bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Establishment of prognostic scoring models for different etiologies of acute decompensation in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis
Authors: Cai Qun , Zhu Mingyan , Duan Jinnan , Wang Hao , Sheng Jifang
Published: July 2019

Objective

Acute decompensation (AD) in liver cirrhosis has high mortality. We assessed prognostic scoring models and established prediction models for different etiologies of AD.

Methods

This retrospective analysis included 732 patients hospitalized with acute decompensated cirrhosis without acute-on-chronic liver failure. We performed logistic regression analysis of risk factors for mortality associated with different etiologies, to establish predictive models.

Results

Patients with different etiologies, scored using different scoring systems and various impact factors, exhibited differences with respect to mortality. MELD, CLIF-C-AD, MELD-Na, and AARC-ACLF scores exhibited adequate predictive ability for mortality. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for 28-day mortality for MELD, CLIF-C-AD, MELD-Na, AARC-ACLF, and the newly developed AD scores was 0.663, 0.673, 0.657, 0.662, and 0.773, respectively, in the hepatitis B virus group (HBV-AD score =−5.51 + 0.07*WBC count (109/L) +0.7*AD sum+0.4*AARC-ACLF score); 0.731, 0.737, 0.735, 0.689, and 0.778, respectively, in the alcoholic liver disease group (ALD-AD score =−4.55 +0.08* WBC count (109/L) +1.34* AD sum); and 0.765, 0.767, 0.814, 0.720, and 0.814, respectively, in the Others group (OTHERS-AD score =−2.14 + 1.24*MELD-Na score +4.49*AD sum).

Conclusions

The newly developed scoring models for short-term mortality were superior to the other scoring systems in predicting prognosis of acute decompensated cirrhosis in hospitalized patients.
Proprioceptive Precision and Degree of Visuo-Proprioceptive Discrepancy Do Not Influence the Strength of the Rubber Hand Illusion
Authors: Motyka Paweł , Litwin Piotr
Published: July 2019

Rubber hand illusion is caused by spatiotemporally congruent visuotactile stimulation which induces a sense of ownership towards a fake limb. We tested two predictions of the Bayesian bottom-up model; namely, that the strength of the illusion is inversely proportional to (a) the distance separating hands and (b) the precision of proprioceptive signals. To manipulate distance, we displaced participants’ hands to either a position close to (8 cm) or far from (24 cm) the rubber hand. Before manipulation, we assessed proprioceptive abilities in a task requiring active reproduction of one’s arm’s position. Proprioceptive precision was operationalised as inversely related to the variance of the estimations. Multiple regression showed that both for subjective and physiological measures neither distance, nor proprioceptive precision, nor their interaction were predictors of illusion strength. Bayes factor analyses provided evidence for null effects. Our findings suggest the limited relevance of proprioception for the strength of visuo-haptically induced rubber hand illusion.
Energy landscapes in Mozambique: The role of the extractive industries in a post-conflict environment
Authors: Kirshner Joshua , Broto Vanesa Castán , Baptista Idalina
Published: July 2019

Rather than an integrated project of modernity, the provision of energy in Mozambique is characterized by social and territorial fragmentation. Our concern in this article is with spatial-political projects that enlist energy-related infrastructure as a means of furthering national unity across the national territory. We argue that the Mozambican state’s efforts to knit together its territory through energy provision have heightened divisions, such as between urban and rural areas, subnational regions and socioeconomic groups. We draw on geographical political economy and landscape research to consider the space and territoriality of Mozambique’s energy systems. We use the lens of energy landscapes to examine the spatialities and historical legacies of energy-related infrastructural state projects, and how such spatialities and legacies shape new energy projects. These landscapes are material expressions of the social, political and institutional relations bound up in energy extraction, distribution and consumption. They reflect historical legacies, revealing traces of successive developments. While previous studies have focused on local energy landscapes in a variety of settings, our aim is to examine how such landscapes connect with wider nation-building projects and the operation of political economies. To elucidate these points, we examine two energy-related projects and their landscapes in Mozambique: Cahora Bassa hydropower dam and the Moatize coal extraction zone. The article concludes by reflecting on the ways in which energy landscapes can be used to interrogate the dynamics of power inherent in energy systems, the evolving links between state power and electric power, and the interests being served by these developments.
A different perspective: Can urine pH be important in the diagnosis of prostate cancer?
Authors: Ceylan Cavit , Doluoglu Omer Gokhan , Yahşi Sedat
Published: July 2019

Objective:

The aim of our study was to investigate emphasis of urinary pH in patients with prostate cancer.

Methods:

Patients, who underwent 12-core prostate biopsy because of prostate-specific antigen elevation and suspicious digital rectal examination, were retrospectively reviewed. According to pathology, patients with prostate cancer were classified as group 1, and patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia were classified as group 2. Primary endpoint of this study was the urine pH. The age of two groups and urine pH were compared with each other. Student t test and Mann–Whitney U test were used for the intergroup analysis of continuous variables. A cut-off value for urine pH was determined with a receiver operating characteristic curve. p < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results:

There were 119 patients in group 1 and 99 patients in group 2. When urine pHs of both groups were compared, group 1 and group 2 were 5.1 ± 0.45 and 5.5 ± 0.79, respectively (p = 0.0001). The cut-off value determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for urine pH was 5.2 (sensitivity: 42%, specificity: 79%, area under the curve: 0.61; 95% CI: [0.53, 0.68]; p = 0.003).

Conclusion:

Acidic urine pH may be important for predicting prostate cancer according to this study.
Computerization and the Decline of American Unions: Is Computerization Class-Biased?
Authors: Kristal Tali
Published: July 2019

This article offers a new explanation for union decline by focusing on a currently neglected site that exemplifies the fragility of unions—the shop floor in the computer revolution era. Using data from several sources including the National Labor Relations Board, it analyzes the effect of using a computer at work on the odds of being a union member and the broader effect of computerization on union strength within detailed industries between 1973 and 2002. Workers who used a computer at work were found less likely to be union members, and computerization of workplaces accounted for about a quarter of the decline in union density within industries; partly by changing the skill composition of industries’ workforces and partly by enhancing employers’ resistance to unions as measured by their use of unfair labor practices and decertification elections as documented by the National Labor Relations Board. The findings are explained in a new theoretical framework that specifies what computerization does to unions by (a) reshaping the way products are made and services are provided and (b) boosting a profound power shift throughout workplaces.
A Polluting Creed: Religion and Environmental Inequality in the United States
Authors: Smiley Kevin T.
Published: July 2019

Research on religion and the environment primarily focuses how religion shapes environmental attitudes, but this leaves aside how this connection links to observable levels of pollution. This article outlines three elements by which religion and environmental inequality are related: the cumulative effect of religious worldviews, free market outlooks held by some religious adherents, and the bridging or bonding character of social ties of religious adherents. These three elements are analyzed by examining the relationship between industrial air pollution and the proportion of population in metropolitan areas that are conservative Protestant, Mainline Protestant, Catholic, and a composite measure. Results show that the composite measure is associated with more industrial pollution. But important distinctions between religious groups show that a greater proportion of conservative Protestant Evangelical adherents are associated with greater pollution, but that Catholic and Mainline Protestant adherents are not. These findings suggest the importance of renewing research between religion and environmental degradation.
Chemical and thermal deproteinization of human demineralized tooth matrix: Physicochemical characterization and osteoblast cell biocompatibility
Authors: Tanwatana Sureerat , Kiewjurat Ajchara , Suttapreyasri Srisurang
Published: July 2019

Although human tooth was developed for using as a bone graft material due to their similarity in chemical composition compared to human bone, the clinical application was limited to autologous use. The aims of this study were to develop the deproteinized human demineralized tooth matrix to be used as a bone graft substitution. The physicochemical characteristic and osteoblastic cell biocompatibility of these materials were analyzed and compared. Human demineralized tooth matrix was prepared by using 0.5 M HCl. Deproteinization of demineralized tooth matrix was performed via three protocols; (a) thermal treatment, (b) NaOH/thermal treatment and (c) H2O2/thermal treatment. Phase and chemical composition were assessed by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared analysis. Structural modification was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Degradation behavior was evaluated over 60 days. The adhesion and cell proliferation of osteoblast cells were performed on the most appropriate protocol in which proteins were totally eliminated. The results showed that thermal and chemical-thermal deproteinization yielded no distinct morphological and physical changes in deproteinized human demineralized tooth matrix. The scanning electron microscopy examination demonstrated open dentinal tubules with smooth dentin surface in thermal and H2O2/thermal group, while NaOH/thermal group showed rough dentin surface. The X-ray diffraction spectroscopy confirmed that there was only hydroxyapatite phase. The X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy showed that the main components of tooth were calcium (Ca) and phosphorous(P) and the Ca/P molar ratio was about 1.5–1.8. The degradation of the deproteinized human demineralized tooth matrix was slow (Thermal = 9.506 ± 2.568%, NaOH/thermal = 10.244 ± 2.609%, H2O2/thermal = 8.976 ± 2.354%, p <  0.05) at day 60. However, only NaOH/thermal deproteinization demonstrated no protein content. The cells attached and grew on the NaOH/thermal deproteinized human demineralized tooth matrix. The deproteinized human demineralized tooth matrix prepared from the NaOH/thermal protocol demonstrated good physicochemical, and degradation properties that were suitable for preparing bone substitution. In addition, the deproteinized human demineralized tooth matrix scaffold is also favorable for cell attachment and proliferation.
Measuring Gender-Based Household Maltreatment in Urban Slums of Mumbai, India
Authors: Ritter Julie , Dasgupta Anindita , Raj Anita , Decker Michele R. , Nair Saritha , Trivedi Amruta , Naik Dattaram , Donta Balaiah , Saggurti Niranjan , Silverman Jay G.
Published: July 2019

Emerging research has documented non-violent forms of abuse against wives in India. Gender-based household maltreatment (GBHM) has been linked to poor maternal and child health outcomes, but the measurement of GBHM requires statistical validation. The objective of this study is to evaluate a new measure of GBHM of women by husbands and in-laws during the perinatal period for validity and internal reliability (before, during, and post pregnancy). This study utilized cross-sectional quantitative data collected from women ( n = 1,049) seeking immunizations for their infants <6 months of age at large urban health centers in three major slum communities in Mumbai, India. After domain mapping and item consolidation, exploratory factor analysis identified a single factor among final scale items for each perinatal time period, with Velicer’s Minimum Average Partial (meeting criterion at <0.065) confirming a single factor. Overall, the measure shows good internal reliability and both face and construct validity. On these merits, the measure should be assessed for utility in determining whether the more commonly reported non-violent forms of abuse act as a risk factor for poor maternal and child health outcomes.
Staging the Lived Experience and Socialist Everyday Life in Post-Yugoslav Theater
Authors: Kosmos Iva
Published: July 2019

Authoritative models of remembering Yugoslavia tend to exclude experiences of living people while often reproducing the memory trope of “totalitarian legacy.” Several theater performances that appeared in 2010 and 2011 challenged these memory models, as they centered on performers’ personal experiences and recollections as legitimate sources of understanding, imagining, and discussing the past. This article investigates how lived experience is (re)constructed in the theater and whether these performances differ from dominant narratives. Reception analysis of selected performances has shown that public and media appear to find affective memories of socialism more acceptable if told from the position of victims and “authentic” witnesses. Performances widened and diversified the cultural memory of socialism and directed attention to positively evaluated experiences of socialist culture and everyday life, such as multicultural and supranational interactions in Yugoslavia. Nevertheless, the dominant representation of Yugoslav state as totalitarian was not challenged, but rather sidestepped. The focus on popular and everyday culture thus remains the predominant memory model for remembering Yugoslavia in theater, which can be seen as a part of wider processes of gradual reevaluation of socialist life in post-socialist Europe.
Silencing Women? Gender and Online Harassment
Authors: Nadim Marjan , Fladmoe Audun
Published: July 2019

While gendered online harassment has received increased attention in academic and public debates, there is a lack of empirical studies examining gender differences in experiences with online harassment. Relying on two independent large-scale population surveys carried out in Norway, this article examines whether women experience more—and different—online harassment than men, to what extent different types of online harassment silence its targets, and whether there are gendered patterns in how online harassment works as a silencing mechanism. Analytically, we distinguish between different levels of severity of online harassment and what the harassment is directed toward. Contrary to popular expectations, we find that more men than women have experienced online harassment. The main reason is that men receive more comments directed at their opinions and attitudes; women and men are equally exposed to harassment directed toward group characteristics. However, targeted women are more likely than targeted men to become more cautious in expressing their opinions publicly. Furthermore, the gender differences increase as the harassment becomes more aggressive and directed toward group characteristics.
Dry turning of AISI D3 steel using a mixed ceramic insert: A study
Authors: Rath D , Panda S , Pal K
Published: July 2019

AISI D3 steel is a new kind of hardened tool steel with excellent wear resistance. This hard material receives wide promotion, investigation, and application in the die manufacturing industries. In the machining of AISI D3 steel, tool wear has a close relationship with the presence of different constituent elements in the workpiece material and cutting conditions. This study reports an improved experimental investigation approach to the analysis of effect of cutting speed, feed rate, and depth of cut on cutting forces, surface roughness, tool wear, and chip morphology in high-speed turning of AISI D3 steel using a hybrid TiN-coated Al2O3 + TiCN mixed ceramic insert. The range of each parameter is set at different levels for the analysis purpose. The experimental observations show that the cutting force is predominantly influenced by the feed rate accompanied by the depth of cut. The predominant factor influencing flank wear is the feed rate accompanied by the depth of cut and cutting speed. Feed rate is one of the dominating factors that influences the surface finish characteristics. The characterization of tool wear and chip morphology was performed by a scanning electron microscope supplied with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy pattern. The results demonstrated that the predominant wear mechanism of the multilayered hybrid-coated tool was flank wear, crater wear, adhesion wear, and abrasive wear.
Numerical investigation on the nonlinear dynamics of a breathing cracked rotor supported by flexible bearings
Authors: Zheng Zhaoli , Xie Yonghui , Zhang Di , Zhu Fahui
Published: July 2019

The steady-state response and breathing mechanism of a cracked rotor supported by flexible bearings are investigated in this paper. The generalized and efficient method proposed in this paper can be used to study the dynamics of complicated cracked structures without much modification. First, a three-dimensional finite element model of the cracked rotor-bearing system is established in the rotating frame and a general contact model for modeling the breathing crack is proposed. A component mode synthesis is used to form a reduced-order model. Then, a procedure combining multi-harmonic balance method with arc-length method is used to search the response solution. To accelerate the calculation, the analytical formulations for calculating the tangent stiffness matrix are used. Finally, the gravity induced response and breathing mechanism of a cracked rotor-bearing system are obtained. Interesting result is that the rotational speed and the crack depth will influence the breathing mechanism even if the load remains unchanged.
The impact of non-clean energy consumption on economic growth: Evidence from symmetric and asymmetric analyses in the US
Authors: Wu Hung-Ming
Published: July 2019

Non-clean energy consumption is one of the key components of environmental quality. The current study investigates the symmetric and asymmetric effects of non-clean energy consumption (total fossil fuel consumption) on economic growth by including clean energy consumption (nuclear electric power consumption and total renewable energy consumption) as well as capital and financial development in the production function. The linear autoregressive distributed lag and nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag bounds testing approaches were applied to conduct symmetric and asymmetric analyses in the US. The range of analysis is from 1960 to 2015. Ultimately, the study’s findings indicate that non-clean energy has an asymmetric effect on economic growth. In other words, improving environmental quality (by decreasing non-clean energy consumption) will reduce economic growth in the long term, but not in the short term. This research is therefore applicable for policymakers in the US.
Unravelling the Holocene environmental history of south-western Iberia through a palynological study of Lake Medina sediments
Authors: Schröder Tabea , López-Sáez José Antonio , van’t Hoff Jasmijn , Reicherter Klaus
Published: July 2019

Lake Medina is a small, shallow and endorheic salt lake sensitive to climate variation in south-western Spain, close to Cádiz in western Andalusia. It is located in an evaporitic and karstic environment, and a saline lake affected by highly seasonal precipitation and evaporation. Geochemical and mineralogical data of core CO1313 combined with a robust age model show variation that contributes to the understanding of palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic change. This study shows a pollen record that has been conducted on core CO1313, together with charcoal and non-pollen palynomorph analyses. The environmental and climatological history reconstruction of Lake Medina starts in early Holocene times (at 9.5 cal. ka BP) and shows intensified pasture and land use during middle-Holocene times as well as the 8.2 and 4.2 cal. ka BP abrupt climate events. Oxidation of plant remnants and resulting non-preservation at certain times reinforces the hypothesis of intense climate effects on vegetation during the 4.2 cal. ka BP climate event. Yet, oxidation of plant residues during other episodes shows other periods that were also affected by reduced precipitation. From around 2 cal. ka BP onwards, a recent trend towards aridification and enforced seasonality was detected.
A 45-year sub-annual reconstruction of seawater temperature in the Bay of Brest, France, using the shell oxygen isotope composition of the bivalve Glycymeris glycymeris
Authors: Featherstone Amy M , Butler Paul G , Schöne Bernd R , Peharda Melita , Thébault Julien
Published: July 2019

A reconstruction of sea surface temperature (SST) spanning 45 years (1966–2011) was developed from δ18O obtained from the aragonitic shells of Glycymeris glycymeris, collected from the Bay of Brest, France. Bivalve sampling was undertaken monthly between 2014 and 2015 using a dredge. In total, 401 live specimens and 243 articulated paired valves from dead specimens were collected, of which 24 individuals were used to reconstruct SST. Temperatures determined using the palaeotemperature equation of Royer et al. compared well with observed SST during the growing season between 1998 and 2010 (Pearson’s correlation: p = 0.002, r = 0.760). Furthermore, a significant negative correlation was found between the reconstructed SST and the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre (SPG) index ( p = 0.001, r = −0.50), and a significant positive correlation was found with the East Atlantic Pattern (EAP) index when the reconstructed SST was lagged by 1 year ( p = 0.002, r = 0.46). This led to the conclusion that EAP and SPG are major influences on SSTs in the Bay of Brest. As the SPG controls air temperature in Northern Europe and the EAP controls water temperature in Southern Europe, this suggests that the Bay of Brest is an interaction area between these two climate systems. As such, this locality is interesting as the δ18O of the shells can be used as a proxy for both the SPG and EAP, and temperature reconstructions can provide a unique insight into how these climate systems interacted prior to the instrumental era.
YouTube as a Patient-Information Source for Cleft Lip and Palate
Authors: Korkmaz Yasemin Nur , Buyuk Suleyman Kutalmış
Published: July 2019

Objective:

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the content and quality of the popular videos on YouTubeTM about the treatment of cleft lip and palate.

Design:

Retrospective, YouTubeTM video analysis.

Methods:

The 3 keywords “cleft lip and palate surgery,” “cleft lip and palate treatment,” and “cleft lip and palate repair” were searched on YouTubeTM. After sorted by view-count, final 50 videos were analyzed for general characteristics, primary purpose, information content, relevance, audiovisual quality, and also viewers’ interaction index, and viewing rate formulas were calculated for each video. Kruskal Wallis and one-way analysis of variance tests were used to compare the video parameters between good, moderate, and poor information content videos.

Results:

The viewing rate was significantly higher in good content videos ( P = .003). Most of the videos were uploaded by a clinic (32%), a surgeon (20%), or individuals (22%) who shared their own experience. Most of the videos (54.00%) were classified as moderate general information content and 26.00% were rated as poor, and 20.00% were rated as good. Videos generally involved patient information (60.00%), followed by patient parent’s experience (14.00%), and cleft lip and palate surgery (12.00%). The average viewers’ interaction index of all evaluated YouTubeTM videos was 0.36.

Conclusions:

Although most of the videos were rated as moderate regarding the sufficiency of the information, the results of this study showed that YouTubeTM could still not be considered as a fully reliable source of information for patients on treatment of cleft lip and palate.
Balanced Crystalloids Versus Saline in Critically Ill Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Hammond Drayton A. , Lam Simon W. , Rech Megan A. , Smith Melanie N. , Westrick Jennifer , Trivedi Abhaya P. , Balk Robert A.
Published: July 2019

Background: The optimal resuscitative fluid remains controversial. Objective: To assess the association between crystalloid fluid and outcomes in critically ill adults. Methods: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane Central Register for Controlled Trials were searched from inception through July 2019. Cohort studies and randomized trials of critically ill adults provided predominantly nonperioperative fluid resuscitation with balanced crystalloids or 0.9% sodium chloride (saline) were included. Results: Thirteen studies (n = 30 950) were included. Balanced crystalloids demonstrated lower hospital or 28-/30-day mortality (risk ratio [RR] = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.75-0.99; I2 = 82%) overall, in observational studies (RR = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.41-0.99; I2 = 63%), and approached significance in randomized trials (RR = 0.94; 95% CI = 0.88-1.02; I2 = 0%). New acute kidney injury occurred less frequently with balanced crystalloids (RR = 0.91; 95% CI = 0.85-0.98; I2 = 0%), though progression to renal replacement therapy was similar (RR = 0.91; 95% CI = 0.79-1.04; I2 = 38%). In the sepsis cohort, odds of hospital or 28-/30-day mortality were similar, but the odds of major adverse kidney events occurring in the first 30 days were less with balanced crystalloids than saline (OR = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.66-0.91; I2 = 42%). Conclusion and Relevance: Resuscitation with balanced crystalloids demonstrated lower hospital or 28-/30-day mortality compared with saline in critically ill adults but not specifically those with sepsis. Balanced crystalloids should be provided preferentially to saline in most critically ill adult patients.
Dabigatran Monitoring Was Influenced by Thrombin Time Reagent With Different Thrombin Concentrations
Authors: Xu Xiaoping , Liang Qian
Published: July 2019

To describe the effect of dabigatran on thrombin time (TT) reagents at different concentrations of thrombin. Pooled normal plasma enriched with dabigatran was dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) at concentrations of 0, 20, 50, 100, 200, 300, and 500 ng/mL. Samples with each concentration were evaluated using a semiautomatic coagulation analyzer to assess the effect of dabigatran on internal normalized ratio (INR), thromboplastin time (APTT), and TT, which were purchased from Instrument Laboratory (IL), Sysmex (SYS), and Stago (STA), respectively. Regarding INR, no reagent showed good sensitivity to increasing concentration of dabigatran, despite all reagents showing good linear response curves ( P = .012). Regarding APTT, all reagents had low sensitivity to increasing dabigatran concentration, but SYS-APTT showed a better linear response curve ( P = .001). Regarding TT, all reagents had a good linear response to the concentration of dabigatran; however, SYS-TT was very sensitive at low concentrations of dabigatran (0-100 ng/mL), while IL (TT-5 mL) and STA-TT were sensitive at medium concentrations of dabigatran (0-300 ng/mL), and IL (TT-2 mL) was less sensitive for a wide concentration of dabigatran (0-500 ng/mL; P = .007). Internal normalized ratio and APTT showed low sensitivity and SYS-TT showed high sensitivity to concentrations of dabigatran that were unsuitable to monitor. Both IL (TT-5 mL) and STA-TT were useful at medium concentrations of dabigatran by semiautomatic coagulation analyzer, which calculated results using the end point method of coagulation. Instrument Laboratory (TT-2 mL), which contains a higher concentration of thrombin, had better sensitivity to the concentration of dabigatran than APTT and was suitable for routine monitoring by an automatic analyzer.
Collaborative Alliance of Parent and Child Welfare Caseworker
Authors: Cheng Tyrone C. , Lo Celia C.
Published: July 2019

This secondary analysis of data describing 3,035 parents, drawn from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II, identified factors fostering the collaborative alliance of parents and caseworkers within the child welfare system. We used generalized least squares random effects modeling for panel data. We sought associations between caseworker engagement as perceived by parent and parent’s interpersonal capacities, intrapersonal dynamics, problem severity, and racial/ethnic background, and between that perception and caseworker turnover. Parents in our sample had been substantiated for maltreatment of their children. Results showed that parent’s perceived caseworker engagement was associated positively with seven factors: parent’s social support, parent’s mental health, kinship care, out-of-home placement, parent’s African American ethnicity, parent’s Hispanic ethnicity, parent/caseworker shared ethnicity, and family income. Perceived engagement was associated negatively with caseworker turnover (i.e., number of caseworkers assigned, by turns, to parent’s case). Implications for practicing social work within the child welfare system are discussed.
A Network Analytic Approach to Selective Consumption of Newspapers: The Impact of Politics, Market, and Technological Platform
Authors: Lee Francis L. F. , Yin Zhang
Published: July 2019

Recent research has adopted the network analytic approach to examine issues of audience fragmentation and selective exposure. This article extends this line of study by analyzing how newspapers’ political stance, market position, and technological platform predict readership overlap. Analyzing readership survey data in Hong Kong, the results show that market position—in terms of elite versus mass orientation and language of the newspapers—consistently predicts readership overlap. In comparison, political distance between two newspapers predicts readership overlap mainly when online readership is concerned. Different from the United States, predictors of readership overlap do not vary for news consumers of different partisanship.
Peer Engagement Behaviors: Conceptualization and Research Directions
Authors: Lin Meizhen , Miao Li , Wei Wei , Moon Hyoungeun
Published: July 2019

Using social network theory as a theoretical root, this study introduces the concept of peer engagement behaviors and discusses its characteristics in relation to customer, employee, and actor engagement behaviors. This study identifies several sets of foundational research questions related to peer engagement behaviors that focus on unique attributes such as role duality, role fluidity, platform centrality, tie strength, and multidirectionality of peer engagement behaviors. Directions for broad areas of future research are also discussed to encourage theory-building on topics related to measurement, classification, subjective experiences, antecedents, and consequences of peer engagement behaviors.
Comparison of using Galilei Dual Scheimpflug Analyzer G4 and Barrett formula in predicting low cylinder preoperatively for cataract surgeries
Authors: Ho Yi-Ju , Sun Chi-Chin , Lee Jiahn-Shing , Lin Ken-Kuo , Hou Chiun-Ho
Published: July 2019

Purpose:

To compare corneal astigmatism estimation from Barrett toric calculator, with measurement from Galilei Dual Scheimpflug Analyzer G4 in low corneal cylinder patients.

Methods:

Preoperative corneal astigmatism was measured using Auto Kerato-Refractometer (AutoKM), IOL Master, and Galilei G4 (combined Placido-dual Scheimpflug analyzer) and was processed by Barrett toric calculator with measurements obtained from Auto Kerato-Refractometer and from IOL Master. A total of 42 eyes undergoing cataract surgery with nontoric intraocular lens implantation were included. Corneal astigmatism was calculated based on manifest refractive astigmatism with implications of surgically induced astigmatism. Errors in predicted residual astigmatism were calculated by the difference between postoperative manifest cylindrical refractive error and preoperative corneal cylinder using vector analysis.

Results:

Centroid error in predicted residual astigmatism was with-the-rule 0.36 D for AutoKM and 0.48 D for IOL Master, was lower at 0.24 D for the Barrett–IOL Master, and was lowest at 0.21 D for the Barrett–AutoKM ( p < .001). The Galilei G4 demonstrated the highest centroid error for SimK (0.53 D) and lower for total corneal power (0.49 D). The Barrett toric calculator obtained the lowest median absolute error in predicted residual astigmatism for AutoKM (0.43 D) and IOL Master (0.54 D). The Barrett–IOL Master demonstrated that 61% and 76% of eyes were within 0.50 and 0.75 D of the predicted residual astigmatism, respectively.

Conclusion:

The Barrett–IOL Master had more accurate prediction of residual astigmatism for low astigmatism eyes before cataract surgery compared to Galilei Dual Scheimpflug Analyzer G4 in this study.
Repositioning of malpositioned peripherally inserted central catheter lines with the use of intracavitary electrocardiogram: A pediatric case series
Authors: Weber Mark D , Himebauch Adam S , Conlon Thomas
Published: July 2019

Introduction:

Peripherally inserted central catheter tip migration is an infrequent event that occurs in neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients. We discuss a novel technique of utilizing intracavitary electrocardiogram to help confirm proper peripherally inserted central catheter tip repositioning, thereby reducing the need for serial radiographs.

Case presentation:

A case series of four patients will be discussed. The first three patients had peripherally inserted central catheter tips that were initially appropriately positioned but had later peripherally inserted central catheter tip migration. The use of intracavitary electrocardiogram was able to confirm the appropriate repositioning of the peripherally inserted central catheters without the need for serial radiographs. The fourth patient had several central lines in place, which led to difficulty in identifying the peripherally inserted central catheter tip location. The use of intracavitary electrocardiogram confirmed proper positioning of his peripherally inserted central catheter tip when standard radiographs could not provide clarity.

Discussion:

Several techniques have been published on methods to reposition a migrated peripherally inserted central catheter tip back to the superior vena cava/right atrial junction. These repositioning techniques often require fluoroscopic guidance or a confirmatory radiograph to assess the appropriate peripherally inserted central catheter tip location. At times, several radiographs may be required before the tip is successfully repositioned. This novel application of intracavitary electrocardiogram can help to minimize radiographs when peripherally inserted central catheter tip repositioning is required.
Streptococcus pneumoniae as a Cause of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Indian Adolescents and Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ghia Canna J. , Dhar Raja , Koul Parvaiz A , Rambhad Gautam , Fletcher Mark A
Published: July 2019

Background:

Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the primary cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) worldwide. However, scant data are available on the prevalence of etiological organisms for CAP in adolescent and adult Indian population.

Objective:

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the contribution of S. pneumoniae in the causation of CAP in Indian patients aged 12 years or above.

Methodology:

We performed a systematic search of both indexed and non-indexed publications using PubMed, databases of National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR), Annotated Bibliography of Indian Medicine (ABIM), Google Scholar, and hand search including cross-references using key terms ‘community acquired pneumonia AND India’. All studies, published between January 1990 and January 2017, that evaluated Indian patients aged above 12 years with a confirmed diagnosis of CAP were eligible for inclusion. Our search retrieved a total of 182 studies, of which only 17 and 12 qualified for inclusion in the systematic review of all etiological organisms, and meta-analysis of S. pneumonia, respectively.

Results:

A total of 1435 patients met the inclusion criteria. The pooled proportion of patients with S. pneumoniae infection was 19% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 12%-26%; I2 = 94.5% where I2 represents heterogeneity, P < .01). Other major etiological agents are Mycoplasma pneumoniae (15.5% [1.1%-35.5%]), Klebsiella pneumoniae (10.5% [1.6%-24.0%]), and Legionella pneumophila (7.3% [2.5%-23.8%]).

Conclusions:

Analysis found approximately a one-fifth proportion of adult Indian patients of CAP with S. pneumoniae infection, suggesting it as a leading organism for causing CAP compared with other etiological organisms.
Role of Serum and Urinary Biomarkers in Evaluation and Management of Patients With Overactive Bladder
Authors: Trivedi Sameer , Patnaik Pranab , Ramole Yashpal , Khan Faiz Ahmed , Srivastava Ragini , Dwivedi Udai Shankar
Published: July 2019

Background:

This study compared urinary and serum nerve growth factor levels and serum C-reactive protein levels in patients with overactive bladder, before and after treatment with antimuscarinic agents, to evaluate their diagnostic and therapeutic importance.

Methods:

This was a prospective case-control study conducted between February 2014 and December 2014 which included patients with a confirmed diagnosis of overactive bladder (overactive bladder group) and healthy controls (control group). All patients visiting urology out-patient department with urgency, frequency, and urge incontinence were assessed for overactive bladder and, if eligible, were enrolled in the study. Biomarkers were evaluated before in both groups and after antimuscarinic treatment in the overactive bladder group.

Results:

Overall, 80 participates were enrolled (overactive bladder, n = 40; control, n = 40). The mean age was not different between the two groups (overactive bladder, 48.6 years; control, 46.9 years [ P = 1.01]) and females were more in both the groups (60% and 55%, respectively). The majority (70%) of patients presented with frequency and urgency. After 3 months of treatment with antimuscarinics, the mean overactive bladder symptom score decreased significantly from 8.4 to 4.85 ( P < .001). The mean urinary and serum nerve growth factor levels and serum C-reactive protein levels also decreased significantly from baseline after 3 months of treatment with antimuscarinics (24.78 pg/mL, 22.46 pg/mL, 0.89 mg/L, respectively; P < .0001).

Conclusions:

Measurement of urinary and serum nerve growth factor levels has diagnostic and therapeutic potential in patients with overactive bladder.
Psychological predictors of loneliness among Palestinian university students in the West Bank
Authors: Nazzal Filasteen I. , Cruz Orlanda , Neto Félix
Published: July 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive role of life satisfaction, perceived social support, and psychological problems on loneliness among Palestinian university students in the West Bank. Participants were 254 volunteer undergraduate students (50.4% males and 49.6% females), ranging from 18 to 26 years of age. Data was collected using the Loneliness Scale (UCLA), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Psychological Problems Scale and a Demographic Information Form. There was a significant gender bias towards loneliness, male students being lonelier than female students. Results showed that students who had higher loneliness, felt less satisfied with their life and perceived less support from friends, family and significant others. Furthermore, students who had high loneliness also presented more psychological problems. These results also indicated that, after accounting for psychological problems, life satisfaction, and social support from friends and significant others are negative predictors of loneliness. These findings suggest that universities should create strategies to improve well-being and social support to protect students from the negative effects of loneliness.
Celebrity capital, field-specific aesthetic criteria and the status of cultural objects: The case ofMasked and Anonymous
Authors: Stewart Simon
Published: July 2019

This article probes the explanatory value of the concept of celebrity capital in helping us to grasp the fate of celebrities and the cultural objects they produce when they move across to other fields. However, the article seeks to do more than this: with reference to the example of the singer-songwriter Bob Dylan’s incursion into the cinematic field, where he co-wrote Masked and Anonymous (2003), it contributes to debates by examining the significance of field-specific aesthetic criteria in helping us to gain insight into the aesthetic value of cultural objects. While Dylan’s celebrity capital gave him access to a number of ‘A-List’ celebrity actors, the aesthetic dimension of the film did not have a meaningful relation to the state of play in the cinematic field and so the film was, in the main, critically panned. So, Masked and Anonymous made Dylan’s boundary-crossing journey in reverse: it retreated to the field of popular music where its aesthetic properties were warmly received when considered in relation to Dylan’s wider body of work. Meanwhile, it was difficult for the harshest critics to ignore the aesthetic value that Dylan’s wider body of work had accumulated over time. There is, then, a temporal dimension of aesthetic appraisal that needs to be considered, even when reviews are considered at a particular historical conjuncture. In this analysis of field-specific aesthetic criteria, we see that boundary work is effective in diminishing the status of a cultural object ( Masked and Anonymous), but we also see that each critic has only limited sway in the face of the totality of judgements which emerges as a supra-individual voice, heterogeneous and full of contradictions, deriving from all those who make evaluative judgements in the field of culture.
Rigid–flexible coupled dynamic response of steel–concrete bridges on expressways considering vehicle–road–bridge interaction
Authors: Chen Enli , Zhang Xia , Wang Gaolei
Published: July 2019

Steel–concrete bridges on highways are now widely used, and their dynamic coupling effect is more prominent under heavy vehicles. At present, for the study of vehicle–bridge coupling, it is difficult to reflect the mechanical response characteristics of the bridge pavement because the bridge pavement (road) is often considered as a load. In order to get closer to reality, we use the whole vehicle model and the bridge model to realize the dynamic coupling of highway vehicle–bridge. Moreover, the vehicle model can take into account tire characteristics, such as various linear and nonlinear suspension characteristics, and tire–ground contact characteristics. So, a new vehicle–road–bridge interaction method with higher computational efficiency is proposed. This method can be used not only to analyze the overall mechanical response of bridge structure such as deflection and stress but also to analyze the dynamic characteristics of driving vehicles and the coupling force between tires and pavement and then to analyze the dynamic deformation and stress of asphalt pavement layers on the bridge. First, according to the construction drawings of a steel–concrete bridge on a highway and a Dongfeng brand three-axle vehicle, a vehicle–road–bridge interaction rigid–flexible coupling model was established. Second, the correctness and effectiveness of the vehicle–road–bridge interaction model were verified by field testing. Finally, the dynamic response of the vehicle–road–bridge interaction rigid–flexible coupling model was analyzed.
Revisiting the Role of Private Schooling on Children Learning Outcomes: Evidence from Rural India
Authors: Singhal Karan , Das Upasak
Published: July 2019

In the view of increasing preference of private schooling in India, this article assesses its impact on learning outcomes for rural children from 8 to 11 years. Despite earlier attempts to study the issue, this article stands out in two ways. Firstly, it addresses the problems arising because of non-random selection of children attending private schools. Secondly, it also presents an all-India estimate unlike most studies which have dealt largely with few states. Our results show the performance of children attending private school to be significantly better than those from public schools. This difference is evident among ‘low-fee’ private schools as well. However the private schooling premium differ across regions and groups, and there are several other concerns regarding affordability, access and segregation which require further deliberation and debate.

JEL: I2, I21, I28
The effect of vent inlet aspect ratio and its location on ventilation efficiency
Authors: Chen Tingsen , Feng Zhuangbo , Cao Shi-Jie
Published: July 2019

The total energy consumption of buildings in China has been increasing year by year, ventilation energy consumption accounts for more than 20% of the total building energy consumption. The optimisation of ventilation system design aiming at energy conservation is of great significance while keeping healthy indoor air quality. However, the current codes and standards are still lacking specification requirements for vents design, e.g. inlet size ratio or position, which can greatly impact on indoor airflow and ventilation efficiency. In this work, we investigated the aspect ratios of vent inlets and their locations on indoor air quality. Both experimental and numerical simulation methods were adopted. Ventilation efficiency is represented with the local average peak concentration 〈C ̅*〉A,max. Results showed that when vent inlet is in symmetric conditions (i.e. located in the middle of the sidewall) and the aspect ratio between the length and width of the vent inlet equals to 4, ventilation removal efficiency showed the best performance. These findings are of great importance to the engineering applicability and able to provide reference for future design standards.
Book review: Moss, Jeremy. 2015: Climate Change and Justice
Authors: Martens Karel
Published: July 2019

Moss, Jeremy. 2015: Climate Change and Justice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 253 pp. 12 chapters. £84.75 (Hardcover). ISBN 978-1-107-09375–1