bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Eyelander, a Video Game Designed to Engage Children and Young People with Homonymous Visual Field Loss in Compensatory Training
Authors: Waddington Jonathan , Linehan Conor , Gerling Kathrin , Williams Cathy , Robson Leonie , Ellis Richard , Hodgson Timothy
Published: February 2019

Introduction

Rehabilitation can improve visual outcomes for adults with acquired homonymous visual field loss. It is unclear, however, whether rehabilitation improves visual outcomes for children because previous training schedules have been tiresome, uninteresting, and have failed to keep them engaged. In this study, we assessed whether children and young people with homonymous visual field loss would adhere to six weeks of unsupervised compensatory training using a specialized video game.

Methods

Participants aged between 7 and 25 years with homonymous visual field loss completed tabletop assessments of visual search across four site visits. Two baseline assessments separated by four weeks evaluated spontaneous improvements before training began. Participants were then given a copy of the video game to use unsupervised at home for six weeks. Two follow-up assessments separated by four weeks were then conducted to evaluate immediate and acutely maintained effects of training.

Results

Fifteen candidates met the inclusion-exclusion criteria, nine participated, and eight completed the study. Participants completed an average of 5.6 hours of unsupervised training over the six weeks. Improvements on in-game metrics plateaued during week three of training. The time taken to find objects during tabletop activities improved by an average of 24%–95% CI (2%, 46%)—after training.

Discussion

The findings demonstrate that children and young people with homonymous visual field loss will engage with gamified compensatory training, and it can improve visual outcomes with less of a time commitment than has been required of adults participating in non-gamified training in previous studies. Appropriately powered, randomized controlled trials are required to evaluate the validity and generalizability of observed training effects.

Implications for practitioners

Rehabilitation specialists can use specialist video games and gamification technique to engage children and young people with homonymous visual field loss in long-term unsupervised training schedules.
Effectiveness of Using Local Cues to Indicate Perspective in Tactile Diagrams for People with Visual Impairments
Authors: Nguyen Andrea M. , Ferro Tyler J. , Pawluk Dianne T. V.
Published: February 2019

Introduction

This study presents and evaluates the use of a method using local cues to indicate perspective in tactile diagrams as compared to the current use of visual perspective methods.

Methods

Perspective for an object using local cues is represented with standard visual perspective lines but with the thickness of the lines varying as a function of depth away from the viewer. Performance of visually impaired study participants (that is, those who are blind or have low vision), using the new method and the standard visual perspective method, were compared as functions of: onset of vision loss of a participant, perspective method used, repetition, and object and perspective of an object presented.

Results

For the main task, the method used—Wald χ2(1, 585) = 7.147, p = 0.008—and the method-repetition interaction—Wald χ2(1, 585) = 4.272, p = 0.039—had significant effects. Participants performed better with our new method and there was a significant improvement for (only) this method between repetitions.

Discussion

The findings demonstrate that our new method improved the performance of users for tasks involving perspective on diagrams over the standard visual perspective method. The data also indicates that with more repetition, improvement could become even greater than observed during this study.

Implications for practitioners

Perspective frequently plays a critical role in aiding the understanding of questions in mathematics and science. Adding local cues to a standard perspective diagram shows promise in improving users' ability to interpret objects.
The Value of Spirometry in Subglottic Stenosis
Authors: Abdullah Alhelali , Alrabiah A. , Habib Sayed S. , Aljathlany Y. , Aljasser A. , Bukhari M. , Al-Ammar A.Y.
Published: February 2019

The diagnosis of subglottic stenosis (SGS) is usually made by clinical assessment and definitively by a direct endoscopic examination. This study aimed to evaluate different spirometric values in relation to anatomical grading and severity of subglottic stenosis cases of upper airway obstruction. Cases of SGS that underwent dilatational procedures endoscopically at the otolaryngology department of the King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from June 2015 to October 2017 were collected. Pulmonary function test (PFT) pre- and postoperative parameters and the grades of subglottic stenosis were extracted. We compared different spirometric values to the severity of SGS and compared the pre- and postoperative results for each patient. There were 19 cases with a valid PFT study within 7 days preoperatively in addition to a documented intraoperative grading according to the Myer-Cotton grading system; 7 (36.8%) were grade 1, 8 (42.1%) were grade 2, and 4 (21.1%) were grade 3. The actual preoperative ratio of forced expiratory volume (FEV1) in 1 second to peak expiratory flow (PEF) for all 19 patients ranged from 7.34 to 21.40 mL/L/min. We found a significant improvement in all spirometric parameters postdilatation including PEF ( P < .001), FEV1 ( P < .001), FEV1/PEF ( P = .001), forced expiratory flow (FEF) from 25%, 50%, and 75% of vital capacity, respectively, FEF25 ( P < .001), FEF50 ( P = .001), FEF75 ( P = .048), and maximum mid-expiratory flow ( P = .002). We did not find any correlation between the severity of stenosis and spirometric values. This study revealed that spirometry is a useful marker in following up patients with subglottic stenosis and is also a good indicator to determine postairway surgery outcomes. However, these markers do not correlate with anatomical grading and the severity of subglottic stenosis.
Primary Papillary Thyroid Cancer of a Thyroglossal Duct Cyst
Authors: Liaw Jeffrey , Cochran Eric , Wilson Meghan N.
Published: February 2019

Papillary thyroid carcinoma in a thyroglossal duct cyst is very rare. We present the case of a teenage boy with a large thyroglossal duct cyst containing papillary thyroid carcinoma. There was no evidence of carcinoma within the thyroid gland, making this an important case of primary thyroglossal duct cyst carcinoma.
HOMPer: A new hybrid system for opinion mining in the Persian language
Authors: Basiri Mohammad Ehsan , Kabiri Arman
Published: February 2019

Opinion mining is a subfield of data mining and natural language processing that concerns with extracting users’ opinion and attitude towards products or services from their comments on the Web. Persian opinion mining, in contrast to its counterpart in English, is a totally new field of study and hence, it has not received the attention it deserves. Existing methods for opinion mining in the Persian language may be classified into machine learning– and lexicon-based approaches. These methods have been proposed and successfully used for polarity-detection problem. However, when they should be used for more complex tasks like rating prediction, their results are not desirable. In this study, first an exhaustive investigation of machine learning– and lexicon-based methods is performed. Then, a new hybrid method is proposed for rating-prediction problem in the Persian language. Finally, the effect of machine learning component, feature-selection method, normalisation method and combination level are investigated. The experimental results on a large data set containing 16,000 Persian customers’ review show that this proposed system achieves higher performance in comparison to Naïve Bayes algorithm and a pure lexicon-based method. Moreover, results demonstrate that this proposed method may also be successfully used for polarity detection.
Common Structural Lesions of the Peripheral Nervous System
Authors: Jortner Bernard S.
Published: February 2019

This review illustrates common lesions of peripheral nerve myelinated fibers that occur in toxic neuropathy. These distinctive structural changes help to define the site of toxicant activity and thus predict the course of neurotoxic disease and recovery. Neuronopathy is the condition where the primary injury is directed to the neuronal cell body giving rise to a peripheral nerve axon. Axonopathy occurs when the axon is the primary target, and myelinopathy develops where the Schwann cell and/or myelin sheath is the primary target; these conditions can be discriminated early during the course of nerve fiber degeneration, but reciprocal influences between axon and myelin result in degeneration of both structures late in the disease.
Toxicologic Pathology Forum*: Opinion on Integrating Innovative Digital Pathology Tools in the Regulatory Framework
Authors: Gauthier Béatrice E. , Gervais Frédéric , Hamm Gregory , O’Shea Donal , Piton Alain , Schumacher Vanessa L.
Published: February 2019

Digital pathology is defined as the ability to examine digitized microscopic slides and to generate qualitative and quantitative data. The field of digital pathology is rapidly evolving and has the potential to revolutionize toxicologic pathology. Techniques such as automated 2-D image analysis, whole slide imaging, and telepathology are already considered “mature” technologies and have been used for decades in exploratory studies; however, many organizations are reluctant to use digital pathology in regulatory toxicology studies. Innovative technologies using digitized slides including high-content imaging modalities and artificial intelligence are still under development but are increasingly used in toxicologic pathology. While software validation requirements are already described, clear guidance for application of these rules to the digital pathology field are few and the acceptance of these technologies by regulatory authorities remains necessary for successful adoption of digital pathology into the mainstream of toxicologic pathology. This topic was discussed during a roundtable at the 2018 Annual Congress of the French Society of Toxicologic Pathology. This opinion article summarizes the discussion regarding the current questions and challenges on the integration of innovative digital pathology tools within a good laboratory practice framework and is meant to stimulate further discussion among the toxicologic pathology community.

[Box: see text]
Death of the Slow-Cooker or #CROCK-POTISINNOCENT? This Is Us, Parasocial Grief, and the Crock-Pot Crisis
Authors: Foss Katherine A.
Published: February 2019

Even though viewers understand that a television show is fictional, they can still mourn the demise of their favorite characters. This fictional grief became apparent with the on-screen death of the character Jack in the program This Is Us. The current study analyzed the death narrative and perceived responsibility in first and second seasons of This Is Us, paired with the online responses posted to social media and the short promotional video between the show and Crock-Pot. Findings suggest that fans experienced and expressed parasocial grief for Jack’s death on social media, attributing blame to the Crock-Pot brand. In turn, the company’s tweets and replies acknowledged and participated in the fans’ mourning rituals while reassuring the brand’s safety, ultimately aiding the brand’s public recovery. From fans’ displaced blame to the later partnership between the show and brand, labeled “#CrockPotIsInnocent,” this case demonstrates the impact of fictional media, social media engagement for parasocial grief, and a successful real-life brand recovery for a fictional crisis.
Migration Policy and Immigrants’ Labor Market Performance
Authors: Tani Massimiliano
Published: February 2019

This article studies whether migration policy is a suitable tool to improve the inefficient use of immigrants’ human capital. This line of investigation complements the traditional analysis of migration policy as a tool to manage labor supply. The effect of migration policy is studied, using a policy change that occurred in Australia in the late 1990s that tightened the selection applied to certain economic immigrants. The empirical analysis, based on data collected by the Longitudinal Survey of Migrants to Australia, confirms that the policy change raised, on average, the human capital of the affected group. It also, however, consistently reveals that the change had no detectable impact on indicators measuring immigrants’ skill utilization. This result suggests that migration policy, by itself, may not be best suited to address issues related to the efficient use of foreign talent in the labor market. Better coordination with employment policy may alleviate this problem. Additional research on migration policy’s effect on efficiency-related issues is also called for.
The makeshift and the contingent: Lefebvre and the production of precarious sacred space
Authors: Jones Rhys Dafydd
Published: February 2019

Geographical engagement with religion has grown substantially of late, with many recent studies considering the ‘sacred beyond the officially sacred’. However, many sacred spaces are not used solely for devotion, and there is a need to understand the diversity of sacred spaces, including how they come to be used as such, and the experiences of worshipers using them. Drawing on Lefebvrian notions of diversion and appropriation, I argue that the concepts of contingent and makeshift sacred spaces bring more nuanced and complex understandings of the intertwining of sacrality and profanity in spatial formations. Discussion is grounded in the case study of Muslim worshippers’ sacred spaces in rural western Wales; their relatively small demographic profile means that there is a reliance on short-term arrangements in the absence of long-term, privately owned and controlled sacred spaces. Through precarious access to sacred spaces, local Muslims are reliant on local institutions’ hospitality, and there is little development in the region’s Islamic sacred spaces or claims to space in the region. I conclude by highlighting the significance of the contingent and makeshift to understand sacred spaces, and its place in everyday life.
Enterprise architecture and enterprise architecture artifacts: Questioning the old concept in light of new findings
Authors: Kotusev Svyatoslav
Published: February 2019

Enterprise architecture is a description of an enterprise from an integrated business and IT perspective intended to bridge the communication gap between business and IT stakeholders and improve business and IT alignment. Enterprise architecture consists of multiple different artifacts providing certain views of an organization and the available enterprise architecture literature offers a number of comprehensive lists of artifacts that can be used as part of an enterprise architecture practice. However, these lists of enterprise architecture artifacts were never validated empirically and the practical usage of different artifacts still remains largely unexplored. Based on a comprehensive empirical analysis of enterprise architecture artifacts used in 27 diverse organizations, this study identifies the list of 24 common artifacts that proved useful in practice and describes in detail their usage and purpose. Although this study does not attempt to theorize on the findings, it makes a significant empirical contribution to the enterprise architecture discipline. In particular, this study (1) provides the first consistent list of enterprise architecture artifacts that actually proved useful in organizations, (2) offers the first available systematic description of their usage, (3) questions the common view of enterprise architecture as a set of business, information, applications and technology architectures and (4) questions the widely accepted conceptualization of enterprise architecture as a set of the current state, future state and transition roadmap. This study provides compelling empirical evidence in favor of reconceptualizing enterprise architecture and calls for further research in this direction.
The Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment: a study of the reliability, construct validity and responsiveness in patients sustaining trauma
Authors: de Graaf Max W , Reininga Inge HF , Wendt Klaus W , Heineman Erik , El Moumni Mostafa
Published: February 2019

Objective:

To assess test–retest reliability, construct validity and responsiveness of the Dutch Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (SMFA-NL) in patients who sustained acute physical trauma.

Design:

A longitudinal cohort study.

Setting:

A level 1 trauma center in The Netherlands.

Subjects:

Patients who required hospital admission after sustaining an acute physical trauma.

Intervention:

Patients completed the SMFA-NL at six weeks, eight weeks and six months post-injury.

Main measure:

The measures used were The Dutch Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment. Test–retest reliability (between six and eight weeks post-injury) using intraclass correlation coefficients, the smallest detectable change and Bland and Altman plots. Construct validity (six weeks post-injury) and responsiveness (between six weeks and six months post-injury) were evaluated using the hypothesis testing method.

Results:

A total of 248 patients (mean age: 46.5, SD: 13.4) participated, 145 patients completed the retest questionnaires (eight weeks) and 160 patients completed the responsiveness questionnaires (six months). The intraclass correlation coefficients indicated good to excellent reliability on all subscales (0.80 to 0.98). The smallest detectable change was 17.4 for the Upper Extremity Dysfunction subscale, 11.0 for the Lower Extremity Dysfunction subscales, 13.9 for the Problems with Daily Activities subscale and 16.5 for the Mental and Emotional Problems subscale. At group level, the smallest detectable change ranged from 1.48 to 1.96. A total of 86% of the construct validity hypotheses and 79% of the responsiveness hypotheses were confirmed.

Conclusion:

This study showed that the SMFA-NL has good to excellent reliability, sufficient construct validity and is able to detect change in physical function over time.
Apparent diffusion coefficients are closely related with high-risk human papilloma virus infection in cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients
Authors: Zhou Guoxing , Chen Xiao , Shen Ru , Xu Jun , Wang Yibin , Yu Hong
Published: February 2019

Background

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is a functional modality that indirectly represents the biological characteristics of cancer. However, the correlation of apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) to HPV type in patients with cervical cancer is still unknown.

Purpose

To explore the relationship between apparent diffusion coefficients calculated by DW-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and high-risk human papilloma virus (HR-HPV) infection in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) patients.

Material and Methods

A total of 315 patients with histologically proven CSCC and who underwent pretreatment MRI were retrospectively analyzed. ADCs on the primary tumor were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to determine the cut-off values of ADCmean and accuracy of prediction. Pearson correlation and multivariate logistic regression models were adopted to show the association of HR-HPV infection with clinical and imaging variables.

Results

ADCmean for HR-HPV+ CSCC was significantly lower than those for HR-HPV- CSCC. The area under the curve was 0.805 for predicting HR-HPV+ infection using mean ADCs. A cut-off value of 0.885 × 10−3 mm2/s for mean ADCS could distinguish HR-HPV+ from HR-HPV- CSCC with 83.3% sensitivity, 73.9% specificity, and 80.8% accuracy. Regression analysis revealed that the HR-HPV infection was closely associated with tumor ADC value (odds ratio [OR] = 5.588, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.371–9.262), FIGO stage (OR = 2.789, 95% CI = 1.631–4.769), and histological grade (OR = 2.333, 95% CI = 1.676–3.247).

Conclusion

ADC value is related with the HR-HPV infection in patients with CSCC and DWI may be used for predicting HR-HPV infection in patients with CSCC.
Role of irisin in Chinese patients with hypothyroidism: an interventional study
Authors: Yang Ning , Zhang Heng , Gao Xia , Miao Li , Yao Zhi , Xu Yuan , Wang Guang
Published: February 2019

Objective

Irisin is a myokine that greatly affects energy expenditure and systemic metabolism. While thyroid hormone is likely associated with irisin, a direct relationship remains to be fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate plasma irisin levels in Chinese patients with hypothyroidism.

Methods

A total of 155 subjects were divided into the hypothyroidism group or the control group. Fifty-seven patients in the hypothyroidism group received levothyroxine treatment. Baseline irisin levels were measured in the two groups and post-treatment levels were measured in the hypothyroidism group.

Results

Irisin levels were significantly lower in the hypothyroidism group than in the control group. In the hypothyroidism group, irisin levels were positively associated with free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine levels, and negatively associated with thyrotropin levels. In the hypothyroidism group, irisin levels were significantly increased after levothyroxine treatment. Multiple linear regression models showed that total cholesterol and free thyroxine levels were the only significant predictors of serum irisin levels.

Conclusions

Irisin levels are decreased in patients with hypothyroidism. Our results suggest that decreased irisin levels are directly associated with reduced thyroid hormone levels. These values may be restored after levothyroxine treatment in Chinese patients with hypothyroidism.
A Forensic Pathology Investigation of Dismembered Domestic Cats: Coyotes or Cults?
Authors: Nation P. Nick , St. Clair Colleen Cassady
Published: February 2019

Dismembered cats ( Felis catus) have been found in North American schoolyards, parks, walkways, or lawns and sometimes result in local media attention. When a member of the public encounters these cats, they commonly report finding either the cranial or caudal half of a cat in a prominent location. Such findings cause public consternation and pose difficulties to investigators in identifying whether animal abuse has occurred and whether to concentrate resources on the investigation. This report describes necropsy results from 53 cats involved in such instances in the cities of Edmonton and St. Albert, Canada, from 2007 to 2016. We evaluated these results in relation to 2 hypotheses: that the dismembered cats were the result of human activity, or predation and scavenging by coyotes ( Canis latrans). The main postmortem features were canine tooth wounds in the neck accompanied by tearing of the subcutaneous structures, skin avulsion, broken claws, and removal of internal organs with the colon and intestine attached to and trailing from the carcass. Based on the nature of the lesions, along with other circumstances of the deaths of the cats in this study, we concluded that these dismembered cat remains resulted from coyote predation on living cats and scavenging of the bodies of cats that died of other causes. We offer additional information to assist veterinarians, veterinary pathologists, and civic officials in identifying the probable cause of death for cat carcasses provided by members of the public.
Contested credibility economies of nuclear power in India
Authors: Haines Monamie Bhadra
Published: February 2019

STS scholars studying anti-nuclear activism in the context of nations in the Global North have observed the critical role of science to mediate relations of domination and resistance. Through a historical examination of anti-nuclear activism in India, this article investigates the instrumentalization of science as a liberal democratic rationality. In doing so, the article shows how elite Indian activists – many of whom are scientists, engineers, journalists and academic professionals – will never be seen as scientifically knowledgeable in nuclear matters, because of their non-state educational pedigrees. If activists cannot hold the state accountable through science, they have attempted to anticipate what other kinds of arguments and modes of contention may gain traction. As such, they have deployed more ‘guerilla’ tactics grounded in bureaucratic rationalities in the hopes of installing themselves as alternate sources of expertise in India’s nuclear landscape.
Did We Forget Something? Fathering Supports and Programs in Prisons in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Bartlett Tess S. , Trotter Christopher J.
Published: February 2019

This article draws from data gathered for an Australian Research Council–funded study conducted in Victoria and New South Wales between 2011 and 2015, which examined how dependent children are responded to when their primary carer is imprisoned. In particular, this article specifically addresses a gap in knowledge by examining the current state of fathering programs in prison in Victoria. To do so, the views of 39 primary carer fathers incarcerated in Victoria are analysed. We argue that there is a distinct lack of support for fathers in prison, acting as a barrier towards maintaining father–child relationships. Findings indicate that 79% of the fathers in this study were never offered any parenting support services or programs. By clearly highlighting the state of fathering programs in prisons in Victoria, this article offers suggestions as to how best to facilitate the connection between incarcerated fathers and their children.
The Spatial Effect of Police Foot Patrol on Crime Patterns: A Local Analysis
Authors: Andresen Martin A. , Shen Jen-Li
Published: February 2019

A foot patrol program was implemented in Lower Lonsdale, British Columbia, in the summer of 2010 and continues today. As a part of assessing the foot patrol’s effect on crime in the neighbourhood, the spatial similarity was examined by comparing the crime pattern before the foot patrol initiative (2007-2009) with the crime pattern during the foot patrol program (2010-2012). Considering these baseline and treatment data sets and a spatial point pattern test, the spatial similarity between two data sets is analyzed. In general, the continued presence of foot patrol appears to have created a concentration of crime in specific areas, rather than a diffusion effect. The areas that continued to experience increased crime during foot patrol presence were often in the catchment area, suggesting displacement does occur, or along the border between the catchment and primary patrol area.
Accelerated Testing of Full-Scale Thin Bonded Concrete Overlay of Asphalt
Authors: Mateos Angel , Harvey John , Paniagua Fabian , Paniagua Julio , Wu Rongzong
Published: February 2019

A research study was conducted with the goal of determining the expected performance life of thin bonded concrete overlay of asphalt (BCOA) in California. Eleven thin BCOA sections were built and tested with the Heavy Vehicle Simulators (HVS) in Davis, California. The performance of the sections in the HVS testing provided insight into the mechanics of the thin BCOA structures and the effects the different rapid-strength concrete materials, traffic, jointing, and base factors on their performance, including testing in both very wet and very dry conditions. Overall, the performance of the thin BCOA sections in the HVS testing was excellent. The eleven sections resisted the predefined HVS loading without cracking. In five of the sections, that loading was equivalent to 6 million single-axle loads and included load levels more than twice the legal limit in California, channelized traffic at the shoulder edge of the slabs, and a continuous water supply that simulated flooded conditions. The main conclusion from this research study is that a well-designed, well-built thin bonded concrete overlay with half-lane width slabs placed on top of an asphalt base that is in fair to good condition can provide 20 years of good serviceability on most of California’s non-interstate roadways.
Assessment of the effect of drying temperature and composition on the biochemical methane potential of in-house dried household food waste
Authors: Valta K , Sotiropoulos A , Malamis D , Kosanovic T , Antonopoulou G , Alexandropoulou M , Jonuzay S , Lyberatos G , Loizidou M
Published: February 2019

Household food waste management and treatment has been recognised as a significant issue worldwide and at a European Union level. Source-separation of household food waste following drying at source presents a viable solution to this problem. The present research aims at investigating the effect of drying of model household food waste at different temperatures (i.e. 63 ±3 °C and 83 ±3 °C) on its biochemical methane potential. The drying process was carried out using a prototype household waste dryer. The model sample consisted of 77%w/w vegetables and fruits (48%w/w and 29%w/w, respectively), 12%w/w pasta/rice, 6%w/w meat and fish, 3%w/w bread and bakery and 2%w/w dairy. Moreover, drying at the same temperatures was applied for two household food wastes samples with different composition, in order to assess the influence of the samples’ composition on both the drying process and the methane generation. For all temperatures used, the higher %w/w mass reduction was observed for model waste (MD) (67.39%w/w and 75.79%w/w for 63 °C and 83 °C, respectively), then for rich-in-protein content (PRO) (66.18%w/w and 69.73%w/w for 63 °C and 83 °C, respectively) and finally for rich-in-fat content (FAT) samples (54.35%w/w and 66.31%w/w for 63 °C and 83 °C, respectively), which confirmed the effectiveness of the drying process. The biochemical methane potential experiments have confirmed that the substrate produced the highest methane yields was the FAT, producing 524.25 ±2.86 L CH4 kg-1 volatile solids.
Effect of basic oxygen furnace slag particle size on sequestration of carbon dioxide from landfill gas
Authors: Reddy Krishna R. , Gopakumar Archana , Rai Raksha K. , Kumar Girish , Chetri Jyoti K. , Grubb Dennis G.
Published: February 2019

The mineral carbon sequestration capacity of basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slag offers great potential to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from landfill emissions. The BOF slag is highly alkaline and rich in calcium (Ca) containing minerals that can react with the CO2 to form stable carbonates. This property of BOF slag makes it appealing for use in CO2 sequestration from landfill gas. In a previous study, CO2 and CH4 removal from the landfill gas was investigated by performing batch and column experiments with BOF slag under different moisture and synthetic landfill gas exposure conditions. The study showed two stage CO2 removal mechanism: (1) initial rapid CO2 removal, which was attributed to the carbonation of free lime (CaO) and portlandite [(Ca(OH)2)], and (2) long-term relatively slower CO2 removal, which was attributed to be the gradual leaching of Ca2+ from minerals (calcium-silicates) present in the BOF slag. Realising that the particle size could be an important factor affecting total CO2 sequestration capacity, this study investigates the effect of gradation on the CO2 sequestration capacity of the BOF slag under simulated landfill gas conditions. Batch and column experiments were performed with BOF slag using three gradations: (1) coarse (D50 = 3.05 mm), (2) original (D50 = 0.47 mm), and (3) fine (D50 = 0.094 mm). The respective CO2 sequestration potentials attained were 255 mg g−1, 155 mg g−1, and 66 mg g−1. The highest CO2 sequestration capacity of fine BOF slag was attributed to the availability of calcium containing minerals on the slag particle surface owing to the highest surface area and shortest leaching path for the Ca2+ from the inner core of the slag particles.
Competence Differences in Literacy, Numeracy, and Problem Solving According to Sex
Authors: Yalcin Seher
Published: February 2019

This study aimed to determine individual- and country-level latent classes in literacy, numeracy and problem-solving competencies of individuals participating in the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies 2015. Specifically, it sought to distinguish these classes in relation to individuals’ sex and to identify the state of prediction of the determined latent classes by each person’s level of education. The study population consisted of 116,301 adults aged 16 to 65 years in 20 countries. Multilevel latent class analysis was conducted to consider the nested data structure and determine the number of latent classes. According to the results of the multilevel latent class analysis, Turkey and Chile were in the low achievement group in all skills, while Japan was in the most successful group. Moreover, the results revealed that sex and education level had a considerable influence on certain competence levels.
Causal logics and mechanisms in policy design: How and why adopting a mechanistic perspective can improve policy design
Authors: Capano Giliberto , Howlett Michael
Published: February 2019

Policy design undertakes to develop effective policies and hence must understand whether and how effective policies can be formulated and implemented. However, very often policy design has failed to focus on the causal chain that represents the actual driver of policy effects and thus misconstrues the potential effectiveness of a policy design. A mechanistic perspective is extremely helpful for conceptualising and pinpointing such causal chains, as it focuses on the real processes that must be activated by policy-makers in implementing policy designs. This article identifies the main steps to be taken when adopting such a mechanistic approach to policy design.
Additive manufacturing of high-strength weathering steel parts fabricated by gas tungsten arc: Microstructure and mechanical properties
Authors: Xiong Jun , Mao Yue , Zhao Huihui
Published: February 2019

This study focuses on microstructure and mechanical properties as a function of location in additively manufactured high-strength weathering steel components using gas tungsten arc as the heat source. Variations of microstructure and mechanical properties in various locations are presented and analysed. The as-deposited high-strength weathering steel is composed of columnar grain morphology with proeutectoid ferrite, acicular ferrite, side plate ferrite and a small amount of pearlite microstructure in the top region, equiaxed grains with ferrite and pearlite in the middle region, and columnar grains in the near-substrate region with the microstructure similar to that in the top region. There exist obvious layer bands in the middle region, and the forming mechanism of the bands is addressed. Microhardness measurement and tensile strength testing indicate obvious changes in different regions, depending on location and direction of testing specimens. The microhardness in the middle region is inferior to that in both near-substrate and top regions. The ultimate tensile strengths in the travel and deposition height directions are approximately 553 and 506 MPa, respectively. Different locations exhibit heterogeneous tensile strength and elongation due to various microstructures and boundaries. The results indicate the feasibility to fabricate high-strength weathering steel components with good tensile properties using gas tungsten arc–based additive manufacturing.
HIV encephalitis in a patient on antiretroviral therapy: a case report
Authors: Hlebowicz Maria , Parczewski Miłosz , Jakubowski Paweł
Published: February 2019

We present the case of a 52-year-old man with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) encephalitis resulting from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) viral escape, to illustrate therapeutic challenges in patients with emergent CSF genotypic HIV drug resistance. This case report highlights the usefulness of CSF HIV-resistance testing to guide antiretroviral therapy and treatment optimizing decisions.
The role of sexual risk behaviors on PrEP awareness and interest among men who have sex with men in Latin America
Authors: Edeza Alberto , Galarraga Omar , Novak David , Mayer Kenneth , Rosenberger Joshua , Mimiaga Matthew , Biello Katie
Published: February 2019

In Latin America, men who have sex with men (MSM) remain disproportionately impacted by HIV. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective HIV prevention tool and has been FDA approved in the United States since 2012, but no Latin American state, with the recent exception of Brazil, has implemented PrEP guidelines. We carried out a multinational online survey of MSM in Latin America (n = 22698) in 2012 to assess whether MSM at highest risk of HIV acquisition (i.e., those engaging in condomless anal sex [CAS; n = 2606] and transactional sex [n = 1488]) had higher levels of awareness of PrEP, PrEP use and interest in participating in a PrEP trial. After adjusting for demographic and psychosocial characteristics including depressive symptoms, hazardous alcohol use, childhood sexual abuse, and sexual compulsivity, transactional sex and CAS were associated with increased PrEP awareness (aOR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.05–1.59, p < .001 and aOR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.11–1.34, p < .001, respectively) and PrEP trial interest (aOR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.25–1.71, p < .001 and aOR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.57–1.95, p < .001, respectively). Findings demonstrate substantial awareness of and interest in PrEP among MSM with behavioral risk factors for HIV in Latin America, suggesting that this region is primed for PrEP implementation, which has been slow.
Walter Robinson Swann (1900–1980): Surgical blade maker, craftsman and philanthropist
Authors: Edward Monk Barry , Elizabeth Monk Anna
Published: February 2019

Walter Swann was an engineer and steel-maker, who established the firm WR Swann and Co. Ltd in Sheffield and who created the renowned Swann–Morton® brand of surgical blades. The company has defied the trend in the decline of the manufacture of Sheffield steel and is a testimony to his remarkable and enlightened employment practices, which were revolutionary in their day.
Safety of School Playgrounds: Field Analysis From a Randomized Sample
Authors: Olsen Heather , Kennedy Eric
Published: February 2019

Research supports recess, however, playground injuries are prevalent with more than 200,000 cases per year requiring medical attention. School playgrounds are among the leading location for injury. The purpose was to identify the safety and risk factors of playground environments and impact attenuation characteristics of surfacing materials. Results demonstrated 46% playground spaces protected students from traffic. Results found 75% of playgrounds were exposed to full sun, and unitary surface materials were up to 49°F warmer than the air temperature. There was an increase in the probability of risk whether equipment height was over 9 ft for loose fill surfacing materials or over 6 ft for unitary surfaces. Loose strings or ropes looped over equipment were found on 23% of playgrounds. This study provides discussion and data pertaining to numerous aspects of playground safety. Strategies for school nurses are shared to shape policies and education for playground safety practices.
Relative bioavailability of an extemporaneously prepared aprepitant oral suspension in healthy adults
Authors: Patel Priya , Nathan Paul C , Walker Scott E , Zupanec Sue , Volpe Jocelyne , Dupuis L Lee
Published: February 2019

Purpose

Use of aprepitant for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting prophylaxis in patients unable to swallow capsules is hindered by the lack of a commercially available oral liquid formulation in many jurisdictions. A stable oral suspension can be extemporaneously prepared using commercially available capsules. We aimed to determine the bioavailability of this aprepitant suspension relative to the capsule.

Methods

This two-period crossover study enrolled 17 healthy adult volunteers. Volunteers received a single 125 mg aprepitant dose during each study period. Order of formulation presentation (capsule vs suspension first) was randomized. Thirteen blood samples were collected over a 48-h period. Aprepitant plasma concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Relative bioavailability was defined as the geometric least squares mean ratio for area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC) from time zero to infinity of the aprepitant suspension versus the capsule. Bioequivalence, defined as per Health Canada guidelines, was assessed as a secondary aim.

Results

Relative bioavailability of the aprepitant suspension was 82.3% (90% CI: 69.09-98.00%). Bioequivalence was not established: geometric least squares mean ratios (suspension/capsule) for AUC time zero to 48 h and maximum concentration were 87.8% (90% CI: 75.48–102.16%) and 86.1% (90% CI: 75.59–98.16%), respectively. No serious adverse events were observed.

Conclusions

With a relative bioavailability of 82.3%, the extemporaneous aprepitant oral suspension was well-absorbed relative to the capsule. Though not bioequivalent to the oral capsule, the clinical use of this aprepitant oral suspension in adult and pediatric patients unable to swallow capsules is likely to be effective and safe.
Initial post-buckling analysis of a fixed–fixed strut
Authors: Jin M , Qi HY
Published: February 2019

In this paper, the initial post-buckling of a fixed–fixed strut in compression at the first bifurcation point is analyzed. Using the Fourier series of the lateral deflection, the second variation of the potential energy is proved, analytically, to be semi-positive definite when the compression is equal to the Euler critical load. The fourth variation of the potential energy is positive when the disturbance of the lateral deflection matches the buckling mode. Based on Koiter’s initial post-buckling theory, the equilibrium of the straight state of the strut is stable at the stability limit; when the compression slightly exceeds the Euler critical load, the curved shape at initial post-buckling is stable.
A Profile of Older Adults With a History of Stroke Receiving Home Care in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Zoratti Michael J. , Fisher Kathryn , Guthrie Dawn , Griffith Lauren E.
Published: February 2019

The demand for home care services is increasing, yet the literature describing the clinical characteristics of community-dwelling individuals with a history of stroke who receive home care is limited. In this retrospective, cross-sectional, population-level study, data were sourced from home care recipients aged 65+ who had a routine assessment using the Resident Assessment Instrument for Home Care (RAI-HC) in Ontario between January 2007 and December 2011. The RAI-HC contains several health status indicators and validated health index scales. The association of a history of stroke on health status was assessed through a series of logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, and number of comorbidities. Sex differences were also explored. A change in odds of ≥25% was considered to indicate a clinically important finding. From the home care data ( N = 319,694), 56,909 individuals had a stroke diagnosis, with approximately 86% diagnosed with ≥3 chronic conditions. A stroke diagnosis was associated with a higher risk of limitations or impairments with communication, locomotion, continence, activities of daily living, and cognitive performance. A clinically meaningful difference was not observed for symptoms of depression. Few sex differences were observed. In an effort to support the development of effective home and community-based care programs, research is needed to understand differences in community-dwelling versus institutional populations. Community-dwelling individuals with a history of stroke show higher levels of impairment and limitations compared with those without, suggesting areas where home care resources could be improved to help manage the chronic effects of stroke.
Integrating Microsimulation Models of Tax Policy into a DGE Macroeconomic Model
Authors: DeBacker Jason , Evans Richard W. , Phillips Kerk L.
Published: February 2019

This article proposes a method for integrating individual effective tax rates and marginal tax rates computed from a microsimulation (partial equilibrium) model of tax policy with a dynamic general equilibrium model of tax policy that can provide macroeconomic analysis or dynamic scores of tax reforms. Our approach captures the rich heterogeneity, realistic demographics, and tax-code detail of the microsimulation model and allows this detail to inform a general equilibrium model with a relatively high degree of heterogeneity. In addition, we propose a functional form in which tax rates depend jointly on the levels of both capital income and labor income.
Local Governments and Economic Freedom: A Test of the Leviathan Hypothesis
Authors: Millsap Adam A. , Hobbs Bradley K. , Stansel Dean
Published: February 2019

Brennan and Buchanan’s Leviathan hypothesis states that “potential for fiscal exploitation varies inversely with the number of competing governmental units” (p. 211) and that “total government intrusion into the economy should be smaller, ceteris paribus, the greater the extent to which taxes and expenditures are decentralized [and]…the smaller the jurisdictions” (p. 185). Using data for US metropolitan statistical areas, we provide the first local-level test of that hypothesis (that we are aware of) that uses “economic freedom” as the dependent variable, which provides a better measure of “total government intrusion into the economy” than the less comprehensive measures (taxes or spending) used in the previous literature. We find mixed support for the Leviathan hypothesis. The number of competing jurisdictions is positively associated with economic freedom, driven largely by the labor market freedom component as opposed to the government spending and tax components (the very measures used in the previous literature).
Extrahepatic Nonreticuloendothelial Siderosis Is Not Specific to Gestational Alloimmune Liver Disease
Authors: Wu Hao , Ferguson William , Castro Eumenia , Kearney Debra , Finegold Milton , Patel Kalyani
Published: February 2019

Autopsy reports of 78 stillbirths and early infant deaths (up to age 8 weeks) were reviewed to investigate the prevalence of extrahepatic nonreticuloendothelial siderosis (EHNRS) in the context of neonatal liver failure. Of these, 10 liveborns (12.8%), M:F 3:2, with mean gestational age 37.6 weeks (range: 35–39) and mean age at the time of demise 19.1 days (range: 7–42), showed significant liver injury: infection (n = 7, viral > fungal), congenital malformations (n = 2), and ischemia (n = 1). None had maternal history of gestational alloimmune liver disease (GALD) or previous fetal/neonatal death due to liver failure. Seven of 10 cases (70%) showed EHNRS: pancreas (n = 6), kidneys (n = 4), thyroid and adrenal glands (n = 3), and bronchial glands and heart (n = 2). Iron deposition was most frequent in the pancreas (60%), most diffuse in the kidneys, and seen in at least 2 organs, with pancreas and kidney being the most frequent combination. Hepatic C5b-9 expression was variable (1+ to 4+) except 1 case (100% necrosis). The duration of illness and the mean age at the time of demise tended to be higher in those with EHNRS. In summary, hepatic and EHNRS, with or without C5b-9 expression, are not specific for GALD. Other causes of liver failure should be investigated as clinically and pathologically appropriate.