bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Historical Analysis of U.S. Tornado Fatalities (1808–2017): Population, Science, and Technology
Authors: Agee Ernest , Taylor Lindsey
Published: January 2019

The record of tornado fatalities in the United States for over two centuries (1808–2017) and decadal census records have been examined to search for historical trends. Particular attention has been given to the response to population growth and expansion into the tornado-prone regions of the country. The region selected includes the Tornado Alley of the central Great Plains, the Dixie Alley in the southeastern states, and the adjoining states in the Midwest that collectively encompass a 21-state rectangular region. The data record has been divided into two subintervals, Era A (1808–1915) and Era B (1916–2017), each of which consists of three equal-length periods. Era A is characterized by a growing and westward expanding population along with a basic absence of scientific knowledge, technology, and communications (for prediction, detection, and warning). This is followed by a renaissance of discovery and advancement in Era B that contributes to saving lives. The aforementioned periods are defined by a set of notable events that help to define the respective periods. A death per population index (DPI) is used to evaluate the 21 states in each era; there is a rise of mean DPI values to a maximum of 1.50 at the end of Era A and a subsequent fall to 0.21 at the end of Era B. It is also shown for all three periods in Era B that the deadliest tornado states, in ranked order, are Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Oklahoma. Suggestions are presented for ways to continue the decreasing trend in DPI, which would imply that the death rate increase is not as fast as the rate of population increase (or would even imply a decreasing death rate).
Use of Visible–Near-Infrared (Vis-NIR) Spectroscopy to Detect Aflatoxin B1 on Peanut Kernels
Authors: Tao Feifei , Yao Haibo , Hruska Zuzana , Liu Yongliang , Rajasekaran Kanniah , Bhatnagar Deepak
Published: January 2019

Current methods for detecting aflatoxin contamination of agricultural and food commodities are generally based on wet chemical analyses, which are time-consuming, destructive to test samples, and require skilled personnel to perform, making them impossible for large-scale nondestructive screening and on-site detection. In this study, we utilized visible–near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy over the spectral range of 400–2500 nm to detect contamination of commercial, shelled peanut kernels (runner type) with the predominant aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The artificially contaminated samples were prepared by dropping known amounts of aflatoxin standard dissolved in 50:50 (v/v) methanol/water onto peanut kernel surface to achieve different contamination levels. The partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) models established using the full spectra over different ranges achieved good prediction results. The best overall accuracy of 88.57% and 92.86% were obtained using the full spectra when taking 20 and 100 parts per billion (ppb), respectively, as the classification threshold. The random frog (RF) algorithm was used to find the optimal characteristic wavelengths for identifying the surface AFB1-contamination of peanut kernels. Using the optimal spectral variables determined by the RF algorithm, the simplified RF-PLS-DA classification models were established. The better RF-PLS-DA models attained the overall accuracies of 90.00% and 94.29% with the 20 ppb and 100 ppb thresholds, respectively, which were improved compared to using the full spectral variables. Compared to using the full spectral variables, the employed spectral variables of the simplified RF-PLS-DA models were decreased by at least 94.82%. The present study demonstrated that the Vis-NIR spectroscopic technique combined with appropriate chemometric methods could be useful in identifying AFB1 contamination of peanut kernels.
Elemental Mapping of Lithium Diffusion in Doped Plant Leaves Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)
Authors: Singh Vivek K. , Tripathi Durgesh Kumar , Mao Xianglei , Russo Richard E. , Zorba Vassilia
Published: January 2019

Mapping of element distributions and diffusion processes in plant tissue has great significance for understanding the systematic uptake, transport, and accumulation of nutrients and harmful elements in plants, and for studying the interaction between plants and the environment. In this work, we used laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to study the elemental accumulation of Li and its diffusion in plant leaves. The spatially resolved information that LIBS offers, combined with its high sensitivity to light elements make this technology highly advantageous for the analysis of Li. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy mapping of Li-doped leaf samples is used to directly visualize the diffusion of Li in the plant leaf and study its distribution as a function of LiCl solution exposure time. Our findings demonstrate that diffusion of Li in plant leaves occurs though their veins (i.e., bundles of vascular tissue) and that Li concentration decreases as we move away from the LiCl exposure site. These results underline the importance of veins in transportation of toxic elements in plants, and mapping of their distribution can be instrumental in the development of possible remediation approaches for managing Li toxicity.
Structural and Optical Characteristics of Aqueous Solutions of Acetic Acid
Authors: Gofurov Shukur , Makhmanov Urol , Kokhkharov Abdulmutallib , Ismailova Oksana B.
Published: January 2019

A refractometric method, coupled with molecular dynamics study, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR), and Raman spectroscopy, was used to determine optical characteristics of concentration features of aqueous solutions of acetic acid. Measurements of the refractive index of aqueous solutions of acetic acid in the wide range of acetic acid concentrations (∼ 0 ÷ 1 mole fraction) in a solution at a room temperature were conducted. Maximum value of refractive index was detected at a concentration of ∼0.3 mole fraction. The deviation from the parabolic form of the dependence of the refractive index on the concentration occurs at a concentration of ∼0.8 mole fraction. As far as we know, this deviation has been observed for the first time. The maximum is attributed to the largest number of molecular interactions between water and acetic acid molecules, while the deviation is associated with the parallel orientation of acetic acid molecules. To identify the reconstructing of molecules in the system, FT-IR and Raman spectra of these solutions at a concentration of ∼0.3 and ∼0.8 mole fraction were recorded and compared with pure solutions. The data obtained by using ATR FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy support the idea that the refractometric method is sensitive to determine the structural states of aqueous solutions of acetic acid.
Consider This: Training, Wages, and the Enforceability of Covenants Not to Compete
Authors: Starr Evan
Published: January 2019

Using data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation, the author examines the effect of noncompete enforceability on employee training and wages. An increase from no enforcement of noncompetes to mean enforceability is associated with a 14% increase in training, which tends to be firm-sponsored and designed to upgrade or teach new skills. In contrast to theoretical expectations, the results show no evidence of a relationship between noncompete enforceability and self-sponsored training. Despite the increases in training, an increase from non-enforcement of noncompetes to mean enforceability is associated with a 4% decrease in hourly wages. Consistent with reduced bargaining power, noncompete enforceability is associated with a reduction in the return to tenure, and less-educated workers experience additional wage losses in the face of increased enforceability relative to more-educated workers. Suggestive evidence indicates that policies that tie the enforceability of noncompetes to the worker receiving additional consideration in exchange for signing a noncompete are associated with higher wages.
Intimate revelations: Conversations among “evil” women in Rokeya’s Padmarag
Authors: Hasan Md. Mahmudul
Published: January 2019

Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain creatively demonstrates in Padmarag (1924) the socially embedded association of women with evil. She brings together a group of women on the premises of Tarini Bhaban in order to explore their psychological terrain, as they share with each other previously untold memories and document their experiences of patriarchal oppression and domestic abuse. Through their reminiscences and memories, Rokeya lays bare the angst of women in a patriarchal social order that silences and suppresses them. Beyond the belief of sisterhood at Tarini Bhaban, in one way or another, most of these women are considered “evil” in society as a whole. For example, Saudamini is a stepmother with no biological children of her own and is regarded as a dakini (witch) and rakshasi (a female demon). Other women of Tarini Bhaban have received comparable tags from society and experienced similar victimization. Based on the representation of “evil” women in the novel, in this article I will discuss their stories and examine some of the contributing factors to their victimization and characterization as wicked in the context of early twentieth-century Bengal.
Autism and the “I-Who-Feels”
Authors: Whitaker Ashley L.
Published: January 2019

Sela-Smith referred to the phenomenological experience of the individual as the “I-who-feels.” This article discusses the implications for mental health practitioners of using the approach that J. F. T. Bugental called presence to actively explore the lived experience of psychotherapy clients with autism spectrum disorder. For clients experiencing diverse ways of what Heidegger termed being-in-the-world, this approach is especially relevant from a social justice standpoint. It allows the space for the client’s lived experience—as opposed to the stringent clinical etiology of mental health symptoms—to be acknowledged, valued, and given a voice. This approach can transcend beyond the container of the psychotherapy room and affect how the client views and appreciates the benefits, and sometimes the adversities, that come with diverse ways of being. Autism spectrum disorder, in particular, presents unique challenges to being-in-the-world and the ability to communicate one’s lived experience; attendees will leave with a better understanding of the phenomenology of the condition. Discussion will also focus on the implications and social justice ramifications of exploring lived experience in this population.
If at First You Do Succeed, Do You Try, Try Again? Developing the Persistence–Licensing Response Measure to Understand, Predict, and Modify Behavior Following Subgoal Success
Authors: Zemack-Rugar Yael , Corus Canan , Brinberg David
Published: January 2019

Following subgoal success at a long-term goal, consumers can persist, behaving consistently with the long-term goal, or license, behaving consistently with competing shorter-term goals. The authors extend prior work by proposing that this choice is driven, in part, by chronic differences in consumers’ cognitive and emotional responses to subgoal success. In Studies 1–5, they develop and validate a measure that captures these individual differences: the Persistence–Licensing Response Measure (PLRM). They demonstrate that the PLRM predicts persistence and licensing where existing constructs and measures do not, showing that consumers’ responses to subgoal success represent a unique dimension of self-regulation. In Studies 6–10, the authors demonstrate that the PLRM moderates the effect of subgoal success on persistence and licensing behavior, revealing that the same subgoal success situation can lead to systematically different behaviors. The authors also examine how marketing interventions can be used to increase consumers’ persistence following subgoal success. This work furthers the understanding of the determinants of persistence and licensing, improves prediction of behavior, and offers marketers tools to segment and target consumers, increasing persistence in key goal domains.
Numerical simulation of dispersion and distribution behaviors of hydrogen leakage in the garage with a crossbeam
Authors: Li Yunhao , Jiang Juncheng , Yu Yuan , Zhang Qingwu
Published: January 2019

A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulation model resolved by the unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations was developed to predict hydrogen dispersion in an indoor environment. The effect of the height of the crossbeam (Hc) on hydrogen dispersion and distribution behaviors in a four-car garage was numerically investigated under fully confined and natural ventilation conditions. For the fully confined condition, the garage was almost completely filled with a flammable hydrogen cloud at t=600 s. In addition, the volumetric ratio of the flammable region, thickness of the hydrogen stratification, and hydrogen mole fraction all increased as Hc increased. When two symmetric ventilation openings were set up, the volumetric ratio of the flammable region decreased by 50% at t=600 s. Moreover, Hc had evident influence on the vertical distribution of hydrogen mole fraction. In addition, there existed little explosion hazard under the height of 1.6 m. The results show that Hc was a non-negligible factor for the safety design of hydrogen in the garage and Hc=0.12 m was the optimal height of the crossbeam. Furthermore, the ventilation system in the present study cannot completely eliminate the risk of hydrogen explosion. The present risk assessment results can be useful to analyze safety issues in automotive applications of hydrogen.
Rapid fabrication of silver nanoparticle/polydopamine functionalized polyester fibers
Authors: Zhou Yanfen , Jiang Liang , Guo Ya , Sun Zhenhua , Jiang Zhiqing , Chen Shaojuan , Ma Jianwei , Jerrams Stephen
Published: January 2019

In this paper, silver nanoparticles functionalized poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers with antimicrobial activity, electrical conductivity and good coating stability are reported. Firstly, silver plated PET fibers were fabricated by rapid polydopamine (PDA) modification followed by electroless plating. Secondly, the surface morphologies and compositions of PDA modified and silver coated PET fibers were characterized by employing scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive spectrometry. Finally, the antimicrobial properties and electrical conductivity of the silver plated PET fibers were investigated. The results showed that the silver coated PET fibers exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity to both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus (with an antimicrobial efficiency of 100 and 99.99%, respectively), and that the antimicrobial activity was well maintained after washing. The silver coated PET fibers showed electrical resistance of 0.76 Ω per 1 cm, indicating good conductivity. It was also demonstrated that the silver layer that formed had good mechanical durability, as indicated by conductivity measurements during tensile loading and observation of the surface morphology of the fibers under various modes of deformation.
Managing Challenges in an Aging Vestibular System: Rehabilitation Strategies Normalize Balance Function in a Cohort of Patients Up to 99 Years
Authors: Deems Daniel A. , Deems Rhonda O. , O’Malley Bert W.
Published: January 2019

Imbalance is a major health problem affecting 90 million Americans and is the primary risk factor in falls, which consume $50 billion annually in medical costs (US). A person is often unaware of their balance challenge and its potential impact on fall risk and subsequent injury. Even when balance deficits and fall risk are realized, older patients may not pursue intervention for their disorder due to a fatalistic view of their advanced age. In this retrospective study, a cohort of older patients who had completed a course of vestibular rehabilitation therapy was studied for extent of recovery using computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) as the outcomes measure. The study group was comprised of sequential outpatients from a community-based balance treatment facility for whom pre- and posttherapy CDPs were available for analyses (N = 76). Patients had been referred for imbalance, vertigo, unsteadiness, and falls—age range 66 to 99 years (mean 80.5 years). Balance function, measured by composite sensory organization test (SOT) CDP scores, improved on average 35% ( P < .0001). Average posttherapy SOT score was 72.8, equivalent to the oldest SOT normative scores available (70 to 79 year age bracket; SOT Norm = 72.9). A subset 10 years above this eldest norm, mean age 89.4 years (N = 25, range 85 to 99 years), was then analyzed. Results revealed an improvement in balance function of 42.1% ( P < .0001), with average posttherapy SOT score of 74.2. Data confirm that vestibular therapy programs can significantly recover, if not normalize imbalance even to age 99. Given that the eldest participants were well above average life expectancy in the United States (78.9 years), this study could be used by allied health professionals to encourage older patients to engage in balance and falls prevention programs.
A Systematic Review of the Psychometric Properties of Self-Report Measures of Attitudes to Aging
Authors: Faudzi Farah Nadia M. , Armitage Christopher J. , Bryant Christina , Brown Laura J. E.
Published: January 2019

The aim of this study was to describe and systematically evaluate the psychometric properties of attitudes to aging measures that have been validated in adults younger than 60 years. Studies were assessed for methodological quality using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments. Best evidence synthesis was performed to summarize the levels of evidence. Systematic searching yielded 21 articles, relating to 10 different measures. Some instruments were validated only in middle-aged and older people, while others were validated in a wider age range. Measures differed in whether their items related to participants’ own experiences of aging, their anticipated future aging, and/or aging in general. None of the measures had had all of its psychometric properties assessed. The Expectations Regarding Ageing-12 and the Anxiety About Ageing Scale received positive ratings for the greatest number of psychometric properties, but capture different constructs, and may be differentially suited to different age groups of younger adults.
Pathology of Bioabsorbable Implants in Preclinical Studies
Authors: Rousselle Serge D. , Ramot Yuval , Nyska Abraham , Jackson Nicolette D.
Published: January 2019

Bioabsorbable implants can be advantageous for certain surgical tissue bioengineering applications and implant-assisted tissue repair. They offer the obvious benefits of nonpermanence and eventual restoration of the native tissue’s biomechanical and immunological properties, while providing a structural scaffold for healing and a route for additional therapies (i.e., drug elution). They present unique developmental, imaging, and histopathological challenges in the conduct of preclinical animal studies and in interpretation of pathology data. The bioabsorption process is typically associated with a gradual decline (over months to years) in structural strength and integrity and may also be associated with cellular responses such as phagocytosis that may confound interpretation of efficacy and safety end points. Additionally, as these implants bioabsorb, they become increasingly difficult to isolate histologically and thus imaging modalities such as microCT become very valuable to determine the original location of the implants and to assess the remodeling response in tandem with histopathology. In this article, we will review different types of bioabsorbable implants and commonly used bioabsorbable materials; additionally, we will address some of the most common challenges and pitfalls confronting histologists and pathologists in collecting, handling, imaging, preparing tissues through histology, evaluating, and interpreting study data associated with bioabsorbable implants.
Bringing the outside in: The limits of theoretical fragmentation and pluralism in IR theory
Authors: Wight Colin
Published: January 2019

This article explores the current state of the discipline of International Relations(IR) and assesses the prospects for integration of new voices to the global conversation. The article argues that the current state of theoretical fragmentation that infects the discipline will be a severe barrier to the introduction of alternative visions of IR. Two factors explain the source of this problem. First is the dominant understanding of epistemology, which not only misunderstands the place of epistemology in the research process but also helps reproduce a social structure of fragmentation. Second, I briefly explore the dynamics of that disciplinary structure and argue that when combined with the approach to epistemology the two become mutually reinforcing, limiting the possibilities of a form of pluralism that can incorporate alternative voices unless they give up what it is that makes them different.
Kinematically redundant actuators, a solution for conflicting torque–speed requirements
Authors: Verstraten Tom , Furnémont Raphael , López-García Pablo , Rodriguez-Cianca David , Vanderborght Bram , Lefeber Dirk
Published: January 2019

Robots often switch from highly dynamic motion to delivering high torques at low speeds. The actuation requirements for these two regimes are very different. As a consequence, the average efficiency of the actuators is typically much lower than the efficiency at the optimal working point. A potential solution is to use multiple motors for a single motor joint. This results in a redundant degree of freedom, which can be exploited to make the system more efficient overall. In this work, we explore the potential of kinematically redundant actuators in dynamic applications. The potential of a kinematically redundant actuator with two motors is evaluated against a single-motor equivalent in terms of operating range, maximum acceleration, and energy consumption. We discuss how the comparison is influenced by the design of the actuator and the way how the power is distributed over the input motors. Our results support the idea that kinematically redundant actuators can resolve the conflicting torque–speed requirements typical of robots.
Qingyi decoction attenuates severe acute pancreatitis in rats via inhibition of inflammation and protection of the intestinal barrier
Authors: Su Song , Liang Tiancheng , Zhou Xiang , He Kai , Li Bo , Xia Xianming
Published: January 2019

Objective

Qingyi decoction (QYD) has beneficial effects in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). We assessed the therapeutic effect and mechanisms of QYD in SAP.

Methods

A rat model of SAP was induced by pancreatic ductal injection of sodium taurocholate. QYD was administered intragastrically immediately postoperatively and once every 12 hours. Serum amylase, endotoxin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and D-lactate levels were measured at 12, 24, and 48 hours. Histological changes in the pancreas and ileum were analyzed. Expression of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells p65 (NF-κB p65), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in the small intestinal mucosa was also assessed.

Results

Pancreatic tissue showed extracellular space expansion, inflammatory infiltration, vessels with necrotic walls, and hemorrhage. Ileal tissue showed hemorrhage, inflammatory infiltration, and ileal mucosa destruction. These histological features were dramatically improved by QYD. Increased serum levels of amylase, endotoxin, TNF-α, IL-6, and D-lactic acid were significantly decreased by QYD administration. Increased expression of NF-κB p65 and TLR4 and decreased expression of ZO-1 in the ileal mucosa were also restored to normal levels by QYD treatment.

Conclusion

QYD alleviates SAP by reducing intestinal barrier dysfunction, inhibiting intestinal bacteria and endotoxin translocation, and preventing NF-κB activation.
Inhibition of protease-activated receptor-2 induces apoptosis in cervical cancer by inhibiting signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 signaling
Authors: Shanshan Hu , Lan Xiao , Xia Li , Huang Wang , Meifang Zuo , Ling Yin
Published: January 2019

Objective

The present study explored how the inhibition of protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) induced proliferation and apoptosis in cervical cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

mRNA and protein expression of PAR2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3) was determined by quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting. The proliferation and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells were assayed by the cell counting kit-8 kit, flow cytometry, and western blotting. The effects of PAR2 inhibition on cervical cancer were also examined in BALB/c nude mice in vivo.

Results

SLIGRL-NH2 (SL), a selective PAR-2 agonist, promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of healthy cervical cancer cells and HeLa cells, while the PAR-2 antagonist FSLLRY-NH2 (FS) inhibited proliferation and led to apoptosis. SL also promoted the activation of STAT-3, while FS inhibited it and inhibited cancer growth in vivo.

Conclusion

FS inhibited cervical cancer by reducing proliferation and inducing apoptosis by interfering with STAT-3 signaling.
Evaluation of Transverse Cracks for Semi-Rigid Asphalt Pavements using Deflection Basin Parameters
Authors: Ma Lukuan , Li Min , Pang Jinsong , Huang Chongwei
Published: January 2019

To evaluate transverse cracks on a semi-rigid asphalt pavement by falling weight deflectometer (FWD), a three-dimensional (3D) dynamic finite-element (FE) model to calculate the deflections of transverse-cracked semi-rigid asphalt pavements under FWD loading was developed and validated by in-situ FWD tests. Then, the effect of crack types and crack width on the deflection basin was investigated for semi-rigid asphalt pavements under different interlayer contact conditions. The relationship between transverse cracks and deflection basin parameters (DBPs) was also analyzed. Finally, the slope ratio to evaluate transverse cracks was proposed and validated by field application. Results show that cracks on pavements will make the deflection basin steeper and the crack width slightly affects the deflections for the same type of crack without interaction between adjacent cracking surfaces. Results also indicate that deflection values increase obviously when the surface-base interaction changes from “Full bonded” to “Full slip.” In addition, results indicate that the slope index ( S1), the shape index ( F2), and the area index (AREA) correlate well with transverse cracks, and the surface cracking, “Reflective cracking 1” (surface and base cracking simultaneously), “Reflective cracking 2” (surface, base, and subbase cracking simultaneously) and the hidden cracking (base cracking, or base and subbase cracking simultaneously) can be identified by the slope ratio. Field application also indicates that the slope ratio can be applied to evaluate the types of transverse cracks on semi-rigid asphalt pavements.
Managing the stigma of opioid use
Authors: Stuart Heather
Published: January 2019

Substance use stigma makes it difficult to reframe the opioid crisis as a public health issue and has been a barrier to accessing life-saving treatments. Interventions using people that convey recovery stories are promising practices. Groups that may benefit from targeted stigma reduction interventions include opioid users (to combat shame and blame), at-risk youth, first responders, dispensary personal, media, and healthcare professionals. The evidence supporting antistigma interventions is thin, with little Canadian research. Research is needed to establish the effectiveness of substance-related stigma reduction strategies. Health leaders should examine their own responsibilities to lead the public health debate, reduce opioid-related stigma, and actively engage members of the community of those with lived experience to become partners in these activities.
Effectiveness of Treatments and Diagnostic Tools and Declining Mortality in Patients With Severe Sepsis: A 12-Year Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Chen Kuan-Fu , Tsai Meng-Ying , Wu Chin-Chieh , Han Shih-Tsung
Published: January 2019

Sepsis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. With the advance of medical care, the mortality of sepsis has decreased in the past decades. Many treatments and diagnostic tools still lack supporting evidence. We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study with propensity score matched subcohorts based on a prospectively collected national longitudinal health insurance database in Taiwan. Severe sepsis-associated hospital admissions from 2000 to 2011 based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes of infections and acute organ dysfunction were identified. To compare the effectiveness of treatment and diagnostic tool, propensity scores were generated to match the comparable control groups. During the 12-year period, 33 375 patients and 50 465 hospitalizations of severe sepsis were identified. The age-standardized 28-day in-hospital mortality decreased significantly from 21% in 2008 to 15% in 2011 with increasingly implemented treatment and diagnostic tool. After propensity score matching, procalcitonin (odds ratio [OR]: 0.70, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.61-0.81) and lactate testing (OR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.84-0.97, respectively), transfusion of packed red blood cell (OR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.52-0.69), albumin (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.55-0.93), balanced crystalloid (OR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.20-0.41), and use of dopamine (OR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.39-0.49) were found to be significantly associated with lower mortality rate. However, inconsistent findings need to be further validated.
Biomechanical comparison of screw-based zones of a spatial subchondral support plate for proximal humerus fractures
Authors: Jabran Ali , Peach Chris , Zou Zhenmin , Ren Lei
Published: January 2019

Stabilisation of proximal humerus fractures remains a surgical challenge. Spatial subchondral support (S3) plate promises to overcome common complications associated with conventional proximal humerus plates. This study compared the biomechanical performance of S3 plate with a fixed-angle hybrid blade (Equinoxe Fx) plate and a conventional fixed-angle locking plate (PHILOS). The effects of removal of different S3 plate screws on the humeral stability were also investigated. A total of 20 synthetic left humeri were osteotomised transversely at the surgical neck to simulate a two-part fracture and were each treated with an S3 plate. Head screws were divided into three zones based on their distance from the fracture site. Specimens were divided into four equal groups where one group acted as a control with all screws and three groups had one of the screw zones missing. With humeral head fixed, humeral shaft was first displaced 5 mm in extension, flexion, valgus and varus direction (elastic testing) and then until 30 mm varus displacement (plastic testing). Load–displacement data were recorded to determine construct stiffness in elastic tests and assess specimens’ varus stability under plastic testing. Removal of the screw nearest to the fracture site led to a 20.71% drop in mean elastic varus bending stiffness. Removal of the two inferomedial screw above it resulted in a larger drop. The proximal screw pair had the largest contribution to extension and flexion bending stiffness. Varus stiffness of S3 plate constructs was higher than PHILOS and Fx plate constructs. Stability of humeri treated with S3 plate depends on screws’ number, orientation and location. Varus stiffness of S3 plate construct (10.54 N/mm) was higher than that of PHILOS (6.61 N/mm) and Fx (7.59 N/mm) plate constructs. We attribute this to S3 plates’ thicker cross section, the 135° inclination of its screws with respect to the humeral shaft and the availability of pegs for subchondral support.
Partners instead of patients: Women negotiating power and knowledge within medical encounters for endometriosis
Authors: Young Kate , Fisher Jane , Kirkman Maggie
Published: January 2019

Endometriosis is currently poorly understood by the medical sciences; contemporary healthcare has been evidenced as failing to meet the diverse needs of the women who live with the condition. This study examined women’s experiences of navigating knowledge and power within medical encounters for endometriosis. In-depth interviews were conducted with 26 women who have been diagnosed with endometriosis about their experiences of the condition and associated healthcare. Women valued both their own knowledge and their doctor’s clinical expertise; as to which they privileged was situational, but it was essential the woman dictated which it would be. Women were wary of the social status and power of doctors to reduce their wellbeing through medical labels they did not identify with or by inhibiting their access to care. They identified the need for doctors to listen to and believe them as being essential to the provision of healthcare that meets women’s needs and addresses the complexities of endometriosis. Our findings suggest that medical education needs to equip doctors with the skills to acknowledge and incorporate women’s knowledge of their bodies within the medical encounter, and to understand how their practice affects women’s social and economic participation.
The gender wage gap in the workplace: Does the age of the firm matter?
Authors: Cukrowska-Torzewska Ewa , Magda Iga
Published: January 2019

We contribute to the literature on firm-level determinants of gender wage inequality by studying the link between a firm’s age and the size of its gender pay gap. Using European Structure of Earnings data for eight European countries, we find that in all these countries, the gender wage gaps are smallest in the youngest firms. Our results also show that in Central European countries, the size of the gender pay gap clearly increases with the age of the company; whereas in the older EU member states such link is not as apparent. Levels of gender wage inequality appear to be highest in companies that were previously state owned but were privatized during the transition. We interpret our findings with the support of competition and monopsony theories.
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of NIR Spectroscopy at the University of Innsbruck, Austria: Contributions to material-, bio-, medicinal plant and food analysis
Authors: Huck Christian W
Published: January 2019

On 30 July 2018, Tomas Hirschfeld award was given by Dan Klevisha in the name of FOSS instruments and Peter Tillman (treasurer of CNIRS) to Christian Huck (Figure 1), who presented and explained in his lecture ‘the establishment and development of NIR spectroscopy’ at the Leopold-Franzens University of Innsbruck, Austria. The developments in the field of NIR spectroscopy during the past 20 years presented during this presentation have been summarized in this contribution in an overview manner.
Language and Interpersonal Resource Predictors of Psychological and Sociocultural Adaptation: International Students in Hong Kong
Authors: Yu Baohua , Bodycott Peter , Mak Anita S.
Published: January 2019

Hong Kong, along with other Asian societies with universities with top world rankings, has in recent years attracted an increasing number of international students, mainly from Asia. Previous research in English-speaking Western countries has indicated the importance of resources, including language proficiency, positive intergroup relations, and social support, in understanding international students’ stress and coping in cross-cultural adaptation. Guided by a similar acculturative stress and coping framework, we investigated predictors of psychological and sociocultural adaptation in a survey sample of 726 international students (62% female and 73% Asian-born) from Hong Kong public universities. We found that English language proficiency, social support, and a low level of perceived discrimination fostered both types of cross-cultural adaptation, while contact with local students and proficiency in the local dialect further enhanced sociocultural adaptation. Implications for future acculturation research and higher education internationalization policies and practices are discussed.
Facilitators and Barriers to Exercise Influenced by Traditional Chinese Culture: A Qualitative Study of Chinese Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis
Authors: Song Yan , Wang Jing , Chen Xiaolan , Guo Yujie , Wang Xinmei , Liang Wen
Published: January 2019

Introduction: Exercise is recommended for patients undergoing hemodialysis to decrease morbidity and mortality. However, their exercise level is lower than healthy people. Understanding reasons behind their sedentary lifestyle is required. Traditional Chinese culture may have a profound impact on patients’ perceptions of exercise, particularly with regard to the relationship of overwork and kidney function and family members’ attitudes toward patients’ participation in exercise. Therefore, we sought to explore the facilitators and barriers to exercise influenced by traditional Chinese culture. Methods: We conducted semistructured interviews with 44 Chinese patients residing in Nantong of Jiangsu Province undergoing hemodialysis, aged 25 to 77 years. Interview questions focused on their perceptions of, attitudes to, and experiences with exercise. Each interview was digitally recorded and lasted from 40 to 60 minutes. Conventional content analysis was used to understand facilitators and barriers to exercise within their experience and perceptions. Findings: We found that specific Chinese cultural health beliefs informed by traditional Chinese medicine strongly affected patients’ attitudes and behaviors toward exercise. Participants in this study tended to believe that overwork impairs kidney functions and viewed strenuous exercise as overwork. Although participants admitted the benefits of exercise, they rejected strenuous exercise and regarded nearly all modalities of exercise with or without facilities (except walking) as strenuous exercise. The most common barriers to exercise were lack of motivation, bad weather, negative attitudes of family members toward patients’ doing exercise, and insufficient exercise information resources. The most common facilitators found in this study were their increased physical well-being and confidence from exercise. Group exercise supported by family members and positive attitudes toward obtaining exercise information were also motivators. Discussion: Chinese patients undergoing hemodialysis reported more barriers than facilitators to exercise. Perceptions and attitudes toward exercise informed by traditional Chinese culture may be hidden barriers to exercising. Our findings indicated that culturally sensitive and patient-centered exercise interventions for Chinese patients are urgently needed.
POLST Registration and Associated Outcomes Among Veterans With Advanced-Stage Lung Cancer
Authors: Nugent Shannon M. , Slatore Christopher G. , Ganzini Linda , Golden Sara E. , Zive Dana , Vranas Kelly C. , Sullivan Donald R.
Published: January 2019

Introduction:

The Oregon Physicians Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Program allows patients with advanced illness to document end-of-life (EOL) care preferences. We examined the characteristics and associated EOL care among Veterans with and without a registered POLST.

Methods:

Retrospective, cohort study of advanced-stage (IIIB and IV) patients with lung cancer who were diagnosed between 2008 and 2013 as recorded in the VA Central Cancer Registry. We examined a subgroup of 346 Oregon residents. We obtained clinical and sociodemographic variables from the VA Corporate Data Warehouse and EOL preferences from the Oregon POLST Registry. We compared hospice enrollment and place of death between those with and without a registered POLST.

Results:

Twenty-two (n = 77) percent of our cohort had registered POLST forms. Compared to those without a registered POLST, Veterans with a POLST had a higher income ($51 456 vs $48 882) and longer time between diagnosis and death (223 days vs 119 days). Those with a registered POLST were more likely to be enrolled in hospice (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.37, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-5.54) and less likely to die in a VA facility (aOR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.12-0.59).

Conclusion:

There was low submission to the POLST Registry among Veterans who received care in Veterans’ Health Administration. Veterans who had a registered POLST were more likely to be enrolled in hospice and less likely to die in a VA care setting. The POLST may improve metrics of high-quality EOL care; however, opportunities for improvement in submission and implementation within the VA exist.
Long-term Follow-up Results of Buechel-Pappas Ankle Arthroplasty
Authors: Krishnapillai Sajeeban , Joling Boudijn , Sierevelt Inger N. , Kerkhoffs Gino M.M.J. , Haverkamp Daniël , Hoornenborg Daniël
Published: January 2019

Background:

Total ankle replacement (TAR) is gaining popularity as a treatment option for ankle osteoarthritis. Long-term implant survival is a critical outcome to determine the success of the TAR implant. The Buechel-Pappas (BP) implant is a second-generation mobile bearing implant. The aim of this study was to analyze the BP implant survivorship at 10-year follow-up, make a subanalysis between patient groups, and evaluate long-term functional outcomes.

Methods:

Data of 86 patients who received 101 BP implants between 1993 and 2010 were obtained from a prospectively documented database. Subanalyses were done for patients diagnosed with inflammatory joint disease and noninflammatory joint disease, and patients with preoperative tibiotalar neutral and nonneutral alignment. A Kaplan-Meier curve was used for survival analysis. Long-term functional outcomes were assessed with the following patient-reported outcome measures: Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), Short Form-36 (SF-36) Stand Version 2.0 Health Survey and 3 anchor questions.

Results:

The survival rate of the BP implant at 10 years was 86% (95% confidence interval, 78%-93%). A total of 31 patients (36%) required 55 reoperations, and in 13 patients (15%) a revision procedure was performed. In this series, no significant difference in 10-year survival rate was found between neither the inflammatory joint disease and noninflammatory joint disease group ( P = .47), nor the tibiotalar neutral and nonneutral alignment group ( P = .16). At a mean follow-up of 16.8 years for 21 patients, the mean FAOS activities of daily living (ADL) and FAAM ADL subscale scores were 75/100 and 56/100 points. The mean physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) of the SF-36 were 34/100 and 51/100 points, respectively.

Conclusion:

A survival rate of 86% was found at 10-year follow-up for the Buechel-Pappas implant. Our series demonstrated no significant difference in 10-year survival rates between the 2 patient subgroups. Long-term results of the various functional outcomes varied between poor and moderate.

Level of Evidence:

Level II, prospective cohort study.
Is silence about trauma harmful for children? Transgenerational communication in Palestinian families
Authors: Dalgaard Nina Thorup , Diab Safwat Y. , Montgomery Edith , Qouta Samir R. , Punamäki Raija-Leena
Published: January 2019

Style of family communication is considered important in the transgenerational transmission of trauma. This study had three aims: first, to identify the contents of family communication about past national trauma; second, to examine how parents’ current war trauma is associated with transgenerational communication; and third, to analyze the associations between transgenerational communication and children’s mental health, measured as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and psychological distress. The study sample consisted of 170 Palestinian families in Gaza Strip, in which both mothers (n = 170) and fathers (n = 170) participated, each with their 11–13-year-old child. Mothers and fathers responded separately to three questions: 1) what did their own parents tell them about the War of 1948, Nakba?; 2) what did they tell their own children about the Nakba?; and 3) What did they tell their own children about the 1967 Arab–Israeli War and military occupation? Current war trauma, as reported separately by mothers, fathers and their children, refers to the Gaza War 2008/09. Children reported their symptoms of PTSD, depression, and psychological distress. Results revealed seven communication content categories and one category indicating maintaining silence about the traumas. Fathers’ high exposure to current war trauma was associated with a higher level of communicating facts, reasons, and meanings regarding the1948 and 1967 wars, and mothers’ high exposure to current war trauma was associated with a lower level of maintaining silence. Family communication about facts, reasons, and meanings was significantly associated with children not showing PTSD and marginally with not showing psychological distress, while maintaining silence was not associated with children’s mental health.
A direct yaw moment controller for a four in-wheel motor drive electric vehicle using adaptive sliding mode control
Authors: Asiabar Aria Noori , Kazemi Reza
Published: January 2019

In this paper, a direct yaw moment control algorithm is designed such that the corrective yaw moment is generated through direct control of driving and braking torques of four in-wheel brushless direct current motors located at the empty space of vehicle wheels. The proposed control system consists of a higher-level controller and a lower-level controller. In the upper level of proposed controller, a PID controller is designed to keep longitudinal velocity constant in manoeuvres. In addition, due to probable modelling error and parametric uncertainties as well as adaptation of unknown parameters in control law, an adaptive sliding mode control through adaptation of unknown parameters is presented to yield the corrective yaw moment such that the yaw rate tracks the desired value and the vehicle sideslip angle maintains limited so as to improve vehicle handling stability. The lower-level controller allocates the achieved control efforts (i.e. total longitudinal force and corrective yaw moment) to driving or regenerative braking torques of four in-wheel motors so as to generate the desired tyre longitudinal forces. The additional yaw moment applied by upper-lever controller may saturate the tyre forces. To this end, a novel longitudinal slip ratio controller which is designed based on fuzzy logic is included in the lower-level controller. A tyre dynamic weight transfer-based torque distribution algorithm is employed to distribute the motor driving torque or regenerative braking torque of each in-wheel motor for vehicle stability enhancement. A seven degree-of-freedom non-linear vehicle model with Magic Formula tyre model as well as the proposed control algorithm are simulated in Matlab/Simulink software. Three steering inputs including lane change, double lane change and step-steer manoeuvres in different roads are investigated in simulation environment. The simulation results show that the proposed control algorithm is capable of improving vehicle handling stability and maintaining vehicle yaw stability.