bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Initial participation as a predictor for continuous participation in population-based colorectal cancer screening
Authors: Saraste Deborah , Öhman Daniel J , Sventelius Marika , Elfström K Miriam , Blom Johannes , Törnberg Sven
Published: August 2017

Objectives

To assess patterns and probabilities of participation in multiple rounds of colorectal cancer screening.

Methods

All individuals who were invited to participate in population-based colorectal cancer screening in the Stockholm-Gotland region in Sweden between 1 January 2008 and 30 September 2015 were included in the study. Guaiac-based faecal occult blood testing was used. All individuals invited to the three first consecutive screening rounds were included in the analysis.

Results

There were 346,168 individuals eligible for invitation to screening. The average participation rate during the follow-up period was 60%. Eligible individuals could be invited 1–4 times, depending on age at first invitation. Of 48,959 individuals invited to the three first consecutive rounds of screening, 71% participated at least once, and 50% participated in all three rounds. Participation at first invitation was a predictor for participation in subsequent rounds, and the likelihood of continuous participation following participation in the first round was 84%. Of those who attended the first and second rounds, 93% also participated in the third round. Similar patterns of consistency were seen among non-participants. For individuals not participating in the first screening round, the likelihood of consistent non-participation was 71.

Conclusions

Participation in the first round of screening is a strong predictor for participation in subsequent rounds. Therefore, reducing barriers for initial participation is a key for achieving consistent participation over several rounds in organized colorectal cancer screening programmes.
Book Review: A. Carl LeVan (Ed.), Dictators and Democracy in African Development: The Political Economy of Good Governance in Nigeria
Authors: Wapmuk Sharkdam
Published: August 2017

A. Carl LeVan (Ed.), Dictators and Democracy in African Development: The Political Economy of Good Governance in Nigeria, Cambridge, New York, 2015, pp. 282, US$ 31.99, ISBN: 978-1-107-08114-7
Book Review: Koos Stadler (Ed.), Recce: Small Team Missions behind Enemy Lines
Authors: Wessels André
Published: August 2017

Koos Stadler (Ed.), Recce: Small Team Missions behind Enemy Lines, Oxford and Philadelphia, Casemate Publishers, 2015, pp. 352, ₹250, ISBN 978-161200-404-4.
The Politics of Ethnocentrism: A Viability Test of Ghana’s Democracy?
Authors: Faanu Pamphilious , Graham Emmanuel
Published: August 2017

The article assesses the use of ethnocentrism as a political strategy in Ghana’s electoral politics and the threat it poses to Ghana’s democracy. It focuses on the strategic ethno-political communication employed by politicians to wield voter support and how voters behave at polls. It reveals that prior to independence Ghana’s political parties were predominantly formed along ethnic and regional dimensions. This transcends into the current dispensation, as the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party are tagged as Ewe-Northerners party and Akans party, respectively. These ethnic affiliations tend to influence voters’ behaviour at the polls. There is, therefore, an increasing incidence of non-evaluative voting because of ethnocentrism in the Ghanaian political domain. As a result, politicking in Ghana tends to rely heavily on ethnic dimensions to solicit votes using the media as the main platform. The incidence of ethno-politics in Ghana has the tendency to reverse the democratic successes chalked because of the unnecessary tensions that are often associated with ethnic politics. This article recommends the need for responsible media practice to minimise this rising phenomenon in Ghana’s electoral politics. Also, it is our suggestion that the Political Parties ACT 574(2000) and the concerned articles of the 1992 constitution be reviewed to place sanctions on ethnocentrism as a political strategy.
The resurgence of gig work: Historical and theoretical perspectives
Authors: Stanford Jim
Published: August 2017

Digital platform businesses primarily utilise on-call contingent workers, using their own tools and equipment, to perform the productive work associated with the supplied service. The expansion of this business model has led some to proclaim that traditional ‘jobs’ will come to an end. Some welcome this development, others fear its consequences for the stability and quality of work – but most see it as driven primarily by technology, and therefore largely ‘inevitable’. This article provides historical and theoretical perspective on the expansion of digitally mediated work, to better understand the range of forces (technological, economic and socio-political) at work. It shows that the major features of platform work were all visible in earlier periods of capitalism, but they became less prominent with the rise of the ‘standard employment relationship’ in the 20th century. The rise and fall of the standard employment relationship is described with reference to the changing context for the labour extraction effort of private employers. A better understanding of the complete range of forces driving changes in work organisation, and a rejection of the assumption that they are technologically determined and hence inevitable, can inform regulatory and political responses to the rise of platform work.
Developing the Emotional Intelligence of Undergraduate Music Education Majors: An Exploratory Study Using Bradberry and Greaves’ (2009) Emotional Intelligence 2.0
Authors: McGinnis Emily J.
Published: August 2017

Research focused on the relationship of emotional intelligence (EI) to academic and professional success in education, and whether and how it might be taught and learned, is inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to examine the degree to which undergraduate music education majors experienced a change in EI after implementing strategies from Emotional Intelligence 2.0. Participants included 10 junior-year music education majors enrolled in a semester-long music teaching foundations course. Participants predicted their EI scores, completed the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal pretest, and, following instruction, completed the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal posttest. Results indicate a significant difference between predicted and pretest scores, as well as between pretest and posttest scores. While undergraduate music education majors overestimated their EI prior to instruction, EI was improved by using the Emotional Intelligence 2.0 model in combination with classroom instruction.
How Gender Conditions the Way Citizens Evaluate and Engage with Their Representatives
Authors: Costa Mia , Schaffner Brian F.
Published: August 2017

Scholars argue that women’s presence in politics enhances symbolic representation, such as positive evaluations of one’s representative and increased political engagement. However, there is little empirical evidence of these symbolic benefits from descriptive representation. With data from the Cooperative Congressional Election Study panel survey, we examine how a change in the gender of a representative affects individuals’ perceptions of that representative and likelihood to contact them. In general, we find that women express more positive evaluations of female representatives than male representatives, yet they are also less likely to contact female representatives. By contrast, the effect of an elected official’s gender does not significantly affect how men evaluate or engage with that official. However, we also show that partisanship conditions these effects, perhaps due to the fact that gender stereotypes operate differently for Democrats than Republicans. For example, women rate female Republican legislators more positively than they do male Republican legislators, but neither women nor men rate Democratic legislators differently based on their gender. The findings provide strong evidence that gender matters when it comes to representation, but contrary to some conventional wisdom, female elected officials may actually enjoy some advantages in terms of their standing among constituents.
Coexistent Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Granular Cell Tumor of Head and Neck Region: Report of Two Very Rare Cases and Review of the Literature
Authors: Caroppo Danila , Salerno Grazia , Merolla Francesco , Mesolella Massimo , Ilardi Gennaro , Pagliuca Francesca , De Dominicis Gianfranco , Califano Luigi , Ciancia Giuseppe , Russo Daniela , Mascolo Massimo
Published: August 2017

Granular cell tumor (GCT), a relatively rare neuroectodermal tumor occurring most often in the head and neck region, is not uncommonly associated with pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia of the overlying surface epithelium, which may be at times nonreadily distinguishable from well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). To the best of our knowledge, only a handful of coexisting SCC and GCT, mostly described in the esophagus, have been reported in (the current) literature so far. We herein report 2 new cases of coexisting GCT and SCC of the head and neck region, located, respectively, in larynx and tongue; comment on their clinical, imaging, and pathologic features; and discuss their management. In the present work, we also review the literature concerning this association to contribute to the head and neck pathologists’ and surgeons’ awareness regarding the possibility of this association for an adequate surgical excision and a better management of these patients.
Career Planning Confidence Among Facebook Users
Authors: Poncy George , Kim Mijin , Ramos Katherine , Lopez Frederick G.
Published: August 2017

As a highly popular social networking site (SNS) for exchanging information about their personal activities, values, goals, and accomplishments with their online “friends,” Facebook (FB)© enables social comparisons and identity negotiations that may influence college students’ career planning confidence. However, to date, no studies have examined whether FB use activities and “friend” networks are uniquely associated with such confidence when dispositional variables associated with students’ needs for belongingness and self-presentation are concurrently controlled. In the present study, participants provided information about their FB use activities and networks and completed self-report measures of adult attachment security, authenticity, career decision self-efficacy, and career aspirations. We hypothesized that, controlling for features of FB use, adult attachment security and authenticity would make significant and incremental contributions to our indicators of career confidence and that authenticity would mediate expected relations between attachment security and these outcomes. Our findings yielded general support for these hypotheses. Implications for career counseling practice that considers both clients’ relational dispositions and uses of social media are discussed.
Trait Emotional Intelligence Predicts Academic Satisfaction Through Career Adaptability
Authors: Celik Pinar , Storme Martin
Published: August 2017

In the current work we investigated whether trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) contributes to academic satisfaction and explored a potential mechanism to explain this effect. Building on career construction theory (CCT), we hypothesized that trait EI is positively associated with academic satisfaction through enhancing career-specific coping resources—the so-called career adapt-abilities. Using structural equation modeling, we tested the relationship between trait EI and academic satisfaction and the mediating role of career adaptability among undergraduate students ( N = 410). Results showed that trait EI is a positive predictor of academic satisfaction and that career adaptability mediates this relationship. These results suggest that the contribution of trait EI to academic satisfaction is partly due to increased perceptions of career adaptability. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.
Liposomal Bupivacaine Versus Continuous Popliteal Sciatic Nerve Block in Total Ankle Arthroplasty
Authors: Mulligan Ryan P. , Morash Joel G. , DeOrio James K. , Parekh Selene G.
Published: August 2017

Background:

Liposomal bupivacaine (LB) is widely used in joint arthroplasty, but there is little reported on the use of LB in foot and ankle surgery. Continuous popliteal sciatic nerve block (CPSNB) is more commonly used for major foot and ankle reconstructions. The purpose of this study was to compare use of intraoperative LB injection to CPSNB as a regional anesthetic for total ankle arthroplasty (TAA), with attention to postoperative pain scores, narcotic use, and complications.

Methods:

Retrospective review of TAA patients of 2 fellowship-trained orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons was performed. Patients received either preoperative single-shot popliteal sciatic nerve block with 0.2% ropivacaine followed by intraoperative injection of LB or preoperative CPSNB alone. Outcomes examined were visual analog scale (VAS) pain score at 8 hours, 24 hours, 1 week, and 3 weeks following surgery; need for opioid pain medication refill; physician office notification for pain issues or other adverse events; and complications within the first 90 days following surgery. Standard statistical analysis was performed, and P < .05 was considered significant. Seventy-five patients were identified who underwent TAA and met inclusion criteria. Forty-one received LB, and 34 received CPSNB.

Results:

No statistical difference was seen between groups with regard to complications, emergency department visits, readmissions, reoperations, VAS pain score at any time point, physician office contacts, and narcotic refills. Sixteen of 41 (39%) LB patients had narcotic refills, versus 12 of 34 (35%) CPSNB patients ( P = .81). Two of 41 (5%) LB patients had a complication postoperatively, versus 4 of 34 (12%) CPSNB patients. There were no complications specific to the anesthetic used in either group.

Conclusion:

This is the first study evaluating the use of LB for total ankle arthroplasty. Liposomal bupivacaine was safe and effective as an option for regional anesthetic and postoperative pain control, with comparable results to CPSNB.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective comparative study.
Embedded-Based Graphics Processing Unit Cluster Platform for Multiple Sequence Alignments
Authors: Wei Jyh-Da , Cheng Hui-Jun , Lin Chun-Yuan , Ye Jin , Yeh Kuan-Yu
Published: August 2017

High-end graphics processing units (GPUs), such as NVIDIA Tesla/Fermi/Kepler series cards with thousands of cores per chip, are widely applied to high-performance computing fields in a decade. These desktop GPU cards should be installed in personal computers/servers with desktop CPUs, and the cost and power consumption of constructing a GPU cluster platform are very high. In recent years, NVIDIA releases an embedded board, called Jetson Tegra K1 (TK1), which contains 4 ARM Cortex-A15 CPUs and 192 Compute Unified Device Architecture cores (belong to Kepler GPUs). Jetson Tegra K1 has several advantages, such as the low cost, low power consumption, and high applicability, and it has been applied into several specific applications. In our previous work, a bioinformatics platform with a single TK1 (STK platform) was constructed, and this previous work is also used to prove that the Web and mobile services can be implemented in the STK platform with a good cost-performance ratio by comparing a STK platform with the desktop CPU and GPU. In this work, an embedded-based GPU cluster platform will be constructed with multiple TK1s (MTK platform). Complex system installation and setup are necessary procedures at first. Then, 2 job assignment modes are designed for the MTK platform to provide services for users. Finally, ClustalW v2.0.11 and ClustalWtk will be ported to the MTK platform. The experimental results showed that the speedup ratios achieved 5.5 and 4.8 times for ClustalW v2.0.11 and ClustalWtk, respectively, by comparing 6 TK1s with a single TK1. The MTK platform is proven to be useful for multiple sequence alignments.
Incidence, prognostic factors and impact of postoperative delirium after major vascular surgery: A meta-analysis and systematic review
Authors: Aitken Sarah Joy , Blyth Fiona M , Naganathan Vasi
Published: August 2017

Although postoperative delirium is a common complication and increases patient care needs, little is known about the predictors and outcomes of delirium in patients having vascular surgery. This review aimed to determine the incidence, prognostic factors and impact of postoperative delirium in vascular surgical patients. MEDLINE and EMBASE were systematically searched for articles published between January 2000 and January 2016 on delirium after vascular surgery. The primary outcome was the incidence of delirium. Secondary outcomes were contributing prognostic factors and impact of delirium. Study quality and risk of bias was assessed using the QUIPS tool for systematic reviews of prognostic studies, and MOOSE guidelines for reviews of observational studies. Quantitative analyses of extracted data were conducted using meta-analysis where possible to determine incidence of delirium and prognostic factors. A qualitative review of outcomes was performed. Fifteen articles were eligible for inclusion. Delirium incidence ranged between 5% and 39%. Meta-analysis found that patients with delirium were older than those without delirium (OR 3.6, p<0.001). Prognostic factors predicting delirium included increased age (OR 1.04, p<0.001), pre-existing cognitive impairment (OR 9.8, p=0.01), hypertension, pre-existing depression and open aortic surgery. Delirious patients remained in hospital 6 days longer ( p<0.001) and had more complications than patients without delirium. Data were limited on the impact of procedure complexity, endovascular compared to open surgery or type of anaesthetic. Postoperative delirium occurs frequently, resulting in major morbidity for vascular patients. Improved quality of prognostic studies may identify modifiable peri-operative factors to improve quality of care for vascular surgical patients.
Digital, politics, and algorithms
Authors: Bellanova Rocco
Published: August 2017

Many actors mobilize the cognitive, legal and technical tool-box of data protection when they discuss and address controversial issues such as digital mass surveillance. Yet, critical approaches to the digital only barely explore the politics of data protection in relation to data-driven governance. Building on governmentality studies and Actor-Network-Theory, this article analyses the potential and limits of using data protection to critique the ‘digital age’. Using the conceptual tool of dispositifs, it sketches an analytics of data protection and the emergence of its configuration as ‘data protection by design and by default’. This exploration reminds us that governing through data implies, first and foremost, governing digital data.
Elastoplastic analysis with fine beam model of vector form intrinsic finite element
Authors: Yuan XF , Chen C , Duan YF , Qian RJ
Published: August 2017

A new fine beam model of vector form intrinsic finite element is proposed to conduct elastoplastic analysis of beams with different depth–span ratios. Vector form intrinsic finite element is a new structural analysis method to compute large deformation, collision, and fracture problems. The presented fine beam model is different from Euler beam or Timoshenko beam. The coupled effects of multifactor are considered in this new model, such as shear deformation, additional axial displacement induced by additional rotation of cross section, and additional transverse displacements considering bending stiffness reduction due to shear deformation. Applying to vector form intrinsic finite element analysis, the formula of strain and internal force of this new beam model is derived. The plane cross-sectional assumption is also modified when the material is at plastic stage. Using the proposed model, computer programs are developed by Fortran. Comparison between the computational results by present method and numerical or experimental results in the literature shows that the present fine beam model of vector form intrinsic finite element is more efficient and accurate when the analyzed beam has a large depth–span ratio and material is at plastic stage.
Accomplice, patron, go-between? A role to play with poor migrant Qur’anic students in northern Nigeria
Authors: Hoechner Hannah
Published: August 2017

What does it mean to conduct ethnographic research in a context where inequalities are pervasive? Drawing on experiences conducting research with poor migrant Qur’anic students ( almajirai) in Kano, northern Nigeria, this article explores the challenges of establishing productive and ethical research relationships with informants whose social and socioeconomic status is significantly lower than that of the researcher. The article argues that large socioeconomic and educational inequalities demand a rethinking of the subject positions available to researchers in such contexts. In the article, I consider in turn my roles as an ‘accomplice’ of exclusionary elite behaviour, as a ‘patron’ for my informants, and as a ‘go-between’ facilitating access for them to otherwise inaccessible ‘social microworlds’.
Are today’s youth more tolerant? Trends in tolerance among young people in Britain
Authors: Janmaat Jan G. , Keating Avril
Published: August 2017

Attitudes towards social groups that have traditionally been marginalised or discriminated against have changed markedly in Britain over the past three decades. This change is particularly marked in attitudes towards homosexuality and racial diversity which, as public opinion surveys have regularly shown, have become more accepting over time. This change is often attributed to older, less tolerant generations being replaced by young cohorts who are more inclusive and open minded in their attitudes to cultural others. The paper explores this argument by examining trends in people’s attitudes towards a variety of minorities, including the said groups, but also immigrants and foreign workers. It starts with a discussion of several perspectives predicting different trends with regards to these attitudes. A distinction is made between optimistic ones (i.e. those anticipating rising levels of tolerance) and pessimistic ones (i.e. those expecting stable or declining levels of tolerance). Subsequently, the paper presents trend analyses and an analysis of age, cohort and period effects to broadly assess the explanatory power of these perspectives. Using these approaches, we find that tolerance towards racial minorities and homosexuality has indeed risen across the board, and that young people are also more accepting of these groups than their parents or grandparents and previous generations of young people. These trends broadly support the optimistic perspectives. However, we also find that prejudice has not disappeared from youth attitudes altogether; for a sizeable minority of youth, it has merely shifted its focus to immigration. Not only have unwelcoming attitudes towards immigrants generally become stronger, young people are not always the most tolerant age group regarding this social group. These findings are thus more in line with the expectations of the pessimistic perspectives.
Conditional Reasoning in Schizophrenic Patients
Authors: Kornreich Charles , Delle-Vigne Dyna , Brevers Damien , Tecco Juan , Campanella Salvatore , Noël Xavier , Verbanck Paul , Ermer Elsa
Published: August 2017

Conditional reasoning (if p then q) is used very frequently in everyday situations. Conditional reasoning is impaired in brain-lesion patients, psychopathy, alcoholism, and polydrug dependence. Many neurocognitive deficits have also been described in schizophrenia. We assessed conditional reasoning in 25 patients with schizophrenia, 25 depressive patients, and 25 controls, using the Wason selection task in three different domains: social contracts, precautionary rules, and descriptive rules. Control measures included depression, anxiety, and severity of schizophrenia measures as a Verbal Intelligence Scale. Patients with schizophrenia were significantly impaired on all conditional reasoning tasks compared to depressives and controls. However, the social contract and precautions tasks yielded better results than the descriptive tasks. Differences between groups disappeared for social contract but remained for precautions and descriptive tasks when verbal intelligence was used as a covariate. These results suggest that domain-specific reasoning mechanisms, proposed by evolutionary psychologists, are relatively resilient in the face of brain network disruptions that impair more general reasoning abilities. Nevertheless, patients with schizophrenia could encounter difficulties understanding precaution rules and social contracts in real-life situations resulting in unwise risk-taking and misunderstandings in the social world.
Immigrant Resentment and Voter Fraud Beliefs in the U.S. Electorate
Authors: Udani Adriano , Kimball David C.
Published: August 2017

Public beliefs about the frequency of voter fraud are frequently cited to support restrictive voting laws in the United States. However, some sources of public beliefs about voter fraud have received little attention. We identify two conditions that combine to make anti-immigrant attitudes a strong predictor of voter fraud beliefs. First, the recent growth and dispersion of the immigrant population makes immigration a salient consideration for many Americans. Second, an immigrant threat narrative in political discourse linking immigration to crime and political dysfunction has been extended to the voting domain. Using new data from a survey module in the 2014 Cooperative Congressional Election Study and the 2012 American National Election Study, we show that immigrant resentment is strongly associated with voter fraud beliefs. Widespread hostility toward immigrants helps nourish public beliefs about voter fraud and support for voting restrictions in the United States. The conditions generating this relationship in public opinion likely exist in other nations roiled by immigration politics. The topic of fraudulent electoral practices will likely continue to provoke voters to call to mind groups that are politically constructed as “un-American.”
Identification of Circulating Long Noncoding RNA HOTAIR as a Novel Biomarker for Diagnosis and Monitoring of Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Li Nandi , Wang Yingchao , Liu Xuefang , Luo Ping , Jing Wei , Zhu Man , Tu Jiancheng
Published: August 2017

Long noncoding RNA (LncRNA) homeotic genes (HOX) transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) has been reported to play a vital role in various cancers. It has been found that HOTAIR was upregulated in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and involved in cell invasion and metastasis. The aberrant expression of HOTAIR is expected to serve as a potential biomarker for patients with NSCLC. Our aim in this study was to detect the plasma levels of HOTAIR and further evaluate its diagnostic value for NSCLC. The levels of HOTAIR were measured in 105 patients with NSCLC and 80 healthy controls by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results indicated that plasma HOTAIR levels were higher in NSCLC than in healthy controls. Besides, plasma HOTAIR levels were associated with histology subtype ( P = .039) and tumor-node-metastasis stage ( P = .022). The ROC curves showed that plasma HOTAIR has high diagnostic accuracy for NSCLC, and the area under curve (AUC) for NSCLC versus healthy was 0.791 (95% CI: 0.727-0.855) which was higher than carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (AUC = 0.737, 95% CI: 0.666-0.808). Moreover, the combination of HOTAIR and CEA could provide a more accurate diagnosis than HOTAIR or CEA alone (AUC = 0.841, 95% CI: 0.783-0.898). Plasma HOTAIR levels were significantly lower in postoperative samples than in preoperative samples. Plasma HOTAIR could serve as a promising biomarker for diagnosing and monitoring NSCLC.
More Than One Way: Stories of UDL and Inclusive Classrooms
Authors: Lowrey K. Alisa , Hollingshead Aleksandra , Howery Kathy , Bishop John B.
Published: August 2017

Voices of practitioners are often missing in research studies. This project focused on examining general education teachers’ stories as they relate to implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework and inclusion of students with moderate to severe intellectual disability. Seven general education teachers from Canada and the United States participated in this study. Narrative inquiry was utilized as a method of data gathering and analysis. Four themes emerged: designing for learner variability, talking about inclusion, teaming fosters success, and differing descriptions of UDL. Discussion of implications to research and practice is included.
Improved Walking Capacity and Muscle Strength After Functional Power-Training in Young Children With Cerebral Palsy
Authors: van Vulpen Liesbeth F. , de Groot Sonja , Rameckers Eugene , Becher Jules G. , Dallmeijer Annet J.
Published: August 2017

Background. Strength training programs for children with cerebral palsy (CP) showed inconclusive evidence for improving walking, despite improvements in strength. Recent studies have suggested that strength training with high movement velocity is more effective for improving walking than traditional resistance training. Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of functional high-velocity resistance training (power-training) to improve muscle strength and walking capacity of children with CP. Method. Twenty-two children with spastic CP participated (13 bilateral, Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS] level I [n = 10] and II [n = 12], 7.5 years [SD 1.8, range 4-10 years]). Within-subjects changes in a 14-weeks usual care period were compared with changes in a 14-week functional power-training period (in groups, 3×/wk). Outcome measures were the muscle power sprint test (MPST), 1-minute walk test (1MWT), 10-m shuttle run test (SRT), gross motor function (GMFM-66), isometric strength of lower-limb muscles and dynamic ankle plantar flexor strength. Results. Changes during the training period were significantly larger than changes in the usual care period for all outcome measures ( P < .05). Large improvements were found during the training period for walking capacity (ΔMPST [mean]: 27.6 W [95%CI 15.84-39.46, 83% increase], Δ1MWT: 9.4 m [95% CI 4.17-14.68, 13%], ΔSRT: 4.2 [95%CI 2.57-5.83, 56%], ΔGMFM-66: 5.5 [95% CI 3.33-7.74, 7%]) and muscle strength (18%-128%), while outcomes remained stable in the usual care period. Conclusions. The results indicate that functional power-training is an effective training for improving walking capacity in young children with cerebral palsy.
Central pattern generator and feedforward neural network-based self-adaptive gait control for a crab-like robot locomoting on complex terrain under two reflex mechanisms
Authors: Wang Gang , Chen Xi , Han Shi-Kai
Published: August 2017

Although quite a few central pattern generator controllers have been developed to regulate the locomotion of terrestrial bionic robots, few studies have been conducted on the central pattern generator control technique for amphibious robots crawling on complex terrains. The present article proposes a central pattern generator and feedforward neural network-based self-adaptive gait control method for a crab-like robot locomoting on complex terrain under two reflex mechanisms. In detail, two nonlinear ordinary differential equations are presented at first to model a Hopf oscillator with limit cycle effects. Having Hopf oscillators as the basic units, a central pattern generator system is proposed for the waveform-gait control of the crab-like robot. A tri-layer feedforward neural network is then constructed to establish the one-to-one mapping between the central pattern generator rhythmic signals and the joint angles. Based on the central pattern generator system and feedforward neural network, two reflex mechanisms are put forward to realize self-adaptive gait control on complex terrains. Finally, experiments with the crab-like robot are performed to verify the waveform-gait generation and transition performances and the self-adaptive locomotion capability on uneven ground.
Physiological and psychological adaptations during taper in competitive swimmers
Authors: Myers Victoria R , McKillop Adam L , Fraser Sarah J , Abel Josh M , Wells Greg D
Published: August 2017

An effective taper in training load is essential for increased performance outcomes at competition, however optimal taper individualization remains elusive. Monitoring psychological and physical adaptations that occur during the taper may help guide the optimization of training during a taper resulting in improvements in performance. We monitored physical and psychological variables as well as competition performance of 10 elite swimmers before and during a 21-day taper in preparation for the Canadian National Championships or World Championships. Mood and recovery were assessed using the Brunel Mood Scale and the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire. Resting muscle tension, skin conductance, and respiration rate were measured using biofeedback technology. Speed and heart rate were assessed with a 2 × 200 m submaximal swim test. Resting HR was measured using the Rusko test. We hypothesized that psychological and physiological measurements would change during the taper phase and that these changes would be associated with improved competition performance. Results showed that the Brunel Mood Scale, Recovery-Stress Questionnaire, 2 × 200 m submaximal test, and the Rusko test changed significantly throughout the taper period. Variables from the Brunel Mood Scale and the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire showed a significant relationship with improved performance, indicating that these questionnaires show good utility for assessing progress during a taper in the future.
Simply the best, better than all the rest? Validity issues in selections in elite sport
Authors: Johansson Annika , Fahlén Josef
Published: August 2017

Selecting the ‘right’ athletes to competitions and games is crucial in eventually deciding winners and champions. Thus, the purpose of this study was to discuss selections to top-level sport teams using validity concepts as theoretical points of departure. Drawing on data from 14 semi-structured interviews with elite coaches (selectors) in football (n = 8) and alpine skiing (n = 6), this article adds to the knowledge on rationales behind selection decisions in elite sport, how selections are performed and with what consequences. Results point to several key validity concerns in selection processes such as the (non) use of explicit selection criteria, lack of structure in selection processes and coaches’ giving way to gut feelings and their ‘eyes for the sport‘ instead of utilizing various selection aids at hand.
Coaching behaviors and stakeholders’ views of coaches’ efficacy
Authors: Teatro Courtney , Thompson Melissa , Kulinna Pam H , Mars Hans van der , Kwan JaYoun
Published: August 2017

There appears to be a relationship between coaching efficacy and athlete satisfaction, confidence, and performance, as well as coach behavior. However, little research exists, specifically within a high school setting, examining the relationship between coaches’ perceptions of efficacy and those of stakeholders (parents and athletes). The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between coaches’ efficacy and stakeholders’ views of coach efficacy. A sample of 516 coaches, 115 athletes, and 103 parents were recruited. Coaches have significantly higher levels of coaching efficacy on all four efficacy domains than the ratings from athletes and parents, while no differences between athlete and parent scores exist. Although coaches reported relatively high levels of coaching efficacy, they reported the lowest efficacy for motivation. Athletes concurred, providing the lowest scores for coaches in motivation. Implications for coaching education are discussed, including a greater need for training on implementing athlete motivation techniques.
Robust thumb flexor tendon repairs with a six-strand M-Tang method, pulley venting, and early active motion
Authors: Pan Z. J. , Qin J. , Zhou X. , Chen J.
Published: August 2017

We present the outcomes of flexor pollicis longus tendon repairs in 34 thumbs using a six-strand M-Tang repair with venting of one or two pulleys according to site of tendon laceration. The A2 pulley was vented in all three thumbs with zone 1 injury. In 31 thumbs with zone 2 injuries, the oblique pulley was vented partially or entirely. Twenty-two thumbs had both the A1 and oblique pulleys vented. Six to 46 months post-surgery, 14 thumbs with zone 2 injuries were rated excellent, 13 good, three fair and one failure according to Tang criteria. No tendon ruptures or bowstringing occurred. Fourteen of 34 thumbs had deficits in interphalangeal joint extension averaging 13°. We conclude that venting of one or two pulleys may ensure recovery of thumb function without risking tendon bowstringing and that early active thumb motion is safe with a robust tendon repair.

Level of evidence: IV
At the Core of Our Capacity to Act for a Reason: The Affective System and Evaluative Model-Based Learning and Control
Authors: Railton Peter
Published: August 2017

Recent decades have witnessed a sea change in thinking about emotion, which has gone from being seen as a disruptive force in human thought and action to being seen as an important source of situation- and goal-relevant information and evaluation, continuous with perception and cognition. Here I argue on philosophical and empirical grounds that the role of emotion in contributing to our ability to respond to reasons for action runs deeper still: The affective system is at the core of the process of evaluatively modeling situations, actions, and outcomes, which is the foundation upon which rational deliberation and action can be built. Taking up this perspective affords new approaches to long-standing problems in the theory of reason-based action.
Comment: Do Emotions Influence Action? – Of Course, They Are Hypo-Phenomena of Motivation
Authors: Gendolla Guido H. E.
Published: August 2017

The target articles in this special section shed new light on the old question whether and how emotions influence action. However, what is missing is a straightforward motivational analysis—considering what we have learned from the science of explaining the “why” and “how” of behavior. I posit that emotions can influence the motivation process and thus action by fulfilling at least three functions: First, being grounded in needs, experienced emotions can function as strong need-like motivational states. Second, anticipated emotions can function as incentives and justify action. Third, emotions can inform about progress in goal pursuit permitting behavior calibration. In summary, there is little doubt that emotions influence action. They can do so because they are hypo-phenomena of motivation.
From Boxology to Scientific Theories: On the Emerging Field of Emotional Action Sciences
Authors: Eder Andreas B.
Published: August 2017

There is consensus among emotion scientists that emotions can be powerful motivators of actions. However, little progress has been made so far in the scientific study of that relation. The main reason for this disappointing state of affairs lies, in my view, in an overly simplistic “boxology” that treats actions as outputs of emotional stimulations. A promising way out of this situation is an interdisciplinary approach that connects emotion sciences with theories in motivation and action sciences—an emerging field that I call “emotional action sciences.”
Quantification and design of jumping-ski characteristics
Authors: Gim Jinsu , Jeon Joohyeong , Kim Bongju , Jeong Taejoon , Jeon Kyeonghyeon , Rhee Byungohk
Published: August 2017

Elastic and dynamic characteristics of jumping-skis affect ski performance at all four ski jumping phases. Compared with the number of studies on alpine-skis, there have been few studies on the characteristics of jumping-skis. This article identifies design parameters that have the most influence on jumping-ski characteristics. To identify the elastic and dynamic characteristics of jumping-skis, previous research and testing methods for alpine-skis were modified. Spring constants and bending stiffness distributions for three jumping-skis were measured. Natural frequencies, modal shapes, and damping ratios were also measured. From these results, the bending stiffness distribution was identified as a more elastic characteristic of jumping-skis than the spring constant. The natural frequency and damping ratio were selected as the relevant dynamic characteristics. To determine the effective design parameter for elastic and dynamic characteristics of jumping-skis, a jumping-ski was modeled by finite element method, and the inner structures and material properties of components of a jumping-ski were measured and analyzed. By comparing the simulation with actual test results, the reliability of the finite element method simulation was verified. The geometrical feature of the ski thickness profile is the most significant design parameter for elastic characteristics of jumping-skis. A mechanical property of the face material and wood at the sidewall is a highly influencing design parameter for dynamic characteristics of jumping-skis.
Measurement system powered by energy harvester for Nordic Walking performance monitoring
Authors: Mocera Francesco , Somà Aurelio , Fraccarollo Federico
Published: August 2017

Nordic Walking is a modified version of the standard walking technique that involves the use of specific poles to increase the upper body engagement during the activity. In this article, the design and development of a monitoring system for Nordic Walking poles and its applications in workout sessions monitoring are discussed. The new data acquisition system was designed for outdoor activities, with a focus on proper technique and physiological parameters. The poles were equipped with an energy harvester system which allowed for long sessions due to the low energy consumption of the data acquisition system. Finally, a dedicated software was developed to store and analyze data obtained from different sessions.
Clinical factors related to false-positive rates of patency capsule examination
Authors: Sawada Tsunaki , Nakamura Masanao , Watanabe Osamu , Yamamura Takeshi , Ishikawa Takuya , Furukawa Kazuhiro , Funasaka Kohei , Ohno Eizaburo , Kawashima Hiroki , Miyahara Ryoji , Goto Hidemi , Hirooka Yoshiki
Published: August 2017

Background

Retention is the most common complication of capsule endoscopy (CE), and is reported to occur in 0–13% of cases. To avoid retention, a PillCam patency capsule (PC) is used in patients with suspected intestinal stenosis. However, a relatively low positive predictive value of the PC examination has been reported previously. The aims of this study were to clarify the accuracy of PC examination and to evaluate clinical factors related to cases of false-positive detection.

Methods

We performed a retrospective single-center study of 282 consecutive patients referred for PC examination. Patients in which the PC could not pass through the small bowel within 33 h were classified into the ‘no patency’ group. The ‘no patency’ group was investigated for evidence of significant stenosis upon further examinations, including CE, double-balloon endoscopy, and small bowel follow-through after PC examination. Clinical factors related to small bowel patency and false-positive cases were evaluated.

Results

We included 161 male (57.1%) and 121 female (42.9%) patients with a mean age of 47.5 ± 17.7 years. Of the 282 patients enrolled, 27 patients exhibited ‘no patency’ upon PC examination. Multivariate analysis showed that clinical factors related to ‘no patency’ included Crohn’s disease, abdominal symptoms, stenosis upon imaging, and previous abdominal surgery. Upon further examination, nine cases in the ‘no patency’ group had significant stenosis. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values of PC examination for detecting small bowel stenosis were 93.8%, 96.6%, 99.6%, and 62.5%, respectively, and the only clinical factor related to false-positive cases was constipation ( p < 0.05).

Conclusion

We found a relatively low positive predictive value of PC examination and that constipation was related to false-positive results. To extend the implications of CE indications, clinical study focusing on these results is expected.
Pharmacokinetic Profile of Intra-articular Fluticasone Propionate Microparticles in Beagle Dog Knees
Authors: Getgood Alan , Dhollander Aad , Malone Amanda , Price James , Helliwell James
Published: August 2017

Objective

The objective of this pilot study was to determine time point(s) at which maximum concentration of fluticasone propionate (Cmax) occurs in synovial fluid and plasma in Beagle dog knees after intra-articular injection of EP-104IAR.

Design

EP-104IAR is composed of fluticasone propionate drug crystals coated with heat-treated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to result in extended release properties. Thirty-two Beagle dogs had an injection of EP-104IAR into the knee joint at 2 different dose levels (0.6 mg and 12 mg). Outcome measures included plasma, synovial fluid, and articular cartilage fluticasone propionate concentrations as well as histological analysis of cartilage and synovium at a variety of time points up to 58 days postdosing.

Results

Intra-articular administration of 0.6 and 12 mg EP-104IAR was well tolerated. Early minor abnormalities found on microscopy resolved by the end of the study. There were no quantifiable concentrations of fluticasone propionate in plasma of animals administered 0.6 mg at any of the sampling time points. Highest concentrations in plasma following 12 mg administration occurred 1 day postdose and declined with a half-life of approximately 45 days. Highest concentrations of fluticasone propionate in synovial fluid and cartilage generally occurred 5 days postdose in both dose groups and declined with a half-life of approximately 11 to 14 days.

Conclusions

EP-104IAR is capable of providing a safe and prolonged local exposure to a corticosteroid in the synovial joint while minimizing systemic exposure, with peak exposures occurring within a matter of days after dosing before declining in all tissues in a predictable manner.
Influence of elevated strain rate on the mechanical properties of hollow structural sections
Authors: Ritchie Cameron B , Gow Matthew I , Packer Jeffrey A , Heidarpour Amin
Published: August 2017

As protective design engineering becomes more prevalent, cold-formed steel hollow structural sections are often desired design components. As such, it is necessary to understand the behavior of hollow structural sections subject to air-blast loading, including the material response under elevated strain rates. Dynamic tensile tests have hence been performed on subsize tensile coupons taken from the flats and corners of cold-formed rectangular hollow section members. Dynamic yield stresses were obtained at strain rates from 0.1 to 18 s−1, which encompasses and exceeds the range recorded during far-field blast arena testing. The dynamic increase factor was calculated for each data point and synthesized with previous cold-formed rectangular hollow section tests at even higher strain rates (100–1000 s−1). The data set was used to determine Cowper–Symonds and Johnson–Cook parameters. The resulting material models can now be used to determine the strength increase of cold-formed rectangular hollow sections subject to a wide range of impulsive, elevated strain rate loads.