bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Podosiridae, a new family of North Atlantic deep sea amphipod (Crustacea, Amphipoda)
Authors: LOWRY J. K. , MYERS A. A
Published: April 2019

Bellan-Santini (2007) described Podosirus vaderi from a vent community on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the Azores Triple junction zone. At the time she placed it in the family Eusiridae and pointed out similarities to the Podoceridae.The original description of Podosirus vaderi was based on an ovigerous female. Male characteristics are not known, but based on established trends among similar amphipods without apical robust setae on uropods 1 and 2, it is presumed that there is minimal sexual dimorphism. Because the female has the first gnathopod smaller than the second and a well developed male-like second gnathopod, it is probable that the male will have similar gnathopods. Whether calceoli occur in the male is also not known.
Two new species and a new record of Spininola from China (Lepidoptera: Nolidae: Nolinae)
Authors: HU YAN-QING , WANG MIN , HAN HUI-LIN
Published: April 2019

The small genus Spininola was recently erected by László, Ronkay & Witt (2010) with the type species Nola loxoscia Hampson, 1900. They tabulated six species in the genus, S. loxoscia (Hampson, 1900), S. vesiculalis (Eecke, 1926), S. trilinea (Marumo, 1923), S. denticulata (Moore, 1888), S. fuscibasalis (Hampson, 1896) and S. armata László, Ronkay & Witt, 2010 from Thailand. The genus is distributed in eastern Asia, from Nepal and Sri Lanka in the west, to Japan in the north and Sumatra in the south. In our surveys, two new species were found and are described herein, and S. loxoscia (Hampson, 1900) is recorded for the first time from China (Fig. 1).
Systematics and Phylogeny of Leptomorphus Curtis (Diptera: Mycetophilidae)
Authors: BORKENT CHRISTOPHER J. , WHEELER TERRY A.
Published: April 2019

The world fauna of the genus Leptomorphus Curtis, 1831 is revised and a phylogeny of species relationships, based onmorphological characters, is presented. An updated genus diagnosis and description are given. Species descriptions,diagnoses, illustrations of general habitus, wings, male genitalia and distributions are provided for 37 valid species, alongwith a key to adults.Twelve new species are described; L. amorimi Borkent, n. sp., L. brandiae Borkent, n. sp., L. crassipilus Borkent, n.sp., L. eberhardi Borkent, n. sp., and L. waodani Borkent, n. sp., from the Neotropical realm, L. furcatus Borkent, n. sp.,and L. perplexus Borkent, n. sp., from the Nearctic realm, L. mandelai Borkent, n. sp., and L. stigmatus Borkent, n. sp.,from the Afrotropical realm, and L. tabatius Borkent, n. sp., L. tagbanua Borkent, n. sp., and L. titiwangsensis Borkent,n. sp., from the Oriental realm. Type specimens were studied for all but three species (L. ornatus, L. subforcipatus and L.talyshensis). Leptomorphus elegans Matile and L. lepidus Matile are considered junior synonyms of L. gracilis Matile, n.syns., and L. ypsilon Johannsen is a junior synonym of L. hyalinus Coquillett, n. syn. Lectotypes are designated for L.magnificus (Johannsen), L. neivai Edwards, and L. walkeri Curtis and a neotype is selected for L. bifasciatus (Say). Thisstudy brings the total number of extant Leptomorphus species to 45, including eight, unique (based on figures anddescriptions), recently described Oriental and northwestern Australasian species (Papp & Ševčík 2011), for whichmaterial was unavailable for this study. The phylogenetic analysis in this study supports the monophyly ofLeptomorphus. The western Nearctic species, L. perplexus, is the sister group to the remaining species, which fell intofour major monophyletic species groups (L. ornatus Brunetti group, L. grjebinei Matile group, L. walkeri group, L.furcatus group). The monophyletic relationships within each group are also discussed. The clades found in this study do not support the arrangement of species in to the Leptomorphus subgenera recognized by previous classifications.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children With Down Syndrome: Screening and Effect of Guidelines
Authors: Hsieh Adam , Gilad Amir , Wong Kevin , Cohen Michael , Levi Jessica
Published: April 2019

Previous studies have shown low rates of screening for obstructive sleep apnea in children with Down syndrome (DS), a high-prevalence population. Our study investigated the impact of the 2011 American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, which recommends screening for obstructive sleep apnea with polysomnogram by age 4 years. We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients 0 to 18 years of age with DS seen at a medical center between 2006 and 2016. Polysomnogram screening frequency was investigated and compared pre- and post-guideline publication. A total of 136 participants were identified. Thirty-two percent (44/136) of children with DS were referred for polysomnogram, all of whom had symptoms. Although overall referral frequency was unaffected, completion frequency by age 18 years improved after publication (30% [21/69] vs 19% [13/67]; P < .05). Notably, polysomnogram completion frequency by age 4 years improved after guidelines publication compared with prior (25% [17/69] vs 0% [0/67]; P < .0001).
A Look Back: Fair financing of public schools, as seen by Kappan authors
Authors: Preston Teresa
Published: April 2019

Questions about how best to fund public schools have concerned authors in Phi Delta Kappan for decades. In this column, Teresa Preston reviews how Kappan authors have addressed school funding formulas that rely on property taxes and court cases related to these formulas. Although authors tended to agree that basing school funding on local taxes was inequitable, not all of them held the same views on the legal arguments against such formulas. As cases moved through the courts, states reacted with new funding systems, relying more on state funding and allocating funds according to student need. Any new approach to funding, whether at the local, state, or federal level, will require considerable debate.
Leading with a commitment to equity
Authors: Meyers Coby V. , Goree Lamar , Burton Keith
Published: April 2019

To fulfill educational promises such as “every student succeeds,” district leaders must embrace an agenda committed to equitable opportunities for students. Doing so requires breaking from managerial norms to identify new ways forward that prioritize historically low-performing schools. Coby Meyers, Lamar Goree, and Keith Burton distill research results from a case study of a team of urban district leaders who ignited change in a subset of their schools that have traditionally been low performing. They highlight how a system-wide shift to equitable opportunities led the district to create new structures, prioritize talent and skillsets, change cultures, and provide essential supports for those schools.
Washington View: Money, power, and education
Authors: Ferguson Maria
Published: April 2019

Three news stories from spring 2019 put the spotlight on the interaction between money, power, and political influence in education. The Varsity Blues scandal, in which 50 people were charged with using bribes, false test scores, and other shady methods to influence college admission decisions, highlights not just the pernicious influence on money in higher education but also the false notion that certain schools are so special the mere act of attending can set its students up for a happy and successful life. President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2020 budget preserved funding for popular programs but cut programs for teacher professional development and federal student aid for higher education. And new research by Frederick Hess and Jay Greene reveals that the education reform and research movements are populated by a large proportion of supporters of Democratic candidates.
Self-Esteem and Empathy in Sighted and Visually Impaired Preadolescents
Authors: Griffin-Shirley Nora , Nes Sandra L.
Published: April 2019

This article reports on a study of self-esteem and empathy among 71 students with visual impairments and 88 sighted students. No significant difference was found between the two groups of students in their levels of self-esteem, empathy toward others, and bonding with pets.
Multiculturalism and Students with Visual Impairments in New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Gallimore Desirée P. M.
Published: April 2019

This study found that a large number of students with visual impairments in public and private schools in New South Wales come from culturally diverse backgrounds, that teacher training does not incorporate multicultural perspectives, and that instructors and itinerant vision teachers lack knowledge and skills to teach from a multicultural perspective. Recommendations are provided to guide the inclusion of multicultural perspectives in teacher preparation programs and teachers’ practices.
Applying Infant Massage Practices: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Lappin Grace , Kretschmer Robert E.
Published: April 2019

This study explored the dynamic interaction between a mother and her 11-month-old visually impaired infant before and after the mother was taught infant massage. After the mother learned infant massage, she had more appropriate physical contact with her infant, engaged with him within his field of vision, directly vocalized to him, and had a greater ability to read his cues; the infant's interactions were reciprocal and reflected more-secure attachment, and the infant demonstrated beginning awareness of self and space.
Materials Testing in Long Cane Design: Sensitivity, Flexibility, and Transmission of Vibration
Authors: Rodgers Mark D. , Emerson Robert Wall
Published: April 2019

Different materials that are used in manufacturing long cane shafts were assessed for their ability to transmit vibration and their sensitivity to tactile information, flexibility, and durability. It was found that the less flexible a cane shaft is, the better it transmits vibrations that are useful for discriminating surface textures and that shafts with less weight transmit energy at higher natural frequencies. A combination of decreased flexibility and decreased weight in a cane appears to optimize the cane's usefulness in discriminating the characteristics of surfaces.
Estimating Time-to-Collision with Retinitis Pigmentosa
Authors: Jones Tim
Published: April 2019

This article reports on the ability of observers who are sighted and those with low vision to make time-to-collision (TTC) estimations using video. The TTC estimations made by the observers with low vision were comparable to those made by the sighted observers, and both groups made underestimation errors that were similar to those that were previously reported in the literature.
Functional Outcomes and Consumer Satisfaction in the Independent Living Program for Older Individuals who are Blind
Authors: Moore J. Elton , Steinman Bernard A. , Giesen J. Martin , Frank John J.
Published: April 2019

This study of a national sample of elders served by the Independent Living Program for Older Individuals Who Are Blind found that, overall, they were highly satisfied with the quality and timeliness of services and help in achieving independent living goals. A slight improvement was found in their perceptions of functional outcomes from 1999 to 2004.
Differences in Social Support among Employed and Unemployed Adults who are Visually Impaired
Authors: Cimarolli Verena R. , Wang Shu-wen
Published: April 2019

This study of the differences in social support received by 97 employed and unemployed adults who were visually impaired found that the employed adults reported more positive and less negative social support than did the unemployed adults and had fewer anxiety symptoms and higher life satisfaction.
Learning and Using Print and Braille: A Study of Dual-media Learners, Part 1
Authors: Lusk Kelly E. , Corn Anne L.
Published: April 2019

This is the first of a two-part report of a study on the instruction of children who were learning or using braille and print simultaneously (dual media). It explores the demographic characteristics of teachers and students, aspects of the decision-making process for providing instruction in dual media, and attitudes of students and parents toward learning dual media.
Double Jeopardy: The Effects of Comorbid Conditions among Older People with Vision Loss
Authors: Crews John E. , Jones Gwyn C. , Kim Julie H.
Published: April 2019

This retrospective study used national survey data to examine multiple effects of nine comorbid conditions—breathing problems, depression risk, diabetes, heart problems, hearing impairment, hypertension, joint problems, low back pain, and stroke—on physical functioning, participation, and health status among older adults with visual impairments. Bivariate and multivariate procedures were used to compare older adults who had neither visual impairment nor these conditions with adults of similar age who had one of the nine conditions only, visual impairment only, or both visual impairment and the condition. Findings indicate that older adults with visual impairment frequently experience comorbid conditions, and that these conditions are associated with difficulties in walking and climbing steps, shopping, and socializing, and with significantly more self-reports of declining health. Results suggest that interventions by health care and mental health providers, as well as enhanced rehabilitation services, have the potential to reduce or prevent the deleterious effects of comorbid conditions.
Control in belief space with temporal logic specifications using vision-based localization
Authors: Leahy Kevin , Cristofalo Eric , Vasile Cristian-Ioan , Jones Austin , Montijano Eduardo , Schwager Mac , Belta Calin
Published: April 2019

We present a solution for operating a vehicle without global positioning infrastructure while satisfying constraints on its temporal behavior, and on the uncertainty of its position estimate. The proposed solution is an end-to-end framework for mapping an unknown environment using aerial vehicles, synthesizing a control policy for a ground vehicle in that environment, and using a quadrotor to localize the ground vehicle within the map while it executes its control policy. This vision-based localization is noisy, necessitating planning in the belief space of the ground robot. The ground robot’s mission is given using a language called Gaussian Distribution Temporal Logic (GDTL), an extension of Boolean logic that incorporates temporal evolution and noise mitigation directly into the task specifications. We use a sampling-based algorithm to generate a transition system in the belief space and use local feedback controllers to break the curse of history associated with belief space planning. To localize the vehicle, we build a high-resolution map of the environment by flying a team of aerial vehicles in formation with sensor information provided by their onboard cameras. The control policy for the ground robot is synthesized under temporal and uncertainty constraints given the semantically labeled map. Then the ground robot can execute the control policy given pose estimates from a dedicated aerial robot that tracks and localizes the ground robot. The proposed method is validated using two quadrotors to build a map, followed by a two-wheeled ground robot and a quadrotor with a camera for ten successful experimental trials.
Comparison of conventional, diffusion, and perfusion MRI between infratentorial ganglioglioma and pilocytic astrocytoma
Authors: She De-jun , Lu Yi-ping , Xiong Ji , Cao Dai-rong , Geng Dao-ying , Yin Bo
Published: April 2019

Background

The differentiation of infratentorial ganglioglioma and pilocytic astrocytoma may be therapeutically relevant, which is sometimes challenging to both pathologists and neuroradiologists.

Purpose

To evaluate the conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced perfusion weighted imaging (DSC-PWI) features of infratentorial ganglioglioma compared with pilocytic astrocytoma.

Material and Methods

This retrospective study enrolled 12 patients with infratentorial ganglioglioma and 61 patients with pilocytic astrocytoma who underwent MRI before surgery. DSC-PWI was performed in 20 patients (4 gangliogliomas, 16 pilocytic astrocytoma). Demographics, conventional imaging characteristics (tumor location, margin, cystic change, enhancement, peritumoral edema, and ipsilateral cerebellar atrophy), rADCmin, and rCBVmax ratio were compared. The optimum threshold, sensitivity, and specificity for rADCmin and rCBVmax ratios were determined.

Results

Infratentorial ganglioglioma appeared similar to pilocytic astrocytoma but was more likely to have an ill-defined margin ( P = 0.035), ipsilateral cerebellar atrophy ( P < 0.001), lower rADCmin ratio (1.24 ± 0.27 vs. 2.04 ± 0.46, P < 0.001), and higher rCBVmax ratio (3.05 ± 1.12 vs. 1.64 ± 0.39; P = 0.008). The threshold values ≤1.66 for rADCmin ratio provide sensitivity and specificity of 91.67% and 77.05%, respectively, for discriminating ganglioglioma from pilocytic astrocytoma. The optimal threshold value for rCBVmax ratio was >1.64.

Conclusion

Conventional MRI, DWI, and DSC-PWI can help to differentiate infratentorial ganglioglioma from pilocytic astrocytoma. DWI offers optimal sensitivity.
A Photovoice study of user experiences of an occupational therapy department within an acute inpatient mental health setting
Authors: Birken Mary , Bryant Wendy
Published: April 2019

Introduction

People admitted to acute mental health wards benefit from access to activities, but occupational therapy departments that are separate to wards have not been investigated from the user perspective. This research aimed to investigate how an occupational therapy department with specific facilities is experienced by service users in an outer London Borough acute mental health unit.

Method

Photovoice, a participatory visual method, was used. Over 10 weekly sessions, five service user participants used photography to answer the research question. A final set of images with corresponding statements outlining research themes was agreed. Findings: The participants experienced the occupational therapy department as a distinct therapeutic place where they could practise skills, try out choices and manage themselves, while engaged in relevant activities for their personal recovery. The most important aspect was the staff approach to enabling the service users to engage with the department resources.

Conclusion

Multiple reasons for users to engage with opportunities within the occupational therapy department were identified, revealing unique insights into the experiences of service users, facilitated by the participatory approach and visual method. Further research could develop ways of maximising occupationally and environmentally focused strategies used by staff to enhance services.
Developing an Aerial-Image-Based Approach for Creating Digital Sidewalk Inventories
Authors: Luo Ji , Wu Guoyuan , Wei Zhensong , Boriboonsomsin Kanok , Barth Matthew
Published: April 2019

To support active mobility, extensive work has been focused on planning, maintaining, and enhancing infrastructure, such as sidewalks. A significant amount of these efforts has to go on the setup and maintenance of sidewalk inventory on a certain geographic scale (e.g., citywide, statewide). To address the stated problem, this paper proposes the development of an aerial-image-based approach that can 1) extract the features of sidewalks based on digital vehicle road network; 2) overlay the initial sidewalk features with aerial imagery and extract aerial images around the sidewalk area; 3) apply a machine learning algorithm to classify sidewalk images into two major categories, that is, concrete surface present or sidewalks missing; and 4) construct a connected sidewalk network in a time-efficient and cost-effective manner. A deep convolutional neural network is applied to classify the extracted sidewalk images. The learning algorithm gives 97.22% total predication rate for the test set and 92.6% total predication rate in the blind test. The proposed method takes full advantage of available data sources and builds on top of the existing roadway network to digitize sidewalks.
Does One Bicycle Facility Type Fit All? Evaluating the Stated Usage of Different Types of Bicycle Facilities among Cyclists in Quebec City, Canada
Authors: Veillette Marie-Pier , Grisé Emily , El-Geneidy Ahmed
Published: April 2019

For cities wishing to foster a strong culture of cycling, developing a network of safe and efficient bicycle infrastructure is paramount, yet not a straightforward task. Once transport professionals have selected the optimal location for a new bicycle facility, determining the optimal facility type is imperative to ensure that the new infrastructure encourages cycling trips and increases the safety of cyclists. The present study presents a nuanced approach to evaluating cyclists’ usage of various types of bicycle facilities. To achieve this goal, we employed survey data of cyclists in Quebec City, Canada, to study how many cyclists reported using a particular bicycle facility in the survey against their reasonable access to those reported facilities. To account for different preferences, behavior, and motivations among cyclists, we segmented our study sample into six types of cyclist. Finally, regression modeling was employed to predict the stated usage of three facility types present in the study area (recreational path, bi-directional protected lane, and painted lane), while controlling for access to this path, cyclist type, and personal and neighborhood characteristics. Results indicate that if a cyclist has access to each facility type on their commute, they are most likely to use a recreational path on their commute, followed by a painted bicycle lane. Respondents with access to a bi-directional lane are no more likely to report using this facility than respondents without access. Overall, this study is intended to encourage a dialog between cyclists and transport practitioners to uncover the factors contributing to effective bicycle infrastructure.
Midodrine as an Adjuvant to Intravenous Vasopressor Agents in Adults With Resolving Shock: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hammond Drayton A. , Smith Melanie N. , Peksa Gary D. , Trivedi Abhaya P. , Balk Robert A. , Menich Bryan E.
Published: April 2019

Purpose:

To evaluate the effects of midodrine in addition to intravenous vasopressor therapy on outcomes in adults recovering from shock.

Materials and Methods:

PubMed, Scopus, Clinicaltrials.gov, and published abstracts were searched from inception to November 2018 for studies comparing outcomes in shock after midodrine initiation versus no midodrine.

Results:

Three studies with 2533 patients were included. Patients in whom midodrine was added to intravenous vasopressor therapy compared to intravenous vasopressor therapy alone experienced similar intensive care unit (ICU; mean difference [MD]: 1.38 days, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −3.48 to 6.23, I2 = 93%) and hospital lengths of stay (MD: 4.37 days, 95% CI: −3.45 to 12.19, I2 = 93%) and intravenous vasopressor duration after midodrine initiation (MD: 7.28 days, 95% CI: −0.86 to 15.41, I2 = 97%). Mortality was similar between groups (odds ratio: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.44-1.27, I2 = 65%). Qualitative assessment of reporting biases revealed minimal location bias, moderate selective outcome reporting bias, no selective analysis reporting bias, and no conflict of interest bias.

Conclusions:

Midodrine had no effect on ICU or hospital length of stay. These results were highly susceptible to the study heterogeneity and availability. Future investigation into standardized initiation of midodrine at an adequate dosage with an expedited titration strategy is needed in order to assess the utility of this strategy in shock management.
TiO2 and zeolite nanopowder enhanced mechanical properties of hybrid polymer composites
Authors: Haque M Merajul , Hasan Mahbub
Published: April 2019

Manufacturing hybrid composites using polyethylene (PE) matrix is the main focus of this present research. Physico-mechanical testing of betel nut and glass fiber-reinforced hybrid composites was subsequently performed. Random orientation and short fiber-reinforced composite was manufactured using a hot press machine for 80% PE-20% fiber at a ratio of betel nut and glass fiber 1:3, found from previous research. Therefore, the effect of nanofiller on that ratio was mainly explored in this research. As a result, more samples were fabricated by the addition of titanium oxide and zeolite nanopowder as a nanofiller for this fiber ratio of betel nut and glass 1:3 by keeping the fiber short with random orientation. The fabricated composites were characterized based on mechanical testing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis (FTIR). FTIR analysis ensured the presence of nanopowder and –OH group in the respective composites. Therefore, the addition of titanium oxide nanopowder enhanced all mechanical properties of the composites, except % elongation at break. SEM analysis revealed better interfacial bonding and uniform dispersion of nanofiller in the PE matrix. Composites containing betel nut and glass at a ratio of 1:3 with titanium oxide nanopowder would provide the optimum set of mechanical properties among all fabricated hybrid composites.
Is Nothing Sacred? Religion, Sex, and Reproductive Strategies
Authors: Moon Jordan W. , Krems Jaimie Arona , Cohen Adam B. , Kenrick Douglas T.
Published: April 2019

Religion has often been conceptualized as a collection of beliefs, practices, and proscriptions that lift people’s thoughts and behaviors out of the metaphorical gutter of sex and selfishness toward lives full of meaning, contemplation, and community service. But religious beliefs and behaviors may serve selfish, sexual motivations in ways that are not always obvious or consciously intended. We review two lines of research illustrating nonobvious links between the mundane and the religious. First, contrary to long-held assumptions that religious upbringing causes sexually restrictive attitudes and behaviors, several large data sets now suggest a reverse causal arrow—people’s preferred mating strategies determining their attraction toward, or repulsion from, religion. Second, other recent findings suggest that distrust of nonreligious individuals is almost completely erased by knowledge that they are following a restricted monogamous lifestyle. Thus, reproductive strategies often underlie apparently sacred concerns. We close with a consideration of ways in which reproductive interests might underlie a broad range of benefits associated with religious affiliation.
A review of physical modalities and the potential to expand the treatment of patients with traumatic brain injury
Authors: Berger Phyllis
Published: April 2019

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and hemiplegia often involve alterations in cortical function that are often widespread and may not be confined to the peri-infarct regions. Rehabilitation of these injuries may therefore require extensive and innovative physical modalities and exercise activities that enhance mobility. Disuse in limbs can occur in any brain injury derived from different etiologies and advances in rehabilitation indicate that neuromuscular stimulation of both the nerve supply and muscle groups involved impacts plasticity and prepares the limbs for stronger muscle responses during functional activities. Combined therapies are apparently more productive than monotherapies and this may include electroacupuncture and functional electrical stimulation to expedite recovery. The combination of mixed physiotherapeutic interventions also encourages biokinetics, hydrotherapy and robotic rehabilitation over a prolonged period to enable the patient to achieve functional goals. Recovery may not be achieved within a period of 6 months post injury as has previously been accepted and may even require lifelong participation.
Knowledge development, technology and questions of nursing ethics
Authors: Peirce Anne Griswold , Elie Suzanne , George Annie , Gold Mariya , O’Hara Kim , Rose-Facey Wendella
Published: April 2019

This article explores emerging ethical questions that result from knowledge development in a complex, technological age. Nursing practice is at a critical ideological and ethical precipice where decision-making is enhanced and burdened by new ways of knowing that include artificial intelligence, algorithms, Big Data, genetics and genomics, neuroscience, and technological innovation. On the positive side is the new understanding provided by large data sets; the quick and efficient reduction of data into useable pieces; the replacement of redundant human tasks by machines, error reduction, pattern recognition, and so forth. However, these innovations require skepticism and critique from a profession whose mission is to care for and protect patients. The promise of technology and the new biological sciences to radically and positively transform healthcare may seem compelling when couched in terms of safety, efficiency, and effectiveness but their role in the provision of ethical nursing care remains uncertain. Given the profound moral and clinical implications of how today’s knowledge is developed and utilized, it is time to reconsider the relationship between ethics and knowledge development in this new uncharted area.
An Empirical Analysis of Forecast Performance of the GDP Growth in India
Authors: Gupta Monika , Minai Mohammad Haris
Published: April 2019

This article evaluates the accuracy of a forecast based on the properties of the forecast error. To measure how close the predictions of GDP growth are to the actual outcome in India, we have calculated three measures of forecast accuracy: mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE) and Theil’s U statistic. To evaluate the performance of the forecasts, we have compared them with naive forecast and common rules of thumb, using moving averages (MAs) as rules of thumb. The results are inconclusive regarding biasedness and also inefficient. Further, the forecasts have a high degree of correlation among themselves. The findings of forecast errors suggest that the performance of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) forecasts is favourable compared to other organizations, as well as with respect to the general international standard.
Exploring Active Participation in Virtual Communities and the Role of Community Benefits: An Empirical Study of University Students in India
Authors: Vohra Anupama , Bhardwaj Neha
Published: April 2019

User-generated content (UGC) forms an indispensable part of virtual community (VC) based on marketing. It not only makes the community information-rich, but is also instrumental in generating more interactions on the community platform, involving more number of members, both actively and passively. With this backdrop, the present study aims to explore active participation (AP) of members in a VC, which leads to the creation of UGC for the community. Social media (SM) use being context dependent, the main objective of this article is to study the role of VC benefits in inducing AP among users in the Indian context. The mediating role of member’s satisfaction with the community in the above relationship is also explored. The proposed model is tested on a convenience sample of 170 SM users using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results indicate that of the three benefit categories, selected, social and hedonic benefits, play an important role in inducing AP among community members. A bootstrap analysis is performed to check for mediation, wherein satisfaction is found to partially mediate the relationship between social benefits and AP, and indirect mediation is established between hedonic benefits and AP. The study offers useful insights to community managers, so as to strategically design their community content creating satisfied users and inducing AP.
Evaluation of prognostic value of MEDS, MEWS, and CURB-65 criteria and sepsis I and sepsis III criteria in patients with community-acquired infection in emergency department
Authors: Beğenen Maruf , Durak Vahide Aslihan , Akalın Halis , Armağan Erol
Published: April 2019

Background:

Early and effective treatment of patients with sepsis requires early recognition in emergency department and understanding the severity of the disease. Many studies have been conducted for this purpose, and many of scoring systems have been developed that provide early recognition of these patients and show their severity.

Objectives:

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the scoring systems used to determine the mortality of patients with infections admitted in emergency department.

Methods:

In all, 400 patients who admitted to Uludağ University Hospital Emergency Department were prospectively included in this study. In addition to Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome score, Quick SOFA score, Mortality in Emergency Department Sepsis score, Modified Early Warning Score, and Charlson Comorbidity Index score in all patients, CURB-65 score was calculated in the patients diagnosed with pneumonia. It has been aimed to determine the power of these scores’ predictive mortality rates and their superiority to each other.

Results:

It was found that Mortality in Emergency Department Sepsis score and Quick SOFA score could be used with similar efficacy (respectively p = 0.761 and p = 0.073) in determining early mortality in emergency department (5th and 14th days) and that MEDS score was more effective (p < 0.001) in predicting the 28th-day mortality. While these recommendations were valid in patients diagnosed with pneumonia, it was determined that CURB-65 score could also be used to estimate 5th-, 14th-, and 28th-day mortalities (respectively, for the 5th day, p = 0.894 and p = 0.256; for the 14th day, p = 0.425 and p = 0.098; and for the 28th day, p = 0.095 and p = 0.158). The power of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome score, previously used to identify sepsis, in predicting mortality was detected to be lower.

Conclusion:

Mortality in Emergency Department Sepsis score and Quick SOFA score could be used with similar efficacy in determining early mortality in emergency department. However, if you want to predict 28th-day mortality rate, it can be better to use Mortality in Emergency Department Sepsis score or CURB-65 (in patients diagnosed with pneumonia).
Is Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Evidence-Based? An Update 10 Years Later
Authors: Kim Johnny , Jordan Sara Smock , Franklin Cynthia , Froerer Adam
Published: April 2019

Nearly ten years ago, Families in Society published an article (Kim, Smock, Trepper, McCollum, & Franklin, 2010) that discussed the empirical status of solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) and its progress toward being accepted as an evidence-based intervention in the United States. In the last decade, new growth of experimental design studies using SFBT with diverse populations has occurred. The current article provides an update on the evidence-base of SFBT, showing favorable results on emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal issues. Resources for practitioners on SFBT training are also included.
Pain Processing in Psychiatric Conditions: A Systematic Review
Authors: Vaughan Sarah , Failla Michelle D. , Poole Helen M. , Forshaw Mark J. , McGlone Francis , Cascio Carissa J. , Moore David J.
Published: April 2019

Pain is a universal, multidimensional experience with sensory, emotional, cognitive, and social components, which is fundamental to our environmental learning when functioning typically. Understanding pain processing in psychiatric conditions could provide unique insight into the underlying pathophysiology or psychiatric disease, especially given the psychobiological overlap with pain processing pathways. Studying pain in psychiatric conditions is likely to provide important insights, yet, there is a limited understanding beyond the work in depression and anxiety. This is a missed opportunity to describe psychiatric conditions in terms of neurobiological alterations. To examine the research into the pain experiences of these groups and the extent to which a-typicality is present, a systematic review was conducted. An electronic search strategy was developed and conducted in several databases. The current systematic review included 46 studies covering five Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5) disorders: autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, personality disorder, and eating disorders, confirming tentative evidence of altered pain and touch processing. Specifically, hyposensitivity is reported in schizophrenia, personality disorder and eating disorder, hypersensitivity in ADHD, and mixed results for autism. Review of the research highlights a degree of methodological inconsistency in the utilization of comprehensive protocols, the lack of which fails to allow us to understand whether a-typicality is systemic or modality specific.
Semiquantitative analysis of virtual histology derived from intravascular ultrasound images at vascular access stenosis
Authors: Sato Tetsuhiko , Otsuka Yasuhiro , Kikkawa Yamato , Iwasaki Yoshiko , Fukagawa Masafumi
Published: April 2019

Vascular access failure, such as recurrent stenosis and thrombosis, is a major concern in patients with end-stage kidney disease. Neointimal hyperplasia development at the anastomosis site of outflow vessels is a primal cause for recurrent vascular access failure. We previously shed some lights into a role of vitamin D, which exerts a protective effect against neointimal hyperplasia formation. Virtual histology, derived from intravascular ultrasound technology, provides novel insights into plaque composition analysis in atherosclerotic diseases. However, there is so far a lack of evidence on the relation between virtual histology and pathophysiological findings. To elucidate this missing link, we comprehensively reviewed 10 chronic hemodialysis patients who underwent repeated intravascular ultrasound–guided balloon angioplasty. Their age, dialysis vintage, and follow-up period were 75.0 ± 4.24, 20.5 ± 2.12, and 11.5 ± 0.71 (mean ± standard deviation) years, respectively. Pathological cross-sectional analyses were performed using specimens from vascular access surgeries during the follow-up period. Interestingly, positive relation is found between virtual histology–constructed fibrous tissue and pathological neointimal hyperplasia. Strikingly, immunohistological analysis revealed that vitamin D receptor–positive myofibroblasts were abundantly distributed in the equivalent area to virtual histology fibrous tissue. Our 10-year follow-up data of resistant vascular access stenosis indicates strong correlation between vitamin D receptor–rich neointimal vessel hypertrophy and intravascular ultrasound–assisted virtual histological analysis. Intravascular ultrasound technology is one of the minimally invasive diagnostic tools to provide histologically relevant tissue structure information and help determine target vessel stenosis on vascular access.
Integration of Hepatitis C Treatment in a Primary care Federally Qualified Health Center; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2015-2017
Authors: Bartholomew Tyler S , Grosgebauer Kaitlin , Huynh Katherine , Cos Travis
Published: April 2019

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a pressing public health issue. Identification of long term infection in primary care settings and community health centers can facilitate patients’ access to appropriate care. Given the increase in HCV prevalence in the United States, improving the HCV care continuum and expanding medication access to disproportionately affected populations can help reduce disease burden, health care system costs, and transmission. Innovative treatment programs developed in the primary care setting are needed to deliver quality care to meet the demand of those engaging in treatment. This article describes an HCV treatment program developed within a primary care federally qualified health center (FQHC) using physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) to address the high number of HCV positive patients identified at the clinic. An interdisciplinary care team was established to optimize patient experience around HCV care and treatment, using on-site primary care behavioral health consultants, an HCV treatment coordinator, and a 340B contracted specialty pharmacy. From January 2015 to April 2017, the Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) Care Clinic medical providers referred 189 patients for HCV treatment. Of those referred, 102 patients successfully obtained a sustained virologic response (SVR), representing a 53.7% success rate from referral to cure. This treatment program successfully integrated HCV treatment in a patient population heavily affected by substance use and mental illness. Support and adoption of similar programs in primary care community health centers testing for HCV can help meet the clinical/behavioral needs of these marginalized populations.
A Case Report of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Under Peritoneal Dialysis With Cyst Infection and Culture-Positive Peritoneal Fluid
Authors: Yasuda Itaru , Hasegawa Kazuhiro , Tokuyama Hirobumi , Washida Naoki , Shinozuka Keisuke , Yasuda Marie , Ryuzaki Masaki , Urai Hidenori , Wakino Shu , Itoh Hiroshi
Published: April 2019

Background:

Cyst infection is a complication sometimes seen in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and often shows through a positive blood culture. However, there have been no reports of ADPKD patients whose cyst infection propagate to peritoneal fluid leading to positive peritoneal fluid culture.

Case presentation:

A 74-year-old Japanese man with ADPKD under peritoneal dialysis (PD) was presented with left flank pain, fever, and chills at our hospital. He did not show any symptoms or signs suggestive of peritonitis. There were no elevated cell counts or polymorphonuclear leucocytes in his PD fluid. There were some complicated cysts found in computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging examinations. We clinically diagnosed him as having a renal cyst infection rather than PD-related peritonitis. We initiated treatment by administering ceftriaxone with an immediate favorable response. As the possibility of accompanying prostatitis still remained, we switched to intravenous levofloxacin on the second day. On the 10th day, Helicobacter cinaedi was detected in 2 sets of blood culture as well as in PD fluid. We switched back to ceftriaxone and this treatment was entirely successful.

Conclusions:

This is the first report of H cinaedi cyst infection which propagates to peritoneal fluid in a patient with ADPKD.
Kings, jesters, or kingmakers? European populist parties as a microcosm for celebrity politics
Authors: Giglioli Matteo , Baldini Gianfranco
Published: April 2019

The article explores a key aspect in the development of contemporary European populist parties: the celebrity dynamics of their leadership. It presents a systematic comparison of leaders from the main populist parties, exploring the correlation between leadership visibility, fame, and the ideological and organisational characteristics of parties. Furthermore, it investigates the subset of leaders whose public notoriety predates their political involvement, with a view to establishing how they balance the demands of political responsibility and authenticity of character, both in terms of organisational control and communicative strategy. Analytically, the study helps illuminate the mechanisms through which populist parties adapt to participation in the political game while continuing to mark their ideological difference. Empirically, the findings highlight the uniqueness of an outlier case, Beppe Grillo’s leadership of Italy’s Five-Star Movement, in which celebrity is leveraged into a kingmaker role, while still retaining the public persona of an outside observer.
A cardiovascular risk score for hypertensive patients previously admitted to hospital
Authors: Martínez-Díaz Ana M , Palazón-Bru Antonio , Folgado-de la Rosa David M , Ramírez-Prado Dolores , Llópez-Espinós Patricia , Beneyto-Ripoll Concepción , Gil-Guillén Vicente F
Published: April 2019

Background:

Cardiovascular risk scales in hypertensive populations have limitations for clinical practice.

Aims:

To develop and internally validate a predictive model to estimate one-year cardiovascular risk for hypertensive patients admitted to hospital.

Methods:

Cohort study of 303 hypertensive patients admitted through the Emergency Department in a Spanish region in 2015–2017. The main variable was the onset of cardiovascular disease during follow-up. The secondary variables were: gender, age, educational level, family history of cardiovascular disease, Charlson score and its individual conditions, living alone, quality of life, smoking, blood pressure, physical activity and adherence to the Mediterranean diet. A Cox regression model was constructed to predict cardiovascular disease one year after admission. This was then adapted to a points system, externally validated by bootstrapping (discrimination and calibration) and implemented in a mobile application for Android.

Results:

A total of 93 patients developed cardiovascular disease (30.7%) over a mean period of 1.68 years. The predictors in the points system were: gender, age, myocardial infarction, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease and daily activity (quality of life). The internal validation by bootstrapping was satisfactory.

Conclusion:

A novel points system was developed to predict short-term cardiovascular disease in hypertensive patients after hospital admission. External validation studies are needed to corroborate the results obtained.
“I tremble with my whole heart”: Cicero on the anxieties of eloquence
Authors: Goodman Rob
Published: April 2019

Cicero’s rhetorical theory offers an important critique of efforts to systematize persuasion. His resistance to this systematization is grounded in his reconception of the orator’s virtus, which, amidst the crisis of the late Roman Republic, he reimagines as a capacity to endure risk in confrontation with an unruly public. In order to stress this risk, he must at the same time valorize the uncertainties of language: the absence of predictable, manipulable links between speech and audience response. Because this model of eloquence implies that the rhetorical audience cannot and should not be systematized, it places surprising pressures on Cicero’s elitism. This article examines Cicero’s antipathy toward the routinization of rhetoric, contrasts it with the more rationalized model of speech in De analogia, Julius Caesar’s fragmentary work on style, and considers how Cicero’s stress on the autonomy of the rhetorical audience can be recovered as a resource for democratic theory.
Gendered perceptions of osteoporosis: implications for youth prevention programs
Authors: Holland Alyson , Moffat Tina
Published: April 2019

The presentation of osteoporosis as a woman’s disease in prevention information influences how osteoporosis is perceived and how prevention information is internalized and applied. Using the Health Belief Model as a framework, gendered perceptions of osteoporosis were investigated in Canadian young adults to inform the design of prevention programs. A combination of the Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale (OHBS) and semi-structured interviews were used to explore participants’ perceptions of osteoporosis severity, susceptibility, and motivation to engage in prevention activities. Sixty multiethnic men and women aged 17–30 years living in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada participated in the study. While the findings from the OHBS indicated that both genders scored high for self-efficacy, the results from the qualitative interviews showed ambivalent attitudes toward prevention behaviors, indicating a disconnect between quantitative and qualitative findings. Perceptions related to severity and susceptibility revealed that while osteoporosis was generally viewed as a woman’s disease, perceived individual risk of disease was a negotiation between larger gender constructs of osteoporosis and a variety of risk factors. This study indicates that osteoporosis prevention programs should consider actively acknowledging gendered and youth-based conceptions of osteoporosis in order to increase prevention behaviors in the whole population to reduce future disease.