bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in structural network topology correlate with severity of hallucinatory behavior in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Hall Julie M. , O’Callaghan Claire , Muller Alana J. , Ehgoetz Martens Kaylena A. , Phillips Joseph R. , Moustafa Ahmed A. , Lewis Simon J. G. , Shine James M.
Published: January 2019

Inefficient integration between bottom-up visual input and higher order visual processing regions is implicated in visual hallucinations in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Here, we investigated white matter contributions to this perceptual imbalance hypothesis. Twenty-nine PD patients were assessed for hallucinatory behavior. Hallucination severity was correlated to connectivity strength of the network using the network-based statistic approach. The results showed that hallucination severity was associated with reduced connectivity within a subnetwork that included the majority of the diverse club. This network showed overall greater between-module scores compared with nodes not associated with hallucination severity. Reduced between-module connectivity in the lateral occipital cortex, insula, and pars orbitalis and decreased within-module connectivity in the prefrontal, somatosensory, and primary visual cortices were associated with hallucination severity. Conversely, hallucination severity was associated with increased between- and within-module connectivity in the orbitofrontal and temporal cortex, as well as regions comprising the dorsal attentional and default mode network. These results suggest that hallucination severity is associated with marked alterations in structural network topology with changes in participation along the perceptual hierarchy. This may result in the inefficient transfer of information that gives rise to hallucinations in PD.
A High-Resolution Data Assimilation Framework for Snow Water Equivalent Estimation across the Western United States and Validation with the Airborne Snow Observatory
Authors: Oaida Catalina M. , Reager John T. , Andreadis Konstantinos M. , David Cédric H. , Levoe Steve R. , Painter Thomas H. , Bormann Kat J. , Trangsrud Amy R. , Girotto Manuela , Famiglietti James S.
Published: January 2019

Numerical simulations of snow water equivalent (SWE) in mountain systems can be biased, and few SWE observations have existed over large domains. New approaches for measuring SWE, like NASA’s ultra-high-resolution Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO), offer an opportunity to improve model estimates by providing a high-quality validation target. In this study, a computationally efficient snow data assimilation (DA) approach over the western United States at 1.75-km spatial resolution for water years (WYs) 2001–17 is presented. A local ensemble transform Kalman filter implemented as a batch smoother is used with the VIC hydrology model to assimilate the remotely sensed daily MODIS fractional snow-covered area (SCA). Validation of the high-resolution SWE estimates is done against ASO SWE data in the Tuolumne basin (California), Uncompahgre basin (Colorado), and Olympic Peninsula (Washington). Results indicate good performance in dry years and during melt, with DA reducing Tuolumne basin-average SWE percent differences from −68%, −92%, and −84% in open loop to 0.6%, 25%, and 3% after DA for WYs 2013–15, respectively, for ASO dates and spatial extent. DA also improved SWE percent difference over the Uncompahgre basin (−84% open loop, −65% DA) and Olympic Peninsula (26% open loop, −0.2% DA). However, in anomalously wet years DA underestimates SWE, likely due to an inadequate snow depletion curve parameterization. Despite potential shortcomings due to VIC model setup (e.g., water balance mode) or parameterization (snow depletion curve), the DA framework implemented in this study shows promise in overcoming some of these limitations and improving estimated SWE, in particular during drier years or at higher elevations, when most in situ observations cannot capture high-elevation snowpack due to lack of stations there.
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy Outcomes in Patients With Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness
Authors: Nada Ebtessam H. , Ibraheem Ola A. , Hassaan Mohammad R.
Published: January 2019

Objectives:

Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) represents an important category of vertigo. Medical treatment and psychotherapy provide convenient control of symptoms. However, these management strategies can have inconvenient side effects and short-term relief, respectively. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is a self-conducted habituation program that can be personalized to the subject’s needs to give adequate symptom relief without side effects. The present study aims to test the effect of VRT on patients with PPPD.

Methods:

Participants were diagnosed as having PPPD by the exclusion of organic vestibular lesions. The study involved 2 groups with PPPD: Group I, treated with the VRT, and Group II, treated with the VRT plus placebo. The Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), a self-assessment scale, was used to evaluate the VRT outcomes.

Results:

There was a significant decrease in functional, physical, and total scores on the DHI in both groups after VRT. Adding the placebo did not have supplementary outcomes. The patients who did not benefit from the VRT had a significantly longer duration of PPPD, more complex aggravating factors, more composite VRT exercises, and a higher DHI score than the patients who benefited from VRT.

Conclusions:

Customized VRT adequately reduced symptoms and improved quality of life in subjects with PPPD.
Relations of Collectivism Socialization Goals and Training Beliefs to Chinese Parenting
Authors: Chen-Bouck Li , Patterson Meagan M. , Chen Jie
Published: January 2019

Parenting behaviors may be influenced by multiple factors, including parental values, beliefs, socialization goals, and children’s characteristics (e.g., personality, age). This study examined relations between Chinese mothers’ collectivism socialization goals and “training” beliefs and their parenting styles and behaviors with their children (youth ages 9-17 years), using structural equation modeling (SEM). In addition, in an exploratory manner, the associations between youth’s age and mothers’ parenting styles and behaviors were also explored. In all, 652 youth (female 46.2% and male 52.9%) and their mothers were recruited from urban areas in mainland China. Youth answered questionnaires about their mothers’ parenting (i.e., parenting styles, behavioral control, and psychological control), and mothers reported their endorsement of collectivism socialization goals and “training” beliefs. The findings suggest that Chinese mothers’ endorsement of collectivism socialization goals was positively associated with their authoritarian and authoritative parenting styles and behavioral control, but negatively associated with psychological control. Chinese mothers’ “training” beliefs were negatively associated with the use of behavioral control. Youth age was negatively associated with Chinese mothers’ use of authoritative and authoritarian parenting styles and behavioral control. Therefore, the current study suggests that mothers’ collectivism socialization goals and “training” beliefs and youth age may have an impact on parenting styles and parenting behaviors in mainland Chinese mothers.
The Sleepy Consumer and Variety Seeking
Authors: Huang Zhongqiang (Tak) , Liang Yitian (Sky) , Weinberg Charles B. , Gorn Gerald J.
Published: January 2019

Sleepiness, the subjective feeling of the propensity to fall asleep, is a common, everyday experience that can be induced by various factors, such as sleep quality, sleep deprivation, ingestion of certain substances, or belief about how much sleep a person needs. Despite its prevalence, sleepiness and its influence on consumption behavior have rarely been linked in the research to date. The present research helps fill this void by uncovering the novel impact of sleepiness on consumer variety-seeking behavior. The studies, using various methods and all involving consequential choices, revealed that sleepier consumers tended to seek more variety. The driver of this effect was found to be a need for arousal to maintain wakefulness. The authors also show that variety-seeking behavior is effective in partially reducing sleepiness. The effect of sleepiness on variety seeking uncovered in this research is somewhat nonintuitive, in the sense that, a priori, one might expect sleepiness to be more likely to decrease rather than increase exploratory behavior. The authors discuss implications of the findings for different research areas and for marketing practice.
A Cross-Cultural Examination of Lifelong Participation in Community Wind Bands Through the Lens of Organizational Theory
Authors: Mantie Roger , Tan Leonard
Published: January 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate participant involvement in community wind bands through the lens of organizational theory to inform the music education profession about community wind bands as an “expressive” voluntary association with potential for lifelong participation. Twenty-eight informants were drawn from three community wind bands in the United States and four community wind bands in Singapore. Overall, responses between U.S. and Singapore informants shared many commonalities. Informants from both countries desired musical opportunities that aligned with their interests (incentives and commitment), viewed their participation as defined largely by the ensemble-conductor relationship (formal structures), and preferred rehearsing and performing under the direction of a competent and respectful conductor (leadership and authority). The diversity of bands from which informants were drawn points to the importance of an environment that supports a range of interests for lifelong participation.
Incongruous Conciliation: A Constructive Critique of John Barclay’s Paul and the Gift
Authors: Downing F. Gerald
Published: January 2019

John Barclay has recently argued that for Paul God’s grace, χάρις, in Christ is, almost without precedent, maximally ‘incongruous’, given to unfitting recipients. In fact, however, there are at least six further contemporary non-Christian examples, mostly Jewish, of incongruous grace in conciliation, some using καταλλαγή, ‘(re-)conciliation’, others not. Further, betokening change, from discord to harmony, καταλλαγή never on its own conveys (in)congruent ‘restoration’ of anything. This, of course, affects our interpretation of Paul in Rom. 5.10-11, 11.15 and 2 Cor. 5.17-20 (where perhaps the ‘re-’ in ‘re-conciliation’ misleads).
From venture idea to venture formation: The role of sensemaking, sensegiving and sense receiving
Authors: Hoyte Cherisse , Noke Hannah , Mosey Simon , Marlow Susan
Published: January 2019

This article explores the sensemaking processes entrepreneurs use when transitioning between venture ideas and venture formation. Adopting a sensemaking/sensegiving approach and utilising an interpretivist methodology, we use sensemaking to analyse the entrepreneurial journey of four diverse entrepreneurs. In so doing, we make three contributions: first, we locate the early stages of the entrepreneurial context as a primary site where sensemaking occurs as entrepreneurs deal with the differences between expectations and reality. Second, we show how sensemaking occurs when entrepreneurs build a causal map of the problem they wish to address and how social exchanges are crucial as entrepreneurs then refine that idea with other sensegivers. Finally, we extend scholarly understanding through explaining the ways in which sensemaking, sensegiving and sense receiving contribute to the decision of entrepreneurs to act and create a new venture.
Effectiveness of a precast adjustable compression system compared to multilayered compression bandages in the treatment of breast cancer–related lymphoedema: a randomized, single-blind clinical trial
Authors: Pujol-Blaya Vicenta , Salinas-Huertas Sira , Catasús M Luisa , Pascual Teresa , Belmonte Roser
Published: January 2019

Objective:

To compare the effectiveness of a precast adjustable compression system with that of multilayered compression bandages in the treatment of breast cancer–related lymphoedema.

Design:

Multicenter, randomized, single-blind parallel-group clinical trial.

Setting:

The rehabilitation services of four general university hospitals.

Subjects:

Patients with upper limb breast cancer–related lymphoedema.

Interventions:

All the patients received manual lymphatic drainage, followed by a precast adjustable compression system or multilayered compression bandages, according to the group allocation. The treatment included 10 consecutive sessions over a two-week period from Monday to Friday, followed by some sessions on three alternate days per week, until the patient received a tailored compression garment.

Primary measurements:

The patients were evaluated just before the treatment, after 10 sessions and at three months posttreatment. The primary outcome was the change in excess lymphoedema volume. Secondary outcomes were changes in the symptoms of pain, heaviness, tightness and hardness. Analyses were performed using an intention-to-treat approach.

Results:

In all, 42 patients were included; there were 22 in the precast adjustable compression system group and 20 in the multilayered compression bandages group. Both groups exhibited significant decreases in excess volume and symptoms after 10 sessions and at three months. There were no significant differences regarding excess volume or symptoms between the precast adjustable compression system and multilayered compression bandages groups after 10 sessions and at the three-month follow-up exam.

Conclusion:

The precast adjustable compression system and the multilayered compression bandages have similar efficacy for the reduction of excess lymphoedema volume or symptoms.
Component Analysis of Stay, Play, Talk Interventions With and Without Self-Monitored Group Contingencies and Recorded Reminders
Authors: Osborne Kirsten , Ledford Jennifer R. , Martin Jessica , Thorne Katelyn
Published: January 2019

Multitreatment designs were used to evaluate the relative effectiveness of multicomponent Stay, Play, Talk (SPT) interventions on peer social behaviors for two groups of children, each including one Participant With Autism Spectrum Disorder (PWA) and two socially competent peers. Children were trained to use buddy strategies during 5-min free-play sessions in an inclusive preschool classroom. Additional components were systematically introduced, including a self-monitored group contingency and recorded reminders. Dependent variables were the percentage of intervals peers spent staying near and playing with the PWA, as well as the number of verbal social interactions between the peers and the PWA. Functional relations were identified for some behaviors for some participants, with the SPT variation including recorded reminders and the group contingency associated with the most positive outcomes. Further research is needed to determine effects of the group contingency and recorded reminders without peer training.
Improv Comedy and Modern Marketing Education: Exploring Consequences for Divergent Thinking, Self-Efficacy, and Collaboration
Authors: Mourey James A.
Published: January 2019

In an era of constant connectedness—from Twitter tweets to the 24-hour news cycle—the need for marketers to be nimble and responsive to the needs of consumers and ever-evolving markets is greater than ever before. Indeed, being able to be “in the moment” and to react instantaneously demands a different kind of training and education than the slower paced, carefully constructed, and casually timed marketing campaigns of yesterday. Improvisational comedy and its tenets—agreement (“Yes, and . . . ”); be you (and know that you are enough); make bold, unexpected choices—require a comparable, in-the-moment mind-set that encourages group collaboration, positive self-efficacy, and the ability to generate creative ideas without hesitation. Two studies show that improvisational training has positive consequences for group collaboration, self-efficacy, and divergent thinking, skills essential for modern marketing roles. First, an exploratory study of the general population reveals preliminary links between improvisation familiarity and the aforementioned marketing skills, as well as between a brief improv manipulation and divergent thinking. Second, a follow-up study using actual students in a 10-week improvisation course confirms causal relationships between long-term improv training and group collaboration, self-efficacy, and divergent thinking. Effect sizes are large and endure even 4 months following the improv training.
The Triality of Strain, Self-Control, and Eating Disorders
Authors: Ozkan Turgut , Gibson Justin , Evans LaVonda
Published: January 2019

This study examines the potential relationship between eating disorders and antisocial behaviors through the lenses of the general theory of crime and general strain theory. We utilized the data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a longitudinal study of a nationally representative sample of juveniles in grades 7 to 12 in the United States between 1994 and 2008. We constructed three separate measures of eating disorders and examined their relationships with both petty theft and aggressive behaviors. Results indicated that previous traumatic experiences (such as sexual abuse) are consistent risk factors for eating disorders, and that eating disorders can increase antisocial involvements. Moreover, eating disorders can diminish self-control and agitate depressed moods, which may increase the likelihood of both petty theft and violent conduct, and this effect can extend to later adulthood as well.
Special Issue: Crime and Control in the Digital Era
Authors: Ceccato Vania
Published: January 2019

In the digital age, “eyes” are complemented by technologies such as smartphones, “apps,” or body worn cameras, giving expression to new ways of depicting what happens in public space. This special issue (SI) brings together five articles that characterize the nature of control, surveillance, and guardianship in the context of today’s technological advancements. The articles help inform criminology by reporting on examples and impacts of technologies as well as by providing a better understanding of how the massive use of these technologies and new practices might be just redefining public space.
Testing the Feasibility of Measuring Recovery in Adolescent Participants of an Alternative Peer Group: Lessons Learned and Next Steps
Authors: Nash Angela , Collier Crystal , Engebretson Joan , Cron Stanley
Published: January 2019

The aim of this article is to report lessons learned from feasibility challenges faced in a mixed-methods study designed to test the feasibility of measuring recovery in participants of an Alternative Peer Group (APG). The APG integrates pro-recovery peers and social activities into clinical practice to engage adolescents in recovery. Though well established, APGs have never been tested. This study was one phase in a line of research that aims to develop an APG evidence base. The study used a mixed-methods design and naturalistic sampling of participants of one APG program. Repeated measures analysis with linear mixed models was planned to test the hypothesis that spending time in the APG builds recovery capital, resulting in progress in the processes of recovery, and improved symptoms. Semistructured interviews were conducted and framework analysis was used to explore feasibility challenges. Recruitment and retention challenges precluded meaningful measurement of change over time in recovery. Lessons learned from qualitative findings informed multiple strategies for revisions to strengthen future study protocols. Recruitment and retention of adolescents are common challenges that can threaten a study’s validity. Researchers seeking to recruit and retain adolescents with SUD in longitudinal studies may benefit from strategies derived from this study.
An assessment of the cytotoxic effects of graphene nanoparticles on the epithelial cells of the human lung
Authors: Nasirzadeh Nafiseh , Azari Mansur Rezazadeh , Rasoulzadeh Yahya , Mohammadian Yousef
Published: January 2019

Nanomaterials are widely used nowadays in a range of technological and biomedical fields. Graphene as a nanomaterial used in the health-care sector and in workplaces has raised some concerns about its toxicity. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of graphene nanoparticles (GNPs) on the A549 epithelial cells of the human lung. The GNPs were synthesized from graphite by the modified Hummer method. The physicochemical characteristics of GNPs were identified by the transmission electron microscope, the scanning electron microscope, and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method. The hydrodynamic size of GNPs in the dispersion media was examined using the dynamic light scattering technique. The GNPs were dispersed, after which the A549 cells were cultured. Finally, the cell viability was assayed by the MTT assay. The statistical analysis of variance was used to describe the relationship between the concentration/time variables and the GNP-induced cell deaths. The probit regression model was also used to achieve toxicological indicators. The results showed that the toxicological effects of GNPs on the A549 epithelial cells of the human lung are dose- and time-dependent. The GNPs were more cytotoxic after a 72-h exposure period compared to a 24-h and 48-h exposure period. The inhibitory concentration of 50% and “no observed adverse effect concentration” were estimated to be 40,653.1 and 0.059 µg/mL, respectively. The results of this study can be helpful in developing the occupational exposure limit for GNPs and in improving occupational health programs in workplaces. However, more investigation is needed to specify the toxicological mechanisms of GNPs.
‘Off My Own Back’: Precarity on the Frontlines of Care Work
Authors: Baines Donna , Kent Paul , Kent Sally
Published: January 2019

Hailed by some as representing the ‘most profound change in Australian disability history’, care work in the disability sector under the new National Disability Insurance Scheme is described by one frontline worker as ‘a massive swing towards a casual workforce and a massive cultural shock’. This firsthand account draws on 13 pages of unsolicited hand-written notes from a long-time, frontline care worker and his wife, as well as an in-depth interview and subsequent telephone and email conversations. The article gives voice to the experience of the frontline as disability workers grapple with almost complete casualization of their work, as the state retreats from its role in regulating employment and protecting workers in favour of the marketization of services and the advancing of the human rights of people with disabilities.
Judging Domestic Violence From the Bench: A Narrative Analysis of Judicial Anecdotes About Domestic Violence Protective Order Cases
Authors: Kafka Julie M. , Moracco Kathryn E. , Barrington Clare , Mortazavi Afsaneh L.
Published: January 2019

Interview participants sometimes share anecdotes (stories about past events), to illustrate a point or discuss their perspectives. When sharing these stories, participants may imbue the events with their own personal meaning-making, selective memory, and biases. We conducted a narrative analysis of anecdotes shared by judges ( n = 20) who preside over Domestic Violence Protective Order (DVPO) hearings to examine how biases and misperceptions shape decisions in DVPO cases. We found that judges rely on biases to sort cases as “true domestic violence” compared with “frivolous cases." In the anecdotes they shared, judges often used gendered stereotypes to depict litigants, and many judges felt that DVPOs had limited efficacy in preventing violence. We argue that important cognitive insights are revealed by interview participants during the spontaneous act of storytelling. In the case of judges, their biases could lead to DVPOs being denied in situations when they are warranted.
Minga, Participatory Action, and Social Justice: Framing a Decolonization Process for Principled Experiential Learning Among Indigenous Shuar Communities in Amazonian Ecuador
Authors: Gadhoke Preety , Sanchez Pablo J. , Zajkowski Morgan , Taylor Kirin , Brenton Barrett P.
Published: January 2019

Background: A case study of an undergraduate scholars program in New York and our long-term partnership with four Indigenous Shuar communities living in Morona-Santiago, Ecuador. Purpose: To introduce principled strategies for building an ethical experiential learning framework based on a decolonization process, Indigenous community work models and integrated perspectives from the multiple stakeholders involved. Method/Approach: A synthesis of academic literature, reflexivity as a team contending with our own decolonization processes, participant observation, and the in-depth interviews with key community members, drawn from semistructured interviews conducted from 2017 to 2018. Findings/Conclusion: The outcome of this synthesis were four distinct principles for a more holistic, ethical, and effective framework: shared investment, shared sense of accountability, pacts of reciprocity, and social bonds. The principles offered emphasize the critical dynamics of ensuring mutual benefit between university programs and Indigenous community partners within an experiential education context. Implications: These principles can be used by institutions to both evaluate the substance of their ethical relations and also develop socially just standards for community engagement and student mentorship when working with Indigenous communities.
Beings Who Are Becoming: Enhancing Social Justice Literacy
Authors: Breunig Mary
Published: January 2019

Background: The Association for Experiential Education identifies social justice as one of its core values. One recent state of knowledge paper explored the confluence of outdoor experiential education and social justice. Social justice theory embraces the idea that social identities do not exist independently. Rather, race, class, sexuality, skin color, and gender (among other identities) exist in intersectionality. Purpose: This article adopts an intersectional approach to review relevant literature and to provide narrative illustrations that offer insights into the concept of social justice literacy. Methodology/Approach: The article is conceptual and adopts an intersectional approach, highlighting relevant literature, theories, and narratives. Findings/Conclusions: The article illuminates prevalent issues and offers practical insights for facilitators and educators on how to enhance social justice literacy and praxes. Implications: The article provides opportunities for outdoor experiential educators to better understand their own privilege and to develop new understandings and actionable behaviors.
Neratinib in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Paranjpe Rutugandha , Basatneh Dima , Tao Gabriel , De Angelis Carmine , Noormohammed Sobia , Ekinci Ekim , Abughosh Susan , Ghose Romi , Trivedi Meghana V.
Published: January 2019

Objective:To review the chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of neratinib in human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)+ breast cancer (BC). Data Sources: A PubMed search was performed using the term neratinib between September 12, 2018, and November 21, 2018. References of published articles and reviews were also assessed for additional information. Study Selection and Data Extraction: English-language preclinical and clinical studies on the chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of neratinib were evaluated. Data Synthesis: Neratinib, an irreversible inhibitor of HER1, HER2, and HER4, is Food and Drug Administration approved for the extended adjuvant treatment of stage I-III HER2+ BC to follow trastuzumab-based therapy. A phase III study has demonstrated statistically significant improvement in 5-year disease-free survival rate (90.2 vs 87.7; hazard ratio = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.57-0.92, P = 0.0083). Its most common adverse effect is diarrhea, observed in more than 90% of patients. The incidence of grade 3/4 diarrhea (~40%) is reduced by half with loperamide prophylaxis, which is recommended for the first 8 weeks of neratinib therapy. Other common adverse reactions are nausea and fatigue. The patients need to be monitored for liver function tests and drug interactions with acid-reducing agents, CYP3A4 inhibitors/inducers, and P-glycoprotein substrates with narrow therapeutic window. Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: American Society of Clinical Oncology and National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical guidelines suggest the use of neratinib for extended adjuvant therapy following 1-year trastuzumab in stage I to III HER2+ BC. Diarrhea remains a clinically significant but manageable adverse event. Conclusion: Neratinib significantly improves treatment outcomes and has manageable toxicity in stage I to III HER2+ BC patients.
Multiwave Formative Evaluation of a Retention Program for Minority Nursing Students: Intended Effects, Unintended Consequences, and Remedial Actions
Authors: Chen Huey T. , Morosanu Liliana , Bellury Lanell M. , Kimble Laura
Published: January 2019

This study was a formative evaluation of a retention program for nursing students from disadvantaged backgrounds underrepresented in the nursing workforce. The program was challenging, with multilevel interventions, some implemented sequential and some concurrently. The program team was interested to identify problematic components and address them quickly, as part of implementing a rapid cycle improvement process to ensure program success. Evaluators proposed a novel three-wave formative evaluation to meet this need. Results indicated high satisfaction with the program as well as several unintended consequences related to clinical rotations and interaction with faculty and nonparticipant students. The contribution of this study is demonstrating a practical application of an innovative evaluation approach and tool, to assist program planning and to inform remedial actions in a timely manner. Lessons learned from this study contribute to explaining the dynamic nature of unintended effects of program components in the real world and their assessment.
Life-saving vascular access after combined liver and kidney transplantation: A challenging access to the right atrium
Authors: Grimaldi Chiara , Crocoli Alessandro , Angelico Roberta , Saffioti Maria Cristina , Nappo Simona Gerocarni , Chiusolo Fabrizio , Tortora Francesca , Picardo Sergio Giuseppe , Dello Strologo Luca , Basso Maria Sole , Monti Lidia , Guccione Paolo , Rollo Massimo , Spada Marco
Published: January 2019

Exhaustion of vascular accesses is a major complication in patients undergoing hemodialysis, especially in pediatric setting. We report the case of a boy treated for loss of hemodialysis access after a combined liver–kidney transplantation and transient renal dysfunction. An interventional dilatation of calcific superior vena cava allowed to insert a stable central venous line for dialysis until full graft recovery. Careful management of central lines allows to spare the main vessels and reduces the need for unusual accesses.
Smart Phone/Device Application to Improve Delivery of Enteral Nutrition in Adult Patients Admitted to the Medical Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Mahmood Sultan , Hoffman Leah , Ali Ijlal Akbar , Zhao Yan D , Chen Allshine , Allen Karen
Published: January 2019

Background:

Resident physicians are frequently uncomfortable ordering enteral nutrition (EN) and are unaware of the variety of formulas and supplements available for different disease processes. Many depend on a clinical dietician to assist with recommending EN formulas and patient energy requirements that may not be readily available on patient admission. This creates a barrier to early initiation of EN and non-compliance with Society of Critical Care Medicine and American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition clinical guidelines.

Objective:

Internal medicine resident physicians were provided an iPod with a smart phone/device application (EN application) to assist them in choosing EN formulas for patients during their intensive care unit (ICU) rotation. The primary outcome was improved initiation of EN within 24 hours of admission. Secondary outcomes included the following: time to initiate EN, goal calories reached, infections rates, length of stay, mortality, and concordance with clinical guidelines.

Design:

The study is a quasi-experimental design to improve delivery of EN at an academic medical center in the medical ICU. Data were collected from a retrospective chart review to evaluate the impact of an EN application to assist resident physicians when ordering EN.

Results:

Use of the EN application reduced the percent of patients with delayed initiation of EN from 61.2% prior to 37.5% ( P < .01). The mean time to initiate EN also improved 44.5 vs 31.9 hours ( P < .01). Patients were also more likely to achieve their daily caloric goal ( P < .01).

Conclusion:

The use of an EN application to assist internal medicine residents when ordering EN reduced delays in initiation of EN and improved overall delivery of EN to medical ICU patients.
Tool wear and chip formation during dry high speed turning of direct aged Inconel 718 aerospace superalloy using different ceramic tools
Authors: Shalaby Mohamed A , Veldhuis Stephen C
Published: January 2019

Direct aged Inconel 718 superalloy is used in manufacturing critical cross-sections of aero-engine components. It is a hard-to-machine material, especially in dry conditions. To perform successful machining operations for this alloy, cutting tools with high hot hardness and chemical stability are required. The present study investigates the tool wear and chip formation during dry finish turning of direct aged Inconel 718 superalloy (51–53 HRC) using different ceramic tools. Pure alumina with added ZrO2 and alumina matrix reinforced with silicon carbide whiskers tools were used at cutting speeds of 150 and 250 m/min. A scanning electron microscope and energy dispersing spectroscopy were utilized to study the tool wear mechanisms. Structural and phase transformations during cutting on the tool–chip interface at the higher cutting speed were analyzed with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Chip-undersides and cross-sections were studied with scanning electron microscope to investigate the chip formation mechanism. Results reveal that pure alumina with added ZrO2 can be an adequate choice for machining direct aged Inconel 718 because of its higher abrasive wear resistance and the formation of a sapphire protective tribo-layer at the tool–chip interface under severe cutting conditions. Chipping and notching of the cutting edge was found to decrease with the rise of the cutting speed for this tool material. As confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, alumina reinforced with silicon carbide whiskers tool was found to have a lower performance due the chemical degradation of the whiskers, especially at the higher cutting speed (250 m/min).
Electing the experts: Expertise and independence in the UN human rights treaty bodies
Authors: Carraro Valentina
Published: January 2019

Independent experts are employed in international organizations to carry out a variety of functions, including conducting independent evaluations of state performance in a given policy area. In the field of human rights, a well-known example of the use of independent expertise in public organizations is that of the United Nations treaty bodies, committees of independent experts in charge of monitoring state compliance with the major United Nations human rights treaties. Considering the sensitive tasks that these experts perform, and the fact that they are elected by states, the question of whether they actually possess the required levels of independence and expertise to fulfil their role arises. This article proposes and applies a framework to study the formal and informal processes leading to the appointment of expert committees in international bodies, and to assess their level of expertise and independence. Data were collected by means of an original survey and 40 semi-structured interviews. The article shows that the overall level of independent expertise possessed by committees is surprisingly high when considering the highly political electoral process. Therefore, it argues that to study the expertise and independence of expert committees, one should conceive of them as groups that might be able to maintain a certain independence from the states that have elected them.
‘Humanitarian borderwork’: Identifying tensions between humanitarianism and securitization for government contracted NGOs working with adult and unaccompanied minor asylum seekers in Australia
Authors: Gerard Alison , Weber Leanne
Published: January 2019

This article challenges the common assumption that non-government organizations (NGOs) are ‘natural allies’ to asylum seekers in transforming borders from below by examining theories of humanitarianism within the context of securitization. Our article examines the theoretical and policy implications of the ‘humanitarian borderwork’ of NGOs, defined as practices that contain a security logic that construct, shift and erase internal and external borders. Our case study explores the involvement of government contracted NGOs in the delivery of services to adult and unaccompanied minor asylum seekers on the community detention and release programme in Australia. Documentary analysis of policy and contractual arrangements informing the establishment of community detention and release is supplemented by key informant interviews with government officials and service providers. We analyse the contradictory tensions that exist between humanitarian objectives that seek to ‘transform borders from below’ and governmental security imperatives that tend to co-opt agencies and limit their ability to achieve humanitarian aims. Based on the case study presented, we illustrate how the ‘humanitarian borderwork’ of NGOs can shape the translation of government power and contribute to the government agenda of border securitization.
Hydroxyurea can be used in children with sickle cell disease and cerebral vasculopathy for the prevention of chronic complications? A meta-analysis
Authors: Núñez Ramiro Manzano , Figueroa Carlos Andrés Portilla , García-Perdomo Herney Andrés
Published: January 2019

We conducted a systematic review for evaluating the impact of hydroxyurea and chronic blood transfusion in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). A search was done in four databases from inception to 2017. Trials enrolling pediatric patients with SCD and cerebral vasculopathy with or without previous episode of stroke and that reported outcomes of occurrence of stroke and other events were included. Trained reviewers determined eligibility, risk of bias, and abstracted data. Random-effects meta-analysis was conducted. We found that the primary outcome was the occurrence of stroke. We found two trials that recruited 254 patients. No difference was found for confirmed stroke occurrence (risk difference 0.04 [95% CI: −0.03 to 0.03]) and for new-onset neurological deficit (risk difference 0.11 [95% CI: −0.00 to 0.21]). Transfusions provided a significant lower risk of vaso-occlussive crisis (risk difference 0.10 [95% CI: 0.001 to 0.20]). Finally, transfusions provided a lower risk of having high concentrations of abnormal hemoglobin S (mean difference 37.94 [95% CI: 27.55 to 48.32]). As a conclusion, transfusions plus chelation therapy might be used instead of hydroxyurea in children with SCD. There is a lack of high-quality research in the care of children with SCD, and therefore a call for action is needed.
Physicians’ standpoints on end-of-life decisions at the neonatal intensive care units in Jordan
Authors: Abdel Razeq Nadin M
Published: January 2019

The purpose of this cross-sectional descriptive study is to explore pediatricians’ and neonatologists’ attitudes and standpoints on end-of-life (EOL) decision-making in neonates. Seventy-five physicians, employed fulltime to care for newborns in 23 hospitals in Jordan, completed internationally accepted questionnaires. Most physicians (75%) were supportive of using life-sustaining interventions, irrespective of the severity of the newborns’ prognosis and the potential burden of the neonates’ disabilities on their families. The general attitude of the physicians (59–88%) was against making decisions that limit life support at EOL; even those infants with what are, in fact, untreatable and disabling medical conditions (56–88%). Most physicians (77%) indicated that ethics committees should be involved in EOL decision-making based on requests from parents, physicians, or both. The results of this study indicate strong pro-life attitudes among the physicians whose role is to take care of infants in Jordan. The results also emphasize the need for (1) the creation of clear EOL–focused regulations and guidelines, (2) the establishment of special ethical committees to inform and assist healthcare providers’ efforts during EOL care, and (3) raised awareness and competencies regarding EOL and ethical decision-making among physicians taking care of newborns in Jordan’s intensive care units.
A modification of homotopy perturbation method for a hyperbolic tangent oscillator arising in nonlinear packaging system
Authors: Song Haiyan
Published: January 2019

This paper studies a hyperbolic tangent oscillator arising in a nonlinear packaging system. The high-order nonlinearity makes it difficult to study the system analytically. A modified homotopy perturbation method is proposed, where the initial guess is an approximate solution of the well-known Duffing oscillator; the solution accuracy can be improved by either improvement of the initial guess or continuous iteration. This paper gives a general approach to high-order nonlinear oscillators.
Investigation of the dynamic efficiency of complex passive low-frequency vibration isolation systems
Authors: Jurevicius M , Vekteris V , Turla V , Kilikevicius A , Viselga G
Published: January 2019

In this study, the theoretical and experimental investigations of the dynamics of complex passive low-frequency vibration systems are described. It is shown that a complex system consisting of a vibrating platform, an optical table and a vibration isolation system of quasi-zero stiffness loaded by a certain mass may isolate low-frequency vibrations in a narrow frequency range only. In another case, the system does not isolate vibrations; it even operates as an amplifier. The frequencies that ensure the top efficiency of the vibration damping system of quasi-zero stiffness were established.
Room for monsters and writers: Performativity in children’s classroom drawing
Authors: Penn Leslie Rech
Published: January 2019

Much research on children’s classroom drawing emerged from an interest in the relationships between drawing and early writing and focused on drawing as a pedagogical tool to engage young children in planning, generating, and illustrating story ideas. In an eight-month case study of children’s drawing in a kindergarten language arts curriculum, the author focused on children’s classroom drawing not as a pedagogical intervention, but as an emergent event in which the intra-actions of children, drawing, and discourses coalesce. Of the many findings from this project, prevalent is the notion that children’s drawing and drawings function as vehicles for more than just pre-literacy—that drawing and drawings produce critical, creative, and constructive thinking and learning. In this article, the author discusses children’s drawing and drawings as events in which the often divergent interests of children, teachers, and curriculum materialize. Butler’s and Barad’s notions of performativity—the ways in which bodies materialize larger social discourses, such as gender—help the author to make sense of the ways children perform popular culture discourses, such as “monster,” or local classroom discourses, such as “writer,” in the kindergarten classroom. In looking at children’s drawing and drawings as material, discursive, and productive events, the author hopes to expand perceptions of children’s drawing beyond indicators of development, aesthetics, or literacy acquisition into critical, creative, and constructive learning experiences with significant cultural implications.
Acoustic emission–based impact location estimation on composite structures
Authors: Zhou Jingru , Mathews V John , Adams Daniel O
Published: January 2019

In this article, an acoustic emission–based impact location estimation algorithm is presented for use with composite structures. The algorithm is formulated as a constrained optimization problem by utilizing sensor locations and times of arrival of impact signals at the sensors. The impact locations are estimated without any information about wave propagation velocity in the structure. A modification of the algorithm to overcome difficulties produced by waveform reflections enables accurate estimation of impact locations close to the structure’s boundaries. The capability of this algorithm to accurately estimate impact locations is demonstrated numerically and experimentally. Experiments performed at different temperatures showed that the algorithm is robust to temperature changes. An automatic time-of-arrival estimation method is also presented. The performance capabilities of the method and its computational simplicity make this approach an attractive alternative to other methods available in the literature for practical structural health monitoring applications.
Explosive violence: A near-repeat study of hand grenade detonations and shootings in urban Sweden
Authors: Sturup Joakim , Gerell Manne , Rostami Amir
Published: January 2019

Hand grenade attacks have increasingly been reported in Sweden. However, to date no research on the topic exists. The present study aims to describe the illegal use of hand grenades and to test its spatio-temporal relationship with gun violence to explore whether the two forms of violence are connected. Data were collected for the years 2011 to 2016 from the Swedish police and from open sources about hand grenade detonations, which were considered alongside shootings as two types of violence commonly attributed to criminal groups. Descriptive data and trends are presented and spatio-temporal analysis of near-repeat patterns was performed using a near-repeat calculator. All in all, there were 77 incidents of detonated hand grenades in Sweden during the six-year observation period, in which nine individuals were injured and one killed. The number of incidents increased, with about half of the them occurring during the last year. A near-repeat analysis was performed on shootings ( N = 1048) and hand grenades ( N = 55) in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. The shootings exhibit a strong component of near-repeat patterns, but adding hand grenades to the analysis did not strengthen the patterns, suggesting that the two types of violence only partially share spatio-temporal patterns. The study confirms an increase in the use of hand grenades in Sweden, although the reason for the increase is unknown. The increase does fit with the overall changing pattern in violence in urban areas in Sweden, which broadly tends to be attributed to criminal groups in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
Cuban American College Students’ Perceptions Surrounding Their Language and Cultural Identity
Authors: Torres Kelly M. , Tackett Samantha , Arrastia-Chisholm Meagan C.
Published: January 2019

Four waves of Cuban immigrants have arrived to the United States from the early 1960s with the fourth wave still in progress. The changing reasons these immigrants fled Cuba have resulted in diverse characteristics for each wave of immigration. This qualitative study investigated Cuban American students’ perceptions of their cultural background and Spanish proficiencies. The results of this study indicate that all participants possessed limited Spanish proficiencies and a strong desire to maintain their heritage. Implications are discussed in light of the current political climate in the United States.