bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modern Roundabouts and Traffic Crash Experience in United States
Authors: Flannery Aimee , Datta Tapan K.
Published: January 2019

Roundabouts have become popular in Australia and many countries in Europe during the past few decades. In the United States of America, however, roundabouts are just beginning to be recognized as an alternative treatment for roadway intersections. An effort was made to collect traffic and traffic crash data for existing roundabouts in the United States and to perform a statistical analysis to determine the effectiveness of roundabouts as a treatment for intersecting roadways. General information about thirteen roundabouts located in Maryland, Florida, Nevada, and California was collected and is included for readers’ use. In addition, six retrofitted roundabout sites with accident data ranging from 1 to 3 years before and after were analyzed. In all but one case, the reduction in accidents for roundabout sites was in the range of 60 to 70 percent. A chi-squared test and a normal approximation test were performed using the accident data from these six roundabout sites. Both of these tests indicated a significant difference in the reduction of frequency and mean of accidents at 95 and 99 percent confidence levels, respectively, between pre-roundabout and post-roundabout periods. Results, though limited, are encouraging and in line with findings of past European and Australian studies involving roundabouts. Additional studies on the safety performance of U.S. roundabouts should be conducted in the future when more data are available to reinforce these findings.
Judging Expertise Through Communication Styles in Intercultural Collaboration
Authors: Yuan Y. Connie , Liao Wang , Bazarova Natalya N.
Published: January 2019

Recent research on expertise management calls for more attention to the role of communication in expertise recognition. Cultural differences in communication styles can complicate communication of expertise and consequently make expertise recognition more difficult in mixed-culture groups than in same-culture groups. This article reports results from a two-phase study (348 Chinese and non-Asian U.S. citizen [NAUSC] students in the first phase, and 24 four-person groups that consist of both NAUSC and Chinese students in the second phase) on the role of communication styles in intercultural collaboration. The results suggest that for both Chinese and NAUSC students, conversational control, tenseness, task-oriented communication, and confidence are important cues influencing expertise judgment, but perceived expertise and actual expertise may be unrelated to each other.
As good as it gets: an empirical study on mentally-ill patients and their stay at a general hospital in Sweden, 1896–1905
Authors: Appelquist Malin , Brådvik Louise , Ottosson Ingemar , Åsberg Marie
Published: January 2019

General hospital care and treatment of mentally ill patients in a Swedish town was studied in records for 503 patients, 1896–1905. Restraint was extremely rare; 65% left the hospital as healthy or improved. Non-psychotic and alcoholic patients spent fewer days in hospital than patients with psychosis or dementia. There was no evidence of a social status bias. For 36% of the patients a certificate for mental hospital care was issued, with additional information. The cause of illness was stated as unknown for 42% of these patients; adverse circumstances were recorded for 18%. Heredity for mental illness was found in 50% of the patients, particularly in those with mania. Patients with a higher social status were underrepresented.
Tracing the socio-spatial logics of transnational landlords’ real estate investment: Blackstone in Madrid
Authors: Janoschka Michael , Alexandri Georgia , Ramos Hernán Orozco , Vives-Miró Sonia
Published: January 2019

The rapid internationalisation of the Spanish property market has triggered debates about the main characteristics of emerging post-crisis urban dynamics. Financial and urban policy reforms have shaped a model depicted by incessant rent increases and displacements. Echoing these concerns, this article addresses two interconnected objectives about the way policy restructuring encouraged transnational investments into Spanish real estate and the concomitant socio-spatial effects this wider asset reshuffling has produced. Both queries are discussed by pinpointing the multi-scalar investment strategies of the private equity firm, Blackstone, which emerged as the predominant institutional investor during the recovery phase of the Spanish property market. The article initially sketches out the trajectory of the political economy of housing in Spain, and then it focuses on the strategies pursued by Blackstone for the acquisition of real estate and housing stock. The following sections connect the nodes of the financial chain that link this investor to former social housing tenants whose homes are by now owned by Blackstone. The spatial and social effects of this change in property ownership demonstrate the importance of in-depth research about the financial nodes that interplay with and shape the post-crisis urban condition in and beyond Southern Europe.
Writing from the Margins of Media: Screenwriting Practice and Discourse During the First Indian Talkies
Authors: Sengupta Rakesh
Published: January 2019

This article is an attempt to rethink the intermedial practice and discourse of screenwriting during the first Indian talkies through a study of the margins of print, theatre and film history. I engage with the unfortunate archival absence of film scripts from the early years as a heuristic rather than a handicap, employing intermediality both as an archaeological and a conceptual tool in reconstituting screenwriting as a converged media practice. I argue that the widespread circulation of screenwriting manuals for amateurs constituted a pedagogical infrastructure separate from, but parallel to, the other infrastructural flow of ideas and professionals from the Parsi theatre into the film industry. The autobiographical accounts of some of the first playwright-turned-screenwriters bear testimony to the spaces they negotiated for themselves in the talkies after a successful stint with the Parsi stage. These memoirs form an interesting counterpoint to the testimonies of another group of screenwriters from the Indian Cinematograph Committee evidences (1927–1928) in which these writers express great apathy towards the practice in the Indian studios and declare their freelancing associations with Hollywood studios which solicited story ideas from viewers worldwide.
Synthetic cannabinoid use disorder: an update for general psychiatrists
Authors: Grigg Jasmin , Manning Victoria , Arunogiri Shalini , Lubman Dan I
Published: January 2019

Objective:

Synthetic cannabinoid use disorder is emerging as a significant clinical issue. This article provides the general psychiatrist with an overview of the physical and psychiatric adverse effects of chronic synthetic cannabinoid use, as well as specific clinical responses.

Method:

We performed electronic searches of Ovid MEDLINE and Ovid Embase to identify key articles, of all methodological designs, published up to June 2018.

Results:

The available evidence suggests that, compared to cannabis, use of synthetic cannabinoids is associated with the more rapid development of dependence, increased psychiatric risks and complex withdrawal, and serious physical adverse effects that include seizures, cardiotoxicity and death, denoting a potential need for more intensive management.

Conclusion:

When synthetic cannabinoid use is identified, along with management of acute physical and psychiatric adverse effects, psychotherapeutic strategies to reduce use and/or harm are recommended.
Family-Centered Practice in the Postmodern Era
Authors: Laird Joan
Published: January 2019

The postmodern movement has had a dramatic influence on the family therapy field and on social work, forcing a reexamination of long-held assumptions about assessment and intervention. The author explores how these ideas are being applied in the field of family therapy and the implications of this body of thought for social work practice.
Education for Family-Centered Practice
Authors: Anderson Sandra C.
Published: January 2019

Current trends threaten a shift in focus from family-centered to individually oriented practice. The author makes a case for resisting these forces and for the continued development of graduate curricula supportive of family-oriented practice. The sequence of advanced direct-practice courses described in this article is based on the integration of feminist and family-of-origin theories. Students learn to use social theories as a context for clinical theories and study their own families both to learn concepts and to explore how their own experiences and beliefs affect their practice. Comprehensive education in family-centered practice will require significant changes in the curriculum of most schools of social work.
Gender and Race: Employment Opportunity and the American Economy, 1969–1991
Authors: Caputo Richard K.
Published: January 2019

The author examined the relationship between gender and race with regard to economic conditions and employment opportunities between 1969 and 1991. The study showed that women in general and white women in particular experienced increasing employment opportunities and rising wages in the 1970s and 1980s, that the “privileged” economic status of white males eroded in the 1970s and 1980s, that blacks experienced greater income equality than whites from the 1970s to the 1980s, and that the income gains black men experienced in the 1970s declined markedly in the 1980s. Implications of pursuing a high-wage, high-tech economy for racial and gender groups are discussed.
Assessing Children's Visitation Needs with Divorced Noncustodial Fathers
Authors: Curtner-Smith Mary Elizabeth
Published: January 2019

Human service professionals such as psychologists, social workers, and family-relations specialists increasingly are asked to assess children's visitation needs with their divorced noncustodial fathers. Few guidelines exist for making such assessments. The author reviews theories that underscore the importance of fathers, even noncustodial fathers, in children's development as well as discusses the effects of divorce on children and fathers. A model containing variables to consider when assessing children's visitation needs with their noncustodial fathers is’ presented and discussed.
Use of Humor in Crisis Intervention
Authors: Pollio David E.
Published: January 2019

The author explores the possible effects of the worker's use of humor in crisis intervention. A schematic of the possibilities for this type of intervention is presented. Humor has the potential to cause both positive and negative reactions in clients. The author argues that humor is an effective therapeutic tool, providing the practitioner is willing to work with any potential outcome. A set of questions is presented to aid workers in determining whether humor is appropriate in specific situations.
Balancing Work and Family: Perspectives of Parents of Children with Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Freedman Ruth I. , Litchfield Leon C. , Warfield Marji Erickson
Published: January 2019

In an exploratory qualitative research study on balancing work and family responsibilities, four focus groups were convened to obtain the perspectives of working parents of children with developmental disabilities. Parents discussed the influence of their caregiving responsibilities on work decisions, work performance, career choices and development, and their use of informal, formal, and workplace supports. Key themes emerging from the focus- group data were discussed as well as implications for work and family policy, practice, and future research.
Single Mothers by Choice?
Authors: Davies Linda , Rains Prue
Published: January 2019

The authors conducted exploratory interviews with eight older single mothers. Results suggested that current media representations of “single mothers by choice” may oversimplify the experiences of many women by ignoring the context of gender relations within which both women and men's decisions regarding contraception, pregnancy, and parenthood “produce” single motherhood.
Book Review: The Revolutionary Pedagogy of Peter McLaren
Authors: Farahmandpur Ramin
Published: January 2019

And so if you ask us what we want, we will unashamedly answer: “To open a crack in history. ”
A History of Sex Education in the United States since 1900
Authors: Huber Valerie J. , Firmin Michael W.
Published: January 2019

We provide a historical perspective toward the current public school practices of American sex education. The primary time frames include the progressive era (1880–1920), intermediate era (1920–1960), the sexual revolution era (1960s and 1970s), and the modern sex education era (1980s to the present). In each period, we highlight key developments that affect educators’ current decision making as public sex education continues to develop and morph in the context of contemporary society. We show that an apt understanding of sex education's past is critical for making prudent decisions about its future.
High Stakes, Student Achievement, and Elementary Principals’ Job Satisfaction: An Empirical Study of the Reform State of California
Authors: Vang Maiyoua
Published: January 2019

Recognizing the inherent tension of leading for change amid the current reform environment, this study focused squarely on the relationship between public elementary school principals’ perceptions of job satisfaction and student achievement data from high-stakes, test-based accountability measures To quantify this relationship, the present study regressed principals’ satisfaction ratings on building-level achievement, principal characteristics, and organizational characteristics. Results from the regression procedure indicated that the variables addressed failed to control for principals’ self-ratings of job satisfaction Research implications are provided in light of these findings.
Pendulum Swings in Educational Policymaking
Authors: Dyson Dana D.
Published: January 2019

Reforms in American public education have not resolved the wide academic performance gap between students. Officials respond by developing reforms, that is, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act and Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Flexibility Waivers. The Waivers modified the more controversial aspects of ESEA/NCLB, which imposed a strict compliance deadline. This was a difficult task for many and an impossible one for the poorest school districts. Using factor analysis and logistic regression, this study provides a methodology for generating data to explain variation in student performance in Michigan school districts associated with organizational, school, financial, and social characteristics.
Sins of Omission: Constructing Negotiating Sets in the Aral Sea Basin
Authors: Weinthal Erika
Published: January 2019

Following the Soviet Union's collapse, the Central Asian states introduced new institutions for interstate environmental cooperation in the Aral Sea basin. This article examines why Central Asian elites and the international community could not choose the optimal negotiation set for environmental protection when designing postindependence solutions for cooperation. How the negotiation sets were constructed hinged on how issues were linked, added, and subtracted. This article explores the three negotiation sets available to the Central Asian states at independence: a water set; a water and energy set; and a water, energy, and agriculture set. Although the third set was the most environmentally effective, it was not included, in the set of feasible solutions for domestic political reasons related to the importance of cotton as a system of social, economic, and political control. Short-term economic and political interests prevented the leaders from shifting agricultural production away from cotton to less water-intensive crops.
On the behavior and force transmissibility of a cable network isolator
Authors: Chen Yanhao , Zhang Zhiyi
Published: January 2019

The cable network is being paid increased attention and has found application in practice as a new type of vibration isolator. Modal properties and isolation performance are important considerations for the widespread use of network isolators. In contrast with previous experiments on structural synthesis methods, this paper presents an analytical method to obtain the characteristic equation of a network structure. This method is extended to investigate the modal properties, forced vibration and vibration transmissibility of a network isolation system. In addition, the validity of these analytical modal solutions is verified by an independent finite element method. Modal properties and forced vibrations of cable networks with different configurations are examined. The important system parameters are identified and their effect on the system behavior is discussed.
Landscape of Health Systems in the United States
Authors: Furukawa Michael F. , Machta Rachel M. , Barrett Kirsten A. , Jones David J. , Shortell Stephen M. , Scanlon Dennis P. , Lewis Valerie A. , O’Malley A. James , Meara Ellen R. , Rich Eugene C.
Published: January 2019

Despite the prevalence of vertical integration, data and research focused on identifying and describing health systems are sparse. Until recently, we lacked an enumeration of health systems and an understanding of how systems vary by key structural attributes. To fill this gap, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality developed the Compendium of U.S. Health Systems, a data resource to support research on comparative health system performance. In this article, we describe the methods used to create the Compendium and present a picture of vertical integration in the United States. We identified 626 health systems in 2016, which accounted for 70% of nonfederal general acute care hospitals. These systems varied by key structural attributes, including size, ownership, and geographic presence. The Compendium can be used to study the characteristics of the U.S. health care system and address policy issues related to provider organizations.
Infant Feeding Practices In a Diverse Group of Women: The Healthy Start Study
Authors: Kaar Jill Landsbaugh , Sauder Katherine A , Shapiro Allison LB , Starling Anne P , Ringham Brandy M , Johnson Susan L , Dabelea Dana
Published: January 2019

Background:

To describe infant feeding practices among a diverse group of mother-offspring pairs and identify factors associated with adherence to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations.

Methods:

Data were analyzed from 835 mother-offspring dyads in The Healthy Start Study, an ongoing longitudinal prebirth cohort in Denver, Colorado. Maternal report of infant feeding practices was obtained at 4 to 6 months and 18 to 24 months postnatally. Practices were classified according to the following AAP recommendations: exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months, continued breastfeeding through 12 months, and introduction of solid foods around 6 months of age. Participants who met all 3 recommendations were categorized as “adherent.” All others were categorized as “not adherent.”

Results:

About 77% of dyads did not adhere fully to the AAP recommendations. Women who worked ⩾35 hours/week or had a higher prepregnancy body mass index were more likely to be nonadherent. Women who were older, college educated, or had offspring with greater weight for gestational age at birth were less likely to be nonadherent.

Conclusions:

Most of the women in a large contemporary cohort are not adhering to AAP infant feeding recommendations. Our results highlight the specific subgroups of women who may need additional support to optimize infant feeding practices.
Effect of chord axial stresses on the static strength of cracked tubular T/Y-joints under out-of-plane and in-plane bending
Authors: Li Tao , Lie Seng-Tjhen , Cong Peiwen
Published: January 2019

This study aims to investigate the strength reduction effect of chord axial stresses on the static strength of cracked tubular T/Y-joints under out-of-plane or in-plane bending moment using finite element analyses. The cracked tubular T/Y-joints contain a semi-elliptical surface crack at the weld toe of the chord. The benchmark analysis compares the numerically computed load–deformation response of a cracked X-joint fabricated from high-strength steel reported in a recent experimental study. This investigation quantifies the strength reduction caused by the chord axial stresses using the chord stress function Qcf. The parametric study covers the effect caused by the variation in both the local crack geometries, that is, the crack area and the global joint dimensions on the computed chord stress function. Finally, we give recommendations to calculate the strength reduction of the investigated cracked joints due to the chord axial stresses.
A novel smartphone-based evaluation system of pedestrian-induced footbridge vibration comfort
Authors: Chen Deyi , Wu Jie , Yan Quansheng
Published: January 2019

Pedestrian-induced vibration comfort is an important factor affecting the serviceability of footbridges. This article proposes a smartphone-based evaluation system for pedestrian-induced footbridge vibration comfort, and the evaluation system consists of a data acquisition subsystem, management center subsystem, and smartphone client. Four technical challenges in the application of the evaluation system are solved: coordinates transformation, acceleration signal drift correction, signal filtering, and computation of the total weighted root mean square acceleration. To verify the validity of the proposed evaluation system, field experiments are carried out on the Forth Corridor Footbridge in Guangzhou. A comparison of the proposed system and the traditional methodology shows that the total weighted root mean square acceleration errors between smartphones and accelerometers are less than ±5%. In addition, the subjective feelings in the field experiments are in excellent agreement with the corresponding stipulation in ISO 2631-1:1997 (Amendment 1. International Standardization Organization, Geneva, 2010).
Capital interplays and social inequalities in health
Authors: Veenstra Gerry , Abel Thomas
Published: January 2019

We explore the ramifications of applying Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of capitals to epidemiological research on socioeconomic health inequalities. Capitals are resources used by individuals and groups to maintain and enhance their positions in the social order. The notion of capital interplay refers to the interconnectedness of multiple forms of capital in the production of good health. We provide definitions of economic, cultural and social capitals and describe a variety of causally distal processes—namely, capital acquisition, multiplier and transmission interplays—from which new hypotheses can be developed to guide future study of socioeconomic health inequalities in modern societies.
Prediction of thermal stratification in an engine-like geometry using a zero-dimensional stochastic reactor model
Authors: Franken Tim , Klauer Christian , Kienberg Martin , Matrisciano Andrea , Mauss Fabian
Published: January 2019

The prediction of local heat transfer and thermal stratification in the zero-dimensional stochastic reactor model is compared to direct numerical simulation published by Schmitt et al. in 2015. Direct numerical simulation solves the Navier–Stokes equations without incorporating model assumptions for turbulence and wall heat transfer. Therefore, it can be considered as numerical experiment and is suitable to validate approximations in low-dimensional models. The stochastic reactor model incorporates a modified version of the Euclidean Minimum Spanning Tree mixing model proposed by Subramaniam et al. in 1998. To capture the thermal stratification of the direct numerical simulation, the total enthalpy ( H) is used as the only mixing limiting scalar within the newly proposed H-Euclidean-Minimum-Spanning-Tree. Furthermore, a stochastic heat transfer model is incorporated to mimic turbulence effects on local heat transfer distribution to the walls. By adjusting the Cϕ mixing time and Ch stochastic heat transfer parameter, the stochastic reactor model predicts accurately the thermal stratification of the direct numerical simulation. Comparing the Woschni, Hohenberg and Heinle heat transfer model shows that the modified Heinle model matches accurately the direct numerical simulation results. Thereby, the Heinle model accounts for the influence of turbulent kinetic energy on the characteristic velocity in the heat transfer coefficient calculation. This highlights the importance of incorporating turbulence effects in low-dimensional heat transfer models. Overall, the zero-dimensional stochastic reactor model with the H-Euclidean-Minimum-Spanning-Tree mixing model, the stochastic heat transfer model and the modified Heinle correlation have proven successfully the prediction of mean quantities like temperature and heat transfer and thermal stratification of the direct numerical simulation.
A Meta-Analysis of Social Marketing Campaigns to Improve Global Conservation Outcomes
Authors: Green Kevin M. , Crawford Brian A. , Williamson Katherine A. , DeWan Amielle A.
Published: January 2019

The rapidly increasing rate of biodiversity and habitat loss across the globe can be largely attributed to human behaviors. Conservation practitioners have struggled to influence behaviors through traditional awareness-raising efforts and been slow to adopt techniques from the behavioral sciences such as social marketing to change behaviors and improve conservation outcomes. We conducted a meta-analysis of 84 social marketing campaigns that applied the same theory of change for human behavior to disrupt patterns of destructive activities such as illegal hunting and overfishing. Questionnaires of more than 20,000 individuals across 18 countries measured changes in behavioral variables pre- and post-campaigns, including knowledge, attitudes, interpersonal communication, behavior intention, and behavior. For each campaign, we extracted data and validated data for behavioral variables, estimated mean effect sizes for each variable across all campaigns, and used path analysis to measure relationships among variables included in seven different models. On average, all behavioral variables increased significantly ( p < .001) from 16.1 to 25.0 percentage points following social marketing campaigns. The full model used a combination of all variables and had the highest explained variation in behavior change (71%). Our results highlight the importance of (a) incorporating behavioral theory and social marketing into traditional conservation programs to address threats to biodiversity across the globe; (b) designing interventions that leverage a combination of community knowledge, attitudes, and communication about a behavior; and (c) facilitating more opportunities for interpersonal communication as a main driver of behavior change. We conclude with potential applications for practitioners interested in behavior change campaigns.
Graphing Each Individual's Data over Time
Authors: Chatfield Mark D.
Published: January 2019

Graphing each individual's data over time (in separate graphs) can be a worthwhile approach in exploring longitudinal and panel datasets. This especially applies for datasets where several variables change over time and where there are many possible time points, for example, administrative datasets and patient safety profiles in clinical trials. Studying a few individuals’ graphs closely can provide insight into the nature and quality of the data, generate hypotheses, and inform data analysis. Selecting a few typical or unusual graphs can make for powerful presentations at meetings. I give examples of graphing a single variable and multiple variables over time for each individual, and I detail associated Stata coding tips and tricks.
Heteroskedasticity- and Autocorrelation-robust F and t Tests in Stata
Authors: Ye Xiaoqing , Sun Yixiao
Published: January 2019

In this article, we consider time-series, ordinary least-squares, and instrumental-variable regressions and introduce a new pair of commands, har and hart, that implement more accurate heteroskedasticity- and autocorrelation-robust (HAR) F and t tests. These tests represent part of the recent progress on HAR inference. The F and t tests are based on the convenient F and t approximations and are more accurate than the conventional chi-squared and normal approximations. The underlying smoothing parameters are selected to target the type I and type II errors, which are the two fundamental objects in every hypothesis testing problem. The estimation command har and the postestimation test command hart allow for both kernel HAR variance estimators and orthonormal-series HAR variance estimators. In addition, we introduce another pair of new commands, gmmhar and gmmhart, that implement the recently developed F and t tests in a two-step generalized method of moments framework. For these commands, we opt for the orthonormal-series HAR variance estimator based on the Fourier bases because it allows us to develop convenient F and t approximations as in the first-step generalized method of moments framework. Finally, we present several examples to demonstrate these commands.
Understanding Face and Shame: A Servant-Leadership and Face Management Model
Authors: Song Jiying
Published: January 2019

Clergy can have a negative impact on churches and other individuals when they knowingly or unknowingly attempt to save face, that is, try to protect their standing or reputation. The desire to gain face and the fear of losing face and feeling ashamed will likely permeate clergy’s decision-making processes without even being noticed. This study explores the essence of face and face management and the relationship between face management and two characteristics of servant-leadership—awareness and healing—in both Chinese and American churches through the methodology of hermeneutic phenomenology. Prior to this study, to my knowledge, no hermeneutic phenomenological research of face management has been conducted in a church setting. Through a review of the literature, four areas are explored: face and shame, face management, servant-leadership, and face, shame, and face management within the church. This study obtained approval from the Institutional Review Board and informed consent from the participants. Three Chinese and three American Christian ministers were chosen to complete a question sheet and participate in two semi-structured interview sessions. A first cycle of open coding and second cycle of pattern coding were used during data analysis. Face experiences are discussed in light of eight major themes: body, triggers, becoming, face concepts, strategies, emotions, servant-leadership, and the church. Findings from the study help build a servant-leadership and face management model, which can offer an anchored approach for clergy and pastoral counselors to address face and shame and to develop therapeutic interventions.
TLR4 mediates upregulation and sensitization of TRPV1 in primary afferent neurons in 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfate-induced colitis
Authors: Wu Yingwei , Wang Yingping , Wang Juan , Fan Qi , Zhu Jinyu , Yang Liu , Rong Weifang
Published: January 2019

Elevated excitability of primary afferent neurons underlies chronic pain in patients with functional or inflammatory bowel diseases. Recent studies have established an essential role for an enhanced transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) signaling in mediating peripheral hyperalgesia in inflammatory conditions. Since colocalization of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and TRPV1 has been observed in primary afferents including the trigeminal sensory neurons and the dorsal root ganglion neurons, we test the hypothesis that TLR4 might regulate the expression and function of TRPV1 in primary afferent neurons in 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfate (TNBS)-induced colitis using the TLR4-deficient and the wild-type C57 mice. Despite having a higher disease activity index following administration of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfate, the TLR4-deficient mice showed less inflammatory infiltration in the colon than the wild-type mice. Increased expression of TLR4 and TRPV1 as well as increased density of capsaicin-induced TRPV1 current was observed in L4–S2 dorsal root ganglion neurons of the wild-type colitis mice till two weeks post 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfate treatment. In comparison, the TLR4-deficient colitis mice had lower TRPV1 expression and TRPV1 current density in dorsal root ganglion neurons with lower abdominal withdrawal response scores during noxious colonic distensions. In the wild type but not in the TLR4-deficient dorsal root ganglion neurons, acute administration of the TLR4 agonist lipopolysaccharide increased the capsaicin-evoked TRPV1 current. In addition, we found that the canonical signaling downstream of TLR4 was activated in 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfate-induced colitis in the wild type but not in the TLR4-deficient mice. These results indicate that TLR4 may play a major role in regulation of TRPV1 signaling and peripheral hyperalgesia in inflammatory conditions.
Reliability modeling for a discrete time multi-state system with random and dependent transition probabilities
Authors: Hu Linmin , Peng Rui
Published: January 2019

In a random environment, state transition probabilities of a multi-state system can change as the environment changes. Thus, a dynamic reliability model with random and dependent transition probabilities is developed for non-repairable discrete-time multi-state system in this article. The dependence among the random state transition probabilities of the system is modeled by a copula function. By probability argument and random process theory, we obtain explicit expressions of some reliability characteristics and joint survival function of random time spent by the system in all working states (partially and completely working states). A special case is considered when the state transition probabilities are dependent random variables with power distribution, and the dependence structure is modeled by Farlie–Gumbel–Morgenstern copula. Numerical examples are also presented to demonstrate the developed model and perform a comparison for the models with random and fixed transition probabilities.
Comparison of venous thromboembolism risk stratification models in a high risk otolaryngology patient cohort
Authors: Tham Tristan , Costantino Peter
Published: January 2019

Our objective was to compare the venous thromboembolism outcomes in two of the most commonly utilised venous thromboembolism assessment tools, the Caprini system and the University of Michigan system, in a high risk head and neck surgery population. Currently, there is a lack of data reporting the validation of well known scoring systems in this patient population. Established risk factors for venous thromboembolism were included in the data collection process. We retrospectively evaluated all patients with the Caprini Risk Assessment and the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) Scores. Out of all the risk factors, only length of surgery was found to be associated with venous thromboembolism. The mean Caprini scores in those with and without venous thromboembolism were 8.00 ± 3.00 and 6.86 ± 1.45, respectively. The mean UMHS scores in those with and without venous thromboembolism were 6.85 ± 1.28 and 6.54 ± 1.20, respectively. Both scoring systems were not found to be associated with venous thromboembolism.
Long Term Exposure to Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate-Containing Antiretroviral Therapy Is Associated with Renal Impairment in an African Cohort of HIV-Infected Adults
Authors: Agbaji Oche O. , Abah Isaac O. , Ebonyi Augustine O. , Gimba Zumnan M. , Abene Esla E. , Gomerep Simji S. , Falang Kakjing D. , Anejo-Okopi Joseph , Agaba Patricia A. , Ugoagwu Placid O. , Agaba Emmanuel I. , Imade Godwin E. , Sagay Atiene S. , Okonkwo Prosper , Idoko John A. , Kanki Phyllis J.
Published: January 2019

Objectives and Method:

There are growing concerns of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)–associated renal toxicity. We evaluated the effect of long-term TDF exposure on renal function in a cohort of HIV-1-infected Nigerians between 2006 and 2015. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of renal impairment at different time over 144 weeks of antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Results:

Data of 4897 patients, median age 42 years (interquartile range: 36-49), and 61% females were analyzed. The prevalence of renal impairment increased from 10% at week 24 to 45% at 144 weeks in TDF-exposed participants compared to an increase from 8% at 24 weeks to 14% at 144 weeks in TDF-unexposed participants. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate exposure predicted the risk of renal impairment at 144 weeks of ART (odds ratio: 2.36; 95% confidence interval: 1.28-4.34).

Conclusion:

Long-term exposure to TDF-based ART significantly increases the likelihood of renal impairment. The continued use of TDF-based regimen in our setting should be reviewed. We recommend the urgent introduction of tenofovir alafenamide–based regimen in the HIV treatment guidelines of Nigeria and other resource-limited countries.
Translation and Adaption of Questionnaires: A Nursing Challenge
Authors: Kalfoss Mary
Published: January 2019

Background

Translation of previously developed questionnaires has often been the choice when addressing research to groups whose language is not English. In the translation of health-related questionnaires, it is highly important to assure congruency between the words and their true meaning in the language to which the questionnaire is translated.

Aim

To describe the semantic problems encountered in translating a standardized questionnaire from English (the Identity and Experiences Scale) to Norwegian according to the World Health Organizations translation protocol.

Design

A mixed-method study was used with the formation of four focus groups and a postal survey.

Data sources

Eighteen respondents from a nursing college in Oslo, an aged community in northeast Norway, and a community organization of retired persons in southeast Norway were focus group participants. In sum, 141 persons participated in the postal survey.

Findings

A number of semantical challenges in relation to interpretation and understanding of the meaning and use of words in the Identity and Experiences Scale were found.

Discussion

Words bearing emotional weight and connected to complex operational concepts were found to be problematic. Various American-English colloquial expressions also caused semantical challenges. Other problems were related to sentence structure and grammar form.

Conclusion

Translation, adaptation, and validation of questionnaires or scales for practice and research are very time-consuming and require careful planning and the adoption of rigorous methodological approaches to derive a reliable and valid measure of the concept of interest in the target population.

Implications for nursing

Translation quality is a methodological issue that nurses need to take seriously. It is highly recommended that nurses follow and document steps in a procedure of forward translation, qualitative reviews of translated items with regard to clarity, common language and conceptual adequacy, back translation, testing on lay panels, and committee review, or a probable variation of this procedure.
Introduction to precision medicine in COPD
Authors: Leung Janice M. , Obeidat Ma'en , Sadatsafavi Mohsen , Sin Don D.
Published: January 2019

Although there has been tremendous growth in our understanding of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its pathophysiology over the past few decades, the pace of therapeutic innovation has been extremely slow. COPD is now widely accepted as a heterogeneous condition with multiple phenotypes and endotypes. Thus, there is a pressing need for COPD care to move from the current “one-size-fits-all” approach to a precision medicine approach that takes into account individual patient variability in genes, environment and lifestyle. Precision medicine is enabled by biomarkers that can: 1) accurately identify subgroups of patients who are most likely to benefit from therapeutics and those who will only experience harm (predictive biomarkers); 2) predict therapeutic responses to drugs at an individual level (response biomarkers); and 3) segregate patients who are at risk of poor outcomes from those who have relatively stable disease (prognostic biomarkers). In this essay, we will discuss the current concept of precision medicine and its relevance for COPD and explore ways to implement precision medicine for millions of patients across the world with COPD.
Broad applicability of a streamlined Ethyl Cinnamate-based clearing procedure
Authors: Masselink Wouter , Reumann Daniel , Murawala Prayag , Pasierbek Pawel , Taniguchi Yuka , Bonnay François , Meixner Katharina , Knoblich Jürgen A. , Tanaka Elly M.
Published: January 2019

Turbidity and opaqueness are inherent properties of tissues which limit the capacity to acquire microscopic images through large tissues. Creating a uniform refractive index, known as tissue clearing, overcomes most of these issues. These methods have enabled researchers to image large and complex 3D structures with unprecedented depth and resolution. However, tissue clearing has been adopted to a limited extent due to a combination of cost, time, complexity of existing methods and potential negative impact on fluorescence signal. Here we describe 2Eci (2nd generation Ethyl cinnamate based clearing) which can be used to clear a wide range of tissues, including cerebral organoids, Drosophila melanogaster, zebrafish, axolotl, and Xenopus laevis in as little as 1-5 days while preserving a broad range of fluorescent proteins including GFP, mCherry, Brainbow, as well as alexa-fluorophores. Ethyl cinnamate is non-toxic and can easily be used in multi-user microscope facilities. This method opens up tissue clearing to a much broader group of researchers, due to its ease of use, non-toxic nature of Ethyl cinnamate and broad applicability.
BBS4 is required for IFT coordination and basal body number in mammalian olfactory cilia.
Authors: Uytingco Cedric R. , Williams Corey L. , Xie Chao , Shively Dana T. , Green Warren W. , Ukhanov Kirill , Zhang Lian , Nishimura Darryl Y. , Sheffield Val C. , Martens Jeffrey R.
Published: January 2019

Bardet-Beidl Syndrome (BBS) manifests from genetic mutations encoding for one or more BBS proteins. BBS4 loss impacts olfactory ciliation and odor detection yet the cellular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report that Bbs4−/− mice exhibit shorter and fewer olfactory sensory neuron (OSN) cilia despite retaining odorant receptor localization. Within Bbs4−/− OSN cilia, we observed asynchronous rates of IFT-A/B particle movements indicating miscoordination in IFT complex trafficking. Within the OSN dendritic knob, the basal bodies are dynamic with incorporation of ectopically expressed centrin-2 and γ-tubulin occurring after nascent ciliogenesis. Importantly, BBS4 loss results in the reduction of basal body numbers separate from cilia loss. Adenoviral expression of BBS4 restored OSN cilia lengths and was sufficient to re-establish odor detection but failed to rescue ciliary and basal body numbers. Our results yield a model for the plurality of BBS4 functions in OSNs that includes intraciliary and periciliary roles that can explain the loss of cilia and penetrance of ciliopathy phenotypes in olfactory neurons.
Elaborate pupils in skates may help camouflage the eye
Authors: Youn Sean , Okinaka Corey , Mäthger Lydia M.
Published: January 2019

The skate Leucoraja erinacea is a bottom-dweller that buries into the substrate with their eyes protruding, revealing elaborately shaped pupils. It has been suggested that such pupil shapes may camouflage the eye; yet, this has never been tested. Here, we asked whether skate pupils dilate or constrict depending on background spatial frequency. In Experiment 1, the skates’ pupillary response to three artificial checkerboards of different spatial frequencies was recorded. Results showed that pupils did not change in response to spatial frequency. In Experiment 2, in which skates buried into three natural substrates of different spatial frequencies, such that their eyes protruded, pupils showed a subtle but statistically significant response to changes in substrate spatial frequency. While light intensity is the primary factor determining pupil dilation, our results show that pupils also change depending on the spatial frequency of natural substrates, which suggests that pupils may aid in camouflaging the eye.
Livonian social networks and language shift
Authors: O’Rourke Patrick
Published: January 2019

This article presents a study of Livonian social networks in the beginning of the 20th century during a time of language shift. In this study, I examine whether the Livonian communities were experiencing a language shift irrespective of the population displacements during the two World Wars, which has often been given as the main reason for the Livonian language shift to Latvian. I apply the Network Strength Scale to examine if social network centrality played a role in the language shift. The study focuses on the Livonian villages of Vaid and Sīkrõg and social factors relevant to the mapping of the social network are taken from Edgar Vaalgamaa’s survey in 1935–1937. The results indicate that generational differences played a more important role than centrality in the social network in determining Latvian influence.Kokkuvõte. Patrick O’Rourke: Liivi keele sotsiaalsed võrgustikud ja keele vahetus. Artikkel tutvustab uurimust Kuramaa liivlaste sotsiaalsetest võrgustikest 20. sajandi esimesel poolel, kui keelevahetus liivi keelelt läti keelele oli juba alanud. Autor vaatleb, kuivõrd liivi kogukondades sõltus keelevahetus kahe maailmasõja aegsest elanikkonna deporteerimisest, mida on tavaliselt peetud keelevahetuse põhjuseks. Rakendatakse suhtlusvõrgustike tugevuse analüüsi, et selgitada, kas isiku keskne asend sotsiaalses võrgustikus oli keelevahetuse jaoks oluline. Uurimus keskendub liivi küladele Vaid ja Sīkrõg. Sotsiaalsete võrgustike kaardistamiseks on valitud olulised tegurid Edgar Vaalgamaa poolt aastatel 1935–1937 läbi viidud küsitluse põhjal. Tulemused näitavad, et läti keele mõju ulatus sõltub rohkem põlvkondlikest erinevustest kui isiku asendist sotsiaalses võrgustikus. Artikkel põhineb autori magistritööl, mis on kaitstud 2016. aastal Yorki Ülikoolis.Märksõnad: ajalooline lingvistika, sotsiolingvistika, sotsiaalsed võrgustikud, keelevahetus, liivi keelKubbõvõttõks. Patrick O’Rourke: Līvõ kīel sotsiālizt võrgõd ja kīel vaidimi. Kēra tuņšlõb Kurāmō līvõd sotsiāliži võrgidi 20. āigastsadā ežmizõs pūolsõ, ku vȯļ irgõn līvõ kīel vaidimi lețkīelkõks. Kēratiji vaņțlõb, kui ulzõ ajjimi kōd mōilmasuodā āigal mȯjīz kīel vaidimiz līvõd kubgõņis. Sīe pierāst um kõlbātõd rovst võrgõd viššit analīz. Analīz abkõks um seļțõd, või se, ku rištīngõn um vȯnd sidāmi kūož sotsiālizt võrgõd sizāl, um vȯnd ka tǟdzi kīel vaidimiz āigal. Tuņšlimizõs amā jemīņ ātõ vaņțõltõd līvõd kilād Vaid ja Sīkrõg. Sotsiālizt võrgõd tǟtimiz pierāst um kȭlbatõd Edgar Vālgamō 1935.–1937. āigast tīedõd rovkizzimi. Tuņšlimi nägțõb, ku lețkīel mȯjjimi jemīņ um sidtõd sugkazāmõks, äbku rištīng kūožõks sotsiālizt võrgõd sizāl. Kēra alīzõks um kēratijiz magistõrtīe, mis um kaitstõd 2016. āigasts York Iļīzskūols.