bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of Kinesio Taping® for pain management in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial
Authors: Donec Venta , Kubilius Raimondas
Published: August 2019

Background:

Kinesio Taping® method is a nonpharmacological alternative for pain management in musculoskeletal disorders. However, the existing evidence is insufficient to assess its full effectiveness for pain management in knee osteoarthritis (KO). Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Kinesio Taping method in reducing knee pain for KO patients.

Methods:

In this randomized, double blind, controlled trial, we recruited 187 patients with grade I-III KO who were allocated to either the Kinesio Taping or control group. The study was carried out in outpatient facility. Either Kinesio Taping or nonspecific taping was applied on the affected knee area for 4 weeks. Pain evaluation was performed at baseline, after 1 month of taping and after 1 further month without taping. The data on usage of painkillers were collected; Numeric Pain Rating Scale; an algometer, and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS) pain subscale were used to assess pain. Tolerance and subjective opinions toward the effectiveness of taping were evaluated. The chosen level of significance was p < 0.05, ß ⩽ 0.2.

Results:

The majority (>70%) of both groups’ patients indicated that tapes reduced the knee pain. The reported use of painkillers decreased, in addition to self-reported increase in the KOOS subscale, thereby indicating pain alleviation. All self-reported improvement remained at the 1-month follow up ( p < 0.05). Significantly higher and clinically meaningful reduction of pain intensity was found in the Kinesio Taping group after the treatment month, in comparison with the control group ( p < 0.05). More pain reduction was reported in the daytime for participants in the Kinesio Taping group at the follow up ( p = 0.022). No changes in algometry results were observed.

Conclusions:

Elastic taping can safely relieve knee pain and reduce the need for pharmacological management in KO. A specific Kinesio Taping technique is clinically more beneficial for knee-pain alleviation in comparison with nonspecific taping. [ ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03076177.]
Digital technology as a tool to support children and educators as co-learners
Authors: Johnston Kelly
Published: August 2019

Digital technologies are increasingly prevalent and can complement more traditional resources to support children’s investigations and explorations in early learning contexts. A new consideration is the value of technology in positioning early childhood educators as co-learners and co-investigators alongside children. This article presents findings from a case study undertaken with two early childhood educators working with a class of preschool-aged children. The participating educators engaged in a practitioner inquiry project focusing on how technology could support and extend children’s interest in outer space and the solar system. This study found that digital technology supported educators and children to work as co-investigators, moving between the roles of apprentice and expert as they shared pre-existing understandings and sought new knowledge. In addition, digital and non-digital resources were used contemporaneously to support investigation in their ongoing project. The findings provided clear examples of technology as an integrated, complementary resource in play-based learning, supporting children’s agency as they worked with educators to increase scientific knowledge as well as digital handling skills.
A survey on the use of intravenous lidocaine infusion for acute pain in Scottish Hospitals
Authors: Meaney Eoghan D , Reid Louise , Srivastava Devjit
Published: August 2019

Introduction:

Intravenous (IV) lidocaine infusions are increasingly used in the management of acute pain. They are particularly used in patients undergoing colorectal surgery, where they are also found to decrease rates of postoperative ileus. IV lidocaine has significant toxicity in overdose. There are no current national guidelines or standards on the provision of IV lidocaine infusions. We aimed to get a snapshot of current usage and usage practices in Scottish NHS Hospitals, to identify common themes and variations in practice.

Methods:

A survey designed by the authors was emailed to 20 Scottish NHS Hospitals with an acute pain team. These were then followed up by telephone, if necessary.

Results:

Of the 20 hospitals, 16 (80%) responded; 12 out of 16 (75%) of the responding hospitals either used IV lidocaine infusions for acute pain or were planning to use them in the near future. There was variability in practices regarding delivery device, prescriber grade, bolus dosing, length of infusion, location of infusion and use with other local anaesthetic (LA) infusions.

Conclusions:

A majority of Scottish NHS Hospitals use IV lidocaine infusions in the management of acute pain. There are some variations in current practice; standardising practices may decrease the risk of LA toxicity. A national guideline is recommended.
The portrayal of the Rohingya genocide and refugee crisis in the age of post-truth politics
Authors: Siddiquee Md. Ali
Published: August 2019

The systematic persecution and ethnic cleansing of the Rohingyas by Myanmar which resulted from populist hatred can be traced back to the Second World War when the Rohingyas sided with the British. Xenophobia has taken a permanent shape in the practice of power, the motive force behind the actions and reactions of successive Myanmar states and political elites. The colonial legacy has been used as the rationale for isolation and the use of violence against the Rohingyas. The socio-historical constructed and imposed identity throughout the colonial and post-colonial years has been used by the majority Buddhists to dehumanize the Rohingyas. The article argues that the historical identity creation and imposition by the majority Buddhists have facilitated the recent refugee crisis. The article aims to identify whether the tactics of post-truth politics have been used to fuel populist anti-Rohingya feelings among the majority Buddhists.
Challenges and Opportunities Experienced by Young Adults Transitioning Out of Informal Kinship-Based Foster Care in Bikita District, Zimbabwe
Authors: Dziro Charles
Published: August 2019

The desire to understand young adults’ transition into adulthood from informal kinship-based foster care has been growing. This article examines the challenges encountered by, and the opportunities available to, young adults as they transition from informal kinship-based foster care to independent living in the Bikita District of Zimbabwe. In-depth interviews were conducted with 26 young people who had left care and key informants. Data were analyzed using a thematic framework. Key findings included the young adults’ need for proper preparation in formal education, health, social welfare, and employment to ward off the challenges they face before they leave informal kinship-based foster care. The opportunities available to the young adults included cultural identity, social capital, and training in independent life skills within their kinship group. Recommendations are made for better preparation and support to young people transitioning out of informal kinship-based care in Zimbabwe.
Does Tranexamic Acid Reduce Knee Swelling and Improve Early Function Following Arthroscopic Meniscectomy? A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Nugent Mary , May Jedediah H. , Parker Jack D. , Kieser David C. , Douglas Michael , Pereira Ron , Lim Khoon S. , Hooper Gary J.
Published: August 2019

Background:

Arthroscopic meniscectomy often results in rapid recovery and return to preinjury activities; however, postoperative hemarthrosis and swelling can lead to pain, decreased range of motion, and delayed return to work and leisure activities. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a lysine-based inhibitor of plasminogen to plasmin that has gained popularity in arthroplasty surgery for reducing blood loss and, more recently, in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by reducing postoperative hemarthrosis, swelling, and pain while increasing function in the short term.

Purpose:

To determine whether there is a role for TXA in improving the short-term results of swelling, pain, and function following arthroscopic meniscectomy.

Study Design:

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

We performed a prospective double-blinded randomized controlled trial in 41 patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscectomy by comparing patients treated with intravenous TXA with those treated with a placebo (normal saline). A single surgeon treated all patients. Following randomization, a dose of 1 g of TXA in 100 mL of normal saline (treatment group) or 100 mL of normal saline (placebo group) was given intravenously at induction prior to tourniquet inflation by the anesthetist. The anesthetist administering the TXA or placebo was not blinded, but all other clinicians involved were. Patients were evaluated by a blinded observer at postoperative days 3, 14, and 30, with the range of motion, swelling, pain levels (visual analog scale), and Lysholm and Tegner knee scores recorded.

Results:

Patient demographics were similar in both groups. In the treatment group, there was a nonsignificant improvement in range of motion ( P = .056) and swelling ( P = .384) at 14 days; however, there was a significant improvement in the Tegner score at 3 days ( P = .0064). The complication profile was similar between the groups.

Conclusion:

The administration of 1 g of intravenous TXA in routine arthroscopic meniscectomy may improve early functional recovery without increased risk. A larger study is required to confirm these results and further evaluate any potential benefit.

Registration:

ACTRN12618001600235 (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry).
Using a Bone-Conduction Headset to Improve Speech Discrimination in Children With Otitis Media With Effusion
Authors: Holland Brown Tamsin , Salorio-Corbetto Marina , Gray Roger , James Best Alexandra , Marriage Josephine E.
Published: August 2019

The recommended management for children with otitis media with effusion (OME) is ‘watchful waiting’ before considering grommet surgery. During this time speech and language, listening skills, quality of life, social skills, and outcomes of education can be jeopardized. Air-conduction (AC) hearing aids are problematic due to fluctuating AC hearing loss. Bone-conduction (BC) hearing is stable, but BC hearing aids can be uncomfortable. Both types of hearing aids are costly. Given the high prevalence of OME and the transitory nature of the accompanying hearing loss, cost-effective solutions are needed. The leisure industry has developed relatively inexpensive, comfortable, high-quality BC headsets for transmission of speech or music. This study assessed whether these headsets, paired with a remote microphone, improve speech discrimination for children with OME. Nineteen children aged 3 to 6 years receiving recommended management in the United Kingdom for children with OME participated. Word-discrimination thresholds were measured in a sound-treated room in quiet and with 65 dB(A) speech-shaped noise, with and without a headset. The median threshold in quiet ( N = 17) was 39 dB(A) (range: 23–59) without a headset and 23 dB(A) (range: 9–35) with a headset ( Z = −3.519, p < .001). The median threshold in noise ( N = 19) was 59 dB(A) (range: 50–63) without a headset and 45 dB(A) (range: 32–50) with a headset (Z = −3.825, p < .001). Thus, the use of a BC headset paired with a remote microphone significantly improved speech discrimination in quiet and in noise for children with OME.
Band Project: A Model for Service Learning
Authors: Sindberg Laura K.
Published: August 2019

Real-world experiences, such as situated learning, fieldwork, and student teaching have been among the most prevalent examples employed in teacher preparation programs. Despite the increasing evidence in support of service learning in music teacher preparation, there are a limited number of models specific to instrumental music education. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of participants in one such model, called Band Project. Participants included preservice music educators, young band students, and one lead teacher who also served as the instrumental music teacher at the school. The research question that guided this investigation was as follows: In what ways do participants in an afterschool band project describe their experience? Four themes emerged from analysis of data: (a) Relationships and Community, (b) Challenges and Tensions, (c) Aspirations, and (d) Transformations. Findings reinforced the importance of service learning for preservice music educators, particularly amid growing concerns for cross-cultural awareness, inclusion, and social justice in music teacher preparation.
A theoretical analysis of roll-over-web coating assessment of viscous nanofluid containing Cu-water nanoparticles
Authors: Khaliq Sabeeh , Abbas Zaheer
Published: August 2019

The roll-coating analysis of viscous nanofluid using lubrication approximation theory over a flat porous sheet is investigated. We considered water-based copper ( Cu) nanoparticles to discuss the roll-coating analysis. The rate of fluid entering at the roll surface is assumed equal to the rate of fluid leaving on the web surface. The resulting differential equation developed under lubrication approximation and closed-form expressions is obtained for velocity and pressure gradient. The effects of entering velocity, Reynolds number, geometric parameter, and nanoparticle volume fraction with different models on physical quantities such as pressure, pressure gradient, velocity, force, power input are calculated. Some of these effects are presented graphically. It is noted that increasing nanoparticle volume fraction increases the pressure gradient, pressure distribution and has negligible effect on the velocity profile. Model II has a greater effect on pressure and pressure gradient than model I and has an inverse effect on force and power factor.
Disentangling Exploitation and Exploration in Hybrid Projects: The Case of a New Nuclear Reactor Development
Authors: Tillement Stéphanie , Garcias Frédéric , Minguet Guy , Duboc Florence Charue
Published: August 2019

Using a qualitative research approach, this article addresses a gap in the project management literature that is the coexistence of exploitation and exploration learning dynamics within a single large-scale and complex project. We investigate the case of the New Sodium Fast Reactor (NewSFR) project, a large-scale, complex, and multi-actor project aimed at designing a new technology of nuclear reactor. Through a grounded, interpretive, and multilevel methodological approach, we characterize NewSFR as a hybrid project that combines high exploration and exploitation goals. We investigate the hybridizing process, which takes into account long-term temporal dynamics and interactions between two levels of analysis: the knowledge domains within the project and the project itself. This enables us to report three major contributions. First, at a macro-level, we highlight the ambiguity related to the difficulty for project members to agree on either exploratory or exploitative NewSFR status, which leads us to qualify it as a hybrid project. We then investigate the case dynamically and at a micro-level (i.e., the level of knowledge domains within the project). We emphasize the temporal processes underlying the hybridization, and how this hybridization evolves in time through two data-based concepts: deliberate exploration and emerging exploration. We identify and categorize the main drivers of deliberate and emerging exploration throughout the project, and highlight how these drivers affect project management processes. Finally, we discuss the issue of managing such hybrid projects.
European Respiratory Society guidelines on long-term home non-invasive ventilation for management of COPD
Authors: Ergan Begum , Oczkowski Simon , Rochwerg Bram , Carlucci Annalisa , Chatwin Michelle , Clini Enrico , Elliott Mark , Gonzalez-Bermejo Jesus , Hart Nicholas , Lujan Manel , Nasilowski Jacek , Nava Stefano , Pepin Jean Louis , Pisani Lara , Storre Jan Hendrik , Wijkstra Peter , Tonia Thomy , Boyd Jeanette , Scala Raffaele , Windisch Wolfram
Published: August 2019

Background

While the role of acute non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has been shown to improve outcome in acute life-threatening hypercapnic respiratory failure in COPD, the evidence of clinical efficacy of long-term home NIV (LTH-NIV) for management of COPD is less. This document provides evidence-based recommendations for the clinical application of LTH-NIV in chronic hypercapnic COPD patients.

Materials and methods

The European Respiratory Society task force committee was composed of clinicians, methodologists and experts in the field of LTH-NIV. The committee developed recommendations based on the GRADE (Grading, Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) methodology. The GRADE Evidence to Decision framework was used to formulate recommendations. A number of topics were addressed under a narrative format which provides a useful context for clinicians and patients.

Results

The task force committee delivered conditional recommendations for four actionable PICO (target population-intervention-comparator-outcome) questions, 1) suggesting for the use of LTH-NIV in stable hypercapnic COPD; 2) suggesting for the use of LTH-NIV in COPD patients following a COPD exacerbation requiring acute NIV 3) suggesting for the use of NIV settings targeting a reduction in carbon dioxide and 4) suggesting for using fixed pressure support as first choice ventilator mode.

Conclusions

Managing hypercapnia may be an important intervention for improving the health outcome of COPD patients with chronic respiratory failure. The task force conditionally supports the application of LTH-NIV to improve health outcome by targeting a reduction in carbon dioxide in COPD patients with persistent hypercapnic respiratory failure. These recommendations should be applied in clinical practice by practitioners that routinely care for chronic hypercapnic COPD patients.
New therapeutic targets for cancer: the interplay between immune and metabolic checkpoints and gut microbiota
Authors: Agrawal Babita
Published: August 2019

Transformation and growth of tumor cells are associated with profound alterations in neighbouring cells and their environment, together forming the tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME provides a conducive but complex milieu for the tumors to thrive while incapacitating the immune cells that home there as part of our natural immunosurveillance mechanism. The orchestration of this successful survival strategy by tumor cells is associated with exploitation of numerous metabolic and immune checkpoints, as well as metabolic reprogramming in the tumor cells. Together these form an intricate network of feedback mechanisms that favor the growing tumor. In addition, an ecosystem of microbiota, proximal or distal to tumors, influences the successful survival or elimination of tumor cells mediated by immune cells. Discovery and clinical application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) i.e., monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) blocking specific immune checkpoints CTLA‐4 and PD‐1/PD‐L1, have revolutionized therapy of various cancers. However, they are still associated with limited response rates, severe immune‐related adverse events, development of resistance, and more serious exacerbation of cancer progression termed hyper‐progressive disease. Checkpoint inhibitors only represent a milestone and not the finish‐line in the quest for treating and curing cancer. Efforts are underway to investigate and develop inhibitors of other immune as well as metabolic checkpoint molecules. Future therapy for various cancers is projected to target immune and metabolic checkpoints and the microbiota together.
Analysis of direction-decomposed and vector-based elastic reverse time migration using the Hilbert transform
Authors: Hu Ting , Liu Hong , Guo Xuebao , Yuan Yuxin , Wang Zhiyang
Published: August 2019

Straightforward implementations of elastic reverse time migration (ERTM) often produce imaging artifacts associated with incorrectly imaged mode conversions, crosstalk, and back-scattered energies. To address these issues, we introduced three approaches: (1) vector-based normalized crosscorrelation imaging conditions (VBNICs), (2) directional separation of wavefields to remove low-wavenumber noise, and (3) postimaging filtering of the dip-angle gathers to eliminate the artifacts caused by nonphysical wave modes. These approaches are combined to create an effective ERTM workflow that can produce high-quality images. Numerical examples demonstrate that, first, VBNICs can produce correct polarities for PP/PS images and can compute migrated dip-angle gathers efficiently by using P/S decomposed Poynting vectors. Second, they achieve improved signal-to-noise and higher resolution when performing up/down decomposition before applying VBNICs, and left/right decomposition enhances steep dips imaging at the computational cost of adding the Hilbert transform to a spatial direction. Third, dip filtering using slope-consistency analysis attenuates the remaining artifacts effectively. An application of the SEG advanced modeling program (SEAM) model demonstrates that our ERTM workflow reduces noise and improves imaging ability for complex geologic areas.
Modeling the viscoelastic effects in P-waves with modified viscoacoustic wave propagation
Authors: Guo Peng , McMechan George A. , Ren Li
Published: August 2019

Accurate full-waveform seismic modeling is a powerful tool for understanding wave propagation and building subsurface images. However, it can be computationally expensive for viscoelastic media. Viscoacoustic seismic modeling is much cheaper, but at the trade-off of using incomplete physics. We have developed a modified viscoacoustic wave simulation algorithm for modeling the viscoelastic effects of P-waves. The algorithm contains two viscoacoustic forward-modeling steps; the first is the same as the traditional viscoacoustic modeling, whereas the second propagation is generated using a residual error source, which is derived by comparing the viscoacoustic and viscoelastic wave equations in the form of stress-particle velocity formulations. The corrected P-wave particle velocities can be obtained by adding the wavefield from the second simulation step to the original (the first simulation step) viscoacoustic wavefield. Only P-waves are modeled. The overall cost is about twice that of viscoacoustic modeling, but it is significantly less than a viscoelastic propagation because there are fewer calculations, and we can use a coarser grid and larger time steps for the same accuracy. Numerical examples indicate that the P-wave waveforms, after correction, match those from viscoelastic wave modeling better than those from the original viscoacoustic simulation. Our method provides a cost-efficient alternative for approximating the viscoelastic effects in P-wave modeling.
Relationships between the anisotropy parameters for transversely isotropic mudrocks
Authors: Yan Fuyong , Vernik Lev , Han De-Hua
Published: August 2019

Studying the empirical relations between seismic anisotropy parameters is important for the simplification and practical applications of seismic anisotropy. The elastic properties of mudrocks are often described by transverse isotropy. Knowing the elastic properties in the vertical and horizontal directions, a sole oblique anisotropy parameter determines the pattern of variation of the elastic properties of a transversely isotropic (TI) medium in all of the other directions. The oblique seismic anisotropy parameter [Formula: see text], which determines seismic reflection moveout behavior, is important in anisotropic seismic data processing and interpretation. Compared to the other anisotropy parameters, the oblique anisotropy parameter is more sensitive to the measurement error. Although, theoretically, only one oblique velocity is needed to determine the oblique anisotropy parameter, the uncertainty can be greatly reduced if multiple oblique velocities in different directions are measured. If a mudrock is not a perfect TI medium but it is expediently treated as one, then multiple oblique velocity measurements in different directions should lead to a more representative approximation of [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] because the directional bias can be reduced. Based on a data quality analysis of the laboratory seismic anisotropy measurement data from the literature, we found that there are strong correlations between the oblique anisotropy parameter and the principal anisotropy parameters when data points of more uncertainty are excluded. Examples of potential applications of these empirical relations are discussed.
Figures in the Landscape
Authors: Griffin Miranda
Published: August 2019

Across a range of medieval French texts—from the genres of romance, lai, and hagiography—scenes are found involving the discovery and scrutiny of a puzzling, hairy entity that cannot speak for itself, existing outside the confines of human civilization. These figures might turn out to be a beast, a nobleman, a saint, a murderer, or—more unsettlingly—many of these at once. These scenes are susceptible to a reading which calls upon a theoretical model drawn from the works of Bruno Latour and Karen Barad, for whom nature, culture, humanity, animality, the organic, and the inorganic are all different understandings of entanglements of matter and agency, expressed across a range of beings and becomings. From this perspective, these ambiguous creatures are read as figures which represent extremes of humanity and inhumanity, posing questions about that dichotomy and its relation to nature, and revealing the contingency of nature as an artificially constructed category.
On the emergence of structural complexity in RNA replicators
Authors: Oliver Carlos G. , Reinharz Vladimir , Waldispühl Jérôme
Published: August 2019

The RNA world hypothesis relies on the ability of ribonucleic acids to spontaneously acquire complex structures capable of supporting essential biological functions. Multiple sophisticated evolutionary models have been proposed for their emergence, but they often assume specific conditions. In this work, we explore a simple and parsimonious scenario describing the emergence of complex molecular structures at the early stages of life. We show that at specific GC content regimes, an undirected replication model is sufficient to explain the apparition of multibranched RNA secondary structures—a structural signature of many essential ribozymes. We ran a large-scale computational study to map energetically stable structures on complete mutational networks of 50-nt-long RNA sequences. Our results reveal that the sequence landscape with stable structures is enriched with multibranched structures at a length scale coinciding with the appearance of complex structures in RNA databases. A random replication mechanism preserving a 50% GC content may suffice to explain a natural enrichment of stable complex structures in populations of functional RNAs. In contrast, an evolutionary mechanism eliciting the most stable folds at each generation appears to help reaching multibranched structures at highest GC content.
Recent advances in prostatectomy for benign prostatic hyperplasia
Authors: Te Alexis E.
Published: August 2019

This review provides a brief overview of and commentary on currently available technology for the surgical treatment of obstructive benign prostatic hyperplasia causing lower urinary tract symptoms. This review provides references relevant to review and understand current technology that is clinically available.
Recent advances in dysphagia management
Authors: Triggs Joseph , Pandolfino John
Published: August 2019

The literal definition of dysphagia is “disturbed eating”. However, it is more accurately described in clinical practice as a sensation of food or liquid being stuck in the esophagus or chest. If this sensation is associated with pain, it is labeled odynophagia, and if it is associated with persistent obstruction and bolus retention, it is categorized as a food impaction. Through research and technological advances, we continue to expand our understanding of the etiologies and underlying pathophysiology relating to this complaint. However, for now, our clinical algorithms focus on endoscopy and manometry to break down dysphagia into three categories: obstructive dysphagia, esophageal motility disorders, and functional dysphagia. Here, we review some critical pitfalls in our current clinical diagnoses, new proposed underlying mechanisms of esophageal motor disorders, and developing technologies to aid in diagnosis and treatment.
Prevalence of malaria and quantification of cytokine levels during infection in East Nile locality, Khartoum State: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Barkat Hwida , Abd Alla Ahmed Bakheet , Galander Ahmed , Salah Tagwa , Elfaki Tayseer , Nasir Ali
Published: August 2019

Background: The cytokines interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α) play an important role in malaria infection. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria and to evaluate cytokine responses to malaria infection in patients from the East Nile locality of Khartoum State.

Methods: This study was carried out from May to July 2018 in the East Nile Locality, Khartoum State. Blood samples were collected from 384 randomly selected patients for blood film analysis. Of these, 39 were selected for cytokine level analysis (10 control and 29 patient samples), determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Results: The malaria prevalence rate among 384 patients was 18.5%. Plasmodium falciparum was the most prevalent (13%), while the prevalence of Plasmodium vivax was 4.6%. The rate of mixed infection was 0.8%. There was a higher prevalence rate (22.7%) in males than females (15.6%). However, we found no significant correlation between cytokine levels and parasitemia in the study group. Nevertheless, our study demonstrated a significant correlation between cytokine levels and recurrent infections.

Conclusions: Together, our data show that malaria remains a public health problem in East Nile locality with a high prevalence. Additionally, cytokine levels were found to be correlated with recurrent malaria infection.
A process evaluation of the quality improvement collaborative for a community-based family planning learning site in Uganda
Authors: Kim Christine , Kirunda Ramadhan , Mubiru Frederick , Rakhmanova Nilufar , Wynne Leigh
Published: August 2019

Background: High-quality family planning (FP) services have been associated with increased FP service demand and use, resulting in improved health outcomes for women. Community-based family planning (CBFP) is a key strategy in expanding access to FP services through community health workers or Village Health Team (VHTs) members in Uganda. We established the first CBFP learning site in Busia district, Uganda, using a quality improvement collaborative (QIC) model. This process evaluation aims to understand the QIC adaptation process, supportive implementation factors and trends in FP uptake and retention.

Methods:We collected data from two program districts: Busia (learning site) and Oyam (scale-up). We used a descriptive mixed-methods process evaluation design: desk review of program documents, program monitoring data and in-depth interviews and focus group discussions.

Results:The quality improvement (QI) process strengthened linkages between health services provided in communities and health centers. Routine interaction of VHTs, clients and midwives generated improvement ideas. Participants reported increased learning through midwife mentorship of VHTs, supportive supervision, monthly meetings, data interpretation and learning sessions. Three areas for potential sustainability and institutionalization of the QI efforts were identified: the integration of QI into other services, district-level plans and support for the QIC and motivation of QI teams. Challenges in the replication of this model include the community-level capacity for data recording and interpretation, the need to simplify QI terminology and tools for VHTs and travel reimbursements for meetings. We found positive trends in the number of women on an FP method, the number of returning clients and the number of couples counseled.

Conclusions:A QIC can be a positive approach to improve VHT service delivery. Working with VHTs on QI presents specific challenges compared to working at the facility level. To strengthen the implementation of this CBFP QIC and other community-based QICs, we provide program-relevant recommendations.
The Finnic Tetrameter – A Creolization of Poetic Form?
Authors: Frog -
Published: August 2019

This article presents a new theory on the origins of the common Finnic tetrameter as a poetic form (also called the Kalevala-meter, regilaul meter, etc.). It argues that this verse form emerged as a creolization of the North Germanic alliterative verse form during a period of intensive language contacts, and that the Finnic ethnopoetic ecology made it isosyllabic. Previous theories have focused on the trochaic, tetrametric structure and viewed other features of poetic form as secondary or incidental. This is the first theory to offer a metrically driven explanation for the distinctive features of the poetic form: the systematic placement of lexically stressed short syllables in metrically unstressed positions and systematic yet unmetricalized use of verse-internal alliteration. The emergence of the poetic form may be viewed simply in terms of hybridization, but its formation as a central mode for epic and ritual poetry demands consideration of social factors. Creolization is considered a social process of hybridization at the level of sign systems that is characterized by a salient asymmetrical relation of power, authority or other value in the cultural sign systems being reconfigured from the perspective of the society or groups involved. An argument is presented that North Germanic contacts also produced systematic verse-internal alliteration in Finnic languages. Discussion then turns to the distinction between the origin and spread of the poetic form. The poetic form’s uniformity across Finnic language areas in spite of its ‘foreign’ metrical features along with the range of genres with which it was used are considered indicators of the poetic form’s spread with language, forming an argument that the tetrameter emerged within an environment that also produced Late Proto-Finnic, and then spread with Late Proto-Finnic language and culture through areas where other Finnic language forms were spoken.
Peter Grzybek (22.11.1957 – 29.05.2019)
Authors: Lotman Mihhail , Pilshchikov Igor , Lotman Maria-Kristiina
Published: August 2019

Peter Grzybek (22.11.1957 – 29.05.2019)
On the Question of the Estimation of Metasubject Result of the Educational Activity of Students of the Pedagogical Higher Education Institution Under the Competence of the Training Model
Authors: Чиркова Наталья , Chirkova Natal'ya , Павлова О. , Pavlova O.
Published: August 2019

The transition of the higher education system to new educational standards imposes relevant requirements on the design, content and implementation of the procedure for evaluating students’ educational results. The article analyzes the metasubject approach to assessing the formation of competencies among students of a pedagogical university during the current and fi nal control. The authors describe the forms of control, criteria and indicators for evaluating the results of educational activities. The problem of point-rating approach in the assessment system in terms of the competence-based learning model is discussed.
Identification and Implementation of the Intellectual Potential of Students Through Intellectual Activities: Open and Accessible Developing Environment
Authors: Абатурова Валентина , Abaturova Valentina
Published: August 2019

The article provides examples of open and accessible intellectual events for students, including international, which contribute to the identifi cation and development of intellectual abilities in the study of certain general educational subjects, as well as form an interest in research activities, the desire for knowledge of scientifi c and subject areas
The Methodology for Calculating the Importance Factors of Disciplines and Their Modules Involved in the Formation of Competencies by the Example of the Direction of Training «Information Systems and Technologies»
Authors: Тигина М. , Tigina M.
Published: August 2019

The article proposes and describes the method of calculating the importance of disciplines, their modules and other types of educational activities involved in the formation of competencies. The calculation is made for the “Information Systems and Technologies” training direction, in order to show how important is the calculation of these characteristics when forming the fi nal assessment of the graduate’s professional orientation. Such an assessment is advisable to carry out for any profi le of training. The described method of calculation can be used for any training profi les and adjusted to suit their characteristics.
Triadic Closure, Homophily, and Reciprocation: An Empirical Investigation of Social Ties Between Content Providers
Authors: Song Tingting , Tang Qian , Huang Jinghua
Published: August 2019

In social media, ties between content providers as an organic recommendation mechanism enable users to explore content. A provider can initiate outgoing ties to other providers to cross-promote their content. On receiving the incoming ties, these responding providers then decide whether to reciprocate. Confirming that reciprocation is beneficial for the initiator to attract more subscribers, we find that the reciprocation benefit is negatively moderated by content similarity between the two providers and their common ties with other providers, although both content similarity and common ties increase reciprocation probability. Specifically, a 10% increase in content similarity decreases the reciprocation benefit by 27.2%, and one additional common tie reduces the reciprocation benefit by 12.6% on average. Therefore, providers can take different networking strategies for different objectives. New providers aiming for more reciprocations can initiate ties to providers with similar content or more common ties, whereas well-established providers can reach out to providers with fewer common ties to gain subscribers or to providers with similar content to grow views. To maximize the expected benefit of integrating both reciprocation probability and benefit, a provider should link to more content-similar providers among those with few common ties and more content-different providers among those with many common ties.
Using Technology to Persuade: Visual Representation Technologies and Consensus Seeking in Virtual Teams
Authors: Peng Chih-Hung , Lurie Nicholas H. , Slaughter Sandra A.
Published: August 2019

How do virtual teams reach consensus when there is disagreement among team members and the consequences of making the wrong decision are high? To answer this question, the authors examine the daily chat room discussions and decisions of a virtual team responsible for air quality forecasting for the 5-million-person Atlanta region in the United States. They show that team members increase their use of visual representation technologies (VRTs), such as weather maps, during chat room discussions when the initial team consensus is low and the team is deciding whether to issue a smog alert that has large economic and health consequences. More use of VRTs in team discussions is associated with bigger shifts in the initial to final consensus forecasts of the team and greater likelihood that the team changes its forecast to issue a smog alert. Greater use of VRTs is not associated with greater forecast accuracy. Increased VRT use is also associated with greater imagery processing and increased group cohesion. For managers these results show that, in virtual team settings, some information technologies are associated with more persuasion than others and that training teams on the advantages and disadvantages of persuasive technologies is important.
Comment on “Aging Population, Retirement, and Risk Taking”
Authors: Huang Rachel J. , Tzeng Larry Y. , Wang Jr-Yan , Zhao Lin
Published: August 2019

Levy [Levy H (2016) Aging population, retirement, and risk taking. Management Sci. 62(5):1415–1430.] proposes asymptotic first-degree stochastic dominance (AFSD) as a distribution-ranking criterion for all nonsatiable decision makers with infinite investment horizons. By assuming that the terminal wealth follows a log-normal distribution and that the marginal utility is bounded, he offers the necessary and sufficient distributional condition for AFSD. Given Levy’s setting, we provide a counterexample to show that his condition is not necessary and offer the correct equivalent distributional condition for AFSD.

This paper was accepted by Karl Diether, finance.
Star Turnover and the Value of Human Capital—Evidence from Broadway Shows
Authors: Han Shu , Ravid S. Abraham
Published: August 2019

Theater shows routinely turn over actors in lead roles. Otherwise, the show stays the same, including the director, the script, other actors and, the physical theater environment. Even the lines performed do not change the set. Therefore, the theater provides a unique laboratory for assessing the value of human capital to an enterprise, a question that has been studied in other contexts, including the CEO value literature. We compare revenues, capacity, and ticket prices just before and just after transitions of top cast members. We also characterize the performers in various ways and control for the attributes of the show and for team characteristics. We find that decorated theater stars significantly affect the financial success of theater shows, supporting the MacDonald version of the superstar hypothesis. Movie stars and celebrities do not seem to affect ticket prices or show revenues. Teams and seasonal effects seem to matter as well.

This paper was accepted by Renee Adams, finance.
EDITORIAL
Authors: Mitidieri Luiza
Published: August 2019

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Rethinking the Re-Prep: Attitudes Toward Noninvasive Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests After Inadequate Bowel Preparation
Authors: Platt Kevin D. , Kurlander Jacob E. , Zikmund-Fisher Brian J. , Lipson Rachel , Knaus Megan , Waljee Akbar K. , Saini Sameer D.
Published: August 2019

OBJECTIVES:

To assess patient preferences for colorectal cancer screening with stool-based tests after initial colonoscopy with suboptimal bowel preparation.

METHODS:

An online scenario-based survey of adults aged 45 to 75 years at average risk for colorectal cancer was performed.

RESULTS:

When presented with a hypothetical scenario of screening colonoscopy with suboptimal bowel preparation, 59% of respondents chose stool-based testing as a next step, 29% preferred a repeat colonoscopy within a year, and 12% preferred a repeat colonoscopy in 10 years (N = 1,080).

CONCLUSIONS:

Clinicians should consider offering stool-based screening tests as an alternative to repeat colonoscopy after suboptimal bowel preparation.
Platform Humanism and Internal Opacity
Authors: Alves Artur de Matos
Published: August 2019

This article explores the discourse on transparency put forward by online service providers (OSP). It provides critical analysis of texts accompanying transparency-related materials detailing disclosure and usage of user data - specifically transparency reports (TR). The aim is to explore some of the ideological dimensions of “transparency” discourses. Transparency reports divulge information on governmental and judicial requests for user data or service interdiction. Discourses surrounding TR focus on legal issues and mandatory disclosure of information, while excluding information about internal data usage and monetization of user data. This paper argues that OSPs potentially share some of the users’ concerns and policy priorities concerning government requests for information, judicial overreach, and generalized surveillance. However, this ostensive alignment downplays legitimate public concerns about the OSPs’ business models (commercial surveillance and monetization of user data and content), as well as other divergences between the OSPs’ public discourse and business practices. This study analyses the transparency hubs and related discourse of three online service providers: Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. By deploying a multimodal critical discourse analysis approach, it focuses on terminology choices, language, and other rhetorical strategies deployed to mobilize ideologically charged concepts of responsibility, transparency, ethics, and the common good. Considering the recent revelations about Cambridge Analytica and the lack of transparency of OSP data sharing, manipulation and usage, the debate on transparency, online politics, and data security is both topical and in need of urgent clarification. This paper contributes to that discussion by exploring the ways in which platform politics and ideology contribute to shape dominant notions of transparency, social responsibility, and ethics in the online sphere.
Telomere length determinants in childhood
Authors: Gorenjak Vesna , Petrelis Alexandros M. , Stathopoulou Maria G. , Visvikis-Siest Sophie
Published: August 2019

Telomere length (TL) is a dynamic marker that reflects genetic predispositions together with the environmental conditions of an individual. It is closely related to longevity and a number of pathological conditions. Even though the extent of telomere research in children is limited compared to that of adults, there have been a substantial number of studies providing first insights into child telomere biology and determinants. Recent discoveries revealed evidence that TL is, to a great extent, determined already in childhood and that environmental conditions in adulthood have less impact than first believed. Studies have demonstrated that large inter-individual differences in TL are present among newborns and are determined by diverse factors that influence intrauterine development. The first years of child growth are associated with high cellular turnover, which results in fast shortening of telomeres. The rate of telomere loss becomes stable in early adulthood. In this review article we summarise the existing knowledge on telomere dynamics during the first years of childhood, highlighting the conditions that affect newborn TL. We also warn about the knowledge gaps that should be filled to fully understand the regulation of telomeres, in order to implement them as biomarkers for use in diagnostics or treatment.