bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geospatial Risk Assessment of Marine Terminal Infrastructure to Storm Surge Inundation and Sea Level Rise
Authors: McLeod George M. , Allen Thomas R. , Behr Joshua G.
Published: May 2018

Planning resiliency and sustainability of port operations and critical infrastructure requires risk assessment of storm surge exposure and potential sea level rise. An approach for rapid, screening-level assessment is developed to estimate the current and future risk of exposure to severe storm surges posed to marine terminal facilities in Norfolk, Virginia. The approach estimates the vertical elevation of local mean sea level fifty years into the future and attendant increases in potential storm surge heights. Inundation models are designed for baseline water levels and storm surges for category 1–3 hurricanes across five precautionary future sea level rise scenarios. In addition, tidal flooding poses an emerging threat because sea level rise will also force tides to higher elevations, suggesting that today’s extreme high tides may be the future mean high tide and today’s “nuisance” tidal flooding may in the future recur with chronic regularity. Potential tidal flooding levels are also modeled for each sea level scenario. This approach allows a port to assess relative risk tolerance across the range from lesser to more severe flooding events. Maps and tabular information in linked scenarios are used to summarize the extent, pattern, and depth of potential flooding. The methodology and data developed in this study may be applied to inform the timing and placement of planned assets and can be leveraged in the broader pursuit of optimization in support of long-term master planning at marine terminals.
Fatty Infiltration Is a Prognostic Marker of Muscle Function After Rotator Cuff Tear
Authors: Valencia Ana P. , Lai Jim K. , Iyer Shama R. , Mistretta Katherine L. , Spangenburg Espen E. , Davis Derik L. , Lovering Richard M. , Gilotra Mohit N.
Published: May 2018

Background:

Massive rotator cuff tears (RCTs) begin as primary tendon injuries and cause a myriad of changes in the muscle, including atrophy, fatty infiltration (FI), and fibrosis. However, it is unclear which changes are most closely associated with muscle function.

Purpose:

To determine if FI of the supraspinatus muscle after acute RCT relates to short-term changes in muscle function.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Unilateral RCTs were induced in female rabbits via tenotomy of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus. Maximal isometric force and rate of fatigue were measured in the supraspinatus in vivo at 6 and 12 weeks after tenotomy. Computed tomography scanning was performed, followed by histologic analysis of myofiber size, FI, and fibrosis.

Results:

Tenotomy resulted in supraspinatus weakness, reduced myofiber size, FI, and fibrosis, but no differences were evident between 6 and 12 weeks after tenotomy except for increased collagen content at 12 weeks. FI was a predictor of supraspinatus weakness and was strongly correlated to force, even after accounting for muscle cross-sectional area. While muscle atrophy accounted for the loss in force in tenotomized muscles with minimal FI, it did not account for the greater loss in force in tenotomized muscles with the most FI. Collagen content was not strongly correlated with maximal isometric force, even when normalized to muscle size.

Conclusion:

After RCT, muscle atrophy results in the loss of contractile force from the supraspinatus, but exacerbated weakness is observed with increased FI. Therefore, the level of FI can help predict contractile function of torn rotator cuff muscles.

Clinical Relevance:

Markers to predict contractile function of RCTs will help determine the appropriate treatment to improve functional recovery after RCTs.
Factorial Structure of the German Version of the Emotion Expression Scale for Children in Early Adolescents
Authors: Nitkowski Dennis , Fern Julia , Petermann Ulrike , Petermann Franz , Zeman Janice L.
Published: May 2018

In Germany, there are no self-report questionnaires assessing emotion awareness in youth under the age of 16 years or simultaneously with emotion suppression. The “Emotion Expression Scale for Children” (EESC) measuring lack of emotion awareness and reluctance to express emotions in 10- to 15-year-olds can fill this gap. Goal of this study was to evaluate the factorial structure of the German version of the 16-item EESC in a test and a validation sample of overall 588 adolescents (314 boys; Mage = 11.6 years; SD = .74). The original structure comprised of the factors “Poor Awareness” and “Expressive Reluctance” could not be confirmed in the test sample using confirmatory factor analysis. An exploratory factor analysis yield a one-factor structure. Modification process led to an adjusted one-factor model with 13 items, which fitted the data best in the validation sample. The factor was named “Low Emotion Awareness/Suppression.” Results indicated that the EESC structure is not measurement invariant. Reasons for missing fit of the two-factor model are discussed.
Improving the Pace of Criminal Case Processing in State Trial Courts
Authors: Ostrom Brian J. , Hanson Roger A. , Kleiman Matthew
Published: May 2018

Delay in the processing of criminal cases has long been viewed as a serious national problem. Substantial differences exist among courts in the average time it takes to resolve both felony and misdemeanor cases, with past research producing inconclusive results on the causes of observed variation. In response, and with the support of the Arnold Foundation, the objective of this article is to highlight predictable variation in the timeliness of criminal case processing and how this knowledge supports court efforts to become more expeditious. Drawing on an extensive set of felony and misdemeanor cases resolved in seven Colorado courts, statistical analysis uncovers important patterns in the composition of criminal caseloads and clarifies how composition influences case duration. Moreover, similarities in the makeup of criminal caseloads show the utility of fundamental principles of criminal caseflow management and how courts benefit from being assessed comparatively against established performance benchmarks.
Unpacking Pretrial Detention: An Examination of Patterns and Predictors of Readmissions
Authors: Kim Jaeok , Chauhan Preeti , Lu Olive , Patten Meredith , Smith Sandra Susan
Published: May 2018

Pretrial detention makes up the majority of jail admissions, but little is known about this high-volume population. The current study fills this gap by examining the pretrial detention population in New York City and assesses their pretrial readmissions over a 10-year follow-up period. While the number of individuals detained pretrial has consistently decreased since 1995, the prevalence and the frequency of pretrial readmissions remain high: About 60% of the sample was readmitted at least once within 10 years and they were readmitted on average 3 times. A negative binomial model predicting readmission counts for felony and misdemeanor admissions found that males, non-Hispanic Blacks, and younger individuals were more frequently readmitted pretrial. Self-reported drug use and prior criminal records were associated with higher readmission counts. We also found that charge and discharge types predicted readmission counts. Findings suggest the importance of earlier intervention and developing targeted strategies to reduce further readmissions.
Introduction to Special Issue: Misdemeanor Justice Project—A Focus on Criminal Justice System Responses to Lower Level Offenses
Authors: Chauhan Preeti , Travis Jeremy
Published: May 2018

To date, the enforcement of lower level offenses and the criminal justice system’s response to these enforcement actions has received little scholarly attention. To address this gap in scientific research, the Misdemeanor Justice Project (MJP) commissioned nine scholarly papers focused on criminal justice responses to lower level offenses. Each of the papers in this volume is guided by one of four overarching themes, including officer discretion; the impact of lower level enforcement on individuals, communities, and institutions; pretrial detention and diversion; and court processing and legal representation. As a collection, these papers serve as a launching pad for the development of a body of research in a critical and opaque area of our criminal justice system as well as highlight areas for future research.
Public Fathering, Private Mothering: Gendered Transnational Parenting and Class Reproduction among Elite Korean Students
Authors: Park Juyeon
Published: May 2018

Drawing on 68 interviews with South Korean students at elite U.S. colleges, this article examines the intersectional power of gender and class in elite transnational parenting—a family strategy for class reproduction. Well-educated, stay-at-home mothers intensively managed their children’s school activities, often relying on gender-segregated networks, mostly during early school years. By contrast, cosmopolitan professional fathers heavily engaged in guiding their children’s education abroad and career preparation in later years, using their class resources (i.e., English proficiency, professional careers, and social networks of other elites). In high-achieving children’s narratives, mothers’ lifelong care for and management of their private life was undervalued and criticized, while fathers’ growing involvement in their higher education and career was highly valued and appreciated. The elite fathers’ occasional yet detailed involvement challenges the dichotomy that has long stereotyped Korean—or East Asian—mothers as overinvolved and fathers as distant in their children’s lives, especially with regard to education. Gender, through intensive parenting, reinforces and reproduces class disparity between elite couples and within their families.
A time-domain reflectometry method for automated measurement of crack propagation in composites during mode I DCB testing under cold, hot, and hot/wet conditions
Authors: Abuobaid A , Heider D , Yarlagadda S
Published: May 2018

This article describes an automated method for the measurement of crack initiation and propagation in composite materials during modeI double cantilever beam (DCB) testing under different environmental conditions. The method uses the time-domain reflectometry (TDR)-DCB system, which transmits a high-frequency pulse through a transmission line integrated within the composite test coupon and measures impedance discontinuities generated due to the presence of a crack. Using this system, real-time crack propagation in the specimen can be monitored, and the critical fracture toughness parameters ( GIC) can be calculated in a variety of environmental conditions. TDR-DCB test method was used for the measurement of GIC for dry and wet (water-saturated) DCB samples made from E-glass fiber/vinyl ester composites under dry conditions (room temperature (RT) at 94°C) and wet conditions (RT at 60°C). For all test conditions, TDR signals showed that crack initiation and propagation was the dominant mechanism in identifying impedance changes in the material. Changes in dielectric properties of the specimen due to the test conditions, whether from water uptake, temperature, or a combination of the two, did not significantly affect signal quality.
Preparation and mineralization of 13-93 bioactive glass-containing electrospun poly-epsilon-caprolactone composite nanofibrous mats
Authors: Konyalı Rabia , Deliormanlı Aylin M
Published: May 2018

In this study, silicate- based 13-93 bioactive glass (BG) /poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) nanocomposite fiber mats were fabricated through electrospinning. To prepare composites, amorphous electrospun bioactive glass nanofibers (BGFs) or melt-derived microscale bioactive glass particles (BGPs) were incorporated into the PCL matrix. In vitro mineralization ability of the prepared fibrous mats was assessed in simulated body fluid under static conditions. The results revealed that it is possible to prepare bead-free continuous nanofibers using PCL-acetone solution at specified PCL concentrations (8 and 10 wt%). Nanofibers with almost uniform diameters were produced using 10 wt% PCL solution. Incorporation of BG in the form of particle or fiber into the PCL matrix was made between 1 wt% and 10 wt%. The results showed that the diameter of BGP-containing composite fibers was higher compared to BGF-containing composite scaffolds. The addition of BG to the PCL matrix both in the form of powder and fiber enhanced hydroxyapatite formation in the fibrous scaffolds. The amount of calcium phosphate–based material formation was higher in glass particle–containing samples compared to glass fiber–containing PCL scaffolds. Additionally, the degradation rate in phosphate buffer and silicium ion release amount of BGP-containing PCL fibers was higher compared to BGF-containing PCL fibers. It was concluded that fibrous composite scaffolds prepared in this study could have potential in tissue engineering applications.
Using three-dimensional rapid prototyping in the design and development of orthopaedic screws in standardised pull-out tests
Authors: Leslie Laura Jane , Connolly Ashley , Swadener John G , Junaid Sarah , Theivendran Kanthan , Deshmukh Subodh C
Published: May 2018

The majority of orthopaedic screws are designed, tested and manufactured by existing orthopaedics companies and are predominantly developed with healthy bone in mind. The timescales and costs involved in the development of a new screw design, for example, for osteoporotic bone, are high. In this study, standard wood screws were used to analyse the concept of using three-dimensional printing, or rapid prototyping, as a viable stage of development in the design of a new bone screw. Six wood screws were reverse engineered and printed in polymeric material using stereolithography. Three of the designs were also printed in Ti6Al4V using direct metal laser sintering; however, these were not of sufficient quality to test further. Both the original metal screws (metal) and polymeric rapid prototyping screws were then tested using standard pull-out tests from low-density polyurethane blocks (Sawbones). Results showed the highest pull-out strengths for screws with the longest thread length and the smallest inner diameter. Of the six screw designs tested, five showed no more than a 17% variance between the metal and rapid prototyping results. A similar pattern of results was shown between the screw designs for both the metal and rapid prototyping screws in five of the six cases. While not producing fully comparable pull-out results to orthopaedic screws, the results from this study do provide evidence of the potential usefulness and cost-effectiveness of rapid prototyping in the early stages of design and testing of orthopaedic screws.
CD4 cell count variability with repeat testing in South Africa: Should reporting include both absolute counts and ranges of plausible values?
Authors: Daniel Francois Venter Willem , Chersich Matthew F , Majam Mohammed , Akpomiemie Godspower , Arulappan Natasha , Moorhouse Michelle , Mashabane Nonkululeko , Glencross Deborah K
Published: May 2018

Although eligibility for antiretroviral treatment is no longer based on CD4 thresholds, CD4 testing remains important. Variation in CD4 cell count complicates initiation of antibiotic prophylaxis, differential diagnoses and assessments of immunological recovery. Five hundred and fifty-three HIV-positive antiretroviral-naïve adults, recruited from inner-city clinics, had three serial CD4 cell count tests. Test 1 was mostly done in a laboratory network supporting primary care clinics, while Tests 2 and 3 were performed in a tertiary-level laboratory. Reproducibility was assessed through Bland–Altman limits of agreement and coefficients of variation. Participants, a mean age of 34 years and mostly female (57%), had a median 203 CD4 cells/μL (Test 1). Seventeen per cent classified as having advanced HIV disease (CD4 cell count  < 200 cells/µL) on Test 1 had a CD4 cell count > 200 cells/µL on Tests 2 and 3. Mean differences between tests were <10 cells/µL for all comparisons. Limits of agreement for Tests 1 and 2 were −106.9 to 112.7 and coefficient of variation 15. Corresponding figures for Tests 2 and 3 were −88.2 to 103.4, and 13. Means of tests were similar, suggesting no systematic measurement differences, despite testing being done at different times. Variations were, however, considerable in many instances, though smaller in testing done in the same laboratory. CD4 cut-offs must not be applied rigidly, but rather constitute one amongst many factors used to guide patient care. Moreover, given the difficulties in determining whether CD4 changes are due to HIV disease, or other biological and laboratory factors, CD4 laboratory reports should include a range of plausible values, not only the absolute count.
Missed opportunities for tuberculosis prevention among patients accessing a UK HIV service
Authors: Rickman Hannah M , Miller Robert F , Morris-Jones Stephen , Kellgren Lusha , Edwards Simon G , Grant Alison D
Published: May 2018

United Kingdom guidelines recommend screening for and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in HIV-positive patients at high risk of active tuberculosis (TB) disease, but implementation is suboptimal. We investigated potential missed opportunities to identify and treat LTBI among HIV-positive patients accessing a large HIV outpatient service in London. Case records of all adult patients attending our service for HIV care diagnosed with active TB between 2011 and 2015 were reviewed to determine whether they met criteria for LTBI screening and whether screening was undertaken. Twenty-five patients were treated for TB. Of 15 (60%) patients who started TB treatment ≥6 months after HIV diagnosis, 14 (93%) met UK guideline-recommended criteria for LTBI screening and treatment; only one (7%) had been screened for LTBI. Eight of these 15 (53%) patients had additional risk factors for TB which are not reflected in current UK guidelines. Of 15 patients treated for TB ≥6 months after diagnosis of HIV, 14 (93%) had not been screened for LTBI, suggesting missed opportunities for TB prevention. People living with HIV may benefit from a broader approach to LTBI screening which takes into account additional recognised TB risk factors and ongoing TB exposure.
Lymphogranuloma venereum: a rare and forgotten cause of rectal stricture formation
Authors: Craxford Leia , Fox Ashini
Published: May 2018

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is caused by L1, L2 and L3 serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis. The anorectal syndrome caused by LGV is often misdiagnosed as inflammatory bowel disease and may rarely lead to stricture formation. Recurrent stricture formation, despite adequate LGV treatment, has not to our knowledge, previously been reported.
Genital mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas in cervicovaginal self-collected samples of reproductive-age women: prevalence and risk factors
Authors: Silva Jani , Cerqueira Fátima , Teixeira Ana Luísa , Bicho Maria Clara , Campainha Rui , Amorim José , Medeiros Rui
Published: May 2018

The purpose of this study was to characterise the prevalence and risk factors associated with genital mycoplasmas ( Mycoplasma hominis [MH], M. genitalium [MG]) and ureaplasmas ( Ureaplasma urealyticum [UU], U. parvum [UP]) in Portuguese women of reproductive age. The cross-sectional study included 612 cervicovaginal self-collected samples from women aged 15–44 years, tested for MH, MG, UU, UP by polymerase chain reaction. Y chromosome (Yc) DNA was detected as a biomarker of recent unprotected sexual intercourse. The prevalences of UU, UP, MH and MG were 28.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.0–32.1), 22.4% (95% CI 19.3–25.9), 8.5% (95% CI 6.5–11.0) and 0.8% (95% CI 0.4–1.9), respectively. Overall, women aged 20–29 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.78; P = 0.010) and the presence of Yc-DNA (OR 2.33; P = 0.038) were associated with an increased risk of UU. Lifetime number of sexual partners was a predictor of UU, UP and MH (OR 2.46; P < 0.001, OR 2.78; P < 0.001 and OR 1.55; P < 0.001, respectively, for more than one versus one partner). The prevalence of MG was low, while UU, UP and MH were common in Portuguese women of reproductive age. The presence of UU, UP and MH was associated with sexual activity (number of sexual partners), although the consequences of its prevalence are not fully understood and should be further investigated.
The Interpersonal Sunk-Cost Effect
Authors: Olivola Christopher Y.
Published: May 2018

The sunk-cost fallacy—pursuing an inferior alternative merely because we have previously invested significant, but nonrecoverable, resources in it—represents a striking violation of rational decision making. Whereas theoretical accounts and empirical examinations of the sunk-cost effect have generally been based on the assumption that it is a purely intrapersonal phenomenon (i.e., solely driven by one’s own past investments), the present research demonstrates that it is also an interpersonal effect (i.e., people will alter their choices in response to other people’s past investments). Across eight experiments ( N = 6,076) covering diverse scenarios, I documented sunk-cost effects when the costs are borne by someone other than the decision maker. Moreover, the interpersonal sunk-cost effect is not moderated by social closeness or whether other people observe their sunk costs being “honored.” These findings uncover a previously undocumented bias, reveal that the sunk-cost effect is a much broader phenomenon than previously thought, and pose interesting challenges for existing accounts of this fascinating human tendency.
Algorithms of reduced complexity to design control sequences for untimed Petri nets in varying and uncertain environments
Authors: Lefebvre Dimitri
Published: May 2018

Petri nets have been widely used for the modelling, analysis, control and optimization of discrete event systems with shared resources in the domains of engineering. This article concerns the design of control sequences for such systems modelled with untimed Petri nets. The aim of the controller is to incrementally compute sequences of transition firings with minimal size. Such sequences aim to move the marking from an initial value to a reference value. The resulting trajectory must avoid some forbidden markings and limit as possible the exploration of non-promising branches. For this purpose, the approach explores a small part of the reachability graph in the neighbourhood of the current marking. Then from the explored markings, it estimates a distance to the reference. The main contributions are (a) to reduce the explored part of the reachability graph according to a double limitation in breadth and in depth in order to provide solutions with a low computational effort; (b) to provide conditions to ensure the converge and optimality of the proposed algorithms and derive necessary and sufficient conditions for reachability; and (c) to include the firing sequence design in a global control schema suitable for reactive scheduling problems in uncertain and perturbed environments. The main application concerns deadlock-free scheduling problems in the domain of flexible manufacturing systems, but the approach is also applicable for systems in computer science and transportation.
From Institutions to Persons?
Authors: Pilapil Renante D.
Published: May 2018

This article examines two potential Rawlsian arguments, namely the moral dualism argument and the educative effect of institutions argument as regards the extension of the primary subject of justice to personal conduct. The article makes two claims. First, while moral dualism is a logical step to make, it suffers from a potential conflict between the principles that apply to institutions and those that govern personal conduct. Second, despite the attractive features of the educative effect of institutions argument, an explanative gap has to be filled in order to account for how and why individuals comply to just institutions. In the end, the article concludes that extending Rawls’s theory of justice to include personal conduct may be difficult to sustain.
A Standardized Protocol for the Prospective Follow-Up of Cleft Lip and Palate Patients
Authors: Salimi Negar , Jolanta Aleksejūnienė , Edwin Yen , Angelina Loo
Published: May 2018

Objective:

To develop a standardized all-encompassing protocol for the assessment of cleft lip and palate patients with clinical and research implications.

Method:

Electronic database searches were conducted and 13 major cleft centers worldwide were contacted in order to prepare for the development of the protocol. In preparation, the available evidence was reviewed and potential fistula-related risk determinants from 4 different domains were identified.

Results:

No standardized protocol for the assessment of cleft patients could be found in any of the electronic database searches that were conducted. Interviews with representatives from several major centers revealed that the majority of centers do not have a standardized comprehensive strategy for the reporting and follow-up of cleft lip and palate patients. The protocol was developed and consisted of the following domains of determinants: (1) the sociodemographic domain, (2) the cleft defect domain, (3) the surgery domain, and (4) the fistula domain.

Conclusion:

The proposed protocol has the potential to enhance the quality of patient care by ensuring that multiple patient-related aspects are consistently reported. It may also facilitate future multicenter research, which could contribute to the reduction of fistula occurrence in cleft lip and palate patients.
Psychometric Evaluation of the Chinese Version of the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire in Taiwanese College Students
Authors: Li Cheng-Hsien , Wu Jing-Jyi
Published: May 2018

Emotion regulation has been considered a vital mechanism for psychological and physical health. The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) was originally developed by Gross and John to measure the emotion regulation strategies of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. Given the practical importance of functional emotion regulation for psychological assessment in the Taiwanese cultural context, this study examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the ERQ in a sample of 909 Taiwanese college students. Results showed that the independent two-factor measurement model was an adequate representation of the structure of the Chinese-ERQ. Reliability and criterion validity of the Chinese-ERQ were also demonstrated. The scalar invariant model across genders was supported and male students reported using suppression to a greater degree than female students. Overall, the Chinese-ERQ is a valuable tool for assessing emotion regulation strategies in research and practice in clinical psychology. Practical implications and future research directions are discussed.
Adherence to topical glaucoma medications and associated factors in Gondar University Hospital Tertiary Eye Care Center, northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Anbesse Dereje Hayilu , Yibekal Betelhem Temesgen , Assefa Natnael Lakachew
Published: May 2018

Purpose:

The purpose of the study was to determine proportion of adherence to topical glaucoma medications and associated factors among glaucoma patients in Gondar University Hospital Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center, northwest Ethiopia.

Methods:

This cross-sectional design study was conducted on 360 participants from April–May 2017. Structured questionnaire was completed and adherence was assessed by patients’ self-report survey. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 20. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the determinant factors. The significance was considered at p value less than 0.05.

Result:

More than half, 221 (61.4%) (95% confidence interval: 56.1–66.7), of the study participants were found to adhere well to glaucoma medications. Male sex (adjusted odds ratio = 1.86 (95% confidence interval: 1.13–3.06)), urban residence (adjusted odds ratio = 2.33 (95% confidence interval: 1.46–3.72)), normal visual acuity (adjusted odds ratio = 2.23 (95% confidence interval: 1.13–4.42)), low visual acuity (adjusted odds ratio = 1.74 (95% confidence interval: 1.05–2.88)), and self-sponsor for medications (adjusted odds ratio = 0.21 (95% confidence interval: 0.12–0.38)) were significantly associated with good adherence

Conclusion:

The level of medication adherence to topical glaucoma medications is not good enough as compared to other studies done in Ethiopia. Male sex, urban residence, normal, and low visual acuity were positive predictors, whereas self-sponsored for medications was negative predictors for good adherence to glaucoma medications.
Cytomegalovirus retinitis, in a diabetic immunocompetent patient, after intravitreal ranibizumab injection
Authors: Zafeiropoulos Paraskevas , Tamboura Polykseni , Dimou Maria , Christodoulou Eleni , Stefaniotou Maria
Published: May 2018

We here report a case of cytomegalovirus retinitis in a diabetic patient that occurred after intravitreal ranibizumab injection. A 75-year-old woman was treated with intravitreal ranibizumab injections for diabetic macular edema. During this period, a retinitis occurred in her left eye along with increased IgG and later IgM cytomegalovirus antibody titers. Ocular and intravenous ganciclovir was administered. Cytomegalovirus retinitis subsided post treatment with residual areas of retinal atrophy. Ophthalmologists should be aware of the incidence of cytomegalovirus retinitis, in diabetic patients, after ranibizumab injection.
Is the removal of a central venous catheter always necessary in the context of catheter-related right atrial thrombosis?
Authors: Rossi Luigi , Libutti Pasquale , Casucci Francesco , Lisi Piero , Teutonico Annalisa , Basile Carlo , Lomonte Carlo
Published: May 2018

Catheter-related right atrial thrombosis is a severe and life-threatening complication of central venous catheters in both adult and young patients. Catheter-related right atrial thrombosis can occur with any type of central venous catheters, utilized either for hemodialysis or infusion. Up to 30% of patients with central venous catheter are estimated to be affected by catheter-related right atrial thrombosis; however, neither precise epidemiological data nor guidelines regarding medical or surgical treatment are available. This complication seems to be closely associated with positioning of the catheter tip in the atrium, whereas it is unlikely with a tip located within superior vena cava. Herein, we report the case of a patient affected by catheter-related right atrial thrombosis, who showed a quick resolution of thrombosis with a new therapeutic scheme combining loco-regional thrombolytic therapy (urokinase as a locking solution) and systemic anticoagulation therapy (vitamin K antagonists), thus avoiding catheter removal. Neither complications of the combination therapy were reported, nor recurrence of catheter-related right atrial thrombosis occurred. In conclusion, the combination therapy here described was safe, quick and effective, achieving the goal of not removing the catheter.
Investigation of occupational noise annoyance in a wind turbine power plant
Authors: Monazzam Mohammad R , Zakerian Seyed A , Kazemi Zeinab , Ebrahimi Mohammad H , Ghaljahi Maryam , Mehri Ahmad , Afkhaminia Farzaneh , Abbasi Milad
Published: May 2018

Noise, emitted by wind turbines, is one of the main health risk factors which has been recently considered in many researches. Noise annoyance is among the most important human responses to noise. The aim of this work was to modeling of annoyance due to noise at workplace coming from wind turbines in workers. All workers of a wind power plant consisted the study sample. The equivalent noise level was measured using a task-based method. Moreover, data related to noise annoyance and noise sensitivity were acquired by standardized methods. Based on the results, noise exposure, noise sensitivity, visibility, age, and experience affected noise annoyance. According to path analysis, the most indirect and direct effect on noise annoyance were attributed to noise exposure. Age, sensitivity, and noise exposure were positively associated to annoyance. It can be concluded that there is a significant relationship between age, experience, sensitivity to noise, and exposure to the wind turbine noise with noise annoyance.
Do European Parliament elections foster challenger parties' success on the national level?
Authors: Schulte-Cloos Julia
Published: May 2018

European Parliament elections create structural advantages for challenger parties. Building on the second-order elections theory, this article argues that European Parliament elections foster challenger parties' success on the national level by increasing their visibility and offering an opportunity structure for domestic politicisation of Europe. I test this proposition by exploiting the quasi-exogenous timing of European Parliament elections and the variation in national electoral cycles since 1979. A country-fixed effects model and two placebo-tests show that populist radical right parties gain momentum in the supranational contest, particularly when coinciding campaigns increase the domestic salience of Europe. Considering their antagonism to an integrative Europe, it seems ironic that the European Parliament elections foster the ascendency of just these opponents of the European idea.
Care and reunification in a Cape Verdean family: Changing articulations of family and legal ties
Authors: Drotbohm Heike
Published: May 2018

This article looks at the interaction between transnational family relationships, on the one hand, and family-related immigration policies, on the other. Taking the conflicting concerns that arose between administrative decision-makers and family members during an attempt to reunite a Cape Verdean family spread across several countries as an example, the questions of what ‘family’ means, what relationships are included and the nature of the relationships involved answered differently by different actors will be shown. The article discusses the way in which the regulation of transnational mobility according to specific categories of eligibility is giving social ties a concrete legal form which can run contrary to the social conventions and conceptions of migrants and their families. The focus is on both the normative categories that have repercussions for the core of the social sphere and on the family practices that react to these categorizations.
Rethinking the brand–community relationship: Wearing a biggie in Harlem
Authors: Lane Jeffrey
Published: May 2018

In one of the most cited studies in business and economics, Muñiz and O’Guinn established that a brand can serve as the basis of community. Their seminal fieldwork showed that through digital communication, consumers loyal to the same brand formed a community unbounded by geography and rooted in collective imagination. This article provides an alternative ethnographic account in which the relationship between brands and community runs in reverse: community serves as the input rather than output of a brand, with digital communication bringing forth a distinctly local and interpersonal brand story. Drawing on multi-year fieldwork conducted on- and offline with youth and outreach workers in Harlem, I illustrate how youth implanted the Marmot brand and its Mammoth “biggie” parka with street-level meanings total apart from the public image of the brand yet consistent with branding practices in the corporate sector. This article helps to reorient the sociological, media, marketing, and consumer literatures by demonstrating how place-based, face-to-face relationships may become more, not less, significant as brands, digital technology, and community converge.
Nostalgia as a psychological resource for people with dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of evidence of effectiveness from experimental studies
Authors: Umar Ismail Sanda , Cheston Richard , Christopher Gary , Meyrick Jane
Published: May 2018

Objective

This review systematically examines evidence relating to the effect of nostalgia on psychological well-being through a meta-analysis of measures of social connectedness, self-esteem, meaning in life, self-continuity, optimism and positive and negative affect. Rationale: If nostalgia is to be used as a clinical intervention to boost well-being in dementia by reducing threat, then it is important to assess its therapeutic potential.

Results

Searches carried out in July 2014 and updated in February 2018 identified 47 eligible experimental studies comparing nostalgic reminiscence and non-nostalgic reminiscence to be included in the meta-analysis. Nostalgic reminiscence had moderate effects on positive affect (0.51 (0.37, 0.65), p= 0.001), social connectedness (0.72 (0.57, 0.87), p= 0.001), self-esteem (0.50 (0.30, 0.70), p= 0.001), meaning in life (0.77 (0.47, 1.08), p= 0.001) and optimism (0.38 (0.28, 0.47), p= 0.001) and a large effect on self-continuity (0.81 (0.55, 1.07), p= 0.001). There was, however, no difference between the effect of nostalgic reminiscence and non-nostalgic reminiscence for negative affect (−0.06 (−0.20, 0.09), p= 0.443).

Conclusion

This systematic review and meta-analysis provides an overview of the evidence base for nostalgia. This is an important stage in developing nostalgia as a clinical intervention for people with dementia which might be achieved, for instance, by adapting current reminiscence and life review techniques. This meta-analysis will therefore also serve as a valuable reference point for the continued exploration of nostalgia as an intervention.
Attempting constitutional reform on the island microjurisdiction of Alderney
Authors: Morris Caroline
Published: May 2018

Research into state size and democracy has revealed that the very smallest states are more likely to be democratic than their larger counterparts. Being an island, as well as having a British colonial past, is also associated with a state’s observance of democratic measures. With these observations in mind, this article examines an unsuccessful attempt to reform the political and constitutional governance of the Channel Island of Alderney, a self-governing dependency of the British Crown. Why was political reform rejected on this island microjurisdiction? Was the post-Brexit agenda too crowded to permit reform? Did Alderney have other priorities? Might smallness itself be the explanation?
Controlling irregular migration: International human rights standards and the Hungarian legal framework
Authors: Gyollai Daniel , Amatrudo Anthony
Published: May 2018

In the summer of 2015 Hungary constructed a 175 km long barbed-wire fence at its southern border with Serbia. New criminal offences and asylum procedures were introduced that limited access to refugee status determination and ignored agreed EU asylum policy, deterring and de facto preventing asylum seekers from entering Hungarian territory. This paper provides an analysis of these new measures, which criminalized asylum seekers, and the subsequent Hungarian policy in relation to the case law of the European Court of Human Rights – arguing that the Hungarian authorities excessively abused their discretion in implementing these new policies of immigration and border control.
The Effects of Stigma on Determinants of Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Male College Students: An Application of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model
Authors: DeBate Rita DiGioacchino , Gatto Amy , Rafal Gregor
Published: May 2018

Considered a public health issue, the prevalence and severity of poor mental well-being on college campuses has continued to rise. While many college campuses offer mental health counseling services, and utilization rates are increasing, their proportional usage is low especially among males, who often deal with poor mental well-being by adopting unhealthy coping strategies. The purpose of this study was to use the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model to assess the relationship between the determinants as factors that may impact help-seeking behaviors in a large sample ( n = 1,242) of male college students. Employing a cross-sectional study design, a 71-item online survey assessed information via total mental health literacy (MHL), motivation via attitudes toward mental health and subjective norms regarding mental health, and behavioral skills via intentions regarding help-seeking behaviors, and stigma. Results revealed correlations between information and motivation ( r = .363, p < .01), information and behavioral skills ( r = .166, p < .01), and motivation and behavioral skills ( r = .399, p < .01). Multiple regression was used to determine stigma is a mediator for all relationships. These findings represent an opportunity to take a public health approach to male mental health through developing multilayered interventions that address information, motivation, behavioral skills, and stigma.
Dyadic Reporting of Intimate Partner Violence Among Male Couples in Three U.S. Cities
Authors: Suarez Nicolas A , Mimiaga Matthew J , Garofalo Robert , Brown Emily , Bratcher Anna Marie , Wimbly Taylor , Hidalgo Marco A , Hoehnle Samuel , Thai Jennie , Kahle Erin , Sullivan Patrick S , Stephenson Rob
Published: May 2018

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a prevalent and pressing public health concern that affects people of all gender and sexual identities. Though studies have identified that male couples may experience IPV at rates as high as or higher than women in heterosexual partnerships, the body of literature addressing this population is still nascent. This study recruited 160 male–male couples in Atlanta, Boston, and Chicago to independently complete individual surveys measuring demographic information, partner violence experience and perpetration, and individual and relationship characteristics that may shape the experience of violence. Forty-six percent of respondents reported experiencing IPV in the past year. Internalized homophobia significantly increased the risk for reporting experiencing, perpetrating, or both for any type of IPV. This study is the first to independently gather data on IPV from both members of male dyads and indicates an association between internalized homophobia and risk for IPV among male couples. The results highlight the unique experiences of IPV in male–male couples and call for further research and programmatic attention to address the exorbitant levels of IPV experienced within some of these partnerships.
Clinical Lifestyle Medicine Strategies for Preventing and Reversing Memory Loss in Alzheimer’s
Authors: Shetty Paulina , Youngberg Wes
Published: May 2018

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and currently affects over 5 million Americans and 30 million individuals worldwide. Unfortunately, the current approach to treating AD provides nothing more than a marginal, unsustained, symptomatic effect, with little or no effect on disease progression itself. To attain effective improvements in AD, one must determine risk factors, address the underlying causes, and focus on a combination of functional and lifestyle medicine strategies that provide a comprehensive, programmatic, and network-based approach that is sufficient to achieve epigenetic transformation and neurologic healing through its multiple and necessary synergistic components. Rather than normalizing metabolic parameters, the focus is on optimization of each metabolic parameter. Papers published by research neurologist, Dr Dale Bredesen have documented that symptoms of mild cognitive impairment and early AD may often be reversed within 6 months after initiating a comprehensive, functional and lifestyle medicine-focused program. The purpose of this article are as follows: 1. Shed light on a promising clinical protocol that focuses on a comprehensive functional and lifestyle medicine approach to treating mild cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease; 2. Identify the Bredesen Protocol testing, diagnostic and treatment guidelines; 3. Review several case studies and discuss the promising results of the program. Although published case studies such as those reported here are relatively few, clinicians applying these comprehensive strategies have reason to expect improvement in their patients. Lifestyle medicine can be a source of greatly needed hope for those suffering with cognitive decline.
Multi-objective optimization of tooth surface based on minimum of flash temperature and vibration acceleration root mean square
Authors: Wang Xigui , Wang Yongmei , Shao Junpeng , Liu Yixiang , Zhou Xue , Zhou Mingli
Published: May 2018

Marine ship gears are increasingly subject to strict requirements in terms of tooth surface load capacity, dynamic performance, vibration and noise generation, and so on. The optimization of tooth surface for improving gear comprehensive characteristics under various load bearing conditions is very important, and flash temperature and vibration acceleration root mean square values are highly related to the tooth surface carrying loads which are uniform or not. Optimal tooth surface for the minimum of flash temperature and vibration acceleration root mean square is very difficult to analytically determine due to the influence of multi-objective parameters discreteness. Satisfying design variables in multiple physical quantities leads to the minimum of multi-objective optimization. There, the minimum of flash temperature and vibration acceleration root mean square design is proposed, using the tooth contact analysis and load tooth contact analysis methods and multi-objective optimization. This research deals with the multi-objective optimization of tooth surface and its main purpose is to propose an approach to help design tooth corrections in order to simultaneously optimize several objective physical quantities.
A neural network growing algorithm based on Brownian movement and gravity constraint
Authors: Liu Ming , Zha Fusheng , Wang Pengfei , Guo Wei , Jiang Zhenyu , Li Mantian
Published: May 2018

A growing algorithm of neural network based on axon growth is developed in this article. At the beginning, the Newtonian gravitation and the Brownian motion are employed to establish an axon growth model, and the constraint function of the neural axon growth is derived according to the gravitational coefficient and the Brown coefficient. And then, the growing algorithm of neural network is obtained on the basis of the output function of neural network. Simulation experiments show that the developed algorithm can simulate the process that different neurons connect each other by their axon growth to establish neural network. And at the end, the developed algorithm is applied to the rhythmic motion control of a quadruped robot to verify the effectiveness in walk gait and in trot gait, respectively.
Effect of trace Sr and Sc contents and ultrasonic vibration on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the A380 alloy
Authors: Lei Jiping , Yu Jianwu , Chen Jianmei , Li Chengbo , Luo Hong , Li Zifu
Published: May 2018

The effect and mechanism of trace amounts of Sr and Sc in the A380 alloy under ultrasonic vibration (ultraviolet) modification on the microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. The results showed that the primary α phase in A380 could be refined by adding Sr and Sc under ultraviolet treatment, the secondary dendrite spacing decreased significantly, and the thick dendritic shapes transformed to tiny disperse isometric crystals. The highest ultimate tensile strength (about 302 MPa) was obtained by adding 0.2 Sr+0.4 Sc (wt%) and applying ultraviolet treatment. The highest hardness (about 113 BHN) and elongation (about 4.65%) were obtained by adding 0.15% Sr+0.3% Sc and applying ultraviolet treatment, and the minimum grain size (about 27 μm) and maximum shape factor (around 0.8) were obtained for the same composition.