bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mitral Valve Prolapse and Sudden Cardiac Death: A Systematic Review
Authors: Han Hui‐Chen , Ha Francis J. , Teh Andrew W. , Calafiore Paul , Jones Elizabeth F. , Johns Jennifer , Koshy Anoop N. , O'Donnell David , Hare David L. , Farouque Omar , Lim Han S.
Published: November 2018

Background

The relationship between mitral valve prolapse (
MVP
) and sudden cardiac death (
SCD
) remains controversial. In this systematic review, we evaluate the relationship between isolated
MVP
and
SCD
to better define a potential high‐risk subtype. In addition, we determine whether premortem parameters could predict
SCD
in patients with
MVP
and the incidence of
SCD
in
MVP
.

Methods and Results

Electronic searches were conducted in PubMed and Embase for all English literature articles published between 1960 and 2018 regarding
MVP
and
SCD
or cardiac arrest. We also identified articles investigating predictors of ventricular arrhythmias or
SCD
and cohort studies reporting
SCD
outcomes in
MVP
. From 2180 citations, there were 79 articles describing 161 cases of
MVP
with
SCD
or cardiac arrest. The median age was 30 years and 69% of cases were female. Cardiac arrest occurred during situations of stress in 47% and was caused by ventricular fibrillation in 81%. Premature ventricular complexes on Holter monitoring (92%) were common. Most cases had bileaflet involvement (70%) with redundancy (99%) and nonsevere mitral regurgitation (83%). From 22 articles describing predictors for ventricular arrhythmias or
SCD
in
MVP
, leaflet redundancy was the only independent predictor of
SCD
. The incidence of
SCD
with
MVP
was estimated at 217 events per 100 000 person‐years.

Conclusions

Isolated
MVP
and
SCD
predominantly affects young females with redundant bileaflet prolapse, with cardiac arrest usually occurring as a result of ventricular arrhythmias. To better understand the complex relationship between
MVP
and
SCD
, standardized reporting of clinical, electrophysiological, and cardiac imaging parameters with longitudinal follow‐up is required.
Molecular biodiversity assessment of plant-parasitic nematodes in Dokdo Island, Korea
Authors: Kim Dongwoo , Hwang Hwal-Su , Shim Jae-Kyoung , Yang JiYoung , Pak Jae Hong , Lee Kyeong-Yeoll
Published: November 2018

Dokdo Island has a unique biodiversity that has been preserved as a natural monument. Although the biodiversity of Dokdo has been investigated, little information is available regarding the nematodes. The diversity of plant-parasitic nematodes was investigated using both ITS and D2-D3 sequences. Nematodes extracted from 59 rhizosphere soil samples were morphologically identified as belonging to eight genera: Geocenamus, Helicotylenchus, Rotylenchulus, Heterodera, Paratylenchus, Pratylenchus, Pratylenchoides and Xiphinema. Further, nucleotide sequences were determined from 85 individuals of different genera for species diagnosis. We identified 13 species, including three species of the genus Pratylenchus (P. crenatus, P. kumamotoensis and P. neglectus), Helicotylenchus sp. 1, Rotylenchulus sp. 1, Paratylenchus nanus, Heterodera trifolii, Heterodera spp., Pratylenchoides ritteri, Geocenamus sp. 1, Geocenamus sp. 2, Xiphinema brevicollum and Xiphinema sp. 1. The dominant plant-parasitic nematode on Dokdo was P. crenatus, which was found in 25.4% of the samples. Our study provides important information about the biodiversity of plant-parasitic nematodes on Dokdo Island.
Natural variation in chemoattraction in the gastropod parasitic nematodes Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, P. neopapillosa and P. californica exposed to slug mucus
Authors: Andrus Peter , Rae Robbie
Published: November 2018

Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita is a lethal parasite of several slug species and has been formulated into a biological control agent for farmers and gardeners. Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita responds to slug faeces, mucus and volatile cues to find hosts in soil. However, these results have only focused on one strain of P. hermaphrodita (DMG0001). We exposed four strains of P. hermaphrodita (and DMG0001), three strains of P. neopapillosa and two strains of P. californica to mucus from seven common slug species. Furthermore, we investigated whether there was a relationship between chemoattraction and the numbers of offspring that were produced on each host species. Natural isolates of P. hermaphrodita differed in their preference of slug species whereas P. neopapillosa tended to prefer Arion sp. and strains of P. californica displayed striking differences in their responses. The reasons for positive chemoattraction to mucus were not due to higher numbers of offspring produced on these hosts.
Preventing the Misuse of interpol: A Study on the Legal Safeguards of the Organization
Authors: Calcara Giulio
Published: November 2018

This article examines the role of interpol in the cases M.G. v. Bulgaria (2014) and Khadzhiev v. Bulgaria (2014), decided by the European Court of Human Rights. In both cases the applicants have suffered a violation of human rights due to an improper use of the interpol’s information system. The cases show that interpol’s internal regulations do not include enough legal safeguards to prevent member countries from misusing the tools provided by the Organization. At present interpol’s internal regulations rely mainly on internal supervision and ex-post review processes. This article addresses the inherent weaknesses of those processes, and advocates for a diversification of the current safeguards by expanding the structure of the notices and the diffusions system. Furthermore, it discusses the possibility of a more consistent use of the remedies and sanctions already present in interpol’s internal regulations.
Conceiving International Law’s Normative Order beyond the ‘Residual Negative Principle’
Authors: Melling Graham
Published: November 2018

Due to the nature of the international legal system, the International Court of Justice (icj) is regularly presented with new questions about which international law is unclear or to which it does not yet extend – and is thereby incomplete. The approach of the icj when faced with such gaps raises some fundamental questions about the nature of the international legal system and the judicial function of the icj. The purpose of this article is to revisit and the critically evaluate the issue of how the icj responds when faced with a gap or lacuna in the law.
The Shifting Boundaries of Legitimacy in International Law
Authors: Galán Alexis
Published: November 2018

Legitimacy has become a central concern in international law. This article analyses an important aspect of the concept, namely the often-presumed link between legitimacy and the stability of institutions and norms. The explanatory role of legitimacy hinges on the descriptive elements attributed to legitimacy because, only by fixing those elements, a causal link can be established. The article contends that due to its conceptual features legitimacy cannot be circumscribed descriptively, making the tracing of its relationship to the stability of institutions and norms in the international legal order an intractable task. The article suggests that international lawyers should embrace the open-ended nature of legitimacy and focus on its dynamic dimension: legitimation. Legitimacy is treated as a rhetorical tool whereby actors try to pursue certain courses of action. The importance of legitimacy then lies in its employment for the shaping of perceptions with regard to how institutions ought to be.
Population Biology and Adult Behavior of the Circumpolar Butterfly, Parnassius phoebus F. (Papilionidae)
Authors: SCOTT JAMES A.
Published: November 2018

Abstract

Males patrol all day in search of females about the meadows where the larval host (Sedum lanceolatum) is abundant. Females fly seldom. Virgin females are located usually by patrolling males flying near and either detecting a female pheromone, or by observing the female and dropping onto her, or occasionally while both sexes are in flight. Mating occurs by the male crawling over the quiescent female until the correct position is achieved. This capture mating behavior probably evolved because the venter-toventer position is necessary to deposit the sphragis, a bulky external structure which prevents the female from mating again and which may plug the female pheromone glands. Males move rather randomly within the colony, and occasionally disperse many kilometers. Females disperse farther than males. Males live an average of 6 days. Females oviposit randomly; the colony may be maintained by attraction to yellow flowers by adults. When eggs hatch in spring, first instar larvae must wander to locate S. lanceolatum. The resulting larval mortality may cause Parnassius to occur in colonies in areas with high S. lanceolatum density.
The Dark Night of the Soul: Art Film, Bereavement and Unsatisfied Audience Responses
Authors: Axelson Tomas
Published: November 2018

Moving images are more and more in the centre of culture, providing individuals with stories by which reality is maintained and by which humans construct ordered micro-universes for themselves. There is a growing field of research evolving around the idea that culture and art could act as a catalyst for experiences of deeper meaning. In this article, a case study is described and analysed. A contemplative short art film was presented to a group of women as a possible asset for processing fundamental existential life issues. The women did not respond in line with expectations and their impressions of the short film were essentially negative, with expressions of impatience, irritation and even hostility towards the film’s appeal. Two problematic aspects of the film Night are outlined: (1) the meaning of the imagery used was too open and (2) as a piece of art, the film was not in tune with participants’ grieving processes.
Everything is Noise: Don Delillo’s White Noise and the Affectivity of Media, Religion, and Divination
Authors: Chalfant Eric
Published: November 2018

This paper provides a theoretical defense of the concept of noise, borrowed and loosened from the field of information theory, as a heuristic tool for discussing mediation as divination and exploring the intersection of media studies and religious studies. I first provide a theoretical primer for the concept of noise as it is articulated by Claude Shannon and Warren Weaver and developed in media studies by Friedrich Kittler and in religious studies by Mark Taylor. Then, a close reading of Don Delillo’s White Noise draws out the potential of noise to highlight media’s ability to provide spiritual meaning and truth through an affect of divination. Finally, I connect these themes to current conceptions of media’s relationship to truth as well as recent anthropology on religious divination, suggesting the utility of noise to aid in scholarly efforts to materialize both media studies and religious studies as they engage with affect theory.
Diopsis mayae sp. n. (Diptera, Diopsidae), a dominant stalk-eyed fly, occurring from South Africa to Saudi Arabia
Authors: Feijen Hans R. , Feijen Cobi
Published: November 2018

Diopsis mayae sp. n. is the sister species of the well-known West-African D. apicalis. It occurs from Egypt and Saudi Arabia down through eastern Africa to Namibia and South Africa. Both species belong to the D. apicalis species group, a relatively young branch of the Diopsidae, and separated at least 280,000 years ago. Although around 40 species still need to be described in the D. apicalis species group, D. mayae sp. n. and D. apicalis are by far the most dominant species in the group, while both species belong to the very small group of Afrotropical Diopsidae with a wide distribution. Data are presented on sexual dimorphism with respect to eye span for the new species and compared with those for D. apicalis. Both species are secondary stem-borers in rice and other Poaceae. Ecological information is presented for D. mayae sp. n. and compared with the information available for D. apicalis.
A Mechanism for Detecting Coincidence of Auditory and Visual Spatial Signals
Authors: Orchard-Mills Emily , Leung Johahn , Burr David , Morrone Maria Concetta , Wufong Ella , Carlile Simon , Alais David
Published: November 2018

Information about the world is captured by our separate senses, and must be integrated to yield a unified representation. This raises the issue of which signals should be integrated and which should remain separate, as inappropriate integration will lead to misrepresentation and distortions. One strong cue suggesting that separate signals arise from a single source is coincidence, in space and in time. We measured increment thresholds for discriminating spatial intervals defined by pairs of simultaneously presented targets, one flash and one auditory sound, for various separations. We report a ‘dipper function’, in which thresholds follow a ‘U-shaped’ curve, with thresholds initially decreasing with spatial interval, and then increasing for larger separations. The presence of a dip in the audiovisual increment-discrimination function is evidence that the auditory and visual signals both input to a common mechanism encoding spatial separation, and a simple filter model with a sigmoidal transduction function simulated the results well. The function of an audiovisual spatial filter may be to detect coincidence, a fundamental cue guiding whether to integrate or segregate.
Comparative Discrimination Law: Age as a Protected Ground
Authors: Vickers Lucy
Published: November 2018

This comparative review of age as a protected ground in discrimination law explores the underpinning questions and themes related to two main dimensions of age discrimination. The first dimension is structural, economic and labour market driven, whereby age is used to allocate a range of rights, obligations and benefits within society. The second is the social justice and equality dimension, in which age is understood as an aspect of individual identity that is worthy of protection against indignity or detriment. The review then considers the law on age discrimination in a number of jurisdictions, the EU law, the UK, Sweden, USA, Canada and South Africa, and assesses the extent to which the underpinning questions explain the developing case law.
The State of Studying the Taiwanese Economy: Retrospect and Prospect
Authors: Chow Peter C.Y.
Published: November 2018

The study of Taiwan’s economy began to flourish in the 1960s right up until in the late 1980s. Most early publications discussed the larger issues or macro aspects of economic development during this time. After the 1990s, most publications on Taiwan’s economy covered other applied fields in micro aspects of the economy. The shift of research focus is probably due to: decelerated economic growth; the rising of new research topics due to socioeconomic and political developments such as environmental, labour and health economics; the availability of statistical data; and the advancement of applied econometrics for empirical studies. This article contends that future study of the Taiwanese economy will be more fruitful if the country is compared with other countries at a similar stage of development—in other words, if it is looked at from a comparative perspective.
Water Culture in Roman Society
Authors: Rogers Dylan Kelby
Published: November 2018

Water played an important part of ancient Roman life, from providing necessary drinking water, supplying bath complexes, to flowing in large-scale public fountains. The Roman culture of water was seen throughout the Roman Empire, although it was certainly not monolithic and it could come in a variety of scales and forms, based on climatic and social conditions of different areas. This discussion seeks to define ‘water culture’ in Roman society by examining literary, epigraphic, and archaeological evidence, while understanding modern trends in scholarship related to the study of Roman water. The culture of water can be demonstrated through expressions of power, aesthetics, and spectacle. Further there was a shared experience of water in the empire that could be expressed through religion, landscape, and water’s role in cultures of consumption and pleasure.
Spartan Oliganthropia
Authors: Doran Timothy
Published: November 2018

The population of the Spartiates declined from some 8,000 to fewer than 1,000 in the Classical and Hellenistic eras. The causes and consequences of this decline are important for an understanding not only of ancient Greek history, but also of the study of pre-industrial populations and population dynamics more generally. This work surveys a range of representative modern scholarship on this phenomenon and discusses topics such as family planning, elite under-reproduction, wealth polarization, and notions of eugenic exclusivity, and suggests avenues for further research.
The Party’s Turn to Public Repression: An Analysis of the ‘709’ Crackdown on Human Rights Lawyers in China
Authors: Pils Eva
Published: November 2018

The intensified and more public repression of civil society in China is part of a global shift toward deepened and technologically smarter dictatorship. This article uses the example of the ‘709’ government campaign against Chinese human rights lawyers to discuss this shift. It argues that the Party-State adopted more public and sophisticated forms of repression in reaction to smarter forms and techniques of human rights advocacy. In contrast to liberal legal advocacy, however, the Party-State’s authoritarian (or neo-totalitarian) propaganda is not bounded by rational argument. It can more fully exploit the potential of the political emotions it creates. Along with other forms of public repression, the crackdown indicates a rise of anti-liberal and anti-rationalist conceptions of law and governance and a return to the romanticisation of power.
Global-Local Dynamics and the Rise of Chinese Corporate Lawyers
Authors: Wang Zhizhou (Leo)
Published: November 2018

Although the rise of China as an economic powerhouse has attracted considerable academic attention, until recently, the role of Chinese corporate lawyers in this age of economic prosperity and the growth of the Chinese corporate bar have been under-explored in the field. Over the last few years, a small but growing academic literature on Chinese corporate lawyers has started to appear and has shed valuable light on our understanding of the Chinese corporate bar in the era of globalization. Inspired by both U.S. theoretical paradigms and local practice patterns, this literature mainly focuses on the global-local dynamics of the Chinese legal profession and the Chinese corporate legal services market, investigating the relationship between the global diffusion of corporate lawyering and the local logics of the corporate law market. This article reviews this increasingly significant line of research and develops new inquiries about Chinese corporate lawyers.
On the subfamily Cypricercinae McKenzie, 1971 (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from Thailand, with the description of six new species
Authors: SAVATENALINTON SUKONTHIP , MARTENS KOEN
Published: November 2018

Species of the subfamily Cypricercinae collected from Thailand, mainly from the Northern Provinces, are here reported and/or (re-) described. Nineteen species, belonging to seven genera were found.  Six new species, Strandesia hornei sp. nov., Strandesia sanoamuangae sp. nov., Pseudostrandesia gaetani sp. nov., Pseudostrandesia ovata sp. nov., Pseudostrandesia phetchabunensis sp. nov. and Pseudostrandesia thailandensis sp. nov., are described. A species list of the Cypricercinae in Southeast Asia is given and the general distribution and ecology of the Cypricercinae from Thailand is briefly discussed.
Thitarodes namnai sp. nov. and T. caligophilus sp. nov. (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae), hosts of the economically important entomopathogenic fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis in Bhutan
Authors: MACZEY NORBERT , DHENDUP KUENZANG , Cannon Paul , HYWEL-JONES NIGEL , RAI TEK BAHADUR
Published: November 2018

Two new species of Thitarodes Viette (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) are described from specimens collected in alpine grassland habitats of north-west Bhutan. The new species are compared with their closest relatives from Nepal and neighbouring parts of China and Japan. Male and female adults and genitalia are illustrated.
Two new Platystictidae (Odonata: Zygoptera) from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo
Authors: DOW RORY A.
Published: November 2018

Two new members of the Platystictidae are described from Sarawak: Drepanosticta sbong, holotype male: Malaysia, Sarawak, Kapit division, Sungai Sbong, 11–II–2008; and Protosticta tubau, holotype male: Malaysia, Sarawak, Bintulu division, Planted Forest Zone, Tubau area, block E2K, 16–VIII–2009; both to be deposited in the RMNH Leiden, The Netherlands.
A new species of Eulimnadia (Crustacea; Branchiopoda; Diplostraca; Spinicaudata) from North America
Authors: ROGERS D. CHRISTOPHER , WEEKS STEPHEN C. , HOE WALTER R.
Published: November 2018

Eulimnadia graniticola n. sp. from Stone Mountain, Georgia, and the Florida Keys, USA, is defined primarily on molecular characters and egg morphology. Ecological, reproductive and life history data are provided. This species is the second species of branchiopod crustacean reported from Stone Mountain more closely related to the South American fauna than to its North American congeners.
The ant genus Myopias Roger, 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae) in Thailand, with descriptions of three new species
Authors: JAITRONG WEEYAWAT , TASEN WATTANACHAI , GUÉNARD BENOIT
Published: November 2018

The genus Myopias Roger, 1861 is distributed in the Australian, Oceanian, Oriental and southern Sino-Japanese realms. Currently 40 valid species and three subspecies have been described, but none have ever been recorded for Thailand. Here we review the species of Thailand, recognizing seven in total. Four are new records of previously described species: Myopias bidens (Emery, 1900), M. crawleyi (Donisthorpe, 1941), M. maligna punctigera (Emery, 1900), and M. mandibularis (Crawley, 1924). Three new species are described: Myopias minima sp. nov. from southern Thailand, M. sakaeratensis sp. nov. from eastern Thailand and M. sonthichaiae sp. nov. from northern and western Thailand. The queen caste of M. mandibularis is described here for the first time and additional descriptions of other species are provided. All these species were found to nest in rotten wood on the forest floor.
A Case Series of Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis Primarily Diagnosed by Otological Manifestations
Authors: Sahyouni Ronald , Moshtaghi Omid , Abouzari Mehdi , Le Phuonganh , Birkenbeuel Jack , Cheung Dillon , Lin Harrison W. , Djalilian Hamid R.
Published: November 2018

Objective:

To describe a case series of previously undiagnosed granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) patients who presented primarily with otological manifestations.

Method:

We report a series of patients visited at a neurotology clinic who were eventually diagnosed with GPA based on their otologic complaints and had no prior knowledge of having this condition.

Results:

In this series, 10 (91%) patients presented with hearing loss (HL), more than half of which were bilateral (60%). Upon audiometric examination, all but 1 patient had mixed, conductive, or sensorineural HL. All patients presented with eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD), otitis media with effusion (OME), or both. Nasal endoscopy showed intranasal pathology in 3 (27%) patients. Otologic symptoms were improved in all patients after treatment with an average of 4 in-office follow-up appointments.

Conclusion:

GPA should be included in the differential diagnosis of adults with unexplained mixed hearing loss, new onset serous effusion, or acute otitis media in the absence of a previous history of ETD. Laboratory tests (ie, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein) along with a urinalysis can aid in screening these patients. In cases in which the index of suspicion is high, repeated testing could reduce the risk of false negative findings.
Egocentric Improvement Evaluations: Change in the Self as an Anchor for Brand Improvement Judgments
Authors: Dagogo-Jack Sokiente W. , Forehand Mark R.
Published: November 2018

Prior research has identified product improvement perceptions as critical to consumers’ product upgrade decisions (e.g., upgrading to a new iPhone), but little work has examined factors influencing these improvement perceptions. This research shows that drawing consumers’ attention to their global self-improvement can increase product improvement judgments and upgrade intentions when self–brand connection is high, a phenomenon the authors refer to as egocentric improvement evaluation. In line with egocentric categorization theory, which identifies the self as a dominant reference category in product judgment, the authors demonstrate cognitive drivers of the effect. Specifically, egocentric improvement evaluations are moderated by self-focus, which determines whether the self is an accessible reference category. Furthermore, the authors propose that egocentric improvement evaluations also have a motivational driver: consumers project their self-improvement onto self-connected brands to satisfy self-enhancement motives. The core effect is moderated by self-affirmation, which quells the need for self-enhancement, and by self-threat, which heightens the need for self-enhancement. The authors investigate this effect in five studies and discuss the theoretical and practical implications.
1918—1968—2018: A Tissue of Laws and Choices and Chance
Authors: Schloesser Stephen R.
Published: November 2018

2018 marks the fiftieth anniversary of 1968 and Humanae Vitae as well as the centenary of the 1918 Armistice ending the Great War. The negative reception of Humanae Vitae is frequently viewed within the narrow causal lens of “the sixties” and in particular the tumultuous year 1968. However, the factors shaping the laity’s reception were 50 years in the making, including internalized authority and agency via the postwar currents of both “mysticism” and Catholic Action. Additionally, birth control was a discourse spanning 1918 to 1968.
Moral Discernment in History
Authors: F. Keenan James
Published: November 2018

The concept of moral discernment is often used to describe the inspired decision-making of a conscientious Christian, but Pope Francis uses it relationally in terms of accompaniment and often enough, more broadly than an individual’s choice. Rather, he suggests that bishops and their local churches ought to morally discern how they should settle issues addressing contemporary pastoral challenges. This article argues that in its history, moral discernment was a social practice used in a variety of relational ways to determine a pathway for living out the summons of the gospel.
Cardiovascular manifestations and patient outcomes following snake envenomation: a pilot study
Authors: John Binu Aditya , Kumar Mishra Ajay , Gunasekaran Karthik , Iyadurai Ramya
Published: November 2018

Cardiotoxicity in snake envenomation has not been adequately explored in the literature. This retrospective, observational study analysed clinical profiles and cardiovascular effects (CVE), with associated outcomes, in snake envenomation. Thirty-four patients were recruited between April 2014 and October 2017. Cardiovascular involvement was seen in 24 (70.6%) patients. Electrocardiographic changes included prolonged QTc (62.5%), T-wave inversion (37.5%) and tall T-waves (12.5%). Hospital stay was 7.2 (SD = 5.3) days and 4.4 (SD = 2.4) days in CVE and non-CVE groups respectively ( P value = 0.04). Mechanical ventilation was required only in nine of the CVE group (37.5%; P value = 0.03). Shock was observed in seven patients (20.6%). Two of the patients in the CVE group (5.9%) died ( P value = 1.0); the majority had good outcomes with early administration of anti-venom serum and appropriate supportive measures. Thus, inpatient stay and mechanical ventilation were significantly increased in snake envenomation with CVEs, especially where an underlying co-morbidity existed.
Micro-Sociology and New Wars: Visual Analysis of Terror Attacks During the “Intifada of the Individuals”
Authors: Ben-Shalom Uzi , Moshe Rinat , Mash Rony , Dvir Amit
Published: November 2018

This study explores the “black box” of face-to-face violence during terror attacks. It is based upon visual analysis of a representative sample of terror attacks that occurred in Israel during 2015–2016, a period which is labeled “The Intifada of Individuals.” We offer a new method for this purpose by using available materials that military sociologists can retrieve and employ when they use the “macro”-level framework in their study of “micro”-level actions. The abundance of audiovisual devices allows a new perspective of belligerent friction typical of “New Wars.” Our methodology includes a combination of video and audio materials from open sources. Our analysis untangles the complexities of belligerency by minimizing the overall occurrences to the actions of the antagonist, the disrupter, and the crowd. We discuss our understandings for policy making concerning armament of civilians and overcoming the manipulation of terror attacks by media, government, and terrorists.
Bronchoalveolar pH and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Lozo Vukovac Emilija , Miše Kornelija , Gudelj Ivan , Perić Irena , Duplančić Darko , Vuković Ivica , Vučinović Zoran , Lozo Mislav
Published: November 2018

Objectives

This study aimed to directly measure pH in the lungs, determine lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), and glucose levels in serum and bronchoalveolar aspirate, and identify bacterial pathogens from bronchoalveolar fluid during acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).

Methods

We performed an observational, analytical case–control study from February 2015 to March 2017. We included 84 patients with AECOPD and 42 with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). All participants underwent detailed medical anamnesis, a clinical examination, chest radiography, spirometry, an arterial blood gas test, bronchoscopy, bacterial culture, and serum/bronchiolar aspirate laboratory testing.

Results

The mean pH of bronchoalveolar fluid was significantly higher in patients with AECOPD than in patients with stable COPD. The mean lung pH value, bronchoalveolar and serum LDH levels, and serum CRP levels in patients with isolated bacteria were higher than those in patients without isolated bacteria in the AECOPD patient group. Lung pH values in patients with AECOPD were significantly correlated with bronchoalveolar LDH and glucose levels.

Conclusions

AECOPD is associated with local cell and tissue injury in the lungs, especially in the presence of bacterial pathogens, which is accompanied by a low systemic inflammatory response.
Association of single nucleotide polymorphism c.673C>A/p.Gln225Lys in SEPT12 gene with spermatogenesis failure in male idiopathic infertility in Northeast China
Authors: Geng Dongfeng , Yang Xiao , Zhang Hongguo , Liu Xiaojun , Yu Yang , Jiang Yuting , Liu Ruizhi , Zhang Guirong
Published: November 2018

Male infertility is a complex multifactorial disease affecting approximately 10% of couples who want to have children. Some cases of infertility can be explained by genetic factors. Septins are members of the GTPase superfamily, which are involved in diverse biological processes including morphogenesis, compartmentalization, cytokinesis, and apoptosis. The septin 12 gene, SEPT12, is expressed exclusively in post-meiotic male germ cells and is considered as a critical gene for spermatogenesis. In this study, we evaluated 200 patients with non-obstructive azoospermia and detected mutations of 25 spermatogenesis-associated genes by targeted exome sequencing. We report a missense SEPT12 variant, c.673C>A/p.Gln225Lys, in an infertile man with non-obstructive azoospermia. The variation was located inside the GTPase domain and had a SIFT score of 0.02 (<0.50) and was considered to be ‘probably damaging’ by PolyPhen. This case may provide clues to help establish the relationship between SEPT12 gene alterations and some cases of idiopathic male infertility. The role of this variant should thus be investigated further.
What Types of Cars Will We Be Driving? Methods of Forecasting Car Travel Demand by Vehicle Type
Authors: Mocanu Tudor
Published: November 2018

New technologies are emerging in the private vehicle market. Conventional propulsion systems are set to be replaced by alternative, more environment-friendly ones (e.g., electric vehicles), and certain new features, like autonomous driving, will possibly change the way private cars are employed. To assess the impact of such technologies, one must estimate how often and for which trips these vehicle types will be used. Another issue is the exact localization of certain vehicle types on the network, to assess environmental effects and identify where specific roadside infrastructure (e.g., charging stations) will be required. This paper presents four approaches to forecasting car usage by vehicle type using a macroscopic travel demand model in combination with a vehicle fleet or technology diffusion model. Integrating the two types of models requires tools ranging from assumptions and extrapolation of empirical data to synthetic or incremental discrete choice models. The approaches are employed in a case study forecasting travel demand using privately owned autonomous vehicles (AVs) in Germany in 2030. Despite identical input data, the estimated proportion of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) using AVs varies between 11% and 23% of overall car VMT, depending on the approach chosen. The reasons for this variation in results are investigated and some recommendations are given. To avoid the difficulties of fitting a synthetic model to observed data and to increase the accuracy of the results, the recommendation is to formulate the vehicle type choice as an incremental model added to the travel demand model.
Thrombophilia Testing in High Pediatric Migraine Risk Children With Migraine
Authors: Levinsky Yoel , Zeharia Avraham , Yacobovich Joanne , Eidlitz-Markus Tal
Published: November 2018

This study sought to investigate the need for thrombophilia screening in pediatric migraineurs. The cohort included 45/824 children (5.5%) aged 3-18 years with migraine who were tested for thrombophilia at a tertiary pediatric headache clinic. Results were analyzed by background factors and indications for screening. Rates of thrombotic factors were compared with a healthy historical control group. At least 1 thrombotic factor was positive in 19/45 patients (42%). The total thrombophilia risk rate was higher in patients with aura (n = 32). Lipoprotein(a) was the factor most often abnormal in the thrombophilia group of all factors tested (8/19, 42%), regardless of migraine type or gender. It was the only factor with a significantly higher prevalence in the migraine than the historical control group. Full thrombophilia testing in migraine in pediatric headache clinics does not seem to be justified. The high prevalence of elevated lipoprotein(a) in children with migraine warrants further investigation.
Reducing Medication Administration Frequency in Veteran Community Living Centers
Authors: Melendez Jesus , Bodine Rita , Park Karen
Published: November 2018

Background:

A quality improvement initiative of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) aims to reduce frequency of medication administration to Veterans per day. Medication administration practices in our community living center (CLC) units are similar to an acute care medical unit versus a home environment. The objective of this project was to reduce medication administration frequency in order to minimize the number of interruptions to both Veterans and nurses.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review was conducted for Veterans residing in a pilot CLC from January through March 2018. Electronic medical records and barcode medication administration (BCMA) logs were assessed. Data collected included demographic information and medication details (eg, drug name, frequency, administration time). Data were analyzed and pharmacist recommendations were documented into an Excel document, and then discussed with the pilot CLC unit medical provider in March 2018. The primary outcomes measured were the number and type of pharmacist recommendations, percent reduction in the average number of Veteran interruptions per day, and percent reduction in the average number of medication passes by nurse per day.

Results:

Thirty-one Veterans were identified with a range of 4 to 31 active prescription orders. Fifty-five pharmacist recommendations were made and 31 were implemented. The average number of Veteran interruptions per day was reduced by 13.9%. The average daily number of medication passes was reduced by 16.3%.

Conclusion:

Both Veteran interruptions and nurse workload decreased due to the implemented pharmacist recommendations. Pharmacists will continue medication consolidation on a monthly basis and spread this project to other CLC units.
Street-level bureaucrats and the governance of unaccompanied migrant children
Authors: Edlins Mariglynn , Larrison Jennica
Published: November 2018

Street-level bureaucrats implement public policy in daily face-to-face encounters with individuals. Through the sequence of decisions they make in these interactions, street-level bureaucrats govern the individuals they interact with. But, a lot is unknown about these interactions and the governance that occurs within them. This article investigates the encounters between street-level bureaucrats who implement immigration policy and Central American children who crossed the U.S.–Mexico border without their parents. Using process mapping and content analysis, the article seeks to determine the points at which street-level bureaucrats interact with unaccompanied migrant children, the agencies these street-level bureaucrats represent, and the responsibilities they have in the process. The findings of this study highlight the complexity through which street-level bureaucrats govern this vulnerable population and the import of their decisions, which construct the experience and outcome for unaccompanied migrant children.
Limiting thermal characteristics for flow of non-Newtonian fluids between asymmetrically heated parallel plates: An analytical study
Authors: Pati Sukumar , Mondal Pranab Kumar
Published: November 2018

In this work, an analytical study on the limiting thermal transport characteristics for the flow of a non-Newtonian fluid namely, power law liquid, between asymmetrically heated parallel plates is presented. The transport equations for mass, momentum, and energy are analytically solved to obtain closed-form expressions for the temperature distributions in the flow field and the limiting Nusselt number in terms of relevant parameters. The effects of frictional heating due to viscous dissipation on the heat transfer characteristics are studied. Results are presented in terms of degree of asymmetric heating, Brinkman number, and power law index. The most important finding from the present work is the nontrivial interplay between degree of asymmetric heating and the rheological behavior of the fluid in dictating the thermal transport characteristics of heat.
Understanding and awareness of autism among Somali parents living in the United Kingdom
Authors: Hussein Amal M , Pellicano Elizabeth , Crane Laura
Published: November 2018

Using vignettes and interviews, this study examined understanding and awareness of autism, and (a)typical development more broadly, among 32 Somali parents living in the United Kingdom. Results demonstrated that parents of both autistic (n = 16) and non-autistic (n = 16) children were just as likely to identify vignettes of typically developing children, yet parents of autistic children appeared more astute to signs of atypical development. Across the whole sample, parents commonly identified and labelled vignettes of autistic children, but experienced more difficulty labelling vignettes that described children with other forms of atypical development, sometimes mislabeling these children as autistic. This suggests that there is a need for greater support in recognising and identifying different types of atypical development in the Somali community (to mitigate the risk that the term ‘autism’ may take on its own meaning within the Somali community, becoming a euphemism for a range of developmental conditions). Analysis of interview data identified key sociocultural factors that either helped or hindered the inclusion of families with autistic children within the community, including the Somali community’s: (1) perceptions of disability, (2) beliefs about the causes of autism in the Western world and (3) strong reliance on religious beliefs in understanding and accepting an autism diagnosis.
School-level changes in factors related to oral health inequalities after national recommendation on sweet selling
Authors: Anttila Jaakko , Tolvanen Mimmi , Kankaanpää Rami , Lahti Satu
Published: November 2018

Aims: In 2007, Finnish authorities gave a national recommendation that schools should not sell sweet products. This study aimed to determine the effects of the national recommendation on school-level intermediary determinants (factors related to oral health inequalities) and if the changes were different according to school-level socio-economic position (SEP). Methods: This ecological and longitudinal study combined school-level data from two independent studies from Finnish upper comprehensive schools ( N = 970): the School Health Promotion study (SHPS) and the School Sweet Selling survey (SSSS). The baseline data (SHPS from 2006–2007 and SSSS from 2007) and the post-intervention data (SHPS and SSSS from 2008–2009) were combined into a longitudinal school-level data set ( n = 360 and response rate = 37%). The intermediary determinants were: attitudes and access to intoxicants, school health services, school environment, home environment, schools’ health-promoting actions (including sweet product selling) and pupils’ eating habits. Three equal-sized school-level SEP group — slow, middle and high — were formed. The changes in the intermediary determinants were analysed using Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test. Differences between school SEP groups were analysed the using Kruskal–Wallis test. Longitudinal linear mixed modelling was used to determine the contribution of intermediary determinants to the changes in pupils’ eating habits. Results: The national recommendation was effective in decreasing sweet product selling at schools and the effect was equal in each school-level SEP group. Intermediary determinants contributed differently to eating habits in the three SEP groups. Conclusions: A national recommendation seems to be an effective tool in making the school environment healthier without increasing inequalities.
Preparation of a polyacrylonitrile/polyurethane nanofibrous membrane with antibacterial function and measurement of its air filtration performance
Authors: Wu Yanpeng , Lu Yuming , Cao Guoqing
Published: November 2018

Particulate matter and airborne microorganism pollution are two of the most serious indoor air problems due to their significant threat to human health. Research on air filtration with antibacterial function and good filtration performance is highly desirable and urgent. In this study, polyacrylonitrile/polyurethane (PAN/PU) composite nanofibrous membranes with an antibacterial agent AgTiO2 were prepared by an electrospinning method. The average diameter of each membrane is about 300–400 nm. The antibacterial activities of PAN/PU composite nanofibrous membranes against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were investigated by the shake flask method. For an Ag2.5 membrane (AgTiO2 added to 2.5% w/w of solute (PAN and PU) in the electrospinning solution), the bacteriostasis rate can be >99.99%. The filtration efficiency is 99.88% for 0.3 µm particles and >99.99% for airborne microorganisms with a 220.3 Pa pressure differential. The quality factor is higher than that of a commercial filter with comparable filtration efficiency. The effects of relevant parameters on filtration performance were analysed qualitatively by theoretical calculation. The results show that it is more effective to improve the filtration performance by adjusting fibre diameter and filling rate than thickness. Our findings suggest that the nanofibrous membrane with antibacterial function has a great potential for indoor air filtration.
Lower Risk of Recurrence After Mesh Repair Versus Non-Mesh Sutured Repair in Open Umbilical Hernia Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Bisgaard T. , Kaufmann R. , Christoffersen M. W. , Strandfelt P. , Gluud L. L.
Published: November 2018

Background and Aims:

The use of mesh repair in a small- or middle-sized umbilical hernia remains controversial, and evidence is based on only few and small heterogeneous randomized trials. The primary aim was to assess differences, if any, in recurrence (clinical and reoperation), and secondary aim was to assess differences in infections, seroma formation, hematomas, chronic pain, cosmetic result, and quality of life.

Method:

A systematic review (predefined search strategy) and meta-analyses were conducted based on pre-study strict and well-defined methodology. The literature search was completed on 1 January 2018. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO.

Results:

Five randomized controlled trials were identified (mesh repair, n = 326 versus non-mesh sutured repair, n = 330) and 602 records were excluded. Randomized controlled trials included patients with defect diameters of ⩾1 to 4 cm. Mesh repair reduced the risk of recurrence compared with sutured repair with a relative risk of 0.28 (95% confidence interval = 0.13–0.58, I2 = 0%, number needed to treat = 13 patients). Additional analyses found no differences between the two surgical techniques regarding infection (relative risk = 0.80, 95% confidence interval = 0.36–1.79), seroma formation (relative risk = 1.38, 95% confidence interval = 0.57–3.32), or hematomas (relative risk = 0.55, 95% confidence interval = 0.23–1.30). Lack of sufficient data precluded meta-analysis evaluating risk of seroma formation, hematomas, chronic pain, cosmetic result, and quality of life.

Conclusion:

Mesh repair is recommended for umbilical hernia of ⩾1 to 4 cm. More evidence is needed for the optimal placement of the mesh (sublay or onlay) and the role of mesh in patients with an umbilical hernia <1 cm.
Estimating disease burden using Internet data
Authors: Qiu Riyi , Hadzikadic Mirsad , Yu Sha , Yao Lixia
Published: November 2018

Data on disease burden are often used for assessing population health, evaluating the effectiveness of interventions, formulating health policies, and planning future resource allocation. We investigated whether Internet usage and social media data, specifically the search volume on Google, page view count on Wikipedia, and disease mentioning frequency on Twitter, correlated with the disease burden, measured by prevalence and treatment cost, for 1633 diseases over an 11-year period. We also applied least absolute shrinkage and selection operator to predict the burden of diseases. We found that Google search volume is relatively strongly correlated with the burdens for 39 of 1633 diseases, including viral hepatitis, diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, and hemorrhoids. Wikipedia and Twitter data strongly correlated with the burdens of 15 and 7 diseases, respectively. However, an accurate analysis must consider each condition’s characteristics, including acute/chronic nature, severity, familiarity to the public, and the presence of stigma.