bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Endoscopic Stent in Management of Postesophagectomy Leaks
Authors: Smith Ellyn A. , Daly Shaun C. , Smith Brian , Hinojosa Marcelo , Nguyen Ninh T.
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Anastomotic leak is a dreaded complication following esophagectomy. Conventional management for leaks includes invasive reoperation and even gastrointestinal diversion.

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine our contemporary outcome of using endoscopic esophageal stenting as primary therapy for management of anastomotic leak following minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE).

Methods

We reviewed data on 11 patients who developed an esophageal leak following 111 MIE between January 2011 and December 2019. Of the 11 anastomotic leaks, 10 patients had an anastomotic disruption and underwent endoscopic esophageal stenting as primary therapy for management of leaks, while 1 patient had an anastomotic disruption complicated by an associated tracheoesophageal fistula that required surgical reoperation and subsequent colonic interposition. Main outcome measures focused on the 10 patients who were managed with endoscopic stenting, including length of hospital stay following leak management, need for thoracotomy or gastrointestinal diversion for leak, stent complications, and leak-associated mortality.

Results

Of the 10 patients who underwent endoscopic esophageal stenting as primary therapy for management of leaks, there were 8 males with a median age of 66 years. The median time to diagnosis of anastomotic leak was 10 days postoperatively. One of the ten patients also underwent percutaneous drain placement, while none of the patients required thoracotomy. Median duration of stent placement was 39 (range, 29-105) days. Median length of stay after stent placement was 10 (range, 4-43) days. The median number of stent exchange was 1 (range, 1-3) stent. Gastrointestinal continuity was maintained in all patients. The 90-day leak-associated mortality was 9.1% (1 of 11 patients).

Conclusions

Endoscopic stenting is an effective primary therapy in the management of postesophagectomy leak and avoids the need for an invasive, reoperative thoracotomy or gastrointestinal diversion procedure.
Monocyte distribution width as a biomarker of sepsis in the intensive care unit: A pilot study
Authors: Agnello Luisa , Sasso Bruna Lo , Giglio Rosaria Vincenza , Bivona Giulia , Gambino Caterina Maria , Cortegiani Andrea , Ciaccio Anna Maria , Vidali Matteo , Ciaccio Marcello
Published: October 2020

Background

Monocyte distribution width has been recently proposed as a sepsis biomarker in the emergency department. The aim of this study was to assess the role of monocyte distribution width as a diagnostic biomarker of sepsis in the intensive care unit.

Methods

In this prospective observational study, we included all consecutive patients admitted to the intensive care unit of the University Hospital “P. Giaccone” of Palermo. Patients were classified into three groups according to Sepsis-3 criteria: (1) patients without sepsis; (2) patients developing sepsis during their hospital stay; (3) patients admitted with sepsis. Monocyte distribution width was measured at admission (groups 1, 2, 3) and daily until the developing of sepsis (group 2) or the end of hospitalization (group 1).

Results

Monocyte distribution width was significantly higher in group 3 than group 1 and group 2 (30.9 [25.6–36.0] vs. 20.3 [18.3–23.6] and 21.4 [19.4–25.2]). Among patients belonging to group 2, monocyte distribution width values, measured at the day when sepsis was clinically diagnosed, were significantly higher than those found at admission: 29.4 (26.7–36.0) vs. 21.4 (19.4–25.2), P = 0.001.

Conclusion

Monocyte distribution width could represent a reliable biomarker of sepsis in the intensive care unit.
A quantitative approach to studying hierarchies of primary institutions in international society: The case of United Nations General Assembly disarmament resolutions, 1989–1998
Authors: Schouenborg Laust , Taeuber Simon F
Published: October 2020

In this article, we aim to contribute to two contemporary debates within the English School. The debate about how to observe primary institutions and the debate concerning hierarchy between primary institutions. Specifically, we analyse references to primary institutions in United Nations General Assembly disarmament resolutions in the decade 1989–1998 and their distribution using descriptive statistics. In this way, the article offers a novel approach to identifying primary institutions empirically, and provides some insight into the hierarchy-question in the sense of documenting the relative numerical presence of references to different primary institutions in a specific issue area and temporal context. With respect to the latter, the key finding is that great power management, diplomacy and international law are by far the most prominent primary institutions in the analysed material. This is an intriguing finding, not least given the importance attached to them by Hedley Bull in his classic work The Anarchical Society: A Study of Order in World Politics. The main contribution of the article is thus to spell out a new approach to how the aforementioned debates might proceed empirically.
The American Meritocracy Myth Stress: Scale Development and Initial Validation
Authors: Garrison Yunkyoung Loh , Rice Alexander , Liu William Ming
Published: October 2020

The purpose of this study is to develop the American Meritocracy Myth Stress Scale (AMMSS), capable of assessing college students’ psychological stress within the context of the pervasive myth of meritocracy. This psychological stress stems from the association between their perceptions of their own hard work and social class mobility. Underpinned by the social class worldview model-revised, American meritocracy myth stress is conceptualized as the psychological stress that individuals experience when disequilibrium exists between the dominant and pervasive meritocracy ideology and their efforts to climb the social ladder through hard work. Three substudies were conducted for exploratory factor analysis (Study 1: n = 887); confirmatory factor analysis, validity, and measurement invariance (Study 2: n = 903); and 2-week test–retest reliability (Study 3: n = 37). The results of these studies provide empirical support for the AMMSS. We discuss implications for practice, advocacy, training, and future research.
An improved hybrid indoor positioning system based on surface tessellation artificial neural network
Authors: Ullah Khan Imran , Ali Tariq , Farid Zahid , Scavino Edgar , Amiruddin Abd Rahman Mohd , Hamdi Mohammed , Qiao Gang
Published: October 2020

In indoor environments, accurate location or positioning becomes an essential requirement, driven by the need for autonomous moving devices, or to identify the position of people in large spaces. Single technology schemes which use WiFi and Bluetooth are affected by fading effects as well as by signal noise, providing inaccuracies in location estimation. Hybrid locating or positioning schemes have been used in indoor situations and scenarios in order to improve the location accuracy. Hence, this paper proposes a hybrid scheme (technique) to implement fingerprint-based indoor positioning or localization, which uses the Received Signal Strength (RSS) information from available Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) access points as well as Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) technologies. Our approach consists of performing a virtual tessellation of the indoor surface, with a set of square tiles encompassing the whole area. The model uses an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach for position estimate, in which related RSS is associated to a 1 m × 1 m tile. The ANN was trained to match the RSS signal strength to the corresponding tile. Experimental results indicate that the average distance error, based on tile identification accuracy, is 0.625 m from tile-to-tile, showing a remarkable improvement compared to previous approaches.
COVID-19: Need for Equitable and Inclusive Pandemic Response Framework
Authors: Mustafa Sabeena , Jayadev Anishia , Madhavan Maya
Published: October 2020

When a new infectious disease emerges as an epidemic or pandemic, strict and appropriate mitigation strategies are critical. Appropriate steps that facilitate defining of cases, carrying out accurate clinical diagnoses, and forming a powerful health surveillance that addresses public health policies and procedures are necessary. Tracking the number of COVID-19 cases over time and flattening the curve is another important element to establish research settings and identify therapeutic components to expedite and develop effective interventions. Addressing the various sections of the society in a philanthropic way is crucial to acquiring the public cooperation that is essential to controlling a disease like COVID-19. In this study, we discuss various strategies and measures adopted by Kerala, an Indian state, to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. Regular and timely updates by government public relations and health departments were used in many of the adopted strategies. The engagement of health information systems, together with the application of decentralized governance and community engagement, has contributed to effective population health management and surveillance of the pandemic.
Strengthening positive social pathways via digital social applications in individuals with social skills deficits: A scoping review
Authors: Salehi Asiyeh , Salehi Elham , Mosadeghi-Nik Mahsa , Sargeant Sally , Fatehi Farhad
Published: October 2020

Background:

Effective digital social capital interventions have great potential to establish trusted social pathways to access supportive services and to enable talking about issues contributing to distress.

Aim:

This review explores the digital social capital interventions used in individuals with social skills deficits, and the best social health outcomes achieved.

Method:

Four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, PsychINFO, and Web of Science) were used with no time limitation, and 33 papers were included.

Results:

A diverse range of digital social programs was used for social capital improvement based on individuals’ characteristics (e.g. age range and illnesses). Programs ranged from digitally-enhanced self-help or self-guided treatment (to enhance the self-efficacy of individuals), to group treatments and/or web-based caregiver support services. They comprised mobile social apps, video blogging, video-communication system/video-conferencing, and online social communication, to more advanced techniques such as virtual reality. All of these modalities were shown to be beneficial for improving the social health of individuals. Interventions targeted two aspects of social capital: (1) cognitive social capital, focusing on enhancing trust and control, self-efficacy on life. Some examples were cognitive behavioural therapy, and increasing the received and more importantly perceived social support. (2) structural social capital, focusing on individuals’ relationships with family/carers, friends, peers to other connections at the macro level, such as health care providers and their community as a whole. The two interconnected aspects of social capital play a role in decreasing fears of being judged by others, general fears in social interactions and interpersonal problems.

Conclusion:

Guided digital social support interventions result in open and flexible access to various resources through supportive social networks, for patients and their family members/carers.
Experimental and numerical study of the behavior of a Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic plate under oblique impact
Authors: Zhikharev MV , Kudryavtsev OA , Pavlovskaya MS
Published: October 2020

Experimental and numerical studies on the effect of oblique impacts on the ballistic properties of GFRP were carried out. Ballistic tests of specimens using a steel sphere with a diameter of 6.35 mm were performed for inclination angles from the normal of 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 degrees. Ballistic curves and ballistic limits for each case were obtained, and a function approximating these results was proposed. The size of the delamination area at different angles was also analyzed. The results showed that the most catastrophic failures cases of impact were impacts with angles of 0°–30°. Computational studies of impact loading during oblique impacts were carried out in LS-DYNA using the mesoscale yarn-level model (MSM). Finally, numerically obtained ballistic limits and damaged areas were compared with experimental ones.
The Effects of Heat Exposure During Intermittent Exercise on Physical and Cognitive Performance Among Team Sport Athletes
Authors: Donnan Kate , Williams Emily L. , Stanger Nicholas
Published: October 2020

This study investigated the effects of heat exposure on physical and cognitive performance during an intermittent exercise protocol so as to reflect the incremental fatigue experienced during team sports. Twelve well-trained male team sport players completed an 80-minute cycling intermittent sprint protocol (CISP), alongside computerized vigilance and congruent (i.e., simple) and incongruent (i.e., complex) Stroop tasks of cognitive functioning, in two counterbalanced temperature conditions; hot (32°C[50%rh]) and control (18°C[50%rh]). Incongruent Stroop accuracy declined over time ( p = .002), specifically in the second ( Mdiff = –3.75, SD = 0.90%, p = .009) and third ( Mdiff = –4.58, SD = 1.22%, p = .019) quarters compared to the first quarter of the CISP; but there were no differences between temperature conditions. Congruent Stroop reaction time (RT) was quicker in the second quarter of exercise in the hot condition ( M = 561.99, SD = 112.93 ms) compared to the control condition ( M=617.80, SD = 139.71 ms; p = .022), but no differences were found for congruent Stroop accuracy nor vigilance measures. Additionally, peak power output was lower during the third quarter of the CISP in the hot condition ( M = 861.31, SD = 105.20 W) compared to the control condition ( M = 900.68, SD = 114.84 W; p < .001). Plasma normetanephrine and metanephrine concentrations increased from pre- to post-CISP ( Mdiff = +616.90, SD = 306.99, p < .001; and Mdiff = +151.23, SD = 130.32, p = .002, respectively), with a marginal interaction suggesting a higher normetanephrine increase from pre- to post-CISP in the hot versus the control condition ( p = .070). Our findings suggest that accuracy for more complex decisions suffered during prolonged high-intensity intermittent exercise, perhaps due to exercise-induced catecholamine increases. Athletes may have also reduced physical effort under increased heat exposure, indicating how cognitive performance may be sustained in physically demanding environments.
Piagetian Tasks and Psychometric Intelligence: Different or Similar Constructs?
Authors: Rindermann Heiner , Laura Ackermann A.
Published: October 2020

Research on cognitive ability is done in different paradigms. In the Piagetian paradigm, cognitive ability focuses on cognitive development along qualitative stages. Interactive real scenarios, “Piagetian tasks”, are constructed for measurement. According to age, tasks differing in complexity are applied in individual measurements. In the psychometric paradigm, the investigation of cognitive ability focuses on individual differences. Intelligence is seen as a quantitative construct with gradual differences between persons and ages. Paper-and-pencil tests with items differing in difficulty are used for IQ measurement of single persons or school classes. However, do those tasks measure two distinct cognitive abilities? Solving tasks in both approaches requires basic (speed, working memory) and complex cognitive abilities (reasoning, understanding). Regarding empirical relationships, we used three Austrian samples (in kindergarten four to six years old N = 40, in primary school six to eight years old N = 40, and nine to ten years old N = 41). They were tested with psychometric tests (Raven CPM or SPM) and Piagetian tasks. In addition, mental speed (ZVT) was measured in the two school samples. The average observed correlation between IQ and Piagetian tasks was r = .51. In factor analyses, the tests loaded on a common factor of general intelligence. Further analyses revealed that mental speed is correlated more strongly with psychometric ( r = .50) than with Piagetian tasks ( r = .39), while Piagetian tasks are more related to parental education indicators (speed: r = .11, Raven: r = .20, Piaget: r = .25).
Racial/Ethnic Differences in Cancers Attributable to Preventable Infectious Agents in Texas, 2015
Authors: Gudenkauf Franciska J. , Thrift Aaron P.
Published: October 2020

Objective

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified 13 infectious agents as carcinogenic or probably carcinogenic to humans. We aimed to estimate the percentage (ie, population-attributable fraction) and number of incident cancer cases in Texas in 2015 that were attributable to oncogenic infections, overall and by race/ethnicity.

Methods

We calculated population-attributable fractions for cancers attributable to human papillomavirus (HPV), Helicobacter pylori, hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infections using prevalence estimates from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey laboratory data and relative risks associated with infection from previous epidemiological studies. The Texas Cancer Registry provided cancer incidence data.

Results

We estimated that 3603 excess cancer cases, or 3.5% of all cancers diagnosed in 2015, among adults aged ≥25 in Texas were attributable to oncogenic infections. Hispanic adults had the highest proportion of cancer cases attributable to infections (5.6%), followed by non-Hispanic Black (5.4%) and non-Hispanic White (2.3%) adults. HPV infection caused the highest proportion of all cancer cases (1.8%) compared with other oncogenic infections (HCV, 0.8%; H pylori, 0.5%; HBV, 0.3%; HHV-8, 0.1%). Hispanic adults had the highest proportions of all cancers caused by HPV infection (2.6%) and H pylori (1.1%), and non-Hispanic Black adults had the highest proportions of all cancers caused by HCV infection (1.7%), HBV infection (0.7%), and HHV-8 (0.3%).

Conclusion

Preventable oncogenic infections contribute to cancer incidence in Texas and may affect racial/ethnic minority groups disproportionately. Infection control and prevention should be stressed as an important component of cancer prevention.
An Urban District’s Struggle to Preserve School Turnaround Change
Authors: Meyers Coby V.
Published: October 2020

Leading school turnaround has been conceptualized as a school-level issue focused on immediate change. There has been little consideration about how district leaders change systems to sustain school turnaround successes. This case study research conducted through the lens of Change Theory explores the leadership struggles of one mid-sized urban district’s effort to build on its successful launch of a school turnaround initiative for a subset of underperforming schools. The results suggest that the same pressures that spur initial action can interfere with sustaining success. The dual issues of systems leadership and a sustainable change process are considered as implications.
Personality and adherence to international agreements: The case of President Donald Trump
Authors: Fitzsimmons Scott
Published: October 2020

Although Donald Trump’s foreign policy behavior is often characterized as erratic and unpredictable, he was remarkably consistent in his hostility toward international agreements. The president withdrew or threatened to withdraw the United States from several agreements and consistently characterized agreements as ‘horrible deals’ that ‘cheat’ his country. This article explores why Trump exhibited such consistent disdain for international agreements. To address this question, it develops propositions that draw a causal link between a leader’s personality traits and their willingness to challenge constraints: a leader with a relatively high belief in their ability to control events is more likely to challenge constraints than a leader with a lower belief in their ability to control events; moreover, a leader with a relatively high level of distrust of others is more likely to challenge constraints than a leader with a lower level of distrust of others. The article then conducts a plausibility test of these propositions in the context of Trump’s decisions to withdraw from agreements in three significant policy areas: trade (the Trans-Pacific Partnership), environmental stewardship (the Paris Agreement on climate change), and nuclear proliferation (the Iran nuclear deal).
Triple A syndrome: a case report
Authors: Manoria Piyush
Published: October 2020

Triple A syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterised by alacrimia, achalasia and adrenal failure. It was first reported by Allgrove in 1978 and 100 cases have been reported worldwide. This case report concerns a 24-year-old woman who was referred for evaluation of dysphagia and was finally diagnosed as such a case. A high degree of suspicion enables all the components of this syndrome to be searched for, as early diagnosis can reduce the morbidity and mortality.
Disturbance-observer-based control for semi-Markovian jump systems with time-varying delay and generally uncertain transition rate
Authors: Xu Tianbo , Gao Xianwen , Qi Wenhai
Published: October 2020

The analysis result of disturbance-observer-based control (DOBC) for semi-Markovian jump systems (S-MJSs) with time-varying delay and generally uncertain transition rate (TR) is given in this paper. At present, there are still some urgent problems needed to be solved for S-MJSs such that conservative of stability, difficult of obtaining of TR in practical system, and the unexpected transient performance is always inevitable, such as larger overshoots and longer settling time. Unlike the existing methods, the proposed method considers the external disturbance, limitation on domain of control signal, uncertain parameters and time-varying delay in the S-MJSs. The piecewise analysis method for time-varying delay systems is extended to DOBC for S-MJSs. First of all, the sufficient condition of stochastic stability based on S-MJSs with more general TR is derived by piecewise Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional. Then, the disturbance observer is designed for estimating the actual disturbance, and the anti-disturbance controller is designed to deal with the control problem of S-MJSs. Furthermore, the problem of actuator saturation is addressed. Finally, two practical example is employed to testify the correctness of the proposed methods.
An Investigation of Tax-Related Corporate Political Activity in China: Evidence From Consumption Bribery
Authors: Tang Tanya Y. H.
Published: October 2020

This article investigates the occurrence and outcomes of corporate tax-related political activity through bribery. Specifically, it examines the extent to which firms bribe government officials through gift-giving, banqueting, and entertaining activities and the extent of payoffs that firms gain from these bribery practices. Using a large hand-collected dataset of Chinese listed firms for the period from 2009 to 2014, I find that firms that spend more on consumption bribery exhibit a significantly lower tax burden. This negative association is mainly driven by small firms, non-state-owned firms, state-owned firms with weak political connections, and firms in competitive industries. Further evidence shows that the tax benefits from bribery are more apparent in more corrupt, less economically developed, and less liberalized regions. Furthermore, the payoffs of tax bribery are mitigated by 45.4% after the implementation of China’s anti-corruption campaign in 2012. These findings have policy implications for governments to optimize investment environments and increase tax revenue by curbing power-for-money deals.
Behavioral Visibility: A new paradigm for organization studies in the age of digitization, digitalization, and datafication
Authors: Leonardi Paul M. , Treem Jeffrey W.
Published: October 2020

The digitization, digitalization, and datafication of work and communication, coupled with social and technical infrastructures that enable connectivity, are making it increasingly easy for the behaviors of people, collectives, and technological devices to see and be seen. Such digital connectivity gives rise to the important phenomenon of behavioral visibility. We argue that studying the antecedents, processes, and consequences of behavioral visibility should be a central concern for scholars of organizing. We attempt to set the cornerstones for the study of behavioral visibility by considering the social and technological contexts that are enabling behavioral visibility, developing the concept of behavioral visibility by defining its various components, considering the conditions through which it is commonly produced, and outlining potential consequences of behavioral visibility in the form of three paradoxes. We conclude with some conjectures about the kinds of research questions, empirical foci, and methodological strategies that scholars will need to embrace in order to understand how behavioral visibility shapes and is shaped by the process of organizing as we catapult, swiftly, into an era where artificial intelligence, learning algorithms, and social tools are changing the way people work.
Job Embeddedness: The Differences Between Registered Nurses and Healthcare Assistants
Authors: Gibbs Zelda , Duke Gloria
Published: October 2020

Retention of registered nurses (RNs) and health care assistants continue to be a challenge in acute care settings. This descriptive, comparative study examined differences of job embeddedness (JE) scores between RNs and health care assistants (HCAs) in acute care facilities. Generational differences for JE scores were also compared. A convenience sample of RNs and HCAs from medical and surgical units at two Texas hospitals completed the surveys. RNs valued community sacrifices significantly higher than HCAs. Total JE scores between baby boomers and millennials were significantly different, while organizational links scores among all three generations showed statistical significantly differences. Organizational fit, organizational sacrifice, and level of education added statistical significance to the prediction of job satisfaction.
I Am/We Are: Exploring the Online Self-Avatar Relationship
Authors: Procter Lesley
Published: October 2020

Research into how online avatars are used has mostly concentrated on the agentic user controlling the passive avatar. With the proliferation, variety, and increasing uptake of online representations now available to individuals, however, we might more productively examine the relationship between what I call the avatar-persona and the user as one in which the avatar-persona also plays a part. Due to the affordances of parasociality and self-presence, a dialectic interaction develops between the user and the avatar as extended and extraordinary self. This dialectic enables the avatar-persona to express a certain degree of influence over the user in some circumstances. My discussion of these dynamics is illustrated from observations made during an extended participant observation in a multi-user virtual environment Second Life.
Prescribing Psychotropics: Perspective From Telepsychiatry Operational Guidelines 2020
Authors: Nirisha P Lakshmi , Malathesh Barikar C , Manjunatha Narayana , Kumar Channaveerachari Naveen , Math Suresh Bada , Kiragasur Rajendra Madegowda
Published: October 2020

As telemedicine gained both importance and momentum following COVID -19 pandemic, Telemedicine Practise Guidelines (TPG) March 2020 was notified by the Central Government of India. Following the above, the Indian Psychiatrists Society, Telemedicine Society of India (TSI) and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (INI), Bangalore came together to address the specific needs of Psychiatrists practicing tele consultations, there by releasing Telepsychiatry Operational Guidelines 2020. This article discusses the guidelines outlines in the above documents with respect to prescribing psychotropics. We have discussed the thought process behind formulation of Telepsychiatry Operational guidelines, the challenges that may arise while following the above guidelines with possible solutions.
Food consumption according to the degree of processing, dietary diversity and socio-demographic factors among pregnant women in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: The Rio Birth Cohort Study of Environmental Exposure and Childhood Development (PIPA project)
Authors: Naspolini Nathalia Ferrazzo , Machado Priscila Pereira , Fróes-Asmus Carmen Ildes Rodrigues , Câmara Volney de M , Moreira Josino Costa , Meyer Armando
Published: October 2020

Background:

Relevant evidence has addressed the negative impact of food processing on health. However, maternal ultra-processed food consumption is poorly investigated.

Aim:

To analyze food consumption according to the degree of food processing, dietary diversity, and associated socio-demographic factors during pregnancy.

Methods:

Cross-sectional data was taken from a birth cohort in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with 142 pregnant women. We assessed diet using a qualitative food frequency questionnaire and classified food items according to the NOVA classification system as non-ultra-processed-foods and ultra-processed-foods. Non-ultra-processed-food and ultra-processed-food scores were calculated, reflecting weekly intake of more than one subgroup. Dietary diversity of the non-ultra-processed-food diet fraction was described according to the Food and Agriculture Organization guidelines. The association between food consumption and socio-demographic factors were investigated using logistic regression models.

Results:

Over 60% of the pregnant women reported consumption of at least three non-ultra-processed-food groups. However, only 25% had adequate dietary diversity. The level of education (Complete high school: odds ratio, 5.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.73–16.65) was associated with regular intake of “meat and eggs.” Among the ultra-processed-food score, 27% of the participants described a weekly consumption of at least two ultra-processed-food subgroups. White women (odds ratio, 2.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–6.63) had a higher chance of reporting “packaged ready meals” consumption.

Conclusions:

This study shows a high weekly consumption of ultra-processed-food subgroups and low dietary diversity of the non-ultra-processed-food fraction of the diet of pregnant women in Brazil. Our results elucidate the influence of socio-demographic characteristics on diet quality during pregnancy.
Impact of a Nordic diet on psychological function in young students
Authors: Abbaszadeh Arefeh , Saharkhiz Mansoore , Khorasanchi Zahra , Karbasi Samira , Askari Masoumeh , Hoseini Zahra Sadat , Ayadilord Malaksima , Mahmoudzadeh Sara , Rezapour Hadis , Enayati Hadis , Ferns Gordon A , Bahrami Afsane
Published: October 2020

Background:

There has been a rapid increase in the prevalence of psychiatric and psychological disease, and this has attracted interest in identifying modifiable lifestyle factors that may affect an individual’s mood. Diet is one potential lifestyle factor that may affect psychological function.

Aim:

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between adherence to the health-promoting Nordic diet (ND) with neuropsychological function in young women.

Methods:

The study comprised 181 female students aged between 18 and 25 years. Psychological function was evaluated using a series of standardized questionnaires, including the Cognitive Ability Questionnaire, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, Epworth Sleep Scale and Quality of Life Questionnaire. A validated food frequency questionnaire, which included 65 types of foods, was used to evaluate the amount of different foods consumed.

Results:

Evaluation of the dietary composition of the participants showed that the rate of adherence to the ND was positively associated with total energy, carbohydrates, protein, fibre, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, folate, phosphorus, vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamins B6 and B12, carotene, whole grain, legumes, cabbage/vegetables, vegetables and fruit ( p<0.05). Linear regression showed cabbage/vegetable consumption was inversely related to scores of stress (β=–0.04; p=0.038) and anxiety (β=–0.02; p=0.049) and directly associated with the quality-of-life score (0.02; p=0.036).

Conclusions:

Adherence to a ND with a high intake of cabbage/vegetables was inversely associated with stress and anxiety scores and directly associated with health-related quality of life.
The Identity Crisis in Language Motivation Research
Authors: Al-Hoorie Ali H. , Hiver Phil , Kim Tae-Young , De Costa Peter I.
Published: October 2020

The 40th anniversary of the Journal of Language and Social Psychology occurs around the corner of another anniversary, the language motivation field reaching 60 years. At this occasion, we pause to reflect on the contribution of language motivation research to language teaching practice. We argue that this contribution has been negligible and put forward two main reasons. The first is related to an identity crisis in the language motivation field, falling at the intersection of applied linguistics, education, and psychology; the second is the marginalization of the role of context. To address these issues, we first present insights from two perspectives—sociocultural theory and complex dynamic systems theory—and then propose three solutions to incorporate these insights: (1) moving from the abstract notion of “motivation” to the more tangible construct of “engagement”, (2) encouraging rigorous transdisciplinary research, and (3) taking advantage of the potential of artificial intelligence to translate research findings into practice.
Comparison of adoptees’ and nonadoptees’ experience of parenthood and mediating role of dyadic coping
Authors: Despax Johanna , Bouteyre Evelyne , Guiller Théo
Published: October 2020

As most adoption studies have focused on adopted children and their vulnerability, with scant research on adult adoptees’ outcomes, the aim of the present study was to compare adult adoptees and nonadoptees on their experiences as parents and to explore more deeply the question of the role among adoptees of the conjugal relationship in the context of parenthood. A total of 268 adoptees matched one to one with 268 nonadoptees responded to several standardized scales (attachment, mental health, resilience, motivations for parenthood, parental stress, dyadic coping, and coparenting). The groups did not differ on the experience of parenthood, thus contradicting most previous studies. They did, however, differ on attachment, mental health and dyadic coping, with adoptees achieving lower scores. Only in the case of adoptees was dyadic coping found to have a mediating role on the relations between psychological characteristics and parental stress. Thanks to our efforts to make our samples as representative as possible, this study sheds new light on adoptees’ experience of parenthood, especially after the birth of their first child. Moreover, it presents adoptees from the perspective of resilience and offers new insights into their functioning as parents. It opens up both theoretical and clinical perspectives.
Identification of English vowels by non-native listeners: Effects of listeners’ experience of the target dialect and talkers’ language background
Authors: Lee Shinsook , Kang Jaekoo , Nam Hosung
Published: October 2020

This study investigates how second language (L2) listeners’ perception is affected by two factors: the listeners’ experience with the target dialect – North American English (NAE) vs. Standard Southern British English (SSBE) – and talkers’ language background: native vs. non-native talkers; i.e. interlanguage speech intelligibility benefit (ISIB) talker effects. Two groups of native-Korean-speaking listeners with different target English dialects – L1-Korean listeners of English as a second language (ESL) in the USA and L1-Korean ESL listeners in the UK – were tested on the identification of 12 English vowels spoken by native and non-native (L1-Korean) talkers of NAE and SSBE. The results show that the L2 listeners’ experience with the target dialect had a significant impact on the accuracy of their identification of the L2 vowels. However, no ISIB-talker effects were observed for the L1-Korean listener groups regardless of the listeners’ differences in experience with the two varieties of English. The study adds to the L2 sound acquisition literature and the ISIB literature by looking into L2 learners’ identification of L2 vowels, taking into account the learners’ differences in experience with two standard varieties of English (NAE and SSBE) and the interaction between the learners’ experience with the two varieties and ISIB-talker effects. It also sheds some light on the issue of adult L2 learners’ ability to learn the vowels of a new target variety.
Who will win the electric vehicle race? The role of place-based assets and policy
Authors: Turner Clara , Di Tommaso Marco R , Pollio Chiara , Chapple Karen
Published: October 2020

Regional economies are shaped by their economic histories and existing endowments. This paper explores the question: how do a region’s economic history and institutional endowments affect its success and trajectory in an emerging industry? Our case, electric vehicle development and production, is an industry which combines more traditional skilled manufacturing with knowledge-driven innovation activities. We present deep qualitative case studies of two regions, focusing on one firm in each. The case of Tesla in the San Francisco Bay Area examines an electric vehicle firm in a region with a strong tech innovation system, while the case of Maserati in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, examines a firm that builds on a regional history of automotive manufacturing. Across cases, we compare regional skill endowments, institutional coordination, and place-based policymaking. We conclude that, as an emerging industry under a new economic paradigm, electric vehicle manufacturing by Tesla and Maserati represents two different conceptions of the industry and consequently two different location strategies. Yet these two strategies remain rooted in regional contexts, owing both their success to successful exploitations of these, and their struggles to their failure to compensate for regional gaps. This presents a clear opportunity for place-based industrial strategy to evolve and intervene.
Testing the Effects of Modality and Narration Style on Patients’ Information Use in a Lung Cancer Treatment Decision Aid
Authors: Yılmaz Nida Gizem , Van Weert Julia C. M. , Peters Ellen , Lissenberg-Witte Birgit I. , Becker Annemarie , Senan Suresh , Dickhoff Chris , Timmermans Daniëlle R. M. , Damman Olga C.
Published: October 2020

Background

Risk information in patient decision aids (PDAs) is often difficult for older patients to process. Providing audiovisual and narrative information may enhance the understanding and use of health-related information. We studied the effects on patients’ information processing and use of audiovisual and narrative information of an early-stage non–small-cell lung cancer treatment decision aid explaining surgery and stereotactic ablative radiotherapy. We further investigated differences between older and younger patients.

Methods

We conducted a 2 (modality: textual v. audiovisual) × 2 (narration style: factual v. narrative) online experiment among cancer patients and survivors ( N = 305; Mage = 62.42, SD = 11.68 y). Age was included as a potential modifier: younger (<65 y) versus older (≥65 y) age. We assessed 1) perceived cognitive load, 2) satisfaction with information, 3) comprehension, 4) information recall, and 5) decisional conflict. Analysis of variance was used for data analysis.

Results

Irrespective of patient age, audiovisual information (compared with textual information) led to lower perceived cognitive load, higher satisfaction with information, and lower decisional conflict (subscale Effective Decision). Narrative information (compared with factual information) led to reduced decisional conflict (subscale Uncertainty) but only in younger patients. Combining audiovisual information with factual information also resulted in lower perceived cognitive load in younger patients as compared with older patients.

Limitations

Patients who actually face the decision, especially older patients, might be more motivated to process our decision-aid information than the present study participants who responded to a hypothetical situation online.

Conclusions

Providing participants with audiovisual information, irrespective of their age, improved their processing and use of information in a decision aid. Narratives did not clearly benefit information processing.
Estimating Costs of an Implementation Intervention
Authors: Wagner Todd H. , Yoon Jean , Jacobs Josephine C. , So Angela , Kilbourne Amy M. , Yu Wei , Goodrich David E.
Published: October 2020

Health care systems frequently have to decide whether to implement interventions designed to reduce gaps in the quality of care. A lack of information on the cost of these interventions is often cited as a barrier to implementation. In this article, we describe methods for estimating the cost of implementing a complex intervention. We review methods related to the direct measurement of labor, supplies and space, information technology, and research costs. We also discuss several issues that affect cost estimates in implementation studies, including factor prices, fidelity, efficiency and scale of production, distribution, and sunk costs. We examine case studies for stroke and depression, where evidence-based treatments exist and yet gaps in the quality of care remain. Understanding the costs for implementing strategies to reduce these gaps and measuring them consistently will better inform decision makers about an intervention’s likely effect on their budget and the expected costs to implement new interventions.
Hybrid conditional planning for robotic applications
Authors: Nouman Ahmed , Patoglu Volkan , Erdem Esra
Published: October 2020

Robots who have partial observability of and incomplete knowledge about their environments may have to consider contingencies while planning, and thus necessitate cognitive abilities beyond classical planning. Moreover, during planning, they need to consider continuous feasibility checks for executability of the plans in the real world. Conditional planning is concerned with reaching goals from an initial state, in the presence of incomplete knowledge and partial observability, by considering all contingencies and by utilizing sensing actions to gather relevant knowledge when needed. A conditional plan is essentially a tree of actions where each branch of the tree represents a possible execution of actuation actions and sensing actions to reach a goal state. Hybrid conditional planning extends conditional planning by integrating feasibility checks into executability conditions of actions. We introduce a parallel offline algorithm, called HCPlan, for computing hybrid conditional plans. HCPlan relies on modeling deterministic effects of actuation actions and non-deterministic effects of sensing actions in the causality-based action language [Formula: see text]. Branches of a hybrid conditional plan are computed in parallel using a SAT solver, where continuous feasibility checks are performed as needed. We develop a comprehensive benchmark suite and introduce new evaluation metrics for hybrid conditional planning. We evaluate HCPlan with extensive experiments in terms of computational efficiency and plan quality. We perform experiments to compare HCPlan with other related conditional planners and approaches to deal with contingencies due to incomplete knowledge. We further demonstrate the applicability and usefulness of HCPlan in service robotics applications, through dynamic simulations and physical implementations.
The cone-beam breast computed tomography characteristics of breast non-mass enhancement lesions
Authors: Kang Wei , Zhong Wuning , Su Danke
Published: October 2020

Background

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBBCT) of the breast is emerging as a way of improving breast cancer diagnostic yield.

Purpose

To find characteristics of non-mass enhancement (NME) lesions on breast CBBCT and to identify the characteristics that distinguish malignant and benign lesions.

Material and Methods

Breast CBBCT images of 84 NME lesions were analyzed. Internal enhancement distribution and patterns, calcification distribution and suspicious morphology, and ΔHU enhancement values were compared between post-contrast and pre-contrast malignant and benign lesions. Univariate analyses were applied to find the strongest indicators of malignancy, and logistic regression analysis was used to develop a fitting equation for the combined diagnostic model.

Results

In the 84 NME lesions, the indicators of malignancy were as follows: segmental enhancement distribution ( P = 0.011, 53.62% sensitivity, 86.67% specificity, 94.87% positive predictive value [PPV], and 28.89% negative predictive value [NPV]), clumped internal enhancement patterns ( P = 0.017, 50.72% sensitivity, 86.67% specificity, 94.59% PPV, and 27.66% NPV), ΔHU ≥ 93.57 Hounsfield units (HU) ( P = 0.004, 66.67% sensitivity, 73.33% specificity, 92.00% PPV, and 32.35% NPV), and NME lesions with calcification ( P = 0.002, 36.23% sensitivity, 20.00% specificity, 82.14% PPV, and 67.57% NPV). The fitting equation for the combined diagnostic model was as follows: Logit (P) = –0.579 +1.318 × enhancement distribution + 1.000 × internal enhancement patterns + 1.539 × ΔHU value + 1.641 ×NME type.

Conclusion

Individual diagnostic criteria based on breast CBBCT characteristics (segmental enhancement distribution, clumped internal enhancement patterns, ΔHU values > 93.57 HU, and NME lesions with calcification) had high specificity and PPV; when combined, they had high sensitivity in predicting malignant NME lesions.
Computed tomography arthrography of the shoulder with tin filter-based spectral shaping at 100 kV and 140 kV
Authors: Choi Yun Seok , Choo Hye Jung , Lee Sun Joo , Kim Dong Wook , Han Ji-yeon , Kim Da Som
Published: October 2020

Background

Tin filter-based spectral shaping has been used for low-dose and ultra-low-dose computed tomography (CT) in several body parts. However, studies of shoulder CT arthrography with spectral shaping are limited.

Purpose

To investigate image quality and radiation dose of shoulder CT arthrography with tin filter-based spectral shaping at 100 kV (Sn 100 kV) and 140 kV (Sn 140 kV) in comparison with the conventional protocol.

Material and Methods

Ninety-nine shoulder CT arthrographies with protocols of Sn 100 kV (n = 32), Sn 140 kV (n = 25), and conventional 120 kV (n = 42) were retrospectively evaluated. Qualitative image quality, CT attenuations of intra-articular contrast mixture and tissues, background noise, contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs), and figures of merit were assessed. Radiation doses were compared.

Results

CT arthrographies with Sn 100 kV and Sn 140 kV yielded approximately 70% and 60% radiation dose reduction, respectively, compared with the conventional 120 kV ( P < 0.001). Qualitative image noise and quantitative background noise of Sn 100 kV and Sn 140 kV were significantly less than those of the conventional protocol. Qualitative image contrast, CT attenuations of intra-articular contrast mixture and tissues, and CNRs for Sn 100 were similar to those of the conventional 120 kV. However, Sn 140 kV showed significantly lower qualitative contrast and CNRs than 120 kV. Sn 100 kV was the most dose efficient among the three protocols.

Conclusion

Shoulder CT arthrography with Sn 100 kV substantially reduced radiation dose and image noise and maintained image contrast, compared with the conventional protocol.