bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Freeway Truck Traffic Safety in Wyoming: Crash Characteristics and Prediction Models
Authors: Haq Muhammad Tahmidul , Zlatkovic Milan , Ksaibati Khaled
Published: May 2019

The State of Wyoming experiences a high percentage of truck traffic along all its highways, especially Interstate 80 (I-80). The increased interactions between trucks and other vehicles have raised many operational and safety concerns. This paper presents a safety analysis and a development of safety performance functions (SPFs) along I-80, with a focus on truck crashes. Nine years of historical crash data in Wyoming (2008–2016) were used to observe the involvement of light, medium, and heavy trucks in crashes. Analysis of the major contributory factors showed that 54% of the total truck-related crashes occurred during icy road conditions and about 46% during snowy weather conditions, and approximately 45% involved driving too fast and driving in improper lane. The analysis also included segments with horizontal curves and vertical grades and their impacts on truck crashes. The crash rate analysis showed higher truck crash rate compared with total crash rate considering equal vehicle miles traveled as exposure. A zero-inflated negative binomial model was applied to develop Wyoming-specific SPFs for various truck crash types. The effects of traffic, road geometry characteristics, and weather parameters influencing different truck-related crashes were quantified from these models. Downgrades and steep upgrade sections were found to increase truck-related crashes. The number of rainy days per year was found to be a significant variable affecting truck-related crashes. On the other hand, the presence of climbing lanes has significant safety benefits.
The total work of art and totalitarianism
Authors: Michaud Éric
Published: May 2019

All the manifestos for a ‘total work of art’ after Wagner were political programmes: political, however, in a sense directly antithetical to the modern idea of the political. The goal of the total work of art was the formation of the people as a homogeneous political body, as the other of the social and political division, conflict and uncertainty inherent in the whole movement of democratic revolution since the 18th century. In each case the union or synthesis of the arts prefigures the reconciliation of the classes as the condition of the unity of the people. But who is this people that will realize itself in the total work? Is it the same people for the artists of the Bauhaus as it is for the leaders of the Third Reich? These are the questions I try to answer through an interrogation of the continuities and breaks in the re-workings of the Wagnerian concept of the Gesamtkunstwerk in the programmes of the Bauhaus and the policies of National Socialism.
A Meta-Analysis of Single-Case Research on Embedding Interests of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Ninci Jennifer , Neely Leslie C. , Burke Mack D. , Rispoli Mandy , Vannest Kimberly J. , Willson Victor , Ulloa Paula
Published: May 2019

Restricted interests of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can act as a barrier to learning important life skills. Embedding the interests of individuals into their learning environment can act to establish motivation to participate. A meta-analysis of 20 single-case studies on embedding interests of individuals with ASD was conducted to determine overall effects and potential moderating variables. Data were aggregated across domains of variables including dependent variables, participant characteristics, and learning contexts. The correlation between self-stimulatory or ritualistic behaviors and primary outcomes was evaluated. Publication bias and consistency of the Tau/Tau- U nonoverlap effect size with visual analysis were tested via moderator analyses. The literature suggests that embedding interest for learners with ASD can either be beneficial or distractible. Effects ranged from negative to strong, with several moderators identified. Practitioners should take caution when using this intervention with students who display self-stimulatory or ritualistic behaviors when their interests are present.
A population health perspective on artificial intelligence
Authors: Lavigne Maxime , Mussa Fatima , Creatore Maria I. , Hoffman Steven J. , Buckeridge David L.
Published: May 2019

The burgeoning field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to profoundly impact the public’s health. Yet, to make the most of this opportunity, decision-makers must understand AI concepts. In this article, we describe approaches and fields within AI and illustrate through examples how they can contribute to informed decisions, with a focus on population health applications. We first introduce core concepts needed to understand modern uses of AI and then describe its sub-fields. Finally, we examine four sub-fields of AI most relevant to population health along with examples of available tools and frameworks. Artificial intelligence is a broad and complex field, but the tools that enable the use of AI techniques are becoming more accessible, less expensive, and easier to use than ever before. Applications of AI have the potential to assist clinicians, health system managers, policy-makers, and public health practitioners in making more precise, and potentially more effective, decisions.
A Comparison of Intimate Partner Homicide With Intimate Partner Homicide-Suicide: Evidence From a Norwegian National 22-Year Cohort
Authors: Vatnar Solveig K. B. , Friestad Christine , Bjørkly Stål
Published: May 2019

Homicide-suicide incidents make up a relatively small proportion of homicides overall, but occur more frequently in certain subtypes of homicide, such as men who kill their female partners. This study investigates aspects of intimate partner homicide-suicide (IPHS) by comparing it with intimate partner homicide (IPH). All IPHs in Norway from 1990 to 2012 ( N = 177) were included. Quantitative data were extracted from court documents. Qualitative data were collected by interviews with bereaved. Multivariate logistic regression analyses and systematic text condensation were conducted. Nearly one fourth of IPHs were identified as IPHS. Perpetrators of IPHS were less likely to have a previous criminal record, even having a history of disregard and violations of the law. Perpetrators of IPHS were mainly native-born citizens and were more educated than IPH perpetrators. The motive of IPHS was more often jealousy than a dispute, but the motive was most often recorded as “other” or “unknown.” IPHS was perceived as intentional, and the bereaved did not unambiguously support the interpretation that the IPHS had been triggered by stressful situations. The bereaved pointed to the loss of hope or loss of a future combined with an inability to cope with severe disappointments as an important risk factor. Within the framework of an interactional perspective, our findings indicate that IPHS shares more characteristics with IPH than it does with other categories of homicide and other violent deaths in general.
Students’ Community Service: Self-Selection and the Effects of Participation
Authors: Meyer Michael , Neumayr Michaela , Rameder Paul
Published: May 2019

Numerous studies demonstrate the effectiveness of university-based community service programs on students’ personal, social, ethical, and academic domains. These effects depend on both, the characteristics of students enrolled and the characteristics of the programs, for instance whether they are voluntary or mandatory. Our study investigates whether effects of voluntary service programs are indeed caused by the service experience or by prior self-selection. Using data from a pre–post quasi-experimental design conducted at a public university in Europe and taking students’ socioeconomic background into account, our findings on self-efficacy, generalized trust, empathic concern, and attributions for poverty show that there are no participation effects. Instead, students who join in community service differ significantly from nonparticipants with regard to almost all investigated domains a priori, indicating strong self-selection. Our results underline the importance of structured group reflection, most notably with regard to attitude-related topics.
Fish-friendly design of an axial flow pump impeller based on a blade strike model
Authors: Pan Qiang , Shi Weidong , Zhang Desheng , Esch BPM van , Zhao Ruijie
Published: May 2019

With environmental awareness growing in many countries, governments are taking measures to reduce mortality of migrating fish in pumping stations. Manufacturers seek to develop pumps that are less damaging to fish and still provide good hydraulic performance, but little is known about the implications design modifications may have on internal flow characteristics and overall hydraulic performance. In this paper, an integrated design method is proposed that combines a validated blade strike model for fish damage and a computational fluid dynamics method to assess the pump performance. A redesign of an existing, conventional, axial flow pump is presented as an example in this paper. It shows how the design of the impeller blades was modified stepwise in order to reduce fish mortality while its hydraulic performance was monitored. Computational fluid dynamics analysis of the flow near the hub of the highly skewed blades indicated that unconventional design modifications were required to ensure optimum flow behavior. In the final fish-friendly design, the risk of fish mortality has reduced considerably while the hydraulic performance of the pump is still acceptable for practical application.
Implementation a fractional-order adaptive model-based PID-type sliding mode speed control for wheeled mobile robot
Authors: Ayten Kağan Koray , Çiplak Muhammet Hüseyin , Dumlu Ahmet
Published: May 2019

This article presents the speed and direction angle control of a wheeled mobile robot based on a fractional-order adaptive model-based PID-type sliding mode control technique. Taking into account the individual benefits of the fractional calculus and the adaptive model-based PID-type sliding mode control method, the fractional order and the adaptive model-based PID-type sliding mode control technique are combined and proposed as an effective controller for the first time in the literature for real-time control of the wheeled mobile robot under the external payload. In this proposed method, several critical issues are considered; first, a kinematic and dynamic model of the wheeled mobile robot is analysed considering the system’s uncertainties. Second, fractional-order calculus and the model-based PID-type sliding mode control is composed to realize the chattering-free control, accurate trajectory tracking response, finite time convergence and robustness for the wheeled mobile robot. Finally, an adaptive process is also employed to meet and overcome the unknown dynamics and uncertain parameters of the system, regardless of the previous information of the uncertainties. The experimental outcomes demonstrate that the proposed controller (fractional-order adaptive model-based PID-type sliding mode controller) delivers an accurate trajectory tracking performance, faster finite-time convergence as well as having a smaller speed error under the external payload when the adaptive model-based PID-type sliding mode control is compared.
Galaxy zoo: Science content knowledge of citizen scientists
Authors: Raddick Michael Jordan , Prather Edward E. , Wallace Colin S.
Published: May 2019

We report the results of a large-scale study of the state of science content knowledge of volunteers in Galaxy Zoo ( www.galaxyzoo.org ), an online citizen science project in which public volunteers classify galaxies in an effort to benefit cutting-edge astronomy research. We were interested in whether participating in Galaxy Zoo leads to any increase in participants’ astrophysical content knowledge. To assess volunteer content knowledge, we examined the responses of 1476 Galaxy Zoo volunteers to 32 conceptually challenging multiple-choice questions. We looked for any relationships between participants’ assessment scores and the number of galaxies classified upon answering the first assessment question, the number of galaxies classified between their first response and their final response to the assessment, and the length of time since they first created their Galaxy Zoo account. All relationships were of small effect size. These results suggest that participation in the project’s central galaxy classification task, in and of itself, is not associated with increased astrophysical content knowledge. We strongly recommend that future studies of online citizen science environments examine how volunteers take advantage of opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills outside of the self-contained central task, especially in the context of opportunities for interactions with other volunteers.
Revisiting BISFT Summer School 2000, Liverpool Hope University, ‘Dreams for a New Millennium: Dancing a Be-dazzling Future’
Authors: Barton Mukti
Published: May 2019

Mukti Barton’s 2000 paper, ‘The Skin of Miriam Became as White as Snow: The Bible, Western Feminism and Colour Politics’, reflected on interpretations of the story of Miriam and her sister-in-law Zipporah, that have focused mainly on Miriam becoming white, as indicative of the effect of colour politics on biblical hermeneutics. Updating that article, the focus was on Zipporah and the main text was again Numbers 12. What are the lessons for Feminist Theology?
Revisiting BISFT Summer School 2006, Harriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, ‘What’s God got to do with it? – Politics, Economics, Theology’
Authors: McPhillips Kathleen
Published: May 2019

This article addresses research that deals with approaches to psychological and social trauma and ways to manage its disruptive power. In the first instance I apply this to the life of my great-grandmother in order to help understand why her life became unbearably difficult, the treatment she received as a female ‘hysteric’ in the 1940s and most importantly the impact that her life has continued to have through four generations of family life. In the second instance, I apply trauma theory to the history of forgetting women and its implications for feminist action and recovery with specific reference to Feminist Theology.

I suggest that there are powerful connections between the individual and collective forgetting of women’s lives, and that this forgetting is premised on forms of symbolic violence. I turn to the work of psychiatrists Judith Herman, and Russell Meares and feminist theologian Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, in order to provide an account of forgetting, remembering and finally recovery.
Development of a joint mental-health and drug health assessment unit and short-stay unit
Authors: Kealy-Bateman Warren , McDonald Andrew , Haber Paul S , Green Tim , White Bethany , Sundakov Viktoria , O’Cionnaith Cathal , Glozier Nicholas
Published: May 2019

Objectives:

There is emerging interest in models of care that focus on assessment and brief inpatient treatment (two to three days) including psychiatric emergency care centre units and short-stay units in Australia. We present the development of a functionally integrated Missenden Assessment Unit and six-bed short-stay unit in the new Professor Marie Bashir Centre at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in inner-city Sydney. The focus was on collaboration between emergency, drug and alcohol and mental-health services in developing the short-stay unit and Missenden Assessment Unit with joint admission and resource use. We outline the models of care and findings from the 2016 evaluation following the initial two years of operation and consider ongoing challenges.

Conclusion:

The Missenden Assessment Unit provides an alternative point of presentation for mental-health drug and alcohol patients. The short-stay unit provides coordinated, therapeutic interventions. The Missenden Assessment Unit/short-stay unit reduced the burden of presentations to the emergency department while providing the opportunity for training and collaboration. Further refinement of the models of care should occur with policy development and via research.
Coercive care and human rights; a complex juxtaposition – part 1
Authors: Little John D
Published: May 2019

Objective:

To explore the clinical implications associated with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN-CRPD), and coercive practice.

Conclusions:

Both human rights and clinical perspectives are necessary in the management of the mentally ill.
Skin Complications Associated With Pediatric Central Venous Access Devices: Prevalence, Incidence, and Risk
Authors: Ullman Amanda J. , Kleidon Tricia M. , Turner Karen , Gibson Victoria , Dean Anna , Cattanach Paula , Pitt Colleen , Woosley Julieta , Marsh Nicole , Gavin Nicole , Takashima Mari , Rickard Claire M.
Published: May 2019

Central venous access devices (CVADs) are vital to enable treatment for children with cancer and other complex health conditions. However, complications effecting the CVAD wound are commonly reported. This study aimed to identify the incidence and prevalence of CVAD-associated skin complications current management, and characteristics associated with complication development, in pediatrics. A prospective observational study performed across medical, oncology, and hematology departments at a tertiary pediatric hospital in Australia, between April and July 2017. Children admitted with CVADs were assessed twice weekly for CVAD-associated skin complications and associated signs and symptoms. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (i.e., proportions, frequency) and time-to-event multivariable regression (i.e., hazard ratios [HRs]). Two hundred and seventy-one CVADs were reviewed over 43,787 catheter days, with over one eighth of participants (14%; n = 37) having a CVAD-associated skin complication during their admission (0.95 per 1,000 catheter days, 95% confidence interval [CI; 0.61, 1.17]), most commonly contact dermatitis (11%; n = 29; 0.72 per 1,000 catheter days 95% CI [0.50, 1.04]). Within biweekly checks the median point prevalence of complications varied between 0.4% and 11% and clinical management was wide-ranging. A primary diagnosis of oncology (HR 2.89, 95% CI [1.10, 7.62]) or medical/surgical (HR 2.55, 95% CI [1.04, 6.22]) conditions; plain, nonbordered polyurethane dressings (HR 4.92, 95% CI [2.00, 12.13]); and poor dressing integrity (HR 2.64, 95% CI [1.18, 5.92]) were significantly associated with contact dermatitis. In conclusion, substantial numbers of pediatric patients experience CVAD-associated skin complications, and innovations are necessary to identify, prevent, and treat these health care–associated injuries.
Spiritual Perspectives, Spiritual Care, and Knowledge of Recovery Among Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses
Authors: Neathery Melissa , He Zhaomin , Taylor Elizabeth Johnston , Deal Belinda
Published: May 2019

BACKGROUND: Promoting spiritual well-being aids the mental health recovery process. Furthermore, nursing governance bodies and national mental health care regulators support spiritual care as a mental health–promoting approach. Although spiritual well-being is integral to quality of life in people with mental illness, little is known about the psychiatric mental health (PMH) nurses’ provision of spiritual care. AIMS: Spiritual perspectives, frequency of spiritual care, and knowledge of recovery-oriented practice were measured. Variables were explored to identify a model of spiritual care. METHOD: A descriptive correlational cross-sectional design was employed. Analyses of data using descriptive statistics, correlations, and hierarchical multiple regression were conducted with a convenience sample of 171 PMH nurses. RESULTS: Participants scored high on measurement of spiritual perspectives, moderate on measurement of knowledge about recovery-oriented practice, and indicated a moderate degree of frequency of provision of spiritual care. Nurses who viewed themselves as “spiritual and religious” provided more frequent spiritual care and had higher levels of spiritual perspectives than those who viewed themselves as “spiritual but not religious.” Significant contributors to spiritual care were spiritual perspectives and years of experience as a PMH nurse. Knowledge of recovery-oriented practice, however, did not contribute to a model of spiritual care. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses’ spiritual perspectives, religiosity, and years of experience are factors that may explain nurse-provided spiritual care. Findings imply that spiritual and/or religious development may support PMH nurses to provide spiritual care.
HYPERDOCK: Improving virtual screening through parallel hyperheuristics
Authors: Imbernón Baldomero , Llanes Antonio , Cutillas-Lozano José-Matías , Giménez Domingo
Published: May 2019

Virtual screening (VS) methods aid clinical research by predicting the interaction of ligands with pharmacological targets. The computational requirements of VS, along with the size of the databases, propitiate the use of high-performance computing. METADOCK is a tool for the application of metaheuristics to VS in heterogeneous clusters of computers based on central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU). HYPERDOCK represents a step forward; the exploration for satisfactory metaheuristics is systematically approached by means of hyperheuristics working on top of the metaheuristic schema of METADOCK. Multiple metaheuristics are explored, so the process is computationally demanding. HYPERDOCK exploits the parallelism of METADOCK and includes parallelism at its own level. The different levels of parallelism can be used to exploit the parallelism offered by computational systems composed of multicore CPU + multi-GPUs. The efficient exploitation of these systems enables HYPERDOCK to improve ligand–receptor binding.
Prognostic Value of MMP-9 -1562 C/T Gene Polymorphism in Patients With Sepsis
Authors: Bermúdez-Mejía César , Torres-Cordón Melissa F , Becerra-Bayona Silvia , Páez Carolina María , Vargas Clara Inés , Cárdenas María Eugenia , Serrano Sergio Eduardo , Baquero Ingrid , Martínez-Vega Ruth , Schulz Richard , Ilarraza Ramses , Pazin Filho Antonio , Torres-Dueñas Diego
Published: May 2019

Introduction:

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of sepsis. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position -1562 (C/T) in the MMP-9 gene has been associated with differential MMP-9 expression, being higher when the -1562 T allele is present. We evaluated the association of the SNP MMP9 -1562 C/T with severity and mortality in patients with sepsis to establish whether the prognosis of the disease is affected.

Materials and Methods:

A case-control study exploratory was carried out in a cohort of infected patients. 540 individuals were selected in total, 270 patients with sepsis and 270 controls (infected but non-septic), classified according to the 2016 consensus (Sepsis-3). The presence of the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; allele T and/or allele C) was determined through analyses of restriction fragment length polymorphism and plasma levels of MMP-9 were determined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay immunoassay.

Results:

SNP MMP-9 -1562 has two known alleles (T and C), with predominance of the C over the T allele; in the group of patients with sepsis, T allele was found in 7.2% of cases, while C allele in the rest (92.8%); in comparison, in the group of infected but non-septic patients, frequencies were 9.4% for T allele and 90.6% for the C allele ( P = .33). Also, the presence of the polymorphic T allele was not related to the levels of MMP-9 in patients with sepsis in comparison with infected but non-septic patients 780 (397-1375) ng/mL vs 646 (172-1249) ng/mL ( P = .64). There was also no association between the SNP and sepsis mortality ( P = .78).

Conclusions:

We concluded that there was no association between the SNP MMP9 -1562 C/T and sepsis or between the SNP MMP9 -1562 C/T and sepsis mortality in the Northeastern Colombian septic patient cohort. Further research is needed to clarify the correlation among sepsis, genetic factors with allele T and MMP-9 plasma concentration.
Cationic Anthraquinone Analogs as Selective Antimicrobials
Authors: Subedi Yagya Prasad , Chang Cheng-Wei Tom
Published: May 2019

Development of new antibiotics is always needed in the fight against growing threat from multiple drug–resistant bacteria, such as resistant Gram-negative (G−) Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. While the development of broad-spectrum antibiotics has attracted great attention, careful administration of these antibiotics is important to avoid adverse effects, like Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, for example, quinolones, can increase the risk of CDI by eradicating the protective bacteria in intestine and encouraging C difficile spore germination. Many common intestine bacteria are G− or anaerobic, including Enterococcus faecalis, Bacteroides fragilis, and E coli. Hence, it may be advantageous in certain therapeutic practices to employ selective antimicrobials. For instance, Gram-positive (G+) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that can cause life-threatening sepsis can be controlled with the use of selective antibiotic, vancomycin. Nevertheless, its effectiveness has been limited with the emerging of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA). A recent report on antimicrobial cationic anthraquinone analogs (CAAs) that show tunable activity and selectivity may provide new hope in the search for selective antimicrobials. In particular, the lead CAA displays prominent activity against MRSA while manifesting low activity against E coli and low cytotoxicity toward normal mammalian cells.
Plasma Viscosity and NLR in Young Subjects with Myocardial Infarction: Evaluation at the Initial Stage and at 3 and 12 Months
Authors: Caimi Gregorio , Montana Maria , Andolina Giuseppe , Hopps Eugenia , Lo Presti Rosalia
Published: May 2019

In the “Sicilian study on juvenile myocardial infarction,” we had evaluated plasma viscosity (PV) and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at the age of ⩽45 years. Now, we examined the relationship between these 2 parameters in 120 subjects (109 men and 11 women) aged ⩽45 years with recent AMI. The patients were classified according to the number of cardiovascular risk factors, the electrocardiographic criteria (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] or non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI]), and the extent of coronary stenosis, evaluated with coronary angiography. On fasting venous blood, we measured PV at the shear rate of 450 s−1 and NLR. The control group included 50 healthy subjects (mean age = 35.1 ± 7.8 years). At the initial stage, PV and NLR were significantly increased in comparison with controls. Subdividing AMI patients according to the median value of NLR, in the group with high NLR PV was significantly higher, whereas subdividing the patients according to the PV median value, NLR was not different between the 2 groups; 3 and 12 months after AMI, we observed only a significant decrease in NLR. Only PV was discriminant regarding the cardiovascular complications registered during an 18-month follow-up. The evaluation of PV may be of prognostic value in juvenile AMI.
Pervasive refusal syndrome in asylum-seeking children: Review of the current evidence
Authors: Ngo Thinh , Hodes Matthew
Published: May 2019

This study reviews the current evidence in pervasive refusal syndrome (PRS) in asylum-seeking children. Refugees can experience a variety of traumas throughout the process of migration. Children can be exposed to multiple traumas such as experienced or witnessed physical or sexual violence, loss and bereavement, parental separation and the threat of persecution and/or kidnapping. The third stage of the migration journey can add further stress; children and families may experience multiple rejections of asylum application effectively living in limbo with the constant threat of deportation. High rates of mental health disorder are well documented in young asylum seekers, particularly depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PRS is less frequently described but nonetheless a severe and life-threatening condition affecting young asylum seekers. Traumatisation, cultural factors and hostile asylum processes are specific moderating factors seen in asylum-seeking children. Asylum-seeking children normally make a full recovery from PRS. This study suggests a link between prolonged asylum processes and hostile foreign policy in developing and maintaining illness; similar cases are now being reported in other countries with hostile foreign policies. These findings are therefore relevant to clinicians and politicians working with this vulnerable group.
Alcohol and illicit drug consumption and the association with risky sexual behaviour among Swedish youths visiting youth health clinics
Authors: Strandberg Anna , Skoglund Charlotte , Gripenberg Johanna , Kvillemo Pia
Published: May 2019

Aims:

High alcohol consumption and use of illicit drugs among young people is of great concern and there is a need to identify arenas where this group can be reached by preventive measures. The aim of the present study was to study prevalence of risky alcohol consumption, illicit drug use, and risky sexual behaviour (RSB) among young people visiting youth health clinics in Stockholm county. Another aim was to explore the association between risky alcohol consumption, illicit drug use and RSB.

Methods:

During autumn 2016, an anonymous questionnaire comprising questions about alcohol, illicit drugs and risky sexual behaviour was given to visitors at 11 youth health clinics in Stockholm county.

Results:

A total of 328 youths ( M = 18.8 years, 89% girls) answered the questionnaire. Results show that 61.7% had risky alcohol consumption and 41.8% had tried illicit drugs. Risky sexual behaviour was more prevalent among respondents with risky alcohol consumption, and it was more common among non-students than students.

Conclusions:

Findings indicate that a large proportion of visitors at youth health clinics in Stockholm county has a risky alcohol consumption and experiences of other drugs, and also that risky alcohol consumption is associated with three of five RSB outcomes. Non-students seemed to be a particularly exposed risk group with regard to both risky alcohol consumption and RSB. Overall, the results indicate that youth health clinics are an important arena for alcohol prevention.
‘Just having a computer doesn’t make sense’: The digital divide from the perspective of mothers with a low socio-economic position
Authors: Goedhart Nicole S , Broerse Jacqueline EW , Kattouw Rolinka , Dedding Christine
Published: May 2019

The introduction of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been shown to play a role in reinforcing existing social inequalities. This study aims to gain insights into the perspectives, experiences and needs of disadvantaged groups with respect to ICT. In the Netherlands, a relatively large and important group of non-users are mothers with a low socio-economic position (SEP). Little attention has been paid to understanding why mothers with a low SEP scarcely use ICTs. In an explorative participatory study in Amsterdam, using observations, interviews and focus groups, our results show that reinforcing factors related to poverty, motherhood, the complexity of ICT and being first-generation immigrant influence access. The mothers’ needs are multifaceted and go beyond the simple distribution of ICT devices. ICT education should be tailored and integrated into existing social services and the daily lives of the mothers. Moreover, policymakers should pay attention to adapting the online information services to the mothers’ strengths.
‘Stay informed’, ‘become an insider’ or ‘drive change’: Repackaging newspaper subscriptions in the digital age
Authors: Nechushtai Efrat , Zalmanson Lior
Published: May 2019

Subscription fees are an increasingly prominent revenue source for news organizations, challenging advertising as the primary business model for news. But when most online news remains available for free, how do publishers convince readers to pay? We examined how the 55 most-read US newspapers frame their value proposition when they ask readers to subscribe. Using the Meyer-Allen organizational commitment framework, we analyzed the informational, social, and normative elements mentioned in ‘subscribe now’ webpages. Every subscription offer referred to the informational value in a regular relationship with the newspaper, yet 62 percent also mentioned affective and community-based benefits in subscription, and 33 percent evoked normative and value-based benefits. Our data show that newspaper subscriptions are often promoted as a relationship with social and normative dimensions, rather than merely an information-based transaction – with some differences in the language used by newspapers of different sizes, ownership types, US regions, and local political orientations (‘red’/‘blue’ state). This work demonstrates the merit in analyzing promotional materials produced by news organizations to better understand both their strategies and their relationships with the communities they serve.
How journalists understand the threats and opportunities of new technologies: A study of security mind-sets and its implications for press freedom
Authors: Tsui Lokman , Lee Francis
Published: May 2019

This is a study on digital security and press freedom, specifically the freedom from surveillance and the freedom to private and secure communication. We study journalists’ understanding and awareness of digital security practices: their perception of risks and threats of surveillance, and also their awareness of tools and techniques to communicate securely. Based on an empirical study of journalists in Hong Kong, including those who regularly travel to China for work, we build out a theoretical framework for understanding digital security mind-sets of journalists. We found differences in journalists’ behavior depending on how novice or advanced their understanding of digital security are. Journalists with a novice security mind-set will take different actions that produce different outcomes and behavior than those with an advanced security mind-set. We argue that journalists with an advanced security mind-set are able to work on a larger and wider range of (sensitive) stories, suggesting they enjoy a higher degree of press freedom.
Theoretical calculation of circular-crested Lamb wave field in single- and multi-layer isotropic plates using the normal mode expansion method
Authors: Li Lingfang , Faisal Haider Mohammad , Mei Hanfei , Giurgiutiu Victor , Xia Yong
Published: May 2019

The guided wave technique is commonly used in the health monitoring of thin-walled structures because the guided waves can propagate far in the structures without much energy loss. However, understanding of the wave propagation in bounded layered structures is still lacking. In this study, the Lamb wave field of single- and multi-layer plates excited by surface-mounted piezoelectric wafer active sensors is theoretically analyzed using the normal mode expansion method, which is based on the elastodynamic reciprocity relation and utilizes the orthogonality relations of the Lamb wave modes. The mode participation factors of Lamb wave in single- and multi-layer isotropic plates are derived. The time domain responses are obtained through the inverse Fourier transform of the structural response spectrum, which is obtained by multiplying the transfer function with the excitation frequency spectrum. The developed normal mode expansion method is first applied to an aluminum single-layer plate. The obtained analytical tuning curves and out-of-plane velocity of the plate are in good agreement with the numerical and experimental results. Finally, the analytical wave responses of an aluminum–adhesive–steel triple-layer plate are verified through comparison with the finite element analysis and experiment. The proposed normal mode expansion method provides a reliable and accurate calculation of the wave field in single- and multi-layer plates.
Acute and Midterm Outcomes of Antegrade vs Retrograde Crossing Strategies for Endovascular Treatment of Iliac Artery Chronic Total Occlusions
Authors: Kokkinidis Damianos G. , Foley T. Raymond , Cotter Ryan , Hossain Prio , Alvandi Bejan , Jawaid Omar , Haider Moosa N. , Singh Gagan D. , Waldo Stephen W. , Laird John R. , Armstrong Ehrin J.
Published: May 2019

Purpose: To examine whether an antegrade or retrograde crossing strategy for treatment of iliac artery chronic total occlusions (CTOs) is associated with differences in procedural or midterm outcomes. Materials and Methods: A dual-center retrospective cohort study was conducted in 168 patients (mean age 66.4±10.6 years; 116 men) treated for CTOs in 110 common iliac arteries (CIA), 52 external iliac arteries (EIA), and 26 combined CIA/EIAs. Logistic regression models were developed to determine the association between crossing strategy and procedural complications, 1- and 3-year target lesion revascularization (TLR), and major adverse limb events (MALE). Results are presented as the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: An initial antegrade strategy was more common for EIA CTOs (p<0.005), and an initial retrograde strategy was more often used in CIA (p<0.005) and combined CIA/EIA (p<0.005) CTOs. Crossover to an alternate approach was required in 27.6% of initial antegrade attempts and 9.6% of initial retrograde attempts. EIA CTOs were the most likely lesions to be treated successfully with the initial attempt (either strategy). In all, 123 (65.4%) lesions were successfully crossed with a final retrograde approach and 65 with a final antegrade approach. Overall target lesion success was high for both groups (95.1% vs 93.2%, p=0.456). Lesions treated with a final retrograde approach were shorter (75.3±34.9 vs 87.6±31.3 mm, p=0.005) and were more likely to be treated with a reentry device (34.2% vs 9.2%, p<0.001) and with balloon-expandable stents (39.2% vs 17.7%, p=0.005). The final antegrade approach was associated with a lower risk of target lesion complications (OR 0.07, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.81, p=0.034). The two crossing approaches were associated with similar estimates of 1- and 3-year TLR and MALE. Conclusion: A final antegrade approach was associated with lower rates for complications but the 2 approaches were similar in terms of lesion success, TLR, and MALE. The EIA CTOs were more likely to be treated with an antegrade approach and more likely to be crossed successfully with the initial approach irrespective of the crossing direction.
LncRNA-SRA1 Suppresses Osteosarcoma Cell Proliferation While Promoting Cell Apoptosis
Authors: Guo Wen , Jiang Haitao , Li Haijun , Li Fang , Yu Qing , Liu Yu , Jiang Weiwei , Zhang Ming
Published: May 2019

Objective:

Osteosarcoma is a common malignant bone tumor that is frequently found in the long bones of children and adolescents. The aim of this study is to examine long noncoding RNA-steroid receptor RNA activator 1 expression in osteosarcoma to explore the biological function of long noncoding RNA steroid receptor RNA activator 1 on proliferation, migration, and invasion along with apoptosis and its regulatory mechanism, which would facilitate the early diagnosis and targeted therapy of osteosarcoma.

Methods:

First, microarray analysis was applied to determine the expression of long noncoding RNAs in osteosarcoma tissues and paired normal tissues. Then, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was utilized to validate microarray findings. Next, osteosarcoma cancerous cell lines SJSA-1 and U2OS were transfected with pcDNA3.1-SRA1 or pCMV-sh-SRA1 to increase or decrease steroid receptor RNA activator 1 expression levels, and microRNA-208a inhibitors, mimic to investigate the effects of microRNA-208a on osteosarcoma as well as the regulatory relation between long noncoding RNA steroid receptor RNA activator 1 and microRNA-208a. Cell proliferation was evaluated through Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony formation assays. Flow cytometry analysis was conducted to evaluate the apoptosis ratio. The migration and invasion abilities were measured using wound-healing and transwell assays.

Results:

Long noncoding RNA-steroid receptor RNA activator 1 expression was downregulated in osteosarcoma tissues and cells compared with that in corresponding normal tissues, whereas microRNA-208a expression was upregulated in osteosarcoma tissues. Moreover, the restoration of long noncoding RNA steroid receptor RNA activator 1 inhibited cell proliferation, and upregulation of long noncoding RNA steroid receptor RNA activator 1 restrained cell migration and invasion but boosted the apoptosis rate in osteosarcoma cells. In addition, long noncoding RNA steroid receptor RNA activator 1 targeting microRNA-208a was involved in the progression of osteosarcoma. Furthermore, upregulating microRNA-208a exerted similar roles of silencing long noncoding RNA steroid receptor RNA activator 1 in cell apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and invasion, which were reversed by enhancing the expression of long noncoding RNA steroid receptor RNA activator 1.

Conclusions:

In our study, long noncoding RNA steroid receptor RNA activator 1 played an antitumor role in osteosarcoma as it reduced cell migration, invasion, and proliferation, but facilitated cell apoptosis via sponging microRNA-208a, which could be regarded as a potential therapeutic target of osteosarcoma treatment.
A Logistic Regression Model for Noninvasive Prediction of AFP-Negative Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Luo Chang-Liang , Rong Yuan , Chen Hao , Zhang Wu-Wen , Wu Long , Wei Diao , Wei Xiu-Qi , Mei Lie-Jun , Wang Fu-Bing
Published: May 2019

α-Fetoprotein is commonly used in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the diagnostic significance of α-fetoprotein has been questioned because a number of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are α-fetoprotein negative. It is therefore necessary to develop novel noninvasive techniques for the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, particularly when α-fetoprotein level is low or negative. The current study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of hematological parameters to determine which can act as surrogate markers in α-fetoprotein–negative hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, a retrospective study was conducted on a training set recruited from Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University—including 171 α-fetoprotein–negative patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and 102 healthy individuals. The results show that mean values of mean platelet volume, red blood cell distribution width, mean platelet volume–PC ratio, neutrophils–lymphocytes ratio, and platelet count–lymphocytes ratio were significantly higher in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in comparison to the healthy individuals. Most of these parameters showed moderate area under the curve in α-fetoprotein–negative patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, but their sensitivities or specificities were not satisfactory enough. So, we built a logistic regression model combining multiple hematological parameters. This model presented better diagnostic efficiency with area under the curve of 0.922, sensitivity of 83.0%, and specificity of 93.1%. In addition, the 4 validation sets from different hospitals were used to validate the model. They all showed good area under the curve with satisfactory sensitivities or specificities. These data indicate that the logistic regression model combining multiple hematological parameters has better diagnostic efficiency, and they might be helpful for the early diagnosis for α-fetoprotein–negative hepatocellular carcinoma.
Radon Therapy for Autoimmune Diseases Pemphigus and Diabetes: 2 Case Reports
Authors: Kojima Shuji , Cuttler Jerry M. , Shimura Noriko , Koga Hironobu , Murata Akihisa , Kawashima Akira
Published: May 2019

We report on the application of radon therapy to relieve the suffering of 2 patients with autoimmune diseases, one with pemphigus with an old myocardial infarction and diabetes mellitus and the other with type I diabetes. We include a lengthy discussion of the biological mechanisms that we believe produced the observed benefits. During the 6 to 9 months of the treatments, the marker values decreased to the upper limit of their normal ranges and the symptoms of the diseases were alleviated. Disorders of Th1/Th2 balance are implicated in the onset of many diseases, including autoimmune diseases. Our decision to give radon (222Rn) therapy to these patients was based on the results of 2 similar case reports and our earlier mouse experiments, which indicated that low doses of radiation induce regulatory T cells. Regulatory T cells regulate the T helper 1 cell and the T helper 2 cell balance. There are more than 80 different autoimmune diseases that are treated with anti-inflammatory agents or immune-suppressing drugs because the exact causes of these diseases and the cures are unknown. These and other case reports indicate that proper radon therapy is an effective treatment. We urge physicians to consider radon as a standard therapy for refractory autoimmune diseases.
Therapeutic effects of the novel Leucyl-tRNA synthetase inhibitor BC-LI-0186 in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Kim Eun Young , Lee Jin Gu , Lee Jung Mo , Kim Arum , Yoo Hee Chan , Kim Kibum , Lee Minji , Lee Chulho , Han Gyoonhee , Han Jung Min , Chang Yoon Soo
Published: May 2019

Objective:

Leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LRS) is an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase catalyzing ligation of leucine to its cognate tRNA and is involved in the activation of mTORC1 by sensing cytoplasmic leucine. In this study, the usefulness of LRS as a therapeutic target of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the anticancer effect of the LRS inhibitor, BC-LI-0186, was evaluated.

Methods:

LRS expression and the antitumor effect of BC-LI-0186 were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining, immunoblotting, and live cell imaging. The in vivo antitumor effect of BC-LI-0186 was evaluated using Lox-Stop-Lox (LSL) K-ras G12D mice.

Results:

LRS was frequently overexpressed in NSCLC tissues, and its expression was positively correlated with mTORC1 activity. The guanosine-5’-triphosphate (GTP) binding status of RagB was related to the expression of LRS and the S6K phosphorylation. siRNA against LRS inhibited leucine-mediated mTORC1 activation and cell growth. BC-LI-0186 selectively inhibited phosphorylation of S6K without affecting phosphorylation of AKT and leucine-mediated co-localization of Raptor and LAMP2 in the lysosome. BC-LI-0186 induced cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and caspase-3 and increase of p62 expression, showing that it has the autophagy-inducing property. BC-LI-0186 has the cytotoxic effect at nanomolar concentration and its GI50 value was negatively correlated with the degree of LRS expression. BC-LI-0186 showed the antitumor effect, which was comparable with that of cisplatin, and mTORC1 inhibitory effect in a lung cancer model.

Conclusions:

BC-LI-0186 inhibits the noncanonical mTORC1-activating function of LRS. These results provide a new therapeutic strategy for NSCLC and warrant future clinical development by targeting LRS.