bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repeat Head CT for Neurologically Stable Patients With Mild Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage During Interfacility Transfer and Follow-Up Does Not Alter Patient Care
Authors: Pillenahalli Maheshwarappa Ravishankar , Valand Hardik A. , Locke Thomas , Soni Neetu , Bathla Girish
Published: July 2020

Purpose:

To evaluate the impact of repeat head computed tomography (CT) during (1) interfacility transfer and (2) inpatient and/or outpatient follow-up on management, cost-effectiveness, and radiation dose in neurologically stable patients with mild traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (tSAH).

Material and Methods:

This is a single-center retrospective study evaluating patients with mild tSAH presenting between January 2017 and July 2019. A total of 101 and 140 patients met the eligibility criteria for the first and second subgroups, respectively. Common inclusion criteria were isolated mild tSAH, Glasgow Coma Scale between 13 and 15, and neurological stability. Additional inclusion criteria for the first subgroup were availability of brain imaging at the outside institution prior to transfer and the second subgroup was the availability of follow-up imaging.

Results:

In the first subgroup, 76.20% of patients had stable SAH, 18.80% had reduced SAH, while 5% had an interval increase in SAH. None required any surgical intervention. Additional per-patient mean radiation exposure was 1.77 ± 0.26 mSv. In the second subgroup, all 140 patients had complete resolution of tSAH. One patient had a new tiny subdural hemorrhage, which subsequently resolved on follow-up. The additional mean radiation exposure was 2.47 ± 1.29 mSv. A total of 256 avoidable CT scans were performed resulting in excess health care costs of about US$531 696.

Conclusion:

In neurologically stable isolated tSAH patients, repeat brain imaging during interfacility transfer and inpatient and/or outpatient follow-up do not alter patient management despite increased health care costs and radiation burden.
Looking Back, Looking Forward: Examining the Processing of Abortion Experiences Using Public Abortion Narratives
Authors: Swan Laura E. T. , Rouland Rebecca S. , Sperlich Mickey , Ely Gretchen E. , Walters Connor
Published: July 2020

Limited research has utilized public abortion narratives to understand how individuals process through their abortion experiences. To address this gap in the literature, this study used thematic analysis to consider the public abortion stories of 39 participants from the Tennessee Stories Project, focusing on how individuals process through these experiences and the context of the abortion experience in a person’s life course. Participants were primarily those who were abortion patients; however, abortion providers and supporters including partners or spouses, family members, and friends of those who received abortion care were also represented. Data analysis indicated that abortion seekers engage in introspection, involving political and religious/spiritual considerations; report specific feelings about their abortion experience, including having no regrets and feeling gratitude; process emotions related to the abortion experience by normalizing emotional responses and using mementos; and position their abortion in the context of their life, both in terms of their family and career opportunities and personal development. These findings provide valuable insight into how individuals process through the abortion experience, before, during, and after the abortion procedure, and suggest possible directions for service providers, advocates, and policy makers in order to better support abortion patients, providers, and family members.
“I Have Guys Call Me and Say ‘I Can’t Be the Victim of Domestic Abuse’”: Exploring the Experiences of Telephone Support Providers for Male Victims of Domestic Violence and Abuse
Authors: Hine Benjamin , Bates Elizabeth A. , Wallace Sarah
Published: July 2020

While previous studies have begun to provide evidence on the experiences of male victims of domestic violence and abuse (DVA), current understanding in this area is still limited, and subject to narrow methods of inquiry. Moreover, little is known regarding the challenges of providing support to men in abusive relationships, and how barriers to effective service engagement are experienced by both men and service practitioners. This is an important area for exploration, as the gender-specific experiences and needs of men have been historically overlooked within academic research and service provision. The present study therefore had two principal aims: first, to provide more detailed information regarding the nature and context of abuse toward, and help-seeking experiences of, male victims, and second, to explore the experiences of those supporting abused men. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four call handlers at a U.K. domestic abuse charity supporting male victims. Transcribed interviews were subjected to thematic analysis, revealing a superordinate theme of stereotypes and expectations of men which affected all the other three overarching and eight subthemes, including those detailing the range and severity of abuse suffered, the role of family and friends, barriers to reporting for abused men, and challenges in supporting them. Implications for services working with male victims of DVA are discussed: centered around the need for recognition, increased awareness, increased resourcing, and the provision of gender-inclusive services catering for the gender-specific needs of men.
How Political Parties in Hybrid Regimes Help the Incumbent Maintain a Democratic Façade
Authors: Pavlović Dušan
Published: July 2020

Why would a large incumbent party, that can by itself muster more than 45 per cent of electoral support, add seven insignificant political parties to its electoral list, thus providing them with a free ticket into the Assembly, state-sponsored financing for the next four years, and an independent deputy club in the Assembly? More importantly, why would the incumbent party, as a consequence of this deliberate decision, end up without a parliamentary majority? In this article, I discuss less frequently mentioned aspects of institutional design that can help us understand why the incumbent party makes such decisions and why a party system in a hybrid regime has a large number of parties. I offer qualitative evidence from postcommunist Serbia (1990–2018). The first two aspects refer to electoral design (but not the electoral formula or district magnitude): a larger number of parties under the incumbent party’s control provides stronger political influence in the Republican Electoral Commission and at polling stations on election day. In hybrid regimes, the incumbent party is interested in this influence because it can use it to arrange electoral fraud. The third aspect relates to parliamentary design: more parties in the Serbian Assembly under the incumbent party’s control secure more minutes on the floor for the incumbent party during parliamentary debate.
Exploring the interplay between freedom of assembly and freedom of expression: The case of Russian solo pickets
Authors: Malkova Polina , Kudinova Olga
Published: July 2020

Given the increasing restrictions and rigorous approval procedures for the exercise of freedom of assembly in various parts of the globe, one-person pickets often remain the only available form of voicing one’s opinion. This is the case of Russia, where citizens use solo protests as an opportunity to join together: they can take turns or stand at a distance from one another, forming a ‘group one-person picket’. These realities pose an interesting question: are such group solo protests characterised as freedom of expression or assembly? Through examining the legal nature of solo protests in the practice of international human rights bodies, this article aims to reveal a deeper understanding of the two freedoms involved and the interplay between them.
Analytical Chemistry and Chemometrics Group, Department of Pharmacy, University of Genova: An update
Authors: Malegori Cristina , Mustorgi Eleonora
Published: July 2020

This paper has the purpose of updating the NIR scientific community about the activities that the Group of Analytical Chemistry and Chemometrics of the University of Genova (Italy) is carrying out in recent years. In more detail, the research lines are presented together with the laboratory equipment available. Moreover, an in-depth focus of the teaching activities is given, taking the occasion for presenting the last news regarding software development. The role of the Group in the organisation of schools and conferences in the context of the Italian Society of NIR Spectroscopy (SISNIR) is also detailed.
The geography of financial and business services in Poland: Stable concentration and a growing division of labour
Authors: Hashimoto Tom , Wójcik Dariusz
Published: July 2020

This commentary documents the spatiotemporal distribution of financial and business services (FABS) production in Poland, by using location quotients for employment and gross value added. Considering the growing prominence of Warsaw in the central European and international network of financial centres, one could expect increasing spatial concentration of FABS in the country. Our findings confirm the undisputed primacy of Warsaw, but also show a dynamic development of FABS in Wrocław, Poznań, and Kraków, suggesting a growing division of labour. Overall, there is little evidence to suggest consolidation of FABS in Poland.
Supporting the vulnerable: developing a strategic community mental health response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Thomson Sumana , Doan Trung , Liu Dennis , Schubert Klaus Oliver , Toh Julian , Boyd Mark A , Galletly Cherrie
Published: July 2020

Objectives:

The COVID-19 pandemic poses significant risks to the vulnerable patient population supported by community mental health (CMH) teams in South Australia. This paper describes a plan developed to understand and mitigate these risks.

Methods:

Public health and psychiatric literature was reviewed and clinicians in CMH teams and infectious disease were consulted. Key risks posed by COVID-19 to CMH patients were identified and mitigation plans were prepared.

Results:

A public health response plan for CMH teams was developed to support vulnerable individuals and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. This plan will be reviewed regularly to respond to changes in public health recommendations, research findings and feedback from patients and clinicians.

Conclusions:

The strategic response plan developed to address risks to vulnerable patients from COVID-19 can assist other CMH services in managing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Influence of magnetic field, magnetic particle percentages, and particle diameters on the stiffness of magnetorheological fluids
Authors: Sun Wei , Yu Jingjun , Cai Yueri
Published: July 2020

Generally, variable stiffness joints of soft robots are generally fabricated using thermoplastics and elastomers due to their ability to change state from rigid to flexible and vice versa. However, these materials require a considerable amount of time to change states and are associated with other technical drawbacks. We demonstrate the instantaneous physical transformation of a Ga-based magnetorheological fluid called Gallistan from a liquid to a viscoelastic solid, and precisely controlled within milliseconds under an applied magnetic field. We studied the magnetic properties of a magnetorheological fluid by dispersing Fe particles in a Ga–In–Sn eutectic alloy. Theoretical analysis of the movement of two particles under magnetic field and typical defects in dipolar chains is studied. The experimental results showed a reversible change in Young’s modulus depending not only on the magnetic field intensity but also the percentage of magnetic particles. Thus, we confirm that the arrangement of magnetic particles transition from random distribution to stable chain structures in the magnetic field. Based on the bi-material nested cantilever beam, the variable stiffness joints can also be precisely adjusted under a magnetic field. In future, this property of the magnetorheological fluid will help develop a variable stiffness joint for soft robotics.
Developing a Smart Infusion Pump Dedicated to Infusion Safety
Authors: Smith Eric A. , Gray George
Published: July 2020

A large-volume infusion pump is a medical device with a big job: infuse patients with life-sustaining fluids and medications at a known and controlled rate. And, do it safely. Because infusions are frequently administered therapies, the opportunity for use error–induced adverse events is amplified. To develop a safer infusion pump, Ivenix, Inc., committed to a comprehensive usability engineering effort that included over 400 hours of usability testing. As a result, the pump’s design includes risk controls for mitigating potential use errors not available on today’s pumps. The resulting product was the winner of the 2019 Stanley Caplan User-Centered Design Award.
The Intersectional Effects of Diverse Elections on Validated Turnout in the 2018 Midterm Elections
Authors: Medenica Vladimir E. , Fowler Matthew
Published: July 2020

The 2018 midterm elections in the United States were unprecedented in their gender and racial diversity. Voters across the country, especially younger voters, elected the most diverse U.S. Congress in history. Despite increased electoral diversity along lines of gender, race, and the intersections of both, extant literature has remained siloed, focusing on the effect of either gender or race on turnout but rarely examining both in relation to one another. Using a novel data set of racially diverse young adults that includes demographic information for congressional candidates and vote-validated data, this study investigates how the intersection of race and gender influence voter turnout across diverse electoral contexts. Our study provides important insights for both unpacking the 2018 elections and more generally understanding how race and gender interact to influence youth voter turnout as candidate profiles and electoral contexts continue to diversify.
α-Synuclein in Parkinson’s Disease: Does a Prion-Like Mechanism of Propagation from Periphery to the Brain Play a Role?
Authors: Zheng Huimin , Shi Changhe , Luo Haiyang , Fan Liyuan , Yang Zhihua , Hu Xinchao , Zhang Zhongxian , Zhang Shuo , Hu Zhengwei , Fan Yu , Yang Jing , Mao Chengyuan , Xu Yuming
Published: July 2020

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, defined as motor and non-motor symptoms associated with the loss of dopaminergic neurons and a decreased release of dopamine (DA). Currently, PD patients are believed to have a neuropathological basis denoted by the presence of Lewy bodies (LBs) or Lewy neurites (LNs), which mostly comprise α-synuclein (α-syn) inclusions. Remarkably, there is a growing body of evidence indicating that the inclusions undergo template-directed aggregation and propagation via template-directed among the brain and peripheral organs, mainly in a prion-like manner. Interestingly, some studies reported that an integral loop was reminiscent of the mechanism of Parkinson’s disease, denoting that α-syn as prionoid was transmitted from the periphery to the brain via specific pathways. Also the systematic life cycle of α-syn in the cellular level is illustrated. In this review, we critically assess landmark evidence in the field of Parkinson’s disease with a focus on the genesis and prion-like propagation of the α-syn pathology. The anatomical and cell-to-cell evidences are discussed to depict the theory behind the propagation and transferred pathways. Furthermore, we highlight effective therapeutic perspectives and clinical trials targeting prion-like mechanisms. Major controversies surrounding this topic are also discussed.
Lipoprotein Apheresis and Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Inhibitors in Patients With Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia: A One Center Study
Authors: Kolovou Vana , Katsiki Niki , Makrygiannis Stamatis , Mavrogieni Sophie , Karampetsou Nikoletta , Manolis Athanasios , Melidonis Andreas , Mikhailidis Dimitri P. , Kolovou Genovefa D.
Published: July 2020

Aim:

We evaluated the lipid-lowering (LL) effect of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) treated with LL-drugs and lipoprotein apheresis (LA).

Patients and Methods:

The PCSK9i treatment (evolocumab 420 mg/4 weeks, alirocumab 150 mg/2 weeks, or alirocumab 75 mg/2 weeks: 9, 6, and 2 patients, respectively) was initiated in patients with HeFH (n = 17; aged 35-69 years, 10 men, previously treated with statins + ezetimibe ± colesevelam and LA sessions for 2-12 years). A lipid profile was obtained before and immediately after the LA session and before, 1 and 2 months after switching to PCSK9i treatment. The duration of PCSK9i therapy ranged from 3 to 18 months.

Results:

Median total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG) levels before LA were 268, 198, 46, and 126 mg/dL, respectively, and decreased (at the end of the LA session) to 117, 50, 40, and 51 mg/dL, respectively ( P < .001 for TC and P = .001 for all other comparisons). The median time-averaged LDL-C levels following LA were 155 (121, 176; median [25th, 75th percentile]) mg/dL. Median TC, LDL-C, and TG levels before PCSK9i therapy were 269, 190, and 127 mg/dL and decreased to 152, 100, and 95 mg/dL, respectively ( P = .002, P < .002, and P < .03, respectively). Steady LDL-C levels with PCSK9i treatment were significantly lower compared with time-averaged LDL-C levels following LA (median value: 100 vs 155 mg/dL; P = .008). With PCSK9i, from 13 patients with CHD, 6 (46.1%) patients achieved LDL-C <70 mg/dL, and 2 patients (15.4%) achieved LDL-C <100 mg/dL. Lipoprotein apheresis was discontinued in all patients except for 2 who continued once monthly.

Conclusions:

PCSK9i can reduce LDL-C more consistently over time compared with a transient decrease following LA in HeFH patients. PCSK9i therapy may reduce the frequency of LA. Larger trials are required to establish the clinical implications of PCSK9i in patients previously on LA.
“To Ask Freedom for Women”: The Night of Terror and Public Memory
Authors: Carter Olson Candi S.
Published: July 2020

On the night of November 14, 1917, 31 suffragists and members of the National Woman’s Party (“NWP”) were taken to Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia and tortured and beaten. This so-called “Night of Terror” captured national headlines at the time and has been memorialized through digital sites today. This article examines versions of the Night of Terror from the NWP’s official newspaper, The Suffragist, national newspapers of the day gathered from the Chronicling America database, and modern digital memorials of the event to understand the ways that the mediated telling of events create the fractured popular memories that are retold as the authoritative version of events. In the case of the Night of Terror, the NWP’s media strategies appealed strongly to pathos and captured public imagination then and now, making these retellings the narrative embedded in history as the authoritative version.
How Counseling Based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Supported With Motivational Interviewing Affects the Perceptions of Treatment Motivation in Patients Diagnosed With Schizophrenia: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Yıldız Erman , Aylaz Rukuye
Published: July 2020

Background:

Lack of motivation is a common phenomenon in treatment of schizophrenia. Despite information that various psychosocial approaches may help overcome lack of motivation, their content and nature remain uncertain. However, in recent years, there is an increasing interest in psychosocial interventions such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and motivational interviewing (MI) techniques in approaching individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia (IDSs). In this study, the therapeutic models of ACT and MI were combined to create an innovative integrative approach to address the problem of lack of motivation in IDSs.

Aims:

This study was conducted to determine how a counseling program based on ACT and supported with MI affected the perceptions of treatment motivation in IDSs.

Method:

This study addressed the qualitative aspects of a doctoral dissertation designed as a quasi-experimental study that gathered both quantitative and qualitative data.

Results:

As a result of the content analysis, three main themes and 10 categories that motivated IDSs for compliance with regular treatment were developed. The participants in the experimental group expressed a focused treatment motivation to participate in daily life activities and social relations, acceptance of illness, satisfaction with life despite side effects and leading a value-oriented life in comparison with the control group.

Conclusions:

Counseling based on ACT and supported with the MI technique is effective in improving treatment motivation in IDSs. This counseling may be implemented as an effective psychiatric nursing intervention for IDSs.
An Emotional Roller Coaster: Electrophysiological Evidence of Emotional Engagement during a Roller-Coaster Ride with Virtual Reality Add-On
Authors: Bastiaansen Marcel , Oosterholt Monique , Mitas Ondrej , Han Danny , Lub Xander
Published: July 2020

Emotions are crucial ingredients of meaningful and memorable tourism experiences. Research methods borrowed from experimental psychology are prime candidates for quantifying emotions while experiences are unfolding. The present article empirically evaluates the methodological feasibility and usefulness of ambulatory recordings of skin conductance responses (SCRs) during a tourism experience. We recorded SCRs in participants while they experienced a roller-coaster ride with or without a virtual reality (VR) headset. Ride elements were identified that related to physical aspects (such as accelerations and braking), to events in the VR environment, and to the physical theming of the roller coaster. VR rides were evaluated more positively than normal rides. SCR time series were meaningfully related to the different ride elements. SCR signals did not significantly predict overall evaluations of the ride. We conclude that psychophysiological measurements are a new avenue for understanding how hospitality, tourism and leisure experiences dynamically develop over time.
A Reflective–Formative Hierarchical Component Model of Perceived Authenticity
Authors: Nguyen Thi Hong Hai
Published: July 2020

Discussions on authenticity have become prominent in tourism research, particularly in the context of heritage tourism and quantitative approaches have become popular methods to investigate authenticity, especially from a tourist’s perspective. Previous studies, however, have failed to include multiple forms of authenticity into a single quantitative scale, as well as to use a formative approach for its measures. This study develops a comprehensive and reliable scale of authenticity, considering its multidimensional complexity and its formative nature. A reflective–formative hierarchical component model of perceived authenticity toward heritage experience, including three lower order components of objective authenticity, existential authenticity, and constructive authenticity, is proposed. The scale of authenticity also indicates a strong predictive power over tourist satisfaction.
The results of Baerveldt glaucoma implant surgery performed with the scleral flap and patch technique
Authors: Tojo Naoki , Hayashi Atsushi
Published: July 2020

Background:

We report the results of Baerveldt glaucoma implant (BGI) surgery performed with the scleral flap and patch technique.

Patients and methods:

This was a retrospective analysis of 97 consecutive patients (107 eyes) who underwent BGI surgery with the scleral flap and patch, and were followed up for >1 year. We evaluated the patients’ post-operative intraocular pressure (IOP), corneal endothelial cell density, and complications (corneal edema, Hoffmann elbow exposure).

Results:

The preoperative IOP was 32.9 ± 8.6 mmHg. BGI surgery significantly decreased the IOP to 11.1 ± 3.8, 11.3 ± 3.6, 11.3 ± 4.2, 10.7 ± 3.8, and 11.4 ± 3.2 mmHg at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years post-surgery ( p < 0.001), respectively. The success rates at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years were 96.3%, 94.8%, 94.8%, 88.5%, and 88.5%, respectively. Failure occurred in six eyes. The reasons for failure were as follows: a postoperative IOP ⩾21 mmHg in one patient, and loss of light sensation in five patients. No patients required additional glaucoma surgery. There were no cases of Hoffmann elbow erosion. Corneal edema occurred in five patients.

Conclusion:

BGI surgery performed with the scleral flap and patch significantly decreased the IOP, and no case of Hoffmann elbow erosion was observed over the 5-year post-operative period.
Acquired retinoschisis and vitreous hemorrhage as unusual findings in choroideremia: Case report
Authors: Mucciolo Dario Pasquale , Murro Vittoria , Giorgio Dario , Sodi Andrea , Passerini Ilaria , Virgili Gianni , Giansanti Fabrizio
Published: July 2020

Purpose:

To report a case of choroideremia characterized by peripheral retinoschisis with vascular abnormalities and vitreous hemorrhage.

Observations:

A 58-year-old man affected by advanced-stage choroideremia was diagnosed with peripheral retinoschisis in both eyes. Vitreous hemorrhage was present in the right eye with a peculiar clot-like lesion at the periphery. At the 1-year follow-up, the vitreous hemorrhage had reabsorbed and the vascular clot-like lesion in the periphery had almost completely disappeared.

Conclusion and importance:

We have reported fundoscopic and OCT features of peripheral-acquired retinoschisis with vascular abnormalities in a patient with choroideremia. OCT examination is extremely useful in clinical evaluation of the peripheral retinal alterations in these cases, where the absence of the retinal pigment epithelium and the choriocapillaris pose many diagnostic difficulties.
The Vaping Teenager: Understanding the Psychographics and Interests of Adolescent Vape Users to Inform Health Communication Campaigns
Authors: Stalgaitis Carolyn Ann , Djakaria Mayo , Jordan Jeffrey Washington
Published: July 2020

Background:

Adolescent vaping continues to rise, yet little is known about teen vape users beyond demographics. Effective intervention requires a deeper understanding of the psychographics and interests of adolescent vape users to facilitate targeted communication campaigns.

Methods:

We analyzed the 2017-2018 weighted cross-sectional online survey data from Virginia high school students (N = 1594) to identify and describe subgroups of adolescents who vaped. Participants reported 30-day vape use, identification with 5 peer crowds (Alternative, Country, Hip Hop, Mainstream, Popular), social prioritization, agreement with personal values statements, social media and smartphone use, and television and event preferences. We compared vaping rates and frequency by peer crowd using a chi-square analysis with follow-up testing to identify higher-risk crowds and confirmed associations using binary and multinomial logistic regression models with peer crowd scores predicting vaping, controlling for demographics. We then used chi-square and t tests to describe the psychographics, media use, and interests of higher-risk peer crowds and current vape users within those crowds.

Results:

Any current vaping was the highest among those with Hip Hop peer crowd identification (25.4%), then Popular (21.3%). Stronger peer crowd identification was associated with increased odds of any current vaping for both crowds, vaping on 1 to 19 days for both crowds, and vaping on 20 to 30 days for Hip Hop only. Compared with other peer crowds and non-users, Hip Hop and Popular youth and current vape users reported greater social prioritization and agreement with values related to being social and fashionable. Hip Hop and Popular youth and current vape users reported heavy Instagram and Snapchat use, as well as unique television show and event preferences.

Conclusions:

Hip Hop and Popular adolescents are most likely to vape and should be priority audiences for vaping prevention campaigns. Findings should guide the development of targeted health communication campaigns delivered via carefully designed media strategies.
Methylome and transcriptome signature of bronchoalveolar cells from multiple sclerosis patients in relation to smoking
Authors: Ringh Mikael V , Hagemann-Jensen Michael , Needhamsen Maria , Kullberg Susanna , Wahlström Jan , Grunewald Johan , Brynedal Boel , Jagodic Maja , Ekström Tomas J , Öckinger Johan , Kular Lara
Published: July 2020

Background:

Despite compelling evidence that cigarette smoking impacts the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), little is known about smoking-associated changes in the primary exposed lung cells of patients.

Objectives:

We aimed to examine molecular changes occurring in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells from MS patients in relation to smoking and in comparison to healthy controls (HCs).

Methods:

We profiled DNA methylation in BAL cells from female MS ( n = 17) and HC ( n = 22) individuals, using Illumina Infinium EPIC and performed RNA-sequencing in non-smokers.

Results:

The most prominent changes were found in relation to smoking, with 1376 CpG sites (adjusted P < 0.05) differing between MS smokers and non-smokers. Approximately 30% of the affected genes overlapped with smoking-associated changes in HC, leading to a strong common smoking signature in both MS and HC after gene ontology analysis. Smoking in MS patients resulted in additional discrete changes related to neuronal processes. Methylome and transcriptome analyses in non-smokers suggest that BAL cells from MS patients display very subtle (not reaching adjusted P < 0.05) but concordant changes in genes connected to reduced transcriptional/translational processes and enhanced cellular motility.

Conclusions:

Our study provides insights into the impact of smoking on lung inflammation and immunopathogenesis of MS.
Using a market basket analysis in tourism studies
Authors: Vavpotič Damjan , Knavs Karmen , Cvelbar Ljubica Knežević
Published: July 2020

Understanding tourist visitation patterns is crucial for decision makers in order to create smart tourism industry. A growing body of tourism research uses geo-location data in order to better understand tourism demand. In this article, we present a new approach based on a market basket analysis. This approach uses geo-location data shared by tourists on tourism platforms in order to bundle the range of available tourism services and understand which experiences are consumed together. The approach was tested on the case of Vienna, Austria. Based on our analyses, we argue that the proposed approach has the potential for use at the destination level and provides relevant information on tourism demand patterns important for smart tourism decision-making.
Precarity, nihilism, and grace
Authors: Silvestri Lisa Ellen
Published: July 2020

This article explores the ambient affect of contemporary nihilism through a conjunctural analysis of key image macros from the ‘nihilist meme’ stash. Drawing from Berlant’s theory of cruel optimism, the author identifies an active form of nihilism unique to the present moment that suggests a loosening of traditional American cruel attachments to open new possibilities for what it means to live a good life.
Quantification of shear strength in reinforced concrete beams using digital image correlation: Experimental and analytical study
Authors: Nouri Assia , Hamrat Mostefa , Boulekbache Bensaid , Nouri Said , Bouziadi Farid , Labed Abderrahim , Haddi Abdelkader , Djelal Chafika
Published: July 2020

This article presents an experimental study aiming to provide reliable experimental data for the prediction of the shear strength of reinforced concrete beams without stirrups. The shear strength results obtained from the proposed model as well as those from the design codes (ACI 318, Eurocode 2 and BS 8110) are compared with the database containing 700 beams made of both high strength concrete and normal strength concrete. Furthermore, the experimental results were used to assess the contribution of each shear mechanism obtained from Chen’s, Cavagnis’s and Fernández Ruiz’s models. The contribution of these various shear-transfer actions is also quantified experimentally, using a digital image correlation. As a result, the measured contributions of dowel action, aggregate interlock and compression zone to the total shear resistance were estimated as 45% to 50%, 20% to 35% and 17% to 31%, respectively, for high strength concrete beams. On the contrary, the average test-to-predicted contribution of the shear-transfer action ratio determined by the Chen formula is 1.15 for short beams, whereas the Fernández Ruiz and the Cavagnis models yielded average ratios of 1.04 and 1.52, respectively, for slender beams. The proposed formulae give a rational prediction for either both short and slender beams, and yield accurate and consistent results compared to the other models used in this study, with a lowest average value of the test-to-predicted at 1.08 and that of the coefficient of variation at 23.06%, particularly for short beams. However, ACI 318 is the only code that does not take into account the size effect, leading to a severe underestimation of the shear strength for short beams.
Exterior girder rotation of skew and non-skew bridges during construction
Authors: Ashiquzzaman Md , Hui Li , Ibrahim Ahmed , Lindquist Will , Panahshahi Nader , Hindi Riyadh
Published: July 2020

In bridge design, bridge decks regularly overhang past the exterior girders in arrange to extend the width of the deck whereas constraining the specified number of girders. The overhanging part of the deck comes about in uneven eccentric loads to the exterior girders which are by and large most prominent. These eccentric loads are primarily a result of bridge construction operations as well as the weight of new concrete and other construction live loads. These unbalanced loads can lead to a differential edge deflection of overhang deck and a rotation of the exterior girders. The girder rotation or differential deck deflection can also affect local and global stability of the entire bridge. The objective of this study is to enhance the knowledge and understanding of external girder behavior due to unbalanced eccentric construction loads and to identify the critical factors affecting their rotation. In this article, field data obtained during the construction of two skewed (one with a small skew (3.8°) and the second with a severe skew (24°)) and one non-skewed steel girder bridges are described, and a detailed comparison is presented. The three bridges experienced maximum outward exterior girder rotation during construction which subsequently decreased following construction operations. The field results were used to validate and calibrate the finite element models. The numerical and field-monitored data showed good agreement and can be used to assist bridge designers and construction engineers to design appropriate systems to limit girder rotation during construction.
Firework discharge leading to cerebral contusion and motor paraplegia
Authors: Zeller Matthew , Bluhm Paul , Gassner Marika , Ugalde Viviane , Abele Travis , Condron Mary
Published: July 2020

A 57-year-old male sustained a blunt head injury after discharging a mortar firework off the vertex of his head. Physical examination revealed a stellate scalp lesion and pure bilateral leg paraplegia. Initial spinal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were negative for pathology. Initial head computed tomography revealed open, nondisplaced, frontal, and parietal skull fractures with underlying subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging one week later showed bilateral precentral gyri frontal lobe contusions involving the lower extremity motor cortices and subcortical white matter extending anteriorly into the region of the supplementary motor areas. The patient's complete paraplegia informed the subsequent hospital rehabilitation. However, motor recovery was more rapid than anticipated, with the patient regaining ambulatory function before inpatient rehabilitation discharge after 27 days of hospitalization. He continued to have issues with spasticity after discharge. We discuss the current literature surrounding paraplegia secondary to head trauma and the recovery that follows. Firework misuse is a known cause of head injury but has not been recorded as a cause of isolated bilateral paraplegia. Isolated precentral gyri contusion must be considered in patients presenting with paraplegia following trauma to the vertex of the head and normal spinal imaging. We show the importance of repeat imaging to follow the evolving nature of traumatic head injuries presenting with paraplegia. We also illustrate the variability in rehabilitation planning and the need for adjustment in rehabilitation planning for paraplegic patients following head trauma.
Nonlinear dynamic characteristics of planetary gear transmission system considering squeeze oil film
Authors: Wang Jingyue , Liu Ning , Wang Haotian , Guo Lixin
Published: July 2020

Based on the planetary gear transmission system considering the coupling effects of friction and elastohydrodynamic lubrication, a torsional dynamic model considering friction, oil film, time-varying meshing stiffness, meshing damping, and gear backlash is established. The Runge–Kutta numerical method is used to solve the vibration equation of the system. The bifurcation diagram and largest Lyapunov exponent are used to analyze the dynamic characteristics of the system under different bifurcation parameters such as the excitation frequency, lubricant viscosity, sun–planet backlash, and planet–ring backlash. The numerical results demonstrate that with the increase of excitation frequency, the system exhibits rich nonlinear dynamic characteristics such as short-period motion, long-period motion, and chaotic motion. With the increase of lubricant viscosity, the chaotic motion of the system is suppressed at low excitation frequency and the periodic motion of the system increases at high excitation frequency. With the increase of sun–planet backlash, the chaotic motion of the system increases at low excitation frequency, and the bifurcation characteristics become complicated at high excitation frequency and enters chaotic motion in advance. With the increase of ring–planet backlash, the system delays into chaotic motion at low excitation frequency and bifurcates from single-period motion to multi-period motion in advance at high excitation frequency.
Lattice structure optimization and homogenization through finite element analyses
Authors: Vlădulescu Florian , Constantinescu Dan Mihai
Published: July 2020

Lattice topology optimization can stimulate the design of new materials with spatially dependent properties with composite parts or three-dimensional printed components. The present work considers a mounting bracket for an industrial robotic arm as a case study, having as the main objective the increase of the fundamental frequency and secondly its mass reduction. Two design approaches were considered by using the ANSYS software: the first stage optimized the orthotropic lattice material by establishing an optimal variable cubic cell lattice density distribution in the geometric model; the second stage used a homogenized model based on the lattice optimization resulted from the previous stage and considered different volume fractions and variable density for four different types of cells. Homogenization increased the stiffness of the bracket by using the same cubic lattice cell and the fundamental frequency increased from 1227 Hz obtained with lattice optimization to 1366 Hz after homogenization. For the unoptimized bracket the fundamental frequency was only 839 Hz. The mass was reduced to more than half. The most effective proved to be the midpoint lattice cell as by homogenization the mass was reduced from 45.5 kg to 18.22 kg.
Book review: Nugroho, K., Carden, F. and Antlov, H. 2018: Local Knowledge Matters: Power, Context and Policymaking in Indonesia
Authors: Cockburn Jessica
Published: July 2020

Nugroho, K., Carden, F. and Antlov, H. 2018: Local Knowledge Matters: Power, Context and Policymaking in Indonesia. Bristol: Policy Press. xiii + 174 pp. £22.50 (Cloth). ISBN: 978-1447348078 (Cloth).
Influence, affluence and media salience: Economic resources and lobbying influence in the European Union
Authors: Stevens Frederik , De Bruycker Iskander
Published: July 2020

This paper evaluates the circumstances under which affluent interest groups wield influence over policy outcomes. Interest group scholarship is ambiguous about the beneficial role of economic resources for lobbying influence. Economically resourceful groups are often presumed to provide more and better expert information to decision-makers and, in exchange, receive more favourable policy concessions. We argue that the beneficial role of economic resources is contingent on the media salience of policy dossiers. We expect that resourceful groups are more influential when issues are discussed behind the public scenes, while their competitive advantage dampens once issues grow salient in the news media. We test our expectations in the context of European Union policymaking, drawing from 183 expert surveys with lobbyists connected to a sample of 41 policy issues. Our empirical findings demonstrate that economic resources matter for lobbying influence, but that their effect is conditional on the media salience of policy issues.
Two Indices Are Better than One: Building on Robbins, Nolan, and Chen (2017)
Authors: Bimler David , Uusküla Mari
Published: July 2020

When informants from a given culture are asked to list items from a specified semantic domain, their lists provide two indicators of each term’s prominence or salience: its frequency of appearance across lists and its mean position within the lists that include it. Smith et al. (1995), Sutrop (2001), and most recently Robbins et al. (2017) have defined salience measures that combine these two sources of information. We argue that although frequency and mean position are correlated, the association between them is not perfect and not linear. Plotting them as separate axes of a scatterplot can be informative and complementary to combining them in a single salience measure. We illustrate this with scatterplots for three semantic domains: color terms, animal names, and body parts.
Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair for Pseudoaneurysms After Repair of Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Authors: Mitsuoka Hiroki , Orimoto Yuki , Arima Takahiro , Ishiguchi Tsuneo , Ishibashi Hiroyuki
Published: July 2020

Background:

Pseudoaneurysms that develop after surgical repair of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) are more likely to rupture, but open surgery including a repeat thoracotomy would be highly invasive. We report 2 cases of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for such pseudoaneurysms.

Methods/Results:

A 59-year-old woman who underwent PDA surgical ligation at 13 years of age presented with sudden hemoptysis. She was diagnosed with a ruptured distorted pseudoaneurysm sized 26 mm; emergency TEVAR was performed. A 23-year-old woman with a history of Down syndrome, endocardial cushion defect, and PDA underwent 2 thoracotomy surgeries including PDA ligation. During a medical checkup, an abnormal shadow was detected on chest radiography. She was diagnosed with a 15-mm pseudoaneurysm after PDA surgical repair; TEVAR was performed. In both cases, the postoperative course was uneventful.

Conclusions:

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of emergency TEVAR for ruptured pseudoaneurysms after PDA ligation. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair is an important therapeutic option for such cases as it eliminates the need for repeat thoracotomy.
Outcomes of Thoracic Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (TEVAR) in Patients With Connective Tissue Disorders
Authors: Qato Khalil , Conway Allan , Lu Eileen , Tran Nhan Nguyen , Giangola Gary , Carroccio Alfio
Published: July 2020

Objectives:

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) remains controversial in patients with connective tissue disorders given the concern for durability. We report on the largest series to date on outcomes of patients with thoracic aortic disease and connective tissue disorders treated with TEVAR.

Methods:

The Vascular Quality Initiative registry identified 12 207 patients treated with TEVAR from January 2010 to December 2018, including 102 with Marfans, Ehlers-Danlos, or Loey-Dietz syndrome. Outcomes were analyzed per the Society for Vascular Surgery reporting standards.

Results:

Median age was 50.6 years (interquartile range: 57.0-75.0), and 62 (60.7%) were male. Eighty-eight (86.3%) patients had Marfan, 9 (8.8%) had Ehlers-Danlos, and 5 (4.9%) had Loey-Dietz syndrome. Twenty-six (25.5%) patients were treated for degenerative aneurysmal disease and 76 (74.5%) patients for type B dissections (33 acute, 31 chronic). Most common indications for interventions in patients with type B dissection were pain (n = 41), aneurysmal degeneration (n = 16), and malperfusion (n = 8), with 3 patients who presented ruptured. There was no significant difference in perioperative complications between acute/chronic dissections and aneurysms ( P = .14). Percutaneous access was utilized in 61.7% of patients, with a 2.9% rate of arterial injury requiring reintervention. Follow-up data were available for 75 (73.3%) patients at a mean follow-up of 15.6 months. Overall mortality was 5.3%. There were 30 patients with follow-up endoleak data, and 8 (26.7%) endoleaks were identified. All endoleaks were in patients treated for acute type B dissection, and all resolved after a mean of 2.1 reinterventions. Three patients treated for acute Type B Aortic Dissection (TBAD) had retrograde dissections requiring intervention.

Discussion:

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair for patients with connective tissue disorders can be performed with low perioperative mortality, spinal cord ischemia, or Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA). On follow-up, acute type B aortic dissections represent a higher risk subgroup with increased rates of endoleak and retrograde dissection. Closer follow-up for these patients and early reintervention may be beneficial.
Implementing the Biodesign Process for Medical Device Innovation in Head and Neck Surgery
Authors: Dharmawan Rena , Ho Henry , Ng Harry Ho Man , Iyer Narayanan Gopalakrishna , Tan Hiang Khoon , Tan Ngian Chye
Published: July 2020

Introduction. The Stanford Biodesign process is a needs-driven approach to innovation which begins in the clinical setting and environment and is championed by practicing clinicians and surgeons. Here, our team applied the Stanford Biodesign process through clinical immersion to identify potential unmet clinical needs in the field of head and neck surgery, brainstormed and prototyped solutions to solve the top unmet need, and developed a commercialized medical device. Methods. The team underwent the 3 phases of the Biodesign process: identify, invent, and implement. The team underwent clinical immersion and followed head and neck surgeons from the Department of Head and Neck Surgery for a duration of 1 month. The needs identified were then filtered through a structured process using predefined filters, and a top need was chosen. After multiple rounds of brainstorming and prototyping, a final concept was developed. Results. The team collected 111 unmet needs and designed the in vivo surgical lighting concept that eventually led to the development of the KLARO™ in vivo surgical lighting device with a commercial partner. KLARO™ is a fully flexible 4.6-mm diameter light-emitting diode light strip that is freely bendable to be safely placed into deep cavities during open surgeries. Conclusion. The Biodesign process provides a standardized way to turn these needs into solution to advance the field of head and neck surgery and improve the outcome of patients.