bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts of State-Specific Policy and Legislation on Safety Advancement by Departments of Transportation
Authors: Ogle Jennifer H. , Islam Sababa , Brown Kweku , Davis William J. , Sarasua Wayne A.
Published: October 2018

The overall goal of this research was to identify proven successful safety programs used in other states and assess the potential for safety improvement if similar programs were implemented in South Carolina. The research team not only sought out engineering solutions, but also expanded the search to include programs for enforcement, education, licensing, legal proceedings, and emergency services—therefore incorporating a wide range of stakeholder groups. South Carolina has, for many years, had one of the highest mileage death rates of any state in the nation—far exceeding the national fatality rate. While South Carolina Department of Transportation has a federal requirement to develop and maintain the Strategic Highway Safety Plan, which identifies the state’s key safety needs and guides investment decisions toward strategies and countermeasures with the most potential to save lives and prevent injuries, South Carolina legislation and state policies have effectively blocked many paths to safety improvements. Tree protection ordinances, limited policies for graduated drivers licensing, bans on camera enforcement, and lack of universal helmet laws continue to undermine efforts to improve motor vehicle safety in the state. Using a data-driven approach to safety program selection will yield support for changes in programs, policies, and standards, and have positive impacts on safety, operational, and economic aspects of the South Carolina roadway system. Further, the implementation of a data-driven safety management program will help to assure that the most appropriate strategies are implemented. The successful implementation of this research would likely result in a substantial reduction in loss of life and injuries associated with motor vehicle crashes in the state of South Carolina.
Advantages of an Attached Semitendinosus Tendon Graft in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in a Rabbit Model
Authors: Liu Shaohua , Sun Yaying , Wan Fang , Ding Zheci , Chen Shiyi , Chen Jiwu
Published: October 2018

Background:

The semitendinosus tendon graft with an intact tibial insertion has a sustainable blood supply and might be beneficial for graft maturation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR); however, its potential advantages for graft tendon-bone healing is still unclear.

Hypothesis:

Intact tibial insertion of the hamstring tendon can preserve enough blood supply to keep the harvested tendon alive, which can improve tendon-bone healing and the biomechanical strength of the graft.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Sixty-four healthy New Zealand White rabbits underwent unilateral ACLR with a semitendinosus tendon autograft after random enrollment into 2 groups (study group, n = 32 rabbits with semitendinosus tendon–preserved tibial insertions; control group, n = 32 rabbits with free semitendinosus tendons). At weeks 3, 6, 12, and 24, 8 rabbits in each group were sacrificed to evaluate tendon-bone healing by histologic staining, micro–computed tomography (micro-CT) examination, and biomechanical test.

Results:

The grafts in the study group maintained a similar cell count with no signs of necrosis or hypocellularity across all time points, but the grafts in the control group underwent a characteristic stage of necrosis at weeks 3 and 6. Sharpey-like fibers were observed from postoperative 3 weeks at the tendon-bone interface in the study group, and a normal insertion-like structure was formed at week 12, which became more mature at week 24. In the control group, however, Sharpey-like fibers could not be observed until week 12, and a normal transition through cartilage from bone to tendon was not observed at any time point. Histologic scores of the tendon-bone interface in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group at week 6 ( P = .04), week 12 ( P < .001), and week 24 ( P = .04). As compared with the control group via micro-CT, the study group had a significantly smaller bone tunnel area at week 6 ( P = .01) and larger bone volume/total volume at week 3 ( P = .0026) and week 6 ( P = .01). Also, the study group had a significantly higher failure load at weeks 12 and 24 (both P = .03) and a significantly higher stiffness at week 24 ( P < .001) versus the control group.

Conclusion:

The semitendinosus tendon graft with an intact tibial insertion in ACLR would bypass the graft avascular necrosis stage, which improves tendon-bone healing and biomechanical strength.

Clinical Relevance:

An alive graft in ACLR could improve tendon-bone healing and the biomechanical strength of the graft, which might be beneficial to early and intensive rehabilitation after ACLR.
Mechanical properties of PP/kenaf core nanocomposites made from nanocrystalline cellulose as an additive
Authors: Sabaruddin Fatimah Athiyah , Md Tahir Paridah , Lee Seng Hua
Published: October 2018

Kenaf core contains a fairly high amount of cellulose and lignin; hence, any attempt to use both components would be beneficial. In this study, kenaf core was used as reinforcement in PP/kenaf core nanocomposites. The core was prepared in two forms: (i) as micron-size reinforcement and (ii) as nanocrystalline cellulose. The bleaching process for nanocrystalline cellulose was conducted at different intensities in order to retain different amounts of lignin in the pulp. Then, the nanocrystalline cellulose was prepared via hydrolysis reaction. Both the micron-size kenaf core pulp and the nanocrystalline cellulose of different bleaching intensity were loaded in the polypropylene matrix with the aid of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene coupling agent. The mixtures were then hot pressed at 180°C for 8 min to form into standard testing size sample according to standard ASTM D638 (dumbbell shape for tensile test) and D790 (for flexural and impact test). The chemical, mechanical and morphological properties of the composites were evaluated. The results revealed that composites added with unbleached nanocrystalline cellulose (11.48% lignin content) had lowered the tensile and flexural strength. On the contrary, the impact strength was increased when unbleached nanocrystalline cellulose was added.
Adaptation to Resilience Planning: Alternative Pathways to Prepare for Climate Change
Authors: Woodruff Sierra C. , Meerow Sara , Stults Missy , Wilkins Chandler
Published: October 2018

Increasingly, local governments are creating resilience plans. What do these plans contain and how do they compare to other efforts to plan for climate change? We use plan evaluation to analyze 10 resilience plans from U.S. cities in the 100 Resilient Cites program and compare them to 44 climate change adaptation plans. Resilience plans lack critical elements to prepare cities for climate change but offer a platform to address economic, social, and environmental policies that may amplify climate change impacts. Resilience planning represents an alternative, potentially complementary, path to preparing for climate change, but there is room for improvement.
Change in Food and Beverage Availability and Marketing Following the Introduction of a Healthy Food Financing Initiative–Supported Supermarket
Authors: Singleton Chelsea R. , Li Yu , Odoms-Young Angela , Zenk Shannon N. , Powell Lisa M.
Published: October 2018

Purpose:

The Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) aims to expand access to healthy foods in low-resourced communities across the United States. This study examined changes in food and beverage availability and marketing in nearby small food stores after the opening of an HFFI-supported supermarket in a predominately low-income and African American community.

Design:

Natural experiment.

Setting:

Rockford, Illinois.

Participants:

A full audit was conducted of the small grocery and limited service stores located in a 1-mile radius around the new supermarket (N = 22) and a 1-square mile area within a nearby demographically matched comparison community (N = 18). Stores were audited in 2015 (1 month preopening) and 2016 (1 year afterward).

Measures:

Store characteristics, item availability, and interior and exterior promotions/advertisements were examined.

Analysis:

Difference-in-difference (DID) regression models assessed pre- and postintervention changes in availability and marketing between small food stores in the intervention and comparison communities.

Results:

The DID regression models indicated no difference between intervention and comparison communities with respect to changes in availability and marketing of all food items with the exception of frozen vegetables which had higher availability postintervention in the comparison community versus intervention (β for interaction term = .67; standard error: 0.33; P = .04).

Conclusion:

After the opening of the HFFI-supported supermarket, food and beverage availability and marketing in nearby small food stores did not change significantly. However, the wide range of staple foods offered by the supermarket contributed to the expansion of healthy food retail in the intervention community.
Photojournalism-Based Intervention Reduces Caregiver Burden and Depression in Alzheimer’s Disease Family Caregivers
Authors: Wharton Whitney , Epps Fayron , Kovaleva Mariya , Bridwell Lindsey , Tate Rachanice Candy , Dorbin Cornelya D. , Hepburn Kenneth
Published: October 2018

Purpose: Art interventions have demonstrated holistic benefits for persons living with dementia and their caregivers. In this article, we describe the results of a pilot photojournalism program for 10 unpaid caregivers of persons living with dementia, with respect to caregivers’ experience in the program and their psychological well-being. Design: Caregivers participated in four sessions led by a professional photojournalist who taught principles of photography. Between the sessions, caregivers took photographs that represented what caregiving meant to them using digital cameras provided in the program. During the sessions, instruction was interspersed with discussion of caregivers’ photographs. Method: Caregiver burden and depressive symptoms were measured pre- and postprogram. Qualitative exploration included sessions’ observations, viewing caregivers’ photographs, and recording caregivers’ accompanying comments. Findings: For participants with pre- and postprogram data, caregiver burden decreased significantly ( p = .037). For caregivers with pre- and postprogram data, depressive symptoms decreased nonsignificantly ( p = .066). Clinically meaningful reductions in caregiver burden and depressive symptoms were attained. Qualitative findings highlighted caregivers’ strong engagement with the project, the facilitator, and other participants, and reflection on multiple aspects of their experience. Conclusions: This intervention helped caregivers creatively communicate their experience and demonstrated efficacy in the improvement of caregivers’ psychological well-being.
Dynamically substructured testing of railway pantograph/catenary systems
Authors: Kobayashi Shigeyuki , Stoten David P , Yamashita Yoshitaka , Usuda Takayuki
Published: October 2018

This paper presents a methodology for testing railway pantograph/catenary systems based upon the dynamically substructured system approach for combined physical and numerical components, originally developed by Stoten and Hyde. The main advantage of the dynamically substructured system is that it can provide more stable substructured testing than alternative schemes, such as the commonly used hybrid simulation method, often referred to as hardware-in-the-loop simulation. The developed method is validated through experiments using a simple pantograph rig, together with a numerical simulation of the catenary. In order to realise a real-time simulation of the large catenary model, for the first time in dynamically substructured system testing this study uses (i) a modal analysis technique to reduce the dimension of the contact wire model and (ii) a moving window approach to represent long-distance travel of the pantograph. Finally, the experimental dynamically substructured system test results are compared with simulations of the benchmark pantograph/catenary emulated system.
Successful treatment of high-grade vulval intra-epithelial neoplasia with imiquimod 5% in a renal transplant recipient
Authors: Khatun Azra , Lotery Helen , Sundaram Sangeetha
Published: October 2018

Organ transplant recipients are at a higher risk of pre-malignant human papillomavirus-associated lesions due to immunosuppression. The efficacy of immunomodulants such as imiquimod 5% is not yet fully evaluated in this population. We describe a case of vulval intra-epithelial neoplasia in a renal transplant recipient which was successfully treated with topical imiquimod.
Link Between Facial Identity and Expression Abilities Suggestive of Origins of Face Impairments in Autism: Support for the Social-Motivation Hypothesis
Authors: Oruc Ipek , Shafai Fakhri , Iarocci Grace
Published: October 2018

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have difficulties with processing identity and expression in faces. This is at odds with influential models of face processing that propose separate neural pathways for the identity and expression domains. The social-motivation hypothesis of ASD posits a lack of visual experience with faces as the root cause of face impairments in autism. A direct prediction is that identity and expression abilities should be related in ASD, reflecting the common origin of face impairment in this population. We tested adults with and without ASD ( ns = 34) in identity and expression tasks. Our results showed that performance in the two domains was significantly correlated in the ASD group but not in the comparison group. These results suggest that the most likely origin for face impairments in ASD stems from the input stage impacting development of identity and expression domains alike, consistent with the social-motivation hypothesis.
Is carbon emission decline caused by economic decline? Empirical evidence from Russia
Authors: Li Rongrong , Jiang Rui
Published: October 2018

Russia’s energy-related carbon emission decreased by roughly 30% between 1992 and 2017. Previous studies reported that economic recession led to carbon emission reduction in Russia during 1990s. This paper aims to examine whether the economic recession remains to lead to a decline in Russia’s carbon emission for 1992–2017. The results show that not economic recession, but improving energy efficiency is the most significant contributor to decreasing Russia’s carbon emission from 1992 to 2017. Economic recession is the major contributor to the decrease in Russian carbon emission only before the new century and then reversed to the leading contributor to the increase in carbon emission. This research also finds that a shift to less carbon-intensive fuel and decrease in population also contribute to offsetting carbon emission in Russia. Thus, this research argues that the cause for the decline in Russia’s carbon emission for 1992–2017 is not economic recession. Indeed, Russia’s economic activity and change in carbon emission have been delinked since the new century. It can be concluded that the reduction in Russia’s carbon emission during 1992–2017 arises from a combination of improving energy efficiency, a shift to less carbon-intensive fuel, and decrease in population.
Importance of microbial adaptation for concentrate management in wastewater reuse process
Authors: Moon Chungman , Ahn Yongtae , Lee Tae-Jin , Hwang Yuhoon
Published: October 2018

Wastewater reuse has gained attention as an alternative and sustainable water resource. Reverse osmosis has been widely applied for wastewater reuse; however, generation of concentrate stream is the main drawback. Concentrate stream contains high concentrations of contaminants, and therefore, it should be properly treated prior to being discharged into a water body. Several technologies have been suggested for concentrate management, but the most common option is returning this stream to a wastewater treatment plant where a wastewater reuse plant is located. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of concentrate management by returning the concentrate to a wastewater treatment facility as a part of influent. The characteristics of the concentrate were extensively monitored, and it was verified that it contained high concentrations of salt and hardly biodegradable organics, which impede their application in biological wastewater treatment processes. The effect of seeding sludge was investigated using two different types of seeding sludge, adapted and unadapted. The adapted sludge taken at the wastewater treatment plant located at the wastewater reuse facility showed much better performance in terms of organic and nutrients removal. Moreover, the performance was recovered by a few days of additional adaptation time. However, the seeding sludge taken from another wastewater treatment plant (unadapted) showed poor performance due to different influent characteristics, especially salt concentration. Therefore, it could be concluded that the microbial adaptation step is very important for effective concentrate treatment when it is being returned to a wastewater plant as influent.
“Babies come when they are ready”: Women’s experiences of resisting the medicalisation of prolonged pregnancy
Authors: Roberts Julie , Walsh Denis
Published: October 2018

Being pregnant beyond one’s estimated due date is a relatively common experience and requires complex decisions about whether to induce labour or wait for spontaneous onset. We report a qualitative study undertaken in the UK in 2016. We interviewed fifteen women and eleven more took part in an online focus group. Using thematic analysis, resistance to the medicalisation of prolonged pregnancy was identified as a strong theme. Drawing on the work of Armstrong and Murphy, we identify both conceptual and behavioural resistance in the accounts of women who accepted, delayed or declined induction of labour. Experiential knowledge played a key role in resistance, but women found this was devalued. Some healthcare staff used risk discourse to pressure women to comply with induction protocols but were unwilling to engage in discussion. The social context provided further pressure to produce a baby ‘on time’, with induction normalised as the way to manage prolonged pregnancy. Online spaces provided additional information and support for women to question the medicalisation of prolonged pregnancy. We end by considering the implications for policies of choice and agency in maternity care as well as the need for additional social support for women who are ‘overdue’.
Convergence of corporate governance systems: A legal transplant perspective
Authors: Larsson-Olaison Ulf
Published: October 2018

The predominant approaches to comparative corporate governance view legal transfers dichotomously, seeing corporate governance systems as either converging or diverging as a result of legal reform. Drawing on legal studies, this paper proposes an alternative model using the metaphor of the staircase to conceptualize how legal transplants can meet different evaluation criteria before being considered ‘successful’. The model is empirically illustrated by the introduction of the Swedish Corporate Governance Code. It is found that different corporate governance rules when transplanted could be said to meet evaluation criteria more or less strictly. This finding has implications for our empirical and theoretical understanding of how corporate governance systems converge.
Clinical Outcomes and Complications of Midfoot Charcot Reconstruction With Intramedullary Beaming
Authors: Ford Samuel E. , Cohen Bruce E. , Davis W. Hodges , Jones Carroll P.
Published: October 2018

Background:

The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical outcomes and complications of patients with midfoot Charcot managed with midfoot osteotomy, realignment arthrodesis, and stabilization using intramedullary beams.

Methods:

Consecutive patients with midfoot Charcot treated at a tertiary-care foot and ankle center from January 2013 to July 2016 who underwent corrective osteotomy with internal beam fixation were identified; 25 patients were included in the final analysis. Patients with a minimum 1-year follow-up were evaluated with physical examination, weightbearing radiographs, and patient-reported outcome measures. The primary outcome measure was defined as restoration of a stable, plantigrade, ulcer-free foot. Median age was 58 years, median BMI was 32, and 80% were diabetic (75% insulin-dependent).

Results:

An ulcer-free, stable, plantigrade foot was obtained in 84% of patients. The radiographic lateral and anteroposterior Meary angle medians improved 9° and 15°, respectively, from preoperative to final postoperative weightbearing measurements ( P < .001 and P = .02). Overall, 46% of midfoot osteotomies were united on final radiographs at a median 18-month radiographic follow-up. Deep infection developed in 6 (24%) patients. The presence of a preoperative ulcer was found to be predictive of postoperative infection (P = .04); all 6 deep infections occurred in patients with preoperative ulceration. Four (16%) patients progressed to amputation at a mean 15 postoperative months, all for deep infection.

Conclusion:

Midfoot Charcot reconstruction with intramedullary beaming allowed for restoration of an ulcer-free, plantigrade foot in most patients, but the complication rates were high, especially in patients with preoperative ulceration.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, retrospective case series.
PROMIS and FAAM Minimal Clinically Important Differences in Foot and Ankle Orthopedics
Authors: Hung Man , Baumhauer Judith F. , Licari Frank W. , Voss Maren W. , Bounsanga Jerry , Saltzman Charles L.
Published: October 2018

Background:

Establishing score points that reflect meaningful change from the patient perspective is important for interpreting patient-reported outcomes. This study estimated the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) values of 2 Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) instruments and the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) Sports subscale within a foot and ankle orthopedic population.

Methods:

Patients seen for foot and ankle conditions at an orthopedic clinic were administered the PROMIS Physical Function (PF) v1.2, the PROMIS Pain Interference (PI) v1.1, and the FAAM Sports at baseline and all follow-up visits. MCID estimation was conducted using anchor-based and distribution-based methods.

Results:

A total of 3069 patients, mean age of 51 years (range = 18-94), were included. The MCIDs for the PROMIS PF ranged from approximately 3 to 30 points (median = 11.3) depending on the methods being used. The MCIDs ranged from 3 to 25 points (median = 8.9) for the PROMIS PI, and from 9 to 77 points (median = 32.5) for the FAAM Sports.

Conclusions:

This study established a range of MCIDs in the PROMIS PF, PROMIS PI, and FAAM Sports indicating meaningful change in patient condition. MCID values were consistent across follow-up periods, but were different across methods. Values below the 25th percentile of MCIDs may be useful for low-risk clinical decisions. Midrange values (eg, near the median) should be used for high stakes decisions in clinical practice (ie, surgery referrals). The MCID values within the interquartile range should be utilized for most decision making.

Level of Evidence:

Level I, diagnostic study, testing of previously developed diagnostic measure on consecutive patients with reference standard applied.
An alternative stability proof for “Adaptive type-2 fuzzy estimation of uncertainties in the control of electrically flexible-joint robots”
Authors: Izadbakhsh Alireza , Kheirkhahan Payam
Published: October 2018

This short note points out an improvement on the robust stability analysis for electrically driven flexible joint robots (EDFJR) given in the 2017 paper by Zirkohi and Fateh, entitled “Adaptive type-2 fuzzy estimation of uncertainties in the control of electrically flexible-joint robots.” In their paper, the authors present an interval Type-2 Adaptive fuzzy control scheme for EDFJR. The nonlinearities associated with actuator input constraints have been also considered in their paper. They discussed the saturated and unsaturated region of the control input separately and neglected the transition state between these regions. Moreover, they did not guarantee the stability of the closed-loop system in the saturated area. In this note, an alternative stability proof is presented that does not require this separation, and which guarantees the stability in a more general framework. The overall closed-loop system is proven to be robust, and bounded-input, bounded-output stable, while the motor/joint position errors are uniformly-ultimately bounded based on the Lyapunov's stability concept.
Leveled Texts for Adults With Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities: A Pilot Study
Authors: Saletta Meredith , Winberg Jennifer
Published: October 2018

There is a dearth of appropriate reading material for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDDs). Often, a book’s content is relevant to younger audiences, or its reading level is inaccessible. In this pilot study, we determined which factors facilitate reading accuracy and comprehension for this population. We wrote and tested leveled texts that manipulated three variables: (a) complex versus simple words and syntax, (b) a single illustration versus symbols accompanying each word, and (c) engaging single versus multiple modalities when answering comprehension questions. Twenty adult readers with IDD participated. Readers made more errors while reading the complex and the symbol support books. Our manipulations did not facilitate reading comprehension. These results support the use of straightforward text and illustrations in books for adults with IDD. Following up on this pilot study through more focused research will help us to create material that is accessible and enjoyable to this community.
Embracing Transparency Through Data Sharing
Authors: Boué Stéphanie , Byrne Michael , Hayes A. Wallace , Hoeng Julia , Peitsch Manuel C.
Published: October 2018

Low rates of reproducibility and translatability of data from nonclinical research have been reported. Major causes of irreproducibility include oversights in study design, failure to characterize reagents and protocols, a lack of access to detailed methods and data, and an absence of universally accepted and applied standards and guidelines. Specific areas of concern include uncharacterized antibodies and cell lines, the use of inappropriate sampling and testing protocols, a lack of transparency and access to raw data, and deficiencies in the translatability of findings to the clinic from studies using animal models of disease. All stakeholders—academia, industry, funding agencies, regulators, nonprofit entities, and publishers—are encouraged to play active roles in addressing these challenges by formulating and promoting access to best practices and standard operating procedures and validating data collaboratively at each step of the biomedical research life cycle.
Evaluation of static and dynamic pupil characteristics in hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia
Authors: Yetkin Esat , Tekin Kemal , Kiziltoprak Hasan , Sekeroglu Mehmet Ali , Cankurtaran Veysel , Yasar Hakan Halit
Published: October 2018

Purpose:

The aim of this study is to perform a comparison of static and dynamic pupillometry measurements in patients with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia and age-matched controls.

Methods:

This prospective cross-sectional study consisted of 38 patients with hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia and 80 control subjects. A quantitative pupillometry system was used to evaluate the pupil characteristics of higher hyperopic eyes (Group 1), the fellow eyes (Group 2), and healthy eyes (Group 3). Static pupillometry measurements were taken including scotopic pupil diameter, mesopic pupil diameter, low-photopic pupil diameter, and high-photopic pupil diameter. Subsequently, dynamic pupillometry measurements were taken including resting diameter, amplitude of pupil contraction, latency of pupil contraction, duration of pupil contraction, velocity of pupil contraction, latency of pupil dilation, duration of pupil dilation, and velocity of pupil dilation.

Results:

Groups 1 and 2 had statistically significantly lower scotopic and high-photopic pupil diameter values compared with Group 3 (p < 0.05). The amplitude of pupil contraction values were also statistically significantly lower in Groups 1 and 2 compared with Group 3 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.003). However, there were no significant differences between the study and the control eyes with respect to mesopic and high-photopic pupil diameter, resting diameter, latency of pupil contraction, duration of pupil contraction, velocity of pupil contraction, latency of pupil dilation, duration of pupil dilation, and velocity of pupil dilation values (p > 0.05, for all).

Conclusion:

Static and dynamic pupil characteristics of higher hyperopic eyes and their fellow eyes are similar. This may support that amblyopia is not a monocular disorder, but can affect both eyes.
Evaluation of ocular motility deviation changes in exotropic patients after cycloplegic eye drops versus prism adaptation test
Authors: Zahavi Alon , Friling Ronit , Ron Yonina , Ehrenberg Miriam , Nahum Yoav , Snir Moshe
Published: October 2018

Purpose:

To evaluate changes in ocular motility deviation with cycloplegic eye drop examination compared to the prism adaptation test in patients with strabismus.

Methods:

The medical charts were reviewed of all patients who underwent primary strabismus surgery in our center from December 2013 to July 2015. Data collected included demographics, medical history, and findings on pre-operative ophthalmic/orthoptic examination. Ocular motility deviation was measured before instillation of cycloplegic eye drops, immediately after maximal dilation (end point), and 10 and 20 min later. Prism adaptation test readings were taken at baseline, immediately after prism removal (end point), and 10 and 20 min later.

Results:

A total of 43 patients had complete pre- and post-operative evaluations. Our analysis focused only on the exotropic patients (n = 33). On cycloplegics, there was no significant difference in ocular motility deviation between baseline and end point for distance and near (p = 0.584, p = 0.468, respectively). On prism adaptation test, comparison of ocular motility deviation between baseline and end point was statistically significant for distance and near (p = 0.002, p = 0.001, respectively). Changes remained significant 10 min after the end point for near (p = 0.011). Comparison at the end points between the tests revealed statistical significance for distance and near, favoring the prism adaptation test (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). This significance was maintained even after 10 min for near (p = 0.036).

Conclusion:

The prism adaptation test is preferred over cycloplegic eye drops for the evaluation of maximal reserve of distance/near motility before surgical correction of exotropia.
Surgical closure of giant traumatic macular hole with retinal graft
Authors: Özkan Berna , Karabaş V Levent
Published: October 2018

Aim:

To present a case with a large traumatic macular hole that we repaired with a retinal graft.

Case description:

A 24-year-old male patient presented with corneal penetration and an intraocular foreign body caused by a work accident. Vitrectomy and intraocular foreign body removal were performed. One month after the surgery, the patient had macula on retinal detachment in the nasal and superior quadrant. In addition, a giant macular hole was formed. However, the macula was atrophic because of the trauma, and we could not repair the hole with classic macular hole surgery techniques. For this reason, we used a retinal graft to cover the macular hole, and we observed that the hole was closed in follow-up visits.

Conclusion:

Retinal grafts can be used in patients with giant macular holes. They may be useful especially in patients with atrophic macula in trauma cases.
Traditional herbalists’ methods of treating mental disorders in Ghana
Authors: Kpobi Lily N. A. , Swartz Leslie , Omenyo Cephas N.
Published: October 2018

The use of traditional medicine for the treatment of various disorders is not a new practice. Indeed, various categories of traditional healers form a large part of the healthcare workforce in many low- and middle-income countries, and given the paucity of mental health professionals in these countries, traditional and complementary medicine practitioners are utilised even more so for mental disorders. In Ghana, efforts have been made to formalise and standardise the work of traditional medicine practitioners. This goal is still mostly unmet, partly due to the lack of scientific knowledge of their beliefs, methods, and practices in mental healthcare. Very few studies have documented this knowledge. In this article, we report on some of the methods that are used by traditional Ghanaian herbalists in treating mental disorders. Eight herbalists working within the Greater Accra Region, who specialised in mental health, were interviewed through individual semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis showed that traditional herbalists’ work in treating mental disorders revolved around four key themes: the method of diagnosis; the treatment methods used; the mode of administering the treatment; and the purpose of the specific treatment. These themes are discussed with reference to their potential implications for patients’ care and outcomes.
Contextualized bilingualism among adolescents from four different ethnic groups in Indonesia
Authors: Sari Betty Tjipta , van de Vijver Fons J R , Chasiotis Athanasios , Bender Michael
Published: October 2018

Aims and objectives:

We were interested in group differences in Indonesia in bilingualism, whether vocabulary knowledge shows a differential pattern across the languages, and whether language skill and usage differences between groups are moderated by contextual factors, such as ethnic group size.

Data and analysis:

We examined group differences in language usage at home and in public, self-reported proficiency, and vocabulary scores in both languages among 632 adolescents (292 males, Mage = 14.57 years) from four ethnic groups in Indonesia (214 Javanese, 115 Batak Toba, 108 Toraja, and 195 Chinese). Differential item functioning analysis was conducted to test whether adolescents had different vocabulary they only know in one language, which would indicate equality or inequality in access to knowledge in the two languages.

Findings:

There were large differences in language knowledge and usage. The lowest scores in ethnic language vocabulary and usage were found among the Chinese group. Across groups, scores for Bahasa Indonesia (L2) vocabulary were higher than ethnic language (L1) vocabulary. However, the ranking from easy to difficult words was similar across the languages and there were no specific sets of items that were differentially known in any language.

Implication:

Despite the differences in bilingualism skill and usage, all groups have similar access to different domains of the languages, and L2 (Bahasa Indonesia) seems to have become the dominant language in all groups. Our findings also imply that bilingualism comprises various domains, including language skill, self-reported proficiency, and self-reported usage, and that the associations between these components are not very strong.

Originality:

We investigated bilingualism among non-immigrant adolescents in an under-researched, non-WEIRD (western, educated, industrialized, rich, democratic) society. The study shows the role of language usage and skill that is different from a western context in various aspects, such as the dominance of L2 in all groups.
The potential of juglone as natural dye and indicator for biodegradable polyesters
Authors: Latos Malgorzata , Masek Anna , Zaborski Marian
Published: October 2018

Juglone is a naphthoquinone-type dye. It is also known as a C.I Natural Brown 7 dye and is used to dye natural and synthetic fibers. This article presents the possibility of using juglone as a natural colorant for biodegradable polymers (polylactide and polyhydroxybutyrate). Based on the results of the research, it was shown that juglone added to biodegradable aliphatic polyesters does not change the properties of the polymers, such as mechanical properties and thermal stability. Noteworthy is the change in the color of the materials under the influence of various external factors, such as temperature, humidity, and UV radiation. Juglone can be used as an indicator of the aging time of polymeric materials. The presented materials, made of biodegradable polymers with a dye of plant origins, may potentially be applied to packaging materials with controllable life-times. The scientific novelty of this paper is the use of juglone as a natural dye and as an indicator of the aging time of biodegradable polyesters (polylactide and polyhydroxybutyrate).
Much ado about nothing? The (non-) politicisation of the European Union in social media debates on migration
Authors: Ademmer Esther , Leupold Anna , Stöhr Tobias
Published: October 2018

The widespread view that the refugee crisis has sparked unprecedented levels of European Union politicisation has rarely been backed by systematic empirical evidence. We investigate this claim using a novel dataset of several thousand user comments posted below articles of German regional media outlets on Facebook. Despite considerable European Union authority in the policy area, extensive media coverage of the crisis and the rise of a populist party in Germany, our results suggest that the politicisation of Europe remains low among social media users, especially when compared to national and subnational levels of governance. When talking about Europe, users hardly refer to European Union institutions or policies. Instead, other member states and notions of the geographic or cultural space dominate the debate.
Infrared multiple photon dissociation of cesium iodide clusters doped with mono-, di- and triglycine
Authors: Heller Jakob , Ončák Milan , Bersenkowitsch Nina K , van der Linde Christian , Beyer Martin K
Published: October 2018

Charged cesium iodide clusters doped with mono-, di- and triglycine serve as a model system for sea salt aerosols containing biological molecules. Here, we investigate reactions of these complexes under infrared irradiation, with spectra obtained by infrared multiple photon dissociation. The cluster ions are generated via electrospray ionization and analyzed in the cell of a Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometer. Depending on the cluster size and peptide length, loss of HI or loss of a glycine unit is observed. The experimental measurements are supported by quantum chemical calculations. We show that N-H and O-H stretching modes dominate the spectrum, with large shifts depending on local interactions, namely due to interaction with iodide anions or intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Both experiment and theory indicate that several isomers are present in the experimental mixture, with different infrared fingerprints as well as dissociation pathways.
A novel adaptive sliding mode control approach for electric vehicle direct yaw-moment control
Authors: Fu Chunyun , Hoseinnezhad Reza , Li Kuining , Hu Minghui
Published: October 2018

Direct yaw-moment control systems have been proven effective in enhancing vehicle stability and handling. The existing direct yaw-moment control designs commonly involve computation of tire side-slip angles, which is susceptible to measurement and estimation errors. The fixed control gain of the conventional sliding mode direct yaw-moment control design cannot adapt to variations and uncertainties in vehicle parameters. As a result, its robustness against parametric variations and uncertainties is limited. To improve the control performance, a novel adaptive sliding mode direct yaw-moment control approach is proposed in this article for electric vehicles with independent motors. The proposed method utilizes a varying control gain to adapt to the variations of front and rear tire side-slip angles. Comparative simulation results show that the proposed scheme outperforms the conventional method with inaccurate tire side-slip angle feedback. With the proposed direct yaw-moment control system on-board, the adverse effects of inaccuracies on tire side-slip angles are suppressed and the vehicle’s robustness against parametric variations and uncertainties is enhanced.
Analytical and experimental research on stability of large slenderness ratio horizontal hydraulic hoist
Authors: Zhou Ji , Shi Duan-Wei , Sun Zhi-Lin , Bi Tao , Cheng Xiong-Hao , Chen Dong , Lu Yang
Published: October 2018

Taking the hydraulic cylinder for the miter gate in Dateng Gorges Water Conservancy Project as the object, a large slenderness ratio test hydraulic cylinder was designed based on the similarity theory. The buckling analysis of the test hydraulic cylinder was carried out by the finite element method, considering the friction at the supports, the misalignments between piston rod and cylinder tube, and gravity. The results indicate that the stability safety factor is 10.55. A buckling experimental system was established, and the buckling stability of the test hydraulic cylinder was tested for the sliding bearing support and the rolling bearing support at the piston-rod end, respectively. The stability safety factor is over 9.01 and 6.82 relevantly. The similarities and differences among the results of the finite element method, experimental method, NB/T 35020-2013, and two-sections pressure bar method were analyzed. Experimental and analytical results clearly show that the friction at the supports is a key factor in determining the magnitude of the stability safety for large slenderness ratio horizontal hydraulic hoist and utilizing the sliding bearing can effectively improve the stability safety factor.
Military Deployments and Suicide: A Critical Examination
Authors: Reger Mark A. , Tucker Raymond P. , Carter Sarah P. , Ammerman Brooke A.
Published: October 2018

Deployment to a combat zone is a fundamental mission for most military forces, but prior research suggests that there is a complex and nuanced association between deployment and related risk factors for suicide. Deployment and combat experiences vary greatly among military personnel and can affect a variety of protective and risk factors for suicide. This article offers a critical examination of the association among modern U.S. military deployments, suicide attempts, and death while considering the context of a prominent theory of suicide. Although previous work has demonstrated that deployment is not associated with suicide overall in this population, there is growing evidence that risk may be elevated shortly after deployment, and for some subgroups. Specific aspects of combat exposure, including the experience of killing or witnessing death in combat, may be important contributing factors. An analysis of the literature illustrates that deployment-related risk factors for suicide are complex. The limitations of the literature are discussed, and future directions are suggested.
Exercise, diet, and the reinforcing value of food in an animal model of anorexia nervosa
Authors: de Paz Ana , Vidal Pedro , Pellón Ricardo
Published: October 2018

Activity-based anorexia (ABA) develops when laboratory rats are subjected to a single meal per day and have access to an activity wheel for the remaining time. Here, we studied the contribution of exercise and diet to the reinforcing value of food during ABA development. Three groups of eight adult male Wistar rats were used: an ABA group with 21.5 hr (then 22 hr) of wheel access and 1 hr (then 30 min) of food access, a control group with the same time exposure to food but without exercise, and a yoked group to the ABA in terms of weight loss. Rats were daily tested on a progressive-ratio schedule to measure their motivation for food. ABA rats gradually reduced their body weight more than the food control group. Animals steadily increased their breaking points in parallel to losses in body weight, but no significant differences were found between groups. Adult rats can develop ABA, but their loss in weight neither resulted in a decrease of food intake nor in the motivation to obtain it.
Design and development of a climatic wind tunnel for physiological sports experimentation
Authors: Ainegren Mats , Tuplin Simon , Carlsson Peter , Render Peter
Published: October 2018

The aim of this project was to develop a wind tunnel that enables the study of human performance during various types of sports and physical activities by examining the influence of aerodynamic drag, precipitation, frictional forces and gravitational forces on uphill and downhill travel on a moving substrate. An overall design for a wind tunnel and working section containing a large treadmill was drafted, followed by computational fluid dynamics simulations of flow conditions to assess the design’s feasibility and select from different geometries prior to its construction. The flow conditions in the completed wind tunnel were validated using different flows, speeds and treadmill inclinations. Pilot experiments were carried out using a cross-country skier to investigate the effect of aerodynamic drag on oxygen uptake during double poling and the maximal achieved speed when rolling on a declined treadmill. The purpose was to validate the usefulness of the tunnel. The results showed that flow conditions are acceptable for experiments even in worst-case scenarios with maximal inclined and declined treadmill. Results also showed that aerodynamic drag has a significant impact on the skier’s energy expenditure.
Drug holiday in patients with polycystic liver disease treated with somatostatin analogues
Authors: van Aerts René M. M. , Kolkman Marieke , Kievit Wietske , Gevers Tom J. G. , Nevens Frederik , Drenth Joost P. H.
Published: October 2018

Background:

Somatostatin analogues (SAs) reduce liver volume and relief symptoms in polycystic liver disease (PLD). Its effect wears off after continuing therapy suggesting development of SA tolerance in patients on chronic therapy. We postulate that a drug holiday resensitizes the liver to its acute pharmacological effects. Therefore, this study examines the liver volume-reducing effect of SAs after a drug holiday.

Methods:

Patients were identified from the International PLD Registry and included in our analysis when (1) treated with SAs during two cycles separated by a drug holiday and (2) height-adjusted total liver volume (hTLV) was available at start and end of each cycle. For our primary outcome we compared the effect of SAs (in % per 6 months) on hTLV between the first and second treatment cycle.

Results:

In 34 patients, initial liver volume-reducing effect was similar to that after rechallenge [−2.6% per 6 months (interquartile range, −3.8–0.8) versus −1.6% per 6 months (interquartile range, −3.1–1.1), p = 0.510]. Cessation of treatment led to a rebound effect, but liver volume remained stable compared with the baseline with intermittent therapy in responders to SA [−0.6% (interquartile range, −7.4–5.7) after 46.5 months].

Conclusions:

PLD patients treated with SAs benefit from retreatment after a drug holiday. The significant increase of liver volume after cessation of treatment complicates widespread use of a drug holiday as new treatment strategy. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the pharmacological effect of SAs and help to identify patients who might benefit.