bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implications of Improved Representation of Convection for the East Africa Water Budget Using a Convection-Permitting Model
Authors: Finney Declan L. , Marsham John H. , Jackson Lawrence S. , Kendon Elizabeth J. , Rowell David P. , Boorman Penelope M. , Keane Richard J. , Stratton Rachel A. , Senior Catherine A.
Published: February 2019

The precipitation and diabatic heating resulting from moist convection make it a key component of the atmospheric water budget in the tropics. With convective parameterization being a known source of uncertainty in global models, convection-permitting (CP) models are increasingly being used to improve understanding of regional climate. Here, a new 10-yr CP simulation is used to study the characteristics of rainfall and atmospheric water budget for East Africa and the Lake Victoria basin. The explicit representation of convection leads to a widespread improvement in the intensities and diurnal cycle of rainfall when compared with a parameterized simulation. Differences in large-scale moisture fluxes lead to a shift in the mean rainfall pattern from the Congo to Lake Victoria basin in the CP simulation—highlighting the important connection between local changes in the representation of convection and larger-scale dynamics and rainfall. Stronger lake–land contrasts in buoyancy in the CP model lead to a stronger nocturnal land breeze over Lake Victoria, increasing evaporation and moisture flux convergence (MFC), and likely unrealistically high rainfall. However, for the mountains east of the lake, the CP model produces a diurnal rainfall cycle much more similar to satellite estimates, which is related to differences in the timing of MFC. Results here demonstrate that, while care is needed regarding lake forcings, a CP approach offers a more realistic representation of several rainfall characteristics through a more physically based realization of the atmospheric dynamics around the complex topography of East Africa.
The Cult of St Edmund, King and Martyr in Medieval Ireland
Authors: Young Francis
Published: February 2019

St Edmund, king and martyr (an Anglo-Saxon king martyred by the Vikings in 869) was one of the most venerated English saints in Ireland from the 12th century. In Dublin, St Edmund had his own chapel in Christ Church Cathedral and a guild, while Athassel Priory in County Tipperary claimed to possess a miraculous image of the saint. In the late 14th century the coat of arms ascribed to St Edmund became the emblem of the king of England’s lordship of Ireland, and the name Edmund (or its Irish equivalent Éamon) was widespread in the country by the end of the Middle Ages. This article argues that the cult of St Edmund, the traditional patron saint of the English people, served to reassure the English of Ireland of their Englishness, and challenges the idea that St Edmund was introduced to Ireland as a heavenly patron of the Anglo-Norman conquest.
Exploring the Impersonal Judgments and Personal Preferences of Raters in Rater-Mediated Assessments With Unfolding Models
Authors: Wang Jue , Engelhard George
Published: February 2019

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of unfolding models for evaluating the quality of ratings obtained in rater-mediated assessments. Two different judgmental processes can be used to conceptualize ratings: impersonal judgments and personal preferences. Impersonal judgments are typically expected in rater-mediated assessments, and these ratings reflect a cumulative response process. However, raters may also be influenced by their personal preferences in providing ratings, and these ratings may reflect a noncumulative or unfolding response process. The goal of rater training in rater-mediated assessments is to stress impersonal judgments represented by scoring rubrics and to minimize the personal preferences that may represent construct-irrelevant variance in the assessment system. In this study, we explore the use of unfolding models as a framework for evaluating the quality of ratings in rater-mediated assessments. Data from a large-scale assessment of writing in the United States are used to illustrate our approach. The results suggest that unfolding models offer a useful way to evaluate rater-mediated assessments in order to initially explore the judgmental processes underlying the ratings. The data also indicate that there are significant relationships between some essay features (e.g., word count, syntactic simplicity, word concreteness, and verb cohesion) and essay orderings based on the personal preferences of raters. The implications of unfolding models for theory and practice in rater-mediated assessments are discussed.
The Orbital Elements of Venus in Medieval Islamic Astronomy: Interaction Between Traditions and the Accuracy of Observations
Authors: Mozaffari S. Mohammad
Published: February 2019

The orbital elements of each planet are the eccentricity and the direction of the apsidal line of its orbit defined by the ecliptic longitude of either of its apses, i.e., the two points on its orbit where the planet is either furthest from or closest to the Earth, which are called the planet’s apogee and perigee. In the geocentric view of the solar system, the eccentricity of Venus is a bit less than half of the solar one, and its apogee is located behind that of the Sun. Ptolemy correctly found that the apogee of Venus is behind that of the Sun, but determined the eccentricity of Venus to be exactly half the solar one. In the Indian Midnight System of Āryabhaṭa (b. ad 476), the eccentricity of Venus is assumed to be half the solar one, and also the longitudes of their apogees are assumed to be the same. This hypothesis became prevalent in early medieval Middle Eastern astronomy (ad 800–1000), where its adoption resulted in large errors of more than 10° in the values for the longitude of the apogee of Venus adopted by Yaḥyā b. Abī Manṣūr (d. ad 830), al-Battānī (d. ad 929), and Ibn Yūnus (d. ad 1007). In Western Islamic astronomy, it was used in combination with Ibn al-Zarqālluh’s (d. ad 1100) solar model with variable eccentricity, which only by coincidence resulted in accurate values for the eccentricity of Venus. In late Islamic Middle Eastern astronomy (from ad 1000 onwards), Āryabhaṭa’s hypothesis gradually lost its dominance. Ibn al-A‘lam (d. ad 985) seems to have been the first Islamic astronomer who rejected it. Late Eastern Islamic astronomers from the middle of the thirteenth century onwards arrived at the correct understanding that the eccentricity of Venus should be somewhat less than half of the solar one. Its most accurate medieval value was measured in the Samarqand observatory in the fifteenth century. Also, the values for the longitude of the apogee of Venus show a significant improvement in late Middle Eastern Islamic works, reaching an accuracy better than a degree in Khāzinī’s Mu‘tabar zīj, Ibn al-Fahhād’s ‘Alā’ī zīj, the Īlkhānī zīj, and Ulugh Beg’s Sulṭānī zīj.
On the Eclipse of Hipparchus
Authors: Morrison Leslie V. , Stephenson F. Richard , Hohenkerk Catherine Y.
Published: February 2019

We investigate the date of observation of the Hipparchus eclipse using our latest measurement of historical variations in the Earth’s rotation to plot the tracks of the potential eclipses. We conclude that Hipparchus most probably analysed the eclipse of −189 in deriving the distance to the Moon, as concluded by Toomer in 1974.
An Early Compilation of Saturn Observations from Babylon
Authors: Steele John
Published: February 2019

In this paper, I publish and analyse a compilation of observations of the synodic phenomena of Saturn from Babylon, which can be dated to the early sixth century b.c. By comparing these observations with records found in other early compilations of planetary observations it is possible to trace the development of observational practice in Babylonia. The compilation contains references to several stars that are previously unattested in cuneiform texts. An attempt is made to identify these stars.
Fraud Is What People Make of It: Election Fraud, Perceived Fraud, and Protesting in Nigeria
Authors: Daxecker Ursula , Di Salvatore Jessica , Ruggeri Andrea
Published: February 2019

Why do fraudulent elections encourage protesting? Scholars suggest that information about fraud shapes individuals’ beliefs and propensity to protest. Yet these accounts neglect the complexity of opinion formation and have not been tested at the individual level. We distinguish between the mobilizing effects of actual incidents of election fraud and individuals’ subjective perceptions of fraud. While rational updating models would imply that both measures similarly affect mobilization, we argue that subjective fraud perceptions are more consistent predictors of protesting, also being shaped by attitudes, information, and community networks. Our empirical analysis uses geo-referenced individual-level data on fraud events, fraud perception, and protesting from the 2007 Nigerian elections. Our analysis yields two main findings: proximity to reported fraud has no effect on protesting and citizens perceiving elections as fraudulent are consistently more likely to protest, and more so if embedded in community networks.
Robbery and the Principle of Fair Labelling
Authors: Betts Gary
Published: February 2019

Robbery is a somewhat unusual offence in the sense that it combines two distinct wrongs: an offence against property and an offence against the person. It is also a particularly broad crime since it does not distinguish between different levels of force which might be used against the person. Consequently, the defendant who uses a slight push in order to steal a bag commits the same offence as a masked gang who enters a bank while in possession of firearms, making off with substantial amounts of cash in the process. As such, the current definition of robbery conflicts with the principle of fair labelling which seeks to ensure that crimes are defined to reflect their wrongfulness and severity. This article explores options to reform robbery in order to bring it in line with the principle of fair labelling. Ultimately, it argues that the scope of the offence should be narrowed by incorporating a minimum force threshold so that offences involving low levels of force cease to be regarded as robberies and are instead treated as thefts.
Receiving Social Support after Short-term Confinement: How Support Pre- and During-confinement Contribute
Authors: Hickert Audrey , Palmen Hanneke , Dirkzwager Anja , Nieuwbeerta Paul
Published: February 2019

Objectives:

To test the independent links between social support that exists prior to and during confinement with support after release for adult males incarcerated for an average of 11 months in the Netherlands.

Methods:

Longitudinal data from a large study on consequences of confinement, the Prison Project, are used to describe instrumental (live with) and expressive (core network) support before and after confinement from four sources (parent, partner, other family, friend) and during-confinement visits by the same groups. Multiequation models examine the contribution of preconfinement support and visits to postconfinement support, while also describing the interrelationship of support sources.

Results:

Preconfinement support is consistently related to receiving the same type after release. Receiving visits during confinement has a unique relationship with receiving postconfinement expressive support across all relational groups. Only visits from partners has an additional influence on instrumental support after release. Postconfinement support across provider groups is interrelated, with a positive correlation across providers for expressive support and a substitution effect for instrumental support between parents and partners.

Conclusions:

After controlling for important preconfinement differences in support, visits remain significantly related to postconfinement expressive support, suggesting a possible mechanism by which visits help improve reentry outcomes.
The role of services in homebuyers’ attitudes: A field experiment in the French off-plan housing market
Authors: Larceneux Fabrice , Guiot Denis
Published: February 2019

This article investigates the effects of services proposed by private developers on buyers’ psychological attitudes in the decision-making process for off-plan purchases. We propose a new typology of services based on perceived value. We conducted a field experiment with real buyers who purchased an off-plan dwelling in France, and we measured the causal effects on developer reputation of four service intensity indexes that offer ‘visualisation’, ‘customisation’, ‘value enhancement’ and ‘interaction’ services. The results confirm the homebuyer-based typology of services and highlight the mediating roles of two types of attitudes, satisfaction with and trust in the developer, to explain the influence on developer reputation. Services designed to improve the perception of the quality of the dwelling itself (visualisation and customisation benefits) are less effective, and those intended to create a favourable purchase context (value enhancement and interactional benefits) are more influential, emphasising the benevolent role expected from developers.
Visitors’ Place Attachment and Destination Loyalty: Examining the Roles of Emotional Solidarity and Perceived Safety
Authors: Patwardhan Vidya , Ribeiro Manuel Alector , Payini Valsaraj , Woosnam Kyle M. , Mallya Jyothi , Gopalakrishnan Parvadhavardhini
Published: February 2019

Hosting ethnically and culturally rich religious festivals provides visitors a glimpse into how a sense of togetherness and faith are not only established but strengthened through shared beliefs and ritualistic behavior. This research examines visitors’ destination loyalty through their emotional bonding with place, the emotional solidarity they experience with residents, and their perceived level of safety. Based on data collected from 813 visitors during the Attur Church Feast in Karkala, India, the results indicated that place attachment directly influences loyalty and two dimensions of emotional solidarity and, in turn, emotional solidarity has a positive effect on loyalty. Additionally, it was found that emotional solidarity partially mediates the effect of place attachment on destination loyalty. Finally, employing a moderated mediation analysis, visitor level of perceived safety at the festival partially moderated the indirect effect of place attachment on destination loyalty through emotional solidarity.
Section 45 of the Trade Practices Act—the Law and Administration to Date
Authors: Pengilley Warren
Published: February 2019

One of the most important sections of the Trade Practices Act is section 45, which concerns restraint of trade. Dr Pengilley begins by outlining the provisions of the Trade Practices Act dealing with restraint of trade and the role of the Trade Practices Commission in relation to those provisions and in comparison to the courts. Detailed analysis is then given to numerous decisions, from a number of jurisdictions, relevant to the interpretation of section 45. Extensive examination is also made of a large number of Trade Practices Commission decisions regarding clearance or authorisation of conduct which is, or may be, contrary to section 45. The article concludes by discussing and assessing the implications of the High Court's only decision to date on the interpretation of section 45.
Singulars, Plurals, and Section 57 of the Constitution
Authors: Sawer Geoffrey
Published: February 2019

Whether words in the singular include the plural or whether words in the plural include the singular is a common problem of statutory interpretation. Acts interpretation legislation of the States and the Commonwealth offer slightly varying presumptions for dealing with the problem. Professor Sawer analyses these presumptions and their application in numerous cases. As well, reforms that would lead to greater clarity and uniformity of such legislation are suggested.

The second part of the article explores the special problems regarding singulars and plurals in the context of the Constitution and, in particular, section 57 which provides for the resolution of deadlocks between the Senate and the House of Representatives with regard to “any proposed law”. The High Court's resolution of some of the problems raised when more than one proposed law is the subject of disagreement between the Houses of Parliament is exhaustively analysed. In addition, solutions are offered to a number of judicially unanswered questions relating to section 57 of the Constitution.
Social Space Diffusion: Applications of a Latent Space Model to Diffusion with Uncertain Ties
Authors: Fisher Jacob C.
Published: February 2019

Social networks represent two different facets of social life: (1) stable paths for diffusion, or the spread of something through a connected population, and (2) random draws from an underlying social space, which indicate the relative positions of the people in the network to one another. The dual nature of networks creates a challenge: if the observed network ties are a single random draw, is it realistic to expect that diffusion only follows the observed network ties? This study takes a first step toward integrating these two perspectives by introducing a social space diffusion model. In the model, network ties indicate positions in social space, and diffusion occurs proportionally to distance in social space. Practically, the simulation occurs in two parts. First, positions are estimated using a statistical model (in this example, a latent space model). Then, second, the predicted probabilities of a tie from that model—representing the distances in social space—or a series of networks drawn from those probabilities—representing routine churn in the network—are used as weights in a weighted averaging framework. Using longitudinal data from high school friendship networks, the author explores the properties of the model. The author shows that the model produces smoothed diffusion results, which predict attitudes in future waves 10 percent better than a diffusion model using the observed network and up to 5 percent better than diffusion models using alternative, non-model-based smoothing approaches.
An unnatural split: how ‘human interest’ sucks the life from significant news
Authors: Parks Perry
Published: February 2019

Human interest might be considered the earliest of the news values, and in the past century, it has been the most flexible, allowing journalists to report and present compelling stories that lie outside more formal news definitions. In this historical and longitudinal analysis of 75 journalism textbooks from 1894 to 2016, I argue that human interest has also been a central enforcement tool for the dichotomy between emotional ‘feature’ stories and rational ‘news’ content – a dichotomy that developed in service of the modern journalistic tenet of objectivity. Whereas news and human interest were nearly synonymous in turn-of-the-20th-century textbooks, the two concepts were soon separated to facilitate the erasure of feeling and emotion from the most significant news events of the day. A key implication of this historical rupture is a century of public affairs news that holds citizens at arm’s length, contributing to widespread detachment from the workings of government and disengagement from civic affairs.
Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx: A National Cancer Database Analysis
Authors: Jumaily Mejd , Faraji Farhoud , Zhang Donald , Walker Ronald J. , Ward Gregory M.
Published: February 2019

Objective

Basaloid squamous cell histology is a rare variant that accounts for about 2% of all head and neck squamous cell laryngeal carcinomas. The purpose of this study was to examine overall survival rates of patients according to treatment, stage, and laryngeal subsite.

Study Design

Retrospective analysis.

Setting

National Cancer Database (NCDB).

Subjects and Methods

The NCDB was queried for patients with basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) who were treated from 2004 to 2014. Five‐year overall survival rates were determined by the Kaplan‐Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to identify factors correlated with 5‐year overall survival.

Results

The NCDB identified 440 patients meeting inclusion criteria. Median follow‐up time was 31.2 months. On univariate analysis, the treatment modalities assessed (surgery alone, surgery with radiotherapy, surgery with chemoradiotherapy, radiotherapy, chemoradiotherapy) did not differ in their survival benefit. On multivariate analysis, only chemoradiotherapy (hazard ratio, 0.587; 95% CI, 0.37‐0.93; P =. 022) was associated with improved survival. All treatment modalities performed similarly between stage I and II tumors (P =. 340) and stage III and IV tumors (P =. 154).

Conclusion

This study represents the largest laryngeal BSCC series to date. We found that chemoradiotherapy was associated with improved 5‐year overall survival of laryngeal BSCC on multivariate analysis.
Artificial Intelligence for the Otolaryngologist: A State of the Art Review
Authors: Bur Andrés M. , Shew Matthew , New Jacob
Published: February 2019

Objective

To provide a state of the art review of artificial intelligence (AI), including its subfields of machine learning and natural language processing, as it applies to otolaryngology and to discuss current applications, future impact, and limitations of these technologies.

Data Sources

PubMed and Medline search engines.

Review Methods

A structured search of the current literature was performed (up to and including September 2018). Search terms related to topics of AI in otolaryngology were identified and queried to identify relevant articles.

Conclusions

AI is at the forefront of conversation in academic research and popular culture. In recent years, it has been touted for its potential to revolutionize health care delivery. Yet, to date, it has made few contributions to actual medical practice or patient care. Future adoption of AI technologies in otolaryngology practice may be hindered by misconceptions of what AI is and a fear that machine errors may compromise patient care. However, with potential clinical and economic benefits, it is vital for otolaryngologists to understand the principles and scope of AI.

Implications for Practice

In the coming years, AI is likely to have a major impact on biomedical research and the practice of medicine. Otolaryngologists are key stakeholders in the development and clinical integration of meaningful AI technologies that will improve patient care. High‐quality data collection is essential for the development of AI technologies, and otolaryngologists should seek opportunities to collaborate with data scientists to guide them toward the most impactful clinical questions.
Submental Flap for Soft Tissue Reconstruction following Radical Parotidectomy
Authors: Bayon Rodrigo , Davis Andrew B.
Published: February 2019

This study analyzed our institution's experience with a buried submental flap for soft tissue reconstruction following radical parotidectomy. A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients who had parotid malignancies requiring radical parotidectomy, who also underwent a buried submental flap reconstruction. Analysis included patient demographics and clinical, surgical, and outcome data. Three patients met criteria for this study who underwent a buried submental flap at a tertiary medical center between 2012 and 2016. All patients had oncologic surgery and reconstruction using a deepithelialized submental island flap, which was used to fill the radical parotidectomy surgical defect with no complications and good aesthetic results. Each patient received appropriate adjuvant therapy. This case series shows that the buried submental island flap is a versatile flap that is adequate bulk after radical parotidectomy. It also has no impact on hospital length of stay and provides excellent cosmetic outcomes with minimal donor site morbidity.
Evaluating Perineural Spread to the Intratemporal Facial Nerve on Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Nader Marc‐Elie , Ginsberg Lawrence E. , Bell Diana , Roberts Dianna B. , Gidley Paul W.
Published: February 2019

Objectives

To determine the sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the detection of perineural spread (PNS) along the intratemporal facial nerve (ITFN) in patients with head and neck cancers.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Tertiary care center.

Subjects and Methods

We included 58 patients with head and neck malignancies who underwent sacrifice of the ITFN between August 1, 2002, and November 30, 2015. Demographics, preoperative facial nerve function, prior oncologic treatment, and timing between MRI and surgery were recorded. Histopathology slides and preoperative MRI were reviewed retrospectively by a neuropathologist and a neuroradiologist, respectively, both blinded to clinical data. The mastoid segment of the facial nerve (referred to as the descending facial nerve [DFN]) and stylomastoid foramen (SMF) were evaluated separately. A grading system was devised when radiographically assessing PNS along the DFN.

Results

Histopathologic evidence of PNS was found in 21 patients (36.2%). The sensitivity and specificity of MRI in detecting PNS to the DFN were 72.7% and 87.8%, respectively. MRI showed higher sensitivity but slightly lower specificity when evaluating the SMF (80% and 82.8%, respectively). Prior oncologic treatment did not affect the false‐positive rate (P =. 7084). Sensitivity was 100% when MRI was performed within 2 weeks of surgery and was 62.5% to 73.3% when the interval was greater than 2 weeks. This finding was not statistically significant (SMF, P =. 7076; DFN, P =. 4143).

Conclusion

MRI shows fair to good sensitivity and good specificity when evaluating PNS to the ITFN.
Palliative care in paramedic practice: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Lord Bill , Andrew Emily , Henderson Amanda , Anderson David J , Smith Karen , Bernard Stephen
Published: February 2019

Background:

Paramedics may be involved in the care of patients experiencing a health crisis associated with palliative care. However, little is known about the paramedic’s role in the care of these patients.

Aim:

To describe the incidence and nature of cases attended by paramedics and the care provided where the reason for attendance was associated with a history of palliative care.

Design:

This is a retrospective cohort study.

Setting/participants:

Adult patients (aged >17 years) attended by paramedics in the Australian state of Victoria between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2016 where terms associated with palliative care or end of life were recorded in the patient care record. Secondary transfers including inter-hospital transport cases were excluded.

Results:

A total of 4348 cases met inclusion criteria. Median age was 74 years (interquartile range 64–83). The most common paramedic assessments were ‘respiratory’ (20.1%), ‘pain’ (15.8%) and ‘deceased’ (7.9%); 74.4% ( n = 3237) were transported, with the most common destination being a hospital (99.5%, n = 3221). Of those with pain as the primary impression, 359 (53.9%) received an analgesic, morphine, fentanyl or methoxyflurane, and 356 (99.2%) were transported following analgesic administration. Resuscitation was attempted in 98 (29.1%) of the 337 cases coded as cardiac arrest. Among non-transported cases, there were 105 (9.6%) cases where paramedics re-attended the patient within 24 h of the previous attendance.

Conclusion:

Paramedics have a significant role in caring for patients receiving palliative care. These results should inform the design of integrated systems of care that involve ambulance services in the planning and delivery of community-based palliative care.
Effects of acute alcohol consumption on emotion recognition in social alcohol drinkers
Authors: Khouja Jasmine N , Attwood Angela S , Penton-Voak Ian S , Munafò Marcus R
Published: February 2019

Background:

Research suggests that acute alcohol consumption alters recognition of emotional expressions. Extending this work, we investigated the effects of alcohol on recognition of six primary expressions of emotion.

Methods:

We conducted two studies using a 2 × 6 experimental design with a between-subjects factor of drink (alcohol, placebo) and a within-subjects factor of emotion (anger, disgust, sadness, surprise, happiness, fear). Study one ( n = 110) was followed by a direct replication study ( n = 192). Participants completed a six alternative forced choice emotion recognition task following consumption of 0.4 g/kg alcohol or placebo. Dependent variables were recognition accuracy (i.e. hits) and false alarms.

Results:

There was no clear evidence of differences in recognition accuracy between groups ( ps > .58). In study one, there were more false alarms for anger in the alcohol compared to placebo group ( n = 52 and 56, respectively; t(94.6) = 2.26, p = .024, d = .44) and fewer false alarms for happiness ( t(106) = –2.42, p = .017, d = –.47). However, no clear evidence for these effects was found in study two (alcohol group n = 96, placebo group n = 93, ps > .22). When the data were combined we observed weak evidence of an effect of alcohol on false alarms of anger ( t(295) = 2.25, p = .025, d = .26).

Conclusions:

These studies find weak support for biased anger perception following acute alcohol consumption in social consumers, which could have implications for alcohol-related aggression. Future research should investigate the robustness of this effect, particularly in individuals high in trait aggression.
Greater empathy in MDMA users
Authors: Carlyle Molly , Stevens Tobias , Fawaz Leah , Marsh Beth , Kosmider Sophia , Morgan Celia JA
Published: February 2019

Background:

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is widely known for its positive acute effects on social behaviour, such as increasing empathy, whilst also attenuating the negative impact of social exclusion. However there is a scarcity of research that investigates the long-term impact of recreational MDMA use on these fundamental social processes.

Method:

Sixty-seven individuals were split into three groups based on their drug-use history: poly-drug MDMA users ( n = 25), poly-drug users who do not use MDMA ( n = 19), alcohol-only users ( n = 23), and were tested in an independent groups design. Participants completed both a self-report measure of emotional and cognitive empathy, along with the Multifaceted Empathy Task – a computerised assessment of empathy – and the Cyberball Game – a social exclusion paradigm.

Results:

MDMA users had significantly greater subjective emotional empathy, and greater cognitive empathy on the computer task compared with the poly-drug users who do not use MDMA. There were no significant differences in subjective responses to social exclusion between the groups. Indices of MDMA use did not correlate with empathy.

Conclusions:

Long-term MDMA users in this sample exhibited normal psychosocial functioning in regard to empathy and social pain and had higher subjective emotional empathy. This conflicts with previous suggestions that moderate, long-term MDMA use may cause heightened social distress, and is further evidence of the safety of the drug, which is relevant to considerations of its therapeutic use.
Macro-demarketing: The Key to Unlocking Unsustainable Production and Consumption Systems?
Authors: Little Vicki Janine , Lee Christina Kwai Choi , Nair Sumesh
Published: February 2019

Drawing on the multi-level perspective of socio-technical change and social practice theory, this paper argues that macrosocial marketing must attend to the challenge of aggregate demand reduction in order to support transition to more sustainable marketing systems. However, reversal of current production and consumption system trajectories is a prodigious challenge. To provide deeper insight into that challenge, an ethnographic case study of a failed plastic bag tax identified the mechanisms reinforcing unsustainable marketing systems. Despite widespread awareness and espoused support, the tax failed to meet policy goals. Embeddedness of plastic bags in two inseparable practices (waste management and household provisioning) gave rise to seven themes: Valuableness, skepticism, subversion, blame, juxtaposition, ubiquity and embeddedness, rights and responsibilities, highlighting the roles of habitus and dominant technological regimes, and the notion of markets as sites of conflict. Mapping the system mechanisms highlighted regulating loops locking in systems behaviors at macro (landscape), meso (regimes of technology and practice) and micro (individual consumer and firm) levels. Building on the idea of demarketing, a process of macrodemarketing is proposed as a multi-level challenge to systems unsustainability. A series of macrosocial marketing interventions is proposed, ranging from electoral and education policy, to incentives for closed loop supply chain innovations. Addressing the limitations of the voluntary individual choice perspective, the study contributes insight into sources of resistance and potential capitulation to systems interventions at multiple levels and among multiple stakeholders.
Is FDG maximum standardized uptake value of primary breast cancer a prognostic factor for locoregional axillary lymph node metastasis?
Authors: Refaat Rania , Abd Alkhalik Basha Mohammad , Sobhi Hassan Mohammed , Hussein Rasha S , Al-Molla Rania M , Awad Nahla M , Elkholy Engi
Published: February 2019

Background

18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has been widely used for diagnosis and staging of disease recurrence in breast cancer patients.

Purpose

To determine the validity of 18F-FDG PET/CT maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of primary breast cancer (SUVmax-T) as a prognostic factor for locoregional axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM).

Material and Methods

We prospectively studied 198 female patients with pathologically proven breast cancer. All patients were submitted to 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging for their initial tumor staging. The SUVmax-T on 18F-FDG PET/CT and ALNM were assessed. The patients were categorized into two groups; group A, with ALNM, and group B, without ALNM, according to the presence of locoregional ALNM on visual analysis of 18F-FDG PET/CT. The correlations and differences between two groups were statistically evaluated. The optimal cut-off value of SUVmax-T was determined.

Results

The mean tumor size in group A was significantly greater than that in group B ( P = 0.0416). The mean SUVmax-T value in group A was significantly higher than that in group B ( P = 0.0037). Tumor stage in group A was higher than that in group B ( P = 0.0045). The correlation between tumor size and SUVmax-T value was statistically significant in group A (r = 0.6768, P = 0.0111) and in group B ( r = 0.7221, P = 0.0280). The optimal cut-off of SUVmax-T for detecting ALNM was >4.2. As regards molecular subtypes, the mean SUVmax-T values of HER2-positive and triple-negative subtypes in group A were significantly higher than that in group B ( P = 0.0012 and <0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

Breast cancer patients with higher primary tumor 18F-FDG uptake are at greater risk of concurrent ALNM.
Relationship between the muscle relaxation effect and body muscle mass measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis: A nonrandomized controlled trial
Authors: Choi Yoon-Ji , Hee Kim Yun , Bae Go Eun , Yu Joon Ho , Yoon Seung Zhoo , Kang Hee Won , Lee Kuen Su , Kim Jae-Hwan , Lee Yoon-Sook
Published: February 2019

Objective

The dose of neuromuscular blocking drugs is commonly based on body weight, but using muscle mass might be more effective. This study investigated the relationship between the effect of neuromuscular blocking drugs and muscle mass measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Methods

Patients who were scheduled for elective surgery using a muscle relaxant were screened for inclusion in this study. Under intravenous anaesthesia, 12 mg or 9 mg of rocuronium was administered to males and females, respectively; and the maximal relaxation effect of T1 was measured using a TOF-Watch-SX® acceleromyograph.

Results

This study enrolled 40 patients; 20 males and 20 females. For both sexes, the maximal relaxation effect of T1 did not correlate with the body weight-based dose of neuromuscular blocking drugs (males, r2 = 0.12; females, r2 = 0.26). Instead, it correlated with the dose based on bioelectrical impedance analysis-measured muscle mass when injected with the same dose of rocuronium (males, r2 = 0.78, female, r2 = 0.82).

Conclusions

This study showed that the muscle relaxation effect of rocuronium was correlated with muscle mass and did not correlate with body weight when using the same dose. Therefore, a muscle mass-based dose of neuromuscular blocking drugs is recommended.
The Relationship between Streetcars and Development Activity: An Examination of Portland and Seattle
Authors: Mendez Joel , Brown Jeffrey R.
Published: February 2019

In most U.S. cities, streetcars are not primarily pursued for the transportation benefits they might provide but instead for their anticipated development impacts. This paper examines the experiences of Portland and Seattle in order to better understand the nature of development activity around their streetcars. Using a multivariate analysis, the authors found that areas around Portland’s initial line experienced higher levels of development activity than areas not served by the streetcar, although the differences in activity between served and not served areas since the opening of the second line have been insignificant. In Seattle, areas around the first streetcar line experienced greater commercial development activity but less residential activity than nearby unserved areas. These results remained consistent when focusing on the expanded Seattle Streetcar system since the opening of the second line. These findings indicate that in certain contexts streetcars are associated with increased development activity. The results also suggest the need for a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between streetcars and development.
Analyzing Bus Passengers’ Satisfaction in Dhaka using Discrete Choice Models
Authors: Quddus Mohammed , Rahman Farzana , Monsuur Fredrik , de Ona Juan , Enoch Marcus
Published: February 2019

The bus transport system in Dhaka is unsafe, unreliable, inefficient and struggles to cope with the day-to-day mobility of its massive population. Consequently, measuring the performance of bus service quality (SQ) from the customers’ perspective is fundamental in planning a sustainable bus transport system for Dhaka, and in developing the associated policies and regulations. Although there are some studies addressing the performance of the public transport systems in Bangladesh, little research considers how service quality attributes affect passengers’ satisfaction. The purpose of this paper is to examine a relationship between bus service quality and its influencing factors in Dhaka. Using a customer satisfaction survey with a sample size of 955, discrete choice models (e.g., multinomial logit and mixed logit) have been developed. The results indicate that the inhabitants, as expected, are dissatisfied with their bus services (less than 10% rated service quality as “excellent/good”) and service attributes such as comfort level and driver skills were found to be the most important contributors toward the “poor” and “very poor” perceptions of service quality. Other influencing factors are punctuality, safety, entry and exit processes, waiting times, and vehicle condition. One surprising finding was that the multinomial logit model provides better goodness-of-fit for the sample data relative to the mixed logit model implying that bus users in Dhaka may represent a homogeneous group as they do have access to other modes. Findings from this study can be utilized to develop policies and regulations to improve bus transport in Dhaka.
Elections in times of neo-coupism and populism: A short essay on Brazil's right-wing presidential candidates' plans for governance and their proposals for gender and Afro-Brazilians
Authors: Rangel Patricia , Vinhaes Dultra Eneida
Published: February 2019

In October 2018, Brazil held general elections in which new senators, federal representatives, state representatives, governors, and the new president of the republic were chosen. The singularity of the context surrounding the elections is evident: the call occurred two years after a presidential impeachment linked to a state coup which consolidated the ascent of populist forces from the right and which initiated a series of regressions in social rights, criminalization of progressive activism, and increase of police violence. As a result, in the presidential elections, populist candidates and discourses of hate became popular, targeting historically marginalized social groups within the country (women, African-Brazilians, LGBTQIs – Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders, Queers, Intersex – working class, rural communities, and the indigenous populations). This essay examines the presidential proposals or positions towards the aforementioned groups, paying particular attention to speeches of right-populist candidates, especially those made by Jair Bolsonaro, chosen in a runoff election.
A feasibility study of biodegradable magnesium-aluminum-zinc-calcium-manganese (AZXM) alloys for tracheal stent application
Authors: Wu Jingyao , Lee Boeun , Saha Partha , N Kumta Prashant
Published: February 2019

Airway obstruction conditions are relatively rarely observed in clinical settings but nevertheless, extremely challenging to handle, especially when observed in pediatric patients. Several surgical procedures, including tracheal resection, end-to-end tracheal anastomosis, and tracheoplasty, have been developed and practised of late, to treat airway obstruction. However, the clinical outcome is typically not satisfactory due to airway restenosis conditions that develop following surgery. Various types of stents are currently available for airway stenting ranging from non-degradable silicone tubes and bio-inert metallic stents (bare or coated with polymer matrix) to hybrid silicone tubes strengthened by metallic cores, but none of the stents provides the satisfactory long-term effectiveness. Therefore, there is a significant clinical need for a biodegradable airway stent that would maintain airway patency and totally degrade over time after meeting the desired objectives. The present study aims to investigate biodegradable magnesium-aluminum-zinc-calcium-manganese (AZXM) alloy as a potential tracheal stent. The new AZXM alloy was fabricated by partially replacing aliminum in commercial AZ31 alloy with calcium. The present study demonstrates that calcium preferentially segregates along the grain boundaries as intermetallic phases (Mg2Ca) and is homogeneously distributed in the magnesium matrix. The extruded AZXM alloy showed less pitting, higher corrosion resistance in Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) compared to the as-cast and solution-treated AZXM alloys and exhibited optimized mechanical properties. In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation using human trachea epithelial cells demonstrated excellent cyto-compatibility of AZXM alloys compared to pure Mg and commercial AZ31 validated by a very preliminary rabbit in vivo tracheal model study. Preliminary results show that the approach to use biodegradable AZXM alloys as a tracheal stent is indeed promising, although further alloy processing is required to improve the ductility needed followed by a more exhaustive in vivo study to demonstrate full viability for stent applications.
Borrowing Privilege: Status Maneuvering among Marginalized Men
Authors: Oselin Sharon S. , Barber Kristen
Published: February 2019

Research shows people confront social marginalization through work, yet this scholarship largely ignores people working in illicit markets. We address this gap by investigating how and to what end men in street prostitution “borrow” privilege from their more structurally advantaged clients. Drawing from interviews with men of color in street sex work, we show how they “status maneuver” to offset stigmatized identities tied to prostitution and to construct a masculinity that offers a greater sense of social worth within constrained circumstances. These men ironically rely on status differences between themselves and their white, wealthy men clients to undermine their own oppression and to create possibilities for momentary associations with hegemonic masculine privilege. This research shows how barriers between the powerful and powerless are permeable, and how social hierarchies serve as resources to cope with the inequitable conditions and stigma under which some people live and work.
The case for summer: Conceptualizing the Summer Divide in higher education
Authors: Tichavakunda Antar A.
Published: February 2019

Students’ summer experiences during college potentially influence their postsecondary outcomes and job placement. Little is known, however, about how college students spend their summers. Drawing from prior research, current strands of literature, and Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of societal reproduction, the author suggests that scholars explore the possibility of a Summer Divide. The author’s argument is twofold: (1) focusing on the summer might provide further insight to students’ postsecondary outcomes and (2) class hierarchies might be further reified during the summer.
The application of semi-nonnegative matrix factorization for detection of incipient faults in bearings
Authors: Rai Akhand , Upadhyay Sanjay H
Published: February 2019

Bearing faults are a major reason for the catastrophic breakdown of rotating machinery. Therefore, the early detection of bearing faults becomes a necessity to attain an uninterrupted and safe operation. This paper proposes a novel approach based on semi-nonnegative matrix factorization for detection of incipient faults in bearings. The semi-nonnegative matrix factorization algorithm creates a sparse, localized, part-based representation of the original data and assists to capture the fault information in bearing signals more effectively. Through semi-nonnegative matrix factorization, two bearing health indicators are derived to fulfill the desired purpose. In doing so, the paper tries to address two critical issues: (i) how to reduce the dimensionality of feature space (ii) how to obtain a definite range of the indicator between 0 and 1. Firstly, a set of time domain, frequency domain, and time–frequency domain features are extracted from the bearing vibration signals. Secondly, the feature dataset is utilized to train the semi-nonnegative matrix factorization algorithm which decomposes the training data matrix into two new matrices of lower ranks. Thirdly, the test feature vectors are projected onto these lower dimensional matrices to obtain two statistics called as square prediction error and Q2. Finally, the Bayesian inference approach is exploited to convert the two statistics into health indicators that have a fixed range between [0–1]. The application of the advocated technique on experimental bearing signals demonstrates that it can effectively predict the weak defects in bearings as well as performs better than the earlier methods like principal component analysis and locality preserving projections.
Lampedusa, ou la nuit de l’Europe : à ce stade de la nuit de Maylis de Kerangal
Authors: Khoury Mona El
Published: February 2019

Résumé

Cet article examine comment, dans le texte à ce stade de la nuit (2015) de Maylis de Kerangal, l’île de Lampedusa fonctionne comme le paradigme de la relation entre l’Europe et le Sud (ses autres, venus d’Afrique et du Moyen-Orient). En faisant « migrer » le signifiant « Lampedusa » plusieurs fois, le texte de De Kerangal crée un nouvel espace-temps qui permet de voir l’invisible, à savoir l’effondrement du monde européen par la tragédie des migrants. L’écriture met en tension deux régimes de visibilité qui se télescopent sur une pierre d’achoppement épistémique qu’incarne l’île de Lampedusa. Le texte suggère une sérialité entre l’esclavage, le colonialisme, et les migrations contemporaines.