bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A review of the technological developments for interlocking at level crossing
Authors: Fayyaz Muhammad Asad Bilal , Alexoulis-Chrysovergis Aris C , Southgate Matthew J , Johnson Christopher
Published: July 2020

A Level Crossing remains as one of the highest risk assets within the railway system often depending on the unpredictable behaviour of road and footpath users. For this purpose, interlocking through automated safety systems remains a key area for investigation. Within Europe, 2015–2016, 469 accidents at crossings were recorded of which 288 lead to fatalities and 264 lead to injuries. The European Union’s Agency for Railways has reported that Level Crossing fatalities account for just under 28% of all railway fatalities. This paper identifies suitable obstacle detection technologies and their associated algorithms that can be used to support risk reduction and management of Level Crossings. Furthermore, assessment and decision methods are presented to support their application. Finally state of the art and synergistic opportunity of which a combination of obstacle detection sensors with intelligent decisions layers such as Deep Learning are discussed which can provide robust interlocking decisions for rail applications. The sensor fusion of video camera and RADAR is a promising solution for Level Crossings. By applying additional sensing techniques such as RADAR imaging, further capabilities are added to the system, which can lead to a more robust approach.
Health Professionals as Mothers of Adult Children With Schizophrenia
Authors: Klages Debra , East Leah , Usher Kim , Jackson Debra
Published: July 2020

In this qualitative narrative study, we critically reflected upon mothering experiences of health professionals with adult children with schizophrenia. Thirteen participants from Australia, Canada, Scotland, and the United States were interviewed. The thematic analysis of the interviews resulted in one overarching theme—mothering in the context of uncertainty: unbalancing and rebalancing as mothers, and three major themes: disrupted mothering, reconfigured mothering, and resolute mothering. The findings suggested participants experienced difficulties in separating their professional role from their maternal responsibilities. The mothers gained expertise by using their dual knowledge to advocate for and support their children’s mental health. The mothers’ dual roles had a positive impact on their relatedness to others within their professional practice. Health care organizations might benefit from the expertise of health professionals with dual roles in the development of support, care, treatment, and delivery of services for people and their family members who live with schizophrenia.
Pentadic Cartography: Mapping Postpartum Psychosis Narratives
Authors: Tatano Beck Cheryl
Published: July 2020

Writing online narratives of postpartum psychosis allows both self-analysis and catharsis and can also be viewed as a type of sociopolitical expression. Eight narratives posted on the Action on Postpartum Psychosis website were analyzed using Burke’s narrative analysis. This method focuses on a pentad of key elements of story: scene, act, purpose, agent, and agency. What drives this narrative analysis is the identification of problematic areas referred to as ratio imbalances between any two of these five terms. The ratio imbalance between Agent and Act appeared most often in these eight narratives. The agent was the mother and the act most often was either her hallucinations or delusions. The second most frequent area of tension was between Scene and Agent. Problematic scenes for the agent (mother) involved admission to the psychiatric ward, entering the electroconvulsive therapy room, or nighttime. These ratio imbalances pinpoint places where clinicians can target specific interventions.
Thyroid-Like Follicular Carcinoma of the Kidney With Low-Grade Sarcomatoid Component: A Hitherto Undescribed Case
Authors: Rao Vidya , Menon Santosh , Bakshi Ganesh , Prakash Gagan , Agarwal Archi , Desai Sangeeta
Published: July 2020

Thyroid-like follicular carcinoma of the kidney (TLFCK) is a rare subtype of renal cell carcinoma, which closely resembles follicular neoplasms of the thyroid and has a distinctive indolent clinical behavior. Until now, a single case of TLFCK with extensive sarcomatoid differentiation has been documented with aggressive clinical course. We present an unusual case of sarcomatoid TLFCK with a low-grade spindle cell component in a 34-year-old male patient, with an indolent course following radical nephrectomy and regional node dissection.
Looking into a Deluded Brain through a Neuroimaging Lens
Authors: Arjmand Shokouh , Kohlmeier Kristi A. , Behzadi Mina , Ilaghi Mehran , Mazhari Shahrzad , Shabani Mohammad
Published: July 2020

Delusions are irrational, tenacious, and incorrigible false beliefs that are the most common symptom of a range of brain disorders including schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease. In the case of schizophrenia and other primary delusional disorders, their appearance is often how the disorder is first detected and can be sufficient for diagnosis. At this time, not much is known about the brain dysfunctions leading to delusions, and hindering our understanding is that the complexity of the nature of delusions, and their very unique relevance to the human experience has hampered elucidation of their underlying neurobiology using either patients or animal models. Advances in neuroimaging along with improved psychiatric and cognitive modeling offers us a new opportunity to look with more investigative power into the deluded brain. In this article, based on data obtained from neuroimaging studies, we have attempted to draw a picture of the neural networks involved when delusion is present and evaluate whether different manifestations of delusions engage different regions of the brain.
Injecting Information into the Mammalian Cortex: Progress, Challenges, and Promise
Authors: Mazurek Kevin A. , Schieber Marc H.
Published: July 2020

For 150 years artificial stimulation has been used to study the function of the nervous system. Such stimulation—whether electrical or optogenetic—eventually may be used in neuroprosthetic devices to replace lost sensory inputs and to otherwise introduce information into the nervous system. Efforts toward this goal can be classified broadly as either biomimetic or arbitrary. Biomimetic stimulation aims to mimic patterns of natural neural activity, so that the subject immediately experiences the artificial stimulation as if it were natural sensation. Arbitrary stimulation, in contrast, makes no attempt to mimic natural patterns of neural activity. Instead, different stimuli—at different locations and/or in different patterns—are assigned different meanings randomly. The subject’s time and effort then are required to learn to interpret different stimuli, a process that engages the brain’s inherent plasticity. Here we will examine progress in using artificial stimulation to inject information into the cerebral cortex and discuss the challenges for and the promise of future development.
Skin Physiology and its Microbiome as Factors Associated with the Recurrence of Pressure Injuries
Authors: Shibata Kana , Ogai Kazuhiro , Ogura Kohei , Urai Tamae , Aoki Miku , Arisandi Defa , Takahashi Natsuki , Okamoto Shigefumi , Sanada Hiromi , Sugama Junko
Published: July 2020

Background:

Preventing recurrent pressure injuries (RPIs) is one of the important challenges faced in healthcare, but the risk factors of RPIs have not been fully revealed. This study aims to explore factors associated with RPIs, by focusing on skin physiology and its microbiome as local factors crucial for the health of healed tissue after pressure injury healing.

Methods:

This prospective observational study was conducted in a long-term care facility in Japan with patients whose PIs had healed within 1 month. Skin physiology was evaluated by stratum corneum (SC) hydration, pH, and transepidermal water loss. Skin bacteria was collected by tape stripping, followed by 16S ribosomal RNA-based metagenomics analysis. These parameters were evaluated every two weeks over a period of six weeks.

Results:

A total of 30 patients were included in this study, and 8 patients (26.7%) had an RPI within 6 weeks. In this study, significantly lower SC hydration and a higher rate of Staphylococcus species on the healed site were found in the RPI group.

Discussion:

A high rate of RPIs (about one in four) points out the necessity of a further care strategy on the healed PIs. Lower skin hydration and/or the increase in Staphylococcus bacteria may have a potential to be used as a biomarker for the prediction of RPIs, or may be an intervention point for the prevention of RPIs by, for example, skin cleansing with moisturizing care.
A new look at the tourism development and economic growth nexus: International evidence
Authors: Benkraiem Ramzi , Lahiani Amine , Miloudi Anthony , Shahbaz Muhammad
Published: July 2020

This article tests the relationship between tourism development and economic growth in major tourism destinations in the world. The study relies on the quantile autoregressive distributed lag model. The main findings show a nonlinear cointegrating relationship between tourism development and economic growth in France, Mexico, Spain, and Italy. Indeed, in these countries, the long-run cointegrating parameter and speed of adjustment parameter differ across quantiles of economic growth distribution. They also show a nonlinear contemporaneous and lagged influence of tourism development on economic growth except in China and Germany. These differences between countries may be attributed to differences in the relative weight of the tourism industry in the overall economy of each country, whereas the differences across quantiles may be explained by the negative externalities caused by tourism growth. These findings have important policy and decision implications because tourism has differing impacts on economic growth in the short and long run in major tourism destinations. Thus, they may have new and helpful insights in planning for tourism development policies that facilitate the stimulation of economic growth.
Ambivalent aspirations: Young women negotiating postfeminist subjectivity in media work
Authors: Lamberg Emma
Published: July 2020

This article contributes to the critical literature on postfeminist articulations of young women as ideal subjects of aspiration and meritocracy by focussing on young women’s lived experiences and ways of navigating the contradictory effects of these articulations. Drawing on ethnographic research on the creative and cultural industries in Finland, the article examines how women aspiring to careers in the media field negotiate postfeminist and neoliberal enticements to inhabit the position of an aspirational subject. The findings indicate that young women’s responses to these enticements are more complex than is often assumed in theories emphasising the regulatory power of neoliberal and postfeminist cultural scripts. It is argued that young women recognise the ideological invitations of postfeminist ‘aspiration scripts’, but they respond to these interpellations in ways imbued with ambivalence and simultaneously characterised by compliance and criticism.
Free vibration analysis of a single edge cracked symmetric functionally graded stepped beams
Authors: Cunedioglu Yusuf , Shabani Shkelzen
Published: July 2020

Free vibration analysis of a single edge cracked multi-layered symmetric sandwich stepped Timoshenko beams, made of functionally graded materials, is studied using finite element method and linear elastic fracture mechanic theory. The cantilever functionally graded beam consists of 50 layers, assumed that the second stage of the beam (step part) is created by machining. Thus, providing the material continuity between the two beam stages. It is assumed that material properties vary continuously, along the thickness direction according to the exponential and power laws. A developed MATLAB code is used to find the natural frequencies of three types of the stepped beam, concluding a good agreement with the known data from the literature, supported also by ANSYS software in data verification. In the study, the effects of the crack location, crack depth, power law gradient index, different material distributions, different stepped length, different cross-sectional geometries on natural frequencies and mode shapes are analysed in detail.
Modeling of self-excited stress measurement system
Authors: Dominik Ireneusz , Lalik Krzysztof , Flaga Stanisław
Published: July 2020

In the paper two types of numerical models of the self-excited acoustical system are presented. This new type of auto-oscillating system is used for stress change measurement in constructions and rock masses. The essence of the self-excited acoustical system is to use a vibration emitter and vibration receiver placed at a distance, which are coupled with a proper power amplifier, and which are operating in a closed loop with a positive feedback. This causes the excitation of the system. The change of the velocity of wave propagation, which is associated with the change of the resonance frequency in the system is caused by the deformation of the examined material. Stress changes manifest themselves in small but detectable variations of frequency. The first of the presented models was created on the basis of estimating the model parameters by identification of the sensor–conditioner–amplifier–emitter system. The second mathematical model was delivered from the force–charge equation of the piezoelectric transducers: the sensor and the emitter. The model of the loaded beam, which determined the response of any beam point to the force applied to any other beam point is also presented.
The exercisability of the right to data portability in the emerging Internet of Things (IoT) environment
Authors: Turner Sarah , Galindo Quintero July , Turner Simon , Lis Jessica , Tanczer Leonie Maria
Published: July 2020

The right to data portability (RtDP), as outlined in the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), enables data subjects to transmit their data from one service to another. This is of particular interest in the evolving Internet of Things (IoT) environment. This research delivers the first empirical analysis detailing the exercisability of the RtDP in the context of consumer IoT devices and the information provided to users about exercising the right. In Study 1, we reviewed 160 privacy policies of IoT producers to understand the level of information provided to a data subject. In Study 2, we tested four widely available IoT systems to examine whether procedures are in place to enable users to exercise the RtDP. Both studies showcase how the RtDP is not yet exercisable in the IoT environment, risking consumers being unable to unlock the long-term benefits of IoT systems.
Predicting match outcomes in association football using team ratings and player ratings
Authors: Arntzen Halvard , Hvattum Lars Magnus
Published: July 2020

The main goal of this article is to compare the performance of team ratings and individual player ratings when trying to forecast match outcomes in association football. The well-known Elo rating system is used to calculate team ratings, whereas a variant of plus-minus ratings is used to rate individual players. For prediction purposes, two covariates are introduced. The first represents the pre-match difference in Elo ratings of the two teams competing, while the second is the average difference in individual ratings for the players in the starting line-ups of the two teams. Two different statistical models are used to generate forecasts. The first type is an ordered logit regression (OLR) model that directly outputs probabilities for each of the three possible match outcomes, namely home win, draw and away win. The second type is based on competing risk modelling and involves the estimation of scoring rates for the two competing teams. These scoring rates are used to derive match outcome probabilities using discrete event simulation. Both types of models can be used to generate pre-game forecasts, whereas the competing risk models can also be used for in-game predictions. Computational experiments indicate that there is no statistical difference in the prediction quality for pre-game forecasts between the OLR models and the competing risk models. It is also found that team ratings and player ratings perform about equally well when predicting match outcomes. However, forecasts made when using both team ratings and player ratings as covariates are significantly better than those based on only one of the ratings.
Readability of the informed consent forms in Flanders using the Douma index: Analyzing the documents that help patients make decisions
Authors: del Valle Ramírez-Durán María , Coronado-Vázquez María del Valle , Mariscal-Crespo María Isabel
Published: July 2020

Informed consent forms have been useful in clinical practice and they constitute a part of the shared decision making in the informed consent process. They provide information to patients about clinical procedures and techniques. They also act as a remainder of the information discussed after the medical interview. Sometimes these documents are not readable to everybody. Belgian law specifies that all information that patients receive has to be proportionate verbally, but written information is also handled. The present research analyzes the readability of the Flemish informed consent forms located in the webs of all General Hospitals using a simple random sample of 75 informed consent forms.

By using the Douma tool, which bases its analysis in the length of words and sentences, the readability mean of the sample was 46, level “Difficult”. The 59% of them had a difficult level. The 11% were normal. It is a fact, then, that the 59% of the informed consent forms evaluated in this study are not suitable for everybody in Flanders, especially those people with low literacy. There were some researches made in other countries that agreed with these results. Written clinical information was poorly written so the informed consent forms were not working helping patients to recall information nor helping patients to become a part in the shared decision making about their health. The use of readability formulas represented a simple way to discriminate those informed consent forms that had normal readability scores from those that should be adapted.
Mathematical and geometrical modeling of braided ropes bent over a sheave
Authors: He Guifang , Sheng Chunfu , He Hongwei , Zhou Rong , Yuan Ding , Ning Xin , Ning Fanggang
Published: July 2020

As soft elements for force transmission, braided fiber ropes play important roles in many fields where the fiber ropes are used bent over sheaves, while the relevant experiments are time-consuming and expensive. Computational simulation is a promising choice for evaluating the performance of fiber ropes when bent over a sheave. This article presents two methods that could be employed to build a model of braided rope bent over a sheave. One is the mathematical method which deduces the exact mathematical equations of braiding curves based on the Frenet–Serret frame. The spatial equations, considering the phase difference of strands in the same direction and the difference of strands’ projection in different directions, are discussed carefully. The final equation of braided strands is confirmed by modeling the braided rope in Maple® 17. The other method, which is inspired by the analysis of braiding movements, is based on the intersection of surfaces of braiding surface and helical surface which are introduced and defined based on the motion analysis of bobbins and take-up roller. The SolidWorks® 2018 is successfully employed to realize the modeling process.
Predictors of early postoperative pneumonia after oncologic surgery with the patients receiving professional oral health care: A prospective, multicentre, cohort study
Authors: Nozaki Shinichi , Tsutsumi Yasuhiko , Takasaki Yoshito , Yoshikawa Hiromasa , Shinya Toshiaki , Souta Ruriko , Nakamoto Norimichi , Marukawa Kohei , Usami Takeshi , Sunami Jiro , Takashima Maho , Tanaka Kohji , Nishizawa Rishiho , Yanase Shigeaki , Negoro Kenji , Negishi Akihide , Okumura Hidenori , Otsuka Yoshiaki , Honda Yasutoshi , Otsuru Hiroshi , Arika Takumi , Nakashima Takeshi , Nagasaka Hiroshi , Watanabe Yuuko , Kajiya Mikihito , Senpuku Hidenobu , Iwabuchi Hiroshi
Published: July 2020

This study was a prospective, multicentre, cohort study on 685 patients who had undergone oncologic surgery. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of postoperative pneumonia. The two groups were compared with respect to their background, index operation, food eaten, oral condition, contents of oral care and dental treatment, laboratory data, and bacterial flora. All postoperative pneumonias occurred in six cases within four days postoperatively. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative serum C-reactive protein was the strongest predictor of postoperative pneumonia. In addition, decreased postoperative Candida albicans colonies was an effective predictor of postoperative pneumonia. For patients with predictors of postoperative pneumonia, perioperative strategies for its prevention should be considered in addition to professional oral health care. This study was approved by the National Hospital Organization’s Central Ethics Review Board and was also approved by the directors of the participating institutions.
Vertical surface contact with a Micro Air Vehicle
Authors: Lopez Luna Aaron , Cruz Vega Israel , Martinez-Carranza Jose
Published: July 2020

In this work, we present a novel design for vertical surface contact using a two degree of freedom robotic arm attached to a Micro Air Vehicle. To achieve this, we propose a controller based on a Gain-Scheduled Proportional–Integral–Derivative approach. In previous works, the Gain-Scheduled Proportional–Integral–Derivative method was used to control the attitude of the Micro Air Vehicle, thus mitigating the perturbations induced by the movement of the arm. The novel approach of this work focuses on the achievement of an automatized full-contact with a rigid vertical surface using a Micro Air Vehicle with a robotic arm. We have improved the capabilities of the Gain-Scheduled Proportional–Integral–Derivative control to consider the inherent issues of approximating to a flat structure in order to carry out an aerial interaction task successfully. For the Micro Air Vehicle’s position feedback, a motion capture system is used in this work. A paintbrush attached to the end effector of the arm is used to draw over a whiteboard surface to show the full contact of the aerial manipulator. A distance sensor is added to the on-board sensors to measure the distance between the vertical surface and the system to ensure a correct distance and achieve a safe contact. Experimental testing results show that the controller can maintain a stable flight with sufficient accuracy to complete the aerial interaction tasks.
Applied precision medicine in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Taghizadeh Hossein , Müllauer Leonhard , Mader Robert M. , Schindl Martin , Prager Gerald W.
Published: July 2020

Background:

Metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) bears a dismal prognosis due to the limited activity of systemic chemotherapy. In our platform for precision medicine, we aim to offer molecular-guided treatments to patients without further standard therapy options.

Methods:

In this single center, real-world retrospective analysis of our platform, we describe the molecular-based therapy approaches used in all 50 patients diagnosed with therapy-refractory mPDAC. A molecular portrait of the tumor specimens was created by next-generation sequencing, immunohistochemistry (IHC), microsatellite instability (MSI) testing, and fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Results:

In total, we detected 123 mutations in 50 patients. The five most frequent mutations were KRAS ( n = 40; 80%), TP53 ( n = 29; 58%), CDKN2A ( n = 8; 16%), SMAD4 ( n = 4; 8%), and NOTCH1 ( n = 4; 8%), which together accounted for 40.2% of all mutations. Two patients had gene fusions, namely, TBL1XR1–PIK3CA and EIF3E–RSPO2. IHC detected expression of EGFR, phosphorylated mTOR, and PTEN in 36 (72%), 33 (66%), and 17 patients (34%), respectively. For 14 (28%) of the 50 patients, a targeted therapy was suggested based on the identified molecular targets. The recommended treatments included the mTOR inhibitor everolimus ( n = 3), pembrolizumab ( n = 3), palbociclib ( n = 2), nintedanib ( n = 2), and cetuximab, crizotinib, tamoxifen, and the combination of lapatinib and trastuzumab, in one patient each. Finally, five patients received the recommended therapy. Four patients died due to disease progression before radiological assessment. One patient was treated with nintedanib and achieved stable disease for 6 months.

Conclusion:

Based on our observations, precision medicine approaches are feasible and implementable in clinical routine and may provide molecular-based therapy recommendations for mPDAC.
Ongoing quality improvement in the context of the National Quality Framework: Exploring the perspectives of educators in ‘Working Towards’ services
Authors: Togher Melissa , Fenech Marianne
Published: July 2020

Early childhood services in Australia that receive a ‘Working Towards’ quality rating are expected to engage in continuous quality improvement. This qualitative study investigated this expectation by exploring the experiences of educators in Working Towards services. The study implemented a social constructivist research design and involved interviews with educators from three Working Towards rated services. Data analysis sought to establish participants’ understanding of the National Quality Standard and their own provision of quality, and what factors within their service facilitated and limited this provision. Findings highlight educators’ varying understandings and interpretations of the National Quality Standard, and perceived barriers to quality improvement from both within and without their centres. The study contributes to the limited literature surrounding the experiences of educators in Working Towards services and poses implications for future policy and research.
Clinical Evaluation Techniques for Injury Risk Assessment in Elite Swimmers: A Systematic Review
Authors: Schlueter Kaitlyn R. , Pintar Joshua A. , Wayman Katherine J. , Hartel Lynda J. , Briggs Matthew S.
Published: July 2020

Context:

Evidence concerning a systematic, comprehensive injury risk assessment in the elite swimming population is scarce.

Objective:

To evaluate the quality of current literature regarding clinical assessment techniques used to evaluate the presence and/or development of pain/injury in elite swimmers and to categorize objective clinical assessment tools into relevant predictors (constructs) that should consistently be evaluated in injury risk screens of elite swimmers.

Data Sources:

PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, PEDro, and the Cochrane Library Reviews were searched through September 2018.

Study Selection:

Studies were included for review if they assessed a correlation between clinic-based objective measures and the presence and/or development of acute or chronic pain/injury in elite swimmers. All body regions were included. Elite swimmers were defined as National Collegiate Athletic Association, collegiate, and junior-, senior-, or national-level swimmers. Only cohort and cross-sectional studies were included (both prospective and retrospective); randomized controlled trials, expert opinion, and case reports were excluded, along with studies that focused on interventions, performance, or specific swim-stroke equipment or technology.

Study Design:

Systematic review and qualitative analysis.

Level of Evidence:

Level 3.

Data Extraction:

PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines were utilized at each phase of review by 2 reviewers; a third reviewer was utilized for tie breaking purposes. Qualitative analysis was performed using the Methodological Items for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) assessment tool.

Results:

A total of 21 studies assessed the presence and/or development of injury/pain in 3 different body regions: upper extremity, lower extremity, and spine. Calculated average MINORS scores for comparative (n = 17) and noncomparative (n = 4) studies were 18.1 of 24 and 10.5 of 16, respectively. Modifiable, objectively measurable injury risk factors in elite swimmers were categorized into 4 constructs: (1) strength/endurance, (2) mobility, (3) static/dynamic posture, and (4) patient-report regardless of body region.

Conclusion:

Limited evidence exists to draw specific correlations between identified clinical objective measures and the development of pain and/or injury in elite swimmers.
Group Dissertations as Leadership Learning
Authors: Smith BetsAnn
Published: July 2020

This article shares rationales for group dissertations and offers practical descriptions of how they transpire in one Doctor of Education (EdD) program. Drawing on program experiences and data, it considers how group dissertations promote leadership learning and EdD program puposes using Archbald’s criteria of developmental efficacy, intellectual stewardship, distinctive form, and community benefit. Suggested supports for group dissertations include clear commitments to group dissertations, admission processes attentive to group dissertation demands, an open student-centered topic and group formation process, faculty commitment to group advising, and vigilance against regressions to the familiar.
Bilateral facial nerve involvement in a patient with Tolosa–Hunt syndrome
Authors: Madhavan Ajay A , DeLone David R , Verdoorn Jared T
Published: July 2020

Tolosa–Hunt syndrome is characterized by unilateral retro-orbital headaches and cranial nerve palsies, usually involving cranial nerves III–VI. It is rare for other cranial nerves to be involved, although this has previously been reported. We report a 19-year-old woman presenting with typical features of Tolosa–Hunt syndrome but ultimately developing bilateral facial nerve palsies and enhancement of both facial nerves on magnetic resonance imaging. The patient presented with unilateral retro-orbital headaches and palsies of cranial nerves III–VI. She was diagnosed with Tolosa–Hunt syndrome but was non-compliant with her corticosteroid treatment due to side effects. She returned with progressive left followed by right facial nerve palsy. Her corresponding follow-up magnetic resonance imaging scans showed sequential enhancement of the left and right facial nerves. She ultimately had clinical improvement with IV methylprednisolone. To our knowledge, Tolosa–Hunt syndrome associated with bilateral facial nerve palsy and corroborative facial nerve enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging has not previously been described. Moreover, our patient’s clinical course is instructive, as it demonstrates that this atypical presentation of Tolosa–Hunt syndrome can indeed respond to corticosteroid treatment and should not be mistaken for other entities such as Bell’s palsy.
Ubiquitous Role of Social Networking in Driving M-Commerce: Evaluating the Use of Mobile Phones for Online Shopping and Payment in the Context of Trust
Authors: Hossain Syed Far Abid , Xi Zhao , Nurunnabi Mohammad , Hussain Khalid
Published: July 2020

The article analyzes the role of driving m-commerce with social networking and therefore provides insight into how the application of mobile apps influences customers’ perceptions on purchasing products online and on the mode of payment. The consumers are engaged in social interactions through the internet by the new opportunities provided by social media. These interactions provide and generate certain values for both businesses and consumers. An upsurge in the application of social media on mobile phones by users is evident, giving optimism and the ability to view the role of the integration of m-commerce into social media. Certain criteria like mobile app compatibility, trust, perceived value of mobile phone apps for online shopping, and online payment are examined from the point of view of consumers who purchase products, save purchase time, and provide easy use and security through social networking sites and m-commerce. Adoption of a digital mode of payment is affected by the education level of the consumers as, if they are internet savvy, they will be more inclined to use the digital payment mode. The article not only discusses the role of education in the better understanding of consumers toward the application of online modes of transaction through mobile phones, but also indicates that there are security issues, although these have been resolved to some extent by technological advances. Yet, there is need for the retailers as well as the consumers to achieve further technological progress.
Exploration of Attitudes and Experiences of Young Adults Who Do and Do Not Attend College
Authors: Follingstad Diane R. , Meadows Hayley C. , Li Caihong R. , Coker Ann L. , Bush Heather M.
Published: July 2020

Personality traits, attitudes, and behavioral intentions of high school seniors prior to attending or not attending institutions of higher education were explored. Because of this age-group’s risk level, variables assessed included historical social/cultural factors, internal/contextual factors, and lifestyle factors potentially associated with violence experiences. Participants were seniors at 24 Kentucky high schools who voluntarily completed surveys. A year later, 2,073 reported whether they attended a 4-year institution ( n = 1,038), a 2-year institution ( n = 341), or did not attend college ( n = 694). The 4-year college attendees reported significantly more protective factors and significantly fewer violence risk factors in high school than peers attending 2-year institutions or not attending college. The 2-year college students largely resembled nonattendees across variables in high school. Traits, behaviors, and attitudes/beliefs occurring prior to young adults’ postsecondary years may not only have potential for predicting post-high school choices but also vulnerability to violence experiences.
‘I know It When I See It’: On Academic Plagiarism, and How to Assess It
Authors: Ramalho Ana , Silva Marta Santos
Published: July 2020

In the academic context, plagiarism is usually seen as an ethical offence, the boundaries and definition of which are often unclear. However, in some countries, plagiarism is also a legal wrong, amounting to copyright infringement. This article proposes a test for assessing plagiarism of academic works. The test is based on the law and jurisprudence of a particular country, Portugal, where plagiarism is framed as copyright infringement. Article 196 of the Portuguese Copyright Law sets four elements that must be fulfilled for a finding of plagiarism: There must be a protected work; the alleged plagiarist must have used a partial or total reproduction of that work; the alleged plagiarist must have failed to attribute the authorship of the work to its rightful creator; and the work of the alleged plagiarist must lack its own individuality. The authors argue that, even if the law of a particular country does not frame plagiarism as a legal offence, these elements should be part of a test to be adopted and applied by academic institutions for the sake of legal certainty.
Establishing Regional Medical Campuses to Ensure Comparable Experiences: Recommendations From a Narrative Review
Authors: Byerley Julie S , Foster Johanna H , Beck Dallaghan Gary L
Published: July 2020

Background:

Given increasing class sizes and desires to keep costs down, many medical schools are developing regional clinical campuses. We found our regional campus system to be very successful in allowing class size expansion, inspiring a workforce for the state, and concurrently allowing our students to individualize their experience. We desire to articulate our experience, with a review of the relevant evidence, with the goal of assisting other medical schools in their efforts to develop regional medical campuses.

Methods:

We conducted a narrative literature review to identify considerations for developing regional campuses, taking into consideration our experiences in the process. A medical librarian undertook a literature search for the purposes of this narrative review.

Results:

Of the 61 articles identified, 14 were included for full-text review. Five facets on branch campus development were identified: relationships, infrastructure, curriculum, recruitment, and accreditation. Within each of these facets we provide further details based on findings from the literature complemented by our experience.

Conclusions:

Launching a regional campus requires building relationships with clinical partners, ensuring an infrastructure that supports student need and accreditation, comparable curriculum with the same objectives and assessment measures, and aspects of the experience that inspire a student desire to learn in that setting. We share our experience in building successful branch campuses, which have added significantly to our large public school of medicine and its service to our state.
Indicators of improvements in seismic performance possible through retrofit of reinforced concrete frame buildings
Authors: Harrington Cody C , Liel Abbie B
Published: July 2020

Retrofitting older reinforced concrete (RC) frame buildings aims to mitigate the well-established seismic vulnerabilities of these structures. However, the impact of retrofit design decisions (e.g. increases in strength, stiffness, or deformation capacity) on global performance is unclear because capacity and fragility models for retrofit structures are rare. This study quantifies the benefits of retrofitting nonductile RC moment frames in terms of global performance metrics, such as collapse rates and economic losses. In total, 27 buildings are assessed. In doing so, it subsequently identifies structural indicators, that is, strength and deformation characteristics of the retrofit system, which are most associated with improved performance. If the performance measure of interest is collapse risk and life safety, increases to either system strength or deformation capacity are important. If the performance measure of interest is expected earthquake-induced repair costs or economic losses, strength-based indicators are most effective. Some retrofits can significantly improve collapse risk without reducing economic losses.
Team Collective Intelligence in Dynamically Complex Projects—A Shipbuilding Case
Authors: Hansen Morten Juel , Vaagen Hajnalka , van Oorschot Kim
Published: July 2020

In concurrent engineering projects driven by short delivery times, team performance rests on the team’s capability to quickly and effectively handle different, emergent issues. We conducted an exploratory study of a large, dynamically complex project in which team members had a record of “good problem-solving abilities.” The study revealed how the team members demonstrated a collective ability to swiftly handle emergent issues, which again decreased the intensity of time and performance pressure. Beyond formal processes combined with lean practices, supporting this ability were situation awareness, task-based subgroups, direct lines of communication, and trust.
A case of successful coronary angioplasty in an achondroplasia patient with total occlusion of an anomalous right coronary artery (case report)
Authors: Ali Mustafa Ibrahiem Mohammed , Albashir Ahmed Abdalazim Dafallah , Elawad Omer Ali Mohamed Ahmed , Mohamed Makram Aboali Ebied
Published: July 2020

Background

Coronary interventions in patients of achondroplasia have been reported rarely in the medical literature. Due to short stature and kyphoscoliosis, endovascular access (Cannulation) of the coronary arteries is usually extremely difficult in such patients.

Case presentation

A 33 years old patient, a known case of achondroplasia, presented with epigastric pain for 3 h duration to a university hospital, Sudan. Her height was 95 cm and her weight was 38 Kg. A trans-femoral approach for coronary angioplasty was preferred. After it has been extremely difficult to cannulate the left system at first, the cannulation has been performed successfully using 5F, JL3.5 catheter. The angiogram depicted total occlusion of the proximal right coronary artery which was found to be originating from the left coronary sinus of the aorta. Successful trans-femoral coronary angioplasty has been performed with stent placement, and no complications encountered. During her last follow up, 1 year after the procedure, she appeared to be free of symptoms and with no further ischemic attacks or procedure-related complications.

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of successful coronary angioplasty in achondroplasia patient in whom the occluded artery is an anomalous coronary artery. Literature review, description of the achondroplasia, development of the coronary arteries and the hypothesized theory for the anomaly have been described in this case report. The PCI performed has also been clearly and comprehensively described.
Development of a hexavalent recombinant protein vaccine adjuvanted with Montanide ISA 50 V and determination of its protective efficacy against acute toxoplasmosis
Authors: Şahar Esra Atalay , Can Hüseyin , İz Sultan Gülçe , Döşkaya Aysu Değirmenci , Kalantari-Dehaghi Mina , Deveci Remziye , Gürüz Adnan Yüksel , Döşkaya Mert
Published: July 2020

Background

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that can infect almost all warm-blooded animals, avian species and humans. Toxoplasmosis is asymptomatic in healthy individuals, whereas it may lead to death in immune suppressed or deficient patients. A vaccine against T. gondii is required to prevent consequences of the infection. The aim of this study is to generate a multivalent recombinant protein vaccine against T. gondii.

Methods

49 previously discovered antigenic proteins of T gondii were evaluated by their expression level in E. coli and by comprehensive bioinformatics analyses to determine antigenic epitopes. Based on these analyses, six vaccine candidate proteins were selected to generate a hexavalent recombinant protein vaccine adjuvanted with Montanide ISA 50 V. Humoral and cellular immune responses were determined by flow cytometry and ELISA. Vaccinated mice were challenged with T. gondii Ankara strain tachyzoites.

Results

In mice vaccinated with hexavalent vaccine, strong total IgG (P < 0.0001) and IgG2a (P < 0.001) responses were induced compared to controls, the ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes secreting IFN-γ increased, and significantly higher extracellular IFN-γ secretion was achieved compared to the controls (P < 0.001). The survival time of the vaccinated mice increased to 8.38 ± 2.13 days which was significantly higher than controls (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Altogether, these results show that the hexavalent vaccine which is developed for the first time against T. gondii induced strong and balanced Th1 and Th2 immune responses as well as conferred significant protection against challenge with lethal toxoplasmosis in murine model.
Seroprevalence and factors associated with hepatitis B infection among the hill tribe adult population in Thailand: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Upala Panupong , Apidechkul Tawatchai , Tamornpark Ratipark , Chomchoei Chalitar , Yeemard Fartima
Published: July 2020

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the greatest public health burdens, particularly for people living with several barriers to access to health care services, such as the hill tribe adult population in Thailand. People aged 25 years and over who are out of the target population for HBV immunization under the national Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) are at risk of HBV infection. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence and determine the factors associated with HBV infection among hill tribe adults aged 25 years and over living in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was used to collect information on hill tribe adults aged 25 years and over living in 36 selected hill tribe villages in Chiang Rai Province. All people living in the selected villages who met the criteria were invited to participate in the study. A validated questionnaire and a 5-mL blood specimen were used as research instruments. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to hepatitis B surface (anti-HBs), and antibody to hepatitis B core (anti-HBc) were detected by using the Wondfo Test Kit@, which has high sensitivity and specificity. Logistic regression was used to detect the associations between variables at the significance level of α = 0.05.

Results

A total of 1491 individuals were recruited into the analysis; 60.8% were females, 81.3% were aged between 30 and 60 years, and 86.0% were married. The majority were illiterate (54.9%), were Buddhist (55.7%), worked in agricultural sectors (87.3%), and had an annual income of less than 50,000 baht per year (72.9%). The overall prevalence of hepatitis B infection was 26.6%; 7.6% were positive for HBsAg, 19.2% were positive for anti-HBs, and 18.9% were positive for anti-HBc. In the multivariate analysis, three variables were found to be associated with hepatitis B infection: those who were in the Yao and Lisu tribes had a 1.64-fold (95% CI = 1.08–2.49) and a 1.93-fold (95% CI = 1.10–3.31) greater chance, respectively, of HBV infection than did those in the Karen tribe; those who were Christian had a 1.41-fold (95% CI = 1.06–1.87) greater chance of HBV infection than did those who were Buddhist; and those who did not use alcohol had a 1.29-fold (95% CI = 1.01–1.65) greater chance of HBV infection than did those who used alcohol.

Conclusions

It is necessary to develop and implement effective public health interventions among hill tribe adult populations who are not part of the EPI-targeted population, particularly Christians, those in the Lisu and Yao tribes, and those who do not use alcohol, to reduce the HBV infection rate, save lives and reduce medical expenses.