bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Perception and Comprehension of Audiovisual Advertisements Among Learners of Polish
Authors: Bartosik Dominika
Published: December 2020

The Perception and Comprehension of Audiovisual Advertisements Among Learners of PolishThe main aim of this article is to examine the extent to which international learners of the Polish language are able to understand audio-visual advertisements based on idiomatic phrases. To answer this question, research was conducted amongst students of B2 level or higher, according to the Common European Framework of References for Languages (Council of Europe, 2002). This paper joins two distinct but inseparable disciplines in this field of study – namely marketing and language – in order to demonstrate audio-visual commercial advertising as a language discourse. Postrzeganie i rozumienie reklam audiowizualnych wśród uczących się języka polskiego jako obcegoCelem artykułu jest zbadanie, w jakim stopniu uczący się języka polskiego jako obcego są w stanie zrozumieć audiowizualne przekazy reklamowe, oparte na związkach idiomatycznych. Aby odpowiedzieć na to pytanie, przeprowadzono badania wśród studentów na poziomie B2 lub wyższym, zgodnie z Europejskim systemem kształcenia językowego (Rada Europy, 2002). Artykuł ten łączy dwie odrębne, ale nierozłączne dyscypliny nauki – marketing i lingwistykę – w celu przedstawienia reklamy audiowizualnej jako dyskursu językowego.
The Crucial Role of Synoptic Pattern in Determining the Spatial Distribution and Diurnal Cycle of Heavy Rainfall over the South China Coast
Authors: Wang Chenli , Zhao Kun , Huang Anning , Chen Xingchao , Rao Xiaona
Published: December 2020

The South China coast suffers frequent heavy rainfall every warm season. Based on the objective classification method of principal components analysis, the key role of the synoptic pattern in determining the heavy rainfall processes that occurred over the South China coast in the warm season during 2008–18 is examined in this study. We found that heavy rainfall occurs most frequently under three typical synoptic patterns (P1–P3 hereafter) characterized by strong low-level onshore winds. P1 and P3 feature a prevailing southwesterly monsoonal flow in the lower troposphere, with heavy rainfall frequently occurring over the inland windward region in the afternoon associated with the orographic lifting and solar heating. The onshore wind of P3 is stronger than P1 as the western Pacific subtropical high extends more westward to 122°E, which induces stronger low-level convergence along the coastline than P1 when the ageostrophic wind veers from the offshore to onshore direction in the early morning. Hence, a secondary early morning rainfall peak can be found along the coastline. P2 is characterized by a low-level vortex located over the southwest portion of south China. Heavy rainfall under P2 usually initiates over the western part of the coastal region in the morning and then propagates inland in the afternoon. Overall, the synoptic patterns strongly determine the spatial distribution and diurnal cycle of heavy rainfall over the South China coast. This heavy rainfall is closely related to the diurnally varying low-level onshore winds rather than the low-level jets, as well as the different interactions between the low-level onshore winds and the local orography, coastline, and land–sea breeze circulations under different synoptic patterns.
A Theory of the Spring Persistence Barrier on ENSO. Part I: The Role of ENSO Period
Authors: Jin Yishuai , Liu Zhengyu
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we investigate the role of the period of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the spring persistence barrier (SPB), mainly using the neutral recharge oscillator (NRO) model both analytically and numerically. It is suggested that a shorter ENSO period strengthens the SPB. Moreover, in contrast to the strict phase locking of the SPB in the Langevin equation, the phase of the SPB is no longer locked exactly to a particular time of the calendar year in the NRO model. Instead, the phases of the SPB for different initial months shift earlier with lag months of maximum persistence decline. In particular, the phase of the SPB will be shifted from the early summer to early spring, corresponding to the initial months of the early half year and later half year. This feature demonstrates that for the later half year, ENSO predictability decreases as the presence of ENSO period. For realistic parameters, the range of the phase change is modest, smaller than 2–3 months. A similar phase shift is also identified for the SPB in the damped ENSO regime, unstable ENSO regime, and observations. Our theory provides a null hypothesis for the role of ENSO period with regard to the SPB.
The Three-Cornered Hat Method for Estimating Error Variances of Three or More Atmospheric Datasets. Part I: Overview and Evaluation
Authors: Sjoberg Jeremiah P. , Anthes Richard A. , Rieckh Therese
Published: December 2020

The three-cornered hat (3CH) method, which was originally developed to assess the random errors of atomic clocks, is a means for estimating the error variances of three different datasets. Here we give an overview of the historical development of the 3CH and select other methods for estimating error variances that use either two or three datasets. We discuss similarities and differences between these methods and the 3CH method. This study assesses the sensitivity of the 3CH method to the factors that limit its accuracy, including sample size, outliers, different magnitudes of errors between the datasets, biases, and unknown error correlations. Using simulated datasets for which the errors and their correlations among the datasets are known, this analysis shows the conditions under which the 3CH method provides the most and least accurate estimates. The effect of representativeness errors caused by differences in vertical resolution of datasets is investigated. These representativeness errors are generally small relative to the magnitude of the random errors in the datasets, and the impact of this source of errors can be reduced by appropriate filtering.
Does the use of fish oil-based lipid emulsion in the clinical setting of total parenteral nutrition and lipid rescue therapy interfere with common laboratory analytes on Roche Cobas 6000?
Authors: Tan Jun Guan , Wong Moh Sim
Published: December 2020

Background

Lipaemic interference on automated analysers has been widely studied using soy-based emulsion such as Intralipid. Due to the greater adoption of fish oil-based lipid emulsion for total parenteral nutrition in view of improved clinical outcomes, we seek to characterize the optical properties of SMOFlipid 20% (Fresenius Kabi, Bad Homburg, Germany), a fish oil-based emulsion, on the Roche Cobas 6000 chemistry analyser (Roche Diagnostic, Basel, Switzerland).

Method

Various amounts of SMOFlipid were spiked into pooled serums. We plotted Roche Cobas Serum Index Gen.2 Lipaemia Index (L-index) against the amount of SMOFlipid added. We then studied the interference thresholds for aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, albumin and renal panel analytes using SMOFlipid. We subjected five levels of spiked lipaemia to high-speed centrifugation and analysed the specimens pre- and post-centrifugation. To postulate whether fish oil-based lipid emulsion interferes with laboratory results in the clinical setting, we calculated concentrations of SMOFlipid post-lipid rescue therapy and steady-state concentration of a typical total parenteral nutrition regime using pharmacokinetic principles.

Results

SMOFlipid optical behaviour is similar to Intralipid using the Serum Index Gen.2 L-index, with 1 mg/dL of SMOFlipid representing 1 unit of L-index. Manufacturer-stated interference thresholds are accurate for alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin, urea and creatinine. High-speed centrifugation at 60 min 21,100 g facilitates the removal of fish oil-based SMOFlipid.

Conclusion

Based on the interference thresholds we verified and pharmacokinetics parameters provided by SMOFlipid manufacturer, total parenteral nutrition may not interfere with chemistry analytes given sufficient clearance, but lipid rescue therapy will interfere. Further studies assessing lipaemic interference on immunoassays are needed.
Occupational Performance Coaching for Mothers of Children with Disabilities in India
Authors: Angelin C. Suja , Sugi S. , Rajendran K.
Published: December 2020

Background.

Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC) aims to help mothers plan and manage theirs and their children’s occupational performance.

Purpose.

To assess the effectiveness of OPC in improving occupational performance and parenting competence of mothers of children with disabilities in an Indian context.

Method.

Mixed method design was used. Thirty-six mothers were assigned to intervention or control groups. Occupational performance and parenting competence were measured at three time points. Semi-structured interviews were used.

Findings.

OPC had significant effects on children’s occupational performance ( p < 0.001), mothers’ occupational performance ( p < 0.001), and self-competence ( p = 0.003). There was also a significant difference between control and intervention groups in occupational performance ( p = 0.001) and satisfaction ( p = 0.003). Interviews revealed three themes: acceptance, self-learning, and challenges during OPC.

Implications.

OPC is effective in improving the occupational performance and parenting competence of mothers of children with disabilities in varied cultural contexts.
How and Why Does Franchise Ownership Affect Human Resource Practices? Evidence from the US Hotel Industry
Authors: Lakhani Tashlin
Published: December 2020

This study investigates the relationship between ownership form and human resource (HR) practices in a franchise system. Using data from a unique establishment-level survey of a US-based limited service hotel chain, the author examines how HR practices vary between franchisee- and company-owned hotels, and among franchisees with diverse ownership structures. Consistent with agency theory predictions of franchisee profit motives and free-riding behavior, franchisee-owned hotels are associated with lower investments in HR practices compared to company-owned hotels. The results of this study suggest that ownership structures influence HR investments.
Peer Influence in Initiation to Heroin Use
Authors: Costello Barbara J. , Anderson Bradley J. , Stein Michael
Published: December 2020

Much research on heroin initiation shows that most people use heroin initially with friends or family. However, there is little research examining why those who use heroin would initiate others to its use, and conversely, whether and why one might try to prevent initial heroin use in others. Following recent work on peer influence on crime and delinquency, we test the hypothesis that those with higher levels of self-control are less likely to initiate others to heroin use and are more likely to try to prevent others from using for the first time. The sample included 370 persons entering an opioid withdrawal program. We find that those with low self-control are more likely to initiate others, but there is no relationship between self-control and trying to prevent initiation. We further investigate self-reported motives for initiating others, and find a mix of self-interested and more altruistic motives for initiating others.
The Power of Art to Cope With Trauma: Psychosocial Intervention After the Tsunami in Japan
Authors: Gavron Tami
Published: December 2020

This article describes the significance of an art-based psychosocial intervention with a group of 9 head kindergarten teachers in Japan after the 2011 tsunami, as co-constructed by Japanese therapists and an Israeli arts therapist. Six core themes emerged from the analysis of a group case study: (1) mutual playfulness and joy, (2) rejuvenation and regaining control, (3) containment of a multiplicity of feelings, (4) encouragement of verbal sharing, (5) mutual closeness and support, and (6) the need to support cultural expression. These findings suggest that art making can enable coping with the aftermath of natural disasters. The co-construction underscores the value of integrating the local Japanese culture when implementing Western arts therapy approaches. It is suggested that art-based psychosocial interventions can elicit and nurture coping and resilience in a specific cultural context and that the arts and creativity can serve as a powerful humanistic form of posttraumatic care.
Manual Therapies for Posterior Thigh Muscles Enhanced Ten-Repetitions Maximum Test Performance and Hip Flexibility in Young Soccer Players
Authors: Monteiro Estêvão Rios , Victorino Andreza , Muzzi Rodrigo , de Oliveira Julio Cesar , Cunha Muniz
Published: December 2020

This study investigated how different manual therapies applied to the posterior thigh muscles affect the ten-repetitions maximum performance test (10 RM) and hip flexion range-of-motion among young soccer players. Seventeen non-professional male soccer players performed the 10RM and range of motion pre-testing, and, in separate laboratory visits, they underwent three different experimental activities presented to each participant in a randomized order: (a) rest control activity with no intervention, (b) manual massage, and (c) muscle energy. Comparing pre-testing performances to repeated tests after each intervention condition, participants increased their maximum load lift on the 10-repeitions maximum test following manual massage and muscle energy interventions ( p < 0.05), but not following the control condition. They also increased their hip range-of-motion on flexibility testing following manual massage and muscle energy ( p < 0.05), but not following the control condition. Thus, both manual massage and muscle energy therapies applied to the posterior thigh were beneficial to performance. This finding has clear implications when preparing athletes for competition.
Economic Burden of Influenza in Thailand: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kiertiburanakul S. , Phongsamart W. , Tantawichien T. , Manosuthi W. , Kulchaitanaroaj P.
Published: December 2020

Thailand has a high incidence and high mortality rates of influenza. This study summarizes the evidence on economic burden or costs of influenza subsequent to the occurrence of influenza illness in the Thai population by specific characteristics such as population demographics, health conditions, healthcare facilities, and/or cost types from published literature. A systematic search was conducted in six electronic databases. All costs were extracted and adjusted to 2018 US dollar value. Out of 581 records, 11 articles (1 with macroeconomic analysis and 10 with microeconomic analyses) were included. Direct medical costs per episode for outpatients and inpatients ranged from US$4.21 to US$212.17 and from US$163.62 to US$4577.83, respectively, across distinct influenza illnesses. The overall burden of influenza was between US$31.1 and US$83.6 million per year and 50-53% of these estimates referred to lost productivity. Costs of screening for an outbreak of influenza at an 8-bed-intensive-care-unit hospital was US$38242.75 per year. Labor-sensitive sectors such as services were the most affected part of the Thai economy. High economic burden tended to occur among children and older adults with co-morbidities and to be related to complications, non-vaccinated status, and severe influenza illness. Strategies involving prevention, limit of transmission, and treatment focusing on aforementioned patients’ factors, containment of hospitalization expenses and quarantine process, and assistance on labor-sensitive economy sectors are likely to reduce the economic burden of influenza. However, a research gap exists regarding knowledge about the economic burden of influenza in Thailand.
Intercultural Communication: Providing a Working Definition of Culture and Reexamining Intercultural Components in Technical Writing Textbooks
Authors: Rieger Katie
Published: December 2020

This article presents a reexamination of intercultural components in prominent, recent technical professional communication textbooks. This examination reveals the need for the technical professional communication field to establish a dynamic definition of culture as well as presents a possible definition, presents areas where textbooks have addressed previous scholars’ concerns as well as areas that could still use improvement and may require instructors to add supplemental instruction, and presents considerations for instructors when incorporating intercultural component elements into their courses.
Tourism and the COVID-(Mis)infodemic
Authors: Williams Nigel L. , Wassler Philipp , Ferdinand Nicole
Published: December 2020

In addition to being formally defined as a pandemic, COVID-19 has been classified as an “infodemic” and “(mis)infodemic.” As an “infodemic,” the information environment on COVID-19 is constantly evolving, with emerging scientific findings, political responses, media coverage, and individual impressions all shared on social media. Initial positions on behaviors and potential treatments were presented and then discarded because of low efficacy or improper research procedures. Further, there has been a fragmented geopolitical response with differing political systems exhibiting varying approaches to decision making and health outcomes, which has lead to confusion of the public. As a “misinfodemic,” COVID-19 discussions have also attracted actors seeking to share misinformation enabled and exacerbated by social media networks, which include willful distortions as well as conspiracy theories. Combined, this (mis)infodemic can change risk perceptions of travel, resulting in travel patterns based on technological, regulatory, and perceived behavioral homophily.
Dynamic Appraisal of Intimate Partner Violence Risk and Need: Results From an Outpatient Treatment Program
Authors: Schafers Chantal , Olver Mark E. , Wormith J. Stephen
Published: December 2020

This study examined the psychometric, predictive, and dynamic properties of intimate partner violence (IPV) risk. The sample consisted of 88 men attending an outpatient IPV correctional program. The Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) was rated at pretreatment using participant files. The Spousal Assault Risk Assessment–Version 3 (SARA-V3) was rated at pre- and posttreatment using collateral information (e.g., facilitator ratings, files) and participant questionnaires. Recidivism data were obtained from a court database with an average follow-up of 15 months. The SARA-V3 and ODARA demonstrated strong convergent validity and predicted violent and general recidivism with moderate to high accuracy; SARA-V3 posttreatment ratings incremented the ODARA in the prediction of recidivism, yet not vice versa. Noncompleters were higher risk and had higher recidivism rates. Changes on the SARA-V3’s Perpetrator Risk Factors domain were significantly associated with decreased recidivism in bivariate analyses and some change associations remained significant with stringent controls for risk. Implications for risk assessment/management, service planning, and future research are discussed.
Community Therapist Response to Technology-Assisted Training in Exposure Therapy for Childhood Anxiety Disorders
Authors: Whiteside Stephen P. H. , Biggs Bridget K. , Dammann Julie E. , Tiede Michael S. , Hofschulte Deanna R. , Brennan Elle
Published: December 2020

Despite the efficacy of exposure for childhood anxiety disorders (CADs), dissemination has been unsuccessful. The current study examined community-therapist response to a brief (90-minutes) training in technology-assisted exposure therapy for CADs. The results indicated that therapists found the training in the therapy approach and technology acceptable, despite endorsing mainly non-exposure-based practice prior to the training. Training also increased positive beliefs about exposure, t (23) = 4.32, p < .000, that persisted 6 months later, t (23) = 4.56, p < .000. In addition, the number of therapists reporting an intention to implement exposure increased substantially from baseline (41.7%) to post-training (83.3%), with many therapists (70.8%) reporting use of exposure within the 6 months following training. However, automatically recorded data indicated little use of the technology. Results suggest that a dissemination message focusing on exposure is acceptable and has the potential to increase the use of this central treatment component.
Banks’ Discretion Over the Debt Valuation Adjustment for Own Credit Risk
Authors: Dong Minyue , Doukakis Leonidas , Ryan Stephen G.
Published: December 2020

During our 2007 to 2015 sample period, firms recorded unrealized gains and losses on fair-valued liabilities attributable to changes in the firms’ own credit risk, referred to as the debt valuation adjustment (DVA), in earnings. Various parties criticized the inclusion of DVA in earnings as counterintuitive and manipulable. Using a small but comprehensive sample of European banks reporting nonzero DVA during this period, we decompose banks’ DVA into a normal portion explained by economic factors (e.g., changes in bond yield spreads) and an abnormal portion (the residual). Controlling for abnormal loan loss provisions (LLP) and realized securities gains and losses (RGL), we find that banks’ abnormal DVA is negatively associated with their premanaged earnings, consistent with banks exercising discretion over DVA to smooth earnings. We further find that banks that record larger LLP or RGL or that have histories of using LLP or RGL to smooth earnings are less likely to exercise discretion over DVA. These findings obtain in the financial crisis but not afterward. Collectively, our findings suggest that banks exercised discretion over DVA substitutably with discretion over LLP and RGL during the crisis. With the caveat that our analysis is limited by a small sample and the inherent difficulties of DVA decomposition, our findings have implications for how bank regulators and investors should interpret banks’ reported DVA, particularly in stress periods such as the crisis, and they provide support for the International Accounting Standards Board and Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) decisions to require firms to record DVA in other comprehensive income starting in 2018.
A Low-complexity Minimum-variance Beamformer Based on Orthogonal Decomposition of the Compounded Subspace
Authors: Wang Yinmeng , Qi Yanxing , Wang Yuanyuan
Published: December 2020

Minimum-variance (MV) beamforming, as a typical adaptive beamforming method, has been widely studied in medical ultrasound imaging. This method achieves higher spatial resolution than traditional delay-and-sum (DAS) beamforming by minimizing the total output power while maintaining the desired signals. However, it suffers from high computational complexity due to the heavy calculation load when determining the inverse of the high-dimensional matrix. Low-complexity MV algorithms have been studied recently. In this study, we propose a novel MV beamformer based on orthogonal decomposition of the compounded subspace (CS) of the covariance matrix in synthetic aperture (SA) imaging, which aims to reduce the dimensions of the covariance matrix and therefore reduce the computational complexity. Multiwave spatial smoothing is applied to the echo signals for the accurate estimation of the covariance matrix, and adaptive weight vectors are calculated from the low-dimensional subspace of the original covariance matrix. We conducted simulation, experimental and in vivo studies to verify the performance of the proposed method. The results indicate that the proposed method performs well in maintaining the advantage of high spatial resolution and effectively reduces the computational complexity compared with the standard MV beamformer. In addition, the proposed method shows good robustness against sound velocity errors.
Experiences of Family Conflict in Shelter-Residing Runaway Youth: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: Noh Dabok , Kim Eunyeong
Published: December 2020

Family conflict is the most significant factor that causes adolescents to run away from home. This study explored the experiences of family conflict from the perspective of Korean runaway youth. We conducted a qualitative phenomenological study using in-depth interviews with nine female runaway youth. Audio-recorded interview data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the Colaizzi method. We found that the participants had experienced complex family conflicts since early childhood, such as parental conflict and mental health issues, abuse, neglect, lack of parental understanding, and poverty. Participants had negative emotions and coping problems regarding family conflict(s), before leaving home. After running away, they experienced ambivalent feelings, and felt both hatred and compassion towards their parents. Their experiences influenced their thoughts regarding future family relationships. Understanding the viewpoint of runaway youth in terms of family conflict can assist in the development of interventions designed for such youth.
Comparison of bone wax and chitosan usage on post-sternotomy bone healing
Authors: Amal Ihsanul , Soebroto Heroe , Puruhito
Published: December 2020

Background

Sternotomy is a standard approach performed in almost every surgical procedure on the heart and mediastinum. Effective hemostasis of the sternum is required to keep the operative field dry, avoid excessive blood transfusions during surgery, and prevent reoperation due to massive postoperative bleeding, which can further increase morbidity and mortality in patients. Bone wax is a mechanical hemostat commonly used after sternotomy and has been known to affect bone healing, trigger chronic inflammatory reactions, and increase the rate of infection. The application of chitosan, which has intrinsic hemostat ability, as hemostatic material is believed to improve bone healing following sternotomy. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of bone wax and chitosan on bone healing after sternotomy.

Methods

Median sternotomies were performed on 2 groups of New Zealand White rabbits. Each group of 16 animals received either bone wax or chitosan powder as hemostatic material. The degree of bone healing, the number of foreign-body giant cells, and the number of osteoblasts were evaluated after 6 weeks.

Results

Radiographs showed that significantly more animals in the chitosan group had total sternal healing ( p = 0.033). Histopathology revealed that the number of foreign-body giant cells was significantly less ( p = 0.036) and the number of osteoblasts was significantly greater ( p < 0.0001) in the group of animals that received chitosan.

Conclusion

The use of chitosan as hemostatic material can promote better bone healing compared to bone wax.
Competing propagandas: How the United States and Russia represent mutual propaganda activities
Authors: Chernobrov Dmitry , Briant Emma L
Published: December 2020

The period of growing tensions between the United States and Russia (2013–2019) saw mutual accusations of digital interference, disinformation, fake news, and propaganda, particularly following the Ukraine crisis and the 2016 US presidential election. This article asks how the United States and Russia represent each other’s and their own propaganda, its threat, and power over audiences. We examine these representations in US and Russian policy documents and online articles from public diplomacy media Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and RT. The way propaganda is framed, (de)legitimized, and securitized has important implications for public understanding of crises, policy responses, and future diplomacy. We demonstrate how propaganda threats have become a major part of the discourse about the US–Russia relationship in recent years, prioritizing state-centred responses and disempowering audiences.
The impact of public health palliative care interventions on health system outcomes: A systematic review
Authors: Collins Anna , Brown Julia E. H. , Mills Jason , Philip Jennifer
Published: December 2020

Background:

Public health palliative care interventions are increasingly implemented, with growing recognition of the importance of building evidence to support their utility in end-of-life care. Previous efforts have focused on community outcomes.

Aim:

To examine the impact of public health palliative care on patterns of health service use at the end of life (primary) and explore which outcomes are being measured within this field of research (secondary).

Design:

Systematic review of studies reporting qualitative and quantitative data, analysed with a narrative synthesis method.

Data sources:

A systematic review conducted and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses guideline was undertaken using six electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, INFORMIT and COCHRANE) up to February 2020.

Results:

Searches yielded 2622 unique titles screened for eligibility, resulting in 35 studies measuring outcomes from a public health palliative care approach. Five (14%) studies assessed health system outcomes, and three reported some mixed evidence of impact, including reduced hospital emergency admissions, hospital bed days, hospital costs and increased home deaths. Most studies (86%) instead reported on conceptual (49%), knowledge (40%), programme participation (37%) and/or individual health outcomes (29%).

Conclusion:

The impact of public health palliative care is an evolving area of empirical inquiry with currently only limited evidence that it improves healthcare utilisation outcomes at the end of life, and limited focus on measurement of these outcomes. Further empirical studies are needed to support the reorientation of health services, which remains an important component in realising ‘whole of system change’ to bring about quality end-of-life care for all.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound in uterine artery embolization treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy
Authors: Liu Dongmei , Gu Xiaoning , Liu Fang , Shi Fuwen , Yang Min
Published: December 2020

Objective

The current study aimed to investigate the application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in diagnosis and treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP).

Methods

A retrospective study was performed in 35 patients with clinically suspected CSP who requested termination of pregnancy and underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). The patients were classified into two groups on the basis of whether they received uterine artery embolization (UAE). The CEUS characteristics of the two groups were reviewed.

Results

CEUS features of CSP were early enhancement of the cesarean scar and continuous infusion of contrast agent between the gestational sac and cesarean scar. Myometrial thickness in the cesarean scar was thinner in the UAE group than in the non-UAE group by CEUS and transvaginal ultrasound. Myometrial thickness measured by CEUS was thinner than that measured by transvaginal ultrasound in both groups. The parameters of the time-intensity curve in the UAE group were characterized by a faster arrival time, shorter time to peak, higher peak intensity, and greater enhancement rate compared with the non-UAE group.

Conclusions

CEUS may be a novel supplementary method to diagnose and assess CSP, and to help evaluate whether UAE is required.
Vaginal hysterectomy combined with transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery bilateral adnexectomy: a case report
Authors: Yang Hanlin , Yang Mengyue , Ransford Aduah , Zi Dan
Published: December 2020

This current case report describes an elderly woman with pyometra that underwent successful vaginal hysterectomy and transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) bilateral adnexectomy after conservative anti-inflammatory drug treatment. The patient had a history of transvaginal delivery so this approach was considered the most appropriate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to investigate the use of vaginal hysterectomy and vNOTES bilateral adnexectomy in an elderly patient with pyometra. The necessary steps to the procedure are shown in a narrated instructional video.
Efficiency Based Evaluation of Public Transport and Paratransit Systems with a View to Integrating Transportation
Authors: Dawda Nandan H. , Gajera Hardik , Joshi Gaurang J. , Arkatkar Shriniwas S. , Dave Sanjay Kumar M.
Published: December 2020

Rapid urbanization, increasing population, and a booming economy have stimulated growth in Indian cites, resulting in higher levels of dependence on private vehicles. This has raised serious issues over the sustainability of transport infrastructure in cities. Public transportation (PT) systems can help achieve sustainable transportation. But they face competition from intermediate public transport (IPT) or Paratransit. The existing PT and IPT systems, therefore, need to re-plan their operations to complement each other and deliver a wider network of services. To achieve this, an evaluation of both PT and IPT systems at microscopic levels is needed to facilitate their possible integration in a coordinated multimodal transportation system. The present paper attempts to evaluate the public and paratransit systems in the city of Surat in the Indian state of Gujarat using a data envelopment analysis (DEA) technique in DEAP software at the individual and system level. The operations, route design, and cost efficiency of both systems are evaluated to understand how well the existing set-up caters to demand. The arithmetic mean of operations, route design, and cost efficiencies of 26 routes of PT system were worked out to be 0.89, 0.94, and 0.69, while that of the 13 routes of the IPT system were 0.92, 0.97, and 0.88 respectively. The system investigation shows that analytically, only 8% of IPT routes were inefficient in all the three aspects, compared with 42% of PT routes. The performance of each route was analyzed, appropriate suggestions made, and the potential of these systems for designing an integrated transport system highlighted.
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis: La Stimulation Magnétique Transcrânienne Répétitive Pour le Traitement du Trouble de Stress Post-Traumatique : Une Revue Systématique et une Méta-Analyse en Réseau
Authors: McGirr Alexander , Devoe Daniel J , Raedler Amelie , Debert Chantel T , Ismail Zahinoor , Berlim Marcelo T
Published: December 2020

Background:

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a promising treatment modality for Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Several targets and stimulation parameters have been investigated, and while previous meta-analyses have suggested that rTMS is efficacious, these have pooled different stimulation parameters and targets, and the relative efficacy of each is unknown.

Methods:

We therefore performed a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) by searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and PsycINFO and retaining RCTs with at least 5 individuals per arm and clinician-rated PTSD symptoms (PROSPERO CRD42019134984). We adhered to PRISMA guidelines, and 2 independent reviewers screened studies for eligibility and extracted the primary outcome of clinician-rated PTSD symptoms. Dropouts were extracted as a proxy for acceptability. Random effects pairwise meta-analyses and a network meta-analysis were performed.

Results:

We synthesize data from 10 RCTs with a total of 421 participants. Two rTMS interventions targeting the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) improved PTSD symptoms relative to sham: low-frequency stimulation (SMD = 0.70; 95% CI, 0.22 to 1.18) and high-frequency stimulation (SMD = 0.71; 95% CI, 0.11 to 1.31). Medial PFC dTMS, right DLPFC intermittent theta-burst stimulation, and left DLPFC high-frequency stimulation did not separate from sham. Dropouts as a proxy for acceptability revealed no differences between any of the active conditions or sham nor did any of the active conditions differ from each other.

Conclusion:

The current literature does not support efficacy differences between interventions; however, protocols stimulating the right DLPFC appear superior to sham. It is unclear whether this reflects heterogeneity in pathology requiring a personalized medicine approach or nonspecific mechanisms of rTMS.
Construction and demolition wastes in Beijing: Where they come from and where they go?
Authors: Chen Chong , Liu Yupeng
Published: December 2020

Urbanization and related construction activities generate massive construction and demolition (C&D) waste, which poses considerable risks to the environment and human health. However, it is difficult to assess the significance of these issues without a quantitative understanding of spatial patterns of C&D waste generation (source), transportation (flow), and treatment (sink). This paper maps source, sinks, and flows of C&D waste by coupling a geographic information system and material flow analysis. The methodology is new in the field of C&D waste quantification at the city level, especially downscaling to 5 km × 5 km grids. The results showed that a total of 37.72 million metric tonnes (Mt) of C&D wastes were generated in Beijing, 2019, and ~72% of them were reused and recycled. In space, C&D waste generation in suburban and rural districts (28.73 Mt) was over three times more than that in the downtown area (8.99 Mt). However, the downtown area was the net source region and transported massive amounts of C&D waste to suburban and rural districts. In comparison, several suburban and rural districts had self-sufficient treatment capacity. Our study highlights that a series of C&D waste maps on multiple spatial scales are of great help to design effective policies for waste management by providing spatial details of magnitude and components, and explicitly recognizing primary source and sink areas in cities.
The Status of Diversity in Canadian Radiology—Where We Stand and What Can We Do About It
Authors: Lebel Kiana , Hillier Elizabeth , Spalluto Lucy B. , Yap Wan , Keglowitsch Kiera , Darras Kathryn E. , Yong-Hing Charlotte J.
Published: December 2020

Radiology has been identified as one of the medical specialties with the least gender, racial, and ethnic diversity. Despite the demonstrated benefits of gender and race diversity in medicine and industry, including innovation, empathy and improved patient outcomes, diversity in radiology in Canada is still lacking. In 2019, women represented around 63% of current medical graduates. However, within Canadian radiology practices, only 31.6% of radiologists are women. Women are also underrepresented in academic positions and the widening gender gap is present at higher academic ranks, indicating that women may not advance through academic hierarchies at the same pace as men. Although data on racial diversity in Canadian radiology practices is currently lacking, the representation of visible minorities in the general Canadian population is not reflected across Canadian radiology practices. Similarly, despite the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission calling for action to increase the number of Indigenous healthcare workers, Indigenous people remain underrepresented in medicine and radiology. The importance of increasing diversity in radiology has gained recognition in recent years. Many solutions and strategies for national associations and radiology departments to improve diversity have been proposed. Leadership commitment is required to implement these programs to increase diversity in radiology in Canada with the ultimate goal of improving patient care. We review the current literature and available data on diversity within radiology in Canada, including the status of gender, race/ethnicity, and Indigenous people. We also present potential solutions to increase diversity.
Recent Trends in Admission Diagnosis and Related Mortality in the Medically Critically Ill
Authors: Ingraham Nicholas E. , Vakayil Victor , Pendleton Kathryn M. , Robbins Alexandria J. , Freese Rebecca L. , Palzer Elise F. , Charles Anthony , Dudley R. Adams , Tignanelli Christopher J.
Published: December 2020

Purpose:

With decades of declining ICU mortality, we hypothesized that the outcomes and distribution of diseases cared for in the ICU have changed and we aimed to further characterize them.

Study Design and Methods:

A retrospective cohort analysis of 287,154 nonsurgical-critically ill adults, from 237 U.S. ICUs, using the manually abstracted Cerner APACHE Outcomes database from 2008 to 2016 was performed. Surgical patients, rare admission diagnoses (<100 occurrences), and low volume hospitals (<100 total admissions) were excluded. Diagnoses were distributed into mutually exclusive organ system/disease-based categories based on admission diagnosis. Multi-level mixed-effects negative binomial regression was used to assess temporal trends in admission, in-hospital mortality, and length of stay (LOS).

Results:

The number of ICU admissions remained unchanged (IRR 0.99, 0.98-1.003) while certain organ system/disease groups increased (toxicology [25%], hematologic/oncologic [55%] while others decreased (gastrointestinal [31%], pulmonary [24%]). Overall risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality was unchanged (IRR 0.98, 0.96-1.0004). Risk-adjusted ICU LOS (Estimate −0.06 days/year, −0.07 to −0.04) decreased. Risk-adjusted mortality varied significantly by disease.

Conclusion:

Risk-adjusted ICU mortality rate did not change over the study period, but there was evidence of shifting disease burden across the critical care population. Our data provides useful information regarding future ICU personnel and resource needs.
Trapped in a Maze: Arab Teachers in Israel Facing Child Sexual Abuse Among Their Pupils
Authors: Sigad Laura I. , Tener Dafna
Published: December 2020

Cultural contexts are formative of and fundamental to how individuals understand, conceptualize, and act within a context of violence. Conceptually and methodologically, however, research from a culturally informed perspective on the experiences of teachers contending with the violence of child sexual abuse (CSA) in particular is broadly limited. As educators frequently confront cases of CSA in their everyday work, their ability to promote detection, disclosure intervention, and especially prevention gives them the potential to be agents of social change; however, while their responsibilities are critical, they are simultaneously members of their communities and cultures, and their interactions are bound by these dynamics. The purpose of the study is to analyze the experiences of Arab teachers in Israel who confront CSA in their everyday work. The findings are based on qualitative thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with 30 female Arab teachers working within the Arab school system in Israel. Results indicate that when facing CSA, the teachers experience an ongoing conflict between their cultural and professional codes, trapping them in a maze of intertwining and oppositional demands. On the one hand, they are constrained by the norm of protecting the honor and maintaining the status and reputation of those involved, including themselves; on the other hand, as empathetic professionals, they desire to aid their pupils. While the participants do not accept the status quo, they are effectively at a loss as to how to change it. In order find a way out of their entrapment in coping with CSA among their pupils, the only currently available path is to act as a lone hero; there is, however, the potential to foster the development of a secondary culture within the school to inaugurate cultural change in coping with CSA. Implications for future research, policy, and practice are discussed.
Making Food Manageable – Packaging as a Code of Practice for Work Practices at the Supermarket
Authors: Sattlegger Lukas
Published: December 2020

While packaging-free stores are in the uptake, single-use packaging remains a constitutive element in self-service supermarkets. Portraying packaging as an actor in workplace practices, the article provides novel explanations for the supermarkets’ struggle to reduce packaging. The ethnographic analysis shows that food packaging is crucial for the functioning of supermarkets. This is in contrast to engineering or marketing perspectives on packaging functions that often don’t take practical demands and habitual peculiarities of everyday work practices into consideration. Framed as a code of practice, packaging guides the daily management of food in three crucial ways. First, packaging is a multifunctional medium to present products to customers. Second, packaging is an indicator and transmitter to assess product quantities and qualities in the internal logistics of supermarkets. Third, packaging enables the management and reproduction of representative supermarket qualities like freshness and fullness. As a consequence, and in order to be successful, strategies for the reduction of packaging waste have to better acknowledge the diversity of roles packaging is playing within the framework of workplace practices. Planners of innovation processes need to consider the expertise of workers, the agency of packaging, the situational distribution of action, and the cultural framings of supermarkets.
EU fundamental rights and democracy implications of data-driven political campaigns
Authors: Brkan Maja
Published: December 2020

This paper examines the impact of data-driven political campaigns on fundamental rights and democracy in the European Union. It demonstrates that such campaigns risk curtailing a number of rights and freedoms enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. They can affect voters’ right to respect for private life and protection of personal data (Articles 7 and 8 Charter) through the collection of massive amounts of personal data that serve as the base for profiling of voters. Moreover, they can restrain freedom of information of voters (Article 11 Charter) by providing them only partial information about campaigns of political parties. Furthermore, political manipulation stemming from targeted political advertising may affect the freedom of elections (Article 39(2) Charter), even though it might be a step too far to assert that the use of data-driven political campaigns undoubtedly leads to elections that are not ‘free’. Finally, the author cautions that it might be challenging to rely on the foundational legal category of democracy from Article 2 TEU, given that this provision needs to be given a concrete expression through another Treaty provision. Rather, in case of manipulative data-driven political campaigns, democracy as a value can be affected.
Introduction to Research on Social Work Practice Special Issue: Mental Health Services Research Supported by the National Institute of Mental Health
Authors: Juliano-Bult Denise M.
Published: December 2020

This article provides a brief overview of the conference at which the articles in this special issue were presented.
When Parents Fail: Addressing Delinquent Child Maintenance Through Informal Resources
Authors: Manful Esmeranda , Abdullah Alhassan , Cudjoe Ebenezer
Published: December 2020

The success rate using formal mechanisms by Ghanaian social workers to ensure the best outcomes for the child when there is default in child maintenance payments is low; hence the need to explore other strategies. The objective of this research was to explore informal support resources that could be helpful to families involved with social services on delinquent child maintenance (DCM). Guided by a practice research approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with 17 parents involved with a regional-level social service organization in Ghana. Their narratives were analyzed thematically using the NVivo software. Findings revealed that DCM is a problem for both sexes. Parents reported information, financial, and material support from relatives and neighbors to be relevant resources in addressing the problem. The study’s findings suggest the need for social workers to focus on informal support when addressing DCM and emphasize parental roles as situation-based not gender-based.