bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bone Cysts and Osteolysis in Ankle Replacement
Authors: Najefi Ali-Asgar , Ghani Yaser , Goldberg Andrew J.
Published: September 2020

Background:

Total ankle replacements (TARs) have higher rates of osteolysis than hip or knee replacements. It is unclear whether this is a pathologic immunologic process in response to wear debris, or expansion of pre-existing osteoarthritic bone cysts. We aimed to determine the incidence of bone cysts in patients with end-stage ankle arthritis prior to surgery and review the literature on bone cysts and osteolysis in relation to TAR.

Methods:

This is a descriptive/prevalence study in which all patients with end-stage ankle arthritis underwent plain radiographic imaging and computed tomographic (CT) scans prior to TAR surgery. Their imaging was assessed for the presence of cysts, measured on sagittal, axial, and coronal slices of the CT scan at the widest diameter. All cysts that would be removed as a result of the bone resection for the implant were excluded using digital analysis software. We assessed 120 consecutive patients with mean age of 63.4 years.

Results:

Seventeen patients (14%) did not have any bone cysts based on CT images. Ten patients (8%) had cysts that would have been completely removed by surgery, leaving 93 patients for analysis (78%). In 60% of these cases, the cysts were not seen on the plain radiographs. In 39 patients (33%), the cysts were greater than 5 mm in size. The medial (36%) and lateral malleoli (33%) were the most common location for the cysts (mean diameter 4.6±2.0 and 4.2±2.3 mm, respectively).

Conclusion:

Bone cysts outside of the resection margins for a TAR were present in 78% of patients with ankle arthritis prior to undergoing surgery. In 30% of cases, cysts were greater than 5 mm in size. In 60% of cases, the cysts were not seen on plain radiographs. Preoperative 3-dimensional imaging can provide a foundation to observe and quantify cyst presence, expansion, and time of onset in the postoperative setting.

Level of Evidence:

Level IIc, diagnostic/prevalence study.
Real-Time Dissemination of Aggregate Data on Presentation and Outcomes of Patients With Venous Thromboembolism: The RIETE Infographics Project
Authors: Tafur Alfonso , Bikdeli Behnood , Weinberg Ido , Jimenez David , Monreal Annia , Barba Raquel , Mira Enrique , Macrinici Victor , Krumholz Harlan M. , Hawkins Mayra , Monreal Manuel ,   the RIETE Investigators
Published: September 2020

In the current era of patient empowerment and precision medicine, access to timely information is critical to decision-making. Unfortunately, we currently lack patient-specific, real-time data about clinical presentation, risk of thrombotic or hemorrhagic events, key risk factors, and adverse outcomes in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE). Accordingly, the Registro Informatizado Enfermedad TromboEmbólica (RIETE) investigators developed a tool to provide an open-source, real-time graphic representation of VTE-related data derived from over 90 000 patients with confirmed VTE. This information is intended to facilitate discussion in the informed decision-making process. The current article describes the aims, rationale, methods, and ongoing and future efforts of the real-time VTE infographics developed by the RIETE registry collaborators.
Targeted, Site-Specific, Delivery Vehicles of Therapeutics for COVID-19 Patients. Brief Review
Authors: Kipshidze Nicholas , Iversen Patrick , Porter Thomas R. , Kipshidze Nodar , Siddiqui Fakiha , Dangas George , Fareed Jawed
Published: September 2020

Definitive pharmacological therapies for COVID-19 have yet to be identified. Several hundred trials are ongoing globally in the hope of a solution. However, nearly all treatments rely on systemic delivery but COVID-19 damages the lungs preferentially. The use of a targeted delivery approach is reviewed where engineered products are able to reach damaged lung tissue directly, which includes catheter-based and aerosol-based approaches. In this review we have outlined various target directed approaches which include microbubbles, extracellular vesicles including exosomes, adenosine nanoparticles, novel bio-objects, direct aerosol targeted pulmonary delivery and catheter-based drug delivery with reference to their relative effectiveness for the specific lesions. Currently several trials are ongoing to determine the effectiveness of such delivery systems alone and in conjunction with systemic therapies. Such approaches may prove to be very effective in the controlled and localized COVID-19 viral lesions in the lungs and potential sites. Moreover, localized delivery offered a safer delivery mode for such drugs which may have systemic adverse effects.
Research on coupling dynamics and coordinated control of a legged robot
Authors: Chen Zhengcang , Yang Chaoyue , Shen Jianjun , Jia Feng
Published: September 2020

This article develops a coupling dynamic method focusing on the coupling relationship between the leg and the body of a legged robot. The dynamic equation of the method reflects the mechanism between an active operating part and a passive moving part among a multibody system. It is used to adjust the position and posture of the body by driving the motion of the joint of the leg, thereby solving problems such as rollover or overturning of the body during its walking or running. Because the robot has enough redundant degrees of freedom, we can design other additional constraints to achieve coordinated control of the robot. The developed dynamic modeling method is applied for two control tasks. By the results of numerical simulations, the effectiveness of this method is verified.
Communicating Sustainable Business Models to Consumers: A Translation Theory Perspective
Authors: Viciunaite Viktorija
Published: September 2020

Firms can embed sustainability efforts in business model elements such as key resources, key activities, or key partners. To capitalize on their sustainability efforts, firms must present these efforts in a way that is meaningful to consumers that is—translate them. This study explores how sustainability efforts are translated to consumers on webpages, newsletters, and social media profiles of Norwegian yarn firms. Data analysis revealed that firms’ sustainability communications could be related to underlying business model elements. At the same time, to consumers they were framed as product attributes or consequences to consumers, society, or the environment. This shows that firms conveyed business model information, but not in business model terms, which supports the idea of business model translation. The findings also indicated variation in how sustainability efforts were framed based on the firm’s sustainability focus.
Artificial Snowmaking: Winter Sports Between State-Owned Company Policy and Tourist Demand
Authors: Joksimović Marko , Gajić Mirjana , Vujadinović Snežana , Milenković Jelena , Malinić Vladimir
Published: September 2020

Due to changing climatic conditions, artificial snowmaking has become a major method of ski resort adaptation globally. It is a financially intensive operation requiring high start-up investment and involving operating costs that are dependent on weather conditions. Operational costs and the expansion of artificial snowmaking systems increase the price of ski passes. In our work, we analyzed the operations of a public company that operates the largest ski resorts in Serbia and directs the flow of winter sports tourism. We tried to determine, by means of correlation, the extent to which ski pass prices in the biggest winter resort in Serbia are influenced by factors such as natural snow cover, number of tourist overnights, ski run length, and local wages. The results of the survey indicate an increasing transformation of the ski resort into a thematic attraction independent of climatic factors in terms of determining ski pass prices.
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms and neuroretinitis (IRVAN) syndrome: A case report
Authors: Ouederni Meriem , Sassi Hela , Chelly Zied , Nefaa Fehmy , Cheour Monia
Published: September 2020

Purpose:

Since its first description by Chang et al. in 1995, the diagnosis of Idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms and neuroretinitis (IRVAN) syndrome has been based on the findings of Fundus Fluorescein Angiography (FFA). Our purpose was to describe the utility of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) in its diagnosis and management.

Case description:

A 40-year-old female presented with bilateral blurred vision. Her best corrected visual acuity was at 8/10. Fundus examination revealed blurred disc margins, perivascular exudates, arterial sheaths and retinal hemorrhages bilaterally. FFA showed staining of the optic disc with dye leakage in the right eye, a punctuate hyperfluorescence of the temporosuperior artery in the left eye, bilateral vascular sheathing and capillary dropout. OCT-A showed simultaneous presence of papillary aneurysm and neovascularization of the optic nerve head in the right eye, a papillary aneurysm in the left eye and bilateral capillary non-perfusion. Our patient was diagnosed with IRVAN syndrome. Oral steroids associated with panretinal laser photocoagulation and intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in the right eye resulted in vanishing of the papillary neovascularization with no recurrence on OCT-A at 10-month follow-up.

Conclusions:

OCT-A is an additional tool to FFA for visualization of arterial macroaneurysms and retinal neovascularization without the interference of dye leakage. It well demarcates nonperfused areas and ensures follow-up of retinal neovascularization. Its limitations are the limited field of view and the low sensitivity in detecting arteriolar dilations. Thus, OCT-A is unable to outplace FFA but should be considered alternately with it for non-invasive follow-up of IRVAN syndrome.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of survivorship and wear rates of metal and ceramic heads articulating with polyethylene liners in total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Gosling Oliver B , Ferreri Thomas G , Khoshbin Amir , Whitehouse Michael R , Atrey Amit
Published: September 2020

Background:

The major joint registries report better survivorship for ceramic on polyethylene over metal on polyethylene bearings in total hip arthroplasty and it is generally accepted that this is due to a lower polyethylene wear rate. We used evidence synthesis to compare survivorship, polyethylene wear rates and metal ion levels for metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) and ceramic-on-polyethylene (CoP) bearings. If wear rates are not dissimilar in vivo this difference in revision rate may have another cause. Modular junctions are a potential source of corrosion and it is postulated that this may result in higher revision rates.

Methods:

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the survivorship of MoP and CoP bearings. Odds ratio (95% CI) of revision was calculated. Mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to compare secondary outcomes of polyethylene wear and metal ion levels. Meta-analysis was performed with a Mantel-Haenszel Random-Effects Model.

Results:

6 randomised controlled trials were included. There was no statistically significant difference between MoP and CoP revision rate (OR 1.04; 95% CI, 0.37–2.90, I2 = 0%, p = 0.94), linear bearing wear (MD 0.00 mm; 95% CI, −0.05 –0.05, I2 = 98%, p = 0.90), nor volumetric bearing wear (MD 33.57 mm3; 95% CI, −215.56–282.70, I2 = 98%, p = 0.79). No studies evaluated metal ion levels.

Conclusions:

We found no evidence of a difference in revision rates nor linear and volumetric wear between MoP and CoP bearings in the randomised controlled trials currently available. Our study therefore does not advocate the additional cost associated with the use of ceramic heads in combination with polyethylene bearings in order to minimise revision rates. This contrasts the findings of in vitro studies and the major joint registries.
Wildfire Risk and Hazardous Fuel Reduction Treatments Along the US-Mexico Border: A Review of the Science (1986-2019)
Authors: Laushman Katherine M , Munson Seth M , Villarreal Miguel L
Published: September 2020

The ecosystems along the border between the United States and Mexico are at increasing risk to wildfire due to interactions among climate, land-use, and fuel loads. A wide range of fuel treatments have been implemented to mitigate wildfire and its threats to valued resources, yet we have little information about treatment effectiveness. To fill critical knowledge gaps, we reviewed wildfire risk and fuel treatment studies that were conducted near the US-Mexico border and published in the peer-reviewed literature between 1986 and 2019. The number of studies has grown during this time in warm desert to forest ecosystems on primarily federal lands. The most common study topics included fire effects on native species, the role of invasive species and woody encroachment on wildfire risk, historical fire regimes, and remote sensing and modeling to study wildfire risk across the landscape. A majority of fuel treatment studies focused on prescribed burns, and fuel treatments collectively had mixed effects on mitigating future wildfire risk and threats to ecosystems depending on vegetation and fire characteristics. The diversity of ecosystems and land ownership along the US-Mexico border present unique challenges for understanding and managing wildfire risk, and also create opportunities for collaboration and cross-site studies to promote knowledge across broad environmental gradients.
Pet-Friendly Rental Housing: Racial and Spatial Inequalities
Authors: Rose Daniel , McMillian Courtney , Carter Onneya
Published: September 2020

Renters with pets seeking quality and affordable accommodations face numerous challenges. This research aims to identify whether the racial/ethnic predominance of the neighborhood population relates to the willingness of landlords to accept pets. To address this question, we gathered 266 rental listings from Craigslist and Zillow over a two-week period in Forsyth County, North Carolina. While the vast majority of landlords allowed dogs and cats at rental units in predominantly white neighborhoods, less than half permitted pets at properties in African-American neighborhoods. Chi-square tests demonstrated the statistical significance of these differences. Additional policies including breed restrictions, weight/size limits, non-refundable fees, and additional rent for pets further limited the ability of renters to keep pets. We discuss implications for tenant autonomy, the welfare of companion animals, and the perpetuation of racial segregation.
Communicating about suicide during a global pandemic: impact on journalists and media audiences
Authors: Wake Alexandra , Paton Elizabeth , Pryor Rebecca
Published: September 2020

COVID-19 has brought with it an increase in predictions of mental ill-health and suicide impacts in Australia. For journalists, it has been a period not only of personal stress about their economic livelihoods and occupational safety, but also balancing providing up to date information about the pandemic with safe, sensitive and accurate reporting on associated suicide and mental health issues. Mindframe offers guidelines, resources and individualised support to help manage the complexities of reporting on suicide in this global pandemic, working with media to protect people in their audience who are vulnerable to suicide while also helping journalists protect their own mental health and well being.
Balancing Time – University Students’ Study Practices and Policy Perceptions of Time
Authors: Ulriksen Lars , Nejrup Christoffer
Published: September 2020

A particular concern in Danish higher education policy is how much time students spend studying, often addressed as ‘study intensity’ (defined as number of hours per week spent studying). This article discusses this concept and explores how students perceive the time they spend studying. We draw on ethnographic fieldwork, interviews and workshops among second-year students at four study programmes at a Danish research-intensive university: two in natural sciences, one in humanities, and one in social sciences. We found that students live their lives across different realms where only some relate to their university studies. The students continuously balanced their time between different activities and requirements. While students studied following time schedules, they also expressed a qualitative perception of time, for example, distinguishing between the work effort and the mental effort they put into studying. Spending time on study activities therefore does not necessarily mean investing mental, qualitative time. The emphasis on ‘study intensity’, and time as quantity in higher education policy and in student-engagement surveys fails to capture what drives students’ study practices, and policy measures run the risk of being detrimental to the study quality.
More than meets the ear: Individual differences in trait and state willingness to communicate as predictors of language learning performance in a Chinese EFL context
Authors: Zhang Jiayi , Beckmann Nadin , Beckmann Jens F.
Published: September 2020

Chinese students are frequently seen as passive learners because of their apparent reluctance to speak, particularly in English classrooms. However, this impression seems to reflect a stereotype which is likely to confound willingness to communicate (WTC) and communication behaviour. In this article we argue for more attention to be paid to individual differences to complement culture-related explanations of differences in WTC. Self-report data on WTC at both trait and state levels and personality characteristics were analysed in relation to L2 language learning performance in a sample of 103 university students. Individual differences in WTCL1 were found to be strongly related to extraversion; whilst individual differences in WTCL2 were associated with openness to experience, conscientiousness, and agreeableness, rather than extraversion. Moreover, this study differentiates state WTCL2 from communication behaviour, and provides evidence for both trait and state WTCL2 being important predictors of L2 learning performance despite being differently related to personality. Our results overall suggest that exclusively relying on observable communication behaviour is likely to overlook effective antecedences of learning and performance. This study pleads for a more differentiated perspective on WTC and its personality correlates at both trait and state levels. It provides further evidence that WTC is a useful construct in working towards a better understanding of language learning processes.
Fusing fact and fiction: Placemaking through film tours in Edinburgh
Authors: Schiavone Rosa , Reijnders Stijn
Published: September 2020

The current article focuses on the cultural practice of four film tours in Edinburgh, Scotland, analysing how film tours like these contribute to more general placemaking processes. Prior research has shown how film tours have become a staple of the tourist consumption of many contemporary cities. Building on these studies, the current article focuses explicitly on one of the defining features of these tours, namely the fictional character of their central topic. More particularly, this study examines how film tours are built up around a presumed conflation of imagined and material space. It argues that film tours are forms of cultural ‘work’ in which fictional plotlines from cinema are integrated into and used to revitalize notions of place. Through these practices, cinematic fiction eventually becomes part of what is experienced as the ‘true core’ of Edinburgh.
Thoughts about indexing family benefits: Are authorities permitted to apply the Austrian indexation of family benefits? The primacy of EU law and the right/obligation to request a ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union
Authors: Marhold Franz , Ludvik Christoph Paul
Published: September 2020

Austria amended legislation, adjusting family benefits such as the family allowance and the deductible family allowance amount to the (lower) price level indices for consumer goods and services (indexation) of the State of residence of the child. This case is not a unique case. In the European Union, similar endeavours were envisaged in several Member States. The Austrian legislation, however, is now being challenged before the CJEU. In the authors’ opinion, this unsuitable cost-saving budget measure contradicts Union law. Consequently, the provisions concerned must remain unapplied. After all, since the Austrian legislation is obviously incompatible with primary Union law, authorities or courts are not even required to refer the matter to the CJEU.
Precarious employment and general, mental and physical health in Stockholm, Sweden: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Jonsson Johanna , Matilla-Santander Nuria , Kreshpaj Bertina , Johansson Gun , Kjellberg Katarina , Burström Bo , Östergren Per-Olof , Nilsson Karin , Strömdahl Susanne , Orellana Cecilia , Bodin Theo
Published: September 2020

Objectives: To investigate the association between precarious employment and health in a sample of non-standard employees in Stockholm County, Sweden, by addressing three specific research questions: is the degree of precarious employment (low, moderate, high) associated with self-rated. . . (a) general health, (b) mental health, (c) musculoskeletal pain? Methods: Web-based respondent-driven sampling was used to recruit a sample of 415 employees in Stockholm, Sweden, during 2016–2017. Questionnaire data were collected on employment conditions (the Swedish version of the employment precariousness scale (EPRES-Se)), general health, mental health and musculoskeletal pain. EPRES-Se scores were categorised as low, moderate or high. Generalised linear models with Poisson distribution, log link functions and robust variances were applied for calculating crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR; aPR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all outcomes. Results: The prevalence ratios of poor self-rated general and mental health increased with increased degree of precariousness, as indicated by estimates of moderate precarious employment (a2PRModerate 1.44 (CI 0.98–2.11); a2PRModerate 1.13 (CI 0.82–1.62)), and high precarious employment (a2PRHigh 1.78 (CI 1.21–2.62); a2PRHigh 1.69 (CI 1.25–2.28)), albeit only significantly so for high precarious employment. Conclusions: This is the first study in Sweden reporting on the association between precarious employment, as measured with a multidimensional scale, and multiple health outcomes. The results add to the evidence of an association between precarious employment and self-rated poor general and mental health. Larger, representative studies with longitudinal designs using the EPRES-Se are called for in order to strengthen these results and the already existing evidence of the harm of precarious employment.
Evaluation of the effect of core lattice topology on the properties of sandwich panels produced by additive manufacturing
Authors: Monteiro JG , Sardinha M , Alves F , Ribeiro AR , Reis L , Deus AM , Leite M , Vaz M Fátima
Published: September 2020

Sandwich structures are frequently used in automotive, aerospace and marine industries, as they provide adequate functional properties. The two-dimensional regular hexagonal cell shape, i.e. honeycomb is the most used core structure in sandwich panels. Recently, a new type of cellular structures composed of lattice struts has been proposed, as they combine high stiffness, strength and energy absorption with low weight.

The main purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of the lattice topology on the flexural behaviour of sandwich panels. Five lattice geometries inspired in crystalline structures were designed, namely, body-centred parallelepiped, body-centred parallelepiped with struts in z-axis, body- and face-centred parallelepiped with struts in z-axis, face-centred parallelepiped with struts in z-axis and parallelepiped simple. The relative density of all the lattices was kept constant as 0.3.

Both numerical and experimental approaches were used to evaluate the flexural properties and failure behaviour of the sandwich structures under three-point bending tests. The numerical analysis was undertaken with the finite element software NX Nastran.

Taking advantage of additive manufacturing technologies, material extrusion was used to produce polylactic acid samples with the configurations aforementioned. The sandwich panels are composed by a single layer formed by the lattice core and two thin plates, at the bottom and top. The three parts of the panel were manufactured all together.

The simulation results indicate that, among the lattices studied, topologies body-centred parallelepiped with struts in z-axis and body- and face-centred parallelepiped with struts in z-axis exhibit higher strength, while body- and face-centred parallelepiped with struts in z-axis shows higher stiffness and higher energy absorption, attaining values that do not differ much from the ones obtained with a two-dimensional hexagonal cellular structure, with the same relative density.

As a consequence, some of the geometries studied may have the potential to be considered as alternatives to conventional structures in the design of sandwich structures.
Measuring advertising’s effect on mental availability
Authors: Vaughan Kelly , Corsi Armando Maria , Beal Virginia , Sharp Byron
Published: September 2020

This study shows that the impact of advertising on consumer memory can be observed using mental availability (MA) metrics. Four MA metrics are used to measure the effect of advertising on a brand’s mental availability, with the results showing that in the majority of cases, MA metrics are greater among both brand users and non-users who are aware of the brand’s advertising, with a greater effect among non-users. From a practical market research perspective, adding MA metrics to existing brand health tracking will have no data collection costs where brand perceptions are already being measured.
Political Skill Across Health Care Leaders: A Longitudinal Analysis
Authors: Feitosa Jennifer , Verhoeven Dana C. , Shuffler Marissa L. , Wiper Donald W.
Published: September 2020

The health care industry is recognizing the importance of political skill among its professionals. To address this need, a longitudinal study investigates how the political skill of health care leaders ( N = 555) evolves and impacts unit performance. Utilizing cross-lagged panel through a three-wave study, measurement equivalence and analysis of variance, we found political skill to influence performance differently over time, across professions, and at the dimension level. Interestingly, political skill did not just influence next year’s political skill levels in health care leaders, but also showed a strong positive influence on the unit’s performance. Similar lagged overall effects were found for both clinical and nonclinical leaders with the caveat that political skills dimensions can evolve differently. For instance, networking ability is underdeveloped and likely to decrease over time for clinical leaders. In summary, future theories and applications consider the temporal elements, the dimensionality of political skill, and the differences in leaders’ occupational interests. We discuss further implications and future research.
Brachioradialis Muscle Tendon Transposition in Extensor Pollicis Longus Reconstruction: Anatomical Study and a New Surgical Approach
Authors: De Francesco Francesco , Pugliese Pierfrancesco , De Francesco Marialuisa , Pangrazi Pier Paolo , Riccio Michele
Published: September 2020

Background

Complete extension of the thumb and activation of the extensor pollicis longus (EPL) tendon are fundamental to ensure maximum function. Many EPL repair techniques are described in the literature.

Methods

The authors present an alternative technique using the brachioradialis (BR) tendon. Thirty patients with injuries of the EPL tendon in zone 8 were studied. In all cases, neither direct suture repair nor traditional tendon transfer was possible.

Results

Thumb extension was restored in all patients with satisfactory extension recovery. All patients achieved excellent extension; good functional results were observed in 2 cases, and in 1 case satisfactory results were achieved using the Geldmacher assessment and the Kapandji assessment. The overall results were rated as excellent, good, fair, or poor according to the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Scale.

Discussion

The BR tendon was suitable to treat all cases, in particular injuries occurring near Lister’s tubercle, due to its appropriate length for tenorrhaphy albeit with a short distal head.
Prevalence of Ganglion Cyst Formation After Wrist Arthroscopy: A Retrospective Longitudinal Analysis of 2420 Patients
Authors: Rochlin Danielle H. , Perrault David , Sheckter Clifford C. , Fox Paige , Yao Jeffrey
Published: September 2020

Background

Dorsal wrist ganglion cysts arise from the leakage of synovial fluid through tears in the scapholunate ligament and/or dorsal wrist capsule. An analogous disruption of the dorsal capsule is created with routine portal placement during wrist arthroscopy. We hypothesized that wrist arthroscopy would predispose to wrist ganglions.

Methods

Using the Truven MarketScan Outpatient Services Database from 2015 to 2016, patients who underwent wrist arthroscopy and developed an ipsilateral wrist ganglion were identified. Exclusion criteria included ganglion diagnosis preceding arthroscopy and bilateral pathology. Postoperative ganglion diagnosis was modeled with logistic regression. Predictor variables included age, gender, comorbidities, and arthroscopic procedure.

Results

In all, 2420 patients underwent wrist arthroscopy. Thirty (1.24%) were diagnosed with an ipsilateral wrist ganglion at a mean time of 4.0 months (standard deviation: 2.4, range: 0.2-9.0). Significant predictors of ganglion diagnosis included female gender (odds ratio [OR]: 4.0, P < .01) and triangular fibrocartilage complex and/or joint debridement (OR: 0.13, P < .01). By comparison, among all 24,718,751 outpatients who had not undergone wrist arthroscopy, 39,832 patients had a diagnosis of a wrist ganglion cyst (0.16%).

Conclusions

Wrist arthroscopy is associated with a postoperative rate of ganglion cyst formation that is nearly 8 times the rate in the general population. Additional studies are needed to investigate techniques that minimize the risk of this complication.
Nonlinear dynamics behavior of cam-follower system using concave curvatures profile
Authors: Yousuf Louay S , Marghitu Dan B
Published: September 2020

Nonlinear dynamics behavior of the roller follower is discussed for different follower guides’ internal dimensions and cam angular speeds. A dynamic tool such as Wolf algorithm is used to extract largest Lyapunov exponent parameter. Positive value of Lyapunov exponent parameter indicates non-periodic motion and chaos. The influence of flank curvature of the cam profile on the nonlinear dynamic behavior of the roller follower is investigated. Impulse and momentum theory is used to describe the impact phenomenon based on the contact force between the follower and its guides. Contact parameters such as exponent, sliding contact velocity, contact bodies stiffness, penetration, and damping ratio are used in SolidWorks software to simulate follower movement numerically. Experiment setup has been done by taking into consideration the use of an infrared three-dimensional camera device through a high precision optical sensor. The follower motion is non-periodic when the cross-linking of phase-plane diagram diverges with no limit of spiral cycles.
Q-learning optimized diagonal recurrent neural network control strategy for brushless direct current motors
Authors: Hu Huangshui , Wang Tingting , Wang Hongzhi , Wang Chuhang
Published: September 2020

In order to improve the working stability of brushless direct current motors (BLDCM), a diagonal recursive neural network (DRNN) control strategy based on Q-learning algorithm is proposed in this paper which is called as Q-DRNN. In Q-DRNN, DRNN iterates over the output variables through a unique recursive loop in the hidden layer, and its key weight is optimized to speed up the iteration. Moreover, an improved Q-learning algorithm is introduced to modify the weight momentum factor of DRNN, which makes DRNN have the ability of learning and online correction so as to make the BLDCM achieve better control effect. In MATLAB/Simulink environment, Q-DRNN is tested and compared with other popular control methods in terms of speed and torque response under different operating conditions, and the results show that Q-DRNN has better adaptive and anti-interference ability as well as stronger robustness.
A new adaptive PSO-PID control strategy of hybrid energy storage system for electric vehicles
Authors: Ye Kanglong , Li Peiqing
Published: September 2020

Research on optimization of control strategy for hybrid energy storage system (HESS) of the electric vehicle (EV), a new adaptive control strategy based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is proposed in this paper. The steady-state power of the filtered power is used as the ideal output power of the battery. For the steady-state current output of the battery, the output power of the ultracapacitor is dynamically adjusted by the proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller to construct a power difference control structure. The parameters of PID controller are optimized by PSO algorithm, and the target test is compared and analyzed based on MATLAB/Advisor. The research results show that the proposed PSO-PID control strategy can quickly eliminate the power deviation and achieve the approximate global optimization of the EV energy management strategy. Compared with the pre-optimized PID control strategy, the output current and power of the battery pack are smoother and the total power consumption is reduced by 3.8360% and 0.5125%, respectively. Then, the energy consumption parameters of PSO-PID are compared with the theoretical minimum energy consumption calculated by dynamic programming (DP) algorithm, and the deviation is less than 1% under both conditions.
Use of electronic recruitment methods in a clinical trial of adults with gout
Authors: Miller Hailey N , Charleston Jeanne , Wu Beiwen , Gleason Kelly , White Karen , Dennison Himmelfarb Cheryl R , Ford Daniel E , Plante Timothy B , Gelber Allan C , Appel Lawrence J , Miller Edgar R , Juraschek Stephen P
Published: September 2020

Background/aims:

Electronic-based recruitment methods are increasingly utilized in clinical trials to recruit and enroll research participants. The cost-effectiveness of electronic-based methods and impact on sample generalizability is unknown. We compared recruitment yields, cost-effectiveness, and demographic characteristics across several electronic and traditional recruitment methods.

Methods:

We analyzed data from the diet gout trial recruitment campaign. The diet gout trial was a randomized, controlled, cross-over trial that examined the effects of a dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH)–like diet on uric acid levels in adults with gout. We used four electronic medical record and four non-electronic medical record–based recruitment methods to identify and recruit potentially eligible participants. We calculated the response rate, screening visit completion rate, and randomization rate for each method. We also determined cost per response, the screening, and randomization for each method. Finally, we compared the demographic characteristics among individuals who completed the screening visit by recruitment method.

Results:

Of the 294 adults who responded to the recruitment campaign, 51% were identified from electronic medical record–based methods. Patient portal messaging, an electronic medical record–based method, resulted in the highest response rate (4%), screening visit completion rate (37%), and randomization rate (21%) among these eight methods. Electronic medical record–based methods ($60) were more cost-effective per response than non-electronic medical record–based methods ($107). Electronic-based methods, including patient portal messaging and Facebook, had the highest proportion of White individuals screened (52% and 60%). Direct mail to non-active patient portal increased enrollment of traditionally under-represented groups, including both women and African Americans.

Conclusion:

An electronic medical record–based recruitment strategy that utilized the electronic medical record for participant identification and postal mailing for participant outreach was cost-effective and increased participation of under-represented groups. This hybrid strategy represents a promising approach to improve the timely execution and broad generalizability of future clinical trials.
Principal authentic leadership and teacher engagement in Kuwait’s educational reform context
Authors: Alazmi Ayeshah Ahmed , Al-Mahdy Yasser F Hendawy
Published: September 2020

Scholars have asserted that a school principal’s authentic leadership can raise the engagement of teachers under their charge. This paper delves into this consideration, within the context of Kuwaiti educational reform, by investigating the extent to which principal authentic leadership (PAL) affects teacher engagement (TE) by enhancing their occupational self-efficacy (OSE). The study used a non-experimental, predictive survey design, obtaining data from 333 teachers in 25 primary schools in Kuwait. The study tested a set of hypotheses drawn from a conceptualized model developed from previous research studies using structural equation modelling (SEM). Results indicated the validation of this model describing how PAL affects teacher OSE and TE. Data analysis from this study indicated that PAL has a significant, positive effect upon TE, as does OSE. Furthermore, OSE mediates the relationship between PAL and TE. These findings contribute to our understanding for the effects of authentic leadership in Kuwait. As such, this study offers insight into how Kuwaiti policymakers may improve and support school leadership practices to realize the aims of the nation’s educational reform goals. Additionally, this study builds upon, and extends, the foundations established in earlier research endeavours regarding school principal leadership within centralized education systems and outside Western society.
A cross-sectional study of factors predicting readmission in Thais with coronary artery disease
Authors: Polsook Rapin , Aungsuroch Yupin
Published: September 2020

Background

Coronary artery disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality with high readmission rates. Hospital readmissions for coronary artery disease contribute to rising healthcare costs and are a marker of quality of care. Despite this, prior studies have found that readmission rates vary widely.

Aims

This study aims to determine the impact of social support, depression, comorbidities, symptom severity, quality of life and readmission among coronary artery disease patients in Thailand.

Methods

A total of 321 coronary artery disease patients from tertiary care hospitals across all regions of Thailand were recruited for this study. Data were analysed using multiple regression analysis.

Results

The coefficient for social support (beta = −0.22) was found to be significant ( p < 0.05), whereas comorbidity, symptom severity, depression and quality of life were not significant. Thus, social support was found to be the most significant predictive factor for readmission.

Conclusions

Accordingly, when designing effective nursing interventions, nurses should promote social support interventions for coronary artery disease patients to improve the quality of care, decrease readmission rates and improve patients' quality of life.
Exploratory factor analysis of the Just Culture Assessment Tool for nursing education
Authors: Walker Danielle , Hromadik Lora , Altmiller Gerry , Barkell Nina , Toothaker Rebecca , Powell Kevin
Published: September 2020

Background

Just culture has been identified as a vital component of safety culture by national and international organisations. In a just culture, emphasis is not placed on blaming individuals for errors but rather on examining personal and system processes that can best support safety and prevent reoccurrence. Although those in the practice arena have worked to implement the concepts of just culture, the same is not true in nursing education, leaving nursing students lacking the pre-requisite knowledge, skills and attitudes to implement just culture in practice on graduation.

Aims

Assessment of this phenomena is the essential first step to align nursing education with practice in promoting just culture as a mechanism for patient safety. The purpose of this paper is to further refine the Just Culture Assessment Tool-Nursing Education through exploratory factor analysis.

Methods

The Just Culture Assessment Tool-Nursing Education was adapted from the Just Culture Assessment Tool, an instrument created for the practice setting. Validity and reliability were established for the Just Culture Assessment Tool-Nursing Education in a study of 800 nursing students to assess their perceptions and understanding of just culture with their nursing programmes. Using the previously conducted data, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted.

Results

Factor analysis supports six subscales, similar to that of the Just Culture Assessment Tool. However, individual items were loaded into different subscales. All subscales demonstrated good reliability. Factor analysis supported further refinement of two items to improve the instrument’s ability to capture data.

Conclusions

Perceptions of just culture differ between experienced providers and nursing students; nursing students have less experience with reporting errors. Factor analysis of Just Culture Assessment Tool-Nursing Education items demonstrated these differences, supporting modification of items by the instrument developers. An ‘if’ statement for students to consider their possible actions rather than experience was added to two items to better capture data from nursing students when completing the assessment.
Gender differences in multitasking experience and performance
Authors: Lui Kelvin FH , Yip Ken HM , Wong Alan C-N
Published: September 2020

There is a widespread stereotype that women are better at multitasking. Previous studies examining gender difference in multitasking used either a concurrent or sequential multitasking paradigm and offered mixed results. This study examined a possibility that men were better at concurrent multitasking while women were better at task switching. In addition, men and women were also compared in terms of multitasking experience, measured by a computer monitoring software, a self-reported Media Use Questionnaire, a laboratory task-switching paradigm, and a self-reported Multitasking Prevalence Inventory. Results showed a smaller concurrent multitasking (dual-task) cost for men than women and no gender difference in sequential multitasking (task-switching) cost. Men had more experience in multitasking involving video games while women were more experienced in multitasking involving music, instant messaging, and web surfing. The gender difference in dual-task performance, however, was not mediated by the gender differences in multitasking experience but completely explained by difference in the processing speed. The findings suggest that men have an advantage in concurrent multitasking, which may be a result of the individual differences in cognitive abilities.
Strategic prioritisation enhances young and older adults’ visual feature binding in working memory
Authors: Allen Richard J , Atkinson Amy L , Nicholls Louise A Brown
Published: September 2020

Visual working memory for features and bindings is susceptible to age-related decline. Two experiments were used to examine whether older adults are able to strategically prioritise more valuable information in working memory and whether this could reduce age-related impairments. Younger (18–33 years) and older (60–90 years) adults were presented with coloured shapes and, following a brief delay, asked to recall the feature that had accompanied the probe item. In Experiment 1, participants were either asked to prioritise a more valuable object in the array (serial position 1, 2, or 3) or to treat them all equally. Older adults exhibited worse overall memory performance but were as able as younger adults to prioritise objects. In both groups, this ability was particularly apparent at the middle serial position. Experiment 2 then explored whether younger and older adults’ prioritisation is affected by presentation time. Replicating Experiment 1, older adults were able to prioritise the more valuable object in working memory, showing equivalent benefits and costs as younger adults. However, processing speed, as indexed by presentation time, was shown not to limit strategic prioritisation in either age group. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that, although older adults have poorer visual working memory overall, the ability to strategically direct attention to more valuable items in working memory is preserved across ageing.
Combustion instability modeling using multi-mode flame transfer functions and a nonlinear Euler solver
Authors: Tamanampudi Gowtham Manikanta Reddy , Sardeshmukh Swanand , Anderson William , Huang Cheng
Published: September 2020

Modern methods for predicting combustion dynamics in high-pressure combustors range from high-fidelity simulations of sub-scale model combustors, mostly for validation purposes or detailed investigations of physics, to linearized, acoustics-based analysis of full-scale practical combustors. Whereas the high-fidelity simulations presumably capture the detailed physics of mixing and heat addition, computational requirements preclude their application for practical design analysis. The linear models that are used during design typically use flame transfer functions that relate the unsteady heat addition [Formula: see text] to oscillations in velocity and pressure ([Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]) that are obtained from the wave equation. These flame transfer functions can be empirically determined from measurements or derived from theory and analysis. This paper describes a hybrid approach that uses high-fidelity simulations to generate flame transfer functions along with nonlinear Euler CFD to predict the combustor flowfield. A model rocket combustor that presented a self-excited combustion instability with pressure oscillations on the order of 10% of mean pressure is used for demonstration. Spatially distributed flame transfer functions are extracted from a high-fidelity simulation of the combustor and then used in a nonlinear Euler CFD model of the combustor to verify the approach. It is shown that the reduced-fidelity model can reproduce the unsteady behavior of the single element combustor that was both measured in the experiment and predicted by a high-fidelity simulation reasonably well.