bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social Determinants of Appropriate Treatment for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
Authors: Washington Samuel L. , Neuhaus John , Meng Maxwell V. , Porten Sima P.
Published: May 2019

Background:

Racial disparities in guideline-based, appropriate treatment (ApT) may be a significant driving force for differences in survival for people with nonmetastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). We hypothesize that receipt of ApT is influenced by factors such as race and socioeconomic status, irrespective of neighborhood-level differences in healthcare, variations in practice patterns, and clinical characteristics of patients with nonmetastatic MIBC.

Methods:

Within the National Cancer Database, we identified individuals diagnosed with MIBC between 2004 and 2013. Multivariable logistic regression and mixed effects modelling was used to examine predictors of ApT, clustered within institutions.

Results:

A total of 51,350 individuals had clinically staged nonmetastatic, lymph node–negative MIBC. Black individuals comprised 6.4% of the cohort. Mean age was 72.6 years (SD 11.6) with a male predominance (71.4%). Less than half received ApT (42.6%). Fewer black individuals received ApT compared with white individuals (37% vs. 43%, P < 0.001). When clustered by institution, the odds of ApT were 21% lower for black individuals [odds ratio (OR), 0.79; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.73–0.87] compared with white individuals with nonmetastatic MIBC. When restricted to higher volume centers with more diverse populations, black individuals had 25% lower odds of ApT (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.61–0.91; P < 0.01), compared with white counterparts.

Conclusions:

Racial disparities in treatment persisted after accounting for various clinical factors and social determinants of health. Future efforts should focus on addressing racial bias to improve disparities in bladder cancer treatment.

Impact:

If we are not delivering evidence-based care due to these biases (after accounting for access and biology), then it is expected that patients will experience inferior outcomes.
Liquid Biopsy: General Concepts
Authors: Poulet Geoffroy , Massias Joséphine , Taly Valerie
Published: May 2019

Liquid biopsy provides the opportunity of detecting, analyzing and monitoring cancer in various body effluents such as blood or urine instead of a fragment of cancer tissue. It is composed of different biological matrices such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cell free nucleic acids, exosomes or tumors “educated platelets.” In addition to representing a non- or minimally invasive procedure, it should represent a better view of tumor heterogeneity and allows for real-time monitoring of cancer evolution. Recent technological and molecular advances, greatly facilitated by the use of microfluidics in many cases, have permitted large progresses both in our ability to purify and analyze liquid biopsy components. In particular, the great developments of droplet-based digital PCR and the various optimizations of next generation sequencing technologies are central to the several validations of CTC-free DNA as a strong cancer biomarker. However, complete adoption of liquid biopsy in clinics will require pursuing recent efforts in the standardization of procedures both on the pre-analytical and analytical aspects.
СОЦІАЛЬНИЙ МОНІТОРИНГ ЧИННИКІВ РИЗИКУ ВИНИКНЕННЯ ПЕРИНАТАЛЬНИХ УСКЛАДНЕНЬ У ЖІНОК, ЗАЛЕЖНИХ ВІД ТЮТЮНОКУРІННЯ
Authors: Dudchenko L. V. , Tsyntar S. A. , Boyko V. V.
Published: May 2019

Мета: визначити соціально-медичні чинники ризику виникнення перинатальних ускладнень у вагітних за умов тютюнокуріння.

Матеріали і методи. Обстежено 75 вагітних (основна група), яких поділено на 2 підгрупи: 1-А групу склали 45 вагітних, які курили сигарети протягом вагітності; 1-Б групу – 30 вагітних, які курили сигарети до вагітності й не зловживали тютюном упродовж теперішньої вагітності. Контрольну групу склали 40 здорових вагітних, які не курили.

Результати. Показано, що вагітні, залежні від тютюнокуріння, належать до високої групи соціального ризику. Встановлено, що ризик тютюнокуріння впродовж гестації підвищує частоту перинатальних ускладнень, проте частина вагітних жінок не в змозі відмовитися від куріння впродовж  гестації та вигодовування немовля грудьми. Доведено, що впровадження комплексної корекційно-реабілітаційної програми для таких жінок сприяє зниженню тютюнокуріння серед вагітних і зменшенню частоти перинатальних ускладнень.

Висновки. Тютюнокуріння є чинником ризику перинатальних ускладнень, а прегравідарна підготовка таких жінок має вирішальне значення щодо зниження перинатальної патології.
ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ ВИКОРИСТАННЯ ІНОЗИТОЛУ У ЖІНОК З СИНДРОМОМ ПОЛІКІСТОЗНИХ ЯЄЧНИКІВ (ОГЛЯД ЛІТЕРАТУРИ)
Authors: Khmil M. S. , Khmil-Doswald A. S. , Khmil S. V. , Pidhaina I. Ya.
Published: May 2019

Мета: провести аналіз сучасної вітчизняної та зарубіжної літератури відносно впливу інозитолу в прегравідарній підготовці у жінок з синдромом полікістозних яєчників.

Матеріали і методи. У дослідженні використано бібліосемантичний та аналітичний методи. Під час виконання дослідження було проведено огляд та проаналізовано 25 джерел сучасної вітчизняної та зарубіжної літератури щодо питань впливу інозитолу на репродуктивне здоров’я жінок із синдромом полікістозних яєчників.

Результати. Дефіцит інозитолу у жінок із синдромом полікістозних яєчників пов’язаний з поганою якістю ооцитів і порушенням фолікулогенезу.  Високі концентрації інозитолу в фолікулярній рідині асоціювались з високою якістю ооцитів та розвитком ембріонів хорошої якості. Також знайдена значна позитивна кореляція між концентраціями інозитолу та поділом запліднених яйцеклітин. Прегравідарна підготовка перед програмами допоміжних репродуктивних технологій, яка включала препарати з вмістом інозитолу, давала можливість знижувати дози рекомбінантного ФСГ, та тривалість стимуляції суперовуляції.

У пацієнток, які отримували інозитол, спостерігалося підвищення рівня естрадіолу та відновлення овуляції.   Застосування інозитолу також сприяло підвищенню рівня ліпопротеїнів високої щільності, зниженню рівнів тестостерону та збільшенні рівні прогестерону.  

Висновки. Синдром полікістозних яйників асоціюється з ендокринним безпліддям. Інозитол є ефективним у прегравідарній підготовці жінок з синдромом полікістозних яйників, впливаючи на відновлення метаболічних порушень. Відіграє вагомий вплив на репродуктивну функцію жінки (нормалізація регуляції менструального циклу, відновлення овуляції). Позитивно впливає на результати програм допоміжних репродуктивних технологій (покращує якість яйцеклітин та ембріонів, підвищуючи частоту настання вагітності).
Access to Justice for Children: Towards a Specific Research and Implementation Agenda
Authors: Liefaard Ton
Published: May 2019

Although the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises procedural rights of the child in addition to substantive rights, it is rather silent on the fundamental right to an effective remedy. The concept of access to justice for children has nevertheless emerged in the past decades and manifested itself firmly in the international human rights and sustainable development agendas. Access to justice is grounded in the right of the child to seek remedies in case of (alleged) rights violations. It implies legal empowerment of children and access to justice mechanisms and remedies that are child-sensitive. So far, access to justice, with a specific focus on children, lacks careful consideration, conceptualisation and contextualisation in academic research and writing. This contribution explores the meaning of access to justice for children, as a right and procedural concept, and paves the way for the development of a more specific research and implementation agenda.
The Principle of Evolving Capacities under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Authors: Varadan Sheila
Published: May 2019

The phrase “evolving capacities of the child” appears twice in the uncrc, under articles 5 and 14(2) in the framework of parental guidance. Yet the term “evolving capacities” appears over 80 times in the General Comments of the crc Committee. This paper examines the Committee’s use of “evolving capacities” in its General Comments, suggesting that the term has been treated as an enabling principle, an interpretative principle, and a policy principle within the framework of the uncrc. A broad principle of evolving capacities has thus emerged under the uncrc that informs not only the framework of parental guidance, but the whole of the Convention. However, the crc Committee does not recognise “evolving capacities” as a general principle or otherwise under the uncrc. This paper examines why this might be, and concludes that more consideration needs to be given to the role of “evolving capacities” as a principle under the uncrc.
Discrepancies between Lexical and Tonal Variation: A Case Study of the Thai Dialect of Samui Island
Authors: Kalaya Tingsabadh M.R. , Choophan Sirirat , Kitivongprateep Sunisa
Published: May 2019

Over the past twenty five years the study of Thai dialects has concentrated on the geographical variatio.n of either tones or lexical items. In the 1990s another type of Thai dialect study began to take shape - a combination. of geographical and social variation study. Age has been identified as the main factor influencing variation in Thai dialects. The new type of study has so far concentrated on lexical variation. This paper deals with both geographical and social variation and both lexical and tonal variation. The Thai variety investigated in this study is that of Southern Thai spoken on Samui Island in Sural Thani province. The areas covered are the seven subdistricts of the Samui Island district. Two parallel studies were undertaken culminating in two MA. theses. Research planning and data collection in these two studies were carried out jointly. Results show that there is no geographical variation in Samui Thai either in tonal or lexical usage. When considering social variation, however, this study confirms that age plays a very important role. It clearly influences lexical variation in Samui Thai but it does not influence tonal variation. While the 60-70 years old speakers still use Southern Thai and Samui Thai lexical items and tones, the 10-20 years old speakers readily adopt Standard Thai lexical items but they still use the same tone system and tonal characteristics as the 60-70 years old speakers. It is suggested that future studies should investigate age-based tonal and lexical variation in Standard Thai and Thai dialects further to obtain a better picture of the process of ongoing change in Thai.
The 2005 Year’s Work in Linguistics in Thailand
Authors: Kullavanijaya Pranee
Published: May 2019

A study of Thai linguistics works in 2005 shows that most are MA. theses and doctoral dissertations done by Thai students in five universities in Thailand and a few universities in the U.S.. and the UK.. Only three works analyse foreign languages, while the rest investigate the Bangkok Thai dialect. Five main areas are identified: sound and orthography, sociolinguistics, utterance semantics, lexical semantics and syntax-semantic interface. More works focus on the last two areas. With regard to the frameworks used in the analyses, pragmatics, discourse, and speech acts are found most often. Several topics such as village names, politeness, and slang, which have been studied previously, were investigated again in 2005 with different locations or different groups of speakers. Although such investigations may yield additional information on the topics, new questions or new probes into similar data may be preferable.
Self-Regulated Learning by Thai University Students in an EFL Extensive Reading Program
Authors: Pratontep Chitchon , Chinwonno Apasara
Published: May 2019

This study aims to investigate students’ self-regulated learning strategies and English reading comprehension in an ER program. There were 38 students participating in the study. The students were divided into upper and lower level groups according to their English reading comprehension pre-test mean scores. After 10 weeks of ER, findings show that there were significant differences between the students' English reading comprehension pre- and post-test mean scores, especially for the lower level group. Findings from the self-regulated learning interview schedule indicate that students reported frequently using metacognitive and performance regulation strategies. In addition, from the students' verbal protocols of reading, they reported using self-regulated learning strategies in the performance or volitional control phase more often than in the forethought or selfreflection phases. Pedagogical implications are presented and discussed.
Tonal Variation in the Lue Dialects of Thailand
Authors: Chaimano Kanita
Published: May 2019

This study analyzes the tonal variation of Lue dialects spoken in Thailand. These dialects are classified into groups based on structural differences in their tonal systems, and this classification then forms the basis for a linguistic map of Thailand’s Lue dialects. The data were collected from 45 villages in 7 provinces in the northern part of Thailand. Three informants were selected to represent each village, for a total of 135 informants participating in this research. William J.Gedney’s (1972) wordlist was used to elicit tonal data. The tonal features of the dialects were analyzed using auditory information and the personal computer programs “PRAAT, ver.4.5.12” and Microsoft Excel.
The Anxieties of the Silent Colonial Discourse in the Sheik
Authors: Moumni Omar
Published: May 2019

In this paper I examine the Orientalist discourse of the silent movie The Sheik and its contribution to the cultural construction of the Western empire. I argue that despite the orientalizing representation of the Arab “other,” this discourse fails to complete its mission and hence problematizes the cultural identity of the sheik. The movie focuses on the sheik as a villainous Arab whose identity, as the film develops, is revealed to be of European origin. This hybridity problematizes the colonial identitarian discourse, reflects cultural anxieties intrinsic to the West and disrupts the colonial dream of conquering and dominating the “other.”
Following the Buddha’s Path: The Buddha’s Life Story as the Model for Narrating the Lives of Phra Kechi Achan (Monks with Mystical Power) in Central Thailand
Authors: Puriwanchana Saipan
Published: May 2019

This article aims at studying the narratives of Phra Kechi Achan, (monks with mystical power) in central Thailand. Four monks’ life narratives, two from the Vipassana group and two from the Vidayagom group, are used as case studies. The study reveals that the narratives of all monks follow the structure of the Buddha’s life due to the Buddhist tradition of using the Buddha’s life as a paradigm to compose religious persons’ stories. However, the miraculous power of each monk is highlighted in his narrative. There is both miraculous power as found in the Buddhist canon and as influenced by Thai cultural beliefs and practices.
Multiple Meanings of the Pronoun/Haw/In Tai Lue
Authors: Rhekhalilit Kittinata
Published: May 2019

In many languages, personal pronouns are used to imply characteristics of speakers and social relationships between participants (Agha 2007). This is particularly true of members of the Tai language family, such as Zhuang (Kullavanijaya 2009), Standard Thai (Cooke 1968; Palakornkul 1972; Simpson 1997), Standard Lao (Enfield 1966; Compton 2002), Kham Mueang and Tai Lue (Rhekhalilit 2010). A number of studies of Southwestern Tai languages have found that the first person plural pronoun /haw/ or /raw/ can be used in several contexts, apart from referring to a group of speakers. For example, the pronoun /raw/ in Standard Thai indexes intimacy between participants when being used by particular individual speakers. The current paper investigates the Tai Lue first person plural pronoun and how it can be used in wider contexts. Adopting a qualitative approach, it aims at analyzing the pronoun /haw/ spoken in three dialects of Tai Lue, namely Tai Lue Chiang Mai (TLC), Tai Lue Luangphrabang (TLL), and Tai Lue Xishuangbanna (TLX). The data were collected through Labovian sociolinguistic interviews (1984), by which 27 informants were asked to narrate a story on controlled topics, and through participant observation. The analysis shows that the three selected dialects of Tai Lue concur in their use of the pronoun /haw/ as first person plural pronoun. However, it is found that each dialect uses pronoun the /haw/ with different shades of meaning when being used by individual speakers. Two dialects, TLC and TLL, tend to use the pronoun /haw/ to index intimacy while talking to addressees of younger age or lower social status. In TLX, pronoun /haw/ seems to be different in that it is exclusively used by monks. In conclusion, this study describes sociolinguistic use of the pronoun /haw/ in Tai Lue. It can be used either with unmarked first person plural meaning or first person singular meaning with some social indicates such as intimacy between participants and the status of monkhood.
A Historical Perspective of 有 Yǒu in the Chinese Language
Authors: Chawla Chanyaporn
Published: May 2019

In Chinese linguistics, there has been a long-term interest in the many uses of 有 yǒu. However, a number of these studies limit the functions of 有 yǒu only to a particular period (i.e. the Archaic or Modern period). Moreover, explanations as to why 有 yǒu lost its dominance and was substituted by other words is rarely given. Thus, this paper will synthesize the key interpretations on the variety of functions of 有 yǒu during their development from the Archaic to Modern Chinese periods, and provide explanations for its semantic and syntactic characteristics. In addition, this paper also supports Hopper and Traugott (2003)’s view that during the process of grammaticalization, a content word can shift its function to be a grammatical one.
Thai Impersonal Pronouns and Language Power
Authors: Indrambarya Kitima
Published: May 2019

Impersonal subjects are subjects unspecified for their reference. While previous analyses identified man 'it' and kháw as non-referential subject in Thai co-occurring with impersonal verbs (Indrambarya 1996, 2011, Phimsawat 2011), there exists the use of third person pronoun th ân ‘they’ as an impersonal pronoun. This paper aims at investigating how the three impersonal subjects in Thai exhibit the distance between speakers and reflect the language power inherited in different language registers.
Gao Xingjian’s Bus Stop: Dystopia in Contemporary China
Authors: Sasipanudej Nipon
Published: May 2019

This article aims to discuss how Gao Xingjian recontextualizes European dystopianism into China under Mao Zedong’s ideological manipulation of “utopia,” which the latter adopted from Karl Marx. The theme of absurd eternal waiting for a bus in Bus Stop is technically employed to criticize the Chinese dream of utopia and the idea of utopia itself as a whole. When the theme of waiting in Waiting for Godot is relocated into a Chinese context, it diverts from Western drama by means of Gao Xingjian's dramaturgical innovation as a blend of the East and the West. The absurdity in Bus Stop makes Chinese utopian desire fetishized as an eternal but ubiquitous zero, and becomes naked politics as utopia for desire and desire for utopia.
Linguistic Landscape: History, Trajectory and Pedagogy
Authors: Huebner Thom
Published: May 2019

Language as it appears in the public space, often referred to as “linguistic landscape,” has been the object of serious academic study for over a decade, resulting in several singled-authored and edited volumes, numerous articles in international journals, theses, dissertations, eight international workshops on four continents and at least one dedicated web site. In Asia, studies have been conducted in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Malaysia, among other countries. A 515 item bibliography compiled by Chula alum Robert Troyer can be found at www.zotero.org > groups > linguistic landscape bibliography.
Inside the Shop Names: Hybridity, Language Awareness and Globalization in the Linguistic Landscape of a Local Commercial Neighborhood in Bangkok
Authors: Prapobratanakul Chariya
Published: May 2019

The present study explores the patterns of language use and the influence of English on the shop names in the linguistic landscape of Si Yan market, a local commercial neighborhood in Bangkok, Thailand with respect to script, lexicon and syntax. Using photographs and interviews with the business owners as sources of data, analysis of the language in shop names showed that a combination of Thai script, lexicon and syntax were found most often, followed by shop names with a mix of Thai and English script, lexicon and/or syntax. Shop names written with English script, lexicon and syntax were a distant third. Shop names written in English script with Thai lexicon or syntax were not found in the area. The interviews with the business owners revealed that most of the creators of the shop names with a combination of Thai and English script, lexicon or syntax were not aware of the presence of English in the shop names. This study suggests that English lexical borrowing and the hybridization of language provide evidence not only of the globalization of English but also of the subconscious nature of the pervasive influence of English on Thai.
Frog Metaphors in Mo Yan’s Novel 蛙 /UA55/ (Frog): A Cognitive Perspective
Authors: Siqi Yao
Published: May 2019

《蛙》/ua55/ (frog) by the Nobel Prize winning Chinese author Mo Yan describes China’s changing its highly controversial one - child policy and system of forced abortions over the past half-century. Frog metaphors are omnipresent throughout the novel. The present study aims to investigate these metaphors within the framework of George Lakoff and Mark Johnson’s (1980) Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) and the “GREAT CHAIN OF BEING” system of George Lakoff and Mark Turner (1989) to deepen our understanding of their nature and manifestations. Zoltán Kövecses’s (2002) “HUMAN BEINGS ARE ANIMALS” and “ANIMALS ARE HUMAN BEINGS” were also considered as cognitive metaphorical models. Moreover, the viewpoint of “phonetic metaphor” initially proposed by Ivan Fónagy (1999) was also taken into account. Results were that in Mo Yan’s work, the frog plays an essential role in the conceptualizing conventional views of certain areas in China. The analysis demonstrates how a cognitive approach offers an effective way to explore the cognitive basis of the text’s view on the complex relationship between the basic human rights and the dilemmas of living in a repressive society. This paper also hopes to make a certain contribution to comprehending frog metaphors in terms of more clearly delineated concepts and ideology reflecting China’s real society of a one-child policy and its traditional counter - policy notion.
Urban Morphological Transformation of Riverfront Communities in the Nakhon Chaisri Basin, Thailand
Authors: Jittiwasurat Pornchai , Rattanathavorn Tapanee
Published: May 2019

The main objectives of this study were to analyze the urban morphological transformation of riverfront communities in agricultural areas in the Nakhon Chaisri river basin based on a spatial configuration model following the Theory of Urban Morphology and to compare their transformations from the past to present. The theory of urban morphology was used to create a pattern of transportation networks and open spaces on geographical maps; moreover, a field survey, interviews and a review of related literature were included. According to the analysis, the basin has undergone three noticeable phases of development as follows: 1) plantation-rice field-orchard areas encompassing the riverfront communities (1858–1957), 2) urban communities taking over plantation-rice field-orchard areas (1958–1992) and 3) urban sprawl (1993–present). Construction of roads and more buildings is the main reason for a change in the ecology and the spatial configuration of this area. Furthermore, three riverfront community markets – Bang Len in Bang Len District, Tha Na in Nakhon Chaisri District and Sam Phran market in Sam Phran District – have been transformed into urban communities. Tha Na market is the most urbanized due to its easy access to the land transportation network, followed by Sam Pran market and Bang Len market, respectively.
Taxonomic assessment of the termite genus Neotermes (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) in the Ryukyu-Taiwan Island arc, with description of a new species
Authors: YASHIRO TOSHIHISA , TAKEMATSU YOKO , OGAWA NAOKI , MATSUURA KENJI
Published: May 2019

The Ryukyu Archipelago of Japan is a recognized global biodiversity hotspot with many endemic species. However, our knowledge of the termite fauna of the Ryukyu Archipelago is insufficient. Here, we report a new species of endemic drywood termite (Kalotermitidae) from the Ryukyu Archipelago. Our systematic study of the genus Neotermes (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) from the Ryukyu–Taiwan Island arc using molecular and morphological methods found that N. koshunensis had also been composed of a second cryptic species, N. sugioi sp. nov. These two species are distributed allopatrically in the Ryukyu–Taiwan Island arc, with the former only in Taiwan and the latter only in the Ryukyu Archipelago. Our discovery of a new drywood termite species from the Ryukyu Archipelago suggests that both morphological and molecular assessments of the species now considered to be distributed widely in the Ryukyu–Taiwan Island arc are needed to clarify the termite fauna of the Ryukyu Archipelago. [Species Zoobank registration: http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E8C9693A-E24F-445D-8445-320564565964]
A new species of larval Caeculisoma (Acari: Erythraeidae: Callidosomatinae) ectoparasitic on insects from China and a revised generic diagnosis
Authors: XU SI-YUAN , YI TIAN-CI , GUO JIAN-JUN , JIN DAO-CHAO
Published: May 2019

Caeculisoma penlineatus Xu & Jin sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on larvae ectoparasitic on Hemiptera from Chongqing Municipality, Guizhou Province and Hainan Province, China. A modified generic diagnosis of larval Caeculisoma is also provided.
Late diagnosis of hypophosphatasia in a case with Unverricht-Lundborg disease
Authors: Zouwail Soha , Longworth Nathan , Grey Joseph , Nesbitt Mandy , Sisodiya Sanjay , Hamandi Khalid
Published: May 2019

A significant increase in the activity of serum alkaline phosphatase is commonly reported in patients on long-term antiepileptic treatment or after any uncomplicated fracture. We report a case of a 35-year-old male patient on five different anticonvulsant medications for treatment of the rare autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder, Unverricht-Lundborg disease. He presented with bilateral metatarsal fractures: however, his serum alkaline phosphatase activity remained below the lower limit of reference interval. Biochemical laboratory investigations revealed a longstanding low serum alkaline phosphatase and raised plasma pyridoxal-5′-phosphate concentration. Sequencing of genomic DNA revealed that he is heterozygous for a mutation in the ALPL gene, which is consistent with the diagnosis of hypophosphatasia.
GST Pass-through Across Indian Sates: Evidence from Difference-in-Differences
Authors: Das Debashree
Published: May 2019

This article analyses whether there exists any short-term inflationary pressure on Indian economy post Goods and Services Tax (GST) implementation. It was found that the introduction of GST showed no significant effect on the rate of change of consumer price index (CPI). Though, the effect of the GST implementation on consumer prices in India showed no significant change in the short term, the impact needs to monitored and observed for the long term, because the current state of economic conditions may have led to a delayed pass-through of the GST increase into consumer prices. To estimate the pass-through effect on prices due to GST implementation from 1 July 2017, various graphical and statistical methods are used to ascertain whether there has been any significant pass-through of GST on CPI– ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, and difference-in differences (DID) estimation technique has been used. The impact of post- and pre-implementation of GST has been analysed through DID by segregating the data set on the basis of treatment and control groups. The non-special category states have been taken as the treatment group and remaining special category states as control group. The results indicate that there is no significant evidence of upward bias in the CPI post GST implementation; these conventional estimates hold true for all states that were segmented based on revenue distribution and contribution to gross domestic product (GDP).

JEL: D78, H20, H22
Seroprevalence of dengue in blood donors in an outbreak: experience of a blood bank in north India
Authors: Jain Ashish , Jain Sanchit , Chowdhury Nilotpal
Published: May 2019

Our aim was to determine the prevalence of dengue among blood donors at a centre in north India during an outbreak. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using stored serum samples of 369 blood donors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh between August and November 2016. Serum samples were tested by an immune-chromatographic rapid test for the screening of dengue markers (IgG/IgM and NS-1). We found prevalence rates of IgG and NS-1 to be 14.9 and 0.54%, respectively.
Transporting People with Visual Impairments: Knowledge of University Campus Public Transportation Workers
Authors: Fast Danene K. , Wild Tiffany A.
Published: May 2019

Introduction:

To support independent travel skills and accessibility for people with visual impairments (i.e., those who are blind or have low vision), this research acknowledges bus driver perceptions of visual impairment and investigates how bus drivers interact with visually impaired travelers who ride public transportation.

Methods:

This study utilized the Social Responsibility about Blindness Scale and a researcher-created instrument to explore how bus drivers interact with visually impaired travelers.

Results:

Fifty-five drivers participated in this study, with 94.55% of these drivers reporting that they have had experiences interacting with visually impaired passengers. The top concern drivers reported was ensuring these passengers located the correct stop (26.56%). Using Likert-type scale ratings to assess driver knowledge and role in assisting passengers with vision loss, overall mean average of driver knowledge was 3.33 ( SD = 1.09, V = 1.23), indicating, as a whole, driver knowledge was in the range of “unsure/don’t know.”

Discussion:

Although many campus area bus drivers have experience interacting with passengers who are visually impaired, the attitude of drivers toward visual impairment is varied, and their knowledge of visual impairments is limited.

Implications for practitioners:

Based on results, drivers recognize that accommodations may be needed for passengers with vision loss, and they have an interest in learning how to assist passengers who are visually impaired who ride campus transportation. Based on this outcome, in-service training for drivers to address interactions and accommodations for passengers with vision loss may be warranted within public transportation operations.
Determining Type and Amount of Service Delivery Time by Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments: Results of a National Validation Study of the VISSIT
Authors: Pogrund Rona L. , Darst Shannon , Munro Michael
Published: May 2019

Introduction:

This research followed the lead of an initial validation study and responded to the call from the state education agency–endorsed Service Intensity Subcommittee of the Texas Action Committee for the Education of Students with Visual Impairments to conduct a larger scale validation study on the Visual Impairment Scale of Service Intensity of Texas (VISSIT).

Methods:

The authors collected survey data from 77 respondents using a mixed-methods survey research design. These data were used to determine the VISSIT’s validity and reliability. Participants represented urban, suburban, and rural geographic regions across 20 U.S. states.

Results:

The results of the national study showed that the VISSIT has social validity, which was supported by both ease of use and acceptability of the tool. The VISSIT’s consequential and content validity were also supported by the data collected. The internal consistency reliability showed reliability for the VISSIT with a Cronbach’s alpha calculated as being .935. Based on the results presented here, in which the social, consequential, and content validity of the VISSIT have been confirmed, it can also be confidently asserted that the VISSIT is construct valid.

Discussion:

The findings of this national study indicate an overall positive response to the usability and understandability of the VISSIT. Participants used the tool to provide quantifiable documentation to identify accurate student need for service across all expanded core curriculum areas as well as to provide administrators and families with research-based data to justify service type and time.

Implications for practitioners:

Respondents in the national study saw the VISSIT as an effective way to take student evaluation data and convert those results into a measurable recommendation for service type and intensity. The VISSIT helps a teacher of students with visual impairments to document how much time is needed for both direct and collaborative consultation services, as appropriate for each individual student.
The University Perspective: A Summary of Two Panel Sessions at the AFB Leadership Conference Concerning Educational Topics
Authors: McManus Hailey , McManus Chantal
Published: May 2019

Editor’s Note: This commentary is based on the conference sessions, “Preparing Teachers to Work with Students with CVI: The University Perspective,” by Laura Bozeman, Mindy Ely, Kathryn Botsford, and Yue-Ting Siu; and “Mentoring Doctoral and Other Students to Contribute Critical Research to JVIB,” facilitated by Sandra Lewis, Rona Pogrund, and Rebecca Burrichter, which took place Thursday, February 28, 2019, and Friday, March 1, 2019, respectively, at the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) Leadership Conference in Arlington, VA.
Gender, Race, and Grant Reviews: Translating and Responding to Research Feedback
Authors: Biernat Monica , Carnes Molly , Filut Amarette , Kaatz Anna
Published: May 2019

Grant-writing and grant-getting are key to success in many academic disciplines, but research points to gender gaps in both, especially as careers progress. Using a sample of National Institutes of Health (NIH) K-Awardees—Principal Investigators of Mentored Career Development Awards—we examined gender and race effects in response to imagined negative grant reviews that emphasized either promise or inadequacy. Women translated both forms of feedback into worse NIH priority scores than did men and showed reduced motivation to reapply for funding following the review highlighting inadequacy. Translation of feedback mediated the effects of gender on motivation, changing one’s research focus, and advice-seeking. Race effects were less consistent, and race did not moderate effects of gender. We suggest that gender bias in grant reviews (i.e., greater likelihood of highlighting inadequacy in reviews of women’s grants), along with gender differences in responsiveness to feedback, may contribute to women’s underrepresentation in academic medicine.
Memory impairment in spontaneously hypertensive rats is associated with hippocampal hypoperfusion and hippocampal vascular dysfunction
Authors: Johnson Abbie C , Miller Justin E , Cipolla Marilyn J
Published: May 2019

We investigated the effect of chronic hypertension on hippocampal arterioles (HippAs) and hippocampal perfusion as underlying mechanisms of memory impairment, and how large artery stiffness relates to HippA remodeling. Using male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar rats ( n = 12/group), long-term (LTM) and spatial memory were tested using object recognition and spontaneous alternation tasks. Hippocampal blood flow was measured via hydrogen clearance basally and during hypercapnia. Reactivity of isolated and pressurized HippAs to pressure and pharmacological activators and inhibitors was investigated. To determine large artery stiffness, distensibility and elastin content were measured in thoracic aorta. SHR had impaired LTM and spatial memory associated with decreased basal blood flow (68 ± 12 mL/100 g/min) vs. Wistar (111 ± 28 mL/100 g/min, p < 0.01) that increased during hypercapnia similarly between groups. Compared to Wistar, HippAs from SHR had increased tone at 60 mmHg (58 ± 9% vs. 37 ± 7%, p < 0.01), and decreased reactivity to small- and intermediate-conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK/IK) channel activation. HippAs in both groups were unaffected by NOS inhibition. Decreased elastin content correlated with increased stiffness in aorta of SHR that was associated with increased stiffness and hypertrophic remodeling of HippAs. Hippocampal vascular dysfunction during hypertension could potentiate memory deficits and may provide a therapeutic target to limit vascular cognitive impairment.
Altered brain network centrality in patients with trigeminal neuralgia: a resting-state fMRI study
Authors: Zhu Pei-Wen , Chen You , Gong Ying-Xin , Jiang Nan , Liu Wen-Feng , Su Ting , Ye Lei , Min You-Lan , Yuan Qing , He Lai-Chang , Shao Yi
Published: May 2019

Background

Neuroimaging studies revealed that trigeminal neuralgia was related to alternations in brain anatomical function and regional function. However, the functional characteristics of network organization in the whole brain is unknown.

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to analyze potential functional network brain-activity changes and their relationships with clinical features in patients with trigeminal neuralgia via the voxel-wise degree centrality method.

Material and Methods

This study involved a total of 28 trigeminal neuralgia patients (12 men, 16 women) and 28 healthy controls matched in sex, age, and education. Spontaneous brain activity was evaluated by degree centrality. Correlation analysis was used to examine the correlations between behavioral performance and average degree centrality values in several brain regions.

Results

Compared with healthy controls, trigeminal neuralgia patients had significantly higher degree centrality values in the right lingual gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, left paracentral lobule, and bilateral inferior cerebellum. Receiver operative characteristic curve analysis of each brain region confirmed excellent accuracy of the areas under the curve. There was a positive correlation between the mean degree centrality value of the right postcentral gyrus and VAS score (r = 0.885, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Trigeminal neuralgia causes abnormal brain network activity in multiple brain regions, which may be related to underlying disease mechanisms.
Parents welcome follow-up using mobile devices: A survey of acceptability at an Australian tertiary paediatric centre
Authors: Smallbone Harry E , Drake-Brockman Thomas FE , von Ungern-Sternberg Britta S
Published: May 2019

Follow-up for ongoing management and monitoring of patients is important in clinical practice and research. While common, telephone follow-up is resource intensive and, in our experience, yields low success rates. Electronic communication using mobile devices including smartphones and tablets can provide efficient alternatives — including SMS (text), online forms and mobile apps. To assess attitudes towards electronic follow-up, we surveyed 642 parents and carers at Perth Children’s Hospital, targeting demographics, device ownership and attitudes towards electronic follow-up. Mobile phone ownership was effectively universal. Almost all respondents were happy to communicate electronically with the hospital. Promisingly, 93.2% of respondents were happy to receive follow-up SMSs from the hospital and 80.3% were happy to reply to SMS questions. There was less enthusiasm regarding other modalities, with 59.9% happy to use a website and 69.0% happy to use a mobile app. The results support the introduction of electronic communication for follow-up in our paediatric population.
Adapting Procurement Models for Electric Buses in Latin America
Authors: Orbea Jone , Castellanos Sebastian , Albuquerque Cristina , Sclar Ryan , Pinheiro Berta
Published: May 2019

Bus services are a fundamental component of transportation networks in Latin America, but buses often account for a disproportionately large number of environmental externalities. Electric buses (e-buses) are emerging as an effective and pragmatic option for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and local pollutants. However, e-buses are difficult to procure in Latin America because of existing procurement challenges in the region, especially as those challenges relate to forming contracts to deal with high upfront costs and unknown risks. To overcome these procurement issues, this paper presents a new contractual model, based on literature and case study research. This new model suggests the separation of bus service responsibilities into three separate actors: multiple bus procurement companies, one or multiple bus depots and charging infrastructure companies, and multiple bus operating companies. By separating bus service responsibilities, the proposed model would bring about three concrete improvements: lower costs to the transit system, better quality of service, and lower-emission fleet deployment.
Vulnerability Assessment during Mass Evacuation: Integrated Microsimulation-Based Evacuation Modeling Approach
Authors: Alam MD Jahedul , Habib Muhammad Ahsanul
Published: May 2019

This study develops an integrated microsimulation-based evacuation model that performs a vulnerability assessment of the Halifax Peninsula, Canada during an evacuation. The proposed framework of vulnerability assessment accounts for long-term changes in neighborhood composition in relation to socio-demographic characteristics, residential locations, and vehicle ownership. The results of a large-scale urban systems model and a flood risk model are used to inform the vulnerability assessment. The urban systems model encapsulates long-term household decisions and life stage transitions in measuring social vulnerability. The flood risk model provides information on flood severity and finer network disruptions. In addition, a dynamic traffic assignment-based microsimulation model is developed to assess mobility vulnerability during an evacuation. One of the key contributions of this study is that it utilizes a Bayesian Belief Network modeling approach for vulnerability assessment, while addressing uncertainty and causal relationships between different elements of vulnerability. The results suggest that the Peninsula zones are at a relatively higher risk from a mobility point of view. A sensitivity analysis reveals that clearance time has been found to be the key determinant of the mobility vulnerability during an evacuation. “Presence of female” and “presence of seniors” are found as the two most significant contributors of social vulnerability. Several peripheral zones are at a higher risk because of their proximity to the flood source. The proposed research will help emergency professionals and engineers to develop effective evacuation plans in relation to vulnerable areas.
Properties and Function of the Medial Patellofemoral Ligament: A Systematic Review
Authors: Huber Christian , Zhang Qiang , Taylor William R. , Amis Andrew A. , Smith Colin , Hosseini Nasab Seyyed Hamed
Published: May 2019

Background:

As the main passive structure preventing patellar lateral subluxation, accurate knowledge of the anatomy, material properties, and functional behavior of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) is critical for improving its reconstruction.

Purpose:

To provide a state-of-the-art understanding of the properties and function of the MPFL by undertaking a systematic review and statistical analysis of the literature.

Study Design:

Systematic review.

Methods:

On June 26, 2018, data for this systematic review were obtained by searching PubMed and Scopus. Articles containing numerical information regarding the anatomy, mechanical properties, and/or functional behavior of the MPFL that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed, recorded, and statistically evaluated.

Results:

A total of 55 articles met the inclusion criteria for this review. The MPFL presented as a fanlike structure spanning from the medial femoral epicondyle to the medial border of the patella. The reported data indicated ultimate failure loads from 72 N to 208 N, ultimate failure elongation from 8.4 mm to 26 mm, and stiffness values from 8.0 N/mm to 42.5 N/mm. In both cadaveric and in vivo studies, the average elongation pattern demonstrated close to isometric behavior of the ligament in the first 50° to 60° of knee flexion, followed by progressive shortening into deep flexion. Kinematic data suggested clear lateralization of the patella in the MPFL-deficient knee during early knee flexion under simulated muscle forces.

Conclusion:

A lack of knowledge regarding the morphology and attachment sites of the MPFL remains. The reported mechanical properties also lack consistency, thus requiring further investigations. However, the results regarding patellar tracking confirm that the lack of an MPFL leads to lateralization of the patella, followed by delayed engagement of the trochlear groove, plausibly leading to an increased risk of patellar dislocations. The observed isometric behavior up to 60° of knee flexion plausibly suggests that reconstruction of the ligament can occur at flexion angles below 60°, including the 30° and 60° range as recommended in previous studies.
A new reporting approach for journalistic impact: Bringing together investigative reporting and solutions journalism
Authors: Walth Brent , Dahmen Nicole Smith , Thier Kathryn
Published: May 2019

Investigative reporting identifies social problems and names people in power who should be held accountable. Solutions journalism is an evidence-based reporting approach that covers credible responses to social problems. To consider these reporting approaches in tandem, this research uses a quantitative content analysis to examine both investigative and solutions reporting in an effort to determine to what extent a combined reporting approach of these two genres may already exist in journalistic practice.
Novel trends in self-healable polymer nanocomposites
Authors: Idumah CI
Published: May 2019

Polymer composites for structural applications are prone to damage emanating from cracks which are formed within the material, where detection is not easy and repairing almost not feasible. Material cracking results in mechanical deterioration of polymer composites for microelectronic components, which can result in electrical failure. Microcracking occurring as a result of thermally and mechanically induced fatigue is challenging for effective polymer performance. Self-healing composites are materials exhibiting capability of automatically recovering when damaged. They derive their inspiration through biological systems similar to the human skin, which exhibit a natural tendency to undergo healing by themselves. Stretchability is a factor enabling electronic devices to properly align to irregular 3-D structures, such as soft and movable parts. Stretchable electronics offers materials with the ability to conform to soft and nonplanar composites while enabling movement of biological tissues. Therefore, this article elucidates very recently emerging advancements on self-healing composites, stretchable composites, and sensors. Future market disposition and application of self-healing composites are also presented.