bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frequency-Domain Analysis of Atmospherically Forced versus Intrinsic Ocean Surface Kinetic Energy Variability in GFDL’s CM2-O Model Hierarchy
Authors: O’Rourke Amanda K. , Arbic Brian K. , Griffies Stephen M.
Published: September 2017

Low-frequency variability at the ocean surface can be excited both by atmospheric forcing, such as in exchanges of heat and momentum, and by the intrinsic nonlinear transfer of energy between mesoscale ocean eddies. Recent studies have shown that nonlinear eddy interactions can excite an energy transfer from high to low frequencies analogous to the transfer of energy from high to low wavenumbers (small to large spatial scales) in quasi-two-dimensional turbulence. As the spatial inverse cascade is driven by oceanic eddies, the process of energy exchange across frequencies may be sensitive to ocean model resolution. Here a cross-spectrum diagnostic is applied to the oceanic component in a hierarchy of fully coupled ocean–atmosphere models to address the transfer of ocean surface kinetic energy between high and low frequencies. The cross-spectral diagnostic allows for a comparison of the relative contributions of coupled atmospheric forcing through wind stress and the intrinsic advection to low-frequency ocean surface kinetic energy. Diagnostics of energy flux and transfer within the frequency domain are compared between three coupled models with ocean model horizontal resolutions of 1°, 1/4°, and 1/10° to address the importance of resolving eddies in the driving of energy to low frequencies in coupled models.
A Principal’s Perspective
Authors: Bouman Tim
Published: September 2017

Based on my experiences as a teacher, administrator, and now principal of North Lawndale College Prep Charter School, this article describes how our school nurtures students and prepares them to succeed not only in high school but also in college, despite the challenges that they face as young people in the inner city. Located on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois, the mission of North Lawndale is clear: “To prepare young people from under-resourced communities for graduation from high school with the academic skills and personal resilience necessary for successful completion of college.”
Individual and Contextual Factors Related to Secondary Special Education Teachers’ Reading Instructional Practices
Authors: Leko Melinda M. , Chiu Ming Ming , Roberts Carly A.
Published: September 2017

This article reports findings from an initial investigation of the impact multiple individual and contextual factors have on secondary special educators’ reading instructional practices. Data from 577 special educators from 221 school districts in a large Midwestern state were collected via an online and paper survey and analyzed using multivariate, multilevel, logit analyses. Results suggest four clusters of factors—teacher preparation, instructional freedom, student characteristics, and service delivery model—were significantly related to teachers’ practice in explicit word study, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension instruction. Implications for future research and practice in special education teacher quality in reading for adolescents with disabilities are discussed.
International relations and the critical history of International Law
Authors: Pitts Jennifer
Published: September 2017

Just as the contemporary global structure is a product of nineteenth-century economic and political developments, namely, industrial capitalism and global empires dominated by European metropoles, a misleading conception of the international system as composed of formally equal sovereign states is a product of the same period, as Vattel’s conception of states as equal moral persons was taken up and transformed in the early nineteenth century, especially in imperial Britain. This model continues to shape interpretations of global politics in International Relations (IR), despite the persistence of the imperial legacy in the form of a stratified globe. Historical work informed by postcolonial studies and recent scholarship in International Law can give IR greater analytical and critical purchase on the current global order.
A hybrid approach for article recommendation in research social networks
Authors: Sun Jianshan , Jiang Yuanchun , Cheng Xusen , Du Wei , Liu Yezheng , Ma Jian
Published: September 2017

With the prevalence of research social networks, determining effective methods for recommending scientific articles to online scholars has become a challenging and complex task. Current studies on article recommendation works are focused on digital libraries and reference sharing websites while studies on research social networking websites have seldom been conducted. Existing content-based approaches or collaborative filtering approaches suffer from the problem of data sparsity. The quality information of articles has been largely ignored in previous studies, thus raising the need for a unified recommendation framework. We propose a hybrid approach to combine relevance, connectivity and quality to recommend scientific articles. The effectiveness of the proposed framework and methods is verified using a user study on a real research social network website. The results demonstrate that our proposed methods outperform baseline methods.
Evidence‐Based Medicine in Otolaryngology, Part 6: Patient‐Reported Outcomes in Clinical Practice
Authors: Carroll Thomas L. , Lee Stella E. , Lindsay Robin , Locandro Drew , Randolph Gregory W. , Shin Jennifer J.
Published: September 2017

The assessment of patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) in the outpatient setting is gaining momentum in clinical and research venues. Implementing this data capture into one’s practice, however, is not a one‐size‐fits‐all venture, and it is critical to determine when, how, and where to include these patient‐centered assessments. This installment of the “Evidence‐Based Medicine in Otolaryngology” series provides insight into the implementation process and experiences with successful incorporation of PROMs into clinical practice. Specifically, 4 differing clinical scenarios and collection techniques are described, including data acquisition protocols, formats for clinician data usage, and applications of PROM results in clinical and research scenarios.
Epidemiology of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with liver failure: Clinical presentation, risk factors, and outcomes
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Yang Meifang , Hu Jianhua , Zhao Hong , Li Lanjuan
Published: September 2017

Objective

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a severe and often lethal infection. The possible risk factors, clinical presentation, and treatment of patients with simultaneous liver failure and IPA have received little attention in previous studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of IPA in patients with liver failure in an effort to reduce patient mortality.

Methods

The patients with liver failure (including acute liver failure , sub-acute liver failure , acute-on-chronic liver failure and chronic liver failure) were recruited from 2011 to 2016. The clinical data of these patients were retrieved for the study.

Results

In total, 1077 patients with liver failure were included in this study. Of the 1077 patients, 53 (4.9%) had IPA. Forty-four (83%) patients with IPA died. Independent risk factors for IPA were male sex (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.542), hepatorenal syndrome (HR = 2.463), antibiotic use (HR = 4.631), and steroid exposure (HR = 18.615).

Conclusions

IPA is a fatal complication in patients with liver failure. Male sex, hepatorenal syndrome, antibiotic use, and steroid exposure were independent risk factors for IPA. When patients with liver failure have these risk factors and symptoms of pneumonia such as cough or hemoptysis, clinicians should be cautious about the possibility of IPA.
Young people’s views on the impact of care experiences on their ability to form positive intimate relationships
Authors: Hyde Abbey , Fullerton Deirdre , Lohan Maria , Dunne Laura , Macdonald Geraldine
Published: September 2017

Existing literature tells us that one of the factors important to the sexual health and intimate relationships of adolescents is the extent to which teenagers feel emotionally connected and supported by their families. In this article, we analyse the experiences of disconnectedness from their families and transience during childhood reported by a sample of young adults formerly in care, and the influence they believed this had on their sense of security and later intimate relationships. The sample comprised 19 young adults aged 18–22 years who were interviewed about experiences associated both directly and indirectly with sexual health, during which childhood experiences of transience emerged as an issue. Findings indicated that disconnectedness and transience were experienced as distressing for participants, generating feelings of rejection and compromising their sense of trust in others. Feelings of insecurity and mistrust were reported by some to influence their adult relationships. We conclude that while not always possible, social care professionals should endeavour to support enduring relationships with trusted adults and continuity of carer among young people in care.
Rhythmic Three-Part Harmony: The Complex Interaction of Maternal, Placental and Fetal Circadian Systems
Authors: Mark Peter J. , Crew Rachael C. , Wharfe Michaela D. , Waddell Brendan J.
Published: September 2017

From the perspective of circadian biology, mammalian pregnancy presents an unusual biological scenario in which an entire circadian system (i.e., that of the fetus) is embodied within another (i.e., that of the mother). Moreover, both systems are likely to be influenced at their interface by a third player, the placenta. Successful pregnancy requires major adaptations in maternal physiology, many of which involve circadian changes that support the high metabolic demands of the growing fetus. A functional role for maternal circadian adaptations is implied by the effects of circadian disruption, which result in pregnancy complications including higher risks for miscarriage, preterm labor, and low birth weight. Various aspects of fetal physiology lead to circadian variation, at least in late gestation, but it remains unclear what drives this rhythmicity. It likely involves contributions from the maternal environment and possibly from the placenta and the developing intrinsic molecular clocks within fetal tissues. The role of the placenta is of particular significance because it serves not only to relay signals about the external environment (via the mother) but may also exhibit its own circadian rhythmicity. This review considers how the fetus may be influenced by dynamic circadian signals from the mother and the placenta during gestation, and how, in the face of these changing influences, a new fetal circadian system emerges. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of endocrine signals, most notably melatonin and glucocorticoids, as mediators of maternal-fetal circadian interactions, and on the expression of the clock gene in the 3 compartments. Further study is required to understand how the mother, placenta, and fetus interact across pregnancy to optimize circadian adaptations that support adequate growth and development of the fetus and its transition to postnatal life in a circadian environment.
Bleeding Control in Palliative Care Patients With the Help of Tranexamic Acid
Authors: Geist Marcus J. P. , Kessler Jens , Frankenhauser Susanne , Bardenheuer Hubert J.
Published: September 2017

Background:

Persistent bleeding is a common reason for admitting patients with advanced cancer to a palliative care unit. Several reports show a successful therapeutic use of the antifibrinolytic agent tranexamic acid in palliative care patients having hemorrhages. However, it is not administered routinely in severe bleeding situations in palliative care, and general dosing recommendations are unclear.

Case Presentation:

We report on 3 patients who were treated with tranexamic acid due to symptomatic hemorrhage complicating different malignant processes.

Case Management and Outcome:

A dosing regimen of 1000 mg intravenous tranexamic acid 3 times a day caused an arrest of bleeding in the reported patients within 2 to 3 days. Having controlled the acute bleeding, we continued with an oral administration of 3000 mg per day as maintenance dose.

Conclusions:

The described dosing regimen was effective in controlling the symptomatic bleeding of the reported patients. Further studies are needed to get evidence-based information on the optimal dosing regimen of tranexamic acid and to emphasize its significance in palliative medicine.
Using a Media Campaign to Increase Engagement With a Mobile-Based Youth Smoking Cessation Program
Authors: Sanders Amy , Robinson Cendrine , Taylor Shani C. , Post Samantha D. , Goldfarb Jeffrey , Shi Rui , Hunt Yvonne M. , Augustson Erik M.
Published: September 2017

Purpose:

To describe the impact of the National Cancer Institute’s promotion of its youth smoking cessation program, Smokefree Teen (SFT).

Design:

We provide a description of campaign strategies and outcomes as a means to engage a teen audience in cessation resources using a cost-effective approach.

Setting:

The campaign occurred nationally, using traditional (TV and radio), online, and social media outreach.

Participants:

Ads targeted adolescent smokers (aged 14-17). The baseline population was 42 586 and increased to 464 357 during the campaign.

Measures:

Metrics used to assess outcomes include (1) visits to SFT website from traditional and online ads, (2) cost to get an online ad clicked (cost-per-click), and (3) SmokefreeTXT program enrollments during the 8-week campaign period.

Analysis:

We conducted a quantitative performance review of all tactics.

Results:

The SFT campaign achieved an online ad click-through rate of 0.33%, exceeding industry averages of 0.15%. Overall, web traffic to teen.smokefree.gov increased by 980%, and the online cost-per-click for ads, including social media actions, was approximately $1 as compared with $107 for traditional ads. Additionally, the campaign increased the SmokefreeTXT program teen sign-ups by 1334%.

Conclusion:

The campaign increased engagement with evidence-informed cessation resources for teen smokers. Results show the potential of using multiple, online channels to help increase engagement with core resources.
On the effect of heat input in plasma microwelding of maraging steel
Authors: Saikia Tinku , Baruah Mayuri , Bag Swarup
Published: September 2017

Maraging steel in known as ultra-high strength and toughness material widely used in aerospace industry and defense system. The joining of this material by fusion welding process experiences gigantic metallurgical transformation that have significant contribution toward the development of welding distortion, and transformation of austenite into martensite at very low temperature with significant increase in specific volume. In this study, a set of bead-on-plate welding is executed at microscale to establish feasible range of process parameters using plasma arc as a source of heat. Although, high-concentrated heat does not produce much distortion, the heat input to the weld joint experiences the difference in possible distortion. A finite element–based numerical process model is also developed to investigate the differential influence of process parameters on thermo-mechanical behavior of weld joint. An inverse approach is followed to estimate the unknown input parameters by integrating the finite element model with optimization algorithm. The integrated model predicts the shape and size of weld geometry and welding distortion that are well agreed with experimental values.
Effect of split injection on mixture formation and combustion processes of diesel spray injected into two-dimensional piston cavity
Authors: Yang Kang , Yamakawa Hirotaka , Nishida Keiya , Ogata Youichi , Nishioka Yusuke
Published: September 2017

The objective of this study is to obtain an enhanced understanding of the effect of split injection on mixture formation and combustion processes of diesel spray. A two-dimensional (2D) piston cavity of the same shape as that used in a small-bore diesel engine was employed to form the impinging spray flame. The fuel was injected into a high pressure, high temperature constant volume vessel through a single-hole nozzle with a hole diameter of 0.11 mm. The injection process comprised a pre-injection followed by the main injection. The main injection was carried out either as a single injection of injection pressure 100 MPa (Pre+S100), or by two types of split injection of injection pressure 160 MPa. The latter two types were defined by mass fraction ratios 1:1 and 3:1 (Pre+D160_1-1, Pre+D160_3-1). In order to observe the spray mixture formation process, the tracer laser absorption scattering (LAS) techique was adopted. Tracer LAS fuel with 97.5 vol% of n-tridecane and 2.5 vol% of 1-methylnaphthalene (α-MN) was employed. The spatial distributions of the vapor and liquid phases and the spray mixture formation characteristics in the 2D piston cavity for the three injection strategies were investigated. The diesel spray combustion and soot formation processes were studied using a high-speed video camera. The flame structure and soot formation process were examined using two-color pyrometry. The experimental results revealed that the split-injection vapor distribution was significantly more homogeneous than that of the single injection. The main injection fuel caught up with the pre-injection fuel and provided the spray tip with substantial additional momentum, enabling it to advance further. A high soot concentration and low temperatures appeared near the cavity wall region under the three injection strategies. The soot reduction rate for split injection was higher than that for single injection. The second main injection caught up with the previous injection’s flame, which deteriorated the combustion and resulted in higher soot generation. The effect of split injection on the process of soot evolution finished at the same time as that of single injection.
Critique of the IARC 100F Working Group Evaluation of Occupational Benzene Exposure: Suggestions for the October 2017 Benzene-Only Working Group Meeting
Authors: Kopstein Melvyn
Published: September 2017

Health agencies and institutions utilize International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) monographs because they are said to represent authoritative cancer evaluations and scientific references. The United States National Cancer Institute has provided support for the IARC Monographs Program for more than three decades. The Volume 100F Monograph, which was published in 2012, reports the evaluations of benzene and more than two dozen other agents performed by the IARC Working Group (WG) that met in Lyon, France from 20 to 27 October 2009. All had already been judged to be human carcinogens. This commentary discusses errors in the occupational exposure section (1.1.3) of the 100F Benzene Monograph (“monograph”). Millions of workers in developed and developing countries have long been known to be routinely exposed to benzene. Since exposures may exceed occupational exposure limits, the hope is that this commentary will be considered by the IARC benzene-only WG at its meeting in October 2017.
Computational models of affordance in robotics: a taxonomy and systematic classification
Authors: Zech Philipp , Haller Simon , Lakani Safoura Rezapour , Ridge Barry , Ugur Emre , Piater Justus
Published: September 2017

J. J. Gibson’s concept of affordance, one of the central pillars of ecological psychology, is a truly remarkable idea that provides a concise theory of animal perception predicated on environmental interaction. It is thus not surprising that this idea has also found its way into robotics research as one of the underlying theories for action perception. The success of the theory in this regard has meant that existing research is both abundant and diffuse by virtue of the pursuit of multiple different paths and techniques with the common goal of enabling robots to learn, perceive, and act upon affordances. Up until now, there has existed no systematic investigation of existing work in this field. Motivated by this circumstance, in this article, we begin by defining a taxonomy for computational models of affordances rooted in a comprehensive analysis of the most prominent theoretical ideas of import in the field. Subsequently, after performing a systematic literature review, we provide a classification of existing research within our proposed taxonomy. Finally, by both quantitatively and qualitatively assessing the data resulting from the classification process, we highlight gaps in the research terrain and outline open questions for the investigation of affordances in robotics that we believe will help inform future work, prioritize research goals, and potentially advance the field toward greater robot autonomy.
Group Contingencies to Increase Appropriate Behaviors in the Classroom: Tips for Success
Authors: Ennis Robin Parks
Published: September 2017

Group contingencies are effective classroom-based interventions that can be used to increase the academic engagement of students with disabilities. This article defines and outlines examples of dependent, independent, and interdependent group contingencies. In addition, tips for success, including making reinforcement accessible to students, pairing reinforcement with behavior-specific praise, integrating self-monitoring, and providing a visual display of progress toward reinforcement, are discussed. Strategies for preventing challenges to implementation are also discussed.
Strategies for the Effective Use of NVivo in a Large-Scale Study: Qualitative Analysis and the Repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
Authors: Robins Cynthia S. , Eisen Karla
Published: September 2017

The use of qualitative data analysis software (QDAS) has expanded over the last two decades, with new technology allowing researchers to analyze more data, faster, and in more complex ways. However, a review of research articles that mentioned the use of QDAS found that authors often omitted critical details about the value-added of the software. This article seeks to fill that gap. We describe our use of NVivo to analyze qualitative data collected for the comprehensive review preceding the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the 1994 law banning openly gay individuals from serving in the U.S. military. We describe why we chose this software product, detail the staffing strategies we used for the team-based analysis, and provide examples of the kinds of queries we ran to answer the study questions. We conclude with a brief discussion of “lessons learned” from this quick-tempo, large-scale qualitative project.
Refinement of the Montreal Instrument for Cat Arthritis Testing, for Use by Veterinarians: detection of naturally occurring osteoarthritis in laboratory cats
Authors: Klinck Mary P , Monteiro Beatriz P , Lussier Bertrand , Guillot Martin , Moreau Maxim , Otis Colombe , Steagall Paulo VM , Frank Diane , Martel-Pelletier Johanne , Pelletier Jean-Pierre , del Castillo Jérôme RE , Troncy Eric
Published: September 2017

Objectives

Feline osteoarthritis causes pain and disability. Detection and measurement is challenging, relying heavily on owner report. This study describes refinement of the Montreal Instrument for Cat Arthritis Testing, for Use by Veterinarians.

Methods

A video analysis of osteoarthritic (n = 6) and non-osteoarthritic (n = 4) cats facilitated expansion of scale items. Three successive therapeutic trials (using gabapentin, tramadol and oral transmucosal meloxicam spray) in laboratory cats with and without natural osteoarthritis (n = 12–20) permitted construct validation (assessments of disease status sensitivity and therapeutic responsiveness) and further scale refinements based on performance.

Results

Scale osteoarthritic sensitivity improved from phase I to phase III; phase III scale total score ( P = 0.0001) and 4/5 subcategories – body posture ( P = 0.0006), gait ( P = 0.0031), jumping (0.0824) and global distance examination ( P = 0.0001) – detected osteoarthritic cats. Total score inter-rater (intra-class correlation coefficients [ICC] = 0.64–0.75), intra-rater (ICC = 0.90–0.91) and overall internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.85) reliability were good to excellent. von Frey anesthesiometer-induced paw withdrawal threshold increased with gabapentin in phase I, in osteoarthritic cats ( P <0.001) but not in non-osteoarthritic cats ( P = 0.075). Night-time activity increased during gabapentin treatment. Objective measures also detected tramadol and/or meloxicam treatment effects in osteoarthritic cats in phases II and III. There was some treatment responsiveness: in phase I, 3/10 subcategory scores improved ( P <0.09) in treated osteoarthritic cats; in phase II, 3/8 subcategories improved; and in phase III, 1/5 subcategories improved ( P <0.096).

Conclusions and relevance

The revised scale detected naturally occurring osteoarthritis, but not treatment effects, in laboratory cats, suggesting future potential for screening of at-risk cats. Further study is needed to confirm reliability, validity (disease sensitivity and treatment responsiveness) and clinical feasibility, as well as cut-off scores for osteoarthritic vs non-osteoarthritic status, in client-owned cats.
Morphological variation of the caudal fossa of domestic cat skulls assessed with CT and geometric morphometrics analysis
Authors: Gordon Caroline R , Marchant Thomas W , Lodzinska Joanna , Schoenebeck Jeffrey J , Schwarz Tobias
Published: September 2017

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate differences and demonstrate a normal range of morphological variation of the caudal fossa of the cranium of domestic cats.

Methods

CT scans of 32 domestic cat heads of 11 breeds were included. Isosurfaces from skulls were characterised through three-dimensional geometric morphometrics using geographical landmarks placed on the internal surface of the caudal fossa and foramen magnum. Raw data was transformed with a Procrustes fit and coordinate covariance was analysed by principal components to establish breed- and sex-level differences. Skulls were also classified according to the number of concavities along the mid-sagittal vermiform impression. Differences were investigated between breed groups and sex, and correlation was sought with age.

Results

Analyses revealed size-independent differences in occipital bone morphology across breeds and sex; however, no clustering was evident. Most variability was observed at the exoccipital bones, ventral portion of the supraoccipital bone, dorsum sellae of the basisphenoid and the osseous tentorium cerebelli. No statistically significant differences were identified via two-sample t-tests between breed groups or sexes. No statistically significant correlation using Spearman rho correlation coefficient was identified with age.

Conclusions and relevance

The feline caudal fossa displays a wide range of intra- and inter-breed variation, not linked to age or sex. Concavities along the vermiform impression have not previously been described. As advanced imaging modalities are becoming more frequently used for domestic felids, an established range of normality is important for discriminating pathological changes from anatomical variances.
Linear Lichen Planus: Continuum From Skin to Mucosa
Authors: Thomas Mikhin George , Betsy Ambooken
Published: September 2017

Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that most commonly affects middle-aged individuals. LP involves the skin and/or mucous membranes, including oral, vulvovaginal, esophageal, laryngeal, and conjunctival mucosa. Linear LP, a rare distinct variant of LP, is characterised by pruritic eruption of lichenoid and violaceous papules in a linear distribution. We report an unusual presentation of linear LP in a 14-year-old child that extended from the left anterior nares to upper lip and into the oral mucosa up to the upper gum margin.
Can urologists accurately stage and grade urothelial bladder cancer by assessing endoscopic photographs?
Authors: Dekalo Snir , Matzkin Haim , Mabjeesh Nicola J
Published: September 2017

Introduction

Assessment of urothelial bladder cancer during cystoscopy or transurethral resection of bladder tumour has a significant impact on the urologist's decision-making: treatment with simple outpatient fulguration, required depth of resection, and need of immediate post-surgical intravesical therapy. These choices depend heavily on the urologist's ability to accurately assess pre-biopsy tumour stage and grade. The aim of the study was to determine whether evaluation of photographs taken during transurethral resection of bladder tumour can reliably characterize a tumour’s stage and grade.

Methods

Smartphone photographs of 50 urothelial bladder cancer cases were taken at the beginning of transurethral resection of bladder tumour and individually presented to seven senior urologists. All urologists were blinded to the final pathological report and to any other urological evaluation. Each one was asked to rate the tumour as low vs high grade and noninvasive Ta vs noninvasive T1 or muscle invasive. Results were compared with final pathology. Individual appraisal and the majority's opinion were evaluated.

Results

Urologists have correctly predicted tumour stage and grade in 63.5% of cases (222 of 350, average of 32 out of 50 accurate assessments). The final majority assessment was correct in 40 of 50 cases (80%). Sensitivity and specificity of the final results for the diagnosis of T1 or higher were 80% and 88.6%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for Ta low grade were 83.3% and 80%, respectively.

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented attempt to evaluate urologists' ability to assess urothelial bladder cancer stage and grade using endoscopic photographs. Urologists can usually identify stage and grade of urothelial bladder cancer but accuracy increases when multiple senior urologists examine the same photographs and achieve majority consensus. Presenting photographs of urothelial bladder cancer to a team of urologists may lead to an excellent decision regarding type and extent of surgical treatment and substantiate appropriate post-surgical management.
Fertility regulation as identity maintenance: Understanding the social aspects of birth control
Authors: Marston Cicely , Renedo Alicia , Nyaaba Gertrude Nsorma
Published: September 2017

We take a dialogical approach to exploring fertility regulation practices and show how they can maintain or express social identity. We identify three themes in educated Ghanaian women’s accounts of how they navigate conflicting social demands on their identity when trying to regulate fertility: secrecy and silence – hiding contraception use and avoiding talking about it; tolerating uncertainty – such as using unreliable but more socially acceptable contraception; and wanting to be fertile and protecting menses. Family planning programmes that fail to tackle such social-psychological obstacles to regulating fertility will risk reproducing social spaces where women struggle to claim their reproductive rights.
Effects of friction-based fixed bearings on the seismic vulnerability of a high-speed railway continuous bridge
Authors: Wei Biao , Yang Tianhan , Jiang Lizhong , He Xuhui
Published: September 2017

The fixed bearings of high-speed railway continuous bridges were vulnerable during earthquakes, since they transferred most of the seismic force between the superstructure and the piers. A type of friction-based fixed bearing was used and would slide during strong earthquakes. The influence of this sliding friction action on the seismic vulnerability curves of different components in the track-bridge system was analyzed in this article. Results show that the sliding friction action of the fixed bearings can protect other components from severe damage under earthquakes. This phenomenon is more significant when the friction coefficient on the friction-based fixed bearings is reduced. However, it increases the seismic relative displacement of the fixed bearings themselves. Finally, a sufficiently large displacement capacity and an appropriate friction coefficient between 0.2 and 0.3 are almost the best combination for the friction-based fixed bearings, which can effectively protect all components of the track-bridge system, including the track structure, piers, piles, and friction-based fixed bearings themselves.
Fatigue behaviour of cracked steel beams retrofitted with carbon fibre–reinforced polymer laminates
Authors: Yu Qian-Qian , Wu Yu-Fei
Published: September 2017

In recent years, externally bonded carbon fibre–reinforced polymer has been considered an innovative way to strengthen steel structures attributed to its high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent corrosion resistance and fatigue performance. This article presents an experimental and numerical study on the fatigue behaviour of defected steel beams strengthened with carbon fibre–reinforced polymer laminates, with a special focus on the effect of interfacial debonding. Analytical modelling and numerical simulation confirmed that the interfacial debonding had a pronounced effect on carbon fibre–reinforced polymer strain and stress intensity factor at the crack front. After introducing interfacial debonding from experimental findings into the numerical analysis, the fatigue life and crack propagation versus cycle numbers of the specimens compared well with the test results. Based on the current experimental program, specimens with Sikadur 30 were more prone to debonding failure; therefore, Araldite 420 is suggested for strengthening schemes.
Midterm Outcomes From a Pilot Study of Percutaneous Deep Vein Arterialization for the Treatment of No-Option Critical Limb Ischemia
Authors: Kum Steven , Tan Yih Kai , Schreve Michiel A. , Ferraresi Roberto , Varcoe Ramon L. , Schmidt Andrej , Scheinert Dierk , Mustapha Jihad A. , Lim Darryl M. , Ho Derek , Tang Tjun Y. , Alexandrescu Vlad-Adrian , Mutirangura Pramook
Published: September 2017

Purpose: To report the initial clinical experience with percutaneous deep vein arterialization (PDVA) to treat critical limb ischemia (CLI) via the creation of an arteriovenous fistula. Methods: Seven patients (median age 85 years; 5 women) with CLI and no traditional endovascular or surgical revascularization options (no-option CLI) were recruited in a pilot study to determine the safety of PDVA. All patients were diabetic; 4 had Rutherford category 6 ischemia. Six were classified at high risk of amputation based on the Society for Vascular Surgery WIfI (wound, ischemia, and foot infection) classification. The primary safety endpoints were major adverse limb events and major adverse coronary events through 30 days and serious adverse events through 6 months. Secondary objectives included clinical efficacy based on outcome measures including thermal measurement, transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen (TcPO2), clinical improvement at 6 months, and wound healing. Results: The primary safety endpoints were achieved in 100% of patients, with no deaths, above-the-ankle amputations, or major reinterventions at 30 days. The technical success rate was 100%. Two myocardial infarctions occurred within 30 days, each with minor clinical consequences. All patients demonstrated symptomatic improvement with formation of granulation tissue, resolution of rest pain, or both. Complete wound healing was achieved in 4 of 7 patients and 5 of 7 patients at 6 and 12 months, respectively, with a median healing time of 4.6 months (95% confidence interval 84–192). Median postprocedure peak TcPO2 was 61 mm Hg compared to a preprocedure level of 8 mm Hg (p=0.046). At the time of wound healing, 4 of 5 of patients achieved TcPO2 levels of >40 mm Hg. There were 2 major amputations, 1 above the knee after PDVA thrombosis and 1 below the knee for infection. Three patients died of causes unrelated to the procedure or study device at 6, 7, and 8 months, respectively. Limb salvage was 71% at 12 months. Conclusion: PDVA is an innovative approach for treating no-option CLI and represents an alternative option for the “desert foot,” potentially avoiding major amputation. Our results demonstrate its safety and feasibility, with promising early clinical results in this small cohort.
How do non-governmental organizations influence media coverage of conflict? The case of the Syrian conflict, 2011–2014
Authors: Meyer Christoph O. , Sangar Eric , Michaels Eva
Published: September 2017

It is often argued that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have become increasingly visible in media discourses on armed conflict and thus play a growing role in shaping states’ foreign policies. However, there is little investigation of their influence on specific conflict coverage and what types of NGOs are influential, in what way and under what conditions. The authors elaborate a ‘supply and demand’ model of growing or declining NGO influence to theorize these dynamics and take Syria’s civil war from 2011–2014 as a ‘best case’ for testing it. They conducted an interpretative analysis of NGO output and media coverage to investigate the relative visibility of NGOs in the media over time. Further, they examine how different NGOs were referred to during two highly salient phases of the conflict for debates about foreign policy: the first escalation of protests and their repression in 2011 and the use of chemical weapons in 2013. They find evidence of rising NGO visibility and growing reliance on new types of semi-local NGOs for the provision of factual news about the conflict and human rights violations. Yet, large international NGOs such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch remained the most influential in pushing normative frames and advocating a tough stance on the Assad regime. The article discusses the implications of the findings for the theoretical argument and for broader accounts of NGOs influence.
The role of the media in violent conflicts in the digital age: Israeli and Palestinian leaders’ perceptions
Authors: Wolfsfeld Gadi
Published: September 2017

The role of the news media in violent conflicts is a topic that has received a great deal of scholarly attention especially in the field of political communication. A major issue that has emerged in recent years asks about whether the advent of the digital age has led to any significant changes in the role the media play in such confrontations. In this article, the author focuses on two research questions that seem especially important. The first asks: Has the advent of the digital age had any impact on how political leaders view the ability of weaker antagonists to compete politically with the more powerful side in asymmetrical conflicts? The second asks: To what extent do political leaders involved in violent conflicts think that the changes associated with the digital age have led to the media playing a more positive or negative role in attempts at peace and reconciliation. The author tries to provide some initial answers to these questions based on 30 interviews with Israeli and Palestinian political leaders. In answer to the first research question, he did find some convincing evidence that the digital age has improved the ability of weaker challengers to compete with their more powerful antagonists. The spread of camera phones and the inability of the authorities to keep secrets help explain this change. The answer to the second research question is also fairly clear. If the political leaders interviewed are to be believed, the advent of the digital age represents a tremendous boon for spreading hatred and intolerance. Revealingly, this is an area where almost total agreement among both Israeli and Palestinian leaders was found.
Journalism under pressure in conflict zones: A study of journalists and editors in seven countries
Authors: Høiby Marte , Ottosen Rune
Published: September 2017

Through interviews with 100 journalists and editors in seven countries, the authors examine safety as the main challenge for journalists covering war and conflict in both local and international contexts. The article places a particular focus on the situation for Filipino and Norwegian journalists. The underreporting of legal aspects of international conflict, combined with less security, means less presence and more journalistic coverage based on second-hand observation. The article argues that reduced access to conflict hotspots owing to the tactical targeting of journalists might distort the coverage of wars and conflicts, and affect the quality of journalism in future.
Telling NATO’s story of Afghanistan: Gender and the alliance’s digital diplomacy
Authors: Wright Katharine AM
Published: September 2017

NATO’s public diplomacy plays an important role in constituting the alliance’s identity in global politics, yet has remained marginal to many scholarly accounts of the alliance. This article considers NATO’s increasing footprint in digital diplomacy and the role of gendered narratives in shaping it. The central point of analysis is NATO’s ‘story of Afghanistan’, told in the web-documentary Return to Hope, which was released to much acclaim in September 2014 to coincide with the drawdown of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) from Afghanistan. It finds personal narratives given precedence over historical events, key temporal omissions and the silencing of Afghan women. As such, it provides an important critique of the masculinist protection logic underpinning NATO’s efforts, which has served to instrumentalize (Afghan) women and falls short of expectations given the alliance’s commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Facial First Impressions of Partner Preference Traits: Trustworthiness, Status, and Attractiveness
Authors: South Palomares Jennifer K. , Young Andrew W.
Published: September 2017

This research used the minimal exposure paradigm to examine facial first impressions of traits of trustworthiness, status, and attractiveness, considered important in verbal models of partner preferences. Heterosexual participants rated opposite-sex faces comprising either naturalistic images or youthful-looking averaged faces on trustworthiness, status, and attractiveness following 33, 100, and 500 ms masked presentation. The pattern masks were phase scrambled to provide the same overall color composition, brightness, and spatial frequency content as the presented faces. Trustworthiness, status, and attractiveness judgments were all reliable at above-chance levels even at 33 ms presentation, and extra time (100 or 500 ms) only led to modest improvement in the correspondence with an independent set of time-unconstrained judgments. The increasing prevalence of online images and internet-based relationships make these findings timely and important.
A week of pain in the emergency department
Authors: Thornton Hilary Sarah , Reynolds Joseph , Coats Timothy J
Published: September 2017

Background:

Pain is a common complaint in patients attending the emergency department (ED), and historically, it is under-assessed and undertreated. Previous research is heterogeneous and does not well describe pain in EDs over time. Our aim was to describe pain in a UK ED using a sample that included every adult attendance over the course of 1 week.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed every adult attendance (N = 1872) over 1 week to the ED of a large English NHS District General Hospital. We noted the initial pain score and, if the initial score was ≥5, the final recorded pain score. We categorised attendances as ‘illness’ or ‘injury’.

Results:

In all, 62.1% of patients had a pain score recorded, of whom 50.7% had a pain score of zero. Median pain score was 6/10 in patients with pain; 58% had a second score recorded. More patients with illness than injury had a second score recorded. Most patients had an improvement in their pain; however, around one-third had no change or worse pain at the end of their ED stay.

Conclusion:

We have defined the incidence, severity and change in pain in an ED over 1 week. This information will underpin the design of future studies aimed at improving patient care in this important area of emergency medicine practice.
Target range of motion at 3 months after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and its effect on the final outcome
Authors: Tonotsuka Hisahiro , Sugaya Hiroyuki , Takahashi Norimasa , Kawai Nobuaki , Sugiyama Hajime , Marumo Keishi
Published: September 2017

Purpose:

The postoperative protocol after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) is still controversial. Some surgeons recommend slower rehabilitation in order to improve the integrity of the repair, while others prefer early range-of-motion (ROM) exercise to avoid postoperative stiffness. The purpose of this study was to determine target ROM (T-ROM) measurements at 3 months after ARCR that are predictive of eventual full recovery without structural failure.

Methods:

The cases consisted of 374 shoulders in 360 patients who underwent primary ARCR and were followed up for at least 2 years. Forward flexion (FF) and side-lying external rotation (ER) were measured preoperatively at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months after surgery, and the patients were divided into six subgroups according to the values for each type of ROM at 3 months (ROM-3M). In each subgroup, the final ROM at 24 months after surgery was compared to determine the T-ROM. The average ROMs with time and re-tear rate were then compared between the under-T-ROM and over-T-ROM groups.

Results:

The only significant difference in FF was between the 120–129° and 110–119° ROM-3M groups. Therefore, the T-ROM for FF was determined to be 120°. Similarly, the T-ROM for ER was determined to be 20°. Each ROM in the over-T-ROM group was significantly better than that in the under-T-ROM group at all assessments. There was no significant difference in the re-tear rate between the groups.

Conclusion:

To acquire sufficient ROM in 2 years without high re-tear rate, a target FF of 120° and ER of 20° should be achieved within 3 months after surgery.