bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surgical Repair of Distal Musculotendinous T Junction Injuries of the Biceps Femoris
Authors: Kayani Babar , Ayuob Atif , Begum Fahima , Singh Sandeep , Haddad Fares S.
Published: August 2020

Background:

Nonoperative management of injuries to the distal musculotendinous T junction of the biceps femoris is associated with variable periods of rehabilitation and high risk of recurrence. To our knowledge, the efficacy of operative treatment in patients with these acute injuries has not been previously reported.

Hypothesis:

Surgical repair of injuries to the distal musculotendinous T junction of the biceps femoris would enable return to preinjury level of sport with low risk of recurrence.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

This prospective single-surgeon study included 34 professional athletes (mean age, 26.4 ± 3.1 years; 31 male [91.2%]; 3 female [8.8%]; body mass index, 25 ± 2.0 kg/m2) undergoing primary surgical repair of acute injuries to the distal musculotendinous T junction of the biceps femoris. All study patients underwent a standardized postoperative rehabilitation program. Predefined study outcomes relating to time for return to sporting activity, patient satisfaction, range of motion, hamstring muscle strength, passive range of motion, functional progress, and complications were recorded at regular intervals after surgery. Mean follow-up time was 28.4 months (range, 24.0-36.3 months) from date of surgery.

Results:

All study patients returned to their preinjury level of sporting activity. Mean time from surgical repair to full sporting activity was 11.7 ± 3.6 weeks. No patients had recurrence of the primary injury. At 1-year follow-up, 18 patients (52.9%) were very satisfied and 16 patients (47.1%) were satisfied with the outcomes of their surgery. At 3 months after surgery, patients had improved mean passive straight leg raise (69.7° ± 11.7° vs 24.1° ± 7.4°; P < .001); increased mean isometric hamstring muscle strength at 0° (93.1% ± 5.4% vs 63.1% ± 7.7%; P < .001), 45° (76.8% ± 9.7% vs 24.8% ± 8.3%; P < .001), and 90° (96.4% ± 3.9% vs 85.6% ± 5.9%; P < .001); higher mean lower extremity functional scores (64.5 ± 4.5 vs 27.2 ± 5.4; P < .001); and improved mean Marx Activity Rating Scale scores (10.7 ± 2.7 vs 2.2 ± 2.1; P < .001) compared with preoperative values. High patient satisfaction and functional outcome scores were maintained at 1 and 2 years after surgery.

Conclusion:

Surgical repair of acute injuries to the distal musculotendinous T junction of the biceps femoris is associated with high patient satisfaction, increased muscle strength, improved functional outcome scores, and high return to preinjury level of sporting activity with low risk of recurrence at short-term follow-up.
Allograft Donor Characteristics Significantly Influence Graft Rupture After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in a Young Active Population
Authors: Shumborski Sarah , Salmon Lucy J. , Monk Claire , Heath Emma , Roe Justin P. , Pinczewski Leo A.
Published: August 2020

Background:

Graft selection in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery can be difficult in a young active population given their high rates of reinjury. Allografts allow for control over graft size and reduce morbidity of autograft harvest. There are mixed results about the use of allograft in the literature; however, the influence of the properties of the allograft on outcomes has not been considered.

Hypothesis:

ACL reconstruction with allografts from older donors will have a higher rate of graft rupture when compared with allograft from young donors.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Patients (N = 211) aged 13 to 25 years underwent primary ACL reconstruction with fresh-frozen nonirradiated allograft. Four graft types were used: patellar tendon, Achilles tendon, tibialis anterior, and tibialis posterior. Details were collected on allograft donor age and sex. At a minimum of 24 months, patients were evaluated for any further injuries and subjective analysis by International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) questionnaire.

Results:

ACL graft rupture occurred in 23.5%. When grafts were separated into single strand (patellar and Achilles tendon) and multistrand (tibialis anterior and posterior), there was a significantly higher rate of reinjury in the single-strand grafts (29.9% vs 11%; P = .014). Grafts from female donors aged ≥50 years had significantly higher rates of ACL graft rupture (52.6%; P = .003) with increased odds by 6.7 times when compared with grafts from male donors aged <50 years. There was no significant difference in mean IKDC scores among the groups based on the age and sex of the allograft donor.

Conclusion:

The age and sex of the allograft donor and the morphology of the graft significantly influenced the rate of ACL graft rupture in young active patients. Tendons from female donors aged ≥50 years should be avoided given the higher rerupture rates as compared with male donors of any age and younger females.
Preoperative Risk Factors for Nonhome Discharge of Home-Dwelling Geriatric Patients Following Elective Surgery
Authors: Warwick John C. , Brovman Ethan Y. , Beutler Sascha S. , Urman Richard D.
Published: August 2020

To identify patient risk factors for nonhome discharge (NHD) for home-dwelling older patients undergoing surgery, we performed a retrospective cohort study of patients aged ≥65 years undergoing elective surgery between 2014 and 2016 using the geriatric research file from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). Multivariable logistic regression examined the association between preoperative demographics, comorbidities, and functional status and NHD to determine which factors are most strongly predictive of NHD. Risk of NHD was higher among those of age >85 years, age 75 to 85 years, Black race, with body mass index (BMI) >30, dyspnea with exertion or at rest, partially or totally dependent in activities of daily living (ADLs), preoperative steroid use, preoperative wound infection, use of a mobility aid, fall within 3 months, or living alone at home without support. NHDs were statistically more likely among orthopedic, neurosurgery, or cardiac surgery interventions. Understanding individual patient’s risks and setting expectations for likely postoperative course is integral to appropriate preoperative counseling and preoperative optimization.
Study of the Factor Structure, Profiles, and Concurrent Validity of the Mindset Assessment Profile Tool for Elementary Students
Authors: Petscher Yaacov , Al Otaiba Stephanie , Wanzek Jeanne
Published: August 2020

This study explored the underlying latent structure of items on the Mindset Assessment Profile (MAP) tool, explored whether subgroups of students exist based on the latent structure of MAP items, and tested whether subgroups were differentiated on standardized measures of reading comprehension, vocabulary, and word reading. Participants included 431 fourth-grade students. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that a three-factor model provided the most parsimonious fit to the data. Results of exploratory finite mixture model analysis with auxiliary regression suggested five classes of students, with the students categorized as growth mindset—high effort profile having the highest observed reading comprehension ( M = 451.98 and SD = 38.88) and vocabulary ( M = 454.37 and SD = 34.74) scores. By contrast, students categorized as fixed mindset—higher effort had the lowest observed reading comprehension and vocabulary scores. Limitations and directions for future research, and implications for using MAP assessment to inform intervention are discussed.
Defining Justice: Restorative and Retributive Justice Goals Among Intimate Partner Violence Survivors
Authors: Decker Michele R. , Holliday Charvonne N. , Hameeduddin Zaynab , Shah Roma , Miller Janice , Dantzler Joyce , Goodmark Leigh
Published: August 2020

Intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence (SV) are drivers of women’s morbidity and mortality yet remain among the most underreported crimes in the United States. Understanding IPV/SV survivors’ justice preferences and justice definitions can strengthen violence prevention and response systems. In-depth interviews were conducted with women who experienced past-year IPV ( n = 26), to explore their justice preferences and recommendations. Primary themes included accountability, safety, and rehabilitation, with examples within and outside the current justice system, and across restorative and retributive justice frameworks. Women sought accountability through a variety of means. Retributive approaches like incarceration offered accountability as well as fleeting safety, but were critically limited in addressing the root causes of violence and, in some cases, were felt to exacerbate the problem. Women’s expressed needs and preferences centered on restorative aspects of justice, including perpetrator’s acknowledgment of harm, achieving physical safety and stability, and perpetrator rehabilitation through counseling. Paradoxically, women’s safety-related justice goals both encouraged and discouraged their engagement in the formal justice system. The discordance between women’s justice preferences and their perceptions and experiences within the current justice system illustrate complex and difficult trade-offs faced by survivors in achieving physical, social, and economic safety. Moreover, they likely contribute to the low levels of IPV/SV reporting to police. Women’s goals were aligned with restorative justice principles, illustrating the value of this approach. In an era of unprecedented dialogue on justice reform, results provide direction for integrating restorative justice practices to strengthen the justice response to violence against women.
The Relationship Between Provider Gender Preferences and Perceptions of Providers Among Veterans Who Experienced Military Sexual Trauma
Authors: McBain Sacha A. , Garneau-Fournier Jade , Turchik Jessica A.
Published: August 2020

Previous research has demonstrated that most veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma (MST) have provider gender preferences. Although provider gender mismatch, defined as not receiving a provider of the gender of one’s preference, may deter veterans from disclosing MST or seeking MST-related care, there is little research that has examined this issue. The current study aimed to explore how provider gender mismatch is related to veterans’ comfort with providers, perception of their providers’ competency, and their endorsement of perceived provider barriers when communicating about MST. The current study was conducted as part of a larger national survey of veterans’ barriers to accessing MST-related care. Participants in the study were identified using Veterans Health Administration (VHA) administrative data. Criteria for inclusion in the overall study were being enrolled in VHA health care, having screened positive for MST, and having received at least one VHA outpatient service. A subset of eligible veterans who had endorsed MST, reported a provider gender preference, and endorsed discussing MST with a VHA provider ( N = 1,591) were included in the current study. Results demonstrated that provider gender preference mismatch was associated with greater endorsement of perceived provider barriers, less comfort with providers, and lower perceived provider competency in women; and greater perceived provider barriers and less comfort with providers among men. The study demonstrates that provider gender preferences may affect care for veterans who have experienced MST, and that the impact may differ for men and women. These findings may be used to improve patient-centered care and inform future research regarding veterans’ provider gender preferences.
Emotion Dysregulation as a Moderator of the Association Between Relationship Dependency and Female-Perpetrated Dating Aggression
Authors: Bell Kathryn M. , Howard Leanne , Cornelius Tara L.
Published: August 2020

The dependency-possessiveness model proposes that individuals who are highly dependent on their intimate partner and fear partner abandonment, particularly among those with emotion dysregulation problems, may be at heightened risk for intimate partner aggression (IPA) perpetration. Despite prior research establishing a link between relationship dependency and male IPA perpetration, it is unknown whether this association extends to female-perpetrated aggression, occurs in dating relationships, and is moderated by emotion dysregulation. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to investigate the association between relationship dependency and female-perpetrated dating aggression and determine if emotion dysregulation moderated this hypothesized relationship. Female undergraduate students ( N = 119) completed measures assessing relationship dependency, emotion dysregulation, and female-perpetrated physical and psychological dating aggression as part of a larger study investigating the context of dating aggression episodes. Anxious attachment was significantly correlated with female-perpetrated psychological and physical dating aggression. Regression analyses indicated a significant interaction between the Spouse-Specific Dependency Scale [SSDS] Anxious Attachment subscale and emotion dysregulation predicting female-perpetrated physical dating aggression, suggesting moderation. There was a positive association between anxious attachment relationship dependency and female-perpetrated physical dating aggression at high levels of emotion dysregulation. A significant interaction was also found between the SSDS Emotional Dependency subscale and emotion dysregulation predicting female-perpetrated physical dating aggression, such that among those with low scores in emotion dysregulation, there was a positive relationship between emotional dependency and female-perpetrated physical dating aggression. Findings suggest that the ability to regulate emotions may play an important role in the association between relationship dependency and female-perpetrated dating aggression.
Precarious Education-to-Work Transitions: Entering Welfare Professions under a Workfarist Regime
Authors: Samaluk Barbara
Published: August 2020

This article looks at the process of education-to-work transitions in female-dominated welfare professions within the Slovenian post-crisis context marked by a workfarist agenda. It departs from a scholarship that conceptualises precarity as a transitional vulnerability and disaffiliation exacerbated by workfarist policies to explore the contemporary experience of those trying to achieve professional integration under a volatile workfarist regime. The findings reveal a mismatch between established regulations for early career recruitment and professional licensing and actual chances in the labour market to meet these requirements through available workfarist non-standard, entry-level jobs/schemes designed for particular status and/or socio-demographic groups. It gives new evidence that European workfare regimes exacerbate precarity and a novel understanding of state-manufactured precarisation as an intersectional process of marginalisation and discrimination that not only hinders integration into welfare professions, but also downloads the costs of social reproduction on the next generation, causes precarious ageing and widens intersectional differences.
A method for wayside bogie monitoring based on internal yard running vibration
Authors: Shirotori Takeo
Published: August 2020

This paper proposes a non-dismantling functional inspection method for components of the bogie for improved safety and streamlined maintenance. This method uses camera images taken from approximately 2 m away to measure the bogie vibration generated when the vehicles pass over iron plates about 10 mm in thickness and conducts a functional inspection of the bogie components based on changes of their natural frequency. This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of the method by reporting an experiment where some of the bogie components of actual vehicles were replaced and set to different characteristic conditions. It also establishes a simplified and clear dynamic numerical model and theoretically confirms that the measurement results were due to the effect of the replaced component. The potential for efficient maintenance by using the proposed measurement method, analysis method, and numerical model is also presented.
American Civil War medical practice, the post-bellum opium crisis and modern comparisons
Authors: Lande R Gregory
Published: August 2020

The American Civil War resulted in massive numbers of injured and ill soldiers. Throughout the conflict, medical doctors relied on opium to treat these conditions, giving rise to claims that the injudicious use of the narcotic caused America’s post-bellum opium crisis. Similar claims of medical misuse of opioids are now made as America confronts the modern narcotic crisis. A more nuanced thesis based on a broader base of Civil War era research suggests a more complex set of interacting factors that collectively contributed to America’s post-war opium crisis.
A hybrid viscous body force model for low-speed centrifugal compressors
Authors: Liu Zhiyuan , Zhao Qingjun , Xiang Xiaorong , Zhao Wei , Zhou Xiaoyong
Published: August 2020

The flow in centrifugal compressors is viscous and unsteady. Flow separation off the blades challenges the accuracy of simulations. A viscous body force model is expected to speed up numerical convergence and reduce the computational costs of unsteady simulations. In this paper, both stability and accuracy of the viscous body force model are investigated based on the case of a low-speed centrifugal compressor. First, two formulations of the viscous body forces are obtained from the expression of the viscous flux. Then, the numerical stability of two body force models is found to be related to drag coefficient and flow angle. For large negative drag coefficients, the viscous body forces would lead to divergences. Since unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulations show that two formulas have considerable accuracy, stability is considered as the main factor for modeling. With the findings, a hybrid viscous body force method is proposed. To assess the applicability of the hybrid model, two test cases are compared against the results obtained by unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulations. The first case is the capability evaluation of unsteady characteristics capture for low-speed centrifugal compressors. The simulation results show that the hybrid viscous body force model can capture main unsteady viscous characters, including wake vortexes and tip leakage flow. The other is the case in which the inlet total pressure is disturbed. It is found that fluctuations of pressure, temperature, and velocity predicted by the viscous body force method are close to unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes results. In addition, the time-accurate overall performance of the compressor with disturbance is also predicted satisfactorily. With the advantage in lowering computer resource requirement, the viscous body force model is a promising method for long length scale unsteady cases.
Acupuncture reduces peripheral and brainstem cytokines in rats subjected to lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation
Authors: Ramires Caroline C , Balbinot Daniela TL , Cidral-Filho Francisco J , Dias Daniel Ventura , dos Santos Adair RS , da Silva Morgana Duarte
Published: August 2020

Background:

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxins are activators of innate immunity inducing infection and inflammatory responses. Anti-inflammatory drugs can have undesirable side effects. Acupuncture may be an alternative for the treatment of inflammatory processes.

Objective:

We investigated the potential anti-inflammatory effect of manual acupuncture (MA) at SP6 upon LPS-induced peritonitis in rats.

Methods:

Peritonitis was induced in rats with an intraperitoneal injection of LPS (0.002, 0.02, 0.2 or 2 µg/kg) in four experimental groups (n = 6 each). A fifth group was injected with sterile saline solution (saline group, n = 6). Four hours after the procedure, peritoneal fluid was collected to determine total cell counts for inflammatory cells, differential leukocyte counts and peritoneal capillary permeability. The LPS dose of 0.02 µg/kg was used in the subsequent experiments as it most successfully induced peritoneal inflammation. Subsequently, five experimental groups (n = 12 rats each) were used: (1) saline, (2) control (untreated LPS group), (3) indomethacin (LPS group treated with indomethacin), (4) NA (LPS group treated with MA at a location not corresponding to any traditional acupuncture point), and (5) SP6 (LPS group treated with verum MA at SP6). Ten minutes after MA or 30 min after indomethacin treatment, the rats received an intraperitoneal injection of LPS. After 4 h, total leukocyte and differential cell counts, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, vascular permeability and cytokine levels were evaluated in the peritoneal fluid. Cytokine levels were additionally evaluated in the brainstem.

Results:

SP6 MA and indomethacin treatments reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, vascular permeability and MPO activity in the LPS-exposed rats. Pre-treatment with indomethacin and SP6 MA decreased tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels and preserved interleukin (IL)-10 in the peritoneal fluid. Indomethacin also reduced IL-6 in the peritoneal fluid. In the brainstem, indomethacin reduced IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα and IL-10, whereas SP6 MA reduced only TNFα and IL-6 levels.

Conclusions:

This study clearly demonstrates the anti-inflammatory effect of acupuncture, which we believe may involve the activation of anti-inflammatory neural reflexes in the regulation of peritonitis.
Deciphering the Doklam Standoff: The Context of the Contest
Authors: Ratha Keshab Chandra
Published: August 2020

Geopolitical compulsions seem to be the prime mover bringing pressure upon China’s hands in terms of the location and timing of the Doklam Plateau military standoff, developing it gradually into a full-blown military conflict and turning Sino-Indian relations into a stage of long-term strategic confrontation. India’s serious objections to CPEC passing through disputed territory and its marked unwillingness to become a member of China’s One Belt One Road arrangement pose a severest jolt to Chinese strategic interests, showcasing a serious geopolitical setback to China and its political and military superiority.
Validity of Self-Reported Periodontitis in Japanese Adults: The Japan Public Health Center–Based Prospective Study for the Next-Generation Oral Health Study
Authors: Ueno Masayuki , Shimazu Taichi , Sawada Norie , Tsugane Shoichiro , Kawaguchi Yoko
Published: August 2020

This study evaluated the validity of self-reported periodontitis measures among 2404 Japanese adults aged 40 to 75 years. A self-administered questionnaire survey and a clinical periodontal examination were conducted from 2013 through 2016. The self-reported periodontitis questions included 3 sociodemographic, 3 health, and 5 periodontal health–related items. Based on the clinical case definition of periodontitis, 26.5% of participants were found to be periodontally healthy, 2.7% had mild periodontitis, 55.2% moderate periodontitis, and 15.6% severe periodontitis. No single self-reported question demonstrated satisfactory validity in predicting the presence or absence of periodontitis. The predictive ability in mild and/or moderate periodontitis was poor even after combining multiple sociodemographic, health, and periodontal health-related questions. In severe periodontitis, the model including age, sex, education level, smoking status, diabetes history, body mass index, informed by a dentist, gingival bleeding, calculus deposit, and tooth mobility, presented moderate predictive performance (C-statistic: 0.676, sensitivity: 65.2%, and specificity: 61.1%). An age-stratified analysis on severe periodontitis showed that sensitivity was higher, and specificity was lower in older age group (60-75 years) than younger age group (40-59 years). Further refinement of questions in the self-report is required to increase the accuracy of the prediction of clinical periodontitis.
Education, inequality and use of digital collaborative platforms: The European case
Authors: Artero Jesús M , Borra Cristina , Gómez-Alvarez Rosario
Published: August 2020

This study examines the causal relationship between education and the use of digital collaborative platforms as a first step in exploring the potential impact of the new digital labour markets on inequality. From the viewpoint of transaction costs theory, the less educated could benefit significantly from the digital collaborative economy due to the reduction in information costs made possible by this new form of exchange. Conversely, a positive relationship between educational level and platform use may be expected following neoclassical and institutionalist economic theories. Using microdata from the 2016 Eurobarometer survey, together with an instrumental variables strategy and conventional ordinary least squares models, hypothesis testing reveals that education has a clear positive effect on digital collaborative platform use. As a result, the less educated are less likely to access the job opportunities offered by digital labour markets. Understanding the relationship between education and access to digital collaborative platforms and impacts on socio-economic inequality is crucial for designing future public policies that promote social justice and well-being in a disrupted landscape.

JEL Codes: I24, J47, O34
Health Care Professionals’ and Patients’ Management of the Interactional Practices in Telemedicine Videoconferencing: A Conversation Analytic and Discursive Systematic Review
Authors: Dalley David , Rahman Rachel , Ivaldi Antonia
Published: August 2020

Telemedicine has developed as a tool for increasing access to health-related services. However, clinicians are required to achieve effective communication and provide quality care despite the remoteness of patients. The aim of this review was to focus on the interactional components of telemedicine consultations, identifying the social and embodied practices that health care professionals and patients draw on when managing the complexities of videoconferencing technology. A systematic review of telemedicine research using conversation analysis and discursive psychology was conducted, resulting in six articles eligible for inclusion. Interactional practices were synthesized into three categories: positioning utterances, visual and audiological clarification, and directional feedback. These categories demonstrate complex but ordered multimodal interactions that position the technology and health care professional as key to ensuring effective communication. Their interactional relevance highlights a gap in telemedicine research, where the need to focus more on the communicative and clinical richness of these unique consultations is reinforced.
Inpatient Initiation of Sacubitril/Valsartan
Authors: Chilbert Maya R. , Rogers Kelly C. , Ciriello Domenique N. , Rovelli Richard , Woodruff Ashley E.
Published: August 2020

Objective:

Discuss the literature and describe strategies to overcome barriers of inpatient initiation of sacubitril/valsartan in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Data Sources:

A PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar literature search (January 2014 to June 2020) limited to English language articles was conducted with the following terms: sacubitril/valsartan, initiation, inpatient, hospitalized, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), diuretic, cost, and cost-effectiveness.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

Included articles described inpatient initiation of sacubitril/valsartan or described its impact on BNP, NT-proBNP, diuretic dosing, or cost of care.

Data Synthesis:

A total of 20 studies were identified based on included search terms.

Conclusions:

Sacubitril/valsartan should be considered for hemodynamically stable patients with HFrEF (New York Heart Association class II or III), potassium <5.2 mmol/L, without a history of angioedema, and after a 36-hour washout from angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or aliskiren, if applicable. An appropriate dose can be determined based on the patient’s previous ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker dose and/or blood pressure along with patient-specific factors. To overcome barriers of use, the following are recommended: NT-proBNP or BNP with establishment of a new baseline 1 month after initiation may be used for prognosis or diagnosis; careful monitoring of diuretic requirements; utilization of multiple strategies to overcome cost barriers; and use of interdisciplinary care.
Epistemic Communities and Public Support for the Paris Agreement on Climate Change
Authors: Maliniak Daniel , Parajon Eric , Powers Ryan
Published: August 2020

We study how informing the public about the views of international policy experts shapes public support for international cooperation. Using survey experiments, we test whether variation in levels of support among experts with differing types of domain-specific knowledge can shape public support for a recent and politically salient international treaty: the UNFCCC COP21 Paris Climate Agreement. Our results show that the public is, under certain conditions, deferential to the views of experts, with respondents reporting increasingly higher levels of support for the COP21 agreement as support among experts increased. In addition, we provide suggestive evidence that domain-specific expertise matters: When it comes to support for the COP21 agreement, the public is most sensitive to the views of climate scientists, while exposure to the views of international relations and international economics experts have less dramatic and less consistent effects. Despite these results, we find that it is exposing the public to information about opposition to a proposed treaty among members of relevant epistemic communities that has greatest and most consistent effects. Our findings thus provide new insight into the conditions under which epistemic communities can shape public support for particular policy alternatives.
Plan Switching and Stickiness in Medicare Advantage: A Qualitative Interview With Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries
Authors: Rivera-Hernandez Maricruz , Blackwood Kristy L. , Moody Kyle A. , Trivedi Amal N.
Published: August 2020

Approximately 34% of all Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan in 2019. Quantitative evidence suggests that MA beneficiaries have low rates of switching plans, but that beneficiaries who are hospitalized or use postacute nursing home care are disproportionately more likely to exit their plan. This research sought to explore how MA enrollees choose plans and the factors involved in their decision to keep their current plan or switch plans. We conducted 25 semistructured interviews focusing on expectations and experiences preenrollment and postenrollment among MA beneficiaries. Overall, the beneficiaries interviewed reported being highly satisfied with their plans. After selecting a plan, there was little incentive to revisit their choice since they viewed their plan as “good enough.” Confusion, health status, cost and benefits also contributed to many seniors keeping or switching their plans. These seniors were reluctant to switch plans unless they experienced a major health event.
The Dynamic Relationship between Immigrant Politics and Urban Policy Making: Protecting the Rights of Undocumented Immigrants in Boston and Amsterdam
Authors: van Eck Emil Christian
Published: August 2020

With the advancement of comparative studies within the field of immigration and sociopolitical movements, scholars have attempted to understand how politico-institutional contexts influence the mobilization strategies of immigrant rights organizations at the local level. In this article, I make use of a field approach to explain how these organizations face different group-and issue-specific conditions regarding their involvement in local policy-making processes. Empirically, I examine the advocacy work of immigrant rights organizations in their aim to protect the rights of undocumented immigrants in Boston (USA) and Amsterdam (the Netherlands). By approaching power and resistance as relational phenomena, the results indicate that the intersection of distinct institutional and organizational mechanisms has differently impacted the local fields of immigrant politics. Taking different routes, in both cities immigrant rights organizations have found ways to constitute an affirmative institutional and discursive counterpower that challenges the national exclusionary citizenship regimes from the ground.
Nurse Practitioners in Swiss Family Practices as Potentially Autonomous Providers of Home Visits: An Exploratory Study of Two Cases
Authors: Gysin Stefan , Bischofberger Iren , Meier Rahel , van Vught Anneke , Merlo Christoph , Essig Stefan
Published: August 2020

In Swiss primary care, general practitioner (GP) home visits have decreased due to impending GP shortages particularly in rural areas. Nurse practitioners (NP) are newly introduced in family practices and could potentially offer home visits to the increasing number of multimorbid elderly. We analysed consultation data from two pilot projects (Practice A and Practice B) with the goal to measure the frequency and patient characteristics of NP consultations both in the practice and on home visits, and to determine the NPs’ autonomy based on the required GP supervision. In Practice A, 17% of all NP consultations were home visits, in Practice B 51%. In both practices, the NPs saw older patients and reported higher autonomy on home visits compared to consultations in the practice. In Practice A, the NP encountered a higher share of multimorbid patients on home visits than in the practice, and the NP’s proportion of autonomously conducted consultations increased from 0% in the first month to 19% after 13 months of GP supervision. In Practice B, the NP was autonomous in about three-quarters of consultations after 2 years on the job. These first cases provide some evidence that NPs could reach a relatively high degree of autonomy and might pose a potential solution for the decreasing numbers of GP home visits to multimorbid elderly in Swiss primary care.
Communicating and understanding pain: Limitations of pain scales for patients with sickle cell disorder and other painful conditions
Authors: Collins Peter J , Renedo Alicia , Marston Cicely A
Published: August 2020

Pain communication in healthcare is challenging. We examine use of pain scales to communicate pain severity via a case study of people with sickle cell disorder (SCD). We show how pain communication involves complex social interactions between patients, healthcare professionals and significant others – none of which are included in pain ratings. Failure to account for relational aspects of pain may cause problems for any patient. For SCD, mutual distrust shapes pain communication, further complicating clinical assessments. Moreover, SCD pain is particularly severe, making ratings hard to interpret compared with ratings from non-SCD patients, potentially exacerbating problems in managing pain relief.
Increased emotional eating behaviors in children with autism: Sex differences and links with dietary variety
Authors: Wallace Gregory L , Richard Emily , Wolff Alexandra , Nadeau Monica , Zucker Nancy
Published: August 2020

Although food selectivity and so-called “picky” eating are well documented in autism spectrum disorder, emotion-linked eating has rarely been investigated. This study examined emotion-linked over- and under-eating based on parent ratings of these behaviors in 4- to 17-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder ( n = 190) as compared to same-age typically developing children ( n = 119). Children with autism spectrum disorder were rated as exhibiting both more emotional over-eating and more emotional under-eating behaviors than their typically developing peers. Furthermore, while sex differences in these emotional eating behaviors were not observed in the typically developing children, girls with autism spectrum disorder were rated as experiencing more emotional over-eating behaviors than boys with autism spectrum disorder. Finally, among all children with autism spectrum disorder, emotional over-eating was linked with increased consumption of sweet foods and decreased consumption of vegetables. These findings have implications for better understanding eating habits in children with autism spectrum disorder and suggest that emotional eating behaviors might have both immediate and downstream health impacts.

Lay abstract

Although “picky” eating is well documented in autism spectrum disorder, emotional eating has rarely been investigated. This study examined emotional over- and under-eating based on parent ratings of these behaviors in 4- to 17-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder ( n = 190) as compared to same-age typically developing children ( n = 119). Children with autism spectrum disorder were rated as exhibiting both more emotional over-eating and more emotional under-eating behaviors than their typically developing peers. Furthermore, while sex differences in these emotional eating behaviors were not observed in the typically developing children, girls with autism spectrum disorder were rated as experiencing more emotional over-eating behaviors than boys with autism spectrum disorder. Finally, among all children with autism spectrum disorder, emotional over-eating was linked with increased consumption of sweet foods and decreased consumption of vegetables. These findings have implications for better understanding eating habits in children with autism spectrum disorder and suggest that emotional eating behaviors might have both immediate and downstream health impacts.
Experiences of practitioners implementing comprehensive student support in high-poverty schools
Authors: Heberle Amy E , Sheanáin Úna Ní , Walsh Mary E , Hamilton Anna N , Chung Agnes H , Eells Lutas Victoria L
Published: August 2020

This US-based study examined the experiences of school counselors and social workers implementing a systems-oriented, programmatic student support practice model, City Connects, within high-need urban contexts. The City Connects model represents current best practices in student support, positioning school counselors and social workers primarily in the role of identifying students’ needs and strengths and making connections between students, families, teachers, and service providers. This stands in contrast to older models in which these professionals functioned primarily in a direct care role. The goal of the study was to understand practitioners’ experiences of efficacy, satisfaction, and engagement as well as the barriers to each of these within this best practice model. Acknowledging the documented challenges of working in high-need urban schools in the United States and the potential strains of systems-oriented practice, the study aimed to understand which aspects of their work enable practitioners to thrive, as well as which aspects do not. Qualitative analysis was used to examine written reflection data on the experiences of 35 practitioners implementing the model. Our analysis revealed six themes: (1) connecting/cultivating relationships (2) seeing impact, (3) having confidence in the effectiveness of the practice model, (4) having high levels of satisfaction with the practice, (5) managing role clarity, and (6) experiencing systemic barriers. Implications for practitioners, supervisors, clinician educators, and program designers are discussed.
Party members and leadership styles in new European democracies
Authors: Gherghina Sergiu
Published: August 2020

The external image of party leaders has often been analysed through their behaviour or reflection in the media. However, we know little about how party leaders are seen internally. This article addresses this gap in the literature and seeks to explain what determines the variation in party members’ perceptions of leadership styles. It builds on the transactional–transformational continuum and uses original survey data from a modified version of the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire. The analysis includes 12 political parties with parliamentary representation from Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania between 2004 and 2018. The findings of the mixed-effects linear regression illustrate that in general older and active party members are more likely to see their leaders as transformational. The determinants of leadership style assessment differ greatly across political parties.
Who is the censor? Self-censorship of Russian journalists in professional routines and social networking
Authors: Bodrunova Svetlana S , Litvinenko Anna , Nigmatullina Kamilla
Published: August 2020

Today’s communicative environment, including the rise of social media, makes journalists perform publicly as both professionals and private citizens. In these circumstances, practices of self-limitation and self-censorship may extend to online behaviour. In this article, we analyse what makes journalists in public affairs media limit themselves in expression, both in editorial production and in online posting. We ask whether their self-censoring is related to personal, editorial, or external factors; whether political threats triumph over personal self-branding and professional/commercial reasons and whether these factors work differently in editorial and online behaviour; and whether journalists behave differently on different social networks. To formulate the answers, we use the results of a survey of 95 journalists from 51 Russian regions and seven in-depth interviews. Our results show that, in an organisationally weak journalistic community that operates in a restrictive environment, understanding of self-censorship differs significantly from that in Western democracies. It includes both self-limiting under pressures and personal-level ethical decisions that substitute professional codes of conduct. Moreover, for online posting and editorial work, there are different dominant ‘perceived censors’. Political threats remain the most significant of all external pressures both online and offline, but personal motives lead the decision-making in posting on social networks. Russia is characterised by platform-wide echo-chambering and high differentiation between users of Facebook and the Russia-based VK.com (formerly Vkontakte). We observe this difference in journalists’ descriptions of self-limitation on these networks.
‘Knit “n” natter’: a feminist methodological assessment of using creative ‘women’s work’ in focus groups
Authors: Harrison Katherine , Ogden Cassandra A
Published: August 2020

This article outlines the methodological innovations generated in a study of knitting and femininity in Britain. The study utilised ‘knit “n” natter’ focus groups during which female participants were encouraged to knit and talk. The research design encompassed a traditionally undervalued form of domestic ‘women’s work’ to recognise the creative skills of female practitioners. ‘Knit “n” natter’ is a fruitful feminist research method in relation to its capitalisation on female participants’ creativity, its disruption of expertise and its feminisation of academic space. The method challenges patriarchal conventions of knowledge production and gendered power relations in research, but it also reproduces problematic constructions of gender, which are acknowledged. The study contributes to a growing body of work on creative participatory methods and finds that the ‘knit “n” natter’ format has utility beyond investigations of crafting and may be used productively in other contexts where in-depth research with women is desirable.
Exploring the object-sourced transmodal practices of an emergent bilingual child in sociodramatic play
Authors: Bengochea Alain , Sembiante Sabrina F , Gort Mileidis
Published: August 2020

This case study explores how an emergent bilingual preschooler used transmodal practices to engage with objects and compose narratives in sociodramatic play. Video recordings and field notes were collected in a dual language preschool classroom in the United States to examine the actional, verbal, and visual modes used by the focal child during his engagement with objects. An action-oriented analysis using multimodal discourse and mediated action frameworks revealed how he transmodally engaged with play artifacts to embody imagined roles and extend objects’ functionality. The child engaged with objects in three particular ways by (a) resourcing objects to advertise play to peers, (b) extending objects’ meaning potential, and (c) recruiting physical and imagined objects to elaborate on storyline. His translanguaging served as an additional compositional resource to provide contextualization for play narratives; showcase personalized meanings and underscore his multimodal intent during play; and endorse and co-opt others’ play ideas. Findings have implications for ways that early childhood teachers can use objects to promote and augment multimodal sociodramatic play scenarios.
First-Year Undergraduate Employment and Students’ Academic Motivation
Authors: Jach Elizabeth A. , Trolian Teniell L.
Published: August 2020

Given the importance of academic motivation for student retention and persistence and that most undergraduate students participate in paid employment, this study investigated first-year undergraduate student employment and its relationship with academic motivation. Specifically, this study used the Wabash National Study of Liberal Arts Education (WNS), a longitudinal survey study designed to examine student outcomes, to consider whether paid employment was associated with changes in students’ academic motivation during their first year of college. Results suggested that student employment both on-campus and off-campus was negatively associated with students’ end-of-first-year academic motivation, when controlling for students’ precollege academic motivation and a host of other student background characteristics, institutional characteristics, and college experiences. Implications for higher education faculty and staff are considered, including the importance of emphasizing connections between student employment and academic learning.
Efficient and robust approaches for three-dimensional sound source recognition and localization using humanoid robots sensor arrays
Authors: Chen Hao , Liu Chengju , Chen Qijun
Published: August 2020

Efficient and robust sound source recognition and localization is one of the basic techniques for humanoid robots in terms of reaction to environments. Due to the fixed sensor arrays and limited computation resources in humanoid robots, there comes challenge for sound source recognition and localization. This article proposes a sound source recognition and localization framework to realize real-time and precise sound source recognition and localization system using humanoid robots’ sensor arrays. The type of the audio is recognized according to the cross-correlation function. And steered response power-phase transform function in discrete angle space is used to search the sound source direction. The sound source recognition and localization framework presents a new multi-robots collaboration system to get the precise three-dimensional sound source position and introduces a distance weighting revision way to optimize the localization performance. Additionally, the experiment results carried out on humanoid robot NAO demonstrate that the proposed approaches can recognize and localize the sound source efficiently and robustly.