bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The genus Tychius Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Curculioninae) in China, with description of three new species
Authors: JIANG CHUNYAN , CALDARA ROBERTO , ZHANG RUNZHI
Published: September 2020

The species of the weevil genus Tychius Germar, 1817 (Curculionidae: Curculioninae: Tychiini) in China are herein reviewed. Thirty-five taxa are reported, 14 already known from China: T. albolineatus Motschulsky, 1860, T. herculeanus Reitter, 1902, T. uralensis Pic, 1902, T. longulus Desbrochers des Loges, 1873, T. praescutellaris (Pic, 1902), T. tectus LeConte, 1876, T. oriens A. Hoffmann, 1964, T. thompsoni Caldara, 1990, T. perrinae Caldara, 1990, T. ovalis Roelofs, 1875, T. medicaginis C. N. F. Brisout de Barneville, 1863, T. meliloti Stephens, 1831, T. kerulensis (Bajtenov, 1981), T. breviusculus Desbrochers des Loges, 1873; 18 cited for the first time from China: T. rufirostris Schoenherr, 1832, T. hauseri Faust, 1889, T. squamulatus Gyllenhal, 1835, T. flavus Becker, 1864, T. aureolus Kiesenwetter, 1852, T. junceus (Reich, 1797), T. crassirostris Kirsch, 1871, T. vossi Caldara, 1990, T. picirostris (Fabricius, 1787), T. morawitzi Becker, 1864, T. winkleri (Franz, 1940), T. urbanus Faust, 1885, T. sulphureus Faust, 1881, T. bajtenovi Caldara, 1986, T. kaszabi (Bajtenov, 1977), T. gracilitubus (Bajtenov, 1977), T. hedysaricus Karasyov, 1991, T. crassifemoris (Bajtenov, 1977); and three new to science: T. tachengicus Jiang & Caldara n. sp., T. obrieni Jiang & Caldara n. sp., T. zhangi Jiang & Caldara n. sp. A key to the species is provided. Diagnosis, comparative notes and distribution are reported for each species. Dorsal and lateral habitus, as well as details of rostrum, femur, tibia, genitalia, tarsus and claw are illustrated.
Morphological changes in Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)
Authors: LI DONG-DONG , YI TIAN-CI , JIN DAO-CHAO
Published: September 2020

This paper deals with the detailed morphological observation of larva, protonymph and deutonymph, as well as female and male adults of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) based on laboratory reared specimens. The main changes are as follows: larva with one dorsal shield, while protonymph with two, which fused into a holodorsal shield in deutonymph; 9 pairs of dorsal setae in larvae, 14 pairs in protonymph, and 19 pairs in deutonymph and adult; the immature stages without discernible ventrianal shield, though hypoplastic shield, a weakly sclerotized small plate around the anal pore, present in the protonymph and deutonymph. larva and protonymph each with seven pairs of ventral setae, while deutonymph and adult each with 12 pairs; movable digit with one or two teeth in larva, three teeth in protonymph, deutonymph or adult. The development of morphological traits in ontogenesis of N. californicus could provide helpful basis to identify it practically from its relatives.
Terminal Wind Hazard Analyses Based on Assimilated Weather Data and Lagrangian Coherent Structures
Authors: Knutson Brent , Tang Wenbo , Chan Pak Wai
Published: September 2020

The operational light detection and ranging (lidar) data from the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) in China are assimilated in the six-nest, high-resolution Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model. The existing radar data assimilation schemes in the WRF data assimilation (WRFDA) package have been adapted to accommodate the high temporal frequency and spatial resolution of the lidar observations. The weather data are then used to produce Lagrangian coherent structures to detect atmospheric hazards for flights. The coherent structures obtained from the various datasets are contrasted against flight data measured on aircraft. It is found that both WRF and WRFDA produce coherent structures that are more distinguishable than those obtained from two-dimensional retrieval, which may improve the detection of true wind shear hazards.
Western North Pacific Tropical Cyclones in the Met Office Global Seasonal Forecast System: Performance and ENSO Teleconnections
Authors: Feng Xiangbo , Klingaman Nicholas P. , Hodges Kevin I. , Guo Yi-Peng
Published: September 2020

The performance of the Met Office Global Seasonal Forecast System (GloSea5-GC2) for tropical cyclone (TC) frequency for the western North Pacific (WNP) in July–October is evaluated, using 23 years of ensemble forecasts (1993–2015). Compared to observations, GloSea5 overpredicts the climatological TC frequency in the eastern WNP and underpredicts it in the western and northern WNP. These biases are associated with an El Niño–type bias in TC-related environmental conditions (e.g., low-level convergence and steering flow), which encourages too many TCs to form throughout the tropical Pacific and slows TC propagation speed. For interannual TC frequency variability, GloSea5 overestimates the observed negative TC–ENSO teleconnection in the western and northern WNP, associated with an eastward shift in the ENSO teleconnection to environmental conditions. Consequently, GloSea5 fails to predict interannual TC variability in the northeast WNP (south of Japan); performance is higher in the southwest WNP (e.g., the South China Sea) where the sign of the TC–ENSO teleconnection is correct. This study suggests the need to reduce biases in environmental conditions and associated ENSO teleconnections in GloSea5 to improve the TC prediction performance in the NWP.
Management of Nonoperative Diverticulitis
Authors: Malizia Robert A. , Martinolich Jessica L. , Ata Ashar , Fitz Nicholas G. , Williams Kanwaldeep K. , Valerian Brian T. , Stain Steven C. , Lee Edward C.
Published: September 2020

Background

Institutional pathways (IPs) allow efficient utilization of health care resources. Recent literature reports decreased hospital length of stay (LOS), complications, and costs with the admittance of surgical disease to surgical services. Our study aimed to demonstrate that admission to surgery for nonoperative, acute diverticulitis reduces hospital LOS, and cost, with comparable complication rates.

Methods

In January 2017, we defined IPs for diverticulitis, mandating emergency department admission to a surgical service. Patients admitted from October 2015 to June 2016 (pre-protocol, control cohort) were compared with those admitted January 2017-September 2018 (post-protocol, IP cohort). Primary outcomes included hospital LOS, direct cost, indirect cost, total cost, and 30-day readmission. Student’s 2-tailed t-test and chi-square analysis were utilized, with statistical significance P < .05.

Results

Nonoperative management of acute diverticulitis occurred in 62 (74%) patients in the control cohort. One hundred and eleven patients (85%) were admitted to the IP cohort. Patient characteristics were similar, except for a higher percentage of surgical patients utilizing private insurance and younger in age. Interestingly, no difference in hospital LOS (3.8 vs 4.7 days; P = 0.07), direct cost ($2639.44 vs $3251.52; P = .19), or overall cost ($5968.67 vs $6404.08, P = .61) was found between cohorts. Thirty-day readmission rates were comparable at 8% and 11% ( P = .59).

Conclusion

Institutional policy mandating admissions for patients receiving nonoperative management of diverticulitis to surgical services does not reduce hospital LOS or cost. This argues that admission to medical services may be an acceptable practice. This raises the question, is acute diverticulitis always a surgical issue?
Power politics: Armed non-state actors and the capture of public electricity in post-invasion Baghdad
Authors: Parreira Christiana
Published: September 2020

Scholars observe that armed non-state actors (NSAs) often provide social services to reinforce their popular support and legitimacy as guarantors of local order. On the other hand, NSAs usually face funding constraints that make the independent provision of distributive goods difficult. This article argues that armed NSAs employ an alternative, more cost-effective tactic to deliver services. It argues that militant groups can leverage their armed capacity to capture control of and monopolize access to state-sponsored services. As an example, it documents the capture of public electricity infrastructure that took place in post-invasion Baghdad under the Sadrist Movement, an armed group formed shortly after the ouster of the Ba’athist state. Using local-level information about the location of Sadrist offices and remote sensing data, it estimates that Sadrist-affiliated neighborhoods in Baghdad saw an average increase in access to electricity between 2003 and 2006 that was significantly greater than in other areas of the city. The article concludes by addressing threats to inference, showing that these differences are not alternatively explained by demographic differences or changes therein due to ongoing conflict. It also discusses how this NSA strategy might contribute to an equilibrium of low state legitimacy and weak capacity in fragile contexts like that of post-2003 Iraq.
Encouraged or Discouraged? The Effect of Adverse Macroeconomic Conditions on School Leaving and Reentry
Authors: Witteveen Dirk
Published: September 2020

Existing research generally confirms a countercyclical education enrollment, whereby youths seek shelter in the educational system to avoid hardships in the labor market: the “discouraged worker” thesis. Alternatively, the “encouraged worker” thesis predicts that economic downturns steer individuals away from education because of higher opportunity costs. This study provides a formal test of these opposing theories using data from the United States compared with similar sources from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Sweden. I investigate whether macroeconomic stimuli—including recessions and youth unemployment fluctuations—matter for enrollment decisions. Analyses rely on 10 years of detailed individual-level panel data, consisting of birth cohorts across several decades. Across data sources, results show enrollment persistence in secondary education is stronger in response to economic downturns. These patterns differ sharply for tertiary-enrolled students and those who recently left higher education. Surprisingly, U.S. youths display an increased hazard of school leaving and a decreased hazard of educational reenrollment in response to adverse conditions. In contrast, European youths tend to make enrollment decisions supportive of discouraged-worker mechanisms or insensitivity to adverse conditions. The U.S.-specific encouraged-worker mechanism might be explained by the relative importance of market forces in one’s early career and the high costs of university attendance, which induces risk aversion with regard to educational investment. The discussion addresses the consequences for educational inequality.
For the benefit of all? State-led gentrification in a contested city
Authors: Shmaryahu-Yeshurun Yael , Ben-Porat Guy
Published: September 2020

Gentrification is not only an economic process based on individual desires and decisions and independent of political goals, but also a process led or assisted by governments with economic development and national goals. In this work, we study a state-led ethno-gentrification in Acre, a contested city in the north of Israel. Looking beyond the neoliberal terminology of regeneration, we argue that in contested cities gentrification is an economic development policy often intertwined with national-demographic goals. Yet, while economic and national motivations and policies may reinforce one another, they also produce tensions among policy makers, gentrifiers and local residents. ‘State-led ethno-gentrification’ presents the complexity of the relationship between neoliberalism and nationalism in a contested city. Interviews conducted in Acre with policy makers, Jewish newcomers involved in the gentrification process and Arab residents present a complex picture of goals, interests and concerns, as well as contradictions and tensions.
A review of place identity studies in post-apartheid South Africa
Authors: Dlamini Simangele , Tesfamichael Solomon G , Mokhele Tholang
Published: September 2020

Place identity studies have attracted considerable interest in South Africa because of its history of separate racial development. However, there is a paucity of studies that have reviewed such studies in the country. This article, therefore, aims to present a selective review of place identity studies in post-apartheid South Africa. A literature search was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Studies published in English between 1994 and 2020, relating to changing place identities as a result of apartheid in South Africa, were included in our search. The search yielded studies from which four key themes were identified – these being identity and belonging, social identity and discursive practice, cultural symbolism and group identity, and social inclusion and exclusion. These themes attest to the social construction of place identity, with people forming cognitive and affective bonds within groups. In addition, these themes show that mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion are crucial for identity formation in which the self is contrasted with ‘the other’. The studies collectively point to the intricacies surrounding attempts at desegregation and building social cohesion in post-apartheid South Africa.
On the Possibilities of a Political Theory of Algorithms
Authors: Panagia Davide
Published: September 2020

This essay asks how we might articulate a political theory of algorithms. To do so, I propose a political ontology of the algorithm dispositif that elaborates how algorithms arrange the movement of energies in space and time, and how they do so automatically. This force of arrangement is what I refer to as the dispositional power of algorithms that I identify as a political physics of vital processes. The essay is divided into three sections. The first provides readers of Political Theory with a discussion of three notable works in the field of critical algorithm studies relevant to a political theory of algorithms. The subsequent sections of the essay elaborate an understanding of the political ontology of the algorithm dispositif by focusing (first) on the difference that a virtual ontology introduces to our political reflections and (second) on the cybernetic operation of negative feedback that I identify as foundational to understanding an algorithm’s political physics of vital processes. I conclude that any political theory engagement with technical media can’t simply rest on an epistemic analysis of the normative effects of media but must also pursue an investigation into a medium’s modes of existence in the world.
Democracy, Enlightenment, and Revolution: Cantonese Marxists and Chinese Social Democracy, 1920–1922
Authors: Zhao Xuduo
Published: September 2020

This article discusses two different attitudes toward elections and democracy among the early Chinese communists. It argues that apart from some communist leaders in Shanghai who saw nothing of value in participating in elections, there were members of the party who favored social democracy. Two Cantonese Marxists, Chen Gongbo and Tan Pingshan, heavily influenced by German social democrats, especially Karl Kautsky, attached great importance to elections and “the enlightenment of the masses” on the road to communism. This led them to oppose their comrades in Shanghai, and to support the federalist self-government movement advocated by Chen Jiongming. After 1922, this rift between communists in Guangzhou and Shanghai grew into a serious intra-party conflict. Eventually, the Cantonese social democratic approach was politically discredited and largely forgotten. Exploring this Cantonese approach will clarify the connection and tension between democracy, enlightenment, and socialism in May Fourth China.
Assessing the role of universities in a place-based Industrial Strategy: Evidence from the UK
Authors: Johnston Andrew , Wells Peter
Published: September 2020

The UK Government’s Industrial Strategy White Paper, published in November 2017, focuses on several key technologies of the future, in order to promote innovation and future economic performance. Universities play a key role in the delivery of the strategy, marking the culmination of nearly two decades of policy reviews that have continually promoted ‘third stream’ activities of commercial engagement with industry. Given the spatial focus of the strategy, this paper seeks to assess the regional distribution of competitive public research funding within the strategy’s priority sectors. The paper contributes to debates on the effectiveness and spatial implications of the Industrial Strategy through arguing that while the funding landscape for research in the priority sectors is spatially uneven across the UK, this could provide an opportunity for a place-based strategy to be implemented which builds on the strengths of each region.
Highly challenging balance and gait training for individuals with Parkinson’s disease improves pace, rhythm and variability domains of gait – A secondary analysis from a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Rennie Linda , Opheim Arve , Dietrichs Espen , Löfgren Niklas , Franzén Erika
Published: September 2020

Objective:

Evaluate immediate and long-term effects of highly challenging balance and gait training on pace-, rhythm-, variability-, asymmetry-, and postural control domains of gait for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Design:

Randomized controlled trial - a secondary analysis.

Setting:

University hospital setting.

Participants:

One-hundred older adults with mild to moderate PD (Hoehn & Yahr 2 and 3).

Intervention:

Training group ( n = 51): 10 weeks (3 times/week) of intensive balance and gait training, incorporating dual tasks. Control group ( n = 49): care as usual.

Main outcome measures:

Spatiotemporal gait variables collected during normal and fast walking on a pressure-sensitive mat. A linear mixed model was used to evaluate training effects post intervention and at the 6 and 12 month follow-up.

Results:

Immediate training effects in the pace domain of gait were increased step velocity (normal speed: 8.2 cm/s, P = 0.04; fast: 10.8 cm/s, P < 0.01), increased step length (normal speed: 3 cm, P = 0.05; fast: 2.3 cm, P = 0.05) and reduced swing time variability (fast speed: –2.5 ms, P = 0.02). In the rhythm domain reduced step time (fast speed: –19.3 ms, P = 0.02), stance time (normal: –24.3 ms, P = 0.01; fast: –29.6 ms, P = 0.02) and swing time (fast speed: –8.7 ms, P = 0.04) was seen. Relative to the variability domain, the training decreased step time variability (fast: –2.8 ms, P = 0.02) and stance time variability (fast: –3.9 ms, P = 0.02). No training effects were retained at 6 months.

Conclusions:

Highly challenging balance and gait training improved pace, rhythm and variability aspects of PD gait in the short-term, but effects are not retained long-term.

Trial registration number:

NCT01417598.
Epitranscriptomic regulation by m6A RNA methylation in brain development and diseases
Authors: Chokkalla Anil K , Mehta Suresh L , Vemuganti Raghu
Published: September 2020

Cellular RNAs are pervasively tagged with diverse chemical moieties, collectively called epitranscriptomic modifications. The methylation of adenosine at N6 position generates N6-methyladenosine (m6A), which is the most abundant and reversible epitranscriptomic modification in mammals. The m6A signaling is mediated by a dedicated set of proteins comprised of writers, erasers, and readers. Contrary to the activation–repression binary view of gene regulation, emerging evidence suggests that the m6A methylation controls multiple aspects of mRNA metabolism, such as splicing, export, stability, translation, and degradation, culminating in the fine-tuning of gene expression. Brain shows the highest abundance of m6A methylation in the body, which is developmentally altered. Within the brain, m6A methylation is biased toward neuronal transcripts and sensitive to neuronal activity. In a healthy brain, m6A maintains several developmental and physiological processes such as neurogenesis, axonal growth, synaptic plasticity, circadian rhythm, cognitive function, and stress response. The m6A imbalance contributes to the pathogenesis of acute and chronic CNS insults, brain cancer, and neuropsychiatric disorders. This review discussed the molecular mechanisms of m6A regulation and its implication in the developmental, physiological, and pathological processes of the brain.
Changes of intestinal microflora in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis: a single-center study
Authors: Duan Miao , Han Zunhua , Huang Nanqu
Published: September 2020

Objective

To investigate the changes in the diversity and dynamics of intestinal microflora in patients with neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in a single center in China.

Methods

In this prospective study conducted between 2016 and 2019, feces were collected from 28 neonates with NEC and 30 control neonates to analyze the species richness and Shannon’s diversity index of the bands, which were also sequenced via PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis.

Results

The species richness and Shannon’s diversity index were significantly lower in the NEC group than in the control group, indicating that the diversity of intestinal flora was reduced in NEC. The numbers of samples positive for Bacteroides and Klebsiella were higher in the NEC group, whereas Escherichia coli, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus were less frequently detected in patients with NEC than in controls. The prevalence of intestinal bacteria normalized after the resolution of NEC.

Conclusion

The decrease of intestinal flora diversity in neonates with NEC, especially the decreased prevalence of probiotic bacteria, may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of NEC.
Vitreous haemorrhage caused by unusual giant macular tear: a case report
Authors: Lei Chunling , Chen Li
Published: September 2020

Macular tears rarely occur without trauma. Here, we describe a patient with vitreous haemorrhage, which was caused by an unusual giant macular tear secondary to existing branch retinal vein occlusion. A 60-year-old woman presented with vision loss in the right eye because of vitreous haemorrhage. She had a history of branch retinal vein occlusion and had been treated with retinal photocoagulation 3 years prior. As treatment for vitreous haemorrhage, the patient underwent 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy combined with silicone oil tamponade. During the operation, a large jagged tear was observed in the macula. We presumed that stretching of the fibrous proliferating membrane secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion was responsible for the macular tear and vitreous haemorrhage. Eventually, the results of pars plana vitrectomy led to anatomical closure of the macular tear and partial restoration of visual acuity.
Planting gardens: Mesopotamian influence on a Hebrew trope in Jeremiah 29
Authors: Mueller Joseph W.
Published: September 2020

The version of the ‘building and planting’ conceptual pair found in Jeremiah 29:5 differs from the standard trope used elsewhere within the Hebrew Bible; it is the only example in which the object to be planted is a garden (גנה‎). Awareness of the exilic community’s Mesopotamian context potentially illuminates this alteration, as two mutually inclusive historical factors could have influenced the change. Jeremiah’s exhortation could account for the community’s agricultural context. By planting gardens, the exiles participated in the shift toward horticulture during the long 6th century and contributed to the שלום‎ of the region. Alternatively, Jeremiah 29:5 shares language with royal inscriptions of Esarhaddon. This proposed connection builds upon previous explorations of references to a 70-year exile elsewhere in both texts. The plausibility of the latter option would lend support to the literary coherence of Jeremiah 29:5–14, while the former suggests a 6th century provenance for the passage.
Extracorporeal multiorgan support including CO2-removal with the ADVanced Organ Support (ADVOS) system for COVID-19: A case report
Authors: Huber Wolfgang , Lorenz Georg , Heilmaier Markus , Böttcher Katrin , Sahm Philipp , Middelhoff Moritz , Ritzer Barbara , Schulz Dominik , Bekka Elias , Hesse Felix , Poszler Alexander , Geisler Fabian , Spinner Christoph , Schmid Roland M , Lahmer Tobias
Published: September 2020

A substantial part of COVID-19-patients suffers from multi-organ failure (MOF). We report on an 80-year old patient with pulmonary, renal, circulatory, and hepatic failure. We decided against the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) due to old age and a SOFA-score of 13. However, the patient was continuously treated with the extracorporeal multi-organ- “ADVanced Organ Support” (ADVOS) device (ADVITOS GmbH, Munich, Germany). During eight 24h-treatment-sessions blood flow (100–300 mL/min), dialysate flow (160–320 mL/min) and dialysate pH (7.6–9.0) were adapted to optimize arterial PaCO2 and pH. Effective CO2 removal and correction of acidosis could be demonstrated by mean arterial- versus post-dialyzer values of pCO2 (68.7 ± 13.8 vs. 26.9 ± 11.6 mmHg; p < 0.001). The CO2-elimination rate was 48 ± 23mL/min. The initial vasopressor requirement could be reduced in parallel to pH-normalization. Interruptions of ADVOS-treatment repeatedly resulted in reversible deteriorations of paCO2 and pH. After 95 h of continuous extracorporeal decarboxylating therapy the patient had markedly improved circulatory parameters compared to baseline. In the context of secondary pulmonary infection and progressive liver failure, the patient had a sudden cardiac arrest. In accordance with the presumed patient will, we decided against mechanical resuscitation. Irrespective of the outcome we conclude that extracorporeal CO2 removal and multiorgan-support were feasible in this COVID-19-patient. Combined and less invasive approaches such as ADVOS might be considered in old-age-COVID-19 patients with MOF.
AI in the Intensive Care Unit: Up-to-Date Review
Authors: Nguyen Diep , Ngo Brandon , vanSonnenberg Eric
Published: September 2020

AI is the latest technologic trend that likely will have a huge impact in medicine. AI’s potential lies in its ability to process large volumes of data and perform complex pattern analyses. The ICU is an area of medicine that is particularly conducive to AI applications. Much AI ICU research currently is focused on improving high volumes of data on high-risk patients and making clinical workflow more efficient. Emerging topics of AI medicine in the ICU include AI sensors, sepsis prediction, AI in the NICU or SICU, and the legal role of AI in medicine. This review will cover the current applications of AI medicine in the ICU, potential pitfalls, and other AI medicine-related topics relevant for the ICU.
An Exploration of the Involuntary Celibate (Incel) Subculture Online
Authors: O’Malley Roberta Liggett , Holt Karen , Holt Thomas J.
Published: September 2020

Incels, a portmanteau of the term involuntary celibates, operate in online communities to discuss difficulties in attaining sexual relationships. Past reports have found that multiple elements of the incel culture are misogynistic and favorable towards violence. Further, several violent incidents have been linked to this community, which suggests that incel communities may resemble other ideologically motivated extremist groups. The current study employed an inductive qualitative analysis of over 8,000 posts made in two online incel communities to identify the norms, values, and beliefs of these groups from a subcultural perspective. Analyses found that the incel community was structured around five interrelated normative orders: the sexual market, women as naturally evil, legitimizing masculinity, male oppression, and violence. The implications of this analysis for our understanding of extremism and the role of the internet in radicalization to violence are considered in depth.
Challenges of Seeking Reproductive Health Care in People Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: O’Connor-Terry Carly , Burton Danielle , Gowda Tejasvi , Laing Adrianne , Chang Judy C.
Published: September 2020

Title X is a federally funded family planning initiative that provides low-cost and confidential reproductive health services to its clients. In recent years, Title X has been the subject of debate as its core tenants have been revised by the current administration. Though advocates have fought against these changes, the voices of survivors on intimate partner violence are absent from this conversation. This study was designed to elicit the opinions and experiences on survivors of intimate partner violence on reproductive decision-making, their access to care, and their opinions about political efforts to restrict this access. Twenty-six semi-structured interviews were conducted with women who were seeking services for intimate partner violence. These interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded. Codes were then organized into themes. Participants endorsed the need for confidential services due to experiences of coercion from their partners and the fear of retaliation against them. Participants largely supported accessible contraception but reported the need for contraception to be reliable. Participants addressed pregnancy and its many complexities and advocated for nondirective options-counseling. Overall, participants spoke about their challenges with reproductive health care and their opinions on how best to service survivors of intimate partner violence. This study asserts the need for advocates for survivors to advocate for the preservation of Title X and establishes the need for future studies on the prevalence of intimate partner violence in Title X clinics.
Interparental Violence and Early Adolescents’ Adjustment Problems in China: Testing a Moderated Mediation Model of Parental Warmth and Emotional Insecurity
Authors: Xiang Xiaoping , Wang Juan , Wu Chaoyue , Chen Yiting
Published: September 2020

This study analyzed the relationships between exposure to interparental violence and adolescents’ adjustment problems. It also explored the mediating role of emotional insecurity and the moderating role of parental warmth in these relationships. Five hundred and seventy-eight early adolescents from three migrant primary schools and one public school in Beijing participated in this survey, reporting on their perceived interparental violence, emotional insecurity, post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems. The results revealed that emotional insecurity partially mediated the association between interparental violence and all three indicators of adjustment problems, with stronger mediating effects on PTSS and internalizing problems than on externalizing problems; parental warmth buffered the association between emotional insecurity and internalizing/externalizing problems. This study adds insights to present literature on how interparental violence contributes to different aspects of adolescents’ adjustment problems in the Chinese context.
Encouraging Asian Immigrant Women to Disclose Intimate Partner Violence in Primary Care Settings
Authors: Tavrow Paula , Azucar Danny , Huynh Dan , Yoo Caroline , Liang Di , Pathomrit Wanda , Withers Mellissa
Published: September 2020

Risks of intimate partner violence (IPV) often are higher among immigrant women, due to dependency, language barriers, deportation fears, cultural beliefs, and limited access to services. In the United States, Asian immigrant women experiencing IPV often are reluctant to disclose abuse. Viewing videos that depict IPV survivors who have successfully obtained help might encourage disclosure. After conducting formative research, we created brief videos in four Asian languages (Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese) for use in primary care clinic consultation rooms. We then conducted in-depth interviews with 60 Asian immigrant women in California to get their perspectives on how helpful the videos might be in achieving disclosure. Most participants believed the videos would promote disclosure in clinics, although those who had been abused seemed more skeptical. Many had stereotyped views of victims, who they felt needed to be emotive to be credible. Videos should be upbeat, highlighting the positive outcomes of escaping violence and showing clearly each step of the process. Various types of IPV should be described, so that women understand the violence is not exclusively physical. Victims would need reassurance that they will not be arrested, deported, or forced to leave their abusers. Discussing the benefits of escaping violence to children could be influential. Victims also must be convinced that providers are trustworthy, confidential, and want to help. To assist immigrant populations to disclose IPV to a health provider, videos need to be culturally relevant, explain various types of violence, allay fears, and show clear processes and benefits.
Effect of a Workplace Weight-Loss Program for Overweight and Obese Healthcare Workers
Authors: Nepper Martha J. , McAtee Jennifer R. , Chai Weiwen
Published: September 2020

Purpose:

Examining the effect of a workplace weight-loss program on weight loss, and physical, behavioral and mental well-being among overweight/obese healthcare workers.

Design:

Quasi experimental design

Setting:

Single healthcare setting

Participants:

Forty-one (48.0 ± 11.2 years) day-time shift healthcare employees with body mass index [BMI] >29 kg/m2.

Intervention:

Sixteen-week program with weekly group meetings/activities and individual appointments with nutrition/health experts.

Measures:

Objective (weight, BMI, blood pressure) and self-reported measures were collected at baseline, conclusion of the intervention and 3 to 6 months post-intervention.

Analysis:

Repeated measure analysis accounting for confounders.

Results:

Participants had an average of 13 pounds (5.6%) weight loss (224.2 ± 6.4 vs. 211.6 ± 6.4 lbs.; P < 0.0001) upon program completion with significant decreases in BMI (37.7 ± 1.0 vs. 35.1 ± 1.0 kg/m2; P < 0.0001). Extreme obesity (BMI≥40 kg/m2) rate was reduced from 36.6% to 17.1% ( P < 0.0001). There were decreases in diastolic blood pressure (76.0 ± 1.4 vs. 68.7 ± 1.5 mmHg; P = 0.001) and self-reported blood glucose (119.9 ± 4.4 vs. 105.5 ± 4.6 mg/dL; P = 0.03). Participants had improvements in weekly physical activity (25% change; P = 0.01), nutrition behavior (33% change, P < 0.0001), sleep quality (23% change, P = 0.005), and depression (72% change, P < 0.0001). Twenty-seven participants had post-intervention follow-up data. On average participants regained 8 pounds, which was less than the initial weight loss (16 lbs., N = 27).

Conclusion:

The results suggest the program may benefit healthcare employees. Further emphasis should be placed on post-intervention weight management to prevent weight regain.
Strategies for Designing Clergy and Spouse Obesity-Related Programs
Authors: Harmon Brook E. , Strayhorn Shaila M. , West Nathan T. , Schmidt Michael , Webb Benjamin L. , Grant Lindsey , Smith Stacy
Published: September 2020

Purpose:

Clergy have influence on the health of congregations and communities yet struggle with health behaviors. Interventions tailored to their occupation-specific demands and unique needs may provide a solution. Qualitative methods were used to identify opportunities and resources for the development of an effective obesity-related program for clergy.

Approach:

Ninety-minute focus groups were held with clergy (3 groups) and spouses (3 separate groups). Discussion explored: Program target(s); Opportunities and barriers that influence diet, physical activity, and stress-reduction practices; Empowering and culturally relevant health promotion strategies.

Setting:

All study activities took place in Memphis, TN.

Participants:

Eighteen clergy and fourteen spouses participated. All clergy were male, all spouses were female.

Method:

Previous research with clergy informed the interview guide and the PEN-3 framework aided in organizing the coding of clergy and spouse focus groups. Focus groups were audio recorded and transcripts analyzed using NVivo® 12.

Results:

Themes included: 1) Intervention targets—clergy, spouses, congregations; 2) Opportunities and barriers—making time, establishing boundaries, church traditions, individuals who support and hinder behavior change; 3) Intervention strategies—tools for healthy eating, goal setting, camaraderie, combining face-to-face with eHealth modalities.

Conclusion:

The relationship between clergy, spouse, and congregation make it important for obesity-related programs to target the unique needs of both clergy and spouses. Strategies should focus on healthy eating and personal connections no matter the modality used.
Is “Overhead” A Tainted Word? A Survey Experiment Exploring Framing Effects of Nonprofit Overhead on Donor Decision
Authors: Qu Heng , Daniel Jamie Levine
Published: September 2020

Nonprofit overhead ratios (i.e., proportion of funds spent on fundraising and/or management) have long been used as a proxy for nonprofit efficiency. Prior studies find that donors negatively respond to charities with higher overhead. Using a survey experiment, we explore whether providing different types of information about overhead alleviates this donor aversion. When asked to choose between two organizations as donation recipients, donors preferred the organization with lower overhead. However, when presented with information that described the purpose of higher overhead as building long-term organizational capacity, an increased proportion of donors chose to give to the organization with higher overhead. Omitting the word “overhead” further increased the proportion of donors choosing the organization with higher overhead. This study adds to our understanding of overhead aversion and has practical implications for nonprofits that rely on voluntary private contributions to achieve their missions.
Change point detection in Cox proportional hazards mixture cure model
Authors: Wang Bing , Li Jialiang , Wang Xiaoguang
Published: September 2020

The mixture cure model has been widely applied to survival data in which a fraction of the observations never experience the event of interest, despite long-term follow-up. In this paper, we study the Cox proportional hazards mixture cure model where the covariate effects on the distribution of uncured subjects’ failure time may jump when a covariate exceeds a change point. The nonparametric maximum likelihood estimation is used to obtain the semiparametric estimates. We employ a two-step computational procedure involving the Expectation-Maximization algorithm to implement the estimation. The consistency, convergence rate and asymptotic distributions of the estimators are carefully established under technical conditions and we show that the change point estimator is n consistency. The m out of n bootstrap and the Louis algorithm are used to obtain the standard errors of the estimated change point and other regression parameter estimates, respectively. We also contribute a test procedure to check the existence of the change point. The finite sample performance of the proposed method is demonstrated via simulation studies and real data examples.
Islet Transplantation in the Lung via Endoscopic Aerosolization: Investigation of Feasibility, Islet Cluster Cell Vitality, and Structural Integrity
Authors: Lau Hien , Khosrawipour Tanja , Alexander Michael , Li Shiri , Mikolajczyk Agata , Nicpon Jakub , Schubert Justyna , Bania Jacek , Lakey Jonathan Robert Todd , Khosrawipour Veria
Published: September 2020

Aerosolized drug delivery has recently attracted much attention as a possible new tool for the delivery of complex nanoparticles. This study aims to investigate whether catheter-based aerosolization of islets via endobronchial systems is a feasible option in islet transplantation. Besides investigating the feasibility of islet aerosolization, we also examined cluster cell vitality and structural integrity of the islets following aerosolization. Using an ex vivo postmortem swine model, porcine pancreatic islets were isolated and aerosolized with an endoscopic spray catheter. Following aerosolization, islet cell vitality and function were assessed via Calcein AM and propidium iodide as well as insulin production after glucose exposure. In the final step, the overall feasibility of the procedure and structural integrity of cells were analyzed and evaluated with respect to clinical applicability. No significant difference was detected in the viability of control islets (90.67 ± 2.19) vs aerosolized islets (90.68 ± 1.20). Similarly, there was no significant difference in control islets (1.62 ± 0.086) vs aerosolized islets (1.42 ± 0.11) regarding insulin release after stimulation. Indocyanine green marked islets were transplanted into the lung without major difficulty. Histological analysis confirmed retained structural integrity and predominant location in the alveolar cavity. Our ex vivo data suggest that catheter-based aerosolized islet cell delivery is a promising tool for the application of cell clusters. According to our data, islet cell clusters delivery is feasible from a mechanical and physical perspective. Moreover, cell vitality and structural integrity remain largely unaffected following aerosolization. These preliminary results are encouraging and represent a first step toward endoscopically assisted islet cell implantation in the lung.
Factors affecting nursing error communication in intensive care units: A qualitative study
Authors: Ghezeljeh Tahereh Najafi , Farahani Mansoureh Ashghali , Ladani Fatemeh Kafami
Published: September 2020

Background:

Error communication includes both reporting errors to superiors and disclosing their consequences to patients and their families. It significantly contributes to error prevention and safety improvement. Yet, some errors in intensive care units are not communicated.

Objectives:

The aim of the present study was to explore factors affecting error communication in intensive care units.

Design and participants:

This qualitative study was conducted in 2019. Participants were 17 critical care nurses purposively recruited from the intensive care units of 2 public hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and were analyzed through the conventional content analysis method proposed by Graneheim and Lundman.

Ethical considerations:

The Ethics Committee of Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran approved the study (code: IR.IUMS. REC.1397.792). Participants were informed about the study aim and methods and were ensured of data confidentiality. They were free to withdraw from the study at will. Written informed consent was obtained from all of them.

Findings:

Factors affecting error communication in intensive care units fell into four main categories, namely the culture of error communication (subcategories were error communication organizational atmosphere, clarity of processes and guidelines, managerial support for nurses, and learning organization), the consequences of errors for nurses and nursing (subcategories were fear over being stigmatized as incompetent, fear over punishment, and fear over negative judgments about nursing), the consequences of errors for patients (subcategories were monitoring the effects of errors on patients and predicting the effects of errors on patients), and ethical and professional characteristics (subcategories were ethical characteristics and inter-professional relationships).

Discussion:

The results of this study show many factors affect error communication, some facilitate and some prohibit it. Organizational factors such as the culture of error communication and the consequences of error communication for the nurse and the patient, as well as individual and professional characteristics, including ethical characteristics and interprofessional relationship, influence this process.

Conclusion:

Errors confront nurses with ethical challenges and make them assess error consequences and then, communicate or hide them based on the results of their assessments. Health authorities can promote nurses’ error communication through creating a supportive environment for them, developing clear error communication processes and guidelines, and providing them with education about the principles of ethical practice.
Justice expectations in crowd and platform-mediated work
Authors: Pfeiffer Sabine , Kawalec Sandra
Published: September 2020

Crowdwork conducted via digital platforms is a young form of work, but a growing part of the gig economy. Typical for crowdwork is low pay, volatile income streams and no social security benefits. Also, crowdworkers have few possibilities for social comparison or negotiation because they work outside of company organisations. This article examines the question of whether these conditions mean that crowdworkers’ expectations about justice in crowdwork arrangements differ in comparison to their expectations regarding justice in conventional employment relationships. This question is addressed empirically on the basis of 36 qualitative interviews and a survey of 230 crowdworkers. The justice expectations of crowdworkers involved in different types of crowdworking platforms in German-speaking countries were examined. In our sample, crowd work typically serves to supplement – not replace – conventional employment. This explorative research shows that crowdworkers use similar standards of justice regarding work performance in their evaluations of work mediated via crowdwork platforms and conventional employment. It shows that crowdworkers perceive injustices in four specific areas: planning insecurity, lack of transparency in performance evaluation, lack of clarity in task briefings and low remuneration. These areas correspond to the theoretical dimensions of distributive and procedural justice on Colquitt’s (2001) organisational justice scale. These findings have implications for future efforts to regulate crowdwork.
Professional Collaboration Networks as a Social Work Research Practice Innovation: Preparing DSW Students for Knowledge Dissemination Roles in a Digital Society
Authors: Sage Melanie , Hitchcock Laurel Iverson , Bakk Louanne , Young Jimmy , Michaeli Dorlee , Jones Annette Semanchin , Smyth Nancy J.
Published: September 2020

In professional disciplines, gaps often exist between research and practice. This occurs because of a lack of information exchange between stakeholders about various knowledge of problems and solutions. Implementation science offers systematic strategies for addressing gaps. One potential way to close gaps is by using professional collaboration networks (PCNs), which are technology-mediated, user-centered relationship constellations designed to enhance connections and professional opportunities. These participatory networks are goal-specific, extending across disciplinary and international borders. PCN users can keep current on empirical developments, disseminate knowledge, connect to others for collaboration and mentoring, and expand in-person networks. They allow social workers to contribute their unique knowledge of social systems across interdisciplinary contexts and contribute to conversations about social. This article explores the development of PCNs as a tool for social work researchers, practitioners, and students. PCNs in social work education are explored, including relevance to lifelong professional learning and enhancing research impact.