bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Radiographically Occult Carcinomatous Spread of Breast Cancer to the Liver: A Challenging Case
Authors: Millard Trish , Gupta Akriti , Brenin Christiana , Marshall Paul , Dillon Patrick
Published: December 2019

Metastatic carcinomatosis to the liver is a pattern of malignant infiltration that tends to provoke hepatic fibrosis. It is a rare complication of multiple solid tumor types and often seen in the absence of discrete tumor mass in the liver. We report a case of a 69-year-old woman with metastatic ductal carcinoma of the breast who presented with rising serum tumor markers and mildly cirrhotic contour of the liver on a CT scan. An early diagnosis of occult spread to the liver was made by means of a percutaneous liver biopsy showing desmoplastic response to invasive breast cancer cells found diffusely in the liver. This case highlights a rare pattern of metastatic spread of breast cancer as well as predisposing and prognostic features.
Effect of Initiation Location within Blasthole on Blast Vibration Field and Its Mechanism
Authors: Gao Qidong , Lu Wenbo , Leng Zhendong , Yang Zhaowei , Zhang Yuzhu , Hu Haoran
Published: December 2019

In drill and blast, the explosive filled in each blasthole is cylindrically shaped and generally initiated by the detonator. Thus, the effect of the initiation location must be addressed, as it determines the detonation direction along the entire column explosive. In this paper, the effect of the initiation location on blast vibration field and its acting mechanism were comprehensively investigated through the theoretical, computational, and experimental approaches. The results indicate that the initiation location plays an important role in the blast vibration filed of the cylindrical charge. The underlying effect of the initiation location can be regarded as the combined results of the energy distribution and phase delay effects of the column explosive source. The behavior of the rock mass in the single‐hole blasting experiment demonstrates that the explosion energy is preferentially transmitted to the forward direction of the detonation wave. The seed wave‐based computation model verifies that owing to the phase delay effect, the blast vibration field of the cylindrical charge is not uniformly distributed and is strengthened at the forward direction of the detonation wave. The production blasting experiment indicates that the ground PPV under bottom initiation is 61.3%∼211.7% larger than that under top initiation. In addition, the effect of the initiation location is sensitive to the charge length L and the denotation velocity D. Meanwhile, the effect of the initiation location vanishes with distance. The present study provides valuable reference for understanding the effect of the initiation location on blast vibration in drill and blast.
Myricetin Alleviates Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy via TRAF6/TAK1/MAPK and Nrf2 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Liao Hai-han , Zhang Nan , Meng Yan-yan , Feng Hong , Yang Jing-jing , Li Wen-jin , Chen Si , Wu Hai-ming , Deng Wei , Tang Qi-zhu
Published: December 2019

Myricetin (Myr) is a common plant-derived polyphenol and is well recognized for its multiple activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammation, anticancer, and antidiabetes. Our previous studies indicated that Myr protected mouse heart from lipopolysaccharide and streptozocin-induced injuries. However, it remained to be unclear whether Myr could prevent mouse heart from pressure overload-induced pathological hypertrophy. Wild type (WT) and cardiac Nrf2 knockdown (Nrf2-KD) mice were subjected to aortic banding (AB) surgery and then administered with Myr (200 mg/kg/d) for 6 weeks. Myr significantly alleviated AB-induced cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and cardiac dysfunction in both WT and Nrf2-KD mice. Myr also inhibited phenylephrine- (PE-) induced neonatal rat cardiomyocyte (NRCM) hypertrophy and hypertrophic markers’ expression in vitro. Mechanically, Myr markedly increased Nrf2 activity, decreased NF-κB activity, and inhibited TAK1/p38/JNK1/2 MAPK signaling in WT mouse hearts. We further demonstrated that Myr could inhibit TAK1/p38/JNK1/2 signaling via inhibiting Traf6 ubiquitination and its interaction with TAK1 after Nrf2 knockdown in NRCM. These results strongly suggested that Myr could attenuate pressure overload-induced pathological hypertrophy in vivo and PE-induced NRCM hypertrophy via enhancing Nrf2 activity and inhibiting TAK1/P38/JNK1/2 phosphorylation by regulating Traf6 ubiquitination. Thus, Myr might be a potential strategy for therapy or adjuvant therapy for malignant cardiac hypertrophy.
Impact of Hyperoxia and Hypocapnia on Neurological Outcomes in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Li Kin Chio , Tam Catherine Wing Yan , Shum Hoi-Ping , Yan Wing Wa
Published: December 2019

In recent decades, there is increasing evidence suggesting that hyperoxia and hypocapnia are associated with poor outcomes in critically ill patients with cardiac arrest or traumatic brain injury. Yet, the impact of hyperoxia and hypocapnia on neurological outcome in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has not been well studied. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of hyperoxia and hypocapnia on neurological outcomes in patients with aneurysmal SAH (aSAH). Patients with aSAH who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary hospital in Hong Kong between January 2011 and December 2016 were retrospectively recruited. Patients’ demographics, comorbidities, radiological findings, clinical grades of SAH, PO2, and PCO2 within 24 hours of ICU admission, and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at 3 months after admission were recorded. Patients with a GOS score of 3 or less were considered having poor neurological outcomes. Among the 244 patients with aSAH, 122 of them (50%) had poor neurological outcomes at 3 months. Early hyperoxia (PO2 > 200 mmHg) and hypercapnia (PCO2 > 45 mmHg) were more common among patients with poor neurological outcomes. Logistic regression analysis indicated that hyperoxia independently predicted poor neurological outcomes (OR 3.788, 95% CI 1.131–12.690, P=0.031). Classification tree analysis revealed that hypocapnia was associated with poor neurological outcomes in patients who were less critically ill (APACHE < 50) and without concomitant intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) or intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (adjusted P=0.006, χ2 = 7.452). These findings suggested that hyperoxia and hypocapnia may be associated with poor neurological outcomes in patients with aSAH.
Using Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Treat Female Infertility: An Update on Female Reproductive Diseases
Authors: Zhao Yun-xia , Chen Shao-rong , Su Ping-ping , Huang Feng-huang , Shi Yan-chuan , Shi Qi-yang , Lin Shu
Published: December 2019

Female infertility impacts the quality of life and well-being of affected individuals and couples. Female reproductive diseases, such as primary ovarian insufficiency, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, fallopian tube obstruction, and Asherman syndrome, can induce infertility. In recent years, translational medicine has developed rapidly, and clinical researchers are focusing on the treatment of female infertility using novel approaches. Owing to the advantages of convenient samples, abundant sources, and avoidable ethical issues, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be applied widely in the clinic. This paper reviews recent advances in using four types of MSCs, bone marrow stromal cells, adipose-derived stem cells, menstrual blood mesenchymal stem cells, and umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. Each of these have been used for the treatment of ovarian and uterine diseases, and provide new approaches for the treatment of female infertility.
Headache, Delirium or Encephalitis? A Case of Residual Mutism Secondary to Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis
Authors: Jiménez-Zarazúa Omar , Martínez-Rivera María Andrea , González-Carrillo Pedro Luis , Vélez-Ramírez Lourdes N. , Alcocer-León María , Tafoya-Rojas Sandra X.L. , Becerra-Baez Angélica M. , Bravo-Martínez Mariana A. , Mondragón Jaime D.
Published: December 2019

Encephalitis is a heterogeneous syndrome that is diagnosed through clinical assessment and the assistance of laboratory, neuroimaging and electroencephalographic workup. Over the past 10 years, autoimmune encephalitis has been more frequently recognized; however, most reports come from highly specialized hospital settings. Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NDMAR) encephalitis has been associated with paraneoplastic encephalitis syndromes and was first recognized in 2005. We present the case of a 34-year-old male patient who debuted clinically with a headache associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms (i.e., visual and auditory hallucinations, anxiety, aggressiveness) and memory deficits, progressing to autonomic dysfunction (i.e., tachycardia and hypertension), seizures, and stupor with catatonic features. Initially, infectious, metabolic, and toxicological etiologies were excluded; followed by the assessment of immunological and paraneoplastic etiologies, yielding positive IgG levels for anti-NMDAR antibodies. The patient was treated successfully with systemic steroid therapy and therapeutic plasmapheresis, while mutism was the only sequela. Although large case series reporting on paraneoplastic and autoimmune anti-NMDAR encephalitis have been reported in the literature in recent years, this case is of particular importance due to the stepwise differential diagnosis and treatment management procedure that was used in a regional but not highly specialized hospital setting.
Reproducibility of Heart Rate Variability Revealed by Repeated Measurements during and after Hemodialysis
Authors: Deussing Kerstin , Wendt Ralph , Burger Ronald , Gollasch Maik , Beige Joachim
Published: December 2019

Background/Aims: Trajectory of heart rate variability (HRV) represents a noninvasive real-time measure of autonomous nervous system (ANS) and carries the capability of providing new insights into the hemodynamic compensation reserve during hemodialysis (HD). However, studies on HRV reproducibility during HD are scarce and did not refer to different reading periods. In this observational study, we aimed to establish the best suited and most reliable and reproducible HRV index in routine HD treatments including different reading rates. Methods: HRV was characterized by standardized mathematical variation expressions of R/R’ intervals: SD of all R/R’ intervals (ms), square root of the root mean square of the sum of all differences between adjacent R/R’ intervals (ms), percentage of consecutive R/R’ intervals that differ by >50 ms (%), low-frequency spectral analysis HRV (LF, expressing sympathetic activity), and high-frequency HRV (HF, expressing parasympathetic activity). To compare robustness of these HRV indices during HD procedures, we compared HRV indices means between different HD sessions and controlled for association with clinical parameters. Results: In 72 HD treatments of 34 patients, we detected the highest reproducibility (89%) of HRV measures when analyzing the low-frequency to high-frequency (LF/HF) ratio in long-term (3 h) readings. Long-term LF/HF was able to discriminate ­between patients with and without heart failure NYHA classes ≥3 (p = 0.009) and type 2 diabetes (p = 0.023). We were unable to study relationships between ANS and intradialytic complications because they did not appear in our cohort. Short-term readings of HRV indices did not show any significance of pattern change during HD. Conclusion: In summary, our data provide evidence for high robustness of long-term LF/HF in analyzing HRV in HD patients using future automated monitoring systems. For short-term analysis, mathematical real-time analysis must evolve.
Prevalence, Incidence, and Clinical-Epidemiological Characterization of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Antioquia: Colombia
Authors: Zapata-Zapata Carlos H. , Franco Dáger Edwing , Aguirre-Acevedo Daniel C. , de Carvalho Mamede , Solano-Atehortúa Juan
Published: December 2019

Introduction: The prevalence and incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is not fully established, and this varies depending on the studied population. Objective: To estimate the prevalence/incidence of ALS patients in Antioquia-Colombia. Methodology: Observational/descriptive study by reviewing clinical records from 2010 to 2014. Cases with possible, probable and definite ALS were included. To estimate the prevalence/incidence, capture-recapture method was used. Results: Point prevalence in December 2014 was 4.9/100,000 (95% CI 2.0–7.8), and the incidence was 1.4/100,000/year (95% CI 0.5–2.2). The median survival was 4 years. Spinal-onset was observed in 62.4% of the included patients. Conclusion: Prevalence, incidence and clinical presentation of ALS in Antioquia are similar to most studies reported worldwide. However, prevalence in Antioquia seems to be slightly higher than in other studies from Latin ­American countries. This may derive from the inclusion criteria and case detection methodology adopted, but sociodemographic and genetic factors should be considered.
Prospective Implementation of the Ottawa Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Rule and 6-Hour Computed Tomography Rule
Authors: Perry Jeffrey J. , Sivilotti Marco L.A. , Émond Marcel , Hohl Corinne M. , Khan Maryam , Lesiuk Howard , Abdulaziz Kasim , Wells George A. , Stiell Ian G.
Published: December 2019

Background and Purpose—

The Ottawa subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) rule identifies patients with headache requiring no testing for SAH, while the 6-hour computed tomography (CT) rule guides when to forgo a lumbar puncture. Our objectives were to: (1) estimate the clinical impact of the Ottawa SAH rule and the 6-hour-CT rule on testing rates (ie, CT, lumbar puncture, CT angiography); (2) validate the 6-hour-CT rule for SAH when applied prospectively in a new cohort of patients.

Methods—

We conducted a multicenter prospective before/after implementation study from 2011 to 2016 with 6 months follow-up at 6 tertiary-care Canadian Academic Emergency Departments. Consecutive alert, neurologically intact adults with headache were included. For intervention period, physicians were given a 1-hour lecture, pocket cards, posters were installed, and physicians indicated Ottawa SAH rule criteria when ordering CTs. SAH was defined by blood on CT, xanthochromia in cerebrospinal fluid, or >1×10
6
/L red blood cells in cerebrospinal fluid with aneurysm.

Results—

We enrolled 3672 patients, 1743 before and 1929 after implementation, including 188 with SAH. Proportions undergoing CT was unchanged (88.0% versus 87.5%;
P
=0.643). Lumbar puncture use decreased (38.9% versus 25.9%;
P
<0.0001). Additional testing following CT (ie, lumbar puncture or CT angiography) decreased (51.3% versus 42.2%;
P
<0.0001). Admissions declined (9.8% versus 7.4%;
P
=0.011). Mean emergency department stay was unchanged (6.3±4.0 versus 6.4±4.2 hours;
P
=0.685). The Ottawa SAH rule was 100% (95% CI, 98.1%–100%) sensitive, and the 6-hour-CT rule was 95.5% (95% CI, 89.8–98.5) sensitive for SAH. The 6-hour-CT rule missed 5 SAHs: 1 radiology misread, 2 incidental aneurysms, 1 nonaneurysmal cause, and 1 profoundly anemic patient.

Conclusions—

The Ottawa SAH rule and the 6-hour-CT rule are highly sensitive and can be used routinely when SAH is considered in patients with headache. Implementing both rules was associated with a meaningful decrease in testing and admissions to hospital.
Deep Learning for Automated Measurement of Hemorrhage and Perihematomal Edema in Supratentorial Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Dhar Rajat , Falcone Guido J. , Chen Yasheng , Hamzehloo Ali , Kirsch Elayna P. , Noche Rommell B. , Roth Kilian , Acosta Julian , Ruiz Andres , Phuah Chia-Ling , Woo Daniel , Gill Thomas M. , Sheth Kevin N. , Lee Jin-Moo
Published: December 2019

Background and Purpose—

Volumes of hemorrhage and perihematomal edema (PHE) are well-established biomarkers of primary and secondary injury, respectively, in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. An automated imaging pipeline capable of accurately and rapidly quantifying these biomarkers would facilitate large cohort studies evaluating underlying mechanisms of injury.

Methods—

Regions of hemorrhage and PHE were manually delineated on computed tomography scans of patients enrolled in 2 intracerebral hemorrhage studies. Manual ground-truth masks from the first cohort were used to train a fully convolutional neural network to segment images into hemorrhage and PHE. The primary outcome was automated-versus-human concordance in hemorrhage and PHE volumes. The secondary outcome was voxel-by-voxel overlap of segmentations, quantified by the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC). Algorithm performance was validated on 84 scans from the second study.

Results—

Two hundred twenty-four scans from 124 patients with supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage were used for algorithm derivation. Median volumes were 18 mL (interquartile range, 8–43) for hemorrhage and 12 mL (interquartile range, 5–30) for PHE. Concordance was excellent (0.96) for automated quantification of hemorrhage and good (0.81) for PHE, with DSC of 0.90 (interquartile range, 0.85–0.93) and 0.54 (0.39–0.65), respectively. External validation confirmed algorithm accuracy for hemorrhage (concordance 0.98, DSC 0.90) and PHE (concordance 0.90, DSC 0.55). This was comparable with the consistency observed between 2 human raters (DSC 0.90 for hemorrhage, 0.57 for PHE).

Conclusions—

We have developed a deep learning-based imaging algorithm capable of accurately measuring hemorrhage and PHE volumes. Rapid and consistent automated biomarker quantification may accelerate powerful and precise studies of disease biology in large cohorts of intracerebral hemorrhage patients.
Four new species and some new records of Brazilian frog-biting midges (Diptera: Corethrellidae)
Authors: AMARAL ANDRÉ P. , MARIANO RODOLFO , PINHO LUIZ CARLOS
Published: December 2019

Four new species of Corethrella are described from Brazil. Corethrella xokleng sp. n. and C. cambirela sp. n. are described from males and females, and Corethrella yanomami sp. n. and C. munteantaroku sp. n. are described from a female and male, respectively. Fourteen Corethrella species have new distributional records, with five of these being first records for Brazil. The number of valid species of Corethrellidae known from Brazil is increased from 37 to 46.
Book Review: Xavier Bougarel (2018). "Islam and Nationhood in Bosnia-Hercegovina: Surviving Empires". London-New York: Bloomsbury Academic
Authors: Falski Maciej
Published: December 2019

Book Review: Xavier Bougarel (2018). Islam and Nationhood in Bosnia-Hercegovina: Surviving Empires. London-New York: Bloomsbury AcademicThe review of the latest book by Xavier Bougarel focuses on the main concepts of the work: the notion of empire as a methodological and theoretical framework, the relation between Islam and the national idea, and the process of Bosniak nation-building. Recenzja książki: Xavier Bougarel (2018). Islam and Nationhood in Bosnia-Hercegovina: Surviving Empires. London-New York: Bloomsbury AcademicRecenzja najnowszej książki Xaviera Bougarela koncentruje się na najważniejszych kwestiach, takich jak: pojęcie imperium, będące ramą ideologiczną i teoretyczną dla interpretacji autora, relacja między Islamem a ideą narodową, oraz proces definiowania narodu boszniackiego.
Book Review: Siniša Malešević (2019). "Grounded Nationalisms". Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Authors: Rawski Tomasz
Published: December 2019

Book Review: Siniša Malešević (2019). Grounded Nationalisms. Cambridge: Cambridge University PressA review of the latest book by Siniša Malešević, an established theoretician of nationalism. The review not only indicates the main theoretical innovation of this work in relation to his previous works, but also identifies Malešević's twofold theoretical contribution to contemporary theories of nationalism. Recenzja książki: Siniša Malešević (2019). Grounded Nationalisms. Cambridge: Cambridge University PressRecenzja najnowszej pracy Sinišy Maleševicia, uznanego teoretyka nacjonalizmu. Recenzja nie tylko wskazuje główną innowację teoretyczną tej pracy w stosunku do prac poprzednich, ale także identyfikuje dwojaki teoretyczny wkład Maleševicia we współczesne teorie nacjonalizmu.
The constitutional paradox of complex diversity: A systemic path towards political integration through deliberation
Authors: Imaz Oier
Published: December 2019

Identity and democracy and, more particularly, national identity and deliberative democracy account for a controversial relationship. However, from a classical deliberative democratic point of view, the controversy over who is the ‘we’ that needs to stand together in contemporary complex societies settled with the constitution of modern states. In this sense, the main contribution of this paper is twofold. On the one hand, I rebut the analytical appropriateness and conceptual coherence of Habermas’ discursive approach to democracy for the case of plurinational societies in contemporary constitutional democracies. A discussion of a test case – Catalonia – demonstrates that this inadequacy renders incoherent the deliberative model regarding one of its most fundamental premises: the equal weight of the principles of law and the principle of democracy. On the other hand, I sustain that the challenge is not about identity but democracy, and more particularly, about the role deliberative democracy is called to play when controversy challenges whether the people of a state do conform to a single people or not. More concretely, I explore the opportunities offered by the systemic turn to sustain a more realistic approach to deliberative democracy regarding its capacity to steer society towards integration in the context of the system of public deliberation.
Integration of occupational therapists into family medicine groups: Physicians’ perspectives
Authors: Locas Valérie , Préfontaine Cassandra , Veillette Nathalie , Vachon Brigitte
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Occupational therapists remain poorly integrated into family medicine groups in Canada. Physicians are key partners because they can advocate for resources and formulate recommendations to improve the quality of services delivered in their clinics. It is important to explore their perception of the occupational therapist’s role in family medicine groups and the factors influencing their integration.

Method

A descriptive qualitative study was conducted. Six family physicians participated in an individual interview. Results were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Physicians consider that occupational therapists can meet the needs of diverse primary care clients. Benefits of this integration include improved clients’ functional status, early screening for developmental and age-related problems, and timely access to required care. The main barriers to integration are lack of funding, space and knowledge of the occupational therapist’s role. The strategies identified to facilitate integration are promoting and clarifying the role of occupational therapists in family medicine groups and developing effective integration models.

Conclusion

According to physicians, the inclusion of occupational therapists in family medicine groups could help primary care teams address many of their clients’ needs and improve the overall quality of primary care services. Targeted strategies are needed to promote the integration of occupational therapists into this practice context.
Wind power forecasting: A systematic literature review
Authors: Maldonado-Correa Jorge , Solano JC , Rojas-Moncayo Marco
Published: December 2019

Accurate and reliable prediction of wind energy in the short term is of great importance for the efficient operation of wind farms. One of the procedures to search for, summarize, organize and synthesize existing information is a systematic literature review. In this article, we present a systematic literature review on the predictive models of wind energy, aiming to establish the baseline for the development of a short-term wind energy prediction model that employs artificial intelligence tools to be applied in the Villonaco Wind Power Plant. Following a systematic method of literature review, we have established 4 research questions and 37 scientific articles that answer the said questions. Consequently, we found that artificial neural networks are used more frequently for the prediction of wind energy, which highlights its use in the studies consulted for the results achieved compared with that of other methods.
Egalitarian ideologies on the move: Changing care practices and gender norms in Norway
Authors: Isaksen Lise Widding , Bikova Mariya
Published: December 2019

This article explores the complexities and ambiguities in Norwegian families’ interaction with the public childcare system. Public childcare is a cornerstone in the ‘double dividend’, that is, social policies that equalize children’s life chances and support gender equality. The dual earner/dual carer family model interacts with full-time participation in the labour market, gender equality at home and universal access to childcare, and has made contemporary childhood multi-local and mobile. As part of their everyday organization of care, parents have to establish connections between home, work and childcare. Here, we use the concept of ‘care loops’ to analyse how local families ‘do’ combinations of welfare services, family resources, gender ideologies and the labour of migrant care workers. Drawing on empirical research on migrant care workers in Norwegian families and discussing recent studies of majority families’ care practices, the article discusses the paradox that egalitarian norms and ideals might generate extra workloads that in turn create demands for migrant care workers and trigger geopolitical inequality.
Not the Desired Outcome: Groupthink Undermines the Work of a Literacy Council
Authors: Jaeger Elizabeth L.
Published: December 2019

A history of school reform failure has prompted concern among literacy researchers and practitioners alike. This article considers the case of a school Literacy Council and its unsuccessful efforts to improve the school’s literacy environment. Mobilizing Janis’s notion of groupthink, I examine discourse among group members and suggest that characteristics of groupthink—problematic antecedents cultivating troubling decision-making symptoms—led to unsuccessful outcomes. During times of low stress, Literacy Council members collaborated effectively, but when the principal’s unilateral curricular decision raised stress levels, the group succumbed to groupthink and experienced failure. This study offers implications for other groups which are shaken by a late-emerging threat. I argue that groupthink theory shines light on problems with group interaction. An awareness of precursors to and symptoms of groupthink may support work teams as they propose and enact important change.
Influence of arm position change from adduction to abduction on intracavitary electrocardiogram
Authors: Zhu Shu-shu , Zhao Jing , Zhou Xin-yu , Gao Wei , Pan Ming-hao , Yu Wei-wei , Hao Hai-xia , Zhang Hai-jun , Yu De-xin , Wang Qing-yan , Huang Ping , Yin Yu-xia , Wang Lei
Published: December 2019

Purpose:

The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of arm movements from adduction to abduction on intracavitary electrocardiogram and the position of a catheter tip.

Methods:

Overall, 192 peripherally inserted central catheter lines were placed under intracavitary electrocardiogram guidance and 188 of them were enrolled in the study. The catheter was first placed at a time point corresponding to the peak P wave with the arm in adduction. The arm was then abducted to 90° without changing catheter insertion length. During the procedure, basal electrocardiogram, intracavitary electrocardiogram, and radiographs with the arm in adduction and abduction were recorded. Amplitude wave changes and catheter movements were measured on electrocardiogram records and radiographs, respectively.

Results:

In 188 cases, the P wave displayed typical changes, and 97.8% (184/188) catheters were successfully placed correctly. At the peak P wave, the amplitude of the peak P wave was 8.64 times greater than that of the basal P wave, and the P/R ratio was 0.61. When the arm was abducted to 90°, the amplitude of the P wave dropped to 57% of its peak, P/R decreased from 0.61 to 0.34, and the catheter tip moved cephalad 1.00 and 0.77 vertebral body units in male and female patients, respectively.

Conclusion:

Peripherally inserted central catheter moves toward the heart when the arm position changes from abduction to adduction. Peripherally inserted central catheter tip placement at the peak P wave with patient’s arm in adduction is accurate and can prevent the catheter from advancing too low. R wave can function as a reference for observing P wave changes during peripherally inserted central catheter placement.
What Is Alternative Modernity? Decolonizing Culture as Hybridity in the Asian Turn
Authors: Dutta Mohan Jyoti
Published: December 2019

I am sitting here at what is a 2-day workshop on the ‘Asian turn’ in the Enchanted City.1The conversations, one after another, turn to Asia, the Asia that is the source of revival. The celebratory rhetoric of the workshop makes visible the carnivalesque spirit around the ‘return’ of Asia. Here, to turn is to ‘re-turn’. What imaginaries of Asia are we returning to is a question that I am left wondering, uncomfortable with the wave of de-westernization that seems all too oblivious to the vast underbelly of the globalization politics within Asia that is dialectically intertwined with the story of the Asian re-turn. The stories of revivalism, Silk Roads and Asian maritime flows are euphemistically placed alongside the contemporary story of capital, seeing in these maps of the past the possibilities for the future. (Enchanted City, field notes from the ‘Asian turn’ panel and dates removed to protect confidentiality)
Global value relations and local labour control regimes in rice farming in Uganda and Tanzania
Authors: Greco Elisa
Published: December 2019

This study presents evidence on the organisation of farm work in rice farming areas in Uganda and Tanzania, where farms of different scale co-exist, drawing on the same pool of workers. Here, local labour regimes have been rapidly reorganised following the creation and expansion plans of mega-farms after the global financial crisis of 2007/2008, characterised as land grabs. The synchronic comparison of two rice mega-farms is based on the history of relations of production in rice farming areas in the region. With post-crisis global restructuring, shifting global value relations have driven the reorganisation of control within the labour process in frontiers of capitalist accumulation. This article argues that local labour process and farm labour regimes are important elements in the process of mediation with global value relations in the study areas. Labour control within the labour process and local labour regimes across farm scale are at the core of the additional reasons leading local workers to see employment on mega-farms undesirable, compared to gang work on local farms of different size. Work on mega-farms, alongside its highly exploitative character, is undesirable for workers because of the tight system of disciplining at the basis of labour control, which creates conflicts with the social reproduction system. The devalorisation and exploitation of labour is enabled by disciplining and control over workers in the production process.
The trade-off analysis for the mitigation of underwater noise pollution from commercial vessels: Case study – Trans Mountain project, Port of Vancouver, Canada
Authors: Vakili Seyedvahid , Ölcer Aykut I , Ballini Fabio
Published: December 2019

Although shipping has significant positive effect on human civilization, it introduced negative environmental impacts such as oil, air, and plastic pollutions. Many negative externalities through international and local regulations have been in place, and preventive actions have been taken to monitor and control. However, underwater noise pollution as an emerging negative shipping impact has not been well introduced to society nor appropriately regulated in international scale. Because of traffic density and the presence of sensitive marine species in some parts of the world, the negative social and environmental impacts of underwater noise pollution become more critical. Haro Strait due to high shipping traffic and presence of vulnerable marine species such as Southern Resident Killer Whale is a good example. The majority of ocean-going vessels transiting to Vancouver and vice versa pass through the corridor which includes Haro Strait. Tankers currently represent about 2% of total ship traffic visiting the Port of Vancouver; however, regarding the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project, the traffic density will grow by 11%, which will enhance the adverse impacts of underwater noise pollution on marine mammals. This study, by considering the features and characteristics of the area and the project, proposed four scenarios and modelling. The article by developing simulations and utilizing the Multiple Criteria Decision Making (Multiple Attribute Decision Making) algorithms and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution techniques strives to trade-off between the environmental (noise and CO2 emission) and economical (fuel cost) aspects of the project to enhance the Decision Support System to promote sustainable development. This will help the decision makers to have a multi-dimensional thinking instead of the single-dimensional thinking in addressing and tackling the negative externalities of the Trans Mountain project in the area. Moreover, at the end of each scenario, a sensitivity analysis will be conducted to provide a clean environment for decision makers.
Experimental study on water entry of twin wedges
Authors: Hasheminasab Hassan , Zeraatgar Hamid , Moradi Hashem , Sakaki Abdollah
Published: December 2019

This article presents an experimental study on the water entry of twin wedges commonly used as sections of catamaran craft. A twin wedge is a combination of two single asymmetry wedges connected by so-called wet-deck. The single asymmetry wedge has a vertical side and a non-vertical side with a range of deadrise angles. This study is carried out on a set of twin wedges of 7°, 15° and 20° deadrise angles. For calibrating the experimental equipment, the twin wedges symmetric quality, tank depth effect, three-dimensional effect, repeatability and sampling rate effects are examined. The water entry experiments are conducted through a drop test method. Time histories of impact pressure are recorded for different deadrise angles, drop heights and space between two single wedges. The results show that the effect of space on the peak pressure is negligible. In water entry experiment, the pressure on the non-vertical side of an asymmetry wedge is considerably lower than that on the equivalent symmetry wedge. The vertical side of an asymmetry wedge is under the effect of air entrapment. It has much less pressure than the non-vertical side.
Financial Incentives in Vertical Diffusion: The Variable Effects of Obama’s Race to the Top Initiative on State Policy Making
Authors: Howell William G. , Magazinnik Asya
Published: December 2019

A substantial body of empirical work documents the influence of federal monies on state policy making. Less attention, however, has been paid to the conditioning effects of states’ prior financial health. Nearly always, apportioned monies cover only a fraction of the costs of federal policy reforms. The capacity of states to deploy supplementary resources, therefore, may inform the willingness of states to comply with the federal government’s policy objectives. Focusing on Barack Obama’s Race to the Top (RttT) initiative, we present new evidence that state responses to federal initiatives that carry financial rewards systematically vary with the amount of resources already on hand. States that survived the Great Recession with their education budgets largely intact, we find, tended to implement more RttT reforms overall, and especially more reforms that required substantial up-front financial commitments. These patterns of policy adoptions can be meaningfully attributed to RttT, are not the result of either prior or ancillary policy trends, and speak to the general importance of accounting for what states already have, above and beyond what the federal government is willing to offer, when studying the financial incentives of vertical diffusion.
Age-Related Temporal Processing Deficits in Word Segments in Adult Cochlear-Implant Users
Authors: Xie Zilong , Gaskins Casey R. , Shader Maureen J. , Gordon-Salant Sandra , Anderson Samira , Goupell Matthew J.
Published: December 2019

Aging may limit speech understanding outcomes in cochlear-implant (CI) users. Here, we examined age-related declines in auditory temporal processing as a potential mechanism that underlies speech understanding deficits associated with aging in CI users. Auditory temporal processing was assessed with a categorization task for the words dish and ditch (i.e., identify each token as the word dish or ditch) on a continuum of speech tokens with varying silence duration (0 to 60 ms) prior to the final fricative. In Experiments 1 and 2, younger CI (YCI), middle-aged CI (MCI), and older CI (OCI) users participated in the categorization task across a range of presentation levels (25 to 85 dB). Relative to YCI, OCI required longer silence durations to identify ditch and exhibited reduced ability to distinguish the words dish and ditch (shallower slopes in the categorization function). Critically, we observed age-related performance differences only at higher presentation levels. This contrasted with findings from normal-hearing listeners in Experiment 3 that demonstrated age-related performance differences independent of presentation level. In summary, aging in CI users appears to degrade the ability to utilize brief temporal cues in word identification, particularly at high levels. Age-specific CI programming may potentially improve clinical outcomes for speech understanding performance by older CI listeners.
Natural history of systemic sclerosis–related interstitial lung disease: How to identify a progressive fibrosing phenotype
Authors: Volkmann Elizabeth R
Published: December 2019

The natural history of interstitial lung disease in patients with systemic sclerosis is highly variable. Historical observational studies have demonstrated that the greatest decline in lung function in systemic sclerosis occurs early in the course of the disease; however, not all patients experience a decline in lung function even in the absence of treatment. Furthermore, among patients who do experience a decline in lung function, the rate of decline can be either rapid or slow. The most common clinical phenotypes of systemic sclerosis–related interstitial lung disease are, therefore, as follows: (1) rapid progressors, (2) gradual progressors, (3) stabilizers, and (4) improvers. This review summarizes the features of systemic sclerosis–related interstitial lung disease patients who are more likely to experience rapid progression of interstitial lung disease, as well as those who are more likely not to experience interstitial lung disease progression. Understanding the clinical, biological, and radiographic factors that consistently predict interstitial lung disease–related outcomes in systemic sclerosis is central to our ability to recognize those patients who are at heightened risk for interstitial lung disease progression. With new options available for treating patients with systemic sclerosis–related interstitial lung disease, it is more important than ever to accurately identify patients who may derive the most benefit from aggressive systemic sclerosis–related interstitial lung disease therapy. Early therapeutic intervention in patients with this progressive fibrosing phenotype may ultimately improve morbidity and mortality outcomes in patients with systemic sclerosis–related interstitial lung disease.
‘God was a rotten plumber’: Common sense, moral economy and ‘financing water for all’
Authors: Wadsley Johanna
Published: December 2019

This paper presents a fresh approach to empirical moral economy through a case study of ‘financing water for all’ in global water governance. The period 2007–2011 can be understood as a process of purposive, collective re-making that occurred as the professional sphere’s various actors deployed, resisted and realigned distinct constellations of ‘moral common sense’ around the socio-politically fraught issue of paying for water. The research found that global water governance actors demonstrated significant agency to transform the moral economy by disabling and enabling particular forms of moral common sense with specific socio-political outcomes in mind. Namely, to normalize paying for water by shifting the degree of acceptability of contentious financial instruments, economic mechanisms and governance strategies: water pricing and tariffs, cost recovery, and private sector participation. The ascendance of new forms of moral common sense around the social object of paying for water enabled a shift away from impasse in the politics of ‘financing water for all’, particularly in regards to the association between free (or cheap) water, and moral and human rights to water. Indeed, the new constellation of moral common senses can be understood as having ‘made sense’ of paying for water as a means of realizing rights to water, for self and others. This in turn appeared to enable the re-legitimization of the private sector as a global water governance actor.
Criminalizing Nomadic Femininity: Colonial Trail of the Kathua Rape–Murder
Authors: Sharma Varun
Published: December 2019

A reading of Michael Kennedy’s (1908) treatise on ‘criminal classes’ in British India offers fresh perspective on the Kathua rape–murder in historical terms. What emerges through an exercise that connects past to present, colony to nation, is how the pending fate of a Bakarwal girl was first inscribed in colonial ink for being a nomad, and later fulfilled in Independent India for being a Muslim. The manner in which the colonial programme of stigmatizing nomadic societies, particularly its women and children, is being adapted, intensified and given renewed direction through Hindu hyper-nationalism is thus underscored. The failure of civil society to recognize the refraction of colonial power in a communal atmosphere, and thus come up with promising alternatives to prevent such crimes, is further highlighted.
Assessing the Ankle Joint Line Level Before and After Total Ankle Arthroplasty With the “Joint Line Height Ratio”
Authors: Harnroongroj Thos , Hummel Amelia , Ellis Scott J. , Sofka Carolyn M. , Caolo Kristin C. , Deland Jonathan T. , Demetracopoulos Constantine A.
Published: December 2019

Background:

Restoring the joint line is an important principle in total knee arthroplasty. However, the effect of joint line level on patient outcomes after total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) remains unclear, as there is no established method for measuring ankle joint level in TAA. The objective of this study was to develop a reliable radiographic ankle joint line measurement method and to compare ankle joint line level measured pre-TAA, post-TAA, and in nonarthritic ankles.

Methods:

A total of 112 radiographic sets were analyzed. Each set included weightbearing anteroposterior radiographs of the operative ankle taken preoperatively, 1-year postoperatively, and of the contralateral ankle. Measurements of vertical intermalleolar distance (VIMD) and vertical joint line distance (VJLD) at pre-TAA, post-TAA, and of the contralateral ankle were recorded by 2 authors on 2 separate occasions. The ratio of VJLD to VIMD was defined as the joint line height ratio (JLHR). Reliability of measurements and correlation between VIMD and VJLD were assessed. Pre-TAA, nonarthritic contralateral ankle, and post-TAA JLHR were compared and considered significantly different if P <.05.

Results:

The inter- and intrarater reliability of radiographic measurements was excellent ( r > 0.9). There were strong positive correlations of VIMD and VJLD, r = 0.809 (pre-TAA)/0.756 (post-TAA), P < .001. Mean (SD) pre-TAA, nonarthritic contralateral ankle, and post-TAA JLHRs were 1.54 (0.31), 1.39 (0.26), and 1.62 (0.49), respectively. Pre- and post-TAA JLHRs were significantly higher compared to the nonarthritic contralateral ankle ( P < .05). JHLR was not significantly different between pre- and post-TAA ( P = .15).

Conclusion:

The JLHR was reliable and could be a clinically applicable method for assessing ankle joint line level in patients undergoing TAA. End-stage ankle arthritis demonstrated elevated joint line level compared with nonarthritic ankles, and the joint line level post-TAA remained elevated compared with nonarthritic ankles. Further studies are needed to understand the effect of joint line elevation on clinical outcomes after TAA.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective comparative study.
India’s Economic Integration in Services with ASEAN: From Bilateral FTAs to RCEP
Authors: Gupta Pralok
Published: December 2019

Given the growing importance of services in Indian economy as well as in international trade, India has offensive interests in services and these are becoming an important part of India’s effort to economically integrate with global economies including Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This article analyses India’s economic integration with the ASEAN region in services trade and discusses how India’s services trade interests are taken into consideration by ASEAN members in their free trade agreements with India. It also discusses services-related aspects in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, a proposed free trade agreement among ASEAN and its six FTA partners including India, from which India has decided to opt-out recently.

JEL Codes: F13, F14, F15
End points for sickle cell disease clinical trials: renal and cardiopulmonary, cure, and low-resource settings
Authors: Farrell Ann T. , Panepinto Julie , Desai Ankit A. , Kassim Adetola A. , Lebensburger Jeffrey , Walters Mark C. , Bauer Daniel E. , Blaylark Rae M. , DiMichele Donna M. , Gladwin Mark T. , Green Nancy S. , Hassell Kathryn , Kato Gregory J. , Klings Elizabeth S. , Kohn Donald B. , Krishnamurti Lakshmanan , Little Jane , Makani Julie , Malik Punam , McGann Patrick T. , Minniti Caterina , Morris Claudia R. , Odame Isaac , Oneal Patricia Ann , Setse Rosanna , Sharma Poornima , Shenoy Shalini
Published: December 2019

To address the global burden of sickle cell disease and the need for novel therapies, the American Society of Hematology partnered with the US Food and Drug Administration to engage the work of 7 panels of clinicians, investigators, and patients to develop consensus recommendations for clinical trial end points. The panels conducted their work through literature reviews, assessment of available evidence, and expert judgment focusing on end points related to patient-reported outcome, pain (non–patient-reported outcomes), the brain, end-organ considerations, biomarkers, measurement of cure, and low-resource settings. This article presents the findings and recommendations of the end-organ considerations, measurement of cure, and low-resource settings panels as well as relevant findings and recommendations from the biomarkers panel.