bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with frailty in a community-dwelling population of older adults
Authors: Cruz Danielle Teles da , Vieira Marcel de Toledo , Bastos Ronaldo Rocha , Leite Isabel Cristina Gonçalves
Published: November 2017

OBJECTIVE: To analyze if demographic and socioeconomic factors and factors related to health and health services are associated with frailty in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with 339 older adults (60 years old or more) living in Juiz de Fora, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 2015. A household survey was carried out and frailty was evaluated using the Edmonton Frail Scale. For the analysis of the factors associated with outcome, a theoretical model of determination was constructed with three hierarchical blocks: block 1 with demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, block 2 with the health of the older adult (divided into three sub-levels: 2.1 self-reported health variables, 2.2 selfperceived health variables, and 2.3 geriatric syndromes), and block 3 with characteristics related to health services. The variables were adjusted in relation to each other within each block; those with significance level ≤ 0.20 were included in the Poisson regression model and adjusted to a higher level, considering a level of significance of 5%. RESULTS: The prevalence of frailty among older adults was 35.7% (95%CI 30.7–40.9). Of the total, 42.2% did not present frailty; 22.1% were apparently vulnerable. Among the frail ones, 52.9% presented mild frailty, 32.2% moderate frailty, and 14.9% severe frailty. Frailty was associated with difficulty walking, need for an auxiliary device to walk, presence of caregiver, depressive disorders, and functional dependence to perform instrumental activities of daily living. CONCLUSIONS: Frailty is frequent among the older population and it is associated with health variables of the three sub-levels that make up block 2 of the theoretical hierarchical model of determination: self-reported health variables, self-perceived health variables, and geriatric syndromes.
The Performative Utterance “I”: Theatricality and Subversion of Identity in the Works of Eyal Weiser
Authors: Aronson-Lehavi Sharon
Published: November 2017

Israeli playwright and director Eyal Weiser challenges the language of performance by creating fictional performance artists who respond to real events in Israel. By reintroducing fiction and theatricality into the autobiographical mode of performance art, Weiser destabilizes a coherent sense of identity and underscores some of the complex issues of history and identity facing Israeli society.
In the Dark: Sex, Lies, and Fake News in Sam Gold’s Othello
Authors: Sniderman Alisa Zhulina
Published: November 2017

Sam Gold’s production of Othello explores the interrelated themes of war and the cultural construction of identity by foregrounding the play’s encounters between Christianity and Islam. Instead of focusing solely on Othello’s race, Gold’s political and ethical reevaluation of Shakespeare’s Othello examines the many facets of blackness, from a color assigned to people to the epistemological state of being in the dark.
Not Just Adult Entertainment: Milo Rau and CAMPO’s Collaborative Five Easy Pieces
Authors: Levine Debra
Published: November 2017

Director Milo Rau collaborated with children ages 8 to 17 to explore the Belgian national crisis precipitated by the abduction, rape, and torture of six girls, and the murder of four of them, by Marc Dutroux between 1995–1996. Staged as five acting lessons, the child actors in Five Easy Pieces (2016) become theatrical material for reconsidering how the myth of childhood “innocence” results in political actions and cultural technologies that teach real children how “not to see” beyond the frameworks that replicate patriarchal and heteronormative state power.
Acoustic Sounds, “Uhh…Moab who?!”: Lessons 1–5
Authors: Khan Baseera
Published: November 2017

Acoustic Sound Blankets are sculptural costumes/sound blankets that censor my body mass, replacing it with forms such as sound, song, and/or silhouette.
A new moth-preying alpine pit viper species from Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (Viperidae, Crotalinae)
Authors: Shi Jingsong , Wang Gang , Chen Xi’er , Fang Yihao , Ding Li , Huang Song , Hou Mian , Liu Jun , Li Pipeng
Published: November 2017

The Sanjiangyuan region of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot of alpine mammals but a barren area in terms of amphibians and reptiles. Here, we describe a new pit viper species, Gloydius rubromaculatus sp. n. Shi, Li and Liu, 2017 that was discovered in this region, with a brief taxonomic revision of the genus Gloydius. The new species can be distinguished from the other congeneric species by the following characteristics: cardinal crossbands on the back, indistinct canthus rostralis, glossy dorsal scales, colubrid-like oval head shape, irregular small black spots on the head scales, black eyes and high altitude distribution (3300-4770 m above sea level). The mitochondrial phylogenetic reconstruction supported the validity of the new species and furthermore reaffirms that G. intermedius changdaoensis, G. halys cognatus, G. h. caraganus and G. h. stejnegeri should be elevated as full species. Gloydius rubromaculatus sp. n. was found to be insectivorous: preying on moths (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Sideridis sp.) in the wild. This unusual diet may be one of the key factors to the survival of this species in such a harsh alpine environment.
The Meaning of Honorary Whiteness for Asian Americans: Boundary Expansion or Something Else?
Authors: Shiao Jiannbin Lee
Published: November 2017

Research on interracial intimacy divides between quantitative comparisons of interracial and same-race marriages and qualitative studies of existing interracial unions. This article bridges the divide by examining how interracial dating histories differ from same-race dating histories among Asian Americans, a group that sociologists consistently regard as potentially having attained a racial status as “honorary whites.” Synthesizing the literatures on ethnic boundaries, homogamy, and interracial intimacy, the author examines the role of boundary processes in differentiating same-race and interracial dating histories. What does becoming honorary whites, as indicated by participation in racial exogamy, actually mean for Asian Americans? Using a unique sample of 83 Asian Americans with a wide range of dating histories, the author finds that social networks are a crucial mechanism for differentiating racial endogamy and exogamy. In addition, my results show that becoming honorary whites has critically involved boundary repositioning, rather than boundary transcendence, blurring, or expansion.
Moral Destabilisation or Revivification: The Trend of Religion-Based Social Capital Following 9/11
Authors: Yuksek Durmus A.
Published: November 2017

Although different aspects of the 9/11 terrorist attacks have been widely studied, few researchers have attempted to understand both its religious and social aspects. In this context, considering the declining trend of social capital in the United States, whether 9/11 has become a window of opportunity for civic renewal and whether such renewal has been short-lived or long-lived become highly important to examine. To address these questions, this study examines whether the level of social capital in the American society changed from 2000 to 2006 and whether religious traditions had different effects on their members’ social capital levels following 9/11.
Can Maternal Spindle Transfer and Pronuclear Transfer Be Prohibited under eu Legislation?
Authors: MacKellar Calum
Published: November 2017

The question whether maternal spindle transfer (mst) and pronuclear transfer (pnt) can be prohibited under eu legislation was examined by the non-governmental organisation European Bioethics Research (ebr). It did so by submitting an official complaint to the eu Commission proposing that the uk Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Mitochondrial Donation) Regulations 2015 breached the prohibition on the modification of a person’s germ line genetic identity of the eu Clinical Trials Directive 2001/20/EC and the new Regulation eu 536/2014. A discussion then took place, during 2016, between ebr and the eu Commission whether mst and pnt principally involved a ‘medicinal product’ in which case the eu Clinical Trials Directive 2001/20/EC and Regulation eu 536/2014 would be applicable or whether the procedures just involved a medical procedure in which case the Tissue and Cells Directive 2004/23/EC was applicable which did not include any prohibition on the intentional modification of a person’s germline.
In Need of a New Lens
Authors: Ofori Atiemo Abamfo
Published: November 2017

Despite the considerable volume of material produced by scholars in recent times on the political and social relevance of Africa’s religious revival, policy makers and development workers continue to pay only scanty attention to religion in their work. In cases, where some attention is paid to religion, the focus has been on institutions and public-spirited religious personalities. Most policy makers and development workers seem more comfortable to deal with these than the core religious elements such as rituals. Based on discussion of data drawn from a study of the Corinthian Church of South Africa (CCSA), this paper argues that aspects of religion such as beliefs and rituals, which are often ignored in development work constitute an important “spiritual capital” that can enrich social capital; and that if these are taken account of in social policy crafting, they will provide a new vista to some of the developmental challenges of Africa.
The 2017 General Election in Kenya: Re-evaluating r2p’s First Test Case 10 Years On
Authors: Sharma Serena K.
Published: November 2017

As Kenyans went to the polls on 8 August, protests over the results brought back memories of the disputed election 10 years prior. While the level of violence and contestation did not reach the same magnitude as a decade ago, recent events have illuminated the tentative nature of the peace that was established in the aftermath of the 2007–08 post-election crisis. While there is no doubt that the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation (kndr) process was essential in averting further bloodshed in Kenya – what is often overlooked are the significant costs associated with the 2008 agreements. By prioritising stability over democracy, enabling impunity over accountability, and addressing the symptoms of violence as opposed to more proximate causes, the kndr process left many of the issues that facilitated the 2007 unrest unresolved. Consequently, the underlying causes of instability in Kenya remain.
Exploring the Link between r2p and Refugee Protection: Arriving at Resettlement
Authors: Gilgan Chloë M.
Published: November 2017

This article addresses how resettlement can serve as a method for discharging the international community’s Responsibility to Protect (r2p) populations from mass atrocity, particularly in cases like Syria where the lack of consensus on the un Security Council has prevented an effective response in terms of diplomatic, humanitarian or military means for protecting the Syrian population from mass atrocities. The academic literature considers the link between r2p and refugee protection, but it is too focused on asylum, and it relies on normative arguments that fail to engage state interests. This article aims to explore the theoretical divide between r2p’s scholars, states, and civil society in terms of how each envisions the link between r2p and refugee protection. The article explores resettlement as a mechanism for rectifying these different interests in order to engage advocacy around r2p, thereby preserving its normative future and increasing protection of those fleeing mass atrocities.
Contemporary Public Art and Nation: Contesting “Tradition” in Post-Socialist Cultures and Societies
Authors: Kudaibergenova Diana T.
Published: November 2017

The contemporary art movement attempts to remain independent from official sources of power in order to generate ideas and discourses focusing on temporality and contemporaneity. In addition to art works and performances, some artists transmit their ideas through their public discussions and activism. But without a new value systems, a post-socialist society may fall into the trap of “inventing and re-inventing traditions,” and thus many social actors tend to block artists’ access to the discourses of temporality, “tradition,” nation, and gender. This article analyzes three instances where these “traditions” guided artistic discussions in the fields of sexuality, gender roles, and the sacredness of nation, which are all connected to the newly formed conservative values of the national and traditional that allow many nationalist conservatives to justify control over and criticism of independent cultural production.
From Once-Dominant Minority to Historical Christian Outpost on the Southern Caspian: Azerbaijan’s Orthodox Christians
Authors: De Cordier Bruno , Boboc Cristina
Published: November 2017

Based on field observations and an empirical survey on religion and identity that was conducted among the Slavic Orthodox population in the wider Baku area and in Ganja, this article examines the identity and social position of this community, now the country’s main Christian population group. While earlier research on the nominally Christian Slavic groups in the Caspian–Central Asian space tended to concentrate on ethnolinguistic and political issues, this research focuses on religious identification, religious practice, and the status of the Orthodox Church. Numbering just 1.5 percent of the population, the Orthodox Christian community in Azerbaijan is nearing extinction due to its aging membership. Nonetheless, Orthodox Christianity will keep a presence in the country and its society, although it could attract a more heterogeneous following.
First record of the genus Doliopteryx Hesse, 1956 (Diptera: Mythicomyiidae: Glabellulinae) from Iran, with description of two new species
Authors: GHARALI BABAK , EVENHUIS NEAL
Published: November 2017

Two new species of Doliopteryx Hesse, D. nodahaki, sp. nov. and D. fratris, sp. nov. are described and illustrated. This marks the first record of the genus in Iran.
Contribution to the knowledge of the oribatid mite family Nesozetidae (Acari, Oribatida)
Authors: ERMILOV SERGEY G. , HUGO-COETZEE ELIZABETH A. , THERON PIETER D. , BEHAN-PELLETIER VALERIE M.
Published: November 2017

A new oribatid mite species of the genus Nesozetes (Oribatida, Nesozetidae) is described from moss (Sphagnum sp.) on the seepage area below a permanent spring in South Africa. Nesozetes membranus sp. nov. differs from its only congener, Nesozetes rostropterus, described from Fiji, by the presence of a second pair of membranes located in the podosomal region, setiform bothridial setae and striate subcapitular mentum. A revised diagnosis of Nesozetidae, discussion on its taxonomic status, and information on distribution and ecology of Nesozetes species are given.
Parasphaerolaimus magdolnae sp. n. (Nematoda, Sphaerolaimidae) with intra-uterine development of its offspring from a Brazilian estuarine system
Authors: CAVALCANTI MARIANA DA FONSECA , VENEKEY VIRAG
Published: November 2017

One new species of Parasphaerolaimus is described from a Brazilian estuarine system with intra-uterine development of its offspring. Parasphaerolaimus magdolnae sp. n. is distinguished from other species of the genus by the presence of only one anterior testis, spicules morphology and size and a gubernaculum without dorsal apophysis. The cuticle of the new species is striated and the position of the vulva is far posterior on the body, almost reaching the anus. The taxonomy of Parasphaerolaimus was also re-examined and two other species were transferred from Sphaerolaimus to Parasphaerolaimus after the last revision: P. pentasetus (Pastor de Ward, 1984) comb. n. and P. striatus (Allgén, 1935) comb. n. An updated identification key for all valid species of Parasphaerolaimus is included.
Osmiine bees of the genus Haetosmia (Megachilidae, Osmiini): biology, taxonomy and key to species
Authors: MÜLLER ANDREAS , GRISWOLD TERRY
Published: November 2017

Haetosmia is a species-poor genus of osmiine bees (Megachilidae) containing six species, which inhabit deserts and semideserts from the Canary Islands to Central Asia. Formerly considered to be restricted to the southern Palaearctic region, the genus is shown here to occur also in the northern Afrotropical region. The females of all six Haetosmia species collect pollen from the narrow-tubed flowers of Heliotropium (Boraginaceae) with the aid of specialized pollen-harvesting bristles on the proboscis. Current knowledge suggests that Haetosmia species are restricted to sandy habitats, excavate their nests in the ground and use chewed leaves to construct their urn-shaped brood cells, which are placed side by side in an enlarged chamber at the end of the nesting burrow. The taxonomic revision of Haetosmia revealed the existence of two undescribed species, H. ethiopiensis spec. nov. from eastern Africa and H. pakistaniensis spec. nov. from Pakistan. Due to clear morphological gaps and overlapping distribution area with the nominotypical subspecies, H. brachyura altera (Peters 1974) is elevated to species rank. Keys for the identification of the six Haetosmia species are provided.
Psychological distress and unmet mental health needs among urban taxi drivers: A cross-sectional survey
Authors: Davidson Sandra , Wadley Greg , Reavley Nicola , Gunn Jane , Fletcher Susan
Published: November 2017

Objectives:

The taxi industry relies on a male-dominated, predominately immigrant workforce who face multiple risk factors for poor mental health including shift work, low pay and threats of violence. Despite these risk factors, no previous study has documented the prevalence of psychological distress in the taxi industry. We investigated psychological distress among urban taxi drivers and explored the factors associated with high levels of distress.

Method:

A total of 380 taxi drivers were surveyed at the Melbourne Airport holding yard between September 2016 and March 2017. Psychological distress was measured using the K10. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between high levels of psychological distress and migration, work patterns, potentially traumatic events, health care use and social connectedness.

Results:

A third (33%) of drivers had very high (K10 ⩾ 30) levels of distress and 28% had high (K10 = 22–29) levels of distress. Trauma was significantly associated with high levels of psychological distress, and rates of trauma were much higher among drivers than among the Australian population. Despite high levels of distress, drivers were no more likely than other Australian men to visit a health professional.

Conclusion:

Urban taxi drivers are at very high risk for mental health problems, yet the mental health needs of this largely immigrant workforce has gone largely unnoticed. Interventions tailored to the unique characteristics of the job and the demographic composition of the workforce are urgently needed.
Improving Rates of Screening for Anemia in Infancy
Authors: Ha Barbara , O’Sullivan Deirdre L. , Diamond Carol A. , Plumb Amy J. , Sleeth Jeffrey S. , Greer Frank R. , Kling Pamela J.
Published: November 2017

In 2010, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended universal screening for anemia at approximately 1 year of age. This quality improvement study sought to improve anemia screening in an ambulatory setting. In a large university-based setting, a best practice alert (BPA) was placed within the electronic health record. The primary outcome was overall screening rate in ambulatory family medicine (DFM) and pediatrics (PEDS) clinics. From 2545 pre-BPA clinic visits over a 12-month period, the screening rate was 48.2%. Among 2186 post-BPA clinic visits over an 8-month period, the screening rate improved to 72.7%, P < .0001. Follow-up over a second 7-month period demonstrated sustained improvements (70.8%) but was not higher after educational sessions between the periods. Screening rates were higher in PEDS than DFM at each time point; P < .0001. This technology-based intervention increased and maintained higher screening rates for anemia at 1 year, with higher rates in PEDS.
Teaming With a Synthetic Teammate: Insights into Human-Autonomy Teaming
Authors: McNeese Nathan J. , Demir Mustafa , Cooke Nancy J. , Myers Christopher
Published: November 2017

Objective

Three different team configurations are compared with the goal of better understanding human-autonomy teaming (HAT).

Background

Although an extensive literature on human-automation interaction exists, much less is known about HAT in which humans and autonomous agents interact as coordinated units. Further research must be conducted to better understand how all-human teams compare to HAT.

Methods

In an unmanned aerial system (UAS) context, a comparison was made among three types of three-member teams: (1) synthetic teams in which the pilot role is assigned to a synthetic teammate, (2) control teams in which the pilot was an inexperienced human, and (3) experimenter teams in which an experimenter served as an experienced pilot. Ten of each type of team participated. Measures of team performance, target processing efficiency, team situation awareness, and team verbal behaviors were analyzed.

Results

Synthetic teams performed as well at the mission level as control (all human) teams but processed targets less efficiently. Experimenter teams performed better across all other measures compared to control and synthetic teams.

Conclusion

Though there is potential for a synthetic agent to function as a full-fledged teammate, further advances in autonomy are needed to improve team-level dynamics in HAT teams.

Application

This research contributes to our understanding of how to make autonomy a good team player.
Design and Implementation of Kalman Filter for Fuel Pipe Damping Test Machine Working Based on Variable Frequency Vibration Principle
Authors: Yalçın Barıs Can , Balcılar Muhammet , Koyun Ahmet
Published: November 2017

Fuel pipes popularly used in automotive industry applications carry fuel from the fuel tank to the engine and work under variable vibrations having different magnitude and frequency parameters due to the engine’s rotation frequency and road profile’s spontaneous change. Considering that the transfer of the fuel to the engine in the desired way has a crucial importance on the driving performance, any problem that may exist because of the vibrations cannot be acceptable in the pipe assembly. Because of this reason, all manufactured fuel pipes have to be well tested in terms of some industrial standards. The fluid excitement test is a very useful and commonly accepted method in the industry. However, this method produces enormous amount of noise that does not allow to obtain healthy pressure values from the sensors. In this study, Kalman filtering method has been used to interpret the data that have been obtained from the sensors. The usefulness and effectiveness of the proposed Kalman filtering method have been shown and discussed based on the test results.
Opportunistic decision-making in government: concept formation, variety and explanation
Authors: 6 Perri
Published: November 2017

The notion of opportunism is too often used loosely in policy and administrative research on executive decision-making: its various meanings are too rarely clearly distinguished. To make it useful for explanation, this article presents fresh concept formation work, clarifying the concept to recognize different kinds and degrees of opportunism. To illustrate the use of the refined concept, the article examines key decisions by British cabinets and core executives between 1945 and 1990. It proposes that neo-Durkheimian institutional theory can help to explain why different kinds of opportunism are cultivated in differently ordered administrations, so providing new insight into decision-making.

Points for practitioners

The article provides a framework through which public managers can identify degrees and types of opportunism among the elected politicians they serve. It will help public managers to identify risks associated with such decisions, when they are asked to execute them.
Regulation of Reactionary Dentine Formation
Authors: Neves V.C.M. , Sharpe P.T.
Published: November 2017

During the treatment of dental caries that has not penetrated the tooth pulp, maintenance of as much unaffected dentine as possible is a major goal during the physical removal of decayed mineral. Damage to dentine leads to release of fossilized factors (transforming growth factor–β [TGF-β] and bone morphogenic protein [BMP]) in the dentine that are believed to stimulate odontoblasts to secrete new “tertiary” dentine (reactionary dentine). This is formed on the pulpal surface of existing dentine and rethickens the dentine. We have previously shown that activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is pivotal for tooth repair in exposed pulp injury, and the pathway can be activated by small-molecule GSK-3 antagonists, resulting in enhanced reparative dentine formation. Here, we use a nonexposed pulp injury model to investigate the mechanisms of reactionary dentine formation in vivo, using small molecules to modulate the Wnt/β-catenin, TGF-β, and BMP pathways. We found that a local increase of Wnt activation at the injury site enhances reactionary dentine secretion. In addition, inhibition of TGF-β, BMP, or Wnt pathways does not impede reactionary dentine formation, although inhibition of TGF-β and/or BMP signaling does result in more disorganized, nontubular reactionary dentine. This suggests that Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays no major role in the formation of reactionary dentine, but in common with reparative dentine formation, exogenous elevation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling can enhance tertiary dentine formation. Release of latent TGF-β or BMPs from dentine is not required for the deposition of mineral to form reactionary dentine but does play a role in its organization.
Impact of a new subway line on housing values in Daegu, Korea: Distance from existing lines
Authors: Im Junhong , Hong Sung Hyo
Published: November 2017

This study investigates the ex ante as well as ex post impact of a new subway line on housing values in Daegu, Korea where two lines already exist. Housing units are divided into two groups: treatment group versus comparison group based on the distance from the nearest station of the new line. Our results based on Hedonic models in difference-in-differences framework suggest that homes within 500 m from the nearest station of the new line can earn a premium of 99.7 thousand Korean Won (equivalent approximately to 96.3 US dollars) per square metre. However, such a premium from improved accessibility to public transit seems to appear mainly for the homes which are within 500 m from the new line and beyond 5 km from the nearest station of the existing lines. For the homes which are close to existing lines, proximity to the new line stations does not increase residents’ convenience remarkably because people are supposed to easily transfer between the new line and existing lines.
Personal or Product Reputation? Optimizing Revenues in the Sharing Economy
Authors: Abrate Graziano , Viglia Giampaolo
Published: November 2017

The emergence of peer-to-peer platforms, known as the sharing economy, has empowered people to market their own products and services. However, there are information asymmetries that make it difficult to evaluate the reputation of the seller a priori. This article examines how sellers have to enhance their personal reputation to optimize revenues. The study proposes a revenue model where, given a frontier that depends on the shared assets, the maximization of revenues depends on reputational factors of the person and of the product. An empirical validation of the framework has been conducted in the context of Airbnb, a popular sharing economy travel platform. The sample comprises 981 establishments across five European cities. The findings suggest the crucial importance of personal reputation along with some distinctive reputational attributes of the product itself. These results emphasize the role of trust and personal branding strategies in peer-to-peer platforms.
Systematic Subjectivity: How Subtle Biases Infect the Scholarship Review Process
Authors: King Eden B. , Avery Derek R. , Hebl Mikki R. , Cortina Jose M.
Published: November 2017

In light of renewed debate regarding publication rigor and ethics, this commentary raises questions about the subjectivity of the peer review process. We argue that the same biases organizational scientists consider as topics of our research—such as confirmation bias, negative bias, anchoring and adjustment, overconfidence bias, and social dynamics—may infect the scholarship process. In addition to these general phenomena, we examine subtle biases that may be unique to or exacerbated within diversity management scholarship. We describe the theoretical basis of such biases and offer preliminary evidence of their nuanced manifestations before outlining suggestions for their reduction.
Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation of the Knee in Patients Aged 40 Years and Older
Authors: Wang Dean , Kalia Vivek , Eliasberg Claire D. , Wang Tim , Coxe Francesca R. , Pais Mollyann D. , Rodeo Scott A. , Williams Riley J.
Published: November 2017

Background:

Treatment of large chondral defects of the knee among patients aged ≥40 years remains a difficult clinical challenge owing to preexisting joint degeneration and the lack of treatment options short of arthroplasty.

Purpose:

To characterize the survivorship, predictors of failure, and clinical outcomes of osteochondral allograft transplantation (OCA) of the knee among patients aged ≥40 years.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Prospectively collected data were reviewed for 54 consecutive patients aged ≥40 years who were treated with OCA. Preoperative levels of osteoarthritis (according to Kellgren-Lawrence classification) and meniscal volume and quality were graded from review of radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging. Complications, reoperations, and patient responses to validated outcome measures were reviewed. A minimum follow-up of 2 years was required for analysis. Failure was defined by any removal or revision of the allograft or conversion to arthroplasty.

Results:

Among 51 patients (mean age, 48 years; range, 40-63 years; 65% male), a total of 52 knees had symptomatic focal cartilage lesions (up to 2 affected areas) that were classified as Outerbridge grade 4 at the time of OCA and did not involve substantial bone loss requiring shell allografts or additional bone grafting. Mean duration of follow-up was 3.6 years (range, 2-11 years). After OCA, 21 knees (40%) underwent reoperation, including 14 failures (27%) consisting of revision OCA (n = 1), unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (n = 5), and total knee arthroplasty (n = 8). Mean time to failure was 33 months, and 2- and 4-year survivorship rates were 88% and 73%, respectively. Male sex (hazard ratio = 4.18, 95% CI = 1.12-27.13) and a higher number of previous ipsilateral knee operations (hazard ratio = 1.70 per increase in 1 surgical procedure, 95% CI = 1.03-2.83) were predictors of failure. A higher Kellgren-Lawrence osteoarthritis grade on preoperative radiographs was associated with higher failure rates in the Kaplan-Meier analysis but not the multivariate model. At final follow-up, clinically significant improvements were noted in the pain (mean score, 47.8 to 67.6) and physical functioning (56.8 to 79.1) subscales of the Short Form-36, as well as the International Knee Documentation Committee subjective form (45.0 to 63.6), Knee Outcome Survey–Activities of Daily Living (64.5 to 80.1), and overall condition statement (4.5 to 6.8) ( P < .001). No significant changes were noted for the Marx Activity Rating Scale (5.1 to 3.9, P = .789).

Conclusion:

A higher failure rate was found in this series of patients aged ≥40 years who were treated with OCA as compared with other studies of younger populations. However, for select older patients, OCA can be a good midterm treatment option for cartilage defects of the knee.
Examining Intertextual Connections in Written Arguments: A Study of Student Writing as Social Participation and Response
Authors: Olsen Allison Wynhoff , VanDerHeide Jennifer , Goff Brenton , Dunn Mandie B.
Published: November 2017

Writing studies scholarship has long understood the need for context-based studies of student writing. Few studies, however, have closely examined how students use intertextual relationships in the context of learning to compose argumentative essays. Drawing on a 17-day argumentative writing unit in a ninth-grade humanities classroom, this article uses the concept of “intertextual trace” to explore how students make intertextual connections in their writing and negotiate the social dynamics of classroom learning. Intertextual analysis of students’ final essays revealed overlapping tracings and resonances across multiple resources, showing how and the ways in which students create arguments and respond to exigencies within a classroom setting. Analysis of thematic, structural, and lexical tracings also showed students making intertextual connections through repeating, reordering, responding to, and extending the texts offered by their teacher and peers. In so doing, students served as curators—shaping ideas, curricular offerings, and language into final argumentative essays—who were able to develop agency in and through their writing.
Evaluation of 50 Donor Scars Undergoing Hair Restoration Using a New Cosmetic Surgery Scar Assessment Scale
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad
Published: November 2017

The donor area scar is of utmost importance in strip-harvest hair restoration procedure. The proper assessment of the scar is important for the subsequent sessions. This study was undertaken to evaluate the quality of scar using a new Cosmetic Surgery Scar Assessment Scale (CSSAS). The study was conducted at a private hair restoration clinic. The patients undergoing first session were included. The width of the strip ranged from 15 to 20 mm. The donor wound was closed primarily using single-layer nonabsorbable 3-0 polypropylene suture and incorporating trichophytic closure. The stitches were removed on 11th postoperative day. The scars were assessed in daylight. The patients’ scars were assessed at 12th month using a self-developed scar scale which is comprised of 10 characteristics, each subdivided into 4 points (1-4), with a minimum score of 10 and maximum of 40. The higher scores represented poor scar, whereas the low scores represented good quality scar. A total of 50 patients were included. The mean age was 27.8 years. Most of the patients (56%) aged 31 years or more. The baldness pattern varied from Norwood type III to VII. The scars were assessed using the daylight. The average scar score was 14.3 out of 40. Majority of the patients (78%) had average score which was 15 or less. The maximum scar score achieved by the patients was 23 (4%). The newly developed CSSAS is very simple. It incorporates key features including the width and mobility of scar as well.
Modes of Informal Urban Development
Authors: Harris Richard
Published: November 2017

The concept of informality has often been misunderstood. Its, especially, urban character is rarely appreciated. With respect to urban development, it was once thought to distinguish the Global South, a view that is changing, but an alternative has not been systematically articulated. Based on an extensive survey of literatures, this article clarifies the urban character of informality, articulates its global relevance, and proposes a framework for understanding its major modes: latent, diffuse, embedded, overt, and dominant. Their relative frequency distinguishes cities, regions, and nations while their identification facilitates the comparison of places.
Systematic review on recent studies on sugar cane bagasse and bagasse cellulose polymer composites
Authors: Motaung Tshwafo E , Mochane Mokgaotsa J
Published: November 2017

Sugar cane bagasse (SCB) is one of the abundant and available natural fibres in many countries as a by-product from sugar cane mills after an extraction of sugar. Attempts have been made to convert this by-product into useful eco-friendly cement-bonded composites and polymer composites, which can be used for various internal and external applications in buildings. Some researchers extracted cellulose from SCB and incorporated it in different polymeric matrices. The investigations included optimization of parameters and chemical treatments such as bagasse content or coupling agents for a production of effective composites. The influence of different parameters on the setting of the composite material such as botanical components of the fibre, thermal or chemical treatment of the fibre and bagasse fibre content have shown enhancement in properties. The recent work cited in this review suggests that SCB can be used to prepare fibre-reinforced polymer composites for commercial use. Furthermore, there seems to be a little research done on the application of SCB nanocellulose–polymer composites. In fact, this review discusses the current state of SCB as filler in polymer composites with citation of the latest research. It furthermore exposes more research options for SCB and its ash.
Sexual Dysfunction in a Patient Taking Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir for the Treatment of Hepatitis C: A Case Report
Authors: Lenz Destin U. , Crutcher Effie L. , Greene Elisa M.
Published: November 2017

Sexual dysfunction is a bothersome side effect of several medications, though it has not yet been reported with the use of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir for the treatment of hepatitis C. However, sexual dysfunction is a potentially unrecognized side effect of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir that could result in nonadherence and treatment failure. We report a case of a 42-year-old man with a sudden onset of sexual dysfunction with the initiation of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir for the treatment of hepatitis C. The patient had no prior history or risk factors for the development of sexual dysfunction. His symptoms resolved upon discontinuation of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir after a successful 12-week course. Clinicians should be aware that sexual dysfunction is a possible side effect of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir and educate patients appropriately. Adherence should be emphasized as the risks of untreated hepatitis C virus far outweigh transient sexual dysfunction.
Role of Late-Life Depression in the Association of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease With All-Cause Mortality: Cardiovascular Health Study
Authors: Armstrong Nicole M. , Carlson Michelle C. , Xue Qian-Li , Schrack Jennifer , Carnethon Mercedes R. , Chaves Paulo H. M. , Gross Alden L.
Published: November 2017

Objectives: To evaluate whether late-life depression mediates the association of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) with all-cause mortality. Method: Using data from 3,473 Cardiovascular Health Study participants, the Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the direct and indirect (via late-life depression) effects of the association between baseline subclinical CVD and all-cause mortality with weights derived from multivariable logistic regression of late-life depression on subclinical CVD. Results: Subclinical CVD led to a higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.51, 95% confidence interval, [CI] = [1.42, 1.94]). Total effect of subclinical CVD on all-cause mortality was decomposed into direct (HR = 1.41, 95% CI = [1.37, 1.58]) and indirect (HR = 1.07, 95% CI = [1.01, 1.23]) effects; 16.3% of the total effect of subclinical CVD on all-cause mortality was mediated by late-life depression. Discussion: Late-life depression accounts for little, if any, of the association between subclinical CVD, a risk factor of all-cause mortality, and all-cause mortality.
Children’s multidimensional agency: Insights into the structuration of choice
Authors: Stoecklin Daniel , Fattore Tobia
Published: November 2017

The structuration of agency that lies behind children’s accounts of their well-being in Australia is highlighted. The three forms of agency that are evidenced from the data – agency as competence, agency as self-determination and agency as practical action in everyday contexts – provide insights regarding the characteristics of social structure. The multidimensionality of agency appears in practical achievements, individual choices and everyday action that are all constituted intersubjectively. Theories dealing with the complex links between choice and reflexive monitoring allow better understanding of agency.
Influence of 1:4;3:6-dianhydro-d- mannitol-based polyamide as an additive on morphology, permeability and antifouling performance of PES ultrafiltration membrane
Authors: Liu Zhixiao , Mi Zhiming , Meng Shiyao , Sun Ningwei , Zhao Xiaogang , Wang Daming , Zhou Hongwei , Chen Chunhai
Published: November 2017

A novel hydrophilic polyamide, PA-OH containing 1:4;3:6-dianhydro-d-mannitol (isomannide) fragment was synthesized and used as an additive to prepare a series of polyethersulfone (PES)/PA-OH hybrid membranes with different content of PA-OH by phase separation method. And the addition of PA-OH was expected to improve the hydrophilicity, permeability, and antifouling performance of the PES ultrafiltration (UF) membrane. The scanning electron microscopic and atomic force microscopic images showed that the addition of PA-OH greatly changed the morphology of membranes by increasing the porosity, pore size and pore density, and the hydrophilicity was also improved with the increased PA-OH content. Based on the UF experiment, when the PA-OH content was 3%, the fluxes of pure water and bovine serum albumin solution reached 213.1 and 92.6 L m−2 h−1, which were close to 1.5 times and 2 times those of the bare PES membrane, respectively. When the PA-OH content was 5%, the FRR1st reached 85.2%, which was distinctly higher than that of the compared PES/polyethylene glycol5% hybrid membrane of 74.3%. And the FRR2st of the PES/PA-OH5% hybrid membrane was still over 80%, which indicated its long-term antifouling performance. Thus, the PA-OH can be a candidate for the hydrophilic additives.
Three-dimensional discrete Boltzmann models for compressible flows in and out of equilibrium
Authors: Gan Yanbiao , Xu Aiguo , Zhang Guangcai , Lai Huilin
Published: November 2017

We present a series of three-dimensional discrete Boltzmann models for compressible flows in and out of equilibrium. The key formulating technique is the construction of discrete equilibrium distribution function through inversely solving the kinetic moment relations that it satisfies. The crucial physical requirement is that all the used kinetic moment relations must be consistent with the non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. The necessity of such a kinetic model is that, with increasing the complexity of flows, the dynamical characterization of non-equilibrium state and the understanding of the constitutive relations need higher order kinetic moments and their evolution. The discrete Boltzmann models at the Euler and Navier–Stokes levels proposed by this scheme are validated by several well-known benchmarks, ranging from one-dimension to three-dimension. Particularly, when the local Mach number, temperature ratio, and pressure ratio are as large as 102, 104, and 105, respectively, the simulation results are still in excellent agreement with the Riemann solutions. How to model deeper thermodynamic non-equilibrium flows by discrete Boltzmann is indicated. Via the discrete Boltzmann method, it is convenient to simulate nonequilibrium flows without knowing exact form of the hydrodynamic equations.
Eye-Movement Evidence for Object-Based Attention in Chinese Reading
Authors: Liu Yanping , Reichle Erik D.
Published: November 2017

Is attention allocated to only one word or to multiple words at any given time during reading? The experiments reported here addressed this question using a novel paradigm inspired by classic findings on object-based attention. In Experiment 1, participants ( N = 18) made lexical decisions about one of two spatially colocated Chinese words or nonwords. Our main finding was that only the attended word’s frequency influenced response times and accuracy. In Experiment 2, participants ( N = 30) read target words embedded in two spatially colocated Chinese sentences. Our key finding here was that only target-word frequencies influenced looking times and fixation positions. These results support the hypothesis that words are attended in a strictly serial (and perhaps object-based) manner during reading. The theoretical implications of this conclusion are discussed in relation to models of eye-movement control during reading and the conceptualization of words as visual objects.
Palestinians fighting against Nazis: The story of Palestinian volunteers in the Second World War
Authors: Abbasi Mustafa
Published: November 2017

During the Second World War about 12,000 Palestinians volunteered to serve in the British army. These volunteers participated actively in battles in North Africa and Europe. Many of them lost their lives, others were wounded and many are still missing. It is interesting that despite this vital contribution of the Palestinian people and their leadership in the war against the Nazis especially among the opposition parties, the attention of historians was mostly directed towards the meeting held between the Mufti of Jerusalem and Hitler. This article explores in depth the contribution of the Palestinian volunteers to the British war effort during the Second World War from the beginning until its end.
Harvesting environmental thermal energy using solid/liquid phase change materials
Authors: Wang Guangyao , Ha Dong Sam , Wang Kevin G.
Published: November 2017

This article investigates the feasibility of using solid/liquid phase change materials to harvest the renewable thermal energy in various natural environments, which is often associated with a low temperature differential. The basic idea is to move the phase change material cyclically through the temperature differential and convert a fraction of the energy absorbed by the phase change material in its melting process into mechanical or electrical energy. In this work, we first develop a thermodynamic model for an idealized setting, thereby deriving a theoretical upper limit of the thermal efficiency. Next, we couple the thermodynamic model with a structural mechanics model based on Kirchhoff–Love plate theory, in order to predict the performance of specific devices. To validate the thermomechanical model and demonstrate the feasibility of the underlying approach, we develop a prototype that uses pentadecane (C15H32) as the phase change material. The measured specific energy agrees favorably with the model prediction. Finally, we employ the validated model to conduct a parameter study. The result implies that stiffer structures and phase change materials with high solid/liquid density ratio are preferred. The study also suggests that compared to bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3)-based thermoelectric generators, the phase change material–based approach may yield significantly higher efficiency when the temperature differential is less than 100°C.