bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An exploratory factor analysis model for slum severity index in Mexico City
Authors: Roy Debraj , Bernal David , Lees Michael
Published: September 2019

Today, over half of the world’s population lives in urban areas and it is projected that, by 2050, two out of three people will live in a city. This increased rural–urban migration, coupled with housing poverty, has led to the growth and formation of informal settlements, commonly known as slums. In Mexico, 25% of the urban population now live in informal settlements with varying degrees of deprivation. Although some informal neighbourhoods have contributed to the upward mobility of the inhabitants, the majority still lack basic services. Mexico City and the conurbation around it form a mega city of 21million people that has been growing in a manner qualified as ‘highly unproductive, (that) deepens inequality, raises pollution levels’ (available at:   https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/ex/sustainablecitiescollective/making-way-urban-reform-mexico/176466/ ) and contains the largest slum in the world: Neza-Chalco-Izta. Urban reforms are now aiming to improve the conditions in these slums and therefore it is very important to have reliable tools to measure the changes that are underway. In this paper, we use exploratory factor analysis to define an index of shelter deprivation in Mexico City, namely the Slum Severity Index (SSI), based on the UN-HABITAT’s definition of slum. We apply this novel approach to the Census survey of Mexico and measure the shelter deprivation levels of households from 1990 to 2010. The analysis highlights high variability in housing conditions within Mexico City. We find that the SSI decreased significantly between 1990 and 2000 as a result of several policy reforms but increased between 2000 and 2010. We also show correlations of the SSI with other social factors such as education, health and fertility. We present a validation of the SSI using Grey Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) features extracted from Very-High Resolution (VHR) remote-sensed satellite images. Finally, we show that the SSI can present a cardinally meaningful assessment of the extent of deprivation compared with a similar index defined by Connolly (Connolly P (2009) Observing the evolution of irregular settlements: Mexico city’s colonias populares, 1990 to 2005. International Development Planning Review 31: 1–35) that studies shelter deprivation in Mexico.
Delinquent Development Among Early-Onset Offenders: Identifying and Characterizing Trajectories Based on Frequency Across Types of Offending
Authors: Van Hazebroek Babette C. M. , Blokland Arjan A. J. , Wermink Hilde T. , De Keijser Jan W. , Popma Arne , Van Domburgh Lieke
Published: September 2019

Early-onset offending is generally recognized as a risk factor for persistent criminal behavior. However, variation in long-term delinquent development among early-onset offenders remains rather underexplored and poorly understood. We, therefore, used multitrajectory modeling to identify distinct subgroups of early-onset offenders ( n = 708) based on the frequency of offending across several types of offenses up to age 25. We used multinomial regression analysis to characterize subgroups on gender, ethnicity, and childhood neighborhood characteristics. Six offender subgroups could be distinguished in our data: nonrecidivists (51%), sporadic recidivists (25%), and low-rate (8%), moderate-rate (10%), high-rate adult-peaked (3%), and high-rate adolescence-peaked recidivists (3%). Males, minorities, and children from disadvantaged neighborhoods were more likely to follow re-offending trajectories characterized by increased levels of property crime, vandalism, and violent and sexual offenses. Findings are discussed in relation to criminological theory, and recommendations are made for future life-course criminological research.
The Agency of the Paper Plan: The Building Plans of Late Nineteenth-Century and Early Twentieth-Century Berlin
Authors: Amhoff Tilo
Published: September 2019

This article closely investigates the unique visual representations of the building plans of late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century Berlin, and emphasizes the agency of the paper plan in the profession and discipline of Städtebau. Following positions in German media theory, the paper plan is understood and theorized as a medium of bureaucracy and the plan drawing as a set of cultural techniques. In doing so, the article traces the refinement of the instruments for regulating the building of the city—from the building plan, to the building zones plan, to the town development plan. It is argued that the paper plans themselves have agency in seeing the city and hence thinking about the city (through their methods of visual representation), and agency in the formation of graphic terms and concepts (derived from the making of building plans). The paper plans mediated visual and verbal knowledge of the city that would have been inconceivable without them.
Absent pericardium and lung hypoplasia in a child with severe mitral regurgitation
Authors: Khazi Fayaz Mohammed , Abdel Aziz Tarek , Siddiqi Nayyer R , Karaly Yehia , Aljassim Obaid , Al Halees Zohair Yousef
Published: September 2019

An 8-year-old girl with severe mitral regurgitation presented with symptoms of heart failure. Clinical investigations did not raise suspicion of an absent left pericardium. Congenital defects of the pericardium are rare and frequently associated with other cardiac lesions. We describe a case of severe mitral regurgitation in a child in whom an absent left-sided pericardium with hypoplasia of left lung was found incidentally during surgery to repair the mitral valve. We believe such associations with other heart diseases is usually circumstantial but can influence the perioperative morbidity, length of hospital stay, and even alter the surgical management.
Incidence of BRAF V600E mutation in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma: a single-institution experience
Authors: Kure Shoko , Ishino Kousuke , Kudo Mitsuhiro , Wada Ryuichi , Saito Marie , Nagaoka Ryuta , Sugitani Iwao , Naito Zenya
Published: September 2019

Objective

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) accounts for 95% of all thyroid carcinomas. PTC is an epithelial tumor characterized by the proliferation of follicular cells with distinctive nuclear features, and is heterogeneous in terms of its carcinogenesis and behavior. PTC has been associated with several genetic abnormalities, of which the BRAF V600E mutation is the most common. However, reported incidences of this mutation have varied depending on the patient background, population size, or methods. In this study, we investigated the incidence of BRAF V600E mutation and its relationships with clinicopathological characteristics in patients with PTC.

Methods

Surgical specimens were obtained from 40 patients with PTC who underwent surgery at Nippon Medical School Hospital between 2009 and 2017. DNA from exon 15 of the BRAF gene was extracted and amplified by polymerase chain reaction, followed by direct sequencing.

Results

The frequency of BRAF V600E mutation increased with age. However, there were no correlations between BRAF V600E mutation and other clinicopathological features including sex, Hashimoto disease, family history of thyroid disease, tumor size, pathological T stage, pathological N stage, lymphovascular invasion, extrathyroidal extension, and metastasis.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that PTCs harboring the BRAF V600E mutation increased in an age-dependent manner.
Clinical characterization and prognostic implications of metabolic syndrome in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis at a Chinese center
Authors: Zhang Rui-Ning , Hao Hui-Fang , Zhang Wei , Li Qing , Ren Li-Jie , Jia Lan , Wei Fang , Chen Hai-Yan , Wang Zhe , Bi Xue-Qing , Pang Hai-Yan , Jiang Ai-Li , Wei Yi-Liang
Published: September 2019

Objective

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a common clinical condition associated with cardiovascular disease in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD); however, its prognostic implication among patients receiving PD remains controversial.

Methods

In a prospective study from January 2013 and June 2016, we enrolled 190 patients undergoing PD and followed them for 46.4 ± 30.7 months. We assessed the associations of clinical characteristics and measurements with diabetes mellitus (DM) status, MS, and prognostic outcomes among the included patients.

Results

We found that DM was associated with shortened duration of dialysis and poor survival. The prevalence of MS was 58.9% among all patients. We found significant differences in age, body weight, body mass index, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, leukocytes, platelets, neutrophil percentage, and pre-albumin between patients with and without MS. We found a negative correlation trend between serum intact parathyroid hormone and MS among our patients. The arteriosclerosis index was significantly elevated in the MS group compared with the non-MS group. Serum calcium concentration and frequency of hospital admissions were significantly associated with mortality and technique failure.

Conclusions

MS was positively associated with cardiovascular disease. DM, and hypocalcemia. Frequent hospital admissions can predict poor prognosis in patients undergoing PD.
The ‘factory manager dilemma’: Purchasing practices and environmental upgrading in apparel global value chains
Authors: Khan Mahwish J , Ponte Stefano , Lund-Thomsen Peter
Published: September 2019

Economic and environmental upgrading in global value chains are intertwined processes. The existing global value chain literature has so far articulated the relationships between economic and social upgrading but has only recently started to explore the challenges of environmental upgrading from the perspective of suppliers in the Global South. In this article, we examine the ‘factory manager dilemma’ as a way of conceptualising the purchasing practices and environmental upgrading requirements faced by suppliers in their dealings with lead firms in global value chains. Specifically, we analyse the environmental upgrading challenges experienced by Pakistani apparel firms. We conclude that Pakistani apparel suppliers are required both to absorb the consequences of global buyers’ unsustainable purchasing practices and to reduce their own profitability – all in the name of sustainability.
Prevenzione primaria della malattia cardiovascolare: c’è bisogno di un’aspirina?
Authors: Floccari Fulvio , Marrocco Fulvio , Rivera Rodolfo , Di Lullo Luca
Published: September 2019

The efficacy of antiplatelet treatment with aspirin in the primary prevention of major cardiovascular events was questioned during 2018, following a new series of trials that we summarize here in a quick synoptic overview.

The three studies involved are the ASPREE trial, the ASCEND study and the ARRIVE trial. These studies all have a double-blind randomized design, and 100 mg/day aspirin was administered with an intention-to-treat approach and against placebo.

Age of the enrolled patients, prevalence of diabetes mellitus and geographical location of other studies are just some of the elements analyzed here, in addition to the different problems of cardiovascular events.

The ASPREE study observed a marginal reduction of cardiovascular events with the use of aspirin, by approximately 5% with a confidence interval at risk of insignificancy. On the other hand, the increased risk of a hemorrhagic event appeared to be rather robust, resulting between 18% and 62%.

The ASCEND study observed a reduction in cardiovascular events of around 12%, offset by an increase in the risk of major bleeding between 9% and 52%.

The ARRIVE study did not detect any incidence of major cardiovascular events, while the risk of major bleeding appeared to even double.

The evidences of the current literature push us to review a widespread conviction among professionals who fight the war against cardiovascular disease every day: the prescription of aspirin in the primary prevention can no longer happen systematically, and every single prescription need care between benefits and dangers connected to the treatment.
The effectiveness of credibility indicator interventions in a partisan context
Authors: Duncan Megan
Published: September 2019

Audiences, who cannot investigate the credibility of most news stories for themselves, rely on noncontent heuristic cues to form credibility judgments. For most media, these heuristics were stable over time. Emerging formats of journalism, however, require audiences to learn to interpret what new heuristics credibility cues mean about the story’s credibility. In an experiment, participants (N = 254) were given instructions about how to interpret the credibility cues in three formats as they read a politicized news story, which were compared with a control condition with no instructions. Results show the timing and source increase the effectiveness of the instructions.
“When a Girl Says No, You Should Be Persistent Until She Says Yes”: College Students and Their Beliefs About Consent
Authors: Baldwin-White Adrienne
Published: September 2019

One in five college women report being sexually assaulted with 23% to 45% of men reporting attempting or completing a sexual assault while attending a university. One important concept in preventing sexual assault is consent. It is important to ensure that when students are being asked to wait for consent, they understand what consent is and the potential ways it could manifest in a sexual situation. In total, 25 female and 20 male college students participated in semistructured focus groups or interviews to gain a better understanding of their perspectives of consent and how they ensure that it has been given. Results demonstrate that college students do not have a consistent, coherent, or precise definition of consent. Participants often described consent using vague language and were only able to clearly identify verbal indicators of consent. Much of the discussion of consent centered around an individual’s ability or inability to clearly and directly communicate his or her needs. Data also show that how students communicate about consent is influenced by gender expectations. There are multiple complicating factors when determining consent, including alcohol consumption. Participants discussed not understanding how to navigate sexual encounters when one or both parties had been consuming alcohol. Results also showed that there are multiple factors that may lead women to say yes to sex they don’t want, and men to not ask for consent. For college students, consent is a complex concept—a concept they may not have a practical and useful definition of. Sexual assault prevention must take steps to provide college students with a definition of consent informed by their experiences and the reality of their sexual encounters.
Do All Employees Benefit From Daily Networking? The Moderating Effect of the Affiliation Motive
Authors: Volmer Judith , Schulte Eva-Maria , Handke Lisa , Rodenbücher Leonie , Tröger Laura
Published: September 2019

Networking is a viable career self-management strategy. Most studies so far in the networking domain have focused on long-term consequences and used a between-person trait approach. To address recent calls for more time-oriented approaches in career research, we extend the existing research by conducting a diary study over five consecutive working days ( N = 59 employees). Specifically, we examined the within-person relationship between networking and career-related outcomes (i.e., task performance and career optimism). Further, adopting a motivational approach, we investigated whether need for affiliation moderates the daily networking career-related outcomes association. Our findings lend support to the moderating role of the need for affiliation in the relationship between daily networking and both daily task performance and daily career optimism. Our study connects motivation research with networking research by means of a dynamic approach that helps to understand the short-term effects of networking.
Addressing workforce needs by disrupting traditional industry–higher education relations: The case of El Salvador
Authors: Navarro Richard A. , Barbarasa Estera , Thakkar Ami
Published: September 2019

The authors analyze the recent undertaking in El Salvador to establish an innovative model of industry–higher education clusters that would facilitate collaboration between academia and the private sector – sectors that traditionally had not worked together because of historical distrust – to develop the skilled workforce needed for the country’s future economic growth. Under the USAID Higher Education for Economic Growth project implemented by RTI International, clusters were put forth as the platform for building sustainable partnerships between industry and higher education – facilitating dialogue, stepping into each other’s world and collaboration on curriculum planning, student internships, and applied research. The clusters have pushed Salvadoran universities to become more agile organizations, able to pivot to meet industry skills demands, and industries to recognize universities’ contributions to the creation of value for increased productivity. The El Salvador case is a collaborative multi-stakeholder model to meet workplace requirements for high-growth industries in low- to middle-income economies.
Development and characterization of structural adhesives for aerospace industry with alumina nanoparticles under shear and thermo-mechanical impact loads
Authors: Khashaba UA , Othman Ramzi , Najjar Ismael MR
Published: September 2019

The present work aims to improve the mechanical properties of Epocast 50-A1/946 epoxy via incorporation of alumina nanoparticles using an ultrasonic agitation method. The optimum weight percentage of alumina nanoparticles was determined based on the improvement in the shear and impact properties of the nanocomposites at room temperature and 50 ℃. Accordingly, neat epoxy panels and nanocomposite panels with 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 wt% alumina nanoparticles were fabricated. The shear and thermo-mechanical impact properties of the panels were measured using an instrumented drop-weight impact machine and an Iosipescu shear test fixture, respectively, according to ASTMs D5379 and D7136. The maximum improvement in shear strength and modulus was 10.9% and 8.1%, respectively, for the nanocomposites containing 1.0 and 1.5 wt% alumina nanoparticles. The predicted shear moduli of the nanocomposites agreed well with the measured values with a maximum error of 6.52%. The optimal performance of impact properties was achieved by incorporating 1.0 wt% of alumina nanoparticles. Namely, the maximum impact-bending stiffness, contact force, and absorbed energy were increased by 12.9%, 13.0%, and 23.4%, respectively. The test temperature of 50 ℃ was found to have a negative effect on the impact-bending stiffness and the maximum contact force. On the other hand, the absorbed energy was increased up to 12.1%.
Course-based exhibitions: Serendipity in the physical and digital spaces of academic libraries
Authors: Fralin Scott , Rogers Alice
Published: September 2019

Library exhibition practices vary significantly between institutions, depending on expertise, resources and goals of the individual library. The University Libraries at Virginia Tech have supported and developed two exhibition programmes within the past 6 years, both with a focus on showcasing products and processes from classes around campus rather than library materials and artefacts. While such work is unique, it can provide valuable experiences both for the contributors and for the creators of these exhibitions, as well as those who see and interact with them. In this article, we discuss the history and origins of these programmes, the Course Exhibit Initiative and the Active Learning Curation Program, how they work and the outcomes they strive to achieve. We discuss the workflows that we take to showcase the work of our contributors and demonstrate how these programmes share some outcomes with exhibit programmes based in special collections but have their own unique challenges and opportunities. Finally, we make the case that the output of these two exhibit programmes provides a new experience of serendipity in libraries.
Late diagnosis of HIV: A lookback on cases in North Cumbria
Authors: Khalifeh B , Phillips M , Barton E
Published: September 2019

Late diagnosis of HIV remains a threat to personal and public health – both increasing the morbidity and mortality of the person and also increasing the chance of unknowingly transmitting HIV. Many HIV testing initiatives, including those of the British HIV Association (BHIVA), focus on levels of high prevalence (greater than 2:1000). However, late diagnosis can be an issue in areas of low prevalence – areas which can be less densely populated and in some cases classified as rural. In our rural catchment area, late diagnosis is an issue with 67% diagnosed late in 2015 (which is skewed by the single figure diagnoses). This lookback examined the number of missed opportunities for HIV diagnosis over a seven-year period and found that where diagnoses were made late in the context of a person having previously presented for care, unexplained weight loss, blood dyscrasias and lymphadenopathy were the most common presentations that could have triggered a HIV test.
Improving the provision of clinical skills teaching for undergraduate medical students during their psychiatry placement: a trainee-led quality improvement project
Authors: Davies Joanne , Churchhouse Gabrielle , Buckley Melissa
Published: September 2019

Objective:

To increase the provision of clinical skills training during their psychiatry placement by providing a new teaching course to enhance both their clinical knowledge and communication skills.

Method:

We delivered a pilot teaching course consisting of five workshops (incorporating facilitated, ‘near peer’ role-play) during the students’ psychiatry placement. Qualitative and quantitative feedback was collected pre- and post-course to allow for development of the course.

Results:

Data collected indicated that all students found the course a valuable addition to their usual teaching. They indicated that their confidence in their ability to assess patients with common clinical problems improved.

Conclusions:

This trainee-led course was easily integrated into the curriculum and received positive feedback from students. It may have enhanced students’ confidence and readiness for exams but this will require further examination of objective assessments and ongoing research to establish this.
Deployment performance of shape memory polymer composite hinges at low temperature
Authors: Le Van Luong , Le Vinh Tung , Goo Nam Seo
Published: September 2019

Shape memory polymer composite hinges, adapted for possible space applications, were successfully designed and fabricated, and performance tests at room temperature confirmed their full recoverability in our previous studies. Since shape memory polymer composite hinges are intended for space applications, they should be able to operate at low temperature. Even though the deployment of the hinge at room temperature triggered by the stimulation of a heating element has been quite promising, a suitable design for a shape memory polymer composite hinge with a heating element is more important at low temperatures because shape memory polymer composite hinges lose much heat to the environment. The recoverability of shape memory polymer composite hinges and the impact of the heating element design on the deployment time at low temperature are brought to light in this article. A shape memory polymer composite hinge with an attached heating element was fabricated as in our previous studies. The necessary power and supply power for deployment of the shape memory polymer composite hinge at a low temperature of –10°C were calculated, and a finite element analysis for the heating process was performed with the supply power. A folding and deployment test of the shape memory polymer composite hinge at –10°C was performed to show its shape recoverability. However, the shape memory polymer composite hinge did not deploy to its original shape. To determine the reason, measurements of temperature distribution were done using an infrared camera and thermocouples. The results revealed that the low temperature along the two side edges of the shape memory polymer composite tape prevented full deployment of the shape memory polymer composite hinge, which also revealed the need for design modification. The folding and deployment test of our modified shape memory polymer composite hinge demonstrated a nearly full deployment.
Different Shades of Greenwashing: Consumers’ Reactions to Environmental Lies, Half-Lies, and Organizations Taking Credit for Following Legal Obligations
Authors: de Jong Menno D. T. , Huluba Gabriel , Beldad Ardion D.
Published: September 2019

Although corporate greenwashing is a widespread phenomenon, few studies have investigated its effects on consumers. In these studies, consumers were exposed to organizations that boldly lied about their green behaviors. Most greenwashing practices in real life, however, do not involve complete lies. This article describes a randomized 3 × 2 experimental study in the cruise industry investigating the effects of various degrees of greenwashing. Six experimental conditions were created based on behavioral-claim greenwashing (an organization telling the truth vs. its telling lies or half-lies) and motive greenwashing (an organization acting on its own initiative vs. its taking credit for following legal obligations). Dependent variables were three corporate reputation constructs: environmental performance, product and service quality, and financial performance. Compared to true green behavior, lies and half-lies had similar negative effects on reputation. Taking credit for following legal obligations had no main effect. Only in the case of true green behavior did undeservedly taking credit affect reputation negatively. Overall, the findings suggest that only true green behavior will have the desired positive effects on reputation.
Treatment for Challenging Behaviors: Are IDEA Part C Interventionists Using Functional Interventions?
Authors: Dickinson Sarah , Shaffer-Hudkins Emily , Raffaele Mendez Linda M.
Published: September 2019

Little is known about the specific practices of early interventionists, despite many young children receiving early intervention services through Part C of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. The aim of this study was to examine knowledge and use of functionally appropriate evidence-based interventions for challenging behaviors among Part C interventionists. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with a sample of 10 interventionists who served infants and toddlers with challenging behaviors in one region in the state of Florida. These interviews included questions about the interventionists’ own cases as well as vignettes representing common early childhood behavioral issues. Thematic analysis of responses resulted in six themes and one subtheme reflecting insufficient training and confusion regarding best practices in functional assessment and intervention for challenging behaviors. Although interventionists were using a variety of functional interventions, most were not implementing these interventions systematically. Implications for early intervention programs are discussed.
Disruptive Experiences as Tools for Teacher Education: Unearthing the Potential of Experiential Education
Authors: Bolick Cheryl M. , Glazier Jocelyn , Stutts Christoph
Published: September 2019

Background: This study examines the role of a weeklong experiential residency program on teachers’ beliefs about self and practice. Purpose: The goal of two separate intensive experiences was to help teachers generate new insight about the place of students, the teacher, and the school that extended beyond a surface-level understanding of experiential education. Methodology/Approach: Through a qualitative approach, the research team used field notes, course documents, participant reflections, researcher journals, and follow-up interviews to analyze the impact of participants’ immersion in either of the experiential outdoor residencies. Findings/Conclusions: The unpredictable nature of the physical and social environment of the experiential week helped teachers to see the central role of community in the learning process. Furthermore, teacher responses to the experience defied simple categorization along a prior theoretical construct. Teachers indicated a growing confidence in their ability to seek out and overcome challenges across multiple domains. Implications: These teachers were challenged to integrate multiple social and emotional aspects of self into their learning, while envisioning the same for their own students. Their experiences and reflections support an expanded role for immersive experiences outside of the traditional classroom in teacher education.
Autologous Osteochondral Graft for Early Posttraumatic Arthritis of Tibiotalar Joints After Comminuted Pilon Fractures in Young Patients
Authors: Liu Xi , An Jingjing , Zhang Hui , Li Yaxing , Chen Yu , Zhang Wen
Published: September 2019

Background:

Posttraumatic arthritis of tibiotalar joints after AO/OTA type C3 pilon fractures, especially in young patients with a significant osteochondral defect in the tibial plafond joint surface, is a challenging situation. We report a joint-preserving technique using autologous osteochondral graft in combination with ankle distraction and supramalleolar osteotomy (SMOT), if necessary, to improve its outcome.

Methods:

Seventeen patients with an average age of 32.1 years with Takakura grade 1 to 3A posttraumatic arthritis of the tibiotalar joint after AO/OTA type C3 pilon fractures received osteochondral autograft transplantation, ankle distraction, and SMOT, when supramalleolar malalignment was present, between February 2010 and November 2015. The visual analog scale (VAS), Short-Form 36 (SF-36) score, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and ankle range of motion were used for outcome analysis. Radiographic assessment of any SMOT and the apparent joint space was performed. Fourteen patients were followed for an average of 18 months.

Results:

The VAS, SF-36, and AOFAS scores as well as the ankle range of motion all improved significantly at the last follow-up after the surgery ( P < .01). No deep surgical site infection, donor site complication, nonunion, osteochondral block loosening, or resorption was noted. No secondary arthrodesis was needed at the end of follow-up.

Conclusion:

Autologous osteochondral graft transplantation in combination with ankle distraction and SMOT was a promising joint-preserving technique for early posttraumatic arthritis of tibiotalar joint after severe pilon fractures in young patients.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, case series.
ROC Analyses of Relevant Conners 3–Short Forms, CBCL, and TRF Scales for Screening ADHD and ODD
Authors: Gomez Rapson , Vance Alasdair , Watson Shaun , Stavropoulos Vasileios
Published: September 2019

Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to examine and compare the diagnostic accuracy of the Conners 3–Parent Short Form (C 3-P(S)), and the Conners 3–Teacher Short Form (C 3-T(S)) inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity scales, and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Teacher’s Report Form (TRF) attention problems scales, to distinguish those with and without attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It also examined and compared the diagnostic accuracy of the C 3-P(S) and C 3-T(S) Aggression (AG) scales, and the CBCL and TRF Aggressive Behavior (AB) scales, to distinguish those with and without oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). The study used archival data ( N = 150-261) involving a large group of clinic-referred children aged between 6 and 11 years who had been interviewed for clinical diagnosis of ADHD and ODD using the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children (ADISC-IV) as the reference standard, and then administered one or more of the screening measures. The findings provided empirical support for the use of the C 3-P(S) and CBCL for identifying ADHD and ODD, with the CBCL aggressive behavior scale having better ability to detect ODD. The implications of the findings for using the screening scales for diagnoses of ADHD and ODD are discussed.
Aberrant Cyclin E and Hepatocyte Growth Factor Expression, Microvascular Density, and Micro-Lymphatic Vessel Density in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Xie Bo , Wang Yuanyuan , He Jingkang , Ni Zhengzheng , Chai Damin
Published: September 2019

Cyclin E and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) have been observed as a multifaceted factor in many cancers, and the assessment of microvascular density (MVD) and micro-lymphatic vessel density (MLVD) has been used to quantify tumor angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. The aim of this study was to explore the association between expression of cyclin E, HGF, MVD, and MLVD, and clinicopathologic parameters in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The expression of cyclin E, HGF, MVD, and MLVD were detected using immunohistochemically anticyclin E, HGF, CD34, and lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 in 168 surgically resected ESCC cases and 30 normal esophageal mucosal samples. The expression levels of cyclin E, HGF, MVD, and MLVD were higher compared to controls. High cyclin E and HGF expression was found more frequently in the tumors larger than 5 cm ( P < .001), with poorer differentiation ( P = .034) and higher tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging ( P = .009) compared to their counterparts. Both MVD and MLVD values were found to be higher in the tumors larger than 5 cm ( P < .001), with poorer differentiation ( P < .001) and higher TNM staging ( P < .001) compared to their counterparts. Furthermore, the expression of MVD and MLVD in both the high cyclin E and high HGF expression groups was significantly higher compared to the low cyclin E and HGF expression groups ( P < .001). This study demonstrated that high cyclin E and HGF expression is closely correlated with tumor size, tumor differentiation degree, and TNM stage in patients with ESCC. These findings proposed that cyclin E and HGF could serve as novel molecular markers for preoperational evaluation of ESCC.
Vibration analysis of functionally graded circular plates of variable thickness under thermal environment by generalized differential quadrature method
Authors: Lal Roshan , Saini Rahul
Published: September 2019

The vibration of functionally graded circular plates of variable thickness under a thermal environment is analyzed when the nodal lines are concentric circles by using the generalized differential quadrature method for the nonlinear temperature distribution in the thickness direction. The parabolic variation in thickness along the radial direction is controlled by a taper constant. The plate material is graded in the transverse direction and its mechanical properties are temperature-dependent. The thermal environment over the top and bottom surfaces of the plate is assumed to be uniform. Hamilton's principle has been used in obtaining the governing differential equations for thermo-elastic equilibrium and axisymmetric motion for such a plate model employing Kirchhoff plate theory. Numerical results for thermal displacements and natural frequencies of clamped and simply supported plates have been obtained using MATLAB. The effect of the taper constant, volume fraction index, and temperature difference on the vibration characteristics has been analyzed for the lowest three modes of vibration. A study in which the plate material has temperature-independent properties has also been performed. The accuracy of the present technique is verified by comparing the results with those available in the literature.
Vibration control analysis of vehicle steering system based on combination of finite-element analysis and modal testing
Authors: He Shuilong , Tang Tao , Xu Enyong , Ye Mingsong , Zheng Weiguang
Published: September 2019

Determining the natural frequency distribution is of great importance in studying the vibration of the steering system in a commercial vehicle. A high-speed vibration frequency sweep experiment on an unladen commercial vehicle was conducted to determine the resonance frequency of the vehicle components. A vibration waterfall plot of the collected vibration data revealed that the cause of the vibration was frequency coupling resonance between the steering wheel vibration frequency and the second-order rotation frequency of the tire. Thus, a combined optimization of the structure of the rigid bearing parts of the steering fixed support and the steering column structure was proposed. A combination of finite-element analysis and modal testing method was undertaken to verify the effectiveness of the proposed combined structural improvement; the results demonstrated the consistency of the combined methods and showed that the natural frequency of the improved steering structures, together with the vibration amplitude, had changed. This study demonstrated the feasibility of the combined modal testing and finite-element analysis method, provided more information on the vibration transfer characteristics related to the vehicle subsystems, and provided a reference for the structural design of steering systems with reduced vibration.
Preoperative Physiology, Imaging, and Management of Coarctation of Aorta in Children
Authors: Ganigara Madhusudan , Doshi Arpan , Naimi Iman , Mahadevaiah Guru Prasad , Buddhe Sujatha , Chikkabyrappa Sathish M.
Published: September 2019

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a narrowing of the proximal thoracic aorta typically located at the junction of the aorta with the ductus arteriosus. While it is a simple lesion to understand, considerable variation exists in the anatomy and pathophysiology, leading to varied clinical presentation, management options, and prognosis. On the one hand critical CoA manifests in the neonatal period as a duct-dependent lesion, while less severe forms of obstruction present later in childhood or adulthood as hypertension or incidentally noted precordial murmurs. While transthoracic echocardiography is usually adequate, older children and adults may need more advanced imaging modalities like computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging prior to intervention. Depending on the type of lesion, management options currently available include surgery and percutaneous balloon angioplasty and stenting. Even after successful interventions, these patients need life-long surveillance for residual aortic obstruction and systemic hypertension with variable long-term clinical outcomes.
Rapid impact evaluation
Authors: Rowe Andy
Published: September 2019

Rapid Impact Evaluation offers the potential to evaluate impacts in both ex ante and ex post settings, providing utility for developmental and formative evaluation as well as the usual summative settings. Rapid Impact Evaluation triangulates judgments of three separate groups of experts to assess the incremental change in effects attributable to the program. Three methodological innovations are central to the method: the scenario-based counterfactual, a simplified approach to measuring change in effects, and an interest-based approach to stakeholder engagement. In evaluations to date, Rapid Impact Evaluation has proved to be a cost effective and nimble approach to assessing impacts and does not intrude on design or implementation of the program. By applying recent thinking on use-seeking research emphasizing joint knowledge processes over knowledge products, Rapid Impact Evaluation promotes salience, legitimacy, and credibility with decision makers and key stakeholders. Applications show Rapid Impact Evaluation to be fit for purpose.
The constitutive effects of evaluation systems: Lessons from the policymaking process of Danish Active Labour Market Policies
Authors: Andersen Niklas Andreas
Published: September 2019

In recent years, evaluation research has taken an increasing interest in the proliferation of evaluation systems. One of the main assumptions being that such evaluation systems can enhance the use of evaluations and their findings. The current article analyses this assumption by empirically studying the workings of a specific evaluation system within the Danish Ministry of Employment. By applying the concept of constitutive effects, the article analyses how the evaluation system affects processes of policymaking within the central government. It is shown how the institutionalisation of an evidence-based evaluation system, at the ministerial level, structures the process of policymaking around a specific understanding of policy content, timeframes and expertise. Based on these findings, it is argued that evaluation systems can both enhance the instrumental use of evaluations and significantly alter policymaking processes.
Study on subjective sensation and physiological reaction with high physical activity influenced by air temperature of stadium
Authors: Xiao Yongqiang , Gao Yaping , Wang Yi
Published: September 2019

As the main venue for sports training and competition, the thermal environment of a stadium directly could affect the comfort and health of a moving body and sports performance. In this study, the quantitative relationship between ambient temperature and subjective sensation evaluation was established by monitoring the actual thermal sensation evaluation, fatigue sensation cognition and physiological response with high physical activity, under different conditions of ambient temperature. The results show that 90% of subjects can actually accept an ambient temperature range of 18.6°C–26°C. This is 2°C higher than the maximum recommended range in the ISO 7730:2005 thermal comfort standard, reflecting a strong tolerance of the moving human body to low or high temperature environments. A high temperature environment could cause exercise fatigue to occur prematurely. Moreover, the study suggests that the critical point for early occurrence of fatigue sensation in a moving human body is 28°C. The relationship between the environmental temperature and the physiological response was evaluated by mean skin temperature, blood pressure and heart rate of the human body. These are used as evaluation indexes of physiological parameters. Ambient temperature has a significant effect on the objective physiological response of the moving human body, which coincides with the subject’s definition of subjective sensory evaluation to the ambient temperature.
Headgear-induced temporary pressure alopecia
Authors: Liu Catherine , Abbas Faisal , Seehra Jadbinder
Published: September 2019

The development of hair loss associated with headgear use is a rare phenomenon. Pressure alopecia is a condition characterised by localised, non-scarring hair loss attributed to a mechanical cause. Factors such as prolonged periods of peri- and postoperative immobility have been implicated, as well as immunological and genetic predisposing factors. If the mechanical trauma is very prolonged, there is a risk of permanent follicle damage due to tissue hypoxia. A 13-year-old boy wore high-pull headgear as part of his orthodontic management. Within four weeks of headgear wear, localised areas of hair loss were seen corresponding with the areas of contact with the force delivery modules of the headgear. The patient experienced bullying at school as a result of this hair loss. Hair regrowth resumed after headgear use was discontinued, therefore confirming the diagnosis of temporary pressure alopecia. Temporary pressure alopecia is a rare side effect of orthodontic headgear. Alopecia can negatively impact an individual’s psychosocial wellbeing; therefore, caution should be taken to avoid prolonged or excessive pressure in susceptible individuals and headgear patients should be regularly monitored.
Here is a place for you/know your place: Critiquing “biopedagogy” embedded in images of the female body in fitness advertising
Authors: Drake Carly , Radford Scott K.
Published: September 2019

The historically masculine realm of sport has not always been welcoming to women. Today, women have found a place in sport culture, but contemporary media position and address them as objects whose bodies are public goods available for interested parties to judge. In this critical reading of fitness advertisements targeting female recreational endurance runners, we combine poststructuralist feminist theory and a hermeneutic methodology to investigate if and how advertisements participate in this practice. Given the body’s salience at the intersection of sport, the marketplace, and media, we focus on how the body is depicted. We find that advertisements treat the body as a machine, prescribing and normalizing an obsession with athletics. They glorify the pursuit of the ideal running body through athletics and discount women’s potential in and contributions to sport. In this way, advertisements function as a “biopedagogy” that teaches consumers how a suitable body appears and functions.
Disgust Proneness and Personal Space in Children
Authors: Schienle Anne , Schwab Daniela
Published: September 2019

Individuals vary in their personal space (PS) size as reflected by the preferred distance to another person during social interactions. A previous study with adults showed that pathogen-relevant disgust proneness (DP) predicted PS magnitude. The present study investigated whether this association between DP and PS already exists in 8- to 12-year-old children (144 girls, 101 boys). The children answered a disgust questionnaire with the two trait dimensions “core disgust (contact with spoiled food and poor hygiene) and “death-relevant disgust” (imagined contact with dead and dying organisms). PS magnitude was assessed with a paper–pencil measure (drawing a PS bubble; Experiment 1) or with the stop-distance task (preferred distance to an approaching woman or man; Experiment 2). In both experiments, only death-related disgust predicted PS magnitude and only if the approaching person was male. The current study questions the relevance of pathogen-related disgust in children for regulating interpersonal distance.
Feasibility of Conducting Nonpharmacological Interventions to Manage Dementia Symptoms in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Park Juyoung , Tolea Magdalena I. , Sherman Diane , Rosenfeld Amie , Arcay Victoria , Lopes Yve , Galvin James E.
Published: September 2019

This study assessed the feasibility of conducting 3 nonpharmacological interventions with older adults in dementia, exploring the effects of chair yoga (CY), compared to music intervention (MI) and chair-based exercise (CBE) in this population. Using a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT), 3 community sites were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to CY, MI, or CBE. Participants attended twice-weekly 45-minute sessions for 12 weeks. Thirty-one participants were enrolled; 27 safely completed the interventions and final data collection (retention rate of 87%). Linear mixed modeling was performed to examine baseline and longitudinal group differences. The CY group improved significantly in quality of life compared to the MI group (CY mean = 35.6, standard deviation [SD] = 3.8; MI mean = 29.9, SD = 5.3, P = .010). However, no significant group differences were observed in physical function, behavioral, or psychological symptoms (eg, for mini-PPT: slopetime = 0.01, standard error [SE] = 0.3, P = .984 in the CBE group; slopetime = −0.1, SE = 0.3, P = .869 in the MI group; slopetime = −0.3, SE = 0.3, P = .361 in the CY group) over the 12-week intervention period. Overall, this pilot study is notable as the first cluster RCT of a range of nonpharmacological interventions to examine the feasibility of such interventions in older adults, most with moderate-to-severe dementia. Future clinical trials should be conducted to examine the effects of nonpharmacological interventions for older adults with dementia on health outcomes.