bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pasolini’s Specters of Paul
Authors: Jennings Jr. Theodore W.
Published: November 2019

This essay explores the remarkable radicalities as well as ironies of the Paul featured in both Pasolini’s screenplay and other receptions of Paul’s letters. Pasolini’s depiction stages a series of potential historical correspondences by setting the words written or attributed to the apostle (in those letters and the Acts of the Apostles) into the times of Pasolini’s own life. This juxtaposition allows for a more complex view of the radical, passionate, but manipulative saint and more recent politics of revolution, corruption, and accommodation. The tension between two different views of Paul, organizing militant cells and struggling with bodily weakness, then, provide entry points for identification with and interrogation of notions of sexual liberation and political transformation. These political investments are brought into further relief throughout by situating both Pasolini and Paul in a genealogy of Marxist thinkers and organizers, from Engels and Lenin, through Benjamin, to Agamben and Badiou, surfacing important new insights about the Paul of history and of reception in the West.
From Blasphemy to Saint Paul: Multistable Subjectivities, Queer Cinema, and Pasolini’s Subversive Hagiographies
Authors: Benini Stefania
Published: November 2019

The project of Saint Paul occupies Pasolini’s imagination between 1966 and 1974. It originated with and connects to Pasolini’s previous Franciscan project on the subversive hagiography, Bestemmia (“Blasphemy”), another (unshot) screenplay in verse about a rascal of twelfth-century Rome, transformed into a saint after a vision of the Passion in the midst of an orgy. Pasolini worked on Blasphemy from 1962 to 1967, and still later was referring to the project of Saint Paul with the same title of Blasphemy. The continuity, as well as the difference, between the two projects is relevant. I will investigate the roots of Pasolini’s Pauline turn, after his Franciscan stage, and contextualize the project of Saint Paul within Pasolini’s production and within the rise of European queer cinema. I will also put it into dialogue with contemporary political theology, for instance with the Franciscan turn of Agamben, or the emergence of new, multi-stable subjectivities within the Kippbilder model proposed by Luca Di Blasi in his interpretation of Pasolini’s Saint Paul.
Paul and Pasolini, Retrospectively
Authors: Castelli Elizabeth A.
Published: November 2019

The legacy of Pasolini’s work persists beyond the recent English translation of his screenplay for Saint Paul. This concluding essay then provides a brief reflective extension into three additional genres: painting, poetry, and public art. These artistic adaptations reflect the open-ended impacts of Pasolini’s work, its provocations and excesses in particular evoke a notion of saintliness.
Geographic variation in skin structure in male Andrew’s toad (Bufo andrewsi)
Authors: Wang Can , Jin Long , Mi Zhi Ping , Liao Wen Bo
Published: November 2019

Variation in organ structure likely provides important clues on local adaptation and reflects the pressure target of natural selection. As one of the important organs, the skin plays a key role in adapting to complex environments by reducing water loss or increasing water absorption. Nevertheless, variation in the skin structure across different populations in a single species of anurans remains enigmatic. Here, we studied geographical variation in the skin structure of male Andrew’s toads (Bufo andrewsi) across ten populations using histological methods. We quantified thickness of the skin, the epidermis, the loose layer, the compact layer, and of the epidermis, area of granular glands (GGs) and of ordinary mucous glands (OMGs), width of the calcified layer, and number of capillary vessels. We found that the thickness of the skin, dermis and loose layer in dorsal skin increased with latitude whereas the area of granular glands decreased with altitude. Moreover, the width of the calcified layer in ventral skin decreased with latitude among populations. Our findings suggest that geographical variation in skin structure in male B. andrewsi is likely to reduce water loss or make water absorption occur faster in complex high-latitude environments, improving local adaptation.
Cascade effects of slope gradient on ground vegetation and small-rodent populations in a forest ecosystem
Authors: Lee Jae-Kang , Hwang Hyun-Su , Eum Tae-Kyung , Bae Ho-Kyoung , Rhim Shin-Jae
Published: November 2019

In this study, we set out to determine the cascade effects of slope gradient on ground vegetation and small-rodent populations in a forest ecosystem. We focused on two forest-dwelling small rodents with different habitat requirements, the striped field mouse Apodemus agrarius (preferring dense ground vegetation) and the Korean field mouse A. peninsulae (dense forest and woodland). The study area comprised natural deciduous forests and Japanese larch Larix kaempferi plantations in South Korea. The abundance of A. agrarius but not that of A. peninsulae was related to slope gradient. There was a negative effect of slope gradient on ground vegetation coverage and a positive effect of ground vegetation on A. agrarius populations. Our results highlight that the population of A. agrarius was indirectly influenced by the negative effects of slope gradient on ground vegetation. Slope gradient can, therefore, be a limiting factor in the microhabitats occupied by small rodents. This study reveals a critical role for slope gradient since it can modify not only microhabitat conditions, but also small-rodent populations, and this finding can contribute to improved microhabitat management.
Dealing with Non-cooperation at the icc: Towards a More Holistic Approach
Authors: Bekou Olympia
Published: November 2019

The article examines the legal and non-legal responses to tackling non-cooperation with requests issued by the International Criminal Court. Through an examination of the Rome Statute regime as well as the relevant jurisprudence, the paper argues that a shift in the way non-cooperation is dealt with is needed. The article shows both the strengths and limitations of the cooperation system. It concludes that the legal responses of the Court require consistency in order to send a coherent message to non-cooperating States. Ultimately, the article argues that in order to successfully address non-cooperation, it would be important to focus on possible synergies between the legal framework, political tools, actions that are available to States and judicial findings by the Court.
The Knowing of Knowing
Authors: Urban Hugh B.
Published: November 2019

This article traces the idea of neo-Gnosticism in a series of occult and new religious movements from the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century. Specifically, the article examines the links between two controversial groups that both described themselves as modern forms of Gnosticism: first, the European esoteric group, the Ordo Templi Orientis, and second, the American new religion, the Church of Scientology. Founded by Theodor Reuss in Germany in the 1890s, the O.T.O. described itself as a form of “Gnostic Neo-Christian Templar” religion, with sexual magic as its primary ritual secret. Its most infamous leader, British occultist Aleister Crowley, also developed a full scale “Gnostic Mass” for the group. Many elements of the O.T.O. and Crowley’s work were later picked up by none other than L. Ron Hubbard, the eclectic founder of Scientology, who also called his new church a “Gnostic religion,” since it is the “knowing of knowing” (scientia + logos). To conclude, I will discuss the ways in which these Gnostic and occult elements within Scientology later became a source of embarrassment for the church and were eventually either obscured or denied altogether—in effect, obfuscated by still further layers of secrecy and concealment.
Exploring Controls on Tropical Cyclone Count through the Geography of Environmental Favorability
Authors: Hoogewind Kimberly A. , Chavas Daniel R. , Schenkel Benjamin A. , O’Neill Morgan E
Published: November 2019

Globally, on the order of 100 tropical cyclones (TCs) occur annually, yet the processes that control this number remain unknown. Here we test a simple hypothesis that this number is limited by the geography of thermodynamic environments favorable for TC formation and maintenance. First, climatologies of TC potential intensity and environmental ventilation are created from reanalyses and are used in conjunction with historical TC data to define the spatiotemporal geography of favorable environments. Based on a range of predefined separation distances, the geographic domain of environmental favorability is populated with randomly placed TCs assuming a fixed minimum separation distance to achieve a maximum daily packing density of storms. Inclusion of a fixed storm duration yields an annual “maximum potential genesis” (MPG) rate, which is found to be an order of magnitude larger than the observed rate on Earth. The mean daily packing density captures the seasonal cycle reasonably well for both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, though it substantially overestimates TC counts outside of each hemisphere’s active seasons. Interannual variability in MPG is relatively small and is poorly correlated with annual storm count globally and across basins, though modest positive correlations are found in the North Atlantic and east Pacific basins. Overall, the spatiotemporal distribution of favorable environmental conditions appears to strongly modulate the seasonal cycle of TCs, which certainly strongly influences the TC climatology, though it does not explicitly constrain the global annual TC count. Our methodology provides the first estimate of an upper bound for annual TC frequency and outlines a framework for assessing how local and large-scale factors may act to limit global TC count below the maximum potential values found here.
Transgression and Countercultural Gnosticism: A Review Essay of April DeConick’s The Gnostic New Age
Authors: Tite Philip L.
Published: November 2019

This review essay presents and critically engages April DeConick’s The Gnostic New Age, thereby elucidating a series of theoretical problems currently facing the study of Gnosticism and ancient religion more broadly. Notably, a post-theoretical shift—identified as pervasive in the field of religious studies in the 2010s—has emerged in recent Gnostic studies, a shift that has failed to embrace the critical insights offered by Michael Williams (1996) and Karen King (2003) and is on the rise in Gnostic studies. In addition, a historical “mapping” (in the sense offered by J. Z. Smith) of ancient religion into dichotomies leaves us with a romanticized ”Gnosticism” and a caricatured understanding of ancient religion and ancient Christianity. On the positive side, however, DeConick illustrates a rising interest in studying the experiential in Gnosticism while advocating the application of cognitive science of religion.
Addressing contemporary challenges in the Unified Code of Ethics for Health Educators
Authors: Headley Sely-Ann Ayiesha , Melendez Krizia
Published: November 2019

Background:

The Unified Code of Ethics (COE) for Health Educators adopted in 1999 was developed in the USA from the 1983 Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) COE and the 1993 American Association for Higher Education (AAHE) COE. While the Unified COE was intended to function as a living document, designed to mature as the needs of the health education professionals changed, it has only been updated once (in 2011) since its adoption in 1999. In addition, despite its commitment to keep up with advances in the field, the current COE does not explicitly address the need for ethical building blocks in health education curricula, or the reinforcement of ethical standards during the certification and recertification of health educators. It also fails to address challenges such as identifying and monitoring unethical practices in online education, and how health outcomes are affected by health literacy, cultural competency and cultural humility among other factors. Consequently, the health education profession requires an updated COE that addresses these gaps.

Discussion:

An updated COE holds potential to alter the way in which health education ethics are taught and practised. This re-evaluation can contribute to an overall change in health education practice, research and academic training, which can allow health educators to better meet the needs of the diverse communities they serve in an equitable and just manner. This article outlines some of the contemporary challenges health educators face in practice, training and research, and suggests ways in which the updated unified COE can address these challenges, help improve health outcomes and promote health equity.
Foot health educational interventions for patients and healthcare professionals: A scoping review
Authors: Stolt Minna , Gattinger Heidrun , Boström Carina , Suhonen Riitta
Published: November 2019

Objective:

The aim of this scoping review was to examine educational foot health interventions tested with patients and healthcare professionals, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of foot healthcare by identifying effective educational interventions for foot health.

Design:

Scoping review.

Method:

Three electronic databases (Medline/PubMed, CINAHL and Embase) were searched from citations up to 31 March 2019 within the limits of English language at the title and abstract level to identify foot health interventions. In total, 36 full texts found out of 762 citations were included in the review. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were empirical, research-based intervention studies in which educational interventions with foot health content were conducted with a sample of adult patients and/or healthcare professionals, and foot health outcomes were reported. Data were analysed by summarising and categorising the studies and interventions. Critical appraisal tools from the Joanna Briggs Institute were used to evaluate the quality of the reviewed studies.

Results:

The educational foot health interventions reviewed were delivered in multiple forms, most often including a lecture, and were conducted individually or in small groups targeting predominantly patients with diabetes. The main content of the interventions was foot self-care. The interventions had positive outcomes for foot health, foot care knowledge, foot care activities and lower limb functional ability.

Conclusion:

This review identified many educational foot health interventions focused mainly on patients with diabetes. All these interventions have the potential to promote foot health in patients, and their future use and development is recommended.
Poverty eradication and food security through agriculture in Africa: Rethinking objectives and entry points
Authors: Gassner A , Harris D , Mausch K , Terheggen A , Lopes C , Finlayson RF , Dobie P
Published: November 2019

Agriculture in Africa is expected to meet the dual objectives of providing food and helping people to escape poverty. African agriculture is dominated by smallholdings and donors generally target their agricultural support at the smallholder sector. The expectation is that if the gap between actual and potential yields can be closed, smallholders will grow sufficient crops to feed their families, with a surplus to sell, thus meeting food security needs and bringing in an income to move them out of poverty. In practice, this is often not possible. While technologies already exist that can raise smallholder farmers’ yields 3 or 4 times, even under rainfed conditions, the small size of land available to them limits how much can be grown and the per capita income from agriculture is insufficient to allow people to move above the current World Bank-defined poverty line of US$1.90 per day. We link this finding with farmer typologies to further explain that there are large differences between individual farming households themselves in terms of their investment incentives and capability to benefit from field-level technologies that are aimed at increasing farm productivity. We argue for more differentiated policies for agricultural development in Africa and suggest that policymakers should be much more aware of the heterogeneity of farms and target interventions accordingly. It is important to understand where and for whom agriculture will have the main purpose of ensuring food and nutritional security and where and for whom there is the potential for significant increases in incomes and a contribution to wider economic growth. Let us recognize the distinctiveness of these targets and underlying target groups and work towards solutions that address the underlying needs.
Effects of Phubbing: Relationships With Psychodemographic Variables
Authors: Ergün Naif , Göksu İdris , Sakız Halis
Published: November 2019

The aim of this research is twofold: First, to adapt the Generic Scale of Phubbing and the Generic Scale of Being Phubbed into Turkish language and culture. Second, to investigate the relationships between phubbing, being phubbed, and various psychodemographic variables including anxiety, depression, negative self, somatization, hostility, loneliness, life satisfaction, and phone use duration. The two scales were adapted to Turkish with high psychometric properties, and the original item numbers were preserved. Analysis of the associations between variables showed that (1) phubbing was associated negatively with loneliness and positively with all other variables; (2) there was a strong relationship between phubbing and phone use duration; (3) somatization, satisfaction with life, and phone use duration predicted phubbing; (4) phubbing predicted all variables except satisfaction with life; (5) being phubbed was associated negatively with loneliness and satisfaction with life and positively with all other variables; and (6) anxiety, negative self, and hostility predicted being phubbed. This study is innovative for introducing two phubbing scales to Turkish and highlighting the psychological impact of phubbing on individuals.
Are Celebrities Really Admired for Their Morality?
Authors: Browne Blaine L. , McCutcheon Lynn E. , Aruguete Mara S. , Jurs Bethany S. , Curtis Drew A.
Published: November 2019

This study examines whether the admiration of celebrities is the same or different from admiration of other persons. The Multidimensional Admiration Scale, Rubin’s Liking Scale, and the Celebrity Attitude Scale were administered to 190 participants from four American universities. Participants were randomly assigned to fill out either the “most admired person” version or the “favorite celebrity” version ( n =  96) of the three scales. We hypothesized that the Multidimensional Admiration Scale is a valid measure of admiration for individuals who are familiar with the morality of the target person, but is invalid for measuring admiration for celebrities. Arguably, this is partly because celebrities are admired mostly for their ability to entertain, and not their morality, which is often unknown or little is known to their fans. The results generally confirmed our hypotheses. The Multidimensional Admiration Scale was not intended as a measure of admiration for celebrities and is not recommended to be used for that purpose.
Network Approach to Items and Domains From the Toronto Alexithymia Scale
Authors: Briganti Giovanni , Linkowski Paul
Published: November 2019

The aim of this study is to explore network structures of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale in a large sample of 1925 French-speaking Belgian university students and compare results with previous studies from different samples and tools to identify potential targets for clinical intervention. We estimated network models for the 20 items of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and for its three domains difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings, and externally oriented thinking. We explored item connectivity through node predictability (shared variance with other network components). We performed an exploratory graph analysis to explore the dimensionality of our data set and compare results with the original three-factor model; because a different model was proposed, we estimated an additional network structure on the new structure. Items from the Toronto Alexithymia Scale connect both within and between domains. The three-domain network identifies difficulty describing feelings as the most connected domain. The exploratory graph analysis reported that three items from externally oriented thinking form a new domain, distraction. In the new four-domain network, difficulty describing feelings remains the most interconnected domain; however, two negative connections are found. Our findings support the relative importance of identifying and describing feelings as a meaningful target for intervention.
Improved Hepatitis C Cure Cascade Outcomes Among Urban Baby Boomers in the Direct-Acting Antiviral Era
Authors: Dupont Sarah C. , Fluker Shelly-Ann , Quairoli Kristi M. , Body Cameron , Okosun Ike , Lom Jennifer , Miller Lesley S.
Published: November 2019

Objectives:

We compared outcomes of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) cure cascade (ie, the path a patient follows from diagnosis to cure), including antiviral treatment outcomes, from 2 HCV screening programs. Our objective was to assess whether treatment uptake and HCV cure rates improved in the cohort screened after the release of all-oral HCV direct-acting antiviral therapies.

Methods:

We retrospectively compared outcomes of the HCV cure cascade from a cohort of newly diagnosed patients screened during 2012-2014 (period 1) with outcomes from a cohort of newly diagnosed patients screened during 2015-2016 (period 2) at Grady Health System in Atlanta, Georgia. Cure cascade outcomes included HCV antibody (anti-HCV) and RNA testing, linkage to care, antiviral treatment, and sustained virologic response.

Results:

During period 1, 412 of 5274 (7.8%) persons screened were anti-HCV positive, and 264 (69.3%) of those tested were RNA positive. During period 2, 462 of 7137 (6.5%) persons screened were anti-HCV positive, and 240 (59.3%) of those tested were RNA positive ( P = .003). The percentage of newly diagnosed patients who were treated during period 2 (64.0%) was 3 times that of newly diagnosed patients treated during period 1 (21.2%; P < .001). Both cohorts had similarly high levels of linkage to care (95.8% during period 1, 95.4% during period 2) and cure (92.6% during period 1, 95.5% during period 2).

Conclusions:

Over time, the prevalence of anti-HCV and HCV RNA positivity declined substantially, and linkage-to-care and cure rates remained high. Treatment uptake increased significantly after the introduction of all-oral direct-acting antiviral therapy. These findings suggest that combining large-scale screening initiatives with treatment programs can speed progress toward HCV elimination.
Informal Power Structures and Grassroots Politics in Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh
Authors: Singh Balbir
Published: November 2019

The study, based on outputs obtained from villages of Shillai block in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, looks at the informal power structure found in the state’s rural areas. Both formal and the informal power structures have historically coexisted but we will study various factors that empower informal power structures and critically contrast them to the equality-based, constitutionally legalised formal power structures. This entails an understanding of the basis of mobilisation and relationships among different caste groups, the role and influence of local deity institutions, the traditional elitist strata as well as the nature of institutions like Khumlis and their subsequent relationship with formal political institutions. This purposive, investigative and participatory study was conducted in the villages of Shillai block where the process of modernisation has been very slow. This is probably why the historically privileged, traditional elite and informal institutions continue to dominate the entire social structure. The marginalised stratum of society has consequently received minimum participation and representation in formal institutions or the legislating, executing and adjudicating of policies and decisions.
Constitutional Interpretation Wholly Unmoored from Constitutional Text: Can the HCA Fix Its Own Mess?
Authors: Allan James
Published: November 2019

In this article, the author argues that certain types of constitutional interpretation in Australia have become far too unmoored from the written constitutional text and its intended meaning, the reductio ad absurdum of such unmoored general approaches being the recent High Court of Australia case Brown. The author therefore asserts that there is a serious problem with some types of constitutional interpretation in Australia that have evolved to a point where we can observe few if any outside constraints on the outcomes available to top judges. The author finishes, briefly, by considering what can be done about this state of affairs.
An Exploratory Structural Equation Model of Stress-Related Experiences Among Justice-Involved Youth: A Gender Comparison
Authors: Dembo Richard , Krupa Julie M. , Wareham Jennifer , Faber Jessica , Cristiano Jennifer , Diclemente Ralph J. , Terminello Asha , Schmeidler James
Published: November 2019

Youth involved in the juvenile justice system demonstrate greater risk of exposure to negative life experiences. The present study explores the prevalence of three stress-related experiences (sexual assault victimization, bullying/victimization, and minority sexual orientation) among newly arrested adolescents. Gender (biological sex) differences were examined as well as associations with sociodemographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, substance use, and sexually transmitted infection (STI). Factor analyses found a single factor of stress for both genders. Prevalence rates for bullying/victimization, sexual assault victimization, and sexual minority status were higher for girls than boys. Girls were also more likely than boys to test positive for STIs and experience depressive symptoms, while boys were more likely than girls to test positive for marijuana use. Depression and drug-related problems were associated with the stress construct for girls only. Bivariate comparisons with the three stress measures and sociodemographic characteristics indicated age and race effects. Implications are discussed.
Vitamin V: Evaluating the benefits of view quality in hospital patient rooms using a large-scale human factors study
Authors: Nezamdoost Amir , Modarres Nezhad Majedeh
Published: November 2019

Research has shown that spending too much time indoors and disengagement from outdoor environmental stimuli may have detrimental health effects. These negative effects are even more serious in hospitals, where patients are highly stressed and have to spend most of their time indoors. Studies show that, in these situations, patients prefer to have a window with a desirable view. Although the desire for having a room with a view among hospital patients is well established, not all views are equally desirable. The parameters which make a view “desirable” are not well understood. This paper presents results of a large-scale human factors research study using patients’ qualitative assessments on thousands of “view” photos ( n = 2000), in order to provide a reliable foundation for developing a robust rating system to accurately quantify the desirability quality of views in healthcare settings. The results show that “distant” and “nature-dominant” views were, by far, the most desirable. Additionally, the results showed that while “water features” was also viewed desirable, views of moving cars and industrial settings were viewed most negatively. Moreover, the study revealed that natural views are not “always” more pleasant than urban views, and the positive reaction is mostly the result of aesthetic quality of the view content.

Practical application: This study provides empirical confirmation that validates previous studies regarding the association of view content and building occupants’ preference, specifically within healthcare settings. It also provides a reliable foundation for developing a robust rating system to accurately classify and quantify the quality of views in healthcare settings. Furthermore, the findings of this study can be used by designers to better incorporate the needs of healthcare design community and those who aim to consider view in the design stages of new built spaces or retrofit of existing spaces.
Preparing for the Next Generation: Profiles of Millennial City Managers and Their Approach to the Job
Authors: Casey Lucas J. , Vogel Morgan D.
Published: November 2019

Millennials make up the largest share of the U.S. workforce; prioritize work–life balance, personal growth, and a sense of community; and may be well suited for a public service sector facing a wave of retirements. Recommendations for attracting millennials suggest cultural shifts within public administration are needed, yet knowledge remains limited on millennials already in public management. This article recaps the ongoing generational transition and helps fill these knowledge gaps with interviews of four millennial-aged city managers in Iowa. If validated by further research, these exploratory findings suggest millennial city managers will navigate the profession without requiring wholescale cultural shifts.
The case for epistocratic republicanism
Authors: Blunt Gwilym David
Published: November 2019

In recent years, the fortunes of democracy have waned both in theory and practice. This has added impetus not only to the republican case for strengthening democratic institutions but also to new anti-democratic thought. This article examines the claim made by Jason Brennan that epistocracy, rule by the ‘knowledgeable’, is compatible with freedom from domination. It begins by briefly explaining epistocracy and republicanism. It then presents the argument for epistocratic republicanism: that democracy can be a source of domination and that freedom from domination can be secured through non-democratic political institutions. The case against epistocratic republicanism is grounded in concerns about systemic domination and the ability of epistocrats to arbitrarily set the terms of social cooperation. These two arguments are judged on the basis of which better minimises domination while respecting its value to all people. Epistocratic republicanism is found to be less reliable because of the risks of epistemic injustice that accompanies systemic domination; democracy, accompanied by other republican institutions, is better at minimising domination and respecting persons. It concludes that republicans ought to be democrats.
Activity and advanced cancer: A grounded theory
Authors: Lowe Sonya S , Milligan Christine , Brearley Sarah G
Published: November 2019

Background:

Cancer-related fatigue and loss of physical functioning are distressing symptoms which negatively impact the quality of life of people with advanced cancer. Physical activity has been shown to have positive effects on these symptoms in early-stage cancer, but previous research demonstrated an incongruence between people with advanced cancer’s expressed interest and actual participation in a physical activity intervention.

Aim:

To gain an in-depth understanding of the experience of activity and quality of life in people with advanced cancer, using a classic grounded theory approach.

Design:

Through the post-positivist lens of subtle realism, and informed by classic grounded theory methods, a two-phase, cross-sectional, qualitative study was conducted. For 7 days duration, participants wore an activPAL™ activity monitor and completed a daily record sheet, which were then used as qualitative probes for face-to-face, semi-structured interviews.

Setting/participants:

A total of 15 people with advanced cancer, aged 18 years or older, and with a median survival of 100 days from time of study consent, were recruited from an outpatient department of a tertiary cancer centre in Alberta, Canada.

Findings:

Maintaining their responsibilities, no matter how small, was the prime motive for participants’ behaviour. For people with advanced cancer, the minimum level of responsibility was dynamic and unique. It was achieved through a multifaceted interaction between the perceived benefits, prevailing conditions and mechanisms.

Conclusion:

This grounded theory enables understanding of activity as a mechanism through which responsibility is managed and may inform future behavioural interventions in people with advanced cancer.
Levels of agreement between cardiac magnetic resonance and conductance catheter measurements of right ventricular volumes after pulmonary artery banding
Authors: Gufler Hubert , Wagner Sabine , Niefeldt Sabine , Klopsch Christian , Brill Richard , Wohlgemuth Walter Alexander , Yerebakan Can
Published: November 2019

Background

Pressure-volume analysis is the gold standard for quantifying pump function of the right ventricle (RV); however, volume measurements based on a conductive catheter may be imprecise. The reference method for volume assessment is cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

Purpose

To determine the levels of agreement between RV volume measurements obtained by cine CMR, phase-contrast CMR (PC CMR), and a conductance catheter in an animal model.

Material and Methods

CMR was performed in 20 sheep three months after pulmonary artery banding. Ejection fraction (EF), end-diastolic (EDV), end-systolic (ESV), and stroke volumes (SV) were obtained by cine CMR and conductance catheter.

Results

Statistically significant differences between cine CMR and conductance catheter derived volume measurements were found for EDV ( P < 0.001), ESV ( P < 0.05), and SV ( P < 0.05). Bland–Altman analysis showed very poor agreement between the two methods: EDV, bias 36.27 mL, agreement of limits 1.96–70.57 mL; ESV, bias 15.33 mL, agreement of limits –6.89–37.55 mL; and SV, bias 20.69 mL, agreement of limits 8.01–49.10 mL. Good agreement was found for SV between cine CMR and PC CMR (bias –7.0 mL, agreement of limits –24.01–9.98 mL), while SV derived from PC CMR measurements showed poor agreement with conductance catheter (bias 27.76 mL, agreement of limits –3.84–59.26 mL).

Conclusion

Poor agreement between the conductance catheter and CMR RV volume measurements was found. PC CMR and cine CMR measurements of SV agreed well.
Hippocampal and trigeminal nerve volume predict outcome of surgical treatment for trigeminal neuralgia
Authors: Danyluk Hayden , Lee Esther Kyungsu , Wong Scott , Sajida Samiha , Broad Robert , Wheatley Matt , Elliott Cameron , Sankar Tejas
Published: November 2019

Background

Many medically-refractory trigeminal neuralgia patients are non-responders to surgical treatment. Few studies have explored how trigeminal nerve characteristics relate to surgical outcome, and none have investigated the relationship between subcortical brain structure and treatment outcomes.

Methods

We retrospectively studied trigeminal neuralgia patients undergoing surgical treatment with microvascular decompression. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging was used for manual tracing of trigeminal nerves and automated segmentation of hippocampus, amygdala, and thalamus. Nerve and subcortical structure volumes were compared between responders and non-responders and assessed for ability to predict postoperative pain outcome.

Results

In all, 359 trigeminal neuralgia patients treated surgically from 2005–2018 were identified. A total of 34 patients met the inclusion criteria (32 with classic and two with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia). Across all patients, thalamus volume was reduced ipsilateral compared to contralateral to the side of pain. Between responders and non-responders, non-responders exhibited larger contralateral trigeminal nerve volume, and larger ipsilateral and contralateral hippocampus volume. Through receiver-operator characteristic curve analyses, contralateral hippocampus volume correctly classified treatment outcome in 82% of cases (91% sensitive, 78% specific, p = 0.008), and contralateral nerve volume correctly classified 81% of cases (91% sensitive, 75% specific, p < 0.001). Binomial logistic regression analysis showed that contralateral hippocampus and contralateral nerve volumes together classified outcome with 84% accuracy (Nagelkerke R2 = 65.1).

Conclusion

Preoperative hippocampal and trigeminal nerve volume, measured on standard clinical magnetic resonance images, may predict early non-response to surgical treatment for trigeminal neuralgia. Treatment resistance in medically refractory trigeminal neuralgia may depend on the structural features of both the trigeminal nerve and structures involved in limbic components of chronic pain.
Effects of fremanezumab on the use of acute headache medication and associated symptoms of migraine in patients with episodic migraine
Authors: Brandes Jan Lewis , Kudrow David , Yeung Paul P , Sakai Fumihiko , Aycardi Ernesto , Blankenbiller Tricia , Grozinski-Wolff Melissa , Yang Ronghua , Ma Yuju
Published: November 2019

Background

Fremanezumab, a fully humanized monoclonal antibody targeting calcitonin gene-related peptide, has demonstrated efficacy for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults.

Objective

To evaluate the effect of fremanezumab treatment on acute headache medication use and migraine-associated symptoms in patients with episodic migraine.

Methods

In the Phase 3 HALO trial, patients with episodic migraine were randomized to receive subcutaneous fremanezumab monthly (225 mg at baseline, weeks 4 and 8), fremanezumab quarterly (675 mg at baseline, placebo at weeks 4 and 8), or placebo over a 12-week period. The secondary endpoint was change from baseline in the monthly number of days with use of any acute headache mediation or migraine-specific acute headache medication; exploratory endpoints were change from baseline in the monthly number of days with nausea or vomiting, photophobia, or phonophobia.

Results

Of 875 patients randomized, 865 were included in the analysis (monthly, n = 287; quarterly, n = 288; placebo, n = 290). Baseline mean ± standard deviation days with: Any acute headache medication use (monthly: 7.7 ± 3.4; quarterly: 7.8 ± 3.7; placebo: 7.7 ± 3.6), migraine-specific acute headache medication use (6.1 ± 3.1; 6.6 ± 3.1; 7.1 ± 3.0), nausea or vomiting (4.5 ± 3.6; 4.9 ± 3.7; 4.5 ± 3.3) and photophobia and phonophobia (5.5 ± 4.1; 6.3 ± 4.1; 6.0 ± 3.9) were similar among treatment arms. Fremanezumab reduced the number of days of acute headache medication use ([least-squares mean change vs. placebo] monthly: −1.4 [95% confidence interval: −1.84, −0.89], p < 0.001; quarterly: −1.3 [−1.76, −0.82], p < 0.001) and migraine-specific acute headache medication use (monthly: −2.2 [−2.80, −1.56], p < 0.001; quarterly: −2.2 [−2.81, −1.58], p < 0.001) compared with placebo. Fremanezumab also reduced nausea or vomiting, photophobia, and phonophobia compared with placebo.

Conclusions

Fremanezumab reduced the need for acute headache medications, including migraine-specific medications, while treating migraine-associated symptoms in patients with episodic migraine.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02629861
Peripheral-Track and Central-Track Hill-Sachs Lesions: A New Concept of Assessing an On-Track Lesion
Authors: Yamamoto Nobuyuki , Shinagawa Kiyotsugu , Hatta Taku , Itoi Eiji
Published: November 2019

Background:

It has been demonstrated biomechanically that 25% is a critical size defect of the glenoid. However, a recent clinical study reported that a bone loss between 13.5% and 20% (subcritical bone loss) led to impairment of quality of life but not a recurrence of instability.

Purpose:

To clarify whether a subcritical bone loss exists in assessing a Hill-Sachs lesion via a disease-specific quality of life questionnaire.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Fifty patients (mean age, 27 years) with <25% glenoid defect who were treated with arthroscopic Bankart repair for recurrent anterior dislocation were assessed at a mean follow-up of 28 months. All had an on-track Hill-Sachs lesion. The Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI) and Rowe scores were used for the clinical evaluation. The Hill-Sachs interval was measured on 3-dimensional computed tomography images and divided by the glenoid track width, defined as the Hill-Sachs occupancy (in percentages). The glenoid track was divided into 4 zones based on the percentage of the Hill-Sachs occupancy: zone 1, <25%; zone 2, 25% to <50%; zone 3, 50% to <75%; and zone 4, ≥75%.

Results:

The recurrence rate was 6% (3 of 50 shoulders). The Rowe score significantly improved from 45.2 ± 4.7 (mean ± SD) preoperatively to 92.3 ± 6.5 at the final follow-up ( P < .05). The WOSI score also significantly increased from 46.6% ± 19.3% preoperatively to 72.3% ± 21.0% at the final follow-up ( P < .001). The WOSI score of patients in zone 4 (peripheral-track lesion) (n = 10) was significantly lower than those in the other zones (central-track lesion) ( P = .0379). Of the 10 patients with the peripheral-track lesion, 5 had a <40% WOSI score, similar to the preoperative WOSI score (46.6%).

Conclusion:

Patients with on-track lesions can be divided into 2 subgroups: those with the Hill-Sachs occupancy ≥75% (peripheral-track lesion) showed significantly worse WOSI score without recurrent instability events than those with the Hill-Sacks occupancy <75% (central-track lesion).
Music Then and Now: Using Technology to Build a Lyric Animation Module
Authors: Geerling Wayne , Mateer G. Dirk , O’Roark Brian
Published: November 2019

This article describes a student group project (Music for Econ) which synthesizes music with economics and is a great way to connect with your audience. We trace the journey of Music for Econ from its inception as a Pop-Up video in the early 2000s through to the creation of a Music for Econ library on Critical Commons. Music for Econ is a pedagogical device which can be used to demonstrate the everyday application of economics and help unlock student creativity. Consequently, we provide the instructor with a do it yourself (DIY) manual, which shows them how to set up the project, customize it depending on the size of their class, and how to avoid common pitfalls. We also include an end of project survey template for reference and future use in an appendix. More broadly, Music for Econ is simply fun to watch if you like music and enjoy leaning about economics.

JEL Classifications: A20, A21, A22
What is reification in Georg Lukács’s early Marxist work?
Authors: Kavoulakos Konstantinos
Published: November 2019

After the initial formulation of the concept of reification in Georg Lukács’s History and Class Consciousness (HCC, 1923), a series of confusing uses of it within critical theory have contributed to blurring its contours. In his pre-Marxist work, while analyzing the social rationalization process, Lukács located the modern form of mediation between subject and object and connected it with certain effects on the level of human consciousness and behavior. This very scheme is repeated and refined in HCC. In the Reification essay, Lukács uses the neo-Kantian concept of the “form of objectivity” to grasp the central constitutive form of all kinds of objects in bourgeois society. He interprets Marx’s commodity form as the “archetype” of all capitalist objectivity, which consists in converting qualitative contents into quantitative categories. Thus, the formal/calculative rationality of exchange penetrates all kinds of objectification in modern society. In Lukács’s view, only in its modern, universalized form does rational objectification bring about the phenomenon of reification, i.e. the de-historicization and political neutralization of the social relations that constitute the social system and the dominant forms of consciousness. This systemic, cultural, and political understanding of reification can prove to be fruitful in the context of contemporary discussions on democratic transformative praxis.
Supply chain analysis of e-waste processing plants in developing countries
Authors: Baidya Rahul , Debnath Biswajit , Ghosh Sadhan Kumar , Rhee Seung-Whee
Published: November 2019

e-Waste is generated at the staggering rate of 6.1 kg per person. In 2016, 44.7 million tonnes was generated globally, and the amount is estimated to reach 52 million tonnes annually by 2021. The management of this huge quantity of e-waste is a major problem across the world, primarily in developing countries. An effective e-waste management system is linked to the sustainability of e-waste processing plants, and currently it is plagued with different supply chain network (SCN) issues. To address the issues and challenges of SCN, there is a need to prioritize and address the constructs. The study thus combines two multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) tools, the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and quality function deployment, to prioritize the constructs identified from literature and supported by field studies. The house of quality (HOQ) has been used for analyzing different stakeholders’ requirements. The degree of importance for HOQ-1 has been derived using the AHP tool. The study revealed the most intriguing issues and challenges of e-waste processing plants considering the requirements of different stakeholders. The results showed formal collection, storage, semi-informal collection, and e-waste quality to be the major issues of processing plants. The findings obtained from MCDM analysis have been validated though two case studies in India and China. If the results obtained are applied to the existing e-waste SCN, a holistic e-waste management system can be achieved for developing countries.
Fashion Exhibitions as Scholarship: Evaluation Criteria for Peer Review
Authors: Green Denise Nicole , Du Puis Jenny Leigh , Xepoleas Lynda May , Hesselbein Chris , Greder Katherine , Pietsch Victoria , Getman Rachel R. , Estrada Jessica Guadalupe
Published: November 2019

Curated exhibitions are places where research practice, creative design, storytelling, and aesthetics converge. In this article, we use the term “fashion exhibition” to refer to the organized display of extant dress-related items within museums or other public spaces. Curation, as a form of creative design research, produces numerous outcomes including museum exhibitions, digital archives, and associated publications; however, our field has not yet established a method to peer review fashion exhibitions. In this article, we build upon the work of previous scholars to propose criteria for evaluating fashion exhibitions. In doing so, we aim to elevate the scholarly status of fashion exhibitions, particularly those mounted by modestly funded institutions, and use the recent fashion exhibition, “Women Empowered: Fashions from the Frontline,” as an example to illustrate our argument.
Properties of high-temperature epoxy/DDS resin systems for bonding application
Authors: Zhou Haoran , Fan Xupeng , Liu Changwei , Qu Chunyan , Yuan Zhen , Jing Jiaqi , Tang Yao , Zhao Daoxiang , Xiao Wanbao , Su Kai
Published: November 2019

The choice of basic epoxy resin (ER) is especially important for the design of epoxy adhesive formulations. In the present study, performance of several high-temperature ER systems, prepared using 4,4-diaminodiphenylsulfone as the curing agent by the same curing process, was investigated. The curing behavior was studied by dynamic rheometry and differential scanning calorimetry. The thermal properties of the cured resins were investigated by dynamic thermomechanical analysis, thermomechanical analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. The peeling properties, mechanical behaviors, and moisture absorptivities of the cured resins were also studied. The results showed traditional diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A epoxy to be insufficient in heat resistance. Naphthalene-based ER and bifunctional cardo ER showed higher glass transition temperature values. However, the processability and adhesive properties may not comply with the application requirements. Biphenyl novolac ER has excellent performance in all aspects, which is suitable for use as a high-temperature adhesive.