bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Medical Diagnosis of Upper Urinary Calculi Based on Image Filtering in Ureteroscopic Lithotripsy
Authors: Hu Qiyi , Liang Hui , Wang Zhu , Deng Qiong , Zhang Jianwen , Wang Hongliang , Zhi Fan , Zhao Hongjun
Published: February 2019

Objective: Based on improved image processing techniques, we investigate the therapeutic effect and safety of a flexible ureteroscope applied in treatment of upper urinary calculi with and without preoperative ureteral stent, and analyzed their outcome based on CT and ultrasound
medical imaging technology, as well as other clinical data. Methods: These identified patients were randomly divided into two groups, 89 patients suffering from upper urinary calculi in Group A were treated with flexible ureteroscopy lithotripsy and Holmium laser, without preoperative
ureteral stent. On the other hand, another 114 patients in Group B received preoperative ureteral stent. In terms of measurement indicators, the total operation time, hospitalization time, hospital costs, success rate of operation, clearance rate of stone, occurrence rate of complications,
and the probability of a second operation were recorded, respectively. In order to verify the effect of the operation, we performed Computed Tomography (CT), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Ultrasound Examination on the patient before and after the operation, and processed the image
by downhill filtering algorithm and adaptive median filtering to ensure the validity and accuracy of the experiment. Results: By analyzing other clinical data such as medical images, it is known when making comparisons between two groups, there were no significant difference in terms
of stone size, stone site, and success rate of operation (97.8%, 87/89 for group A; 100%, 114/144 for group B). In further, the operation time of group A was longer than that of group B (65.46 ± 10.17 min vs. 59.58 ± 9.25 min, P < 0 05), and the hospitalization time
in group A was much shorter (6.53 ± 0.89 d vs. 10.16 ± 1.50 d, P < 0.01). The clearance rate of stone at 3-day post-surgery in group A was much lower than that of group B (36%, 32/89 vs. 51.7%, 59/114, P < 0.05). In addition, the clearance rate of stone at
1-month post-surgery (84.3%, 75/89 in group A vs. 85.1%, 97/114 in group B), and the occurrence rate of complications (21.3%, 19/89 in group A vs. 20.1%, 23/114 in group B) showed no significantly difference (P > 0.05). Besides, the probabilities of a second operation in group A
and B were 14.6% (19/89) and 20.1% (23/114), respectively. And no significantly difference could be drawn according to statistical analysis. Conclusion: The application of flexible ureteroscope applied in treatment of upper urinary calculi without preoperative ureteral stent was economical,
safe and effective.
Particle Image Velocimetry on the Flow Analysis of Stenosed Cardiovascular Structures
Authors: Zhang Mingliang , Yin Tao , Zhuo Xiaoqing , Zhang Yongtao
Published: February 2019

In this paper, we present Particle images velocimetry (PIV), based on digital scanning of illuminated fluid suspended microscopic glass seeds, together with flow fields generated by a cross-correlation technique and a standard motion estimation algorithm. Flow information calculated
by both methods are presented. The experiments carried out here demonstrate the capability of flow in estimating parametric motion field using particle images. However, there is a need to have a comparison technique that detects the deviation of the flow fields based on the different computational
modelling schemes to determine its accuracy. The study carried out by us adequately covers the different computational aspects of particle image velocimetry and presents the fundamental tools for post-processing and analysing cardiovascular structures effectively and efficiently.
Color Doppler Ultrasound Evaluation of Internal Jugular Vein Before Radical Neck Dissection
Authors: Chen Zhiyong , Zha Binshan , Li Yan , Chen Yongchao
Published: February 2019

Objective: There is a great controversy about whether the internal jugular vein (IJV) should be retained during radical neck dissection. In this study, the right and left IJV under different body position were observed by color Doppler ultrasound, in order to provide a experimental
basis for the preservation of IJV in neck dissections. Methods: A total of 40 patients with thyroid cancer undergoing radical neck dissection were examined in this study. The hemodynamic data such as section area, velocity, and volume of blood flow were measured by Doppler in supine
and sitting position under quiet breath. Results: In supine position, the cross sectional area, the velocity and the blood flow volume in the right side were 58%, 23% and 91% more than left side respectively. The right side advantage, symmetrical, and left side advantage of IJV was
in 65%, 25%, and 10% of patients. The blood flow of bilateral IJV was 74% of total cerebral outflow. The IJV predominate, balanced type, and no-IJV predominate cerebral venous drainage was in 73%, 23% and 5% of patients. In sitting position, the section area, the velocity and the blood flow
volume in the right side were 29%, 35% and 56% more than left side respectively. The right side advantage, symmetrical, and left side advantage of IJV was in 45%, 45%, and 10% of patients. The blood flow of bilateral IJV was 23% of total cerebral outflow. The balanced type and no-IJV predominate
cerebral venous drainage was in 23% and 78% of patients. Conclusions: There are side advantage of IJV. With quiet breathing, IJV is not the main pathway of cerebral venous drainage in sitting position. The preoperative ultrasound is useful to design the individualized surgical approach
for the radical neck dissections.
Evaluation of Collateral Circulation in Cirrhosis by Computed Tomography Portal Venography
Authors: Wen Jing , Zhang Yingzhan
Published: February 2019

Objective: Cirrhotic portal hypertension can lead to extensive collateral circulation in the portal vein system, and the esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EVB) can easily lead to death. Computed tomography portal venography (CTPV) can display the composition of portal vein noninvasively.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of CTPV in collateral circulation of cirrhosis and to predict the risk of EVB. Methods: A total of 37 patients with cirrhosis in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. All patients underwent CTPV and gastroscope
to observe and classify varicose veins. The consistency of the two methods was analyzed. The diameters of patients with major tributaries of portal vein were compared between the hemorrhagic and non-hemorrhagic patients. The receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate
the predictive value for EBV. Patients with varicose veins underwent endoscopic esophagogastric variceal ligation. Results: The tributaries of portal vein and the collateral circulation was showed clearly in CTPV. The esophagogastric varices was found in 30 patients, and the Kim grades
I, II and III were 8, 10 and 12 respectively. The varicose was found in 28 patients under gastroscope. The CTPV and endoscopy were highly consistent in grading of esophagogastric varices (kappa 0.674). Compared with the non-hemorrhagic patients, the diameter of SMV, LGV and SV in hemorrhagic
patients increased significantly. The ROC curves of predicted EBU by these diameters were 0.64, 0.76, and 0.83, respectively. There was no statistical difference between the diameter of portal vein and its tributaries before and after endoscopic variceal ligation. Conclusion: The CTPV
can show the collateral vessels of portal vein in patients with cirrhosis, evaluate the degree of varicosity, and determine the risk of varicose rupture.
Medical Image Analysis Based on Endoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation Catheter System on the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Authors: Liang Wei-Tao , Li Tao , Wang Zhong-Gao , Wu Ji-Min , Hu Zhi-Wei , Yan Chao , Qian Yong-Jun
Published: February 2019

Objective: Gastroesophagel reflux disease is not readily diagnosed using X-ray or even computer tomography. This study was to evaluate the endoscopic imaging for the radiofrequency ablation (RA) on the diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Methods:
We allocated 85 to mechanical RA and 80 patients to LTF. Primary outcome measures, including symptom scores of heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, belching, hiccup, cough and asthma as well as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) use, were analyzed. Results: There were 125 patients following
mechanical radiofrequency ablation procedure (N = 60) or LTF (N = 65) included in the final analysis. The symptom scores were all significantly decreased as compared with the corresponding values before the two procedures in both groups (p < 0.05). After mechanical
RA procedure and LTF, 30 (50%) and 45 (69.2%) patients in each group achieved complete PPIs therapy independence (p = 0.028). Comparing with LTF, the mechanical RA procedure had less effect on improving typical symptoms of heartburn and chest pain and the rate of reoperation (13% vs.
0, p = 0.003). Conclusions: Comparing with LTF in controlling GERD symptoms, the mechanical radiofrequency ablation procedure can offer equivalent relief on atypical symptoms. However, it has less effect on improving PPIs independence and avoiding reoperation.
Flow Cytometry for Evaluation of EGFR-mTOR Signal Way in the Growth Inhibitory Rate of Hela Cell Under Low Glucose and High Lactic Acid Environment
Authors: Ping Li , Mingzhu Li , Yuchun Lü
Published: February 2019

Objective: To discuss the effect of EGFR-mTOR signal way in the adaption of cervical carcinoma cell in low glucose and high lactic acid. Methods: Hela cells were cultured in four conditions: normal glucose (NG, glucose 10 mmol/L), low glucose (LG, glucose 3 mmol/L), high
lactic acid (HL, lactic acid 2.5 mmol/L) and low glucose and high lactic acid (LGHL, glucose 10 mmol/L, lactic acid 2.5 mmol/L). Growth inhibitory rate of Hela cell was determined by CCK-8; Flow cytometry (FCM) was performed to evaluate the cell cycle; Results: Compared with the rate
in NG, the rate in low glucose and high lactic acid was significantly increased (P < 0.01). Compared with the rate in NG, the rate of G1/G0 was increased in HL and in LGHL (P < 0.01, P < 0.01); the rate of G1/G0 in LG didn't have significant difference; the rates
of G2/M in HL and in LGHL were decreased, and the G2/M rate in LG was increased, but all of them had no statistically significant. The rates of S were decreased in HL, LG and LGHL (P < 0.05, no statistically significant, P < 0.05). The expression level of EGFR mRNA in Hela
was decreased and the level of mTOR mRNA was increased in HL (both had no statistically significant), when compared with the levels in NG. The expression level of EGFR mRNA was decreased (P < 0.05) and the level of mTOR mRNA was a little increased (no statistically significant) in
LG; while the EGFR and mTOR expression levels were increased in LGHL (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Low glucose and high lactic acid environment is conducive to Hela cell survival, and can promote the expression of EGFR and mTOR.
Correction and Accuracy of High- and Low-Resolution CTD Data from Animal-Borne Instruments
Authors: Siegelman Lia , Roquet Fabien , Mensah Vigan , Rivière Pascal , Pauthenet Etienne , Picard Baptiste , Guinet Christophe
Published: February 2019

Most available CTD Satellite Relay Data Logger (CTD-SRDL) profiles are heavily compressed before satellite transmission. High-resolution profiles recorded at the sampling frequency of 0.5 Hz are, however, available upon physical retrieval of the logger. Between 2014 and 2018, several loggers deployed on elephant seals in the Southern Ocean have been set in continuous recording mode, capturing both the ascent and descent for over 60 profiles per day during several months, opening new horizons for the physical oceanography community. Taking advantage of a new dataset made of seven such loggers, a postprocessing procedure is proposed and validated to improve the quality of all CTD-SRDL data: that is, both high-resolution profiles and compressed low-resolution ones. First, temperature and conductivity are corrected for a thermal mass effect. Then salinity spiking and density inversion are removed by adjusting salinity while leaving temperature unchanged. This method, applied here to more than 50 000 profiles, yields significant and systematic improvements in both temperature and salinity, particularly in regions of rapid temperature variation. The continuous high-resolution dataset is then used to provide updated accuracy estimates of CTD-SRDL data. For high-resolution data, accuracies are estimated to be of ±0.02°C for temperature and ±0.03 g kg−1 for salinity. For low-resolution data, transmitted data points have similar accuracies; however, reconstructed temperature profiles have a reduced accuracy associated with the vertical interpolation of ±0.04°C and a nearly unchanged salinity accuracy of ±0.03 g kg−1.
Orbital Complications of Rhinosinusitis in the Adult Population: Analysis of Cases Presenting to a Tertiary Medical Center Over a 13-Year Period
Authors: El Mograbi Aiman , Ritter Amit , Najjar Esmat , Soudry Ethan
Published: February 2019

Background:

Orbital complications of rhinosinusitis in adults are scarcely discussed in the literature.

Objective:

To review our experience with the management of orbital complications of rhinosinusitis in the adult patient population and identify key factors in the characteristics and management of these patients.

Design:

Retrospective case series during the years 2004 to 2016 in a tertiary referral center including all patients with rhinosinusitis and orbital complications.

Main Outcomes and Measures:

Severity of complications, risk factors, clinical, imaging and microbiological data, treatment outcomes.

Results:

Seventy patients were identified. Median age at diagnosis was 38 years. In 57%, complications were associated with acute rhinosinusitis and in 43% with chronic rhinosinusitis, most of whom had a history of previous sinus surgery. Thirty-five percent of patients received antibiotics prior to admission. The majority of the previously operated patients (61%) had some form of orbital wall dehiscence noted on imaging. Preseptal cellulitis was the most common complication (61.5%) encountered, followed by orbital cellulitis (23%), sub-periosteal abscess (11.5%), orbital abscess (3%), and cavernous sinus thrombosis (1.5%). Gram-positive bacteria were more commonly isolated from acute rhinosinusitis patients and gram-negative bacteria from chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients. Complete recovery was noted in all patients, of whom 85% were managed conservatively. All, but 1 patient, with an abscess or cavernous sinus thrombosis required surgical drainage. Older age was the only risk factor identified for severe complications.

Conclusions:

In contrast to the pediatric population, CRS is very common in adults with orbital complications of rhinosinusitis, with previous sinus surgery and orbital wall dehiscence being noticeably common. Older patients are at risk for more severe complications. Conservative treatment suffices in patients with preseptal and orbital cellulitis. In more advanced stages, surgical drainage is advocated with excellent results. Larger cohort studies are needed to further investigate this patient group.
Demedicalizing the Aftermath of Sexual Assault: Toward a Radical Humanistic Approach
Authors: Peters Shannon M.
Published: February 2019

An entrenched assumption in the mental health field is that if left “untreated” the aftermath of sexual assault will inevitably lead to some diagnosable form of emotional distress. This assumption has focused the search for pathology on individual survivors rather than systems and led to societal pressure for medical or psychotherapeutic treatment following unwanted sexual experiences in the United States and globally. Humanistic psychology is grounded in an existential phenomenological approach that privileges agency and a sociopolitical context of lived experience. As such, it has great overlap with the social justice mission of liberation psychology and is well equipped to respond to sexual assault survivors and the oppressive and patriarchal systems that perpetuate gender-based violence. This article explores the rising use of neoliberal medicalized frameworks to respond to sexual assault in therapy, analyzing both positive and negative aspects of medicalization. Implications for responses to the global prevalence of sexual violence are discussed. Suggestions for alternative epistemic and therapeutic approaches that can be used by humanistic psychologists and that aim to enhance an appreciation for the context of survivor’s experiences are provided.
Killing methods in Sicilian Mafia families
Authors: Mondello Cristina , Cardia Luigi , Ventura Spagnolo Elvira
Published: February 2019

The Sicilian Mafia is a criminal organisation founded in Sicily which is an island south of the Italian mainland in the Mediterranean Sea. Until recently, this organization was responsible for many murders and bombings. However, recently, based on the investigations known as the “Mare Nostrum” operation, the Supreme Court convicted 67 people and sent them to prison. Some defendants were found guilty of as many as 39 murders. This article reviews the forensic analysis that was used when investigating responsibility for these Mafia murders. Our review is based on the court documents and the ballistic investigations which were carried out to evaluate the reliability of “repented” or “pentiti” statements. The murder victims were almost all men but one was a woman all of whom had gunshot lesions; in many cases, the fatal injuries were to the head and face. Ballistic analysis showed that in more than half of these murders, more than one weapon was used. In conclusion, the forensic analysis of the murders shows the Sicilian inter-families’ dynamics and their characteristic operating methods.
Dominant Language Acquisition in Destination Countries: Structure, Agency and Reflexivity
Authors: Netto Gina , Hudson Maria , Kamenou-Aigbekaen Nicolina , Sosenko Filip
Published: February 2019

This article advances understanding of the structural and agentic factors which influence how migrants in low-paid work reflexively acquire the dominant language of destination countries. Bourdieu’s theories on the symbolic power of language and habitus, and theories of reflexivity by Archer and others underpin our analysis of how migrants acquire English in the UK. Analysis of data generated from in-depth qualitative interviews with 31 migrants from EU and non-EU countries in low-paid work reveals that the agency of migrants in increasing proficiency in the language is shaped by access to resources, conscious and unconscious reflexive processes, aspects of embodiment and perceptions of identity by the self and others. We argue that closer attention to the social, political and economic context in which migrants acquire the dominant language of destination countries is needed, as well as greater awareness of the multi-dimensional nature of reflexivity and the constraints on agency.
Pth moment input-to-state stability of stochastic impulsive switched delayed systems
Authors: Gao Lijun , Wang Shengyan
Published: February 2019

This paper investigates the pth moment input-to-state stability (ISS) and the pth moment integral input-to-state stability (iISS) of stochastic impulsive switched delayed system with delayed impulses. By employing the method of multiple Lyapunov-Krasovskii functionals and the uniformly exponentially stable function, some relaxed Krasovskii-type sufficient conditions ensuring the pISS/piISS of the addressed systems are developed. These conditions imply the relationship among the impulsive frequency, the time delay existing in impulses, and the coefficients of the estimated upper bound for the derivative of a Lyapunov function. It is shown that if the continuous stochastic delayed dynamics is ISS, and the impulsive effects are destabilizing, then the stochastic impulsive switched delayed system is ISS with respect to the relationship. Compared with the existing results, the conditions obtained results have three relaxations, that is, the derivative of Lyapunov functions of subsystems are allowed to be sign-changing time-varying function rather than a negative definite constant, all subsystems are allowed to be unstable, and the effect of delayed impulses are considered. Finally, an example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the results.
Finite-time model-free trajectory tracking control for overhead cranes subject to model uncertainties, parameter variations and external disturbances
Authors: Zhang Menghua
Published: February 2019

The payload mass and the cable length are always different/uncertain for various transportation tasks and external disturbances that accompany industrial overhead crane systems. In addition, existing control methods can obtain merely asymptotic results. To solve the aforementioned problems, an accurate model-free trajectory tracking controller subject to finite time convergence for overhead crane systems is proposed based on the suitably defined non-singular terminal sliding vector. Moreover, the proposed controller is absolutely continuous, addressing the limitations and shortcomings of the traditional sliding mode control. Lyapunov techniques are used to prove that the proposed controller guarantees finite-time tracking result and the finite time T is calculated. Simulation and experimental results are included to demonstrate the robustness of the proposed controller with respect to model uncertainties, parameter variations and external disturbances.
Aspect-based summarisation using distributed clustering and single-objective optimisation
Authors: Priya V , Umamaheswari K
Published: February 2019

In the user reviews of various domains, there is an increase in the accumulation of reviews in the web that presents a lot of difficulties to the readers. So it becomes necessary to generate a summary which represents the entire review in a concise manner. It is required for each feature or aspect in the reviews for the ease of users. The aspect-based summarisation plays a vital role in the field of opinion mining. This article proposes an aspect summarisation framework using sentence scoring clustering and weight-based single-objective optimisation technique by utilising evolutionary algorithm. The system uses MapReduce framework to incorporate the proposed combiner–based optimised clustering approach. Then a novel single-objective optimisation with genetic algorithm is developed. Its purpose is to retrieve top sentences from each cluster to generate feature-based summary. The accuracy of the system-generated summary is evaluated using the Recall Oriented Understanding for Gisting Evaluation tool kit using human standard reference summaries. The system is able to achieve more promising results when compared with other standard feature–based summarisation systems.
Twitter sentiment analysis using fuzzy integral classifier fusion
Authors: Emadi Mehdi , Rahgozar Maseud
Published: February 2019

A thorough analysis of people’s sentiment about a business, an event or an individual is necessary for business development, event analysis and popularity assessment. Social networks are rich sources of obtaining user opinions about people, events and products. Sentiment analysis conducted using multiple user comments and messages on microblogs is an interesting field of data mining and natural language processing (NLP). Different techniques and algorithms have recently been developed for conducting sentiment analysis on Twitter. Different proposed classification and pure NLP-based methods have different behaviours in predicting sentiment orientation. In this study, we combined the results of the classic classifiers and NLP-based methods to propose a new approach for Twitter sentiment analysis. The proposed method uses a fuzzy measure for determining the importance of each classifier to make the final decision. Fuzzy measures are used with the Choquet fuzzy integral for fusing the classifier outputs in order to generate the final label. Our experiments with different Twitter sentiment datasets show that fuzzy integral-based classifier fusion improves the average accuracy of sentiment classification.
Toleration deficits: The perilous state of refugee protection today
Authors: Bhabha Jacqueline
Published: February 2019

The escalation of contemporary distress migration has coincided with an intensification of intolerance, xenophobia and nativism precipitating enormous human suffering among the migrant and refugee community. This chapter examines some instances of the growing exclusionary trend in current refugee and migration policy and explores alternative strategic opportunities to enforce the human rights and humanitarian entitlements for distress migrants established by international norms.
Role of the endocannabinoid system in the dorsal hippocampus in the cardiovascular changes and delayed anxiety-like effect induced by acute restraint stress in rats
Authors: Hartmann Alice , Fassini Aline , Scopinho América , Correa Fernando MA , Guimarães Francisco S , Lisboa Sabrina F , Resstel Leonardo BM
Published: February 2019

Background:

The dorsal hippocampus has a central role in modulating cardiovascular responses and behavioral adaptation to stress. The dorsal hippocampus also plays a key role in stress-associated mental disorders. The endocannabinoid system is widely expressed in the dorsal hippocampus and modulates defensive behaviors under stressful conditions. The endocannabinoid anandamide activates cannabinoid type 1 receptors and is metabolized by the fatty acid amide hydrolase enzyme.

Aims:

We sought to verify whether cannabinoid type 1 receptors modulate stress-induced cardiovascular changes, and if pharmacological fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibition in the dorsal hippocampus would prevent the cardiovascular responses and the delayed anxiogenic-like behavior evoked by restraint stress in rats via cannabinoid type 1 receptors.

Methods:

Independent groups received intra-dorsal-hippocampal injections of N-(piperidin-1yl)-5-(4-iodophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-hpyrazole-3-carboxamide (AM251; cannabinoid type 1 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist, 10–300 pmol) and/or cyclohexyl carbamic acid 3′-carbamoyl-biphenyl-3-yl ester (URB597; fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor, 10 pmol) before the restraint stress session. Cardiovascular response during restraint stress or later behavioral parameters were evaluated.

Results:

Acute restraint stress altered the cardiovascular response, characterized by increased heart rate and mean arterial pressure, as well as decreased tail cutaneous temperature. It also induced a delayed anxiogenic-like effect, evidenced by reduced open arm exploration in the elevated plus maze 24 h after stress. AM251 exacerbated the stress-induced cardiovascular responses after injection into the dorsal hippocampus. In contrast, local injection of URB597 prevented the cardiovascular response and the delayed (24 h) behavioral consequences of restraint stress, effects attenuated by pretreatment with AM251.

Conclusion:

Our data corroborate previous results indicating that the hippocampal endocannabinoid system modulates the outcome of stress exposure and suggest that this could involve modulation of the cardiovascular response during stress exposure.
Resource-making controversies: Knowledge, anticipatory politics and economization of unconventional fossil fuels
Authors: Kama Kärg
Published: February 2019

Advancing relational accounts of ‘resource-making’ processes by deploying insights from science and technology studies, this article outlines crucial new lines of inquiry for geographical research on unconventional fossil fuels. The exploitation of various carbon-rich substitutes for hydrocarbons has rapidly expanded over the last two decades, to become a highly contentious issue which augments scientific dissensus and generates new collective engagements with the subsurface. The article invites geographers to examine the epistemically and politically transformative potential of such resource-making controversies in terms of reconfiguring: the production of geoscientific knowledge, anticipation of post-conventional energy systems, and temporal strategies of (de)economizing extractive futures.
Assessing evidence-based medicine and opioid/barbiturate as first-line acute treatment of pediatric migraine and primary headache: A retrospective observational study of health systems data
Authors: Seng Elizabeth K , Gelfand Amy A , Nicholson Robert A
Published: February 2019

Objectives

To evaluate providers’ use and predictors of evidence-based medicine or opioid/barbiturate as first-line acute treatment for children’s initial presentation of acute migraine or primary headache.

Methods

This retrospective, observational study utilized patient (children ages 6–17) and provider/encounter characteristics extracted from the patient’s Electronic Health Record from 2008–2014 during an initial encounter for migraine or primary headache. The primary outcome was provider evidence-based medicine utilization; overall prescriptions and opioid/barbiturate prescriptions were also evaluated. Hierarchical linear modeling examined whether Level 1 (patient: Demographic, insurance type) and Level 2 (provider/encounter: Treatment setting/location, encounter diagnoses) characteristics influenced outcomes.

Results

In all, 38,926 patients (56.7% female, mean age = 12.1) and 1617 providers were evaluated. Only 17.7% of patients were diagnosed with migraine; 16.1% received evidence-based medicine. Older children (OR = 1.07, p < 0.001), females (OR = 1.14, p < 0.001), and those diagnosed with migraine (OR = 4.71, p < 0.001) were more likely to receive evidence-based medicine. Among prescriptions, 15.8% were for opioids/barbiturates. Older children (OR = 1.14, p < 0.001) and those cared for in the emergency department/urgent care (OR = 2.02, p < 0.001) were at increased risk.

Conclusions

Demographics and migraine diagnosis are associated with evidence-based medicine and opioid/barbiturates. Primary care provides an opportunity to target provider interventions to enhance effective pediatric headache treatment.
Alterations in Synovial Fluid Biomarker Levels in Knees With Meniscal Injury as Compared With Asymptomatic Contralateral Knees
Authors: Clair Andrew J. , Kingery Matthew T. , Anil Utkarsh , Kenny Lena , Kirsch Thorsten , Strauss Eric J.
Published: February 2019

Background:

Changes in the joint microenvironment after an injury to the articular surface of the knee have been implicated in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. While prior studies focused on changes in this microenvironment after anterior cruciate ligament ruptures, few have explored the biomarker changes that occur in the setting of meniscal injuries.

Purpose:

To determine whether meniscal injury results in significant alterations to synovial fluid biomarker concentrations as compared with noninjured contralateral knees. Additionally, to explore the relationship between synovial fluid biomarkers and the degree of cartilage injury seen in these patients.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Patients undergoing surgery for unilateral meniscal injury were prospectively enrolled from October 2011 to December 2016, forming a cohort that had synovial fluid samples collected from both the injured knee and the contralateral uninjured knee at the time of meniscal surgery. Synovial fluid samples were collected just before incision, and the concentrations of 10 biomarkers of interest were determined with a multiplex magnetic bead immunoassay. The concentrations of synovial fluid biomarkers from the operative and contralateral knees were compared. Additionally, the synovial fluid biomarker concentrations of operative knees from patients with associated high-grade cartilage lesions were compared with those with low-grade lesions.

Results:

The current analysis included synovial fluid samples from 82 knees (41 operative and 41 contralateral) from 41 patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery to treat a symptomatic meniscal injury. The mean ± SD age of patients was 49.86 ± 11.75 years. There were significantly greater concentrations of 4 of the 5 proinflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, MCP-1, MIP-1β, and MMP-3) in symptomatic knees as compared with asymptomatic knees when controlling for the duration of symptoms, body mass index, age, and the random effects of by-patient variability. In the injured knees, associated high-grade cartilage lesions were predictive of elevated MCP-1, MIP-1β, and VEGF levels. Low synovial fluid concentration of TIMP-1 or a greater ratio of MMP-3 to TIMP-1 was associated with the presence of synovitis. Increasing age was found to be an independent predictor of increased IL-6, MCP-1, and VEGF concentrations in the setting of symptomatic meniscal injury.

Conclusion:

The authors identified 4 proinflammatory synovial fluid biomarkers whose concentrations were significantly different after meniscal injury as compared with uninjured contralateral knees. Furthermore, they describe the effects of associated cartilage damage, synovitis, and patient age on biomarker concentrations.
Scientific facts and oral traditions in Oldupai Gorge, Tanzania: Symmetrically analysing palaeoanthropological and Maasai black boxes
Authors: Lee Patrick , Koromo Samson , Mercader Julio , Mather Charles
Published: February 2019

Reminiscent of past colonial practices, contemporary archaeological research in Africa is still often governed and carried out by foreign entities that move Africans aside from their pasts and their countries’ archaeological heritage. Oldupai Gorge, located in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area, is a flagship human evolution research site. Less recognized is that a Maasai pastoral society inhabits the region. Despite over a century of excavations in the ‘birthplace of humanity’, local Maasai and palaeoanthropologists have rarely affiliated with each other. Furthermore, a lingering and erroneous characterization of the Maasai as archaic, environmentally damaging and premodern continues to guide policies that compromise Maasai pastoral livelihoods. This article utilizes actor–network theory to ethnographically and symmetrically compare the epistemic cultures of both the Maasai and palaeoanthropologists in Oldupai, and argues that while scientific and Maasai knowledge may differ in cultural content, both groups built ‘black boxes’ – such as scientific facts and oral traditions – in parallel and equally logical forms. Since there are no fundamental cognitive differences between members of each group, there are no justifiable reasons that the Maasai should continue to be excluded from research in their homeland and the myriad benefits that it can bring.
Mapping Mozambican people’s views on corruption amnesty laws
Authors: Vera Cruz Germano , Mullet Etienne
Published: February 2019

This study examines Mozambican citizens’ positions regarding corruption amnesty laws. A series of realistic vignettes was presented to 303 Mozambican adults who were asked to rate the extent to which amnesty applicants deserved to be amnestied, according to three factors: (a) the applicant’s status (e.g. former minister), (b) the amount of money embezzled, and (c) the applicant’s attitude during the hearing (e.g. revelation of important information). Three qualitatively different positions were found. For 30%, officials convicted of corruption would never deserve to be amnestied. For 28%, repentant attitude was the only determinant of acceptability, and for 42% the amount of money embezzled also mattered.
Relative Efficacy of Teacher Rankings and Curriculum-Based Measures as Predictors of Performance on High-Stakes Tests
Authors: Mingo Maya A. , Bell Sherry Mee , McCallum R. Steve , Walpitage D. Lakmal
Published: February 2019

Data from 403 third graders were analyzed to determine relative and combined efficacy of group-administered Curriculum-Based Measures (CBMs) and Teacher Rankings of student reading and math performance taken early in the school year to predict end-of-year achievement scores. Teacher Rankings added to the power of CBMs to predict reading ( R2 change = .18) and math ( R2 change = .22). Combined CBMs and Teacher Rankings predicted at-risk status in reading (82%) and math (86%), based on logistic regression, and yielded strong area under the curve (AUC) statistics, defining risk status .88 (reading) and .82 (math). Surprisingly, Teacher Rankings yielded higher correlations with end-of-year scores than CBMs. Findings support using rankings as a simple, efficient strategy to add to the predictive power of CBMs readily available within a response to intervention (RTI) context and depicts a methodology school personnel can use to determine the relative/combined predictive power of CBMs and rankings. Of note, predictions based on Teacher Rankings vary across end-of-year performance levels.
The first voyage of Giovanni da Empoli to India: Mercantile culture, Christian faith, and the early production of knowledge about Portuguese Asia
Authors: Salonia Matteo
Published: February 2019

Giovanni da Empoli, a Florentine agent and merchant, was among the first Europeans to travel by an exclusively maritime route to India. This article focuses on Giovanni’s first voyage to the East (1503–1504), during which he visited several ports along the Malabar coast. By examining Giovanni’s letter to his father, this contribution explores his (re)emerging identities, and in particular his mercantile outlook and his Christian faith, which suggest a diversity of value systems and agendas among ‘the Portuguese’. The experience of Giovanni is significant also because it represents an instance of production and transfer of knowledge about ‘the Indies’ in early Cinquecento Europe. As suggested by other contemporary sources concerning Giovanni, this circulation of knowledge did not take place only in writing, but also orally, in formal and informal conversations that Giovanni had with a variety of interested interlocutors both in Florence and elsewhere.
The anti-piracy activities of the Nguyen Dynasty in the South China Sea, 1802–1858
Authors: Hanh Nguyen Thi My
Published: February 2019

Following the traditions of the preceding feudal dynasties, efforts were made by the Nguyen Dynasty (Vietnam) to prevent piracy and ensure security and marine safety in the South China Sea during the first half of the nineteenth century. The Nguyen Dynasty directed its energies towards national interests and showed an elevated level of international awareness and responsibility, especially at the beginning of the successful cooperation with Qing Dynasty (China) to resolve this widespread problem. This article examines the attempt of the Nguyen Dynasty to suppress the raiding and looting of pirates in the South China Sea, and its important achievements in this difficult and dangerous work. Addressing this non-traditional security problem also helped confirm the Nguyen Dynasty’s possession of islands within the South China Sea, including the Paracel Islands and the Spratly Islands.
Racial Bias in Perceptions of Size and Strength: The Impact of Stereotypes and Group Differences
Authors: Johnson David J. , Wilson John Paul
Published: February 2019

Recent research has shown that race can influence perceptions of men’s size and strength. Across two studies (Study 1: N = 1,032, Study 2: N = 303) examining men and women from multiple racial groups (Asian, Black, and White adults), we found that although race does impact judgments of size and strength, raters’ judgments primarily track targets’ objective physical features. In some cases, racial stereotypes actually improved group-level accuracy, as these stereotypes aligned with racial-group differences in size and strength according to nationally representative data. We conclude that individuals primarily rely on individuating information when making physical judgments but do not completely discount racial stereotypes, which reflect a combination of real group-level differences and culturally transmitted beliefs.
The Prevalence of Marginally Significant Results in Psychology Over Time
Authors: Olsson-Collentine Anton , van Assen Marcel A. L. M. , Hartgerink Chris H. J.
Published: February 2019

We examined the percentage of p values (.05 < p ≤ .10) reported as marginally significant in 44,200 articles, across nine psychology disciplines, published in 70 journals belonging to the American Psychological Association between 1985 and 2016. Using regular expressions, we extracted 42,504 p values between .05 and .10. Almost 40% of p values in this range were reported as marginally significant, although there were considerable differences between disciplines. The practice is most common in organizational psychology (45.4%) and least common in clinical psychology (30.1%). Contrary to what was reported by previous researchers, our results showed no evidence of an increasing trend in any discipline; in all disciplines, the percentage of p values reported as marginally significant was decreasing or constant over time. We recommend against reporting these results as marginally significant because of the low evidential value of p values between .05 and .10.
Dangerous feelings: Checkpoints and the perception of hostile intent
Authors: Gregory Thomas
Published: February 2019

Between 2006 and 2007 an average of one Iraqi civilian was killed or injured at a coalition checkpoint each day. In many cases, civilians were shot because soldiers had misinterpreted their behaviour as hostile or as a demonstration of hostile intent. In other words, the soldiers responsible thought that they were acting in self-defence against an imminent threat. Some analysts have argued that these killings can be explained by ambiguities in the rules of engagement, but such explanations wrongly assume that the decision to kill is a purely rational calculation. Drawing upon the work of Sara Ahmed, William Connolly and George Yancy, I will argue that the interpretation of hostile intent and the decision to use lethal force are affective judgements rather than purely conscious decisions and, as such, are shaped by feelings, moods and intuitions. Moreover, I will argue that these judgements are never entirely neutral but clouded by a set of pre-existing assumptions that mark certain bodies as dangerous before they even have a chance to act. Drawing upon an archive of incident reports filed in the aftermath of these shootings and interviews with former soldiers, this article will show how seemingly innocuous behaviours were so readily mistaken for hostile acts with decidedly deadly consequences for the local population.
Human Capital and SMEs Internationalization: Development and Validation of a Measurement Scale
Authors: Dar Ishaq Ahmad , Mishra Mridula
Published: February 2019

The purpose of this study is to develop a measurement scale for human capital in context of SMEs internationalization. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were applied on primary data collected from Indian SMEs. This developed scale was tested for reliability and validity. We found that ‘education’, ‘knowledge’, ‘experience’ and ‘skills’ are the main dimensions of human capital in SMEs, and were found reliable and valid to measure this construct. This study has combined the dimensions previously used separately in other studies. Results supported the past studies which concluded that human capital is a multidimensional construct. This study has extended multidimensionality of human capital in context of SMEs specifically in their internationalization. The study will imply to practitioners in assessment of human capital in SMEs, related to the dimensions constituting it. Objectives of policies and programmes to further enhance and develop human capital can be set accordingly. In addition, international entrepreneurship researchers can use this measurement scale to further study and investigate human capital and its components in SMEs. This study provides a ground for further adding more dimensions and variables to human capital.
Morphology of the Musculus Uvulae In Vivo Using MRI and 3D Modeling Among Adults With Normal Anatomy and Preliminary Comparisons to Cleft Palate Anatomy
Authors: Perry Jamie L. , Chen Joshua Y. , Kotlarek Katelyn J. , Haenssler Abigail , Sutton Bradley P. , Kuehn David P. , Sitzman Thomas J. , Fang Xiangming
Published: February 2019

Purpose:

To investigate the musculus uvulae morphology in vivo in adults with normal velopharyngeal anatomy and to examine sex and race effects on the muscle morphology. We also sought to provide a preliminary comparison of musculus uvulae morphology in adults with normal velopharyngeal anatomy to adults with repaired cleft palate.

Methods:

Three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging data and Amira 5.5 Visualization Modeling software were used to evaluate the musculus uvulae in 70 participants without cleft palate and 6 participants with cleft palate. Muscle length, thickness, width, and volume were compared among participant groups.

Results:

Analysis of covariance analysis did not yield statistically significant differences in musculus uvulae length, thickness, width, or volume by race or sex among participants without cleft palate when the effect of body size was accounted for. Two-sample t test revealed that the musculus uvulae in participants with repaired cleft palate is significantly shorter ( P = .008, 13.65 mm vs 16.07 mm) and has less volume ( P = .002, 51.08 mm3 vs 97.62 mm3) than participants without cleft palate.

Conclusion:

In adults with normal velopharyngeal anatomy, the musculus uvulae is a cylindrical oblong-shaped muscle lying on the nasal surface of the soft palate, with its greatest bulk located just nasal to the levator veli palatini muscle sling. In participants with repaired cleft palate, the musculus uvulae is substantially reduced in volume. This diminished muscle bulk located just at the point where the palate contacts the posterior pharyngeal wall may contribute to velopharyngeal insufficiency in children with repaired cleft palate.
Universal Basic Income and Entrepreneurial Pursuit in an Autonomous Society
Authors: D’Mello Jason Francis
Published: February 2019

This Dialog examines how universal basic income (UBI) may affect the productivity of entrepreneurs. This essay considers early evidence from UBI experiments and innovation within peer-production and open-source communities to discuss topics related to motivation, creativity, entrepreneurial intentions, and entrepreneurial privilege.
Identification of Potential Key Genes and Pathways in Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Through Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Zhao Bin , Baloch Zulqarnain , Ma Yunhan , Wan Zheng , Huo Yani , Li Fujun , Zhao Yilin
Published: February 2019

This study was designed to identify the potential key protein interaction networks, genes, and correlated pathways in early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) via bioinformatics methods. We selected microarray data GSE4107 consisting 12 patient’s colonic mucosa and 10 healthy control mucosa; initially, the GSE4107 were downloaded and analyzed using limma package to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). A total of 131 DEGs consisting of 108 upregulated genes and 23 downregulated genes of patients in early-onset CRC were selected by the criteria of adjusted P values <.01 and |log2 fold change (FC)| ≥ 2. The gene ontology functional enrichment analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were accomplished to view the biological process, cellular components, molecular function, and the KEGG pathways of DEGs. Finally, protein–protein interactions (PPIs) were constructed, and the hub protein module was identified. Genes such as ACTA2, ACTG2, MYH11, CALD1, MYL9, TPM2, and LMOD1 were strongly implicated in CRC. In summary, in this study, we indicated that molecular mechanisms were involved in muscle contraction and vascular smooth muscle contraction signaling pathway, which improve our understanding of CRC and could be used as new therapeutic targets for CRC.