bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frequencia e fatores determinantes da dor do membro fantasma em pacientes amputados assistidos por um centro de reabilitação situado no centro-oeste do Brasil
Authors: Coimbra Tauana Lemos , Medeiros Rodrigo Parente
Published: November 2019

Objetivo: Este estudo descritivo, longitudinal e prospectivo busca avaliar a frequência de dor do membro fantasma (DMF) em pacientes amputados que são assistidos por um centro de reabilitação assim como verificar a influência do perfil biopsicossocial, uso de tecnologias assistivas, medicamentos e terapias no caráter da DMF. Método: Foram entrevistados 16 indivíduos em dois momentos com intervalo de seis meses no período de Julho/2016 à Agosto de 2017. Como instrumentos de avaliação foram utilizados: questionário semi-estruturado abordando perfil social e clínico, EVA, SF-36 e Questionário de McGill. Os dados foram analisados descritivamente e com os testes T e Pearson. Resultados: Dos participantes, 8 eram do sexo masculino (50%), com idade média de 55,5 anos (DP:15,7), sendo maior parte procedente de Goiânia (75%) e com amputação transfemural (68,7%) de etiologia traumática (56,2). A frequência de DMF foi de 68,5% na primeira entrevista e 50% na segunda. Entre as duas entrevistas, houve diminuição na intensidade da dor relatada pelos indivíduos assim como no índice da dor e número de descritores do McGill e também acréscimo nos domínios do SF36. Não foi observada correlação positiva entre o uso de próteses, medicamentos ou realização de terapias com o quadro álgico dos amputados. Conclusão: A amostra estudada apresentou alta prevalência de dor do membro fantasma. São necessários mais estudos sobre a DMF e seus determinantes a fim de evidenciar seu impacto na vida do amputado.
The Short Physical Performance Battery is a discriminative tool for identifying low quality of life in gynecological postmenopausal cancer survivor
Authors: Nunes Paulo Ricardo Prado , Souza Aletéia De Paula , Martins Fernanda Maria , Oliveira Anselmo Alves , Nomelini Rosekeila Simões , Michelin Márcia Antoniazi , Murta Eddie Cândido , Orsatti Fábio Lera
Published: November 2019

Adverse events due to cancer treatment (changes in weight, reduced muscle capacity and mobility) hinder the quality of life (QoL) of cancer survivors. Nevertheless, the identification of discriminative predictors of QoL in post-menopausal women (PW) survivors of gynecological cancer (PW-SGC) has been ignored. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of muscle capacity, mobility and body mass index (BMI) on the deterioration of QoL in PW (n = 35; 62.1 ± 8.2 years) and PW-SGC (n = 51; 60.8 ± 11.4 years). Methods: The QoL questionnaire (SF-36), anthropometrical evaluation (BMI), hand-held dynamometry (HHD) and short physical performance battery (SPPB) were applied in all volunteers. Results: The participants had overweight, low SF-36 scores and normal HHD, and no significant differences were found between both groups, however the SPPB score was higher in the PW group (p < 0.001). Linear regression analyses for QoL indicated the BMI (beta = -0.27) and the SPPB (beta = 0.57) were the strongest and most significant predictors in PW and PW-SGC, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) for the SPPB score was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.57-0.87; P = 0.015) in the PW-SGC group and 0.62 (95% CI: 0.47-0.75; P = 0.181) in PW. Conclusion: The present study showed that the importance of BMI and mobility (SPPB) for QoL differ between PW and PW-SGC. For PW-SGC, the strongest independent predictor of QoL was mobility (SPPB), whereas BMI was the strongest contributor in PW. Moreover, the SPPB test is a discriminative predictor (or assessment tool) for identifying the low quality of life in postmenopausal women survivors of gynecological cancer.
Análise dos parâmetros espaço-temporais da marcha em indivíduos com disfunção neurológica tratados com prática mental
Authors: Silva Taís Arcanjo Maropo da , Silva Liliane Pereira da , Faccio Patrícia Fernanda , Silva Kássia Maria Clemente da , Arruda Andryelle Rayane de Vasconcelos , Silva Letícia Do Nascimento , Lins Carla Cabral dos Santos Accioly , Coriolano Maria Das Graças Wanderley de Sales
Published: November 2019

A habilidade da marcha após uma patologia neurológica muitas vezes é prejudicada e limitada a curtas distâncias, sendo o tempo de caminhada, o comprimento do passo e a cadência inferiores às pessoas sem patologias ou deficiências conhecidas. Atualmente a prática mental vem sendo combinada ao contexto clínico, na reabilitação de pacientes com sequelas neurológicas, principalmente pós-Acidente Vascular Cerebral. Objetivo: Analisar os efeitos da prática mental, associada ou não a outras estratégias de intervenção, nos parâmetros espaço-temporais da marcha de pessoas com doenças neurológicas. Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática da literatura sobre os parâmetros espaciais da marcha em pacientes com disfunção neurológica tratados com prática mental. As bases de dados pesquisadas foram Pubmed/Medline LILACS, Scopus, Web of Science e Cochrane. Resultados: A maioria dos estudos apresentou o Acidente Vascular cerebral como disfunção neurológica, seguidos de Doença de Parkinson, Lesão medular e Esclerose múltipla.  Os estudos selecionados apresentaram protocolos de prática mental associado à fisioterapia combinado ou não com outras estratégias de tratamento no grupo experimental dentre elas estimulação magnética transcraniana e estimulação auditiva rítmica. Dentre os parâmetros espaço-temporais da marcha a velocidade foi o parâmetro mais avaliado e o comprimento da passada o menos avaliado. Conclusão: A prática mental apresentou efeitos positivos nos parâmetros tempo, velocidade e cadência da marcha de pacientes com AVC. Poucos estudos limitam a interpretação dos resultados para doença de Parkinson, Esclerose múltipla e Lesão medular.
Incapacidades físicas em pessoas que concluíram a poliquimioterapia para hanseníase em Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brasil
Authors: Reis Martha Cerqueira , Raposo Marcos Túlio , Alencar Carlos Henrique Morais de , Ramos Júnior Alberto Novaes , Heukelbach Jorg
Published: November 2019

Objetivo: Estimar a prevalência de incapacidades físicas e fatores associados, em pessoas que concluíram a poliquimioterapia (PQT) para hanseníase. Métodos: Realizou-se estudo transversal (n=222) no município de Vitória da Conquista-Bahia-Brasil, incluindo casos de hanseníase notificados de 2001-2014. As incapacidades físicas foram avaliadas por meio de aplicação de instrumento e avaliação do grau de incapacidade (GI) e do escore olho-mão-pé (OMP). Resultados: A prevalência de incapacidades físicas foi de 64,8% (n=144), e de GI 2 foi de 17,1% (n=38). As incapacidades físicas associaram-se de forma significante com analfabetismo (RP = 1,27; IC 95% = 1,05–1,54), classificação operacional multibacilar (RP = 1,26; IC 95% = 1,01–1,57), ocorrência de episódios reacionais (RP =1,41; IC 95% = 1,14–1,74) e dor/espessamento neural (RP = 1,3; IC 95% = 1,02–1,64). Houve piora do GI em 34 (32,1%) dos casos, considerando o momento do diagnóstico à alta. Conclusões: As incapacidades físicas, inclusive as com deformidades, constituem um importante problema no contexto individual e coletivo dos casos que seguem no pós-alta da PQT. Ressalta-se a necessitando de maior monitoramento e cuidado longitudinal, no sentido de prevenir sequelas específicas da doença.
are we/a measure
Authors: Coan Jaime Shearn
Published: November 2019

An algorithm denotes efficiency — a way to mimic, reproduce, predict. Efficiency can foreclose possibilities, can exclude and do violence to bodies and ways of knowing. Writing on an old manual typewriter, within the grid of discarded accounting paper, I enter the field with the desire to fill and be filled by the present. The text is coproduced by what surrounds it, by its proximity to and distance from. I cut words out and replace them with new grids. The typewriter yields an object that displays its temporal depth. And yet, traveling from object to scanned image, this page appears more unified than it is — smooth and intact. And aren't we all so?
Doing Things with Lists—Enumeration in Arabic Prose
Authors: Junge Christian
Published: November 2019

This article discusses the performative function of enumeration in Arabic prose. Bringing together a great variety of word lists from classical to modern prose (including the 1001 Nights, al-Tawḥīdī, al-Suyūṭī, al-Shidyāq, and Darwīsh), it unveils their often neglected importance to literature by drawing from an emerging scholarship on enumeration. Focusing on “enumerative games” (Mainberger), the article does not ask what the enumerated elements mean, but how the act of enumerating produces meaning. In the first part, the article discusses elements central to the poetics of the enumerative (including items, length, arrangement, and frame). In the second part it deals with the politics of enumeration in the example of al-Shidyāq’s al-Sāq ʿalā al-sāq fī mā huwa al-Fāriyāq (1855). The article seeks to provide a basic approach to enumeration and argues that enumerative games in literature perform acts of cultural politics.
Social Emotions: A Multidisciplinary Approach
Authors: McKenzie Jordan , Olson Rebecca , Patulny Roger , Peterie Michelle
Published: November 2019

Current research on emotions represents a broad church of methodological approaches. The essays in this special issue will investigate how social emotions inform research across numerous disciplinary fields and methodological approaches. This introduction will set out the social dimensions of emotions like shame, anger, anxiety, empathy and pity from a specifically sociological perspective. In sum, this will work to counter tendencies that individualise emotions as purely subjective or cognitive phenomena, and to demonstrate how the significance of social emotions is not restricted to any singular discipline.
Teacher Education: The Next Needed Step in Critical Media Literacy Education
Authors: Butler Allison
Published: November 2019

This article, part of a larger project, argues that critical media literacy is needed in teacher education. For critical media literacy to be sustainable, it needs a more structured starting point. The argument of this piece is that the starting point should be in teacher education. Tracing the state of media literacy and discussing the ‘critical’ of critical media literacy, this essay highlights that teacher training in critical media literacy will help propel the work of critical media literacy in the United States, will strengthen education and make it more relevant for teachers and students, and will make the work of inclusion of media literacy part of, not an addition to, teachers’ curriculum development and lesson planning.
Ethnographic Media Literacy in the Third Space
Authors: Westman Peter , McDougall Julian
Published: November 2019

As Poveda, Thomson and Ferro (2018) observe, there is a momentum in ethnographic explorations of the arts in education in which “an increasing number of researchers have turned their attention to expressive practices and artistic spaces as contexts and tools for learning, identity construction and social mobilization (p. 269).” However, the distinction between ethnography of education and education by ethnography – i.e. an ethnographic pedagogy – is at least partly maintained within this momentum.

This research attempted an ethnographic approach to pedagogy, utilising digital media literacy for creative production, to facilitate new ways for students to critically engage with their own lived experiences in relation to their participation in formal ‘schooled’ learning. The pedagogic value of this type of ethnographic approach was assessed over two years of participatory fieldwork with three secondary schools and one further education college in the West Midlands of the United Kingdom, working with teachers in multiple curricular areas using ‘low-tech’ media literacy work with students. Our findings suggest that while there are clear benefits presented by this (digital) ethnographic pedagogy, for it to work in media literacy education there is a need for the creation of critical, dynamic “third spaces” (Bhabha 1994) for students to work in. The creation of these spaces is highly contingent on the respective classification and framing (Bernstein 1975) of the subject curriculum.

This research developed out of a series of ethnographic interventions into digital media education, including a European Union funded project on ethnographic social documentary as a transferable pedagogic tool (McDougall 2013) and a large scale field review of third space media literacies (Potter and McDougall 2017, see also McDougall et al. 2018). To apply this conceptual framing to a specific pedagogic context over a longer time period, the research aimed to address the following research questions:

1.

What pedagogical value is afforded by the use of ethnographic digital media making as a tool for creative production and critically reflexive media literacy?

2.

How can ethnographic pedagogy, in the form of creative digital media production, enhance participation in classroom learning?

3.

What is the potential for ‘low-tech’ creative production to transgress boundaries between curriculum areas and modes of literacy, learning and teaching?

4.

How can ethnographic digital media-making give ‘voice’ to learners and how is ‘voice’ socio-culturally framed within pedagogic and research discourses?
Discourses of Bilingualism: Facebooking in the Margins—Generating and Reflecting on Sexist, Classist, and Racist Backlash
Authors: Agnello Mary Frances , Brown Cherie
Published: November 2019

A look at a Facebook exchange about bilingual education and bilingualism prior to the last presidential election led to a polarization of bilingual empathizers with teaching backgrounds versus political conservatives promoting a pro-reactionary political agenda. Verbal jousting led to the exercise of power in racist, sexist, and classist discourses. The emergent problem of such exchanges appears to be to what degree we might consider engaging with naysayers in purposeful dialog if there is little hope of changing minds with facts. After several readings of the threaded and asynchronous conversation that ensued around postings involving the theme of acceptance of bilingual people in the U.S., three ideological impasses were found in the dialogue—attempts to be logical and open versus closed commentary with no room for discussion; attempts to consider history and current economic contexts in the U.S. versus dismissive sexist (as well as racist and classist) statements that demonize non-English speakers; and with political naysayers’ claiming bilingual education is expensive and unnecessary versus the view that bilingual education is a way forward for non-native English speakers.
Education in the Trump Era: Educators’ Mobilizations as Critical Public Pedagogy
Authors: Gounari Panayota
Published: November 2019

In this article, teacher mobilizations in 2018–2019 are presented and analyzed as a form of critical public pedagogy. Critical public pedagogy is an important theoretical framework to understand educator radicalization in the United States, in the context of the ongoing capitalist assault on public education, increased authoritarianism, the growing climate of hostility inside and outside schools, coupled with the emboldened rhetoric of hate and bigotry that is legitimized by the highest office in the nation.
Nomenclatural priority of the genus Linochilus over Piofontia (Asteraceae: Astereae)

Authors: SALDIVIA PATRICIO , VARGAS OSCAR M. , ORLOVICH DAVID A. , LORD JANICE M.
Published: November 2019

Linochilus Bentham (1845) has priority as the correct name for the recently reinstated genus Piofontia Cuatrecasas (1943) segregated from Diplostephium Kunth (1820). A brief taxonomic historical account is provided in order to explain the taxonomic problem. A list of 61 names within Linochilus is given, including 59 new combinations. The 60 combinations recently created for Piofontia are listed as synonyms.
A Humanized Cancer-Bone Metastasis Mouse Model Based on Silica Nanoparticles-Incorporated Human Demineralized Bone Matrix
Authors: Ye Genlan , Li Chuangkun , Zhao Xiaoliang , Wen Feng , Wang Leyu , Qiu Xiaozhong
Published: November 2019

Breast cancer tends to spread to other organs and bone metastasis has the highest frequency in breast cancer metastasis, while its mechanisms are not clear and the current treatments are not very effective. To better study the mechanisms and facilitate drug screening for breast cancer
bone metastasis, an in vivo mouse model needs to be constructed. However, the construction of the humanized mouse model for cancer bone metastasis which will mimick real interactions between cancer tissue and bone tissue in the human microenvironment remains a challenge. In this study,
we constructed a human engineering bone tissue composed with the human osteoblast-like cells (SaOS-2 cells) and the silica nanoparticlesincorporated human demineralized bone matrix (Si/DBM). The engineered bone was then transplanted into a nude mouse to build a humanized bone microenvironment.
The human breast cancer cells were then injected into the fat pads of the nude mouse to form an orthotopic tumor. The results showed that the engineered bone tissue-constructed humanized bone microenvironment had significant advantages when inducing human cancer cells to metastasize into the
engineered bone tissue. Further, the SaOS-2/Si/DBM had a stronger ability to entice cancer-bone metastasis through promoting osteogenesis compared to the SaOS-2/DBM. Accordingly, this study highlights a novel, facile and effective mouse model for human cancer-bone metastasis, which will provide
a platform to explore the mechanisms and anti-tumor drug screening for cancer-bone metastasis.
Fabrication of a Low-Coercivity, Large-Magnetoresistance PVA/Fe/Co/Ni Nanofiber Composite Using an Electrospinning Technique and Its Characterization
Authors: Robertsam A. , Victor Jaya N.
Published: November 2019

A nanofiber composite is a unique engineered material, which can impart new physical, chemical, and electrical properties. Among existing polymer composites, the metallic nanofiber composite has a significant role in biomedical applications. In this study, a metallic nanofiber composite
was fabricated using poly vinyl alcohol [PVA-(C2H4O)n] reinforced with ferric nitrate [Fe(NO3)3·9H2O], cobalt nitrate [Co(NO3)2·6H2O], and nickel acetate [C4H6NiO4·4H2O]
using a low-cost electrospinning process. The process parameters were optimized for fabricating uniform, bead-free, and substratefree fibers. The morphological features of the composite were evaluated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Hysteresis of the heat-treated composite was
studied using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). This study showed that the composite behaved as a ferromagnetic (intermediate) material with coercivity in the range 318–671 G for different wt.% of nickel. Pellets (8-mm diameter and 250-μm thickness) of this composite changed
the resistance by 18% when dispensed in a magnetic field of 1200 G at an ambient temperature. Based on a thermogravimetric analysis, the thermal stability and magnetoresistance property showed that the fabricated composite was suitable for developing a highly sensitive magnetic sensor, which
could be used in bio-sensing applications.
Insights into the Effect of Reactive Oxygen Species Regulation on Photocatalytic Performance via Construction of a Metal-Semiconductor Heterojunction
Authors: Shen Jun , Li Zhi-Jun , Hang Ze-Feng , Xu Su-Fan , Liu Qin-Qin , Tang Hua , Zhao Xue-Wei
Published: November 2019

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), as primary intermediates formed during photocatalytic reactions, are critical for a photocatalyst to realize high activity. The major objective of this study was to investigate the regulation of ROS involved in the photocatalytic degradation process via
constructing a typical metal-semiconductor hybrid heterojunction using Ag nanoparticles/anatase TiO2 as an example. Based on radical capturing, electron paramagnetic resonance, and electron spin resonance experiments, an increase in the available ROS can be achieved in the Ag/TiO2
heterojunction due to the fast separation of photogenerated carriers. In addition, due to the change in the electron transfer pathway, superoxide radicals (·O−2) are the dominant reactive species responsible for dye degradation using Ag/TiO2 rather
than hydroxyl radicals (·OH) as the main free radicals in pristine TiO2. This study offers fresh insight into the regulation of ROS in photodegradation via the construction of a Ag/TiO2 heterojunction.
Amino Acid Functionalized Hydrotalcites for Gene Silencing
Authors: Nundkumar Nirasha , Singh Sooboo , Singh Moganavelli
Published: November 2019

Hydrotalcites and amino acid functionalized hydrotalcites (aa-HTs) were synthesized using the co-precipitation method. These compounds were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
(FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). The optimal siRNA binding capacity was determined using gel retardation assays. Cytotoxicity studies using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay showed that the
siRNA:HT complexes were relatively non-cytotoxic to HeLa-tat-luc cells. Gene silencing studies showed that the aa-HTs elicited significantly higher levels of gene knockdown when compared to the non-functionalized HTs. Overall, these HTs have shown the potential to bind, protect and
efficiently deliver siRNA, in vitro.
Tailoring the Seebeck Coefficient of Spray-Coated Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): Poly(styrenesulfonate) Films with Nitrogen Doped Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Sarabia-Riquelme Ruben , Gomez Camila , Qian Dali , Craddock John , Weisenberger Matthew
Published: November 2019

The thermoelectric properties of flexible thin films fabricated from two commercial poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) formulations filled with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and nitrogen-doped MWCNT (N-MWCNT) were investigated. A simple spray-coating
method for the fabrication of such flexible films on a polyethylene terephthalate substrate was developed. While increasing the MWCNT concentration had little effect on the thermoelectric properties, increasing the N-MWCNT concentration resulted in the emergence of an overall n-type
semiconducting behavior and, thereby, tailoring the Seebeck coefficient of the composite films from p-type to n-type was shown. The Seebeck coefficient of the two PEDOT:PSS formulation films was inverted from 4.1 to −13.3 μV/K and from 12.5 to −10.9 μV/K
respectively, with increasing N-MWCNT concentration from 0 to 95 wt.%. The importance of these results for future work stems from the possibility of tailoring the behavior of a typical p-type polymer such as PEDOT:PSS and the effect that the polymer conductive grade has on the switching
concentration.
Excitation Density Dependent Photoluminescence Studies on Homo-Epitaxial GaN Nanowall Networks Grown by Laser Assisted Molecular Beam Epitaxy
Authors: Ramesh Ch. , Pandey J. , Tyagi P. , Soni A. , Senthil Kumar M. , Kushvaha S. S.
Published: November 2019

The optical properties of laser-assisted molecular beam epitaxy grown homo-epitaxialGaN nanowall networks (NWNs) were investigated using power dependent photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and compared with homo-epitaxial GaN thin film. The pore size and tip width of GaN NWN sample
is ˜120–180 nm and 10–15 nm, respectively. The ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy study shows that the GaN NWNs have low optical light reflection and minimum Fabry-Perot cavity effect than GaN film. The room temperature PL spectroscopy reveals that the GaN NWNs possesses enhanced
band gap of 3.51 eV with blue shift of 90 meV than the GaN film (3.42 eV). The excitation density dependent PL spectroscopy measurements reveal that the GaN NWNs nanowall and near band emission (NBE) peak position and its linewidth invariant. The intensity of NBE peak for GaN film and nanowalls
varies linearly whereas NBE to defect related yellow luminescence peak intensity ratio shows a non-linear variation on the excitation density. The excitation density in PL measurements plays a key role when the sample quality compared on the basis of PL data.
Role of Temperature and Growth Period in the Synthesis of Hydrothermally Grown TiO2 Nanorods
Authors: Soosaimanickam Ananthakumar , Yilmaz Pelin , Li Xuan , Briscoe Joe , Anderson Ann-Louise , Dunn Steve , Sridharan Moorthy Babu
Published: November 2019

Highly uniformed, surfactant free and vertically oriented titanium-di-oxide (TiO2) nanorods were grown on pre-treated fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) using hydrothermal method through titanium tetra butoxide (Ti(OBu)4) as titanium source. Three different temperatures
130 °C, 150 °C and 180 °C were followed to grow the nanorods at a fixed reaction time of 4 h. The prepared TiO2 nanorods were annealed at the temperatures of 550 °C and 600 °C for 3 h. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that obtained nanorods exhibit pure
rutile phase. From scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, it was found that increasing temperature led to decreasing the diameter of the nanorods. In addition to these, formation of hierarchical type TiO2 nanorods was also observed at 130 °C. UV-visible spectra analysis
was carried out to find the influence of diameter of the nanorods on its optical properties. The plausible mechanism of the growth process is also discussed.
Self-Power Saving Technique in State Machine Circuit of Automatic Teller Machine Application
Authors: Vo Minh-Huan
Published: November 2019

In a finite state machine (FSM), there is only one active state while the other states are in idle states simultaneously. Thus, only one state is required to power up, the other states can be switched off to save active power. Normally, a backward traversing algorithm is used to label
the power gating cells and extract the enable signals for combinational logic gates in reducing the active power consumption. This conventional power gating technique uses the extracted enable signals to turn ON/OFF these inserted NMOS switches. Then, a power management unit is required to
manage these enable signals and detect the idle periods. The proposed self-power saving technique uses internally generated enable signals from state transitions to control NMOS switches inserted under the ground rail of each state. All internal enable signals are created to activate/deactivate
the machine states at the same time. Based on the next state of the FSM, a decoder creates the enable signals for each state to do power gating in an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) application. The isolation cell is designed to isolate the current state and next state for retaining data. Simulation
results show the power saving from 31.99% at a WAIT state to 82.87% at a LOCK state, depending on the current state of the finite state machine. On average, the power loss is saved up to 63.2% in the FSM. An overhead area is about 12% compared to the conventional technique while timing overhead
is under 5%.
Benchmarking the Raw Model-Generated Background Forecast in Rapidly Updated Surface Temperature Analyses. Part I: Stations
Authors: Hamill Thomas M.
Published: November 2019

High-quality, high-resolution, hourly unbiased surface (2 m) temperature analyses are needed for many applications, including training and validation of statistical postprocessing applications. These temperature analyses are often generated through data assimilation procedures, whereby a background short-range gridded forecast is adjusted to newly available observations. Even with frequent updates to newly available observations, surface-temperature analysis errors and biases can be comparatively large relative to errors and biases of midtropospheric variables, especially over land, despite more near-surface in situ observations. Larger near-surface errors may have several causes, including biased background forecasts and the spatial heterogeneity of surface temperatures that results from subgrid-scale surface, vegetation, land-use, and terrain variations. Are biased raw background forecasts the predominant cause of surface temperature analysis errors? Part I of this two-part series describes a simple benchmark for evaluating the error characteristics of short-term (1 h) raw model background surface temperature forecasts. For stations with a relatively complete time series of data, it is possible to generate an hourly, diurnally, and seasonally dependent observation climatology at a station. The deviation of the current hour’s temperature observation with respect to this hour’s and Julian day’s climatology is added to the climatology for the next hour. For contiguous U.S. stations in July 2015, the station benchmark was lower in error than interpolated 1-h high-resolution numerical predictions of surface temperature from NOAA’s High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) system, although not including full postprocessing. For August 2018, 1-h HRRR forecasts were much improved when tested against the station benchmark.
The European Federation of the Pharmaceutical Industry and Associations’ Research and Animal Welfare Group: Assessing and benchmarking ‘Culture of Care’ in the context of using animals for scientific purpose
Authors: Robinson Sally , Sparrow Sue , Williams Bella , Decelle Thierry , Bertelsen Thomas , Reid Kirsty , Chlebus Magda
Published: November 2019

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations’ Research and Animal Welfare group members reflected on the concept of a Culture of Care in relation to animal care and use and on differences in its understanding and application across European pharmaceutical companies. The term ‘Culture of Care’ is used across different regions and organizations but rarely with any defined indicators to support working practice.

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations’ Research and Animal Welfare group has developed a framework to help organizations identify gaps or potential areas for improvement in support of a positive Culture of Care.

The framework is a tool that identifies five areas of focus for a Culture of Care: company values; strategic approach at establishment level; implementation structures; staff support; and animal care and procedures. The framework is intended as an aid for continuous improvement, highlighting where indicators of good practice are present. We expect it to provide points of reflection and ideas for those looking to implement a Culture of Care in a structured way, while facilitating a professional and strategic approach. To prevent it supporting a ‘tick-box’ exercise, the framework must not be used as an auditing tool, but as a starting point for consideration and discussion about how care manifests within the context and constraints of individual establishments.
Combined Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Selective Motor Training Enhances Balance in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Mahmoodifar Elham , Sotoodeh Mohammad Saber
Published: November 2019

Previous studies have shown that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) can facilitate the consolidation of motor skills in people who are typically developed, especially when tDCS is combined with goal-oriented exercises. Yet, the effect of tDCS on the motor skills of children with autism spectrum disorder is unknown. This study sought to investigate the effects of combined anodal tDCS and selective motor training on balance among 18 children with autism spectrum disorder (aged 6–14 years) who we randomly assigned to equal-sized experimental and control groups. The experimental group practiced motor training to improve balance after receiving 1.5 mA anodal tDCS over the left M1 for 20 minutes before each of 10 motor training sessions. The control (sham) group underwent a similar protocol with identical motor training, but tDCS was only artificially administered to them. We evaluated participants’ balance at baseline and after training. Data analysis showed that both anodal tDCS plus motor skill training and motor skill training with sham tDCS had significant positive impacts on balance, but tDCS participants who received both actual tDCS and motor skill training performed significantly better than those who received SHAM tDCS and motor skill training. These preliminary findings suggest that tDCS may enhance motor skill training for children with autism spectrum disorder, but replications with larger samples involving participants with varying levels of autistic symptoms and varied tDCS stimulation polarity are needed to affirm the practical use of this noninvasive brain stimulation.
Impact of Complex Quality-Interventions on Patient Outcome: A Systematic Overview of Systematic Reviews
Authors: Walther Felix , Kuester Denise , Schmitt Jochen
Published: November 2019

Quality of care and the increasing strategies to its promotion, especially in inpatient settings, led to the question which quality-interventions work best and which do not. The aim was to summarize and critically appraise the evidence on the effects of structure- and/or process-related quality-interventions on patient outcome in predominantly controlled and inpatient settings. A systematic overview of systematic reviews after electronic searches in Medline, Embase, Cinahl, and PsycINFO, supplemented by hand search and expert survey, was conducted. From a total of 1559 identified records, 37 reviews fulfilled the inclusion criteria. 26 reviews assessed process-related quality-interventions, 6 structure-related quality-interventions, and 5 combined structure- and process-related quality-interventions. In all, 19 reviews reported pooled effect estimates (meta-analysis). Based on the evidence of this systematic overview, stroke units and pathways can be recommended. Although patient-relevant improvements for interprofessional approaches and discharge planning have been reported, pooled effect estimated evidence are currently missing for these and other quality-interventions.
The Use of Technologies Among Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Barriers and Challenges
Authors: Ghanouni Parisa , Jarus Tal , Zwicker Jill G. , Lucyshyn Joseph
Published: November 2019

Despite the rapid growth in development of technology, such as software or hardware devices, its implementation among stakeholders working with individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is slow. This suggests that there might be a number of challenges that hinder technology adoption or its continued usage. The current project aimed to investigate stakeholders’ perceptions on potential barriers in adopting technology. We involved 17 stakeholders, including parents of children with ASD, service providers, and administrators of ASD organizations, in interviews. Thematic analysis yielded three themes: (a) making the right choice, (b) apprehension and concern about uptake, and (c) external obstacles to implementation. This project was the first study to involve key stakeholders to determine components that take place in utilization and adoption of technologies in the field of ASD.
Incidental Ultrastructural Findings in the Sural Nerve and Dorsal Root Ganglion of Aged Control Sprague Dawley Rats in a Nonclinical Carcinogenicity Study
Authors: Meier William A. , Linn Michael J. , Davis Wendell P. , Sutherland Jessica E. , Sharma Alok K.
Published: November 2019

Xenobiotic-induced peripheral nerve damage is a growing concern. Identifying relative risks that a new drug may cause peripheral nerve injury over long periods of administration is gathering importance in the evaluation of animal models. Separating out age-related changes in peripheral nerves of rats caused by compression injury from drug-induced effects has been difficult. Biopsy of the sural nerve is utilized in humans for investigations of peripheral neuropathy, because it is largely removed from the effects of nerve compression. This study used transmission electron microscopy to identify incidental findings in the sural nerves and dorsal root ganglia of aged control rats over time. The goal was to establish a baseline understanding of the range of possible changes that could be noted in controls compared to rats treated with any new investigative drug. In this evaluation, most sural nerve fibers from aged control rats had few ultrastructural abnormalities of pathologic significance. However, glycogenosomes, polyglucosan bodies, swollen mitochondria, autolysosomes, split myelin, Schwann cell processes, and endoneural macrophages with phagocytosed debris (considered an indication of ongoing degenerative changes) were occasionally noted.
Brain atrophy in cerebral small vessel diseases: Extent, consequences, technical limitations and perspectives: The HARNESS initiative
Authors: De Guio François , Duering Marco , Fazekas Franz , De Leeuw Frank-Erik , Greenberg Steven M , Pantoni Leonardo , Aghetti Agnès , Smith Eric E , Wardlaw Joanna , Jouvent Eric
Published: November 2019

Brain atrophy is increasingly evaluated in cerebral small vessel diseases. We aim at systematically reviewing the available data regarding its extent, correlates and cognitive consequences. Given that in this context, brain atrophy measures might be biased, the first part of the review focuses on technical aspects. Thereafter, data from the literature are analyzed in light of these potential limitations, to better understand the relationships between brain atrophy and other MRI markers of cerebral small vessel diseases. In the last part, we review the links between brain atrophy and cognitive alterations in patients with cerebral small vessel diseases.
Epidemiology and determinants of chronic migraine: A real-world cohort study, with nested case-control analysis, in primary care in Italy
Authors: Marconi Ettore , Pecchioli Serena , Nica Mihaela , Colombo Delia , Mazzoleni Francesco , De Cesaris Francesco , Geppetti Pierangelo , Cricelli Claudio , Lapi Francesco
Published: November 2019

Background

The proper identification of chronic migraine is one of the mainstays for general practitioners. This study therefore aims to assess the epidemiology and determinants of chronic migraine in primary care in Italy by testing five operational case definition algorithms.

Methods

Five case definition algorithms defining chronic migraine were developed to estimate the prevalence and incidence rate of chronic migraine in the Health Search database. For each algorithm, we conducted a nested case-control analysis to quantify the level of association between certain determinants and incident cases of chronic migraine.

Results

Considering a cohort of 1,091,032 patients (52% were females), the prevalence rate of chronic migraine increased from the first to the fifth case definition algorithm ranging from 0.03 to 0.28%. No 95% confidence interval overlapped the others, and every confidence interval reliably maintained 2% precision. Incidence rates showed a growing trend (0.008–0.056 per 100,000 person-years) as well. All case definition algorithms were able to capture sex (i.e. female) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) overuse as statistically significant determinants of incident cases of chronic migraine. Depression was associated with a statistically significant increase of incidence rate of chronic migraine only for two case definition algorithms.

Conclusion

Our findings show that prevalence and incidence rate of chronic migraine are underestimated when compared with current literature. On the other hand, we found acceptable correctness of chronic migraine definition in the light of the association with well-known determinants.
The political unconscious of practice theory: Populism and democracy
Authors: Strand Michael
Published: November 2019

This article attempts a self-clarification of practice theory by providing a genetic history of ‘practice’ as a figure in social thought. This locates two different versions of practice theory in Marx’s ‘practical question’ and Hobbes’ ‘Kingdom of Darkness’, respectively, and shows how both historically comprise a practical critique of testing reason. This article examines how the practical critique performs a dialectic of politicization and depoliticization that finds family resemblances and paradoxical alignments between the political left and right. The article evaluates the strength of the practical critique and asks whether it results in a power politics with both left and right versions.
Influence of tire blowout on the collision of a light pickup truck with a guardrail safety barrier
Authors: Sassi Abdelmonaam , Sassi Sadok , Tarlochan Faris
Published: November 2019

This main purpose of this work is to investigate, through a finite-element simulation, the effect of tire blowout on the collision of a light pickup truck with a guardrail, at a speed of 100 km/h. The finite-element model was calibrated against a dynamic test carried out by the Texas Transportation Institute. Four cases of individual tire blowout were considered. Among these, the case of the left front tire was found to be the most critical one, resulting in a pitch angle of 24°, a roll angle of 12°, and a yaw angle of 30°. For this critical case, the results showed that the deflated tire trapped in the guardrail, which created more interaction between the vehicle and the guardrail beam. These challenging crash conditions were found to be more crucial for the stability of the pickup compared with the fully inflated tire scenario.
Forecast of short-term wind power based on a novel hybrid method
Authors: Wu Dinghui , Huang Haibo , Xiao Ren , Gao Cong
Published: November 2019

Short-term wind power forecasting plays an important role in power generation, because it prevents the power system operation from its uncertain and intermittent nature. This article proposes a novel method for short-term wind power forecasting, which combines the wavelet transform, particle swarm optimization dynamic gray model and Lyapunov exponent prediction method. First, the approach decomposes the wind power curve into the high-frequency and low-frequency curves by wavelet transform, which represent the detail and tendency signals, respectively. Then, we use the proposed particle swarm optimization dynamic gray model to forecast the low-frequency curve with its smooth and periodic outline. Moreover, Lyapunov exponent prediction method is used to predict high-frequency curves, which possess the chaos characteristics. Finally, we obtain the wind power forecasting result from the combination of the predicted low and high frequencies. The experiment of four seasons in an US wind farm validates that the proposed method is effective in solving the short-term wind power forecasting problem. The obtained results, discussed comprehensively, show that the hybrid method has better prediction accuracy than the other methods, such as artificial neural network, persistence, and autoregressive integrated moving average model, with the lowest average mean absolute percentage error is 8.07% and the average root mean square error is 0.8164 over four seasons.
Development and Implementation of the Family Caregiver Decision Guide
Authors: Robinson Carole A. , Bottorff Joan L. , Pesut Barbara , Zerr Janelle
Published: November 2019

Care provided by family is the backbone of palliative care in Canada. The critical roles performed by caregivers can at the same time be intensely meaningful and intensely stressful. However, experiences of caregiving can be enhanced when caregivers feel they are making informed and reflective decisions about the options available to them. With this in mind, the purpose of this five-phase research project was to create a Family Caregiver Decision Guide (FCDG). The Guide entails four steps: thinking about the current caregiving situation, imagining how the caregiving situation may change, exploring available options, and considering best options if caregiving needs change. The FCDG was based on available evidence and was developed and refined using focus groups, cognitive interviewing, and a feasibility and acceptability study. Finally, an interactive version of the Guide was created for online use ( https://www.caregiverdecisionguide.ca ). In this article, we describe the development, evaluation, and utility of the FCDG.
Holding Secrets While Living With Life-Threatening Illness: Normalizing Patients’ Decisions to Reveal or Conceal
Authors: Bruce Anne , Beuthin Rosanne , Sheilds Laurene , Molzahn Anita , Schick-Makaroff Kara
Published: November 2019

Communicating openly and directly about illness comes easily for some patients, whereas for others fear of disclosure keeps them silent. In this article, we discuss findings about the role of keeping secrets regarding health and illness. These findings were part of a larger project on how people with life-threatening illnesses re-story their lives. A narrative approach drawing on Frank’s dialogical narrative analysis and Riesman’s inductive approach was used. Interviews were conducted with 32 participants from three populations: chronic kidney disease, HIV/AIDS, and cancer. Findings include case exemplars which suggest keeping secrets is a social practice that acts along continuums of connecting–isolating, protecting–harming, and empowering–imprisoning. Keeping secrets about illness is a normative practice that is negotiated with each encounter. Findings call health-care providers to rethink the role of secrets for patients by considering patient privilege, a person’s right to take the lead in revealing or concealing their health and illness experience.
Reconsidering Dexmedetomidine for Sedation in the Critically Ill: Implications of the SPICE III Trial
Authors: Farina Nicholas , Alaniz Cesar
Published: November 2019

Dexmedetomidine is a sedative agent that has gained popularity for use in the intensive care unit over the past 20 years. Guidelines recommend dexmedetomidine as a first-line agent to achieve light sedation in mechanically ventilated adults. Recently, the SPICE III (Sedation Practice in Intensive Care Evaluation III) trial was published. This was a randomized controlled trial comparing initial sedation with dexmedetomidine with usual care sedation in adult patients receiving mechanical ventilation. The results of this trial have both validated and contradicted previous findings about dexmedetomidine. This editorial examines the merits of the SPICE III trial and the role of dexmedetomidine in practice following its publication.
Comparison Between Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy and Local Corticosteroid Injection for Plantar Fasciitis
Authors: Xu Dingli , Jiang Weiyu , Huang Dichao , Hu Xudong , Wang Yang , Li Haojie , Zhou Shuyi , Gan Kaifeng , Ma Weihu
Published: November 2019

Background:

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a nonsurgical treatment for plantar fasciitis (PF) that has had satisfactory clinical outcomes. However, local corticosteroid injection (LCI) is often regarded as first-line treatment of PF, but there have been few studies comparing the 2 methods. Therefore, we compared the effect of ESWT and LCI on patients with PF.

Methods:

This was a block randomized controlled study comparing 49 patients treated with ESWT and 47 patients treated with LCI from January 2017 to December 2018 who were followed for 6 months. We evaluated the clinical outcomes in the 2 groups, including average pain, first-step pain, plantar fascia thickness, and Foot Function Index, Chinese version of the PF patients.

Results:

All patients had pain relief and function improvement after treatment, whereas the LCI group did not maintain significant clinical improvement at the 3-month follow-up. The patients in the ESWT group had a significantly better clinical outcome with better duration of improvement than the LCI group.

Conclusion:

For PF patients, both ESWT and LCI resulted in clinical improvement but EWST provided longer relief than LCI.

Level of Evidence:

Level II, prospective comparative study.