bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting Resident Involvement in Neighborhood and Voluntary Groups in a Latino/Latina Neighborhood Undergoing Transit-Oriented Development and Gentrification
Authors: Walker Laurie A. , Ince Devra , Riphenburg-Reese Amanda , Littman Jesse
Published: June 2018

Resident involvement in voluntary organizations within neighborhoods is often predicted by social factors, awareness of neighborhood problems, and past involvement in activism. Less is known about what predicts involvement in gentrifying neighborhoods with a concentration of generational Latino/Latina families. The mixed methods surveys of residents ( n = 195) and in-depth interviews of neighborhood association participants and leaders in the Menlo Park neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona ( n = 17), determined that residents were involved in the neighborhood association this year when they were also involved in other voluntary organizations in the last year and activism since moving into the neighborhood. Latino/Latina households were more involved in faith/religious and school-focused organizations. Caucasian households were more involved in the neighborhood farmer’s market, business or civic groups, arts, and other social change efforts. Therefore, planners and organizers may need to reach out to varying demographics via different organizations where they belong and participate.
A comparison of spray and combustion characteristics of biodiesel (soy methyl ester, rapeseed methyl ester) with diesel
Authors: Qi Wenliang , Ming Pingjian , Jilani Aisha , Zhao Haiyang , Jia Ming
Published: June 2018

Physical properties are known to play a pivotal role in the different characteristics of spray, combustion, and emission between diesel and biodiesel. This paper reports the development and application of physical properties of diesel and biodiesel for fuel spray and combustion modeling under various conditions. An integrated numerical model has been developed based on the General Transport Equation Analysis code. The effect of turbulence in the nozzle was considered by the hybrid breakup model in the simulation, and the skeletal mechanism of diesel surrogate fuel and biodiesel surrogate fuel was used to simulate fuel oxidation. The results indicated that liquid lengths and droplet sizes are always higher for biodiesel because of its bigger surface tension and worse vaporization characteristics caused by higher critical temperature and lower vapor pressure. This phenomenon has strong influence on fuel evaporation process and results in slow evaporation rate, and this is not helpful for the mixture preparation process. The effects of ambient density, ambient temperature, and oxygen concentration on ignition delay and lift-off length of diesel and biodiesel are also analyzed and discussed. This analysis revealed that longer ignition delay usually results in longer lift-off length and biodiesel always has longer ignition delay and lift-off length compared to diesel. The flame propagation was observed to be similar for both fuels. In addition, diesel and biodiesel were employed to simulate the combustion and emission characteristics of a low-temperature combustion engine. The different combustion and NO x emission characteristics between diesel and biodiesel were observed, and the different physical properties may be the reason for these discrepancies.
An analytical model of burnishing forces using slab method
Authors: Teimouri Reza , Amini Saeid , Ashrafi Hossein
Published: June 2018

During the processing of material by burnishing operations, tangential and normal forces play a key role in determining the burnished surface quality, surface hardness, fatigue life, and state of residual stress. However, prediction of the burnishing force in major portions of the paper was based on the micromechanical force model on surface asperities that contain many simplifications and makes the understanding of the model quite complex. In the present work, an analytical study has been carried out to predict the ball burnishing forces in the tangential and normal directions. Firstly, 2D geometrical model of the process was developed to identify the acting forces and their relevant directions during burnishing. Then the forces were related to the burnishing pressure that is calculated by the slab method analysis. The obtained results were further verified by experimental trials. In addition, the developed models were used to analyze the effect of burnishing input variables such as feed rate, burnishing depth, ball radius, and friction coefficient on the forces. Results indicated that the experimental observations are in good agreement with the developed model. Hence, it can be significantly used to predict the forces acting during burnishing and it can provide comprehensive understanding of the effect of process factors on burnishing forces.
Mechanical design and robust tracking control of a class of antagonistic variable stiffness actuators based on the equivalent nonlinear torsion springs
Authors: Guo Jishu , Tian Guohui
Published: June 2018

The novel conceptual model of the antagonistic variable stiffness actuator based on the equivalent nonlinear torsion spring and the friction damper is demonstrated. For the dynamic model of the antagonistic variable stiffness actuator in the presence of parametric uncertainties, unknown bounded friction torques, unknown bounded external disturbance, and input saturation constraints, using the coordinate transformation, the state space model of the antagonistic variable stiffness actuator with composite disturbances and input saturation constraints is transformed into an extended integral chain–type pseudo-linear system with input saturation constraints. Subsequently, a combination of the linear extended state observer, sliding mode control, and adaptive input saturation compensation law is adopted for the design of the robust tracking controller that simultaneously regulates the position and stiffness of the antagonistic equivalent nonlinear torsion spring-based variable stiffness actuator. Under the proposed controller, the semi-global uniformly ultimately bounded stability of the closed-loop system has been proved via Lyapunov stability analysis. Simulation studies demonstrate the effectiveness and the robustness of the proposed robust adaptive tracking control method for the antagonistic variable stiffness actuator.
Comparison of climatic impacts transmission from temperature to grain harvests and economies between the Han (206 BC–AD 220) and Tang (AD 618–907) dynasties
Authors: Wei Zhudeng , Fang Xiuqi , Su Yun , Li Beibei , Wei Xueqiong , Yin Jun
Published: June 2018

The present study aims to compare quantitatively the similarities and differences of transmission processes extending from climate change to grain harvests and economies (macro-economy and fiscal balance) between the Han (206 BC–AD 220) and Tang (AD 618–907) dynasties of China. It is found that both the Han and Tang periods displayed close positive correlations among temperature, grain harvest, macro-economy and fiscal balance and conveyed a positive feedback–oriented transmission pattern with the upgrade of climatic impact level from grain harvest to economic system. Compared with the Han period, the overall linkages among indicators weakened during the Tang period, particularly for the correlation between grain harvest and fiscal balance. The mean temperature during the Tang period was slightly higher but had greater multidecadal variability, coinciding with better performance (and less variations) of macro-economy and fiscal balance (particularly for cold units) and higher variations of grain harvest. It displayed relatively little difference for the main pathways that could be interpreted as climatic impacts during the warm units between the Han and Tang periods, and both approximately 33% of the decades for warm units (100%) ending with fiscal balance/surplus were more likely to be associated with the impacts of temperature change. The difference mainly lies in cold units in the links of ‘cold → poor harvest’ and ‘poor harvest → macro-economic depression’ through the pathway of ‘cold → poor harvest → macro-economic depression/normal economy → fiscal deficiency’. Overall, macro-economy and fiscal system of the Tang period displayed less sensitivity to temperature change and agriculture production in cold period. Those patterns might be related with the unique socio-economic situations such as agricultural fragmentation, southward shift of economic resource and tax system reform during the later Tang Dynasty.
Are marginal balsam fir and eastern white cedar stands relics from once more extensive populations in north-eastern North America?
Authors: Jules Abed Nego , Asselin Hugo , Bergeron Yves , Ali Adam A
Published: June 2018

Marginal stands of balsam fir ( Abies balsamea [L.] Mill.) and eastern white cedar ( Thuja occidentalis L.) are found north of their limits of continuous distribution in eastern North America. Regional-scale paleoecological studies have suggested that fir and cedar populations could have had larger extents in the past. This study aimed at verifying this hypothesis at the local scale. Wood charcoal fragments were collected from the soils of two marginal fir and cedar stands as well as from 15 sites in the surrounding forest matrix where the species are absent currently. Anatomical identification and radiocarbon-dating showed that fir was more extensive in the study area until about 680 cal. BP, representing up to 31% of the charcoal assemblages at sites where it is currently absent. The evidence is less conclusive for cedar, however, although some of the charcoal fragments from the matrix sites could have been either fir or cedar (undistinguishable). Most of the dated fir/cedar charcoal in the matrix were from the ‘Medieval Warm Period’ (ca. 1000 cal. BP), suggesting contraction may have occurred at that time. Marginal fir – and possibly cedar – stands are thus relics of once more extensive populations. Fire is likely the main factor having contributed to the contraction of the species’ distributions. Fir and cedar are now relegated to areas where fires are less frequent and severe, such as the shores of lakes and rivers.
Genetic damage of operating and recovery room personnel occupationally exposed to waste anaesthetic gases
Authors: Çakmak G , Eraydın D , Berkkan A , Yağar S , Burgaz S
Published: June 2018

Occupational exposure to the waste anaesthetic gases (WAGs) is a crucial problem for healthcare personnel. Cancer is among the potential long-term adverse effects of WAGs. The present occupational molecular epidemiology study was conducted in healthcare personnel (anaesthetists, nurses and technicians; n = 46), working in operating rooms (ORs; n = 34) and recovery units (RUs; n = 12) of the same hospital, to assess the genotoxicity risk of WAGs exposure. Twenty-one healthy available hospital staff allocated to other wards, without the history of working in ORs and RUs were the control group. A micronucleus test was carried out for peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and buccal epithelial cells (BECs). Exposure to the anaesthetics was assessed with sevoflurane concentrations and inorganic fluoride levels in post-shift urine samples of the healthcare staff. As an exposure marker, sevoflurane concentrations in ORs and RUs were measured using passive samplers. The micronuclei frequencies were increased in both PBLs (approximately two times) and BECs (approximately three times) of the healthcare personnel. Urinary sevoflurane concentrations exceeded the biological equivalent level in 23 personnel. Air sevoflurane levels in the breathing zone in three ORs and one RU did not exceed the established occupational exposure limits. Both in surrogate tissue (PBLs) and in target tissue (BECs) of the personnel of RUs and ORs of the same hospital, the genotoxicity risk was evident and similar. Originality of this study, in addition to the WAGs exposure confirmation of the healthcare personnel, was the involvement of the RU personnel for the genotoxicity assessment, which was the first time in the scientific literature.
Operating room nurses’ perception of professional values
Authors: Torabizadeh Camellia , Darari Fatemeh , Yektatalab Shahrzad
Published: June 2018

Background and significance of research:

Nurses’ awareness of professional values and how those values affect their behaviors is an integral part of nursing care. There is a large body of research on nursing professional values, however, a careful survey of the available literature did not yield any studies investigating the status of professional values in operating rooms.

Objective:

This study aims to investigate the perception of operating room nurses of university hospitals toward professional values.

Research plan:

In this cross-sectional study, data were collected using Schank and Weis’s Nurses Professional Values Scale–Revised. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS version 16.

Participants and settings:

The 513 participants of the study consisted of operating room nurses and nurse anesthetists from six university hospitals.

Ethical considerations:

This study has been approved by the ethics committee of the university.

Findings:

The mean total professional values score of the operating room staff was found to be 100.84 ± 15.685, which indicates that the participants had a positive perception toward observance of nursing professional values in practice. The results showed that the participants considered the domains of justice and activism as, respectively, the most and the least important. The operating room staff’s overall professional values scores were not found to correlate significantly with their ages, professional experience, university majors, or attendance at ethics workshops. However, a significant difference was found between the professional values scores of the female and male staff. The professional values scores of the operating room nurses and the nurse anesthetists were not significantly different (p value = 0.494).

Conclusion:

Operating room staff’s awareness of professional values is essential to providing care to patients based on professional principles. Accordingly, there is need for programs to raise operating room nurses’ awareness of their professional duties and improve their professional performance.
Testing Conditional Asset Pricing in Pakistan: The Role of Value-at-risk and Illiquidity Factors
Authors: Azher Sara , Iqbal Javed
Published: June 2018

This article investigates performance of conditional and unconditional Capital Asset Pricing Model and Fama–French model augmented with a downside risk, that is, the value-at-risk (VaR) factor and an illiquidity factor as additional risk factors using the discount factor methodology of Cochrane (1996). Using monthly portfolio data as test assets from the Pakistani stock market from January 1993 to January 2013 we provide empirical evidence on the efficacy of the VaR and illiquidity factors in asset pricing. We find that these factors improve the efficacy of the Fama–French model and including these factors reduces the explanatory power of co-kurtosis factor.
Generating evaluation capital: Lessons learned in meta-evaluations in International Women’s Development Agency
Authors: Burgess Bethia , McDiarmid Tracy
Published: June 2018

The strategic allocation of evaluation resources in a resource-constrained environment is a common challenge shared by governments, non-government organisations, and the private sector. In 2015-2016 International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA) embarked on an organisational journey to generate additional evaluation “capital” by producing meta-evaluations. This article explores how the processes of evaluation and meta-evaluation contribute to organizational governance in terms of establishing an evidence-based policy environment, an informed learning platform, and programming informed by evaluation “capital.”
Participatory evaluation is the sea eagle looking “long way wide eyed”
Authors: Rogers Alison , Harrison Nea , Puruntatameri Therese , Puruntatameri Alberta , Meredith Joan , Dunne Rachel
Published: June 2018

Participatory evaluation can be embedded in programs to support good governance and facilitate informed decision making in Aboriginal communities in remote and urban contexts. An Aboriginal Elder from the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory of Australia described participatory evaluation as a sea eagle looking “long way wide eyed.” The metaphor refers to the long-term and broad approach undertaken when a complex community development program used participatory processes to build evaluation capacity and solve problems. The evaluation approach ensured the program was inclusive, responsive, empowering, and resulted in direct benefits for the communities. This article addresses the lack of literature on applying developmental and empowerment evaluation approaches in practice by describing the methods, tools, and use of evaluation findings. The value of participating for the community members and partner organizations is shared and the benefits and implications for participants and the evaluator are discussed. The authors hope this article inspires practitioners and evaluators to consider participatory ways of working with communities to support community directed action and social change.
Connecting Personal Experiences of Loss and Professional Practices in Advance Care Planning and End-of-Life Care: A Survey of Providers
Authors: Wallace Cara L. , Cruz-Oliver Dulce M. , Ohs Jennifer E. , Hinyard Leslie
Published: June 2018

Background:

Although practitioners overwhelmingly agree on the importance of advance care planning (ACP) and preparing for the end of life (EOL), the process is fraught with barriers.

Objective:

The goal of this research was to explore potential connections between providers’ own personal experiences and current professional practices in ACP and EOL care.

Design:

A cross-sectional survey design, gathering voluntary, anonymous responses from participants between August and December 2016. The survey sought information from providers in 3 distinct areas: (1) personal experiences of loss, (2) personal ACP, and (3) professional practices related to ACP and EOL care. Setting/Participants: One hundred and ninety health-care professionals (primarily physicians, nurses, and social workers) participated in the survey across a greater, Metropolitan area in the Midwest. Measurements: Questions for professional practices were subscales from the End-of-Life Professional Caregiver Survey: Patient- and Family-Centered Communication (PFCC) and Effective Care Delivery (ECD). Questions developed by the research team were evaluated by judges chosen for clinical and/or research expertise.

Results:

Numerous connections were found between professionals’ histories of loss, personal ACP, and professional practices. For example, both clinicians with personal experience caring for someone who is dying and clinicians who had completed their own ACP scored higher in both PFCC and ECD and were more likely to refer patients to hospice and palliative care.

Conclusions:

Results support educational interventions involving opportunities for reflection and completion and communication about ACP. Additionally, educational opportunities for students in health care should focus on incorporating both ACP and greater exposure to hospice and palliative care.
Semaglutide: The Newest Once-Weekly GLP-1 RA for Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Tuchscherer Rhianna M. , Thompson Angela M. , Trujillo Jennifer M.
Published: June 2018

Objective: To review efficacy and safety of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) semaglutide for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Data Sources: A literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE using the term semaglutide was completed through April 2018. A search of clinicaltrials.gov was also conducted. Study Selection and Data Extraction: English-language studies assessing the efficacy and/or safety of semaglutide were evaluated. Data Synthesis: Semaglutide is a newly approved GLP-1 RA for the treatment of T2D. Administered once weekly at a dose of 0.5 or 1 mg, it has been compared with placebo, sitagliptin, insulin glargine, a combination of oral antidiabetic therapies, and 2 GLP-1 RAs, exenatide ER and dulaglutide, and demonstrated greater efficacy compared with these therapies. Published data from studies ranging from 30 to 104 weeks duration demonstrate efficacy with decreases in hemoglobin A1C (A1C) ranging from 1.1% to 2.2%. Studies show reductions in weight from 1.4 to 6.5 kg. Semaglutide demonstrated a reduction in the composite outcome of cardiovascular (CV) death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke compared with placebo in patients at high risk of CV events (hazard ratio = 0.74; P = 0.02). Common adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea as seen with other GLP-1 RAs. Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: Semaglutide represents an attractive GLP-1 RA considering its A1C and weight reduction. It provides patient convenience and high patient satisfaction. Conclusions: Semaglutide is an appealing option for the treatment of T2D as a once-weekly GLP-1 RA with established glycemic, CV, and weight benefits.
Malingering and Defensiveness on the Spanish Personality Assessment Inventory: An Initial Investigation with Mostly Spanish-Speaking Outpatients
Authors: Correa Amor A. , Rogers Richard , Williams Margot M.
Published: June 2018

Psychological assessments can be essentially invalidated by examinees’ intentional response styles, such as feigning (i.e., fabrication or marked overreporting of symptoms/impairment) and defensiveness (i.e., denial or minimization of symptoms/impairment). As a psychometric strength, the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) has established validity indicators for identifying both response styles. With the United States’ increasing ethnic and cultural diversity, predominantly Spanish-speaking individuals are now estimated in the range of 15 million persons. Unfortunately, very little research has been conducted on the Spanish-translated PAI regarding its effectiveness in clinical populations. Using a between-subjects design, a sample of mostly Spanish-speaking outpatients was randomly assigned to genuine, feigning, or defensive conditions. For feigning, PAI malingering indicators using rare symptoms strategies (i.e., Negative Impression [NIM] and Negative Distortion [NDS] scales) demonstrated moderate to large effect sizes. For defensiveness, the Defensive (DEF) index proved the most effective with a very large effect size ( M = 1.68). Different cut scores were examined to increase the clinical utility of the Spanish PAI for determining response styles.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Deficient Patients With Chronic Heart Failure
Authors: Navarro-Peñalver Marina , Perez-Martinez M. Teresa , Gómez-Bueno Manuel , García-Pavía Pablo , Lupón-Rosés Josep , Roig-Minguell Eulalia , Comin-Colet Josep , Bayes-Genis Antoni , Noguera Jose A. , Pascual-Figal Domingo A.
Published: June 2018

Background:

Testosterone deficiency is associated with heart failure (HF) progression and poor prognosis. Testosterone therapy has been shown to improve exercise capacity in patients with chronic HF, but no trial has evaluated the impact of replacement in patients with demonstrated testosterone deficiency.

Methods:

Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and parallel-group trial comparing testosterone replacement with placebo in males with chronic HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and testosterone deficiency (NCT01813201). Long-acting undecanoate testosterone at a fixed dose of 1000 mg was supplied by intramuscular injection at inclusion and then every 3 months. The placebo group received isotonic saline serum. Patients were randomly allocated 1:1 to testosterone or placebo while receiving optimal medical therapy, and the study was conducted for 12 months.

Results:

The final sample comprised 29 patients, 15 in the placebo group and 14 in the testosterone group (aged 65 ± 8, 62% with an ischemic etiology, left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] 30% ± 6%, 69% New York Heart Association functional [NYHA II]). After 12 months, testosterone replacement increased testosterone levels ( P = .002) but was not associated with benefit in terms of clinical symptoms and functional capacity including NYHA class, Framingham score, Minnesota Living Heart Failure Questionnaire, 6-minute walk test, or LVEF and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels. No significant side effects associated with testosterone treatment were observed. No effects were found in other hormonal, metabolic, and bone turnover biomarkers.

Conclusion:

In patients with HFrEF and testosterone deficiency, replacement therapy was not associated with any significant improvement.
Locally administered bisphosphonate in hip stem revisions using the bone impaction grafting technique: a randomised, placebo-controlled study with DXA and five-year RSA follow-up
Authors: Belfrage Ola , Tägil Magnus , Sundberg Martin , Kesteris Uldis , Flivik Gunnar
Published: June 2018

Background:

Bisphosphonates have previously been shown to increase the density of impacted graft bone. In the present study we hypothesise that bisphosphonates also reduce early stem subsidence. We examined the effect of locally applied bisphosphonate to allografts on prosthetic micromotion and bone density in femoral stem revision with impaction grafting.

Methods:

37 patients were randomised to either clodronate or saline as local adjunct to the morsellised allograft bone. 24 patients were finally analysed per protocol and evaluated by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) during the first year and with radiostereometric analysis (RSA) for 5 years.

Results:

There were no significant differences neither in bone density, nor in migratory behaviour between the groups. The femoral stems had subsided 3.6 mm in both groups (p = 0.99) at 5 years and there was no difference as measured over time with mixed models analysis. The clinical outcome was good in both groups.

Conclusion:

Clodronate as a local addendum to allograft bone in hip revision did not increase bone density or reduce micromotion of the implant.
Prevalence of femoroacetabular impingement and effect of training frequency on aetiology in paediatric football players
Authors: Polat Gökhan , Arzu Ufuk , Dinç Engin , Bayraktar Bülent
Published: June 2018

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic radiographic findings of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in paediatric football players in different age groups and to investigate aetiological factors.

Methods:

Paediatric male athletes between 10 and 17 years of age from 8 soccer teams were recruited. In addition to an annual control check-up, anteroposterior pelvis and frog-leg radiographs as well as the curriculum vitae of the athletes, their injuries, and real-time complaints were recorded. The alpha angle, lateral centre-edge angle, Tönnis angle, and collodiaphyseal angle were measured and morphological abnormalities were noted.

Results:

There were 214 male football players with a mean age of 13.4 ± 3.2 years included in the study. In the morphological analysis of hips, there was FAI in 30% of the athletes. In the analysis of FAI prevalence in 3 subgroups based on age (Group 1: 10–12 years [ n = 25], Group 2: 13–15 years [ n = 104], Group 3: 16–17 years [ n = 85]), there was 0% FAI in Group 1, 19.1% in Group 2 and 60% in Group 3. In the analysis of aetiological factors, there was no significant difference between the right and left hips of players regarding alpha angles and FAI prevalence. However, the prevalence of FAI was higher in players who had been playing football for 3 years or more and who had been training for 12.5 hours/week or more.

Conclusion:

Training for 12.5 hours or more per week in paediatric football players doubled the risk development of FAI morphology.
Arthroscopic removal of osteoid osteoma with gamma probe assistance in the hip joint
Authors: Stražar Klemen , Slodnjak Ivan , Zupanc Oskar , Drobnič Matej
Published: June 2018

Aim:

The aim was to present the surgical technique and clinical outcome in a series of patients treated with gamma-probe-assisted arthroscopic removal of osteoid osteoma in the hip joint.

Methods:

The case series consisted of 10 patients diagnosed with osteoid osteoma of the hip, who were treated by arthroscopic nidus removal. An endoscopic gamma probe was used intraoperatively to locate the nidus and to control the extent of its removal. Residual osteoma cavities were additionally treated with an arthroscopic radiofrequency ablator. Microfracturing was performed when the osteochondral defect was in the weight-bearing area and osteochondroplasty was done in cases of concomitant cam deformity. Nonarthritic Hip Score (NAHS), Tegner activity score, quality of life questionnaire (EQ-5D) and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used for evaluation before and post-surgery, with a minimum follow-up of 2 years.

Results:

The relative reduction of the gamma irradiation count immediately after removal of the nidus was 44.9% (range 33.3–54.5%). Postoperatively, all patients experienced prompt pain relief and a significant improvement according to all patient reported outcomes. Control MRI revealed fibro-cartilaginous tissue repair of post-osteoma osteochondral defects in the weight-bearing area; 1 patient showed signs of early degeneration.

Conclusions:

The results of this case series demonstrated the safety and high efficacy of gamma-probe-assisted arthroscopic removal of the osteoid osteoma from the hip joint. Endoscopic gamma probe was recognised as a very useful device for locating the nidus of the osteoid osteoma exactly and preventing incomplete or excessive removal of the bone.
Total Knee Arthroplasty for Chronic Anterior Knee Dislocation
Authors: Jabalameli Mahmoud , Bagherifard Abolfazl , Hadi Hosseinali , Askari Alireza , Ghaffari Salman
Published: June 2018

Background:

The occurrence of chronic knee dislocation is rare. To the best of our knowledge, total knee arthroplasty for treatment of chronic anterior knee dislocation has not been reported.

Method:

This report describes 3 cases of chronic anterior knee dislocation treated by total knee arthroplasty.

Results:

Three female patients with chronic anterior knee dislocation were treated by hinged prosthesis total knee arthroplasty using the Insall rectus snip approach. At a mean of 17 months (range, 12-24 months) of follow-up, all patients showed a painless stable prosthesis and expressed satisfaction with the results.

Conclusions:

Total knee arthroplasty for chronic anterior knee dislocation is a challenging procedure. The Insall rectus snip approach with quadriceps release and constrained prosthesis is recommended.
Syntax–pragmatic and morphology–pragmatic interfaces in sequential bilingual language acquisition: The case of Russia-Turkish and English-Turkish bilingual children
Authors: Antonova-Ünlü Elena
Published: June 2018

Aims:

This study examines sequential bilingual language development focusing on the acquisition of two domains that interact with pragmatics, precisely, post-predicate constituents and case marking for direct objects in Turkish, which are cases of syntax–pragmatic and morphology–pragmatic interface, respectively, by Russian-Turkish and English-Turkish sequential bilinguals who had been acquiring Turkish as their child second language (cL2).

Design:

A cross-sectional design was adopted in the study.

Methods:

Narratives were used as a method of data collection. The use of post-predicate constituents and case markers for direct objects produced by the sequential bilinguals in their cL2 Turkish was compared with that of Turkish monolingual and simultaneous bilingual children.

Conclusions:

The study provides evidence that cL2 may be similar to monolingual and bilingual first language acquisition in some domains, while the other domains may be affected by age of onset and cross-linguistic influence from the other language that has developed to a certain extent.
Non-model based structural damage assessment using improved analytical redundancy relations
Authors: Fang Sheng-En , Zhang Bao
Published: June 2018

A damage assessment problem can be stated as a constraint satisfaction problem utilizing the translational and rotational displacements of a structure as measurements. By this means, usual numerical models are no longer required for a damage assessment, which considerably simplifies the solution process. In order to avoid the use of rotational displacements that are difficult to measure in practice, an improved analytical redundancy reduction method has been developed in which rotational displacements are replaced by translational ones. Moreover, some constraint equation positions in the decomposition of a static equilibrium matrix are exchanged according to their association with pre-assumed damaged elements. Then damage is located according to the changes in the relevant constraints of specific elements or substructures. Besides, the deviation increments of improved analytical redundancy reduction can embody the stiffness changes of the damaged elements. The proposed improved analytical redundancy reduction method was validated using both numerical and experimental steel box beams under static loads. The damage assessment results demonstrate the superiority of the improved analytical redundancy reduction method over the constraint satisfaction problem and analytical redundancy reduction methods.
Speed estimation vector-controlled induction motor drive based on fuzzy logic control flux estimator
Authors: Luo Yung-Chang , Tsai Chen-Lung
Published: June 2018

A current-and-voltage serial-model stator flux estimator, based on fuzzy logic control for a speed estimation stator flux vector-controlled induction motor drive, is proposed in this study. Stator current and flux was used to establish direct stator flux vector-controlled induction motor drive and the estimated synchronous speed was derived from the developed voltage-and-current serial-model stator flux estimator. The estimated rotor speed was acquired by subtracting the slip speed from the estimated synchronous speed. The adaptation mechanism of this flux estimator was designed using the fuzzy logic control approach because it is simple and suitable for use under variable conditions. This system was simulated using the MATLAB\Simulink toolbox and all the control algorithms were realized by an RX62T microcontroller. Both simulation and experimental results confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Journalist social media practice in China: A review and synthesis
Authors: Jian Guowei , Liu Ting
Published: June 2018

The growing influence of social media on journalistic work has attracted scholarly attention worldwide in recent years. However, due to cultural and language barriers, we lack comprehensive understanding of the journalist social media practice in non-Western countries. To help fill this gap, this study offers a review and synthesis of existing scholarship on journalist social media practice in China. The authors systematically analyzed recent research studies published in both English-language journals in the West and Chinese-language journals in Mainland China. Drawing on Bourdieu’s field theory, the synthesis provided a comprehensive review of the patterns of practice as well as key tensions that social media use helped amplify and with which Chinese journalists had to contend.
‘Friends call me racist’: Experiences of repercussions from writing comments on newspaper websites
Authors: Løvlie Anders Sundnes , Ihlebæk Karoline Andrea , Larsson Anders Olof
Published: June 2018

Based on a survey among contributors to the online comments sections of four Norwegian newspapers, we investigate the following research question: How do contributors describe their experiences of repercussions from writing comments on newspaper websites? Employing quantitative and qualitative analyses, we explore the influence of four variables: gender, anonymity, attitudes toward editorial policies and issue controversy. We find no influence from gender. However, regarding attitudes we find that the experience of repercussions is particularly prevalent among those who oppose strict editorial control with regard to reader comments, as well as among respondents who write comments on a radical right-wing website. Studying free-form answers which describe incidents of repercussions experienced by the respondents we find no sign of gender differences, but rather a strong dominance of statements related to issue controversies, and particularly regarding immigration and Islam.
Prevalence of Violence Against Women in Ethiopia: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kassa Getachew Mullu , Abajobir Amanuel Alemu
Published: June 2018

Violence against women (VAW) is a major public health problem globally, particularly in developing countries including Ethiopia. Accordingly, sustainable development goal (SDG) 5 (by United Nation) prioritizes VAW and calls for the design and implementation of programs relevant to its elimination by 2030. However, little is known about the epidemiology of VAW as all estimates from few, cross-sectional studies so far are inconsistent and inconclusive. This study, therefore, was conducted to determine the pooled national prevalence of VAW in Ethiopia. Databases including PUBMED, MEDLINE, Cochrane review, CINAHL, African Journals Online, and Google Scholar were reviewed, using relevant search engines. The meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 14 software, and forest plots were used to present the pooled estimates of VAW. The Cochran Q, I2 statistics, and Egger’s test were used to test heterogeneity and publication bias of the included studies. A total of 36 published articles, 23,782 participants, were included in the meta-analysis. The overall pooled lifetime and the past 12 months VAW prevalence was 46.93% (95% confidence interval [CI] = [39.96, 54.00]) and 37.02% (95% CI [26.47, 47.56]), respectively. The pooled lifetime physical, sexual, and psychological violence were 38.15%, 39.33%, and 39.51%, respectively. Pooled lifetime prevalence of rape was 13.02%. Overall, nearly half of Ethiopian women experience lifetime VAW, with substantial levels of physical, sexual, or psychological violence. The country should work toward enhancing gender equality, coupled with addressing risk factors at multiple levels, using community- and institution-based approaches to prevent VAW and to specifically achieve SDG5 of eliminating VAW by 2030.
Meaning in the Miscellany of a Cultural Domain
Authors: Souleles Daniel
Published: June 2018

This article compares pile sort data from frequently occurring items in a cultural domain with pile sort data on infrequently occurring items in that same cultural domain. Common practice in free-list analysis has a researcher discard infrequently occurring list items. This article confirms this practice and suggests that there is an underlying structure to both frequently and infrequently occurring list items.
Gender Differences on SF-36 Patient-Reported Outcomes of Diabetic Foot Disease
Authors: Del Core Michael A. , Ahn Junho , Wukich Dane K. , Liu George T. , Lalli Trapper , VanPelt Michael D. , Raspovic Katherine M.
Published: June 2018

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of gender on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) using a generic (Short Form–36 [SF-36]) and region-specific (Foot and Ankle Ability Measure [FAAM]) health measurement tool among a matched cohort of male and female patients with diabetes-related foot complications. The HRQOL of 240 patients with diabetic foot disease was measured using the SF-36 and the FAAM surveys. A total of 120 male patients were matched with 120 female patients with the same primary diagnosis, age, type, and duration of diabetes and insulin use. The SF-36 physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores were calculated using orthogonal and oblique rotation methods. The median age of the respondents was 54 years (interquartile range = 46-61). No differences in patient characteristics were found between genders. Among the SF-36 subscales, women reported significantly worse physical function ( P = .014) and bodily pain ( P = .021) scores with a trending decrease in general health score ( P = .067). Subsequently, women had worse orthogonal ( P = .009) and oblique PCS scores ( P = .036) than men. However, orthogonal ( P = .427) or oblique ( P = .140) MCS scores did not differ between groups. No significant differences in FAAM scores with respect to gender were appreciated. Our findings suggest that in patients with diabetic foot disease, women tend to report lower physical HRQOL compared with men. In efforts to increase compliance, providers should recognize the impact of gender on patients’ perceptions of foot-related complications of diabetes. This knowledge may improve outcomes by adapting more individualized and gender-specific approaches to patients.
MicroRNAs in prostate cancer: From function to biomarker discovery
Authors: Moustafa Ahmed A , Kim Hogyoung , Albeltagy Rasha S , El-Habit Ola H , Abdel-Mageed Asim B
Published: June 2018

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a small functional non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression through mRNA degradation or translational repression. miRNAs are key regulatory components of various cellular networks. Current evidence support that multiple mammalian genome-encoded miRNAs impact the cellular biology, including proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and tumorigenesis, by targeting specific subsets of mRNAs. This minireview is focused on the current themes underlying the interactions between miRNAs and their mRNA targets and pathways in prostate tumorigenesis and progression, and their potential clinical utility as biomarkers for prostate cancer.

Impact statement

The primary goal of this article was to review recent literature on miRNA biogenesis and further elaborate on the identity of newly discovered miRNAs and their potential functional significance in the complex biological network associated with prostate tumorigenesis and disease progression and as biomarkers for prostate cancer.
Fibrin patch influences the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and nuclear factor-κBp65 factors on ischemic intestinal anastomosis
Authors: García-Vásquez Carlos , Fernández-Aceñero María J , García Gómez-Heras Soledad , Pastor Carlos
Published: June 2018

The intestinal anastomotic failure is one of the most severe complications in gastrointestinal surgery. Despite the great surgical improvements during the last decade, anastomotic leak rates remain practically the same, with a dramatically high grade of morbidity for patients. Leakages are usually the final consequence of ischemia in the anastomosis, leading to tissue hypoxia. In response to hypoxia, the cell orchestrates a variety of coordinated responses in order to restore oxygen homeostasis. The molecular mechanism of hypoxia sensitivity involves oxygen sensing hydroxylases, prolyl-hydroxylases, orchestrating two main transcription factors related to induction of inﬂammation and angiogenesis, namely nuclear factor-κB and hypoxia-inducible factors. The immunohistochemical expression of two transcription factors hypoxia-inducible factors-1α and nuclear factor-κB p65 has already been described in several disorders, including wound healing, asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and acute colitis. In the surgical field, fibrin sealants have been widely used to prevent leaks in lung surgery and they might also be useful as a reinforcement of sutures in intestinal anastomosis. The commercial fibrin sealant patches are hemostatic and adhesive surgical agents mainly derived from human plasma. We herein report the results of a prospective randomized experimental study on pigs. We performed a high-risk leakage model of bowel anastomosis, causing a significant devascularization of 10–15 cm of the bowel wall before performing a conventional colo-ileal anastomosis. We randomized the animals to receive a covering of the anastomosis with a fibrin patch (case group) or not (control group). We report the changes in the immunohistochemical expression of the proteins involved in tissue response to hypoxia in the experimental model. Our results indicate that the fibrin patch delays the healing response, promoting a longer lasting inflammation in the surgical bed. Nevertheless, the fibrin patches effectiveness to reduce dehiscence shown in clinical practice suggests that this delay does not negatively affect patients’ outcome.

Impact statement

The consequences of the anastomotic failure are dramatic for patients. Understanding how the ever-increasing use of fibrin sealant, that seems to have a beneficial effect on the anastomoses, interacts with the tissue and the healing process can help to justify its use and encourage research on how to improve this effect even more. We feel that the present work shows that the patch can improve healing by complex mechanisms other than the mere contention and physical support of the intestine. Furthermore, research is needed to confirm our preliminary findings.
Retrograde Pedal Access—Cutting Edge or Comical?
Authors: Dua Anahita , Chandra Venita
Published: June 2018

Retrograde pedal access is a technique utilized with increasing frequency by many interventionists to address patients with advanced multilevel peripheral artery disease and significant comorbidities. This approach to revascularization is being used both in patients who fail traditional antegrade access and in some patients thought to be poor candidates for antegrade approach. However, the lack of randomized controlled trial data, or long-term results, coupled with the associated potential risks including dissection, spasm, and thrombosis have rendered retrograde pedal access a controversial topic. This article details the pros and cons associated with the debate surrounding retrograde pedal access and highlights the current literature and remaining questions regarding outcomes of this technique.
The Longitudinal Effects of Electroconvulsive Therapy on Ictal Interhemispheric Coherence and Its Associations With Treatment Outcome: A Naturalistic Cohort Study
Authors: ten Doesschate Freek , van Wingen Guido A. , de Pont Boudewijn J. H. B. , Arns Martijn , van Waarde Jeroen A.
Published: June 2018

Objectives. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment for severe depression. Electroencephalogram (EEG) measures between ECT sessions seem to be related to the antidepressant efficacy of ECT. In this naturalistic cohort study, we examine longitudinal effects of ECT on interhemispheric EEG coherence measures during seizure activity and its relation to the antidepressant efficacy. Methods. This study included 65 patients diagnosed with severe depressive disorder. Depressive symptoms were rated according to the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale before and after the course of ECT. Frequency-specific ictal interhemispheric (fp1-fp2) EEG coherence measures were established during the first and each consecutive sixth treatment session. Linear mixed-effect models were used to determine longitudinal changes in ictal coherence measures during the course of ECT and its relation to treatment efficacy. Results. Ictal interhemispheric coherence in the theta and alpha frequency bands increased over the course of treatment, whereas no significant change was found for the delta and beta frequency bands. A main effect of treatment efficacy on the interhemispheric coherence in the delta and theta band was revealed. However, the longitudinal effects of ECT were not associated with treatment efficacy. Conclusion. The current study suggests that interhemispheric coherence during ECT-induced seizures increases over the course of treatment. Furthermore, these longitudinal effects seem to be unrelated to the antidepressant efficacy of ECT. These findings contribute to the understanding of the mechanism of action of ECT.