bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rape Aggression Defense Course: Physical, Psychological, and Interpersonal Benefits Among Women With and Without Interpersonal Victimization Histories
Authors: Holmes Hannah J. , Sala-Hamrick Kelsey J. , Pegram Sheri E. , Evans Eleshia K. , Wilton-Martindale Jaclyn , Lumley Mark A.
Published: September 2019

Women’s self-defense training increases self-efficacy and reduces subsequent assaults, but self-defense training’s effects on women’s psychological and interpersonal functioning are understudied, particularly for women with histories of interpersonal victimization. This study examined the effects of a self-defense course on somatic symptoms, post-traumatic stress symptoms, depression, anxiety, interpersonal problems, and locus of control among women with and without interpersonal victimization histories and explored how women’s disinhibition of their aggression during simulated attacks predicts changes in their symptoms and functioning. In all, 82 women reported their symptoms and functioning before participation and 6 weeks after participation in a university-based Rape Aggression Defense course. Among the whole sample, participation in the course led to significantly decreased posttraumatic stress, somatic, and hostility symptoms and problems with being too nonassertive, overly accommodating, and self-sacrificing. Women who reported interpersonal victimization histories ( n = 49) did not differ in the degree of improvements when compared with women without interpersonal victimization histories ( n = 33). Greater disinhibition during the simulation predicted less improvement in some symptoms; moderation analyses showed that this association occurred only among those women with high baseline anxiety or hostility. These findings highlight the value of self-defense training in improving the health of women, including posttraumatic stress symptoms and interpersonal functioning, regardless of women’s history of interpersonal victimization. Results also suggest the importance of considering women’s baseline symptoms in modulating the degree of aggression that is optimally expressed during training.
An integrated effort of medium reactivity fuel, in-cylinder, and after-treatment strategies to demonstrate potential reduction in challenging emissions of reactivity controlled compression ignition combustion
Authors: Murugan R , Ganesh D , Nagarajan G
Published: September 2019

Previous studies on reactivity controlled compression ignition combustion indicated that, reducing the hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions at low load conditions still remains a challenge because of lower in-cylinder temperatures due to lower global reactivity gradient and reduced oxidation process. Research in this direction has not been reported so far and with this motivation, an attempt has been made to increase the global reactivity gradient and oxidation of fuel–air mixture by converting the low reactivity fuel methanol into medium reactivity fuel. This is achieved by mixing high octane oxygenated fuel, methanol (Octane Number: 110), with an oxygenated better cetane and volatility fuels like polyoxymethylene dimethyl ether (Cetane Number: 78) and isobutanol (Cetane Number: 15). The medium reactivity fuel with multiple direct injection of diesel fuel timed the combustion of dual fuel–air mixture to avoid too late or too advanced combustion which are the prime factors in controlling the unburnt emissions in a low temperature combustion process. Four medium reactivity fuel samples, M80IB20, M60IB40, M90P10, and M80P20, on percentage volume basis have been prepared and tested on the modified on-road three-cylinder turbocharged common rail direct injection diesel engine to demonstrate higher indicated thermal efficiency and potential reduction in unburnt and oxides of nitrogen/particulate matter emissions from reactivity controlled compression ignition combustion. Experimental results show that, use of medium reactivity fuel with optimized diesel injection strategy resulted in 66% decrease in hydrocarbon emission and 74% decrease in carbon monoxide emission by enhancing the oxidation of fuel–air mixture at lower temperatures which is evidently noticed in the combustion characteristics. Further reduction in hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emission of about 90% has been achieved by integrating the diesel oxidation catalyst with the engine.
A numerical prediction and potential control of typical icing process on automobile windshield under nocturnal radiative cooling and subfreezing conditions
Authors: Du Xuzhi , Yang Zhigang , Jin Zheyan , Zhu Yuyu , Zhou Zhiwei
Published: September 2019

In this work, a simplified mathematical model, concerned with transient heat conduction as well as convective and radiative heat transfer, was developed to predict the variations of temperature and supercooling of the windshield during practical nocturnal cooling processes of a car. Final supercooling [Formula: see text] was introduced as an indicator to evaluate the probability of occurrence of frosting. Following that, the Taguchi statistical method was used to conduct a parameter sensitivity analysis and then figure out the potential control strategies for frosting suppression. The results showed that relative humidity had the most significant influence on the distribution of supercooling during the nocturnal cooling period, whereas the initial temperature as well as the thickness and thermal conductivity of the windshield played a minor role in it. An increase in relative humidity resulted in a significant increase in [Formula: see text], which might be expected to trigger an earlier initiation of frosting. The emissivity of the windshield, concerned with the nocturnal radiation potential, showed a considerable effect on the response of [Formula: see text], whereas the influence of the total opaque cloud amount appeared to be largely limited. In addition, through a potential control of the thermal conductivity of the windshield, [Formula: see text] just exhibited a very limited decline, thus contributing little to frosting mitigation. However, with a moderate potential control of the internal convective heat transfer coefficient, the frosting behavior might be effectively suppressed under a severe condition that favored the occurrence of icing. Besides, by introducing a combined control of the emissivity of the windshield and the internal convective heat transfer coefficient, [Formula: see text] could be well reduced to a value below zero even as the relative humidity increased up to 90%, which was supposed to prevent the occurrence of frosting under a far severer condition.
Informalized containment: food markets and the governance of the informal food sector in Windhoek, Namibia
Authors: Kazembe Lawrence N , Nickanor Ndeyapo , Crush Jonathan
Published: September 2019

Policy responses to the growth of the informal food sector in African cities vary from benign neglect to active destruction. The eradication of street food vending is the dominant mode of governance. Alternative approaches that recognize the inevitability of informality and the role of the sector in making food accessible to the urban poor have begun to emerge. One is an enclose-and-contain model that creates spaces for trading and seeks to confine trading to these spaces through active policing. This strategy has been pursued in Windhoek, Namibia but has been compromised by consumer demand, which is not satisfied by the city’s approved markets, and by the actions of street traders who cluster at key locations and force tacit official recognition. This paper examines the origins and development of the resulting hybrid model of informalized containment, as well as the profile of consumers who patronize both types of markets.
Data-driven rational feedforward tuning: With application to an ultraprecision wafer stage
Authors: Huang Weicai , Yang Kaiming , Zhu Yu , Li Xin , Mu Haihua , Li Min
Published: September 2019

Rational basis functions are introduced into iterative learning control to enhance the flexibility towards nonrepeating tasks. At present, the application of rational basis functions either suffers from nonconvex optimization problem or requires the predefinition of poles, which restricts the achievable performance. In this article, a new data-driven rational feedforward tuning approach is developed, in which convex optimization is realized without predefining the poles. Specifically, the optimal parameter which eliminates the reference-induced error is directly solved using the least square method. No parametric model is involved in the parameter tuning process and the optimal parameter is estimated using the measured data. In the noisy condition, it is proved that the estimated optimal parameter is unbiased and the estimation accuracy in terms of variance is analysed. The performance of the proposed approach is tested on an ultraprecision wafer stage. The experimental results confirm that high performance is achieved using the proposed approach.
Tribological properties of boron carbonitride coatings sliding against different wood (acerbic, beech, and lauan) balls
Authors: Wu Zhiwei , Li Sihao , Xu Zhaojun , Wang Qianzhi , Zhou Fei
Published: September 2019

Boron carbonitride (BCN) coatings were prepared using radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering via adjusting substrate bias voltage from −50 V to −200 V. The mechanical and tribological properties of the coatings were investigated. The coexistence of B–N, B–C, and N–C bonds was detected in coatings according to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, indicating the formation of ternary BCN hybridization. The hardness of BCN coatings increased from 14.4 GPa to 24.3 GPa with an increase of substrate bias voltage, while their adhesion strength on substrate decreased. The friction behavior of BCN coatings sliding against different wood (acerbic, beech, and lauan) balls was examined using a ball-on-disk tribometer. The average friction coefficient fluctuated in a range of 0.74–1.02. The wear track of BCN coating sliding against hardwood (acerbic) presented obvious scratches, which were not noted as sliding against other softwood balls in comparison.
Concurrent participation in screening for cervical, breast, and bowel cancer in England
Authors: Rebolj Matejka , Parmar Dharmishta , Maroni Roberta , Blyuss Oleg , Duffy Stephen W
Published: September 2019

Objectives

To determine how many women participate in all three recommended cancer screening programmes (breast, cervical, and bowel). During their early 60s, English women receive an invitation from all the three programmes.

Methods

For 3060 women aged 60–65 included in an England-wide breast screening case–control study, we investigated the number of screening programmes they participated in during the last invitation round. Additionally, using the Fingertips database curated by Public Health England, we explored area-level correlations between participation in the three cancer screening programmes and various population characteristics for all 7014 English general practices with complete data.

Results

Of the 3060 women, 1086 (35%) participated in all three programmes, 1142 (37%) in two, 526 (17%) in one, and 306 (10%) in none. Participation in all three did not appear to be a random event ( p < 0.001). General practices from areas with less deprivation, with more patients who are carers or have chronic illnesses themselves, and with more patients satisfied with the provided service were significantly more likely to attain high coverage rates in all programmes.

Conclusions

Only a minority of English women is concurrently protected through all recommended cancer screening programmes. Future studies should consider why most women participate in some but not all recommended screening.
How Does the Largely Unregulated Private Health Sector Impact the Indian Mass?
Authors: Dehury Ranjit Kumar , Samal Janmejaya , Coutinho Shawnn , Dehury Parthsarathi
Published: September 2019

Private hospitals in India are least monitored by the government, which leads to violation of the roles and responsibility they have to offer for the community. Indeed, it is a more serious issue in a country like India where people are forced below poverty line (BPL) after every hospitalization. Of the four different models of health expenditure, India and, in fact, many developing countries follow the out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure model rampantly. This is very evident from the recent working article (2015) published by NITI Aayog-Health Division, which reveals that OOP expenditures are high in India accounting for 69.5 per cent of total health expenditure. These are catastrophic economic damages for the poor and push an estimated 37 million into poverty each year. Furthermore, 66.4 per cent of the total expenditure is on medicines. A major part of these expenditures are invariably the money spent by a huge section of the community, both rich–poor and rural–urban, on healthcare services availed from the privately run corporate hospitals in India. The sector needs to be sensitive for an inclusive healthcare. However, the situation appears to be the opposite in India and the private health sector creates a divide in the society by virtue of which the rich get medical care and the poor stay sick or die. This article discusses various ethical concerns and remedial measures relating to the functionality of private hospitals which poses serious pressure on the community and marginalized sections of the society.
Organizational Response to Goods Failure Complaints: The Role of Culture on Perceptions of Interactional Justice and Customer Satisfaction
Authors: Muralidharan Etayankara , Guo Wenxia , Fazel Hesham , Wei William
Published: September 2019

It is well recognized that in a service failure context, cultural value orientations interact with firm responses to service failures to influence perceptions of fairness (justice) and satisfaction. We examine whether this effect is applicable in the case of goods failure complaint context. Using an experimental design with data from Hong Kong and Canada, we investigate how customer evaluations of firm responses are influenced by interplay of consumers’ value orientation and nature of firm responses to the goods failure complaint [whether complaint resolution is initiated by the firm (vs. initiated by the customer), customer is informed about the progress of complaint resolution (vs. not informed about the progress)]. Our findings reveal that the cultural values of collectivism and uncertainty avoidance do interact with the nature of firm’s response to influence perception of interactional justice. Finally, interactional justice positively impacts overall complaint resolution satisfaction.
Making a College Professor Film: A Case Study
Authors: Fitch John C.
Published: September 2019

Investigations on cinematic representations of higher education have sought to provide a deeper understanding of popular culture images and how they intersect with real-life academia. Moreover, such projects have examined how such mass communication texts may influence popular opinion surrounding colleges and universities. The existing literature on specific depictions of college professors in American films has explored a number of themes from various perspectives. Many scholars claim that such cinematic representations of higher education and faculty are negative and reinforce cultural stereotypes. Yet, little has been written about how filmmakers create such images. This article examines cinematic college professors from the viewpoint of the filmmaker by completing a case study of a recently produced college professor film and members of its creative team. Interviews with the screenwriter/director, production designer, and costume designer of a pseudonymously titled film investigates how the work of these film professionals was influenced by a number of factors, including their own experiences in higher education, their personal conceptions of college professors, previously viewed college-themed films, and existing stereotypes about professors.
Effects of Community-Based Primary Care Management on Patients With Hypertension and Diabetes
Authors: Kim Hee-Sun , Suh Youshin , Kim Mi-Sook , Yoo Bit-Na , Lee Eun-Ji , Lee Eun-Whan , Park Jae-Hyun
Published: September 2019

As the prevalence of chronic diseases is continuously increasing, the socioeconomic cost of those conditions in Korea is also rising. In order to effectively manage chronic diseases, the “Community-Based Primary Care Project” was implemented from 2014 to 2016 and focused on primary medical care and physician-led chronic disease management. The purpose of this study is evaluating the effects of the project through the DID (difference in difference) model. The project’s database and the National Health Insurance claims database were both used to compare the project and control groups (n = 6092 vs 24 368). Results of the analysis show that medication adherence was increased more in the project group compared with the control group. Hospitalization days, outpatient days, and number of primary medical clinic visits increased more in the participant group than the control group. As the project showed an improvement in treatment persistence, it will be necessary to monitor for a longer period of time.
Part II: using an integrated case model for delivering mental health services in general practice for Pacific people
Authors: Mulder Roger , Sorensen Debbie , Kautoke Staverton , Jensen Seini
Published: September 2019

Objective:

To discuss an alternative model for delivering mental health services to Pacific people in general practice.

Methods:

Review of primary healthcare models which attempt to integrate behavioural healthcare with general practice.

Results:

There is some evidence that relationship-based collaborative models may improve both mental and physical health. Such a model has been implemented successfully by Alaskan Native Americans.

Conclusion:

An integrated model of healthcare incorporating Pacific cultural values may reduce stigma and improve engagement and efficacy in delivering mental health treatment to Pacific people, their families and communities.
Evaluation of an online cognitive behavioural therapy weight loss programme as an adjunct to anti-obesity medications and lifestyle interventions
Authors: Tham Marlene , Chong Terence WH
Published: September 2019

Background and objectives:

Obesity is a global pandemic with psychological, physical and metabolic consequences including in people with mental health conditions. Anti-obesity medications (AOMs) are available to treat obesity and can produce clinically meaningful weight loss but do not address associated psychological issues. We evaluated the usefulness and acceptability of an adjunct online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) programme for improving psychological outcomes.

Method:

We conducted a real-world 26-week observational study of 120 adults attending an obesity clinic who undertook a comprehensive weight management programme that included standard diet and exercise interventions, an AOM and an online 10-module CBT intervention. Baseline and 26-week psychological, metabolic and physical measures were compared.

Results:

At 26 weeks, depression, anxiety, stress and emotional eating levels for the sample decreased significantly compared to baseline (all p < .01). Satisfaction and acceptability were highly rated. The mean weight loss was 8.13 ± 3.83%. Mean waist circumference reduction was 7.62 ± 3.4 cm.

Discussion:

Online CBT has the potential to be a useful adjunct to AOMs and lifestyle interventions for providing psychological support as shown by improvement in mental health, emotional eating and acceptability scales. This warrants further investigation through a randomised controlled trial.
Pasifika Study Group: a child and adolescent mental health capacity building and leadership workshop with Pacific nations doctors and psychiatrists
Authors: Robertson Paul , Hagali Monica , Allen Myrielle , Leao-Tuitama George , Kowalenko Nick , Bush Allister
Published: September 2019

Objective:

To describe the Pasifika Study Group (PSG), a biennial workshop for Pacific nations psychiatrists and doctors working in psychiatry under the auspices of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Method:

Since 2013 the PSG has brought together doctors and other health professionals from eight Pacific nations for a two-day study group.

Results:

On evaluation the PSG is considered informative and relevant and participants were generally confident of adapting the material to their own context.

Conclusion:

The PSG demonstrates a successful approach to regional engagement in mental health in the Pacific region.
CAMH in Primary Care Fiji: developing child and adolescent mental health in primary care
Authors: Robertson Paul , Paul Amaryah , Allen Myrielle
Published: September 2019

Objective:

To describe the CAMH in Primary Care Fiji Project.

Methods:

The context; process of development and planning; aims and goals; delivery and outcome are described.

Results:

Two CAMH in Primary Care Fiji training workshops were delivered in 2017 and 2018 with positive structured and unstructured feedback.

Conclusion:

A successful, collaboratively developed, culturally appropriate and replicable training for primary care in CAMH is possible.
Specialist Supportive Clinical Management for anorexia nervosa: what it is (and what it is not)
Authors: Jordan Jennifer , McIntosh Virginia VW , Bulik Cynthia M
Published: September 2019

Objective:

Specialist Supportive Clinical Management (SSCM) is a psychotherapy comprising a clinical management focus addressing anorexia nervosa (AN) symptoms and a supportive therapy component. SSCM has been an active control therapy in randomised controlled trials for AN, but has proven to be an effective therapy in its own right. There has been speculation about how this relatively straightforward therapy works. Some of the commentaries and descriptors used for SSCM, however, do not reflect the content or principles of SSCM. This paper clarifies areas of misunderstanding by describing what SSCM is and what it is not, particularly in relation to commentary about its constituent characteristics.

Conclusions:

SSCM utilises well established clinical management for AN (with a sustained focus on normalised eating and weight restoration) coupled with supportive therapy principles and strategies. Common factors across both arms include core counselling skills and a positive therapeutic alliance to promote adherence and retention in treatment for AN. Compared to other comparator therapies to date, SSCM is a simpler therapy without unique or novel theoretically derived strategies. Comparable outcomes with more complex psychotherapies raise the question of whether the combined core components of SSCM may be sufficient for many people with AN.
An investigation of the electromechanical coupling and broadband shunt damping in composite plates with integrated piezo-patches
Authors: Gozum Mehmet Murat , Aghakhani Amirreza , Basdogan Ipek
Published: September 2019

The popularity of laminated composite plate-like structures is increasing in various engineering applications. Piezoelectric patches with electrical circuit elements can be integrated into these structures for shunt damping applications. For analyzing the shunt damping performance of these systems, precise modeling tools are required, which consider the two-way electromechanical coupling between the piezo-patches and the host plate. This study aims to identify the system parameters which affect the electromechanical coupling coefficient, a metric for measuring the effectiveness of mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion. For that purpose, a thorough investigation is performed to determine the critical system parameters and their combined effects on the electromechanical coupling coefficient of laminated composite plates with surface-bonded piezo-patches. First, the first four natural frequencies of the electromechanical system are obtained using the Rayleigh–Ritz method for various patch sizes. Then, the electromechanical coupling coefficient variations for a different set of system parameters are presented. Later, to demonstrate the applicability of the developed methodology for a broader frequency range, four independently shunted piezo-pairs are attached to the plate. The contours of electromechanical coupling coefficient values with respect to ply angle and patch-pair size are presented for the first four modes. Finally, the vibration amplitudes are successfully reduced for these modes using the optimal system parameters.
Optimization of the shaping function of a tapered piezoelectric energy harvester using tabu continuous ant colony system
Authors: Salmani Hamed , Rahimi GH , Saraygord Afshari Sajad
Published: September 2019

During the past years, the development of piezoelectric energy harvesters is extensively increased for providing the required energy of sensor nodes. It has been proven that changing the beam’s cross-section along its length direction may lead to extract more power with less mass. In this article, a hybrid metaheuristic algorithm called tabu continuous ant colony system is employed to optimize the tapered piezoelectric energy harvester in a fast and course manner. The exponential and fourth-order polynomial functions are considered as shaping functions for tapering the beam’s width along its length direction. An experiment is also set up to evaluate the performance of the optimization algorithm for the case of exponential shaping function. Finally, the algorithm is applied to optimize the voltage and power per mass of both shaping functions of the tapered piezoelectric energy harvester at the specified excitation frequency.
Analysis of power and efficiency of piezoelectric vibration energy harvesters through an impedance plot
Authors: Liao Yabin
Published: September 2019

Through an impedance plot obtained from the equivalent circuit modeling of linear energy harvesters, this article provides explanations of their system behaviors such as power and efficiency. The impedance plot shows the tuning impedance and the matched source impedance in the same graph, providing a visualization of their relationship as the system parameters are changed or tuned. Using this relationship, the power characteristics of the system are clearly explained. In addition, the impedance plot is connected to the structural effects in stiffness and damping due to energy harvesting. Two types of efficiency are defined in terms of the electrically induced damping: the energy conversion efficiency and conventional energy efficiency. Using the impedance plot, it is shown that the maximum power and maximum efficiency are achieved almost simultaneously for weakly coupled systems. However, for strongly coupled systems, they cannot be achieved at the same time due to the significant reduction in structural energy associated with high efficiency. Although many relationships discussed in this article are reasonably understood in the research community, a deeper and more direct understanding of these relationships are offered by this article with the aid of this graphical and intuitive approach.
Being an Educator and Game Developer: The Role of Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Non-Commercial Serious Games Production
Authors: Linderoth Jonas , Sjöblom Björn
Published: September 2019

Background and aim. Previous literature has discussed tensions between the field of game design and the field of education. It has been emphasized that it is important to address this tension when developing game based learning (GBL). In order to find potential ways of approaching this problem, we investigate the development of GBL when performed by those who have both pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and experience in game development.

Method. Two case studies about serious games production were conducted, a game section at a national defense college and a university course in educational game design. The cases, as well as individual development projects within the settings, were analyzed with a focus on the role of PCK during serious games development.

Results. While the developers and instructors at the defence college, who designed games for their in-house needs, had both PCK and knowledge about game development, these competencies varied a lot among the participants at the university course. The results show that educational goals added complexity to the design process. By comparison, some studied game projects at the university course avoided this complexity. These projects legitimized their games as educational by suggesting unproven far transfer. In other cases, where the developers did have PCK, the instructional goals where taken as a starting point that guided the whole development process. This lead to games that were designed to match highly specific educational contexts. The developers, instructors and teachers in both of the settings who used their PCK tended to break a number of established game design heuristics that would have been counter productive in relation to the learning objectives of the games.

Conclusions. The paper suggests that there is a need for people with pedagogical content knowledge AND knowledge about game development. Enhancing these dual competencies in game workers could forward the field of GBL.
Influence of Room Condition on Participants in Simulation and Gaming Activities: Analyses of Debriefing Forms
Authors: Nakamura M.
Published: September 2019

Background. Increasing attention has been paid to simulation and gaming (S&G) as an active learning technique within Japanese universities; however, the more that active learning sessions are conducted, the fewer rooms there are available for these activities. This shortage sometimes results in having to conduct S&G in a traditional lecture room; as such, this study explores the influence of room condition on participants.

Intervention. During each gaming session, the author played the role of facilitator and made herself as invisible as possible. In the debriefing sessions, the author delivered a lecture and organized the debriefing in the role of a teacher.

Aims and Methods. The two research aims were as follows: first, to understand the influence of room conditions on participants; and second, to understand the influence of content and question order in debriefing forms on participants. Data collected from debriefing forms regarding two gaming sessions were analyzed.

Results. The degree of satisfaction in HACONORI and the degree of usefulness in BLOCK WORK were influenced by room condition. This study found that debriefing forms influenced participants less than room condition.

Discussion. These study results reflect the powerful effect of room condition, which varies due to individual game attributes. The effect of debriefing forms was found to be less potent than the effect of room condition, although the order of questions should be taken into consideration.

Suggestions and Limitations. A large room with movable desks and movable chairs is recommended for S&G.

Conclusion. The factor of room condition had a powerful effect on the degree of satisfaction for HACONORI and the degree of usefulness for BLOCK WORK. The factor of debriefing forms was less potent than the factor of room condition; as such, S&G facilitators should be sensitive to room conditions.
Adapting Mussar to Develop Management Students’ Character
Authors: Comer Debra R. , Schwartz Michael
Published: September 2019

Management educators have been advised to cultivate their students’ character. Yet they lack the instructional resources they need to do so. We were inspired by the principles and techniques of the Jewish spiritual practice of Mussar to put students on a personalized path of continuous character improvement. According to Mussar, everyone has some measure of a given character trait and needs to calibrate it to fill in a deficiency or tone down an excess. Although correcting character deficiencies and excesses requires a commitment of effort, we can, and should, become better versions of ourselves by applying that effort—that is, engaging in reflection, setting goals, monitoring our progress, and making adjustments—to move each of our character traits ever closer to its respective virtuous mean. We have designed materials to increase students’ awareness of character and its importance in organizations, give them a vocabulary of character traits, help them identify the character traits they would like to address, and provide them with a sustainable process for self-enhancement. In this article, we introduce these materials and provide evidence of their effectiveness.
The Role of Social-Emotional Factors in Bystanders’ Judgments and Responses to Peer Aggression and Following Retaliation in Adolescence
Authors: Gönültaş Seçil , Mulvey Kelly Lynn , Irdam Greysi , Goff Eric , Irvin Matthew J. , Carlson Ryan , DiStefano Christine
Published: September 2019

This study investigates how social-emotional factors are related to bystanders’ responses to aggression and possible retaliation. Participants consisted of sixth and ninth graders ( N = 896, 52.8% female) who indicated how likely they would be to intervene if they observed an initial aggressive act and then following retaliation. Hierarchical regression models were used to examine social-emotional predictors of bystander judgments and responses. Findings highlight that participants with high effortful control and transgressor justice sensitivity were more likely to evaluate bystander intervention as more acceptable. Furthermore, youth with higher affective empathy, sympathy, and observer justice sensitivity were more likely to report that they would engage in active bystander responses, whereas youth with higher negative affect and rejection sensitivity were more likely to report that they would engage in inactive responses to aggression. These findings have important implications for understanding how individual differences in social-emotional factors relate to bystander attitudes and responses to initial aggressive acts and to possible retribution.
Evaluation of the DOAC-Stop Procedure by LC-MS/MS Assays for Determining the Residual Activity of Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban, and Apixaban
Authors: Slavik L. , Jacova J. , Friedecky D. , Ulehlova J. , Tauber Z. , Prochazkova J. , Hlusi A. , Palova M.
Published: September 2019

The effect of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) on laboratory tests dependent on the production of their targets, factor IIa and factor Xa (FXa), is a well-known problem and can cause both false positive and negative results. Therefore, the correct interpretation of tests performed in patients receiving DOACs is necessary to avoid misclassification and subsequent clinical consequences. However, even with significant experience, there are situations where it is not possible to assess the influence of some methods. Particularly important is the situation in the diagnosis of lupus anticoagulants using the dilute Russell viper venom timetest, which is based on direct FXa activation. A very promising solution to this situation is offered by the DOAC laboratory balancing procedure DOAC-Stop. For evaluating the effectiveness of this procedure, 60 (20 apixaban, 20 dabigatran, and 20 rivaroxaban) patients treated with DOACs were enrolled. All patient samples were analyzed for the presence of individual DOAC types and subsequently subjected to the DOAC-Stop procedure.We evaluated its effectiveness by our own high-performance liquid chromatography-coupled tandem mass spectrometrymethod, which simultaneously sets all high-sensitivity DOACs. Unlike coagulation tests based on the determination of the residual effects of DOACs on target enzymes, which is complicated by extensive interindividual variation, this methodology is highly specific and sensitive.The DOAC-Stop procedure eliminated dabigatran from 99.5%, rivaroxaban from 97.9%, and apixaban from 97.1% of participants in our group. Residual amounts did not exceed 2.7 ng/mL for dabigatran, 10.9 ng/mL for rivaroxaban, or 13.03 ng/mL for apixaban, which are safe values that do not affect either screening or special coagulation tests.
Medicaid’s EPSDT Benefit: An Opportunity to Improve Pediatric Screening for Social Determinants of Health
Authors: Malhotra Nisha A. , Nevar Ann , Yearby Ruqaiijah , Kleinman Lawrence C. , Ronis Sarah D.
Published: September 2019

The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit is a key component of Medicaid policy intended to define an essential set of services provided to patients younger than age 21. Given increasing attention to social determinants of health in pediatric health care, this qualitative review examines the extent to which EPSDT might be used to implement structured screening to identify environmental and social factors affecting children’s health. Themes derived from semistructured interviews conducted in 2017 were triangulated with a review of the recent literature to describe how states currently consider the EPSDT benefit with respect to social determinants of health screening. Our findings suggest that, with sufficient stakeholder advocacy given the evidence supporting social determinants of health screening as “medically necessary,” EPSDT benefits could be considered as a funding source to incentivize the incorporation of social determinants of health screening into the basic package of well-child care.
City Manager Turnover Revisited: Effects of the Institutional Structure and Length of Tenure on City Manager Turnover
Authors: Lee In Won , Lee Youngmi
Published: September 2019

This study attempts to test a well-known model of city manager turnover. We use a Binary TSCS (Time-Series Cross-Section) analysis to address the problem of duration dependence, which typically occurs when the assumption is that a turnover decision at a certain point of time is entirely independent of previous decisions in the turnover data. In essence, manager turnover should be understood not as a single event at a given point in time but rather as being affected by the duration of tenure. Our empirical analysis of turnover data from 156 large cities in the United States for the period 1984–1999 indicate that, particularly when the length of manager tenure was controlled for, political push factors had significant effects on city manager turnover that were not detected by means of the ordinary logit analysis. The result on time duration suggests that longer tenure can reduce the likelihood of city manager turnover.
Safety Assessment of PCA (2-Pyrrolidone-5-Carboxylic Acid) and Its Salts as Used in Cosmetics
Authors: Fiume Monice M. , Bergfeld Wilma F. , Belsito Donald V. , Hill Ronald A. , Klaassen Curtis D. , Liebler Daniel C. , Marks James G. , Shank Ronald C. , Slaga Thomas J. , Snyder Paul W. , Gill Lillian J. , Heldreth Bart
Published: September 2019

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel (Panel) reassessed the safety of 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid (PCA) and sodium PCA; the Panel added 3 previously unreviewed salts (calcium, magnesium, and potassium) of PCA to this safety assessment. 2-Pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid and its salts are reported to function in cosmetics as skin conditioning agents—humectants. The Panel reviewed the data from the 1999 report of PCA and sodium PCA, as well as additional data included in this report, to determine the safety of these ingredients. The Panel concluded that PCA and its salts are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration; additionally, these ingredients should not be used in cosmetic products in which N-nitroso compounds can be formed.
Safety Assessment of Alkyl Phosphates as Used in Cosmetics
Authors: Fiume Monice M. , Bergfeld Wilma F. , Belsito Donald V. , Hill Ronald A. , Klaassen Curtis D. , Liebler Daniel C. , Marks James G. , Shank Ronald C. , Slaga Thomas J. , Snyder Paul W. , Gill Lillian J. , Heldreth Bart
Published: September 2019

The Expert Panel assessed the safety of 28 alkyl phosphates and concluded that these ingredients are safe in the current practices of use and concentration when formulated to be nonirritating. The ingredients in the alkyl phosphate family share a common phosphate core structure, and vary by the identity of the alkyl chains attached therein. Most of the alkyl phosphates function as surfactants in cosmetic ingredients; however, the triesters function as plasticizers rather than surfactants. The Panel reviewed the available animal and clinical data to determine the safety of these ingredients.
Safety Assessment of Citrus-Derived Peel Oils as Used in Cosmetics
Authors: Burnett Christina L. , Fiume Monice M. , Bergfeld Wilma F. , Belsito Donald V. , Hill Ronald A. , Klaassen Curtis D. , Liebler Daniel C. , Marks James G. , Shank Ronald C. , Slaga Thomas J. , Snyder Paul W. , Gill Lillian J. , Heldreth Bart
Published: September 2019

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel assessed the safety of 14 citrus-derived peel oil ingredients and concluded that these ingredients are safe for use in cosmetic products when finished products, excluding rinse-off products, do not contain more than 0.0015% (15 ppm) 5-methoxypsoralen, and when formulated to be nonsensitizing and nonirritating. The citrus-derived peel oil ingredients are most frequently reported to function in cosmetics as fragrances and/or skin conditioning agents. The Panel reviewed the available animal and clinical data to determine the safety of these ingredients. Because final product formulations may contain multiple botanicals, each containing the same constituents of concern, formulators are advised to be aware of these constituents and to avoid reaching levels that may be hazardous to consumers. Industry should use good manufacturing practices to limit impurities that could be present in botanical ingredients.
Detection of multidrug resistance and extended-spectrum/plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamase genes in Enterobacteriaceae isolates from diseased cats in Italy
Authors: Piccolo Francesco Lo , Belas Adriana , Foti Maria , Fisichella Vittorio , Marques Cátia , Pomba Constança
Published: September 2019

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from cats affected by diseases commonly encountered in practice, and to characterise the third-generation cephalosporin (3GC)-resistance molecular mechanisms involved.

Methods

Clinical samples (n = 100) included 58 rectal swabs from cats with diarrhoea, 31 nasal swabs from cats with clinical signs of upper respiratory tract disease, four ear swabs from cats with otitis, three conjunctival swabs from cats with conjunctivitis, two oral swabs from cats with stomatitis, one swab from a skin abscess and one urine sample from a cat with cystitis. A total of 125 Enterobacteriaceae were isolated from 90 cats. Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated species (n = 65), followed by Enterobacter species (n = 20), Proteus species (n = 13), Citrobacter species (n = 12) and others (n = 15). Bacterial susceptibility testing was performed with respect to eight antimicrobial classes. Beta (β)-lactamase genes were identified by PCR and nucleotide sequencing.

Results

Overall, the higher frequency of resistance was to amoxicillin–clavulanate (61.3%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (33.6%) and cefotaxime (32.8%). Thirty-six percent of the isolates (n = 45) were resistant to 3GCs. Of these isolates, 34 were tested by PCR and nucleotide sequencing and 23 were confirmed as encoding β-lactamase genes. Fourteen 3GC-resistant isolates harboured extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) belonging to groups CTX-M-1 (n = 12, two of which were CTX-M-79), CTX-M-2 (n = 1) and CTX-M-9 (n = 1), as well as SHV-12 (n = 1) and TEM-92 (n = 1). Nine isolates had CMY-2 plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases (pAmpC). Thirty-one percent (n = 39) of the isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR) and were isolated from 34% (n = 31/90) of the cats.

Conclusions and relevance

A high frequency of MDR and ESBL/pAmpC β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae were detected among bacteria isolated from a feline population in southern Italy with a variety of common clinical conditions, which poses limitations on therapeutic options for companion animals. We describe the first detection of CTX-M-79 and TEM-92 ESBL genes in isolates from cats.
Regression of corneal neovascularization: Adiponectin versus bevacizumab eye drops
Authors: Baradaran-Rafii Alireza , Ashnagar Azin , Heidari Keshel Saeed , Jabbehdari Sayena , Baradaran-Rafii Ghazaleh
Published: September 2019

Purpose:

Comparing the effect of adiponectin versus bevacizumab in decreasing corneal neovascularization.

Methods:

This study was conducted on 30 eyes of 30 New Zealand Albino male rabbits. Corneal neovascularization was induced by a single 7-0 silk suture 2 mm long and 1 mm in front of the limbus for 2 weeks. Rabbits were randomly divided into three groups of adiponectin (20 µg/mL), bevacizumab (5 mg/mL) and artificial tears. The treatments continued up to 14 days.

Results:

At the end of 14 days, the average length of vessels in rabbits treated with adiponectin, bevacizumab and control groups decreased from 2.12 ± 0.32 mm to 0.89 ± 0.46 mm (57.68% ± 19.98%) (P < 0.001), 2.30 ± 0.41 mm to 1.30 ± 0.58 mm (42.49% ± 27.17%) (P = 0.048) and from 2.12 ± 0.44 mm to 1.81 ± 0.42 mm (14.81% ± 5.64%) (P = 0.112), respectively. The length of vessels decreased 57.68% ± 19.98% and 42.49% ± 27.17% in adiponectin versus bevacizumab groups, respectively (P = 0.527). The average surface area of vessels in rabbits treated with adiponectin, bevacizumab and control groups reduced from 5.02 ± 1.50 mm2 to 1.40 ± 0.75 mm2 (70.64% ± 17.76%) (P < 0.001) 0.34 ± 1.1 mm2 to 2.80 ± 1.04 mm2 (48.24% ± 19.23%) (P = 0.039) and 5.12 ± 2.92 mm2 to 4.4 ± 2.55 mm2 (14.68% ± 4.19%) (P = 0.117). Mean surface area of vascularization decreased 70.64% ± 17.76% and 48.24% ± 19.23% in adiponectin versus bevacizumab, respectively (P = 0.013).

Conclusions:

The results of this study suggest that topical adiponectin can decrease recent corneal neovascularization.
The problem of Donald Trump and the Static Spectrum Fallacy
Authors: Lewis Verlan
Published: September 2019

Donald Trump’s transformation of Republican Party ideology has helped reveal major problems in the political science discipline’s conceptualization and measurement of ideology. Most scholarship is dominated by the mistaken view that party ideology changes can best be described by parties moving “left” or “right” on a static, ideological, spatial spectrum. In reality, the meaning and content of “left” and “right” (“liberal” and “conservative”) constantly evolve along with the issue positions of the two major parties. Thus, it makes no sense to describe parties as moving to the “left” or “right” over time when the very meanings of “liberalism” and “conservatism” change during the same time period. By understanding the dynamic character of ideology, we can reconcile the paradox of how Trump’s Republican Party can change its ideology even while continuing to be identified with “conservatism” and the “Right.”