bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
More Markets, More Justice
Authors: Hadfield Gillian K.
Published: January 2019

People lack access to justice because the law is complex and expensive to use. Basic mechanisms of market competition can reduce both the complexity and the cost of law while securing law's principal function in society, which is to coordinate a community around a shared understanding of what is and what is not allowed. Creating markets for rules will make for better law and better legal systems by allowing people and organizations to select the rules and dispute-resolution processes that are best for them in a market in which providers of regulation compete on terms of cost and quality. Legal rules require special protection to make sure they deliver a more just, equitable world for all; this protection can be provided through a “superregulator,” which licenses providers of law and legal services to sell their services in competitive markets.
Marketing Legal Assistance
Authors: Chambliss Elizabeth
Published: January 2019

Much of the American conversation about access to justice focuses on regulatory barriers to new forms of service delivery and treats regulatory resistance as the primary problem to be solved. Meanwhile, obstacles to consumer awareness and engagement have received less attention. This essay reverses the order of analysis and considers strategies for expanding access first from a marketing perspective. What models of legal assistance have been most successful in building consumer awareness and trust? To what extent can successful marketing help to sidestep or overcome regulatory resistance? And what are the implications for reformers interested in expanding access to justice?
Community Law Practice
Authors: Herrera Luz E.
Published: January 2019

Community-embedded law practices are small businesses that are crucial in addressing the legal needs that arise in neighborhoods. Lawyers in these practices attend to recurring legal needs, contribute to building a diverse profession, and spur community development of modest-income communities through legal education and services. Solo practitioners and small firm lawyers represent the largest segment of the lawyer population in the United States, yet their contributions to addressing the legal needs of modest-income clients are rarely recognized or studied. This essay sheds light on the characteristics, motivations, and challenges these law practices face in providing access to justice to modest-means communities.
The Idea of Environmental Design Revisited
Authors: Lou Yongqi
Published: January 2019

In China, environmental design is a discipline that traditionally focuses on tangibly built environments in an artistic view. However, when the environment is regarded as a condition under which people intentionally enact with their surroundings, environmental design means a course of actions to stimulate or realize that condition. This article promotes a new environmental design culture that focuses on using holistic, human-centered, and interdisciplinary approaches to create and enable a sustainable life/space ecosystem, including experiences, communication, and places, that optimize the interactions of humans with their surroundings. The article also examines the trends of environmental design in the Chinese context.
Sexual morph of Phaeoacremonium aureum from Rhizophora mucronata collected in southern Thailand
Authors: DAYARATHNE MONIKA CHANDANI , MAHARACHCHIKUMBURA SAJEEWA S. N. , JONES GARETH , AL-SADI ABDULLAH M. , HYDE KEVIN D. , CHOMNUNTI PUTARAK
Published: January 2019

Sexual morph of Phaeoacremonium aureum was collected from a mangrove in Krabi Province, southern Thailand. It was linked to P. aureum based on the analysis of sequence data. The sexual morph is characterized by ascomata with relatively long conical necks and suballantoid to oblong, slightly curved ascospores, with rounded ends and small guttules at each end. Sexual morph of P. aureum differs from other species of Phaeoacremonium by having ascomata with relatively long (300–380 μm) conical necks and being saprobic on Rhizophora mucronata. This is the first record of Phaeoacremonium species from a mangrove habitat. We also provide a key to sexual morphs of Phaeoacremonium species.
Contribution to the knowledge of Atyidae and Palaemonidae (Crustacea: Decapoda) of Greece
Authors: KAPAKOS YIANNIS , KARAOUZAS IOANNIS
Published: January 2019

This contribution aims in enhancing knowledge of the zoogeography of the freshwater shrimp fauna of Greece, based on field collections carried out from 2002–2016. A total of 167 specimens were collected from 25 locations in rivers, streams and lakes of the Greek peninsula and islands. Our study adds more localities with exclusive records of A. acheronensis/A. desmarestii in central- western Greece, where it was previously presumed that A. stankoi occurred. Furthermore, A. stankoi is now recorded for the first time in two rivers of eastern central Greece, as well as in a spring system of western Greece, being thus its westernmost record so far.
Fourteen new species of scuttle flies (Diptera, Phoridae) from Denmark
Authors: DISNEY R. HENRY L , BØGGILD ESBEN
Published: January 2019

Megaselia anniduedahlae sp. n., M. balfourbrownei sp. n., M. birgittemarkae sp. n., M. carlkahleri sp. n., M. gerdakahlerae sp. n., M. helleorumae sp. n., M. jonasseni sp. n., M. legrandi sp. n., M. loneviolaae n sp. n., M. parhirticrus sp. n., M. pederseni sp. n., M. thomseni sp. n., Triphleba ehmseni sp. n., and T. papei sp. n., are described from Denmark.
Adjustments to the Annotated zoogeography of non-marine Tardigrada. Part III: North America and Greenland by Kaczmarek, Michalczyk & McInnes (Zootaxa 4203)
Authors: MILLER WILLIAM R. , PERRY EMMA S.
Published: January 2019

The art of biogeography starts with two basic questions: WHERE has each species been found and WHICH species have been found there. While using the Annotated zoogeography of non-marine Tardigrada. Part III: North America and Greenland (Kaczmarek, et al. 2016) we found that 26 non-standard state and province abbreviations had been used in the WHERE table and that there was no WHICH table. We present an adjusted WHERE table and add a WHICH table as a supplement to the original paper.
Proposal of a new subfamily of Sciaridae (Diptera: Sciaridae), with description of one new species from South Korea
Authors: SHIN SEUNGGWAN , LEE HEUNGSIK , LEE SEUNGHWAN
Published: January 2019

Here we propose a new monophyletic subfamily, the Chaetosciarinae, based on previous morphological cladistic and molecular phylogenetic studies. This new subfamily includes the genera Chaetosciara Frey, Mouffetina Frey, Schwenckfeldina Frey, and Scythropochroa Enderlein. We also provide a definition of the new subfamily Chaetosciarinae and describe common morphological key characters. Three Korean Chaetosciarinae species in three genera are reported, all of which are new to Korea and one (Scythropochroa pseudoquercicola sp. nov.) of which is new to science. A previous molecular phylogenetic study designated Scy. pseudoquercicola as an unidentified species. Our study provides examined species information for members of this new subfamily to accompany the GenBank accession numbers published by a previous molecular phylogenetic study. Furthermore, we present a multigene molecular phylogenetic analysis for the Chaetosciarinae.
"Gramatika kaszëbsczégò jãzëka" – rozpoznanie i opracowanie struktury współczesnego literackiego języka kaszubskiego. Odpowiedź na głosy krytyki
Authors: Makurat Hanna
Published: January 2019

The Grammar of the Kashubian Language – recognition and description of the structure of the contemporary Kashubian. Response to criticismThe article is a response to criticism of Hanna Makurat’s book titled The Grammar of the Kashubian Language; the book, published in 2016, is the first normative description of contemporary Kashubian. The Kashubian newspaper Skra has published a review which questioned the substantive content of the entire book. The author of the review showed incompatibilities between the book and Friedrich Lorentz’s Pomeranian Grammar, which was published in 1927–1937. However, the reviewer did not take into account the fact that Lorentz described the system of 76 Kashubian dialects, while Hanna Makurat described the system of contemporary Kashubian literary language, which evolved and developed standard forms. What is more, this review, written by an amateur, became the basis for the publication by the Kashubian Language Council of the statement – not supported by any arguments – that Hanna Makurat’s book was not a normative grammar. Due to lack of arguments, the Kashubian Language Council, after a month and a half, removed this statement from its website. Gramatika kaszëbsczégò jãzëka – rozpoznanie i opracowanie struktury współczesnego literackiego języka kaszubskiego. Odpowiedź na głosy krytykiArtykuł stanowi odpowiedź na krytykę, z jaką spotkała się książka Hanny Makurat Gramatika kaszëbsczégò jãzëka, wydany w 2016 roku pierwszy normatywny opis współczesnego języka kaszubskiego. Kaszubska gazeta „Skra” opublikowała recenzję, która podaje w wątpliwość istotną część zawartych w książce ustaleń. Autor recenzji wskazał niezgodności między książką Makurat a Gramatyką pomorską Friedricha Lorentza, którą opublikowano w latach 1927–1937. Recenzent nie wziął jednak pod uwagę, że Lorentz opisywał system 76 gwar kaszubskich, Makurat zaś opisała system współczesnego kaszubskiego języka literackiego, który dopracował się form standardowych. Omawiana recenzja, której autor jest amatorem, stała się na dodatek powodem opublikowania przez Radę Języka Kaszubskiego niepopartego żadnymi argumentami oświadczenia, że gramatyka Hanny Makurat nie ma charakteru normatywnego. Wobec braku argumentów po upływie półtora miesiąca Rada Języka Kaszubskiego usunęła oświadczenie ze swojej strony internetowej.
A Long-Term Study of Sea-Breeze Characteristics: A Case Study of the Coastal City of Adelaide
Authors: Masouleh Zahra Pazandeh , Walker David John , McCauley Crowther John
Published: January 2019

The sea-breeze characteristics of the Adelaide, Australia, coastline have been studied by applying a sea-breeze detection algorithm to 3- and 6-hourly meteorological records of near-surface and upper-air data at Adelaide Airport from 1955 to 2007. The sea breeze is typically a westerly gulf breeze combined with a later-occurring southerly ocean breeze. Regression analysis showed a significant increasing trend in the intensity of sea breezes but not in their frequency. Over the 52-yr period, there was an average increase of 1 m s−1 in zonal and 0.7 m s−1 in meridional sea-breeze wind speed components. The annually and seasonally averaged maximum wind speeds on sea-breeze days increased significantly over the 52-yr period of the study by 0.65 m s−1 for the whole year, 0.48 m s−1 in spring, 1.02 m s−1 in summer, and 1.10 m s−1 in autumn. A comparison of hourly data for 1985–95 with those for 1996–2007 showed frequencies of sea-breeze onset times less than 4 h from sunrise increasing from 29% to 36%, durations greater than 8 h increasing from 51% to 59%, and times of maximum sea breeze between 2 and 6 h after sunrise increasing from 44% to 50%. The monthly frequency of sea breezes was found to increase by 2.8 percentage points for each degree Celsius rise in monthly average maximum air temperature at Adelaide Airport. The meridional ocean-breeze wind speed, unlike the gulf-breeze wind speed, is also correlated with maximum air temperature at Adelaide Airport.
The Zonal Oscillation and the Driving Mechanisms of the Extreme Western North Pacific Subtropical High and Its Impacts on East Asian Summer Precipitation
Authors: Cheng Tat Fan , Lu Mengqian , Dai Lun
Published: January 2019

This paper scrutinizes the zonal oscillation of the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) via diagnosing its two extreme phases, which are defined by the top 10% strongest (positive phase) and the weakest (negative phase) WNPSH index (WNPSHI) days during summers in 1979–2016. Key findings include the following: a tripole pattern consisting of intensified (weakened) precipitation over the Maritime Continent and the East Asian summer monsoon regions, and suppressed (strengthened) precipitation over the western North Pacific summer monsoon region during positive (negative) WNPSH phases; a westward movement of WNPSH-induced precipitation anomalies that subsequently affects eastern China, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula at different time lags; an OLR–vorticity pattern explained by atmospheric responses to thermal sources is suggested to drive the oscillation; and the competitive interaction of local air–sea feedbacks, especially during the positive phase. In addition, moderate-to-strong positive correlations between the WNPSHI and the Niño-3.4 index are found on 1–2-, 2–3-, and 3–6-yr time scales; both exhibit decadal shifts to a higher-frequency mode, suggesting the intensification of both the zonal WNPSH oscillation and the ENSO under the changing climate and their close interdecadal association. A nonlinear quasi-biennial WNPSH–ENSO relationship is identified: the positive (negative) WNPSH phase sometimes occurs during 1) a decaying El Niño (La Niña) in the preceding summer/autumn, and/or 2) a developing La Niña (El Niño) in the current summer/autumn. A full ENSO transition from moderate-to-strong El Niño to La Niña is often seen during the positive phase, offering potential in predicting ENSO events and extreme WNPSH phases and thereby the summer monsoon rainfall in East Asia.
Ray Curvature on a Flat Earth for Computing Virtual WSR-88D Signatures of Simulated Supercell Storms
Authors: Davies-Jones Robert , Wood Vincent T. , Askelson Mark A.
Published: January 2019

Two accepted postulates for applications of ground-based weather radars are that Earth’s surface is a perfect sphere and that all the rays launched at low-elevation angles have the same constant small curvature. To accommodate a straight vertically launched ray, we amend the second postulate by making the ray curvature dependent on the cosine of the launch angle. A standard atmospheric stratification determines the ray-curvature value at zero launch angle. Granted this amended postulate, we develop exact formulas for ray height, ground range, and ray slope angle as functions of slant range and launch angle on the real Earth. Standard practice assumes a hypothetical equivalent magnified earth, for which the rays become straight while ray height above radar level remains virtually the same function of the radar coordinates. The real-Earth and equivalent-earth formulas for height agree to within 1 m. Our ultimate goal is to place a virtual Doppler radar within a numerical or analytical model of a supercell and compute virtual signatures of simulated storms for development and testing of new warning algorithms. Since supercell models have a flat lower boundary, we must first compute the ray curvature that preserves the height function as the earth curvature tends to zero. Using an approximate height formula, we find that keeping planetary curvature minus the ray curvature at zero launch angle constant preserves ray height to within 5 m. For standard refraction the resulting ray curvature is negative, indicating that rays bend concavely upward relative to a flat earth.
How to develop research skills among undergraduate engineering students to tackle current ongoing topics? A Smart-Grid case study
Authors: Ponce Pedro , Ibarra Luis , Mata Omar , Molina Arturo
Published: January 2019

The Smart-Grid approach, as a paramount worldwide issue, is a paradigm shift from the traditional way energy is produced, distributed, and used. It implies a complex multidisciplinary panorama which includes ongoing subjects for which traditional electrical and computer engineers are not entirely ready. As the implementation of Smart-Grid is imminent, high-skilled professionals are needed to absorb the research, labor, business, logistics, and innovation issues of today and tomorrow. This leads to a transformation of the education role for undergraduate programs which is now, accordingly, urged to build up students’ research skills. In this paper, a case study is presented to introduce and asses a new teaching/evaluation methodology intended to build critical thinking, objectivity, and ingenuity among mechanical–electrical undergraduate students during a one-semester course on Smart-Grid. The results show that the proposed technique may improve the aforementioned research skills within the group of students. Overall, the proposed methodology can be used as a protocol to guide new research cases and to frame similar educational proposals.
Document recommendation based on the analysis of group trust and user weightings
Authors: Lai Chin-Hui , Chang Yu-Chieh
Published: January 2019

Collaborative filtering (CF) has been applied in various domains to resolve problems related to information overload. In a knowledge-intensive environment, most works are processed through teamwork. A user on a team can reference task-related documents from other trusted members to support work on the task. However, the traditional personalised recommender systems no longer meet the demand of teams or groups. Therefore, this work proposes a novel document recommendation method based on a group-based trust model. Our method will analyse the degrees of trust among users in a group and then identify the trustworthy users. The proposed group trust consists of a hybrid personal trust (HPT) model and users’ importance (i.e. users’ activity, similarity and reputation) in a group. Group-based trust is then integrated with the user-based CF to recommend documents to users. The experiments demonstrate that the proposed method can provide better performance than other trust-based recommendation methods; it not only obtains reliable trust values to increase the accuracy of predictions but also enhances the recommendation quality.
Support for Tobacco 21 in a Tobacco-Growing State
Authors: Ickes Melinda J. , Butler Karen , Wiggins Amanda T. , Rayens Mary Kay , Hahn Ellen J.
Published: January 2019

This study investigated the association between sociodemographic characteristics and public attitudes toward Tobacco 21 laws. Through a random telephone survey in 2017, 1,675 Kentucky adults were asked if they favored/opposed increasing the minimum legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21 years of age. Over half (57.9%) favored raising the minimum legal age for tobacco sales to 21 (95% confidence interval: [54.5, 61.2]). Multivariable logistic regression for weighted survey data was used to determine factors associated with support. In the adjusted analysis, older age, female sex, non-White, conservative political ideology (versus moderate), and support for a statewide smoke-free policy were each significantly associated with greater support for Tobacco 21. The results suggest multiple demographic and personal factors associated with support, even in a tobacco-growing state. Health care professionals, including nurses, must understand existing public attitudes to effectively advocate for tobacco policies in states with high tobacco use.
Adult Reports of Pokémon GO Play: Stronger Parasocial Relationships Predict Increased Nostalgia and Decreased App Play
Authors: Frolich Marie A. , Aguiar Naomi Ruth , Putnam Marisa M. , Calvert Sandra L.
Published: January 2019

Lack of physical activity is often associated with electronic media use. However, augmented reality exergames require player movement, making them a potential health application (app). In the exergame Pokémon GO, characters were embedded into the external environment through a live camera feed and viewed through a player’s smartphone screen. Online surveys from adults ( N = 230) who played the Pokémon GO app reported about their childhood emotionally tinged, parasocial relationships with a favorite Pokémon character, motivations to play Pokémon GO, and frequency of Pokémon GO play. Those who had stronger childhood parasocial relationships with a Pokémon character reported playing the Pokémon GO app for nostalgic reasons but reported less frequent app play. Older participants were motivated to play Pokémon GO to increase their physical activity levels and reported more frequent app play. The findings suggest that the age and motivations of players are important considerations for exergame design.
Pushing a Green Agenda: Explaining Shifting Public Support for Environmental Spending
Authors: Clark April K. , Carlisle Juliet E.
Published: January 2019

Although mass opinion on many political issues is generally stable, Americans’ beliefs about environmentalism have undergone dramatic changes in recent decades. Many studies of attitudinal change identify cohort- or period-based effects as contributing to large-scale opinion changes. However, limited research exists that considers both explanations simultaneously. This study estimates variability in environmental spending support across cohort and periods while also testing the role of compositional and contextual causes of this variability. Our findings contribute to understanding mass opinion change, as well as variations in the American public’s concern about the environment. Furthermore, the modeling approach addresses the question of which macro- and micro-level characteristics are influential for pushing forward a green agenda. The evidence presented casts doubt on studies that see pro-environmentalism as dependent on personal or national wealth as well as findings that view shifts in concern as stemming from generational replacement. Yet, among the major explanations identified in public opinion research, we find support for elite cues and, to a lesser degree, subjective economic security as important factors that drive shifts in public concern about the environment. Given these results, we argue that theories of postmaterialist environmentalism and theories of global environmentalism are incomplete on their own.
The Role of Language and Literacy in K-5 Science and Social Studies Standards
Authors: Wright Tanya S. , Domke Lisa M.
Published: January 2019

The purpose of this study was to understand messages about the role of language and literacy in the Next Generation Science Standards and the C3 Framework for Social Studies standards documents. We engaged in a content analysis of (a) framework documents that provide the theoretical basis for the standards and (b) learning expectation statements for elementary grade students. Findings indicated a substantial emphasis on supporting language and literacy for disciplinary learning, with emphases on discipline-specific practices and apprenticing children into these practices, often through classroom discussion, beginning in the elementary grades. Although student expectations use similar terminology across science and social studies—for example, explain, argue, and ask—framework documents clarify disciplinary differences in the ways that these practices are enacted. Supporting students’ disciplinary language and literacy development in alignment with these ambitious standards will likely require substantial instructional change in elementary classrooms.
The Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Field of Hair Restoration and Facial Aesthetics—A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Gupta Aditya K. , Versteeg Sarah G. , Rapaport Jeffrey , Hausauer Amelia K. , Shear Neil H. , Piguet Vincent
Published: January 2019

As a promising alternative to traditional treatment, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is being used to encourage hair growth through the release of growth factors and cytokines. In addition to hair restoration, PRP’s multifactorial capabilities can also be used to treat aging skin, facial scarring, and acne. The purpose of this review is to critically examine the success of PRP in the field of dermatology, with specific attention to the role of PRP in hair restoration. Where possible, meta-analyses were used to evaluate the efficacy of PRP. In androgenetic alopecia (AGA) patients, 3 monthly PRP injections (1 session administered every month for 3 months) exhibited greater efficacy over placebo as measured by change in total hair density (hair/cm2) over the treatment period (mean difference: 25.61, 95% CI: 4.45 to 46.77; P = .02). The studies included in the meta-analysis used a half-head design, which may have influenced the results because of the effects PRP can induce. Controlled studies suggest that 2 to 4 sessions of PRP combined with traditional therapies and procedures can help minimize acne scarring and facial burns, improve aesthetic results, and decrease recovery time. However, data for these indications are lacking and are less robust in design. In conclusion, to achieve an improvement in hair restoration in patients with mild AGA, 3 initial monthly PRP injections should be given. Only upon completion of rigorous, randomized, controlled studies can standardized and effective PRP protocols for treating dermatology conditions such as acne scarring, facial burns, and aging skin be determined.
Hotel productivity: A robust Luenberger productivity indicator
Authors: Tzeremes Nickolaos G
Published: January 2019

The article presents a robust version of the Luenberger productivity indicator. The proposed productivity indicator is less sensitive to potential outliers and extreme values. We apply the robust productivity index on a sample of 176 hotels operating in the Canary Islands over the period from 2004 to 2013. The results indicate that hotels have increased their productivity levels over the examined time period. In relation to their productivity levels, it is also evident that hotels have demonstrated strong resilience during the global financial crisis. Finally, it is evident that hotels have been recovered quickly from the global financial crisis based mainly on the ability to increase their technological change levels.
A Simple Ex Vivo Semiquantitative Fluorescent Imaging Utilizing Planar Laser Scanner: Detection of Reactive Oxygen Species Generation in Mouse Brain and Kidney
Authors: Hosoi Rie , Sato Sota , Shukuri Miho , Fujii Yuka , Todoroki Kenichiro , Arano Yasushi , Sakai Toshihiro , Inoue Osamu
Published: January 2019

Objective:

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the onset of many neuronal and peripheral disorders. We examined the feasibility of obtaining semiquantitative fluorescent images of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in mouse brain and kidney utilizing a planar laser scanner and dihydroethidium (DHE).

Methods:

To investigate ROS generation in brain, sodium nitroprusside was injected into the striatum. Dihydroethidium was injected into the tail vein. After DHE injection, tissue slices were analyzed utilizing a planar laser scanner. For kidney study, cis-diamminedichloroplatinum [II] (cisplatin) was intraperitoneally administrated into mice.

Results:

Clear and semiquantitative fluorescent images of ROS generation in the mouse brain and kidney were obtained. Furthermore, the fluorescence intensity was stable and not affected by fading. Sodium nitroprusside induced approximately 6 times the fluorescence accumulation in the brain. Cisplatin caused renal injury in all mice, and in comparison with control mice, more than 10 times fluorescence accumulation was observed in the renal medulla with tubular necrosis and vacuolization.

Conclusions:

We successfully obtained ex vivo semiquantitative fluorescent images of ROS generation utilizing a planar laser scanner and DHE. This simple method is useful for ROS detection in several ROS-related animal models and would be applicable to a variety of biochemical processes.
Animated mesh simplification based on motion features in visual sensor networks
Authors: Yang Hongjie , Zhou Fan , Lin Ge , Lin Mouguang , Lin Shujin
Published: January 2019

The three-dimensional animated model is widely used in scientific visualization, entertainment, and virtual applications, especially in visual sensor networks. The main purpose of simplification is to capture the shape sequence of an object with very few elements while preserving the overall shape. As three-dimensional animated mesh is time-varying in all frames, the trade-off between the temporal coherence and geometric distortion must be considered to develop simplification algorithm. In this article, a novel three-dimensional animated mesh simplification algorithm based on motion features is presented. Here, motion features are the connection areas of the relative movement consisted of vertices and edges. Motion feature extraction is to find a subgraph that has movement property. Dihedral angle of the edge through all frames is used to determine whether an edge is connected or not to the movement parts. Then, a rotation connected graph is defined to extract motion features. Traveling this graph, all motion features can be extracted. Based on the motion features, animated quadric error metric is created and quadric error matrix is built through all frames. Compared with the other methods, the important advantages of this method are high-efficiency simplification process and smoother simplification effects. It is suitable to be used in real-time applications. Experiment results show that the 3D animated mesh simplification effects by our method are satisfactory.
Revealing the Hybrid Patterns: Conflict Coverage as a Product of a Commercial and a Normative Media Logic
Authors: Koehler Christina , Jost Pablo B.
Published: January 2019

When covering societal conflicts, journalists often feel a tension between normative and commercial requirements. Consequently, media coverage has a hybrid character consisting of elements ascribed to both a normative and a commercial media logic. Therefore, analyzing the prevalence of single elements in media coverage reveals only part of the story. Taking nine wage disputes in Germany between 2003 and 2015 as prominent instances of nonviolent conflicts, we aim at revealing the structure of news coverage ( n = 1,181). A cluster analysis unfolded four distinct patterns of conflict coverage. The results indicated that the ideal-type dichotomy between a commercial and a normative media logic is more differentiated: Emotionalization and human interest framing separated patterns into some, which were more aligned to a commercial logic, and others, which were more characteristic for a normative logic. However, negativity, background information, and a hard-facts-first structure played a multifold role with the highest amount of background information being accompanied by the highest levels of negativity. Furthermore, conflict phase (strike vs. bargaining phase), conflict type (low vs. high potential impact on society), and media outlets’ genre (quality vs. tabloid vs. news agency) were identified as antecedents of the coverage patterns.
Total Hip Arthroplasty for Hip Fractures: Time to Surgery With Respect to Surgical Revision, Failure, and Mortality
Authors: Müller Franz , Galler Michael , Zellner Michael , Bäuml Christian , Grechenig Stephan , Kottmann Tanja , Füchtmeier Bernd
Published: January 2019

Introduction:

There are increasing demands to perform surgery of hip fractures without delay. However, few studies have assessed the time to surgery in relation to outcome measurements.

Methods:

A total of 643 consecutive patients with a minimum age of 60 years underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) for an intracapsular hip fracture. For this retrospective case series, demographic data and the outcome measurements—(1) any surgical revision, (2) implant failure, and (3) mortality—were documented from a prospective clinical database. The time from admission to surgery was also documented prospectively and then data were divided into 4 groups according to the time of surgery: (1) within 12 hours, (2) >12 to 24 hours, (3) >24 to 48 hours, and (4) later than >48 hours. The study end point was 2 years after surgery. Final evaluation was conducted for any missing data through a telephone interview.

Results:

The patients comprised 456 women (70.9%) and 187 men (29.1%) with a mean age of 80.2 years (range 60-104 years; standard deviation ±7.4). Descriptive data were without effect in all 4 groups. Time to surgery did not significantly influence revision for any reason ( P = .323), implant failure ( P = .521), and mortality ( P = .643). Cox regression analysis identified male sex ( P < .001; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.27-2.44), American Society of Anesthesiologists score ≥3 ( P < .001; 95% CI, 2.12-21.59), C-reactive protein level >21 mg/L ( P < .018; 95% CI, 1.09-2.60), hemoglobin level <12.0 g/dL ( P = .033; 95% CI, 1.04-2.68), and dementia ( P < .000; 95% CI, 1.50-2.86) as independent significant risk factors for mortality.

Conclusion:

Time to surgery had no effect on revision for any reason, implant failure, and mortality in patients undergoing THA for an intracapsular hip fracture.
Determination of LD50 of some essential oils and histopathological changes in short-term exposure to one of them in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Tabarraei Hadi , Hassan Jalal , Mosavi Shamsi Sadat
Published: January 2019

In this study, the toxicity of thymol, the essential oil (EO) of thyme plant, cumin seeds, and caraway seeds on rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss) was investigated and compared through a static method. The acute and short-term exposure study were conducted at a pH of 7.4 and a temperature of 15°C. In Acute toxicity test, concentrations of agents that killed 50% of rainbow trout (LC50) within 96-h for EOs of thyme, thymol, cumin, and caraway were 6.6, 2.6, 35, and 14 mg L−1, respectively. Changes in fish behavior were restless, aimless swimming, and imbalances that were the same for all agents in acute toxicity test. In short-term study, histopathological changes consisted of hyperemia and edema in most organs. But most of the changes were observed in gill and brain of fish that included cellular hyperplasia and fusion of lamellae in the gills and necrosis and inflammation in the brain in addition to hyperemia and edema. The results showed that EOs used in this study were likely to exert their effects through competition with oxygen insolubility in the water and, for this reason, most of the changes were seen in the gills and brain that are more sensitive to the amounts of oxygen. This study concluded that the acute toxicity of these EOs is significant and the use of these substances in the aquatic industry should be cautious.
Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus/human herpesvirus 8–associated lymphoproliferative disorders
Authors: Oksenhendler Eric , Boutboul David , Galicier Lionel
Published: January 2019

Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus/human herpesvirus 8 is associated with multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) and primary effusion lymphoma (PEL). In MCD, infected B cells, although polyclonal, express a monotypic immunoglobulin Mλ phenotype, probably through editing toward λ light chain in mature B cells. They are considered to originate from pre–germinal center (GC) naive B cells. Both viral and human interleukin-6 contribute to the plasmacytic differentiation of these cells, and viral replication can be observed in some infected cells. PEL cells are clonal B cells considered as GC/post-GC B cells. One can also hypothesize that they originate from the same infected naive B cells and that additional factors could be responsible for their peculiar phenotype.
Brain imaging in psychiatric disorders: target or screen?
Authors: Rego Thomas , Velakoulis Dennis
Published: January 2019

There is currently debate about when a clinician should consider neuroimaging for patients with a known psychiatric illness. We consider this topic and propose a set of ‘red flags’ to use to aid decision-making.

Declaration of interest

None.
Sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation (SANT) of the spleen: A case report on CT and MRI
Authors: Vigorito Raffaella , Scaramuzza Davide , Pellegrinelli Alessandro , Marchianò Alfonso
Published: January 2019

Solid tumors of the spleen are rare, with an incidence of 0.007% in all operating and autopsy specimens. In terms of microscopic structure and function, the spleen consists of two parts: the white pulp, which plays an important role in the immune system and the red pulp, which filters the blood.Primary splenic neoplasms can be classified into lymphoid neoplasms arising from the white pulp, and vascular neoplasms which arise from the red pulp.Primary tumors arising from vascular elements include benign lesions such as hemangioma, lymphangioma and hamartoma, intermediate lesions such as hemangioendothelioma, hemangiopericytoma and littoral cell angioma as well as the frankly malignant hemangiosarcoma.It is usually difficult to distinguish a benign from a malignant lesion with preoperative imaging studies and cytological exam by fine-needle aspiration (FNA), that is not easily obtained because of the risk of bleeding.Therefore a splenectomy should be necessary for a definitive diagnosis of splenic tumors.Martel and all for the first time described the sclerosing angiomatoid nodular transformation (SANT), like a vascular lesion of the spleen, with benign clinical course consisting by altered red pulp tissue that has been entrapped by a non-neoplastic stromal proliferative process.We describe a rare case of benign splenic mass documented with FDG/PET-CT (referred as equivocal), CT and MRI.
Normal interpupillary, inner canthal distance and outer canthal distance in a normal population of Pakistan
Authors: Hayat Nausheen , Alkhairy Saba , Cheema Alyscia , Ehsan Muneeb , Khan Muhammad Athar
Published: January 2019

Objective: This study was conducted to quantify the normal indices of anthropometric measures related to ophthalmology including Interpupillary distance (IPD), Inner canthal distance (ICD), Outer canthal distance (OCD) in a normal, healthy Pakistani population.

Methods: This is a cross sectional study. Total 500 patients were chosen randomly but 499 were included in this study. Patients were selected randomly in an outpatient department of Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre Karachi, over the period of five months. IPD, ICD & OCD all measurements were taken with the help of plastic rule by only one researcher to minimize chances of error as much as possible. IPD was reconfirmed from auto refractometer while ICD and OCD readings were taken twice by occluding one eye of researcher to reduce error. Participants were divided into four categories on basis of: Age, Gender, ethnicity and geographical location. Patients were further categorized on basis of Ethnicity to Urdu Speaking, Sindhi, Punjabi, Pathan, and others. Moreover, four age groups were drawn ranging from 15-24 years, 25-44 years, 45-64 years and 65 years and greater.

Results: Our study comprised a total of 499 patents of which 272(54.5%) were males, and 227(45.5%) were females. The mean age of the participants was 39.3 ± 14.5 years. The mean values for the IPD, ICD and OCD in mm were 61.8 ± 6.2, 30.9 ± 2.9 and 85.2 ± 6.6 respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed between IPD, ICD and OCD Indices among male and female study participants (p<0.001, p=0.043, p<0.001). While comparing the IPD, ICD and OCD indices amongst the different ethnic groups, we found no statistically significant difference (p=0.09. p=0.28, p=0.06). Overall, there was no correlation between the age and other variables i.e. IPD, ICD, OCD, (r = 0.07, p = 0.085), (r = 0.005, p = 0.906), (r = -0.08, p = 0.058).

Conclusion: This work has recommended normative values of IPD, ICD and OCD in Pakistani population on the basis different variables including gender, age, and ethnicity.

How to cite this:Hayat N, Alkhairy S, Cheema A, Ehsan M, Khan MA. Normal interpupillary, inner canthal distance and outer canthal distance in a normal population of Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(1):50-54. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.1.288

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Ambiguous genitalia: An overview of 7 years experience at the Children’s Hospital & Institute of Child Health, Lahore, Pakistan
Authors: Manzoor Jaida , Aftab Sommayya , Yaqoob Muhammad
Published: January 2019

Objective: To determine the classification and etiological diagnosis of children presented with ambiguous genitalia/atypical genitalia according to the newer classification system of Disorder of Sex Development (DSD).

Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at The Children’s Hospital &Institute of Child Health, Lahore from January, 2007 to December; 2014. Files of all the children with ambiguous genitalia were retrospectively analyzed and relevant data was retrieved. All the information was recorded on predesigned proforma and analyzed accordingly.

Results: A total of 300 cases of ambiguous genitalia classified according to the new DSD classification. 46, XX DSD were 54.3% (n=163), 46, XY DSD were 43.7% (n=131), sex chromosome DSD were 2% (n=6). Among 46, XX DSD cases, the most common cause was congenital adrenal hyperplasia (97%, n=158). However, in 46, XY DSD partial androgen insensitivity/5α-reductase deficiency (62%. n=81) constituted the most commonest disorder. Other causes of 46XY DSD include testosterone synthesis defect(23%), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH,12%), testis regression syndrome (1.5%) and persistent mullerian duct syndrome (PMDS,1.5%). Sex chromosome disorder constituted one case of iso-chromosome X turner syndrome, mixed gonadal dysgenesis (n=3), ovotesticular DSD/chimerism (n=2).

Conclusion: Ambiguous genitalia have varied etiologies, 46; XXDSD found being the commonest of all, showing predominance of CAH especially salt loosing type. The early detection and prompt treatment of cases of ambiguous genitalia plays a pivotal role in the management of acute life threatening condition and gender assignment.

How to cite this:Manzoor J, Aftab S, Yaqoob M. Ambiguous genitalia: An overview of 7 years experience at the Children’s Hospital & Institute of Child Health, Lahore, Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(1):151-155.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.1.289

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Procedural determinants of fluoroscopy time in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization
Authors: Mujtaba Syed Fayaz , Saghir Tahir , Sial Jawaid Akbar , Rizvi Nadeem Hassan
Published: January 2019

Background & Objective: Due to increase in number of cardiac catheterization procedures safety concerns is an issue nowadays. Multiple diagnostic modalities use radiations, which also put a patient at higher cumulative radiation exposure. Therefore steps should be taken to minimize radiation exposure during cardiac catheterization. Hence determination of factors which prolong FT will result in better understanding of problem.This retrospective study was undertaken to determine factors responsible for prolong fluoroscopy time in patients undergoing coronary artery catheterization.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at catheterization Laboratory National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi from June 2014 to June 2015. Patients of either gender, aged between 18 to 90 years undergoing cardiac catheterization procedures were included. Radiation exposure time was measured in terms of fluoroscopy time.

Results: A total of 957 patients were included in this study out of which 731 were of diagnostic Coronary Angiograms (CA) and 226 were of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). The mean age of the study participants was 54.12±10.89 years and majority 734(76.6%) were male. Mean fluoroscopy time (FT) in the patients subjected to PCI was 9.61±6.07 minutes while in cases for CA 4.17±4.13 minutes. FT for CA was observed significantly dependent on procedural access, operator’s experience, and LV angiogram. While FT for PCI was found dependent on number of stents deployed during the procedure.

Conclusion: For invasive coronary angiographic procedures radial route increased fluoroscopy time. For percutaneous coronary intervention femoral and radial route fluoroscopy time were not significantly different.

How to cite this:Mujtaba SF, Saghir T, Sial JA, Rizvi NH. Procedural determinants of fluoroscopy time in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(1):166-171. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.1.294

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Correlation between luteinizing hormone receptor gene expression in human granulosa cells with oocyte quality in poor responder patients undergoing in vitro fertilization: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Wiweko Budi , Satria M. Luky , Mutia Kresna , Iffanolida Pritta Ameilia , Harzif Achmad Kemal , Pratama Gita , Muharam R. , Hestiantoro Andon
Published: January 2019

Background: This study was performed to evaluate the role of luteinizing hormone (LH) and granulosa cell LH receptor (LH-R) in poor responder patients who underwent controlled ovarian stimulation. Expression levels of LH-R mRNA in granulosa cells was investigated and compared with oocyte morphology, oocyte maturity and fertilization rate. 

Methods: Granulosa cells were obtained from 30 patients who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta. The patients were divided into two groups: group I (n=10) poor responders; and group II (n=20) non-poor responders. After the extraction of total RNA from granulosa cells, semi-quantitative RT-PCR was performed and the amount of LH-R mRNA was quantified. The relative values were calculated as the ratio of LH-R mRNA and actin beta mRNA. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney test and Spearman correlation. 

Results: The relative value of LH-R mRNA was higher in group I compared with group II (27.37[0.00-28939.37] vs 0.00[0.00-7196.12]). Oocyte maturity (r=0.267) and morphology (r=0.267) in group I consistently showed a positive correlation with LH-R mRNA; in group II a negative correlation with LH-R mRNA was shown for oocyte maturity (r= -0.552) and morphology (r= -0.164). Group I had a positive correlation between LH-R expression with fertilization rate (r=0.430), and group II showed a negative correlation (r=-0.340). 

Conclusions: The expression of LH-R mRNA has a positive correlation with oocyte quality in poor responder patients and a negative correlation in non-poor responders. Our study suggests an optimal expression of LH- R mRNA in granulosa cells during controlled ovarian stimulation to obtain good quality oocytes.
Feasibility of incorporating mindfulness based mental health promotion to the pregnancy care program in Sri Lanka: a pilot study
Authors: Agampodi Thilini , Katumuluwa Subhashini , Pattiyakumbura Thulani , Rankaduwa Nilupulee , Dissanayaka Thushari , Agampodi Suneth
Published: January 2019

Background:Though widely discussed, mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) to improve maternal mental health is limited by lack of studies with system incorporation. We evaluate the feasibility of incorporating a MBI program into routine antenatal care (ANC) in Sri Lanka.

Methods:MBI included learning mindfulness concepts, practicing mindfulness sitting/reclining meditation, performing mindful movements and practicing mindfulness in daily life. Feedback from the participants were obtained through an anonymous, self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire to determine the program’s cultural appropriateness, usefulness, and feasibility.

Results:Participants reported that the training reduced the stress of their daily life, brought a sense of calmness to their mind and body, and improved their anger management. Participants felt strongly that this training would be very useful and a shortened version be included in the national ANC program.

Conclusions:This pilot study suggests that an interventional study to evaluate system incorporation of a MBI to improve maternal mental health is feasible.