, while returning to India in 2002, conceptualized that someday, the world would witness massive deployment of WiFi networks and that these networks require active 24 × 7 management. He incubated his start-up in Bangalore, India, with a vision to build a WiFi secure management product suite for global markets. The case outlines the evolution of Intelli-Fi networks from a humble beginning to a strong network management firm with installed base all around the world. The case highlights the technical and managerial challenges of the firm and its entrepreneur founder in building a world class product.