bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Catalogue of type specimens of Insecta (Arthropoda: Hexapoda) deposited in the entomological collection of the Museum of Zoology of Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Brazil
Authors: DA SILVA FERREIRA ANDRÉ , ARAÚJO MAÍRA XAVIER , VILARINHO NAIARA THAÍS , VILARINHO NAIARA THAÍS , DA SILVA-NETO ALBERTO MOREIRA , BRAVO FREDDY
Published: January 2020

This contribution is an update catalogue of the type specimens of Insecta deposited in the entomological collection Prof. Johann Becker of the Museum of Zoology of Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. A list of 206 holtypes and 1,430 paratypes of 23 families, 73 genera, and 244 species allocated in 12 orders. Lectotype and paralectotypes of Bitoma palmarum Bondar, 1940 were designated. Diptera present the highest number of types on the collection, with 161 holotypes and 1,324 paratypes.
Pristipomoides amoenus (Snyder 1911), a valid species of jobfish (Pisces, Lutjanidae), with comparisons to P. argyrogrammicus (Valenciennes 1832)
Authors: SHIMOSE TAMAKI , SUZUKI NOBUAKI , IWATSUKI YUKIO
Published: January 2020

Platyinius amoenus Snyder 1911 has long been considered a junior synonym of Pristipomoides argyrogrammicus (Valenciennes 1832), however, the two are discernible as distinct species from color patterns and counts of gill rakers based on examination of their type materials and non-type specimens. Furthermore, genetic differences based on molecular analysis among the two species (mtDNA, COI gene) strongly support the validity of both species. Pristipomoides amoenus can be readily distinguished from P. argyrogrammicus in having no white margin to the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, silvery blue spots continuing inside dorso-lateral yellow blotches, and presence of modally10 (vs. modally 12) lower gill rakers. Both species were collected sympatrically around Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan.
Treatment of Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture with Target-Anchored Vertebral Body Plasty
Authors: Yang Liu , Qi Xiangbei , Lei Tao , Zhang Jingtao , Cao Junming
Published: January 2020

Objective: To analyze the clinical effect of target-anchored vertebroplasty and traditional percutaneous vertebroplasty on the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Methods: 50 female New Zealand rabbits were selected for establishing the osteoporotic
vertebral compression fracture model and divided into two groups, traditional group and target group followed by analysis of the anterior, posterior, and posterior vertebral body anterior height of the fracture and the injection volume of the bone cement at full filling, and to compare the
ultimate compressive strength and stiffness differences between the two groups of specimens by biomechanical testing. Results: In traditional group, the operative time was significantly shorter than that of target group, and the intraoperative bleeding was significantly lower than that
of target group (P < 0.05). The fracture area of target group was filled with sufficient bone cement, in the traditional group, 3 cases (12%) showed that bone cement was not filled in the fracture area (P < 0.05), but the total bone cement filling volume was not significantly
different between the two groups, but the traditional group had more complete bone cement filling than the bone cement filling, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In addition, the anterior vertebral body height of each group was significantly higher than other
observation points in the group (P < 0.05). However, the distribution of permeability and osmotic type of bone cement between the two groups was not significantly different (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Target-anchored vertebroplasty can improve the quality of clinical
treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, indicating that it might be a new surgical method.
Rapid Repair of Goat Large Segmental Loading Bone Defect and Functional Reconstruction by Interventional Micro-Circulation System
Authors: Deng Jun , Li Wei , Dai Jiang-Hua , Gao Qian-Kun , Hao Liang , Ding Yi , Nie Tao , Dai Min , Luo Jun , Huang Qi-Ming
Published: January 2020

Objective: This study aimed to explore the efficacy of interventional micro-circulation system (IMCS), combining the stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1)/type I collagen/chitosan composite membrane into TEB in treating with the model of goat tibial LSBD. Methods: The
model of goat tibial LSBD was constructed by introducing the IMCS and SDF-1 guiding membrane. Perfusion treatment of CXCR4 + -BMSCs and BMP-2 was performed on the animal model, general conditions of the goats were observed, and changes in the goat's tibia was observed at different time points
through imaging techniques. Using RNA extraction and reverse transcription, cDNA was acquired. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), core binding factor-α1 (Cbfα1) and osteocalcin (OC) content, as well as the mRNA of transformation growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)
in fixed bone tissue samples of the goat, were detected by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Results: The model of goat tibial LSBD repaired by IMCS was successfully constructed. The standing, walking and running functions of the goat recovered well after two months; and imaging
revealed that the callus was closely connected and most of the scaffold materials of TEB were absorbed. The detection of the ALP gene in bone tissue samples failed, and the amplified product was non-specific. Furthermore, the levels of Cbfα1, OC and mRNA of TGF-β1
were significantly higher than in normal bones (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The combination treatment of IMCS with slow controlled drug delivery systems and TEB functioned well in repairing goat tibial LSBD. This is a novel method for repairing bone defects.
The Generic Nature of the Tropospheric Response to Sudden Stratospheric Warmings
Authors: White Ian P. , Garfinkel Chaim I. , Gerber Edwin P. , Jucker Martin , Hitchcock Peter , Rao Jian
Published: January 2020

The tropospheric response to midwinter sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs) is examined using an idealized model. SSW events are triggered by imposing high-latitude stratospheric heating perturbations of varying magnitude for only a few days, spun off from a free-running control integration (CTRL). The evolution of the thermally triggered SSWs is then compared with naturally occurring SSWs identified in CTRL. By applying a heating perturbation, with no modification to the momentum budget, it is possible to isolate the tropospheric response directly attributable to a change in the stratospheric polar vortex, independent of any planetary wave momentum torques involved in the initiation of an SSW. Zonal-wind anomalies associated with the thermally triggered SSWs first propagate downward to the high-latitude troposphere after ~2 weeks, before migrating equatorward and stalling at midlatitudes, where they straddle the near-surface jet. After ~3 weeks, the circulation and eddy fluxes associated with thermally triggered SSWs evolve very similarly to SSWs in CTRL, despite the lack of initial planetary wave driving. This suggests that at longer lags, the tropospheric response to SSWs is generic and it is found to be linearly governed by the strength of the lower-stratospheric warming, whereas at shorter lags, the initial formation of the SSW potentially plays a large role in the downward coupling. In agreement with previous studies, synoptic waves are found to play a key role in the persistent tropospheric jet shift at long lags. Synoptic waves appear to respond to the enhanced midlatitude baroclinicity associated with the tropospheric jet shift, and preferentially propagate poleward in an apparent positive feedback with changes in the high-latitude refractive index.
Comparative Evaluation of Volumetric Current Measurements in a Tidally Dominated Coastal Setting: A Virtual Field Experiment
Authors: Harrison Trevor , Thyng Kristen M. , Polagye Brian
Published: January 2020

High-resolution, four-dimensional mapping of currents in tidally dominated coastal settings can be conducted with a range of instrumentation. Here, we assess four approaches to data collection: an X-band radar, a stationary (bottom mounted) acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP), a mobile (vessel based) ADCP, and a swarm of Lagrangian floats. Using the output from a hydrodynamic simulation, a virtual field campaign was performed at 24 locations in Admiralty Inlet, Puget Sound, Washington, during spring and neap tidal exchanges. A reconstruction of the volumetric currents was generated for each platform every 15 min and evaluated against the true currents to assess accuracy over a horizontal extent of 400 m × 500 m at 5 m resolution and vertically through the entire water column (20–80 m) at 2 m resolution. Results demonstrate that, for this survey extent and resolution, a vessel-based ADCP survey is most accurate, followed closely by the float swarm. The overall performance hierarchy persists over most locations and times. Thus, if mapping currents at high resolution (<10 m) and short time scales (<1 day) is the primary scientific objective, vessel-based ADCP surveys are likely the best option. For longer-duration surveys, a combined deployment with a stationary ADCP and X-band radar system is the best choice. Last, if in situ measurements of scalar properties (e.g., salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen) are also desired, float swarms can simultaneously sample these while surveying currents with accuracy comparable to mobile ADCPs.
Effect of the areal weight of CNT-doped veils on CFRP electrical properties
Authors: Dydek Kamil , Boczkowska Anna , Latko-Durałek Paulina , Wilk Małgorzata , Padykuła Karol , Kozera Rafał
Published: January 2020

The main goal of this work was the increasing electrical conductivity of carbon-epoxy composites due to implementation of thermoplastic nonwoven veils doped with carbon nanotubes into the composite structure. Nonwovens which differ in areal weight were produced by extrusion of fibers and their thermal pressing. Laminates were fabricated using an out-of-autoclave method and nonwovens were incorporated between each layer of carbon-epoxy unidirectional prepreg. The applied conductive nonwovens improved surface and volume electrical conductivity of carbon fibre reinforced polymer in all directions. Microstructure observations proved a very high quality of the fabricated composites. The implementation of nonwovens affected the crack propagation under loading.
Open hole tensile testing of 3D printed continuous carbon fiber reinforced composites
Authors: Sanei Seyed HR , Arndt Andrew , Doles Randall
Published: January 2020

In this study, the effects of stress concentration on the tensile properties of a 3D printed carbon fiber-nylon composite were investigated. The samples were 3D printed with continuous carbon fiber and chopped fiber reinforced nylon. Samples were manufactured with four different open hole sizes as 3. 175 mm (⅛ in), 6.35 mm (¼ in), 9.25 mm (⅜ in), and 12.7 mm (½ in). Five samples were manufactured for each hole size group. Continuous carbon fibers were printed in the longitudinal direction. Additional reinforcements were placed around the periphery of the open hole. Samples were tested under uniaxial tension. The results were compared with the prediction of fracture mechanics theories namely Average and Point Stress Criteria. The results show that failure was initiated at the stress concentration region but the progression into the hole was prevented with the presence of continuous fiber. The experimental findings show that the samples with larger holes are more sensitive to discontinuity than the ones with smaller holes. The results confirm that 3D printing can be used to strengthen the parts at the discontinuity region to mitigate the effect of stress concentration.
Relationship Between Mindfulness, Psychopathological Symptoms, and Academic Performance in University Students
Authors: Vorontsova-Wenger Olga , Ghisletta Paolo , Ababkov Valentin , Barisnikov Koviljka
Published: January 2020

It has been shown that a mindfulness construct involving five component skills (observing, describing, acting with awareness, nonjudging of inner experience, and nonreactivity to inner experience) is related to well-being and lessens depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. This study investigates the relationship between mindfulness, academic performance, and psychopathological symptoms in a sample of Swiss university students during preparation for examinations. A total sample of 150 university students from the psychology department at the University of Geneva were invited to report their mindfulness skills and academic performance, as well as anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms, through self-report measures. Results indicated that the total mindfulness score and the nonreactivity facet of mindfulness were associated with depression scores. Furthermore, mindfulness skills were positively correlated with students’ academic performance. Finally, certain demographic variables, such as gender, were linked to the presence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in our sample. The clinical implications of these results are discussed.
The ‘genetic’ effect: Can parties’ past organizational choices condition the development of their internal distribution of power in the cartel party era? Evidence from Finland, 1983–2017
Authors: Koskimaa Vesa
Published: January 2020

This study critically assesses the claim of the cartel party theory that the party in central office (PCO) has lost its powers to the party in public office (PPO) as parties have adapted to various changes in their operating ‘environment’. The study argues that a party’s tendency to adapt is conditioned by the party’s ‘genetic’ heritage: if the PCO assumed a prominent position during the party’s institutionalization, it can more likely stand against external pressures compared to a PCO that has been traditionally weak. The study compares the development (1983–2017) of two Finnish parties, which hail from polar ‘genetic’ traditions: a social democratic mass party and a conservative cadre party. The change of the party ‘environment’ has strongly supported PCO’s decay. Unlike earlier longitudinal studies on intra-party power balance, the study assesses all significant power dimensions and finds a contradictory development: while the distribution of leadership positions and resources increasingly favour the PPO in both parties, significant ‘genetic’ differences in the distribution of formal decision-making power have not diminished at all. If statutory regulations matter, the results suggest that the PPO cannot ‘insulate’ like the cartel model expects in parties where the PCO’s strong role has been strictly codified.
Medical Maximizing-Minimizing Predicts Patient Preferences for High- and Low-Benefit Care
Authors: Scherer Laura D. , Shaffer Victoria A. , Caverly Tanner , DeWitt Jeff , Zikmund-Fisher Brian J.
Published: January 2020

Purpose. People vary in their general preferences for more v. less health care, and the validated Medical Maximizing-Minimizing Scale (MMS) reliably measures this orientation. Medical maximizers (people scoring highly on the MMS) prefer to receive more health care visits, medications, tests, and treatments, whereas minimizers prefer fewer services. However, it is unclear how maximizing-minimizing preferences relate to willingness to pursue appropriate health care. We hypothesized that minimizers are at increased risk of rejecting evidence-based high-benefit care and that maximizers are at risk of wanting low-benefit care. Design. In total, 785 US adults recruited through an online panel expressed preferences to receive or forgo a health care intervention in 18 hypothetical scenarios. In 8 scenarios, the intervention was high benefit per evidence-based guidelines. In the remaining 10 scenarios, the intervention was low benefit. We assessed associations between participants’ MMS score and their preferences for medical intervention in each scenario using regression analyses that adjusted for hypochondriasis, health risk tolerance, health status, and demographic variables. Results. MMS score was significantly associated with preferences in all 18 scenarios after adjusting for other variables. The MMS uniquely explained 11% of the variance in preferences for high-benefit care and 29% of the variance in preferences for low-benefit care. Differences between strong minimizers (10th percentile) and strong maximizers (90th percentile) across the 18 scenarios ranged from 5.6 to 32.3 points on a 1 to 100 preference scale. Conclusions. The MMS reliably predicts people’s willingness to pursue appropriate care, both when appropriate care means taking high-benefit actions and when appropriate care means avoiding low-benefit actions. Targeting and tailoring messages according to maximizing-minimizing preferences might increase the effectiveness of both efforts to reduce overutilization of low-benefit services and campaigns to support uptake of high-benefit care.
Low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma with abdominal pain, a stuffy nose, hearing loss, and multiple cavity effusion: a case report and literature review
Authors: Wu Xueling , Guo Liang , Li Shaoying , Zheng Yu , Fan Bijun , Zhou Changxi
Published: January 2020

Low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma (LGMS) is a rare, low-grade, malignant tumor and is mainly composed of myofibroblasts with varying degrees of differentiation. LGMS results in considerable diagnostic difficulty. We report a case of LGMS that occurred in multiple organs, including the diaphragmatic pleura, and head and neck region. A 34-year-old man was hospitalized in 2014 after coughing and shortness of breath for 10 days, and abdominal distension, abdominal pain, and bilateral lower extremity edema for 4 days. Before this admission, he had an abdominal tumor diagnosed in 1994 and 2003, a nasopharynx tumor in 2010, and a temporal lobe tumor in 2013. All tumors were resected surgically and the diagnosis was atypical fibrous histiocytoma and atypical fibrous xanthoma. Before surgeries for these tumors, no positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) or whole-body scans were performed, and after surgery, there was no follow-up. After thoracoscopy and PET-CT after the most recent admission, the patient was diagnosed with LGMS with metastasis to the bone, nodes, and thoracic and abdominal cavities. The patient was discharged with albumin infusion treatment. Although LGMS is rare, it is potentially serious. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of such disease and make an early diagnosis and perform close follow-up.
Expectation Causes Misperception of the Attitude Indicator in Nonpilots: A Fixed-Base Simulator Experiment
Authors: Landman Annemarie , Groen Eric L. , van Paassen M. M. (René) , Bronkhorst Adelbert W. , Mulder Max
Published: January 2020

Previous studies show that pilots sometimes make roll reversal errors (RREs) when responding to the aircraft bank angle shown on the attitude indicator (AI). This is suggestive of a perceptual ambiguity in the AI. In the current study, we investigated whether expectation contributes to such misperception. Twenty nonpilots performed tasks in a fixed-base flight simulator. Their expectation about the bank angle was manipulated with a flying task using outside view only. When flying at a bank angle, the outside view disappeared, a moving-horizon type AI was shown, and participants had to roll the wings level, trusting the AI. The AI often matched the previously flown turn. However, in some runs, it showed an opposite bank direction (Opposite condition), which was hypothesized to facilitate a misperception. In some other runs, it showed level flight (Level condition), which should not facilitate this. In a second session, participants rolled wings level without preceding flying task (Baseline condition). Participants made 11.2 times more RREs in the Opposite condition (75% error rate) compared to Baseline condition (6.7%), and 2.5 times more compared to the Level condition (30%). This indicates that RREs were in many cases caused by expectation-induced misperception of the AI bank angle.
Experimental characterization of the quasi-static and dynamic piezoresistive behavior of multi-walled carbon nanotubes/elastomer composites
Authors: Penvern Nicolas , Langlet André , Gratton Michel , Mansion Marcel , Aït Hocine Nourredine
Published: January 2020

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/elastomer composites exhibit a piezoresistive behavior, i.e. their resistivity changes when they are subjected to mechanical loading. Thus, these materials can be used as strain or pressure sensors. In this paper, the effect of carbon nanotube weight fraction on the sensitivity and repeatability of the electrical response of multi-walled carbon nanotube/ethylene–propylene–diene monomer composites is investigated, under quasi-static and dynamic compression (using split Hopkinson pressure bars). It was found that multi-walled carbon nanotube weight fraction and the strain rate have a major influence on the piezoresistivity of such composites. Although all samples exhibited a good repeatability of their electrical response under quasi-static cyclic compression, those with a lower multi-walled carbon nanotube weight fraction had a higher sensitivity to strain. An increase in the electrical resistance during compression was observed under both quasi-static and dynamic compression. Reversible movements of multi-walled carbon nanotube in the transverse direction of compression increased the average inter-multi-walled carbon nanotube distance under quasi-static compression, leading to higher values of resistance. After the dynamic tests, the Young’s modulus of the composites decreased by about 45% and the electrical resistance increased a hundredfold, indicating damage induced by dynamic loading.
Defining Risk of Postoperative Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients With 22q11.2DS Undergoing Pharyngeal Flap Surgery for Velopharyngeal Dysfunction Using Polysomnographic Evaluation
Authors: Lee Alfred , Chang Brian L. , Solot Cynthia , Crowley Terrence B. , Vemulapalli Vamsee , McDonald-McGinn Donna M. , Maguire Meg Ann , Mason Thornton B. A. , Elden Lisa , Cielo Christopher M. , Jackson Oksana A.
Published: January 2020

Objective:

To determine pre- and postoperative prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DS) undergoing wide posterior pharyngeal flap (PPF) surgery for velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD).

Design:

Retrospective study using pre- and postoperative polysomnography (PSG) to determine prevalence of OSA. Medical records were reviewed for patients’ medical comorbidities. Parents were surveyed about snoring.

Setting:

Academic tertiary care pediatric hospital.

Patients:

Forty patients with laboratory confirmed 22q11.2DS followed over a 6-year period.

Interventions:

Pre- and postoperative PSG, speech evaluation, and parent surveys.

Main Outcome Measure:

Severity and prevalence of OSA, defined by obstructive apnea hypopnea index (OAHI), before and after PPF surgery to determine whether PPF is associated with increased risk of OSA.

Results:

Mean OAHI did not change significantly after PPF surgery (1.1/h vs 2.1/h, P = .330). Prevalence of clinically significant OSA (OAHI ≥ 5) was identical pre- and postoperatively (2 of 40), with both cases having severe-range OSA requiring positive airway pressure therapy. All other patients had mild-range OSA. Nasal resonance was graded as severe preoperatively in 85% of patients. None were graded as severe postoperatively. No single patient factor or parent-reported concern predicted risk of OSA (OAHI ≥ 1.5).

Conclusions:

Patients with 22q11.2DS are medically complex and are at increased risk of OSA at baseline. Wide PPF surgery for severe VPD does not significantly increase risk of OSA. Careful perioperative planning is essential to optimize both speech and sleep outcomes.
Gliotransmission: A Novel Target for the Development of Antiseizure Drugs
Authors: Riquelme Julio , Wellmann Mario , Sotomayor-Zárate Ramón , Bonansco Christian
Published: January 2020

For more than a century, epilepsy has remained an incapacitating neurological disorder with a high incidence worldwide. Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a common type of epilepsy without an effective pharmacological treatment. An increase in excitability and hypersynchrony of electrical neuronal activity during development are typically associated with an excitatory/inhibitory imbalance in the neuronal network. Astrocytes release gliotransmitters, which can regulate neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission; therefore, the classical neurocentric vision of the cellular basis of epileptogenesis has begun to change. Growing evidence suggests that the key contribution of astrocyte-to-neuron signaling in the mechanisms underlies the initiation, propagation, and recurrence of seizure activity. The aim of this review was to summarize current evidence obtained from experimental models that suggest how alterations in astroglial modulation of synaptic transmission and neuronal activity contribute to the development of this brain disease. In this article, we will summarize the main pharmacological, Ca2+-imaging, and electrophysiological findings in the gliotransmitter-mediated modulation of neuronal activity and their possible regulation as a novel cellular target for the development of pharmacological strategies for treating refractory epilepsies.
Mental State Expression During Peer Play: A Comparison of Typically Developing Children and Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: McDermott Helen R. , Prelock Patricia A. , Brien Ashley R.
Published: January 2020

This study examined the relationship between mental state term use in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) children engaged in play. Expression of mental state terms was used as an indicator of theory of mind (ToM) skills. Archived data were used to compare mental state term use for five ASD-TD dyads engaged in various play contexts. During imaginative play, children with ASD used fewer cognition mental state terms than TD children but used a similar number of emotion mental state terms. In combination play, both groups used similar numbers of cognition and emotion mental state terms. Play context implicates use of mental state terms in expression in children with ASD. Scaffolding use of mental state terms during play may provide an opportunity for children to use more advanced levels of ToM, including cognitive mental state term expression, when engaged with peers.
Firework-inflicted ocular trauma in children and adults in an urban German setting
Authors: Lenglinger Matthias A , Zorn Malte , Pilger Daniel , von Sonnleithner Christoph , Rossel Mirjam , Salchow Daniel J , Bertelmann Eckart
Published: January 2020

Purpose:

To assess firework-inflicted ocular trauma in the German capital during the week around New Year’s Eve with regards to patient characteristics and age, severity of injuries, and their management and outcome.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review of all patients presenting to the department of ophthalmology of Charité—University Medicine Berlin during a 7-day period around New Year’s Eve in the years 2014–2017 was performed. Patients with ocular complaints and injuries caused by fireworks were included. We recorded demographic data, active role, visual acuity at presentation and at last follow-up, the most pertinent clinical findings, management and outcome with regards to visual acuity, and integrity of the eye.

Results:

A total of 146 patients with 165 injured eyes were included. Median age at presentation was 23 (4–58) years, and 71.2% were male. Fifty-one patients (34.9%) were less than 18 years old. Ninty-seven patients (66.4%) sustained minor, 34 (23.3%) sustained moderate, and 15 (10.3%) sustained severe injuries. Severe trauma was seen in younger patients (median age: 12, range: 4–58 years) than mild and moderate trauma (median age: 23, range: 4–45 years) and resulted in loss of light perception in two eyes and in a visual acuity of only light perception in three eyes. One eye was enucleated.

Conclusion:

Ocular trauma inflicted by fireworks can have serious consequences for ocular morbidity and visual acuity, especially in severe trauma which affected younger patients. To significantly reduce firework-inflicted trauma, a ban of private fireworks in densely populated areas and in the vicinity of children should be considered.
The Zagreb Fair as a Generator of New Zagreb’s Planning
Authors: Vranić Dubravka
Published: January 2020

This article explores the planning of New Zagreb in former Yugoslavia. Employing oral history interviews and archival research, it focuses on the meeting between President Tito and Zagreb's Mayor Većeslav Holjevac (1952–1963), concerning the relocation of Zagreb Fair south of the Sava river, a decision that ultimately generated New Zagreb's development. Using this story of post-World War II urban policy and planning in Zagreb, I argue that in a context where “the political” is not encompassed by “politics,” in Mouffe's sense, such as in 1950s Yugoslavia, favorable conditions for informal urban practices develop, which opens the way for “diffuse” planning.
Talking About Public Health With African American Men: Perceptions of Environmental Health and Infertility
Authors: McCray Nathan , Thompson Lance , Branch Francesca , Porter Nicholas , Peterson James , Perry Melissa J.
Published: January 2020

While the past two decades have seen rapid advances in research demonstrating links between environmental health and reproductive capacity, African American men have largely been overlooked as study participants. To give voice to the perceptions of urban African American men, the present qualitative study conducted focus groups of men recruited from street- and internet-based advertisements in Washington, DC. Participants were asked for their perspectives on their environment, reproductive health and fertility, and factors that would influence their participation in public health research. Participants expressed concern about ubiquitous environmental exposures characteristic of their living environments, which they attributed in part to gentrification and urban development. Infertility was seen as a threat to masculinity and a taboo subject in the African American community and several participants shared personal stories describing a general code of silence about the subject. Each group offered multiple suggestions for recruiting African American men into research studies; facilitators for study participation included cultural relevance, incentives, transparent communication, internet- and community-based recruitment, and use of African Americans and/or recruiters of color as part of the research team. When asked whether participants would participate in a hypothetical study on fertility that involved providing a sperm sample, there was a mixed reaction, with some expressing concern about how such a sample would be used and others describing a few facilitators for participation in such a study. These are unique perspectives that are largely missing from current-day evidence on the inclusion of African American men in environmental health and reproductive health research.
Improve three-dimensional point localization accuracy in stereo vision systems using a novel camera calibration method
Authors: Ramírez-Hernández Luis R , Rodríguez-Quiñonez Julio C , Castro-Toscano Moises J , Hernández-Balbuena Daniel , Flores-Fuentes Wendy , Rascón-Carmona Raúl , Lindner Lars , Sergiyenko Oleg
Published: January 2020

Computer vision systems have demonstrated to be useful in applications of autonomous navigation, especially with the use of stereo vision systems for the three-dimensional mapping of the environment. This article presents a novel camera calibration method to improve the accuracy of stereo vision systems for three-dimensional point localization. The proposed camera calibration method uses the least square method to model the error caused by the image digitalization and the lens distortion. To obtain particular three-dimensional point coordinates, the stereo vision systems use the information of two images taken by two different cameras. Then, the system locates the two-dimensional pixel coordinates of the three-dimensional point in both images and coverts them into angles. With the obtained angles, the system finds the three-dimensional point coordinates through a triangulation process. The proposed camera calibration method is applied in the stereo vision systems, and a comparative analysis between the real and calibrated three-dimensional data points is performed to validate the improvements. Moreover, the developed method is compared with three classical calibration methods to analyze their advantages in terms of accuracy with respect to tested methods.
Ethically important moments as data: reflections from ethnographic fieldwork in prisons
Authors: Robinson Carol
Published: January 2020

Qualitative researchers often face unpredictable ethical issues during fieldwork. These may be regarded as ethical dilemmas that need to be ‘solved’, but Guillemin and Gillam’s concept of ‘ethically important moments’ provides an alternative framing. Using examples, their concept is developed to suggest that ethical issues in the conduct of research can illuminate and supplement other fieldwork data. Far from being problematic, the dissonance between the procedural ethics of research ethics committees and real-world research can provide opportunities for a more subtle and nuanced understanding of the field.
Limb preserving surgery for soft-tissue sarcoma in the hand: a retrospective study of 51 cases
Authors: Dadras Mehran , Steinau Hans-Ulrich , Goertz Ole , Lehnhardt Marcus , Behr Björn , Harati Kamran
Published: January 2020

Our retrospective study analysed the long-term results of a conservative limb-preserving surgical strategy in 51 patients with soft-tissue sarcoma of the hand from a single institution. We assessed survival and prognostic factors, including the surgical margins. No transradial amputations were performed. Microscopically free resection margins were obtained in 45 of the patients. The remaining six patients had microscopically incomplete resection. Forty-four surviving patients had a median follow-up of 6.5 years (range 12–307), and one patient had no follow-up beyond 3 months following surgery. Among those patients, 29 had more than 5 years of follow-up. Five-year local-recurrence-free survival was 65%, metastasis-free survival was 84%, and disease-specific survival was 91%. Tumour size was predictive of all outcome parameters, but positive resection margins adversely affected local recurrence only. Survival was similar to the survival after a more radical surgical approach reported in the literature.

Level of evidence: IV
Mechanism of action and therapeutic benefit of rifaximin in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a narrative review
Authors: Chey William D. , Shah Eric D. , DuPont Herbert L.
Published: January 2020

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder with a multifactorial pathophysiology. The gut microbiota differs between patients with IBS and healthy individuals. After a bout of acute gastroenteritis, postinfection IBS may result in up to approximately 10% of those affected. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is more common in patients with IBS than in healthy individuals, and eradication of SIBO with systemic antibiotics has decreased symptoms of IBS in some patients with IBS and SIBO. The nonsystemic (i.e. low oral bioavailability) antibiotic rifaximin is indicated in the United States and Canada for the treatment of adults with IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D). The efficacy and safety of 2-week single and repeat courses of rifaximin have been demonstrated in randomized, placebo-controlled studies of adults with IBS. Rifaximin is widely thought to exert its beneficial clinical effects in IBS-D through manipulation of the gut microbiota. However, current studies indicate that rifaximin induces only modest effects on the gut microbiota of patients with IBS-D, suggesting that the efficacy of rifaximin may involve other mechanisms. Indeed, preclinical data reveal a potential role for rifaximin in the modulation of inflammatory cytokines and intestinal permeability, but these two findings have not yet been examined in the context of clinical studies. The mechanism of action of rifaximin in IBS is likely multifactorial, and further study is needed.
Resilience to Online Disinformation: A Framework for Cross-National Comparative Research
Authors: Humprecht Edda , Esser Frank , Van Aelst Peter
Published: January 2020

Online disinformation is considered a major challenge for modern democracies. It is widely understood as misleading content produced to generate profits, pursue political goals, or maliciously deceive. Our starting point is the assumption that some countries are more resilient to online disinformation than others. To understand what conditions influence this resilience, we choose a comparative cross-national approach. In the first step, we develop a theoretical framework that presents these country conditions as theoretical dimensions. In the second step, we translate the dimensions into quantifiable indicators that allow us to measure their significance on a comparative cross-country basis. In the third part of the study, we empirically examine eighteen Western democracies. A cluster analysis yields three country groups: one group with high resilience to online disinformation (including the Northern European systems, for instance) and two country groups with low resilience (including the polarized Southern European countries and the United States). In the final part, we discuss the heuristic value of the framework for comparative political communication research in the age of information pollution.
Intraconal Anatomy of the Anterior Ethmoidal Neurovascular Bundle: Implications for Surgery in the Superomedial Orbit
Authors: Li Lifeng , London Nyall R. , Prevedello Daniel M. , Carrau Ricardo L.
Published: January 2020

Background

The anterior ethmoidal artery (AEA) branches from the ophthalmic artery in the superomedial intraconal space. The feasibility of management of lesions arising from the superomedial intraconal space via an endoscopic endonasal approach has not been sufficiently explored.

Objective

To yield a detailed anatomic description of the anterior ethmoidal neurovascular bundle and its variants to serve as the foundation for possible management of lesions in the superomedial intraconal space.

Methods

Eight cadaveric specimens (16 sides) were dissected using an endonasal approach, tracing the AEA proximally through the superomedial intraconal space. Furthermore, the anatomy of adjacent structures was noted, and distances from the anterior ethmoidal foramen to the origin of the AEA at the ophthalmic artery were measured.

Results

Supraorbital cells were found in 13/16 sides (81.25%), and a bony dehiscence of the anterior ethmoidal canal was observed in 5/16 sides (31.25%). The nasociliary nerve, ophthalmic artery, superior division of the oculomotor nerve, superior rectus muscle, and levator palpebrae superioris were routinely identified in the superomedial intraconal space. The AEA passed through a corridor between the medial rectus and superior oblique muscles after arising from the ophthalmic artery (lateral to the foramen) in all specimens. The average distance from its origin to the anterior ethmoidal foramen was 5.19 ± 0.98 mm.

Conclusion

Anatomically, it is feasible to access the superomedial intraconal space via an endoscopic endonasal approach. This study provides the anatomical basis for procedures in the superomedial intraconal space.
Natural progression of bilateral maxillary silent sinus syndrome: A metachronous case report
Authors: Rullan-Oliver Bianca , del Toro-Diez Edgar , Portela-Arraiza Juan C
Published: January 2020

Silent sinus syndrome refers to a constellation of spontaneous and progressive enophthalmos and hypoglobus in the setting of asymptomatic ipsilateral maxillary sinus atelectasis. Although its exact etiopathogenesis is not completely understood, obstruction of the ostiomeatal complex appears to be the inciting event. Most of the reported cases of silent sinus syndrome involve one maxillary sinus. Only a handful of true bilateral silent sinus syndrome cases have been reported in the literature. The aim of this report is to present a case of metachronous bilateral maxillary silent sinus syndrome and its natural progression. Also included is a review of the literature on ethmoidal, frontal, and bilateral maxillary silent sinus syndrome.
Determinants of 21st-Century Skills and 21st-Century Digital Skills for Workers: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: van Laar Ester , van Deursen Alexander J. A. M. , van Dijk Jan A. G. M. , de Haan Jos
Published: January 2020

This study brings attention to the determinants of 21st-century skills and 21st-century digital skills. The following skills are investigated: technical, information, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills. To understand differences in the level of these skills among workers, we need to know the factors that determine an individual’s skill level. A systematic literature review was conducted to provide a comprehensive overview of empirical studies measuring skill determinants. The results show that there is strong need for research on determinants of communication and collaboration skills. In a digital context, determinants for creativity and critical thinking are hardly studied. Furthermore, the identified determinants of 21st-century skills studies are limited to personality and psychological determinants, neglecting, for example, social determinants such as social support. Although digital skills studies show more variety, they mostly cover demographic and socioeconomic determinants.
Equilibrium Price Dispersion with Search Regret Disutility
Authors: Rouskas Evangelos
Published: January 2020

I examine an extension of the Burdett and Judd ([1983] . Equilibrium price dispersion. Econometrica, 51[4], 955–970) model whereby the consumers with positive search costs experience search regret disutility. First, I focus on the non-sequential search equilibrium in which the said consumers randomize between searching for one price and searching for two prices. When the disutility is significant (a) the spectrum of parameters for which this dispersed price equilibrium can be sustained widens significantly compared to the setting with no disutility; (b) this dispersed price equilibrium is unique and stable in contrast to the multiplicity of dispersed price equilibria of this type which arise in the original model; and (c) in the stable dispersed price equilibrium of this type the consumers with positive search costs respond to the possibility of search regret disutility by increasing their equilibrium search intensity. Second, I concentrate on the noisy sequential search equilibrium in which the reservation price is endogenous. When the search cost takes relatively high values, then compared to the setting with no disutility (a) the set of parameters for which this dispersed price equilibrium is supported may become significantly smaller; (b) the reservation price decreases; and (c) the consumers with positive search costs choose the same search intensity.

JEL Classifications: D41, D83
Do You Get the Picture? A Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Graphics on Reading Comprehension
Authors: Guo Daibao , Zhang Shuai , Wright Katherine Landau , McTigue Erin M.
Published: January 2020

Although convergent research demonstrates that well-designed graphics can facilitate readers’ understanding of text, there are select situations where graphics have been shown to have no effect on learners’ overall text comprehension. Therefore, the current meta-analytic study examined 39 experimental studies published between 1985 and 2018 measuring graphics’ effects on readers’ comprehension. We first quantified the overall effect on reading comprehension. Then, we considered interactions with learners’ characteristics, graphic types, and assessment formats. Our analysis revealed that the inclusion of graphics had a moderate overall positive effect (Hedges’s g = 0.39) on students’ reading comprehension, regardless of grade level. Regarding graphic type, we did not find a significant difference among pictures, pictorial diagrams, and flow diagrams. Only when compared to mixed graphics, pictures had a greater effect on comprehension. Additionally, compared with true and false assessments, graphics differentially benefited students’ comprehension on open-ended comprehension assessments and mixed format assessments. Implications for future research are presented.
Severity of Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis Does Not Correlate With Patient-Reported Outcomes
Authors: Kohan Eitan M , Hill Jeffrey Ryan , Lamplot Joseph D , Aleem Alexander W , Keener Jay D , Chamberlain Aaron M
Published: January 2020

Background

Patient pain and clinical function are important factors in decision-making for patients with glenohumeral osteoarthritis (GHOA). The correlation between radiographic severity of arthritis and demographic factors with modern patient-reported outcome measures has not yet been well defined.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 256 shoulders in 246 patients presenting with isolated GHOA. All patients obtained standard radiographs and completed the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Simple Shoulder Test (SST), Shoulder Activity Scale, Visual Analog Scale, and Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) computer adaptive tests at the time of presentation. Radiographs were graded according to the Samilson–Prieto classification. Mean pain and functional scores were compared between the radiographic grades of osteoarthritis (OA) and demographic factors.

Results

There were 6 shoulders rated as grade 1 OA, 41 shoulders as grade 2, 149 shoulders as grade 3a, and 65 shoulders as grade 3b. There was excellent interobserver reliability in grade of OA (κ = 0.77). There were no significant differences in patient-reported pain or any validated measure of clinical function between radiographic grades of OA ( P >  .05). Males reported higher function and lower pain scores than females ( P =  .001–.066), although only the values for the SST and PROMIS physical function test were clinically relevant.

Discussion

While gender correlated with pain and function, the clinical relevance is limited. Radiographic severity of GHOA does not correlate with patient-reported pain and function, and symptoms should remain the primary determinants of surgical decision-making. Further investigation is necessary to examine whether radiographic severity of OA influences improvement following operative intervention in this population.