bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Continuing education on Paleontology: the experience with the project “Workshop on Paleontology: fossils inside the classroom”
Authors: Godoy Pedro Lorena , Ferreira Gabriel De Souza , Dassie Elisabete Caroline Gimenes , Castro Adriana C. Morales Corrêa e , Hsiou Annie Schmaltz
Published: March 2018

O ensino das Ciências Naturais é essencial na formação de cidadãos como seres cientes da realidade em que vivem. No contexto da formação básica, a Paleontologia tem papel importante, dada sua natureza multidisciplinar, e seu estudo auxilia na compreensão integrada dos eventos e fenômenos que transformaram ambientes durante a história geológica do nosso planeta. Ademais, seu ensino promove a conscientização da importância dos fósseis como patrimônio público, essencial para sua preservação. Mesmo com a atual facilidade de acesso à informação, a seleção de conteúdos e práticas adequadas nem sempre é apropriada, uma vez que poucos professores têm experiência com a Paleontologia. Tendo tais desafios em mente, formulamos o projeto "Oficina de Paleontologia: os fósseis dentro da sala de aula", no formato de um curso de extensão de educação continuada, com o objetivo de fomentar o ensino elementar de qualidade em Paleontologia nas escolas. Em duas edições, diversas atividades teórico-práticas foram realizadas com professores e futuros educadores da rede escolar pública de Ribeirão Preto e Jaboticabal, possíveis multiplicadores do conhecimento científico e patrimonial dentro da sala de aula. Após o término da segunda oficina, um questionário realizado com os participantes visou avaliar o curso, criando um espaço para críticas e sugestões.
The Political Pedagogical Project of Education in Prisons and the Role of the Public University
Authors: Silva Roberto Da , Oliveira Carolina Bessa Ferreira de , Bitencourth Clarissa Dos Santo , Zamboni Marcia Regina Guerreiro , Gomes Patrícia Mendes
Published: March 2018

O artigo constitui um relato que articula iniciativas de ensino, pesquisa e extensão desenvolvidas pelo Gepêprivação a partir da Faculdade de Educação da Universidade de São Paulo como parte de uma iniciativa mais ampla denominada O Projeto Político Pedagó- gico da Educação em Prisões. Por meio da pesquisa diagnóstica identificaram-se cerca de 10 mil pessoas privadas da liberdade no entorno da USP, o que nos conduziu à reflexão sobre e a responsabilidade da universidade pública no Brasil frente a esta grave questão social. São partes constituintes destas experiências uma disciplina obrigatória Curso de Pedagogia com estágio curricular e uma pesquisa de doutoramento que, juntas, fomentaram atividades de extensão universitária para alunos de graduação lecionarem dentro de uma prisão feminina na cidade de São Paulo, um curso de formação de professores e um ensaio quanto à necessidade de mapeamento do território para articular as competências da universidade pública com as necessidades dos sistemas prisional e socioeducativo no Estado de São Paulo.
Follicular B Cells Promote Atherosclerosis via T Cell–Mediated Differentiation Into Plasma Cells and Secreting Pathogenic Immunoglobulin G
Authors: Tay Christopher , Liu Yu-Han , Kanellakis Peter , Kallies Axel , Li Yi , Cao Anh , Hosseini Hamid , Tipping Peter , Toh Ban-Hock , Bobik Alex , Kyaw Tin
Published: March 2018

Objective—

B cells promote or protect development of atherosclerosis. In this study, we examined the role of MHCII (major histocompatibility II), CD40 (cluster of differentiation 40), and Blimp-1 (B-lymphocyte–induced maturation protein) expression by follicular B (FO B) cells in development of atherosclerosis together with the effects of IgG purified from atherosclerotic mice.

Approach and Results—

Using mixed chimeric
Ldlr
−/−
mice whose B cells are deficient in MHCII or CD40, we demonstrate that these molecules are critical for the proatherogenic actions of FO B cells. During development of atherosclerosis, these deficiencies affected T–B cell interactions, germinal center B cells, plasma cells, and IgG. As FO B cells differentiating into plasma cells require Blimp-1, we also assessed its role in the development of atherosclerosis. Blimp-1-deficient B cells greatly attenuated atherosclerosis and immunoglobulin—including IgG production, preventing IgG accumulation in atherosclerotic lesions; Blimp-1 deletion also attenuated lesion proinflammatory cytokines, apoptotic cell numbers, and necrotic core. To determine the importance of IgG for atherosclerosis, we purified IgG from atherosclerotic mice. Their transfer but not IgG from nonatherosclerotic mice into
Ldlr
−/−
mice whose B cells are Blimp-1-deficient increased atherosclerosis; transfer was associated with IgG accumulating in atherosclerotic lesions, increased lesion inflammatory cytokines, apoptotic cell numbers, and necrotic core size.

Conclusions—

The mechanism by which FO B cells promote atherosclerosis is highly dependent on their expression of MHCII, CD40, and Blimp-1. FO B cell differentiation into IgG-producing plasma cells also is critical for their proatherogenic actions. Targeting B–T cell interactions and pathogenic IgG may provide novel therapeutic strategies to prevent atherosclerosis and its adverse cardiovascular complications.
Protective Role of mPGES-1 (Microsomal Prostaglandin E Synthase-1)–Derived PGE
2
(Prostaglandin E
2
) and the Endothelial EP4 (Prostaglandin E Receptor) in Vascular Responses to Injury
Authors: Hao Huifeng , Hu Sheng , Wan Qing , Xu Chuansheng , Chen Hong , Zhu Liyuan , Xu Zhenyu , Meng Jian , Breyer Richard M. , Li Nailin , Liu De-Pei , FitzGerald Garret A. , Wang Miao
Published: March 2018

Objective—

Deletion of mPGES-1 (microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1)—an anti-inflammatory target alternative to COX (cyclooxygenase)-2—attenuates injury-induced neointima formation in mice. This is attributable to the augmented levels of PGI
2
(prostacyclin)—a known restraint of the vascular response to injury, acting via IP (I prostanoid receptor). To examine the role of mPGES-1–derived PGE
2
(prostaglandin E
2
) in vascular remodeling without the IP.

Approach and Results—

Mice deficient in both IP and mPGES-1 (DKO [double knockout] and littermate controls [IP KO (knockout)]) were subjected to angioplasty wire injury. Compared with the deletion of IP alone, coincident deletion of IP and mPGES-1 increased neointima formation, without affecting media area. Early pathological changes include impaired reendothelialization and increased leukocyte invasion in neointima. Endothelial cells (ECs), but not vascular smooth muscle cells, isolated from DKOs exhibited impaired cell proliferation. Activation of EP (E prostanoid receptor) 4 (and EP2, to a lesser extent), but not of EP1 or EP3, promoted EC proliferation. EP4 antagonism inhibited proliferation of mPGES-1–competent ECs, but not of mPGES-1–deficient ECs, which showed suppressed PGE
2
production. EP4 activation inhibited leukocyte adhesion to ECs in vitro, promoted reendothelialization, and limited neointima formation post-injury in the mouse. Endothelium-restricted deletion of EP4 in mice suppressed reendothelialization, increased neointimal leukocytes, and exacerbated neointimal formation.

Conclusions—

Removal of the IP receptors unmasks a protective role of mPGES-1–derived PGE
2
in limiting injury-induced vascular hyperplasia. EP4, in the endothelial compartment, is essential to promote reendothelialization and restrain neointimal formation after injury. Activating EP4 bears therapeutic potential to prevent restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention.
Women at Work: Governance and Financial Administration at the Court Beguinages of the Southern Low Countries in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries
Authors: Moran Sarah Joan
Published: March 2018

From the thirteenth century through the nineteenth, the Court Beguinages, large semi-monastic communities for women called Beguines, were integral to urban life in the Catholic Low Countries. In the wake of the Dutch Revolt and reestablishment of Spanish rule in the Southern provinces from the mid-1580s, the Beguinages became increasingly aligned with the ideology of female monasticism, and particularly with the tradition of Mary and Martha: the mix of contemplative prayer and humble work that had traditionally been at the heart of tertiary convents and other active female congregations. While many Beguines did indeed make their livings from manual labor, the Beguinages also offered women of ambition unparalleled opportunities to take on leadership roles of great responsibility and authority. This essay examines the labor of Beguinage administration in the early modern period and situates the careers of Beguine leaders in their social and gendered contexts.
A Nomenclator of Cnidoscolus (Euphorbiaceae)
Authors: MAYA-LASTRA CARLOS A. , STEINMANN VICTOR W.
Published: March 2018

The genus Cnidoscolus is a New World assemblage here considered to contain 97 species, seven of which include nine subspecies and one variety. In the current study, we compile all previously published names of Cnidoscolus and provide information about their taxonomy, distribution, and nomenclature. 34 lectotypes are designated and three new synonyms are proposed. With 41 species, Brazil is the most diverse country, followed by Mexico with 25 species. Other countries with noteworthy diversity include Paraguay and Peru, with 14 and ten species respectively. Argentina and Bolivia each have seven and six species respectively. The level of endemism in the genus is relatively high in each country where it occurs, and 80 species are endemic to a single country. There are few studies that assess the category of risk for Cnidoscolus species, and only three taxa are included in the IUCN Redlist. However, many other species are thought to be rare and endangered, and as such worthy of conservation efforts.
Some new, rare and interesting desmids from bromeliad phytotelmata in Brazil
Authors: RAMOS GERALDO JOSÉ PEIXOTO , BICUDO CARLOS EDUARDO DE MATTOS , MOURA CARLOS WALLACE DO NASCIMENTO
Published: March 2018

Studies of the microalgae in bromeliad phytotelmata in northeastern Brazil revealed the occurrence of some interesting desmids—including new and rare taxa, besides new records for South America. Additionally, we reconsidered some taxa previously recorded in the study area, providing new information and ecological data, as well as SEM images. A total of 19 desmids were identified, 18 from Serra da Jiboia (granite outcrops) and one from Itaberaba (in the “Caatinga” dryland domain). Taxonomic notes and ecological characteristics of the studied taxa are included, as well as a checklist of all of the desmids recorded in Brazilian bromeliad phytotelmata.
Spelaeobochica goliath (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones: Bochicidae), a new troglobitic pseudoscorpion from Brazil
Authors: VIANA ANA CLARA M. , SOUZA MAYSA F. V. R. , FERREIRA RODRIGO L.
Published: March 2018

Spelaeobochica goliath sp. n., found in a limestone cave located in the municipality of Ibiracatu (Minas Gerais, Brazil), is described. It can be distinguished from the other species of the genus mainly by the slight angular shape of the anterior margin of the carapace, distal position of the trichobothrium est relative to st on the movable finger, isb in a position much nearer to level of sb than to that of esb, and by its pedipalpal measurements and proportions. It shares many morphological features with S. iuiu.
Science, Politics, and International Atmospheric and Oceanic Programs1
Authors: White Robert M.
Published: March 2018

This, the Fifth Donald L. McKernan Lecture in Marine Affairs, analyzes the scientific and political aspects of the World Climate Program (WCP) and its predecessor, the remarkably successful Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP). Both programs join oceanographers and meteorologists in common endeavors of great world significance and have other similarities. But more important are certain contrasts in the scientific and political forces bearing on these programs and changes in circumstances that must be understood if the GARP experience is to provide reliable guidance in planning and executing WCP in the years ahead. This analysis leads to a suggestion that contrasts with the approach now being considered for WCP and that offers a fresh start in organizing WCP so it can provide what we now need.
Universities, supporting schools and practitioner research
Authors: Constable Hilary
Published: March 2018

Practitioner research, as one example of research supported by universities, has developed in unexpected ways, some of them unhelpful and has not always generated the benefits predicted. This paper argues that practitioner research has become shaped more by the needs of universities than by the schools and teachers it was hoped it would serve. The paper goes on to explore the idea that the promise of practitioner research has been so beguiling that it has commandeered more than a wise share of attention in universities and that this has been at the expense of exploring some other avenues of engagement with schools. The paper notes that the evolution of practitioner inquiry has taken place at a time when regimes of accountability driven by central government have been visible globally and when universities and schools each had significant pressures to fulfil policy imperatives. The pressure towards performance has in England drawn the attention of universities and schools away from, rather than towards, each other: schools to revised curricula and performance, universities to research and funding. Practitioner research became developed as a skeleton for higher degrees and in that arena universities came to have a role in promoting and at the same time inhibiting and possibly damaging its development. Hopes that practitioner research would come to contribute to mainstream research were not fulfilled and both educational and more especially practitioner research remain problematic in the wider university research agenda. One response is to renew efforts to improve existing approaches and examples of this are now widespread. However, the paper observes that, at present universities’ support for schools seems to reflect only a small part of their much wider expertise and argues that education departments in universities might think much more radically about the range of expertise that they can offer schools, a more imaginative exploration. The paper continues by noting that the challenge for university departments of education of working together equally with schools and teachers is easy to aspire to, but not to fulfil, and this impacts on working with the authentic concerns of schools and on sharing expertise. Further opportunities are available: beyond education departments: for example, other university departments have expertise that education departments might link with which has hitherto remained unexplored. Additional areas which remain under-researched are the processes of incorporating educational change and in making judgments about educational initiatives. Readers are reminded that the accidental barriers produced by the categories of research, teaching and administration are accountancy categories and may demand creative and determined responses. The paper concludes that there is too much to lose by not exploring these or other wider possibilities and much to gain by doing so including opportunities in research.
Urban Renewal by the Sea: Reinventing the Beach for the Suburban Age in Postwar Los Angeles
Authors: Devienne Elsa
Published: March 2018

Urban renewal was not just a city phenomenon: it also unfolded on the beaches of coastal metropolises, most spectacularly in Los Angeles where a “beach lobby” made up of public officials, businessmen, and engineers coalesced in the 1930s. In the postwar, they implemented their vision by buying beaches for the public and turning the polluted and eroded strands of the early-twentieth century into modern playgrounds. While they effectively prevented a “white flight” from the beach and successfully reshaped the coastal environment, their efforts also resulted in the erasure of alternative beach communities. By the 1960s, the lobby could rejoice in the enduring popularity of the city’s beaches. Yet new beach advocates used the California public beach tradition as a rallying cry to stop further development. “Beach renewal” in Los Angeles thus challenges both narratives of postwar urban decline and the binary opposition between 1930s conservationists and 1960s environmental activists.
Are policy measures effective in encouraging the creation of competitive employee-owned firms?
Authors: Croce Annalisa , Martí José , Martín-López Sonia
Published: March 2018

The literature highlights the positive and negative effects of employee ownership on firm performance, which are heavily dependent on the type of employee-owned firm (EOF) analysed. This article focuses on EOFs created under policy-related schemes designed to incentivize job creation, especially in times of crisis. The authors analyse performance in a large sample of a special type of EOFs in Spain and compare the results with those of a matched sample of conventional capitalist firms. The results show that these EOFs have more difficulty accessing valuable resources, and show significantly worse long-term performance than the matched conventional companies. It is argued that the limitations imposed on becoming eligible to profit from the incentives of the schemes may result in the creation of firms that do not perform adequately in the long run.
Exploring the Factors Influencing Gifted Adolescents’ Resistance to Report Experiences of Cyberbullying Behavior: Toward an Improved Understanding
Authors: Connolly Justin Patrick
Published: March 2018

Academically gifted adolescents frequently experience cyberbullying behavior. Successful intervention and prevention of such bullying is, to a large degree, dependent on such incidents being reported to an adult caregiver. However, research shows that adolescents who have experienced cyberbullying tend not to inform parents or teachers. Despite this fact, little attention has been paid to understanding the factors underlying such reporting resistance and consequently the reasons for nonreporting remain undetermined. This study explored Irish gifted adolescents’ resistance to reporting their experiences of cyberbullying behavior. Key reasons for nonreporting included the framing of decisions based on the concepts of self-efficacy, control, perceived risks, the influence of prior reporting experiences, and influence of gender and age on reporting response. The results provide insights that will assist parents, teachers, and all those involved in the formulation of anti-bullying school policies in their attempts to increase adolescent reporting and thereby counter cyberbullying behavior.
Austerity: Neoliberal dreams come true?
Authors: Farnsworth Kevin , Irving Zoë
Published: March 2018

The 2008 global economic crisis paved the way for the construction of a new, elite-driven, capital-centric, shrunken welfare state project founded on ideology disguised as pragmatism and objective ‘truths’. Today, welfare states exist in a context in which a new politics of austerity sets the parameters of the debate. Austerity incorporates the neoliberal desire to shrink the (social welfare) state, deregulate labour markets and emphasise private markets as the drivers of growth, enabling a reconfiguration of the interests of capital, the needs of people and the role of the state. The new politics of austerity looks like a ‘dream come true’ for neoliberals. Or is it? There is also a powerful counter-narrative that suggests that the global crisis exposed the fundamental weaknesses and limitations of neoliberalism and forced policy makers to question core principles and change direction. Focusing on the International Monetary Fund (IMF), perhaps the pre-eminent global neoliberal interlocutor, and using quantitative textual analysis, the article locates some evidence of movement, but little to suggest that the fundamental assumptions of neoliberalism have been displaced.
Social exclusion, neoliberalism and resistance: The role of social workers in implementing social policies in Chile
Authors: Muñoz Arce Gianinna , Pantazis Christina
Published: March 2018

The views of social workers in Chile are rarely heard and considered in the policy debates. This article addresses this lacuna by examining discourses of social exclusion and underlying assumptions held by social workers with responsibility for implementing social policy interventions in Chile. It draws upon the findings of a study involving interviews with senior social workers from two large non-governmental organisations (NGOs) tackling social exclusion. We found that individual-based narratives and neoliberal rationality are dominant in the implementation of Chilean social policy. At the same time, anti-hegemonic strategies pursued by some social workers were also identified. Such an approach is highly relevant in the Chilean context, in which power imbalances remain almost untouched since the return of democratic regimes in the 1990s. The study findings pose diverse challenges to Chilean social policy and social work professional training. The necessity of promoting transformative imaginations that favour collective practices of resistance is identified to counteract, through a critical discourse, the neoliberal rationale, its rhetoric and practices affecting excluded people’s lives.
Dyadic power, marital status, face concerns, and politeness in the context of relational complaining
Authors: Worley Timothy R. , Samp Jennifer A.
Published: March 2018

This study examined the role of dyadic power, marital status, and face concerns in shaping the politeness strategies dating and married partners use to express complaints toward one another. Two hundred sixty-one romantically involved individuals completed a survey through Amazon Mechanical Turk. Power was a more salient predictor of politeness strategies for dating than for married individuals, and concern for partners’ face (but not one’s own) mediated several of the associations between power and complaint strategies.
Incorporating Genuine Prior Information about Between-Study Heterogeneity in Random Effects Pairwise and Network Meta-analyses
Authors: Ren Shijie , Oakley Jeremy E. , Stevens John W.
Published: March 2018

Background. Pairwise and network meta-analyses using fixed effect and random effects models are commonly applied to synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials. The models differ in their assumptions and the interpretation of the results. The model choice depends on the objective of the analysis and knowledge of the included studies. Fixed effect models are often used because there are too few studies with which to estimate the between-study SD from the data alone. Objectives. The aim of this study was to propose a framework for eliciting an informative prior distribution for the between-study SD in a Bayesian random effects meta-analysis model to genuinely represent heterogeneity when data are sparse. Methods. We developed an elicitation method using external information, such as empirical evidence and expert beliefs, on the “range” of treatment effects to infer the prior distribution for the between-study SD. We also developed the method to be implemented in R. Results. The 3-stage elicitation approach allows uncertainty to be represented by a genuine prior distribution to avoid making misleading inferences. It is flexible to what judgments an expert can provide and is applicable to all types of outcome measures for which a treatment effect can be constructed on an additive scale. Conclusions. The choice between using a fixed effect or random effects meta-analysis model depends on the inferences required and not on the number of available studies. Our elicitation framework captures external evidence about heterogeneity and overcomes the assumption that studies are estimating the same treatment effect, thereby improving the quality of inferences in decision making.
Which Nonvocal Musical Instrument Sounds Like the Human Voice? An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Schubert Emery
Published: March 2018

Nonvocal musical instruments like the oboe, cello, and violin, have been described as resembling the human voice. However, much of the evidence is based on historical reports and hearsay. In this study, 174 participants rated instruments according to how much they sounded like the human voice. Analysis revealed that no nonvocal instrument was rated as being voicelike, with moderate mean ratings for the clarinet, oboe, violin, and cello. The violin was rated as statistically more voicelike than the trumpet. Voicelikeness was statistically higher for the instrument which the individual played or an instrument which the individual valued. Monophonic instruments such as the clarinet were also rated as overall more voicelike than those which typically could sound several parts at the same time such as the piano. Referring to an instrument as voicelike may be better thought of as a defacto for the instrument’s (and player’s) expressive capabilities.
Return to Play After Hip Arthroscopy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: O’Connor Michaela , Minkara Anas A. , Westermann Robert W. , Rosneck James , Lynch T. Sean
Published: March 2018

Background:

The use of arthroscopic treatment for intra-articular hip pathology has demonstrated improved patient-reported outcomes (PROs) with a lower rate of complications, reoperation, and patient morbidity as compared with traditional methods. Although the use of this minimally invasive approach has increased in prevalence, no evidence-based return-to-play (RTP) criteria have been developed to ensure an athlete’s preparedness for sporting activities.

Purpose:

To determine if there exists sufficient evidence in the literature to support an RTP protocol and functional assessment after hip arthroscopy, as well as to assess the mean rate and duration of RTP.

Study Design:

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods:

The search terms “hip arthroscopy,” “return to play,” and 10 related terms were searched in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science, yielding 263 articles. After screening, 22 articles were included. RTP timeline, rehabilitation protocols, and conditional criteria measures were assessed with previously established criteria. Pooled estimates were calculated for RTP rate and duration, and weighted mean scores were determined for PROs.

Results:

A total of 1296 patients with 1442 total hips were identified. Although 54.5% (12 of 22) of studies did not provide a guideline for RTP duration after hip arthroscopy, 36.4% (8 of 22) recommended a duration of 4 months, while 9.1% (2 of 22) recommended 3 months. The most frequently described postoperative rehabilitation protocols were weightbearing guidelines (15 studies) and passive motion exercises (9 studies). Only 2 studies satisfied the criteria for a sufficient RTP protocol, and 3 provided a specific replicable test for RTP. The mean RTP duration was 7.4 months (95% CI, 6.1-8.8 months), and the return rate was 84.6% (95% CI, 80.4%-88.8%; P = .008) at a mean ± SD follow-up of 25.8 ± 2.4 months. Mean modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) improved from 63.1 to 84.1 postoperatively (+33.3%), while Non-arthritic Hip Score improved from 61.7 to 86.8 (+40.7%). A lower preoperative mHHS was significantly associated with a higher postoperative improvement ( r = −0.95, P = .0003).

Conclusion:

Significant variability exists in RTP protocols among institutions owing to a lack of standardization. Despite a high overall rate of RTP and improvement in PROs after hip arthroscopy, the majority of rehabilitation protocols are not evidence based and rely on expert opinion. No validated functional test currently exists to assess RTP.
Thirty-Day and 5-Year Readmissions following First Psychiatric Hospitalization: A System-Level Study of Ontario’s Psychiatric Care
Authors: Chen Sheng , Collins April , Kidd Sean A.
Published: March 2018

Objective:

Analyses of representative, system-level data to examine trends in short- and longer-term readmission rates for psychiatric illnesses are largely absent. The objective of this article is to examine key trends and variables with implications for inpatient care as indicated by 30-day readmission and outpatient care as reflected by readmission within 5 years.

Methods:

Using OMHRS data from 2005 to 2015, patients who had their first inpatient admission were followed for 5 years to examine their subsequent 30-day and overall admission rates stratified by discharge time and diagnosis.

Results:

The study cohort consisted of 42,280 patients. The 30-day and 5-year readmission rates for the entire cohort were 7.2% and 35.1%, respectively. Using a time course analysis of readmission for discharges in different years, both 30-day readmission and 5-year readmission rates decreased in a linear manner from 2005 to 2010, primarily because of readmission patterns for patients diagnosed with mood disorders and schizophrenia/other psychotic disorders. It was also evident that both demographic considerations such as age and gender and variables reflective of social determinants such as education level and employment were predictive of rehospitalization risk.

Conclusions:

The trends of decreasing readmission rates may be reflective of improvements in the quality of hospital and community-based outpatient care. Such system-level indicators warrant tracking and may inform more effective tertiary prevention.
Polyvinyl alcohol reinforced with carbon nanotubes for fused deposition modeling
Authors: Rigotti D , Fambri L , Pegoretti A
Published: March 2018

For the first time, nanocomposite filaments consisting of polyvinyl alcohol and carbon nanotubes were successfully used for additive manufacturing by fused deposition modeling. Polyvinyl alcohol and carbon nanotubes were mixed in a water solution using hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide as a surfactant. Filaments with various concentrations of carbon nanotubes (up to a maximum content of 3 wt.%) were obtained with a single screw extruder and used to feed a commercial desktop 3D printer. Carbon nanotubes increase the glass transition temperature of the printed samples; however, the presence of CTAB reduces this effect. The viscosity of the material increases with the addition of carbon nanotubes and the 3D-printed samples become tougher as the carbon nanotubes amount increases. Elastic modulus and creep compliance are remarkably improved by the presence of carbon nanotubes, while ultimate mechanical properties are not affected. The high reduction of electrical resistivity found on the filaments was not found on the 3D-printed samples. This was attributed to the prevalent location of carbon nanotubes in the core region of the 3D-printed samples as documented by scanning electron microscopy.
Association Between Intimate Partner Violence and Breastfeeding Duration: Results From the 2004-2014 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System
Authors: Wallenborn Jordyn T. , Cha Susan , Masho Saba W.
Published: March 2018

Background:

Intimate partner violence is a major public health problem that disproportionately affects women. Current literature investigating the relationship between intimate partner violence and breastfeeding is inconsistent.

Research aim:

This study aims to investigate the relationship between physical intimate partner violence that occurs in the preconception or prenatal period and any breastfeeding duration.

Methods:

Data from the retrospective, cross-sectional 2004-2014 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System were analyzed ( N = 195,264). The outcome, breastfeeding duration, was categorized as never breastfed, breastfed 8 weeks or less, and breastfeed more than 8 weeks. Multinomial logistic regression was used to obtain crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Results:

Approximately 6% ( n = 11,766) of survey respondents reported preconception and/or prenatal intimate partner violence, and 36.3% ( n = 67,667) of women reported never breastfeeding. The odds of discontinuing breastfeeding before 8 weeks were 18% higher among women who reported experiencing abuse 12 months before pregnancy compared with women who did not report intimate partner violence (adjusted odds ratio = 1.18; 95% confidence interval [1.01, 1.37]). All other estimates showed an overlapping 95% confidence interval.

Conclusion:

Breastfeeding is essential in improving maternal and child health; however, women in abusive relationships may face additional barriers to breastfeeding. Further research is needed to better understand the impact of violence on breastfeeding behaviors to inform healthcare practices and interventions.
Examining the Use of Planned Happenstance With Students of Korean Cultural Backgrounds in the United States
Authors: Eissenstat SunHee Jang , Nadermann Kristen
Published: March 2018

Students of Korean cultural backgrounds seek to enter the U.S. workforce, yet they face various career development challenges. One challenge is building relationships and engaging in career networking, a crucial career development skill. Also, work values are often explored in practice, but little information exists about how work values influence networking behavior for students with Korean cultural background. This study examined the relation of intrinsic and extrinsic work values and career networking and how planned happenstance mediates these concepts. This study found that planned happenstance mediates intrinsic work and networking, but it does not mediate the relation between extrinsic work value and networking. This study suggests that applying planned happenstance theory to students of Korean cultural backgrounds may help students to expand their professional networks. Also, career intervention programs can be developed with planned happenstance theory and based on assessment of work values.
Pharmacists’ Impact on Secondary Stroke Prevention
Authors: Andres Jennifer , Stanton-Ameisen Olivia , Walton Sara , Ruchalski Charles
Published: March 2018

Background:

Patients admitted to our institution with a cerebrovascular accident (stroke) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) are referred to the pharmacist-run stroke prevention clinic (SPC) for medication and risk factor management.

Objective:

The objective was to determine if patients receiving care from the SPC have better outcomes than patients who received usual care.

Methods:

This was a retrospective chart review of patients referred to the SPC. At the time of stroke/TIA, before initial visit, and after last SPC visit, risk factor data was collected. Hospital readmissions were reviewed for secondary stroke/TIA, myocardial infarction (MI), and new or incidental peripheral artery disease (PAD). For patients that did not attend SPC visits, data was used as a control.

Results:

Patients referred to the SPC from October 2012 to December 2014 were reviewed. 455 records were reviewed. The primary composite end point of readmission for stroke/TIA, myocardial infarction, and new or incidental PAD was statistically significantly lower in the SPC group than the control group ( P = .013). All surrogate markers, including blood pressure, Low Density Lipoprotein, Hemoglobin A1c, and smoking status, improved in the SPC group.

Conclusion:

Pharmacists can play a role in reducing risk factors for secondary stroke/TIA and prevent future hospital admissions.
Towards a theory of illiberal dualisation? Conceptualising new employment and social policy divisions in Poland and the United Kingdom
Authors: Prosser Thomas , Giorgadze Giga
Published: March 2018

Right-wing populist approaches to employment and social policy have become increasingly prevalent in recent years; such ideas stigmatise ‘others’ such as immigrants and the unemployed, while advocating the transfer of resources to favoured groups. In this article, based on a study of Poland and the United Kingdom, we contend that such developments are indicative of illiberal forms of dualisation and assess the relationship of trade unions with these processes. In conclusion, we discuss ways in which future investigations might develop more understanding of this concept.
Hope Tree: An Interactive Art Installation to Facilitate the Expression of Hope in a Hospice Setting
Authors: Collins Andrew , Bhathal Darpanjot , Field Tara , Larlee Randene , Paje Rachael , Young Daneen
Published: March 2018

Background:

Individuals confronting a terminal illness can experience intense psychological distress. Previous research has shown that hope can enhance one’s ability to acknowledge, accept, and fight a terminal illness. Patients can continue to have hope or be hopeful, even in the face of a terminal illness. Can participation in a creative writing practice improve the expression of hope in a hospice setting?

Methods:

In this program evaluation, each expressed hope placed on the “Hope Tree” was independently coded by all research team members utilizing inductive content analysis. Overall themes were derived using a constant comparative approach and arranged into overarching themes based on consensus.

Results:

Eight major themes emerged from the data: “Peace,” “Dreams,” “Total well-being,” “Acknowledgment of loss,” “Relationships,” “Hospice care,” “Spirituality,” and “Dichotomies.”

Conclusion:

The Hope Tree is a creative art project that can be used within a hospice environment to promote hope among family members and the health-care professionals who care for patients.
Enoxaparin Dosing at Extremes of Weight: Literature Review and Dosing Recommendations
Authors: Sebaaly Jamie , Covert Kelly
Published: March 2018

Objective: To review the literature on both thromboprophylaxis and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) with enoxaparin in low- and high-body-weight patients and to make dosing and monitoring recommendations in these patient populations. Data Sources: A search using PubMed was conducted (1995 to January 2018) using the following key words: enoxaparin, body weight, AND thromboprophylaxis, or AND treatment. Additional references were identified from a review of citations. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Studies included examined the effect of body weight and/or body mass index (BMI) on VTE, bleeding, enoxaparin dosing, and/or anti-Xa concentrations for thromboprophylaxis and treatment-dose enoxaparin. Studies in pediatric and pregnant patients were excluded. Data Synthesis: Optimal enoxaparin dosing strategies for VTE prophylaxis and treatment for patients at extremes of weight have not yet been elucidated by clinical trials; however, data suggest that standard dosing regimens may not be appropriate in these patients. Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: This review provides a thorough discussion on both thromboprophylaxis and treatment of VTE with enoxaparin in low- and high-body-weight patients. It includes dosing recommendations to guide clinicians caring for these patient populations. Conclusions: Patients at extremes of weight require special consideration to determine appropriate enoxaparin doses. Specifically, low-body-weight patients may benefit from 30 mg subcutaneously daily for VTE prophylaxis, and standard weight-based dosing for VTE treatment. Conversely, in patients with BMIs ≥40 kg/m2, 40 mg subcutaneously twice daily is recommended, with consideration for higher doses in patients with BMIs ≥50 kg/m2.
Improved Outcomes With Integrated Intensivist Consultation for Cardiac Surgery Patients
Authors: Sultan Omer W. , Boland Lori L. , Kinzy Tyler G. , Melamed Roman R. , Seatter Susan C. , Farivar Robert S. , Kirkland Lisa L. , Mulder Maximilian
Published: March 2018

This study examined the impact of integrated intensivist consultation in the immediate postoperative period on outcomes for cardiac surgery patients. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in 1711 adult cardiac surgery patients from a single quaternary care center in Minnesota. Outcomes were compared across 2 consecutive 2-year time periods reflecting an elective intensivist model (n = 801) and an integrated intensivist model (n = 910). Patients under the 2 models were comparable with respect to demographics, comorbidities, procedure types, and Society for Thoracic Surgery predicted risk of mortality score; however, patients in the earlier cohort were slightly older and more likely to have chronic kidney disease ( P = .003). Integrated intensivist involvement was associated with reduced postoperative ventilator time, length of stay (LOS), stroke, encephalopathy, and reoperations for bleeding (all P < .01) but was not associated with mortality. Intensivist integration into the postoperative care of cardiac surgery patients may reduce ventilator time, LOS, and complications but may not improve survival.
Responsiveness, support, and responsibility: How democratic responsiveness facilitates responsible government
Authors: Linde Jonas , Peters Yvette
Published: March 2018

Representative democracy entails governments that are both responsive and responsible. Mair argued that political parties find it increasingly difficult to balance these two tasks. With an increase in international commitments and interdependence, governments cannot always follow the wishes of their citizens but need to be responsible instead. Our study examines the responsiveness–responsibility link from the angle of citizen perceptions. We argue that when governments are seen as responsive they build a “buffer” of support, allowing them to make decisions that are not necessarily responsive but possibly responsible. By being responsive, governments build a reservoir of goodwill, which they can use to survive more difficult periods. Using data from the 2012 European Social Survey, we test whether perceived responsiveness feeds into this reservoir and whether this reservoir consequently increases perceived responsibility. We find support for this link, suggesting that responsiveness and responsibility do not need to be trade-offs but can complement each other.
Curatorial practice in popular music museums: An emerging typology of structuring concepts
Authors: Baker Sarah , Istvandity Lauren , Nowak Raphaël
Published: March 2018

Museums have been central to the institutionalisation of popular music as heritage; yet, there has been little scholarly focus on the curatorial strategies behind the exhibition of popular music’s past. This article outlines an emerging typological framework of structuring concepts in curatorial practice in popular music museums. The typology brings into conversation concepts previously identified by a number of popular music museum scholars. These concepts are critically assessed and built upon substantively by drawing on the subjective experiences of curators involved in the exhibition of popular music in museums in a range of geographical locations. Eight concepts are discussed: dominant (and hidden) histories, projected visitor numbers, place, art and material culture, narrative, curator subjectivity, nostalgia and sound. We argue that such a framework acts as a useful tool for comparing institutional practices internationally and to more fully understand the ways in which popular music history is presented to museum visitors.
Reflections on the potential (and limits) of action research as ethos, methodology and practice: A case study of a women’s empowerment programme in the Middle East
Authors: Hammad Suzanne , Alunni Alice , Alkhas Tamara
Published: March 2018

This paper argues that an evidence-based approach to advocacy led by and targeting women could amplify women’s positioning in the political and economic realms. Participatory Action Research is examined as a process for mobilisation, coalition-building and evidence-based advocacy and action, through a case study of a multi-country British Council supported programme that incorporated an action research approach. 1 Drawing from the experiences and perceptions of its participants, it offers reflective insights into the theory and practice of action research and its empowerment potential. The findings confirm a widespread support for the use of Participatory Action Research as a starting point for stronger advocacy work, showing its positive transformative effects on individuals, groups and coalition. Participatory Action Research contributes to evidence-based advocacy that is more relevant and inclusive, and arguably empowering for women advocates.
A component map adaptation method for compressor modeling and diagnosis
Authors: Li Xu , Ying Yulong , Wang Yinyan , Li Jingchao
Published: March 2018

The accuracy of model-based gas turbine performance prediction, diagnosis, and prognosis is mainly determined by the precision of compressor thermodynamic model. This article proposes a novel component map adaptation method for gas turbine compressor modeling and gas-path diagnosis. First, compressor characteristic maps are generated through stage-stacking calculation. And the generated compressor characteristic maps are expressed in the form of polynomial functions by partial least squares regression. After integrating the fitting polynomial functions into the gas turbine performance model, the adaptation of characteristic maps in the performance model by gas-path measurements from the target engine can be made easily, through tuning the fitting polynomial coefficients. Application and analysis have illustrated that the proposed approach can effectively improve the accuracy of the gas turbine thermodynamic model during off-design performance calculation. The proposed approach exhibits a great potential to tune compressor characteristic maps for both compressor performance modeling diagnosis, with full consideration of their highly nonlinearity.
Optimum design of fit clearance of proportional cartridge valve
Authors: Kong Xiaowu , Wang Xiaochen , Ruan Xiaofang , Ren Yaoming
Published: March 2018

The fit clearance between the spool and the sleeve has important influences on the performance of the proportional cartridge valve. Too small clearance will cause jam and too much clearance will increase leakage. Therefore, under the precondition of no sticking, the smaller the clearance, the better the performance. The minimum fit clearance is affected by two factors, the machining accuracy and the structure deformation. The structure deformation is related to the working condition and the structure of valve. It is costly and takes much more time to optimize the fit clearance by the trial and error method. According to a specific working condition, the sleeve deformation of a proportional cartridge valve with an 80-mm port is evaluated by the three-dimensional finite element simulation. A series of experiments are carried out under the different fit clearances and the different pressures. The comparison between the simulation results and the experimental results shows that the sleeve deformation under pressure is the decisive factor to optimize the fit clearance of the proportional cartridge valve, and the finite element simulation accuracy can meet the engineering requirements for optimizing the fit clearance.