bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Steroids in the Management of Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Zur Dinah , Iglicki Matias , Loewenstein Anat
Published: May 2019

Inflammation is substantially contributing to the development and worsening of diabetic retinopathy in general and diabetic macular edema (DME) in particular, which provides the rationale to treat DME with corticosteroids. While anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents are mostly chosen as a first-line treatment, there is an important role for steroids in the treatment algorithm for DME. A slow-release bioerodible dexamethasone implant and an extended-release nonbioerodible fluocinolone acetonide insert are both approved for the treatment of DME and provide the advantage of sustained drug delivery and reduced treatment burden. Steroids bare the complications of cataract progression and increase of intraocular pressure (IOP). However, with dexamethasone implant, IOP rise is well manageable with topical treatment in almost all cases. Dexamethasone implant has been shown to be effective in the treatment of naive DME as well as in eyes nonresponding to anti-VEGF agents. In these cases, early switching to steroids may be considered and has been shown to be beneficial. Fluocinolone acetonide is reserved for severe cases of chronic DME insufficiently responsive to other available therapies. Future randomized controlled trials are needed to realize the role of steroids in the current treatment algorithm of DME.
Prognostic Impact of Microsatellite Instability in Asian Gastric Cancer Patients Enrolled in the ARTIST Trial
Authors: Miceli Rosalba , An Jiyeong , Di Bartolomeo Maria , Morano Federica , Kim Seung Tae , Park Se Hoon , Choi Min Gew , Lee Joon Ho , Raimondi Alessandra , Fucà Giovanni , Sohn Tae Sung , Bae Jae Moon , Kim Sung , Lim Do Hoon , Kang Won Ki , Kim Kyoung-Mee , Pietrantonio Filippo , Lee Jeeyun
Published: May 2019

Background: Caucasian patients with microsatellite instability (MSI)-high gastric cancer (GC) may have better prognosis but worse outcomes. Objective: Here we explored the prognostic role of MSI in Asian patients. Methods: This post hoc analysis comprehended radically resected GC patients randomized to XP (capecitabine/cisplatin) or XPRT. MSI status was assessed by combining immunohistochemistry with multiplex polymerase chain reaction. The MSI prognostic effect on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was evaluated. Results: 393 tissue samples were analyzed and 35 (9%) were MSI-high. This subgroup was characterized by: older age, Borrmann classification 1–2, antral localization, T3–4 stage, and intestinal type. At univariable analysis, the microsatellite-stable subgroup showed a trend toward a worse prognosis as compared to the MSI-high group: 3-year DFS was 76.3 versus 85.4% (p = 0.122); 3-year OS was 81.7 versus 91.4% (p = 0.046). Multivariable analyses confirmed it in both DFS (hazard ratio, HR = 2.32 [95% CI 0.91, 5.88]; p = 0.077) and OS (HR = 3.17 [95% CI 0.97, 10.43]; p = 0.057). Conclusions: MSI-high status was associated with specific clinical-pathological features and a trend toward better outcomes of Asian GC patients.
Terra Brasilis: arte brasileira no acervo conceitual do MAC USP
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo. Museu de Arte Contemporânea
Published: May 2019

Fruto de um longo trabalho de pesquisa, o livro procura resgatar a visibilidade de um segmento do acervo de grande importância – não só para a história da arte contemporânea, mas para o MAC em si, entendendo as características específicas do museu universitário. Com capítulos dedicados a artistas específicos, é possível captar a multiplicidade de técnicas relacionadas à arte conceitual brasileira, assim como suas dimensões sociais, políticas e culturais. Também inclui uma breve seção sobre o Grupo de Estudos em Arte Conceitual e Conceitualismos no Museu (GEACC/CNPq) e uma lista de obras ilustradas.
New Insights Into the Differentiation of Megakaryocytes From Hematopoietic Progenitors
Authors: Noetzli Leila J. , French Shauna L. , Machlus Kellie R.
Published: May 2019

Megakaryocytes are hematopoietic cells, which are responsible for the production of blood platelets. The traditional view of megakaryopoiesis describes the cellular journey from hematopoietic stem cells, through a hierarchical series of progenitor cells, ultimately to a mature megakaryocyte. Once mature, the megakaryocyte then undergoes a terminal maturation process involving multiple rounds of endomitosis and cytoplasmic restructuring to allow platelet formation. However, recent studies have begun to redefine this hierarchy and shed new light on alternative routes by which hematopoietic stem cells are differentiated into megakaryocytes. In particular, the origin of megakaryocytes, including the existence and hierarchy of megakaryocyte progenitors, has been redefined, as new studies are suggesting that hematopoietic stem cells originate as megakaryocyte-primed and can bypass traditional lineage checkpoints. Overall, it is becoming evident that megakaryopoiesis does not only occur as a stepwise process, but is dynamic and adaptive to biological needs. In this review, we will reexamine the canonical dogmas of megakaryopoiesis and provide an updated framework for interpreting the roles of traditional pathways in the context of new megakaryocyte biology.

Visual Overview—

An online visual overview is available for this article.
Inhibition of MPO (Myeloperoxidase) Attenuates Endothelial Dysfunction in Mouse Models of Vascular Inflammation and Atherosclerosis
Authors: Cheng David , Talib Jihan , Stanley Christopher P. , Rashid Imran , Michaëlsson Erik , Lindstedt Eva-Lotte , Croft Kevin D. , Kettle Anthony J. , Maghzal Ghassan J. , Stocker Roland
Published: May 2019

Objective—

Inflammation-driven endothelial dysfunction initiates and contributes to the progression of atherosclerosis, and MPO (myeloperoxidase) has been implicated as a potential culprit. On release by circulating phagocytes, MPO is thought to contribute to endothelial dysfunction by limiting NO bioavailability via formation of reactive oxidants including hypochlorous acid. However, it remains largely untested whether specific pharmacological inhibition of MPO attenuates endothelial dysfunction. We, therefore, tested the ability of a mechanism-based MPO inhibitor, AZM198, to inhibit endothelial dysfunction in models of vascular inflammation.

Approach and Results—

Three models of inflammation were used: femoral cuff, the tandem stenosis model of plaque rupture in
Apoe
−/−
mice, and C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet as a model of insulin resistance. Endothelial dysfunction was observed in all 3 models, and oral administration of AZM198 significantly improved endothelial function in the femoral cuff and tandem stenosis models only. Improvement in endothelial function was associated with decreased arterial MPO activity, determined by the in vivo conversion of hydroethidine to 2-chloroethidium, without affecting circulating inflammatory cytokines or arterial MPO content. Mechanistic studies in
Mpo
−/−
mice confirmed the contribution of MPO to endothelial dysfunction and revealed oxidation of sGC (soluble guanylyl cyclase) as the underlying cause of the observed limited NO bioavailability.

Conclusions—

Pharmacological inhibition of MPO is a potential strategy to limit endothelial dysfunction in vascular inflammation.

Visual Overview—

An online visual overview is available for this article.
Tree-Based Analysis
Authors: Banerjee Mousumi , Reynolds Evan , Andersson Hedvig B. , Nallamothu Brahmajee K.
Published: May 2019

Tree-based methods have become one of the most flexible, intuitive, and powerful data analytic tools for exploring complex data structures. Tree-based methods provide a natural framework for creating patient subgroups for risk classification. In this article, we review methodological and practical aspects of tree-based methods, with a focus on diagnostic classification (binary outcome) and prognostication (censored survival outcome). Creating an ensemble of trees improves prediction accuracy and addresses instability in a single tree. Ensemble methods are described that rely on resampling from the original data. Finally, we present methods to identify a representative tree from the ensemble that can be used for clinical decision-making. The methods are illustrated using data on ischemic heart disease classification, and data from the SPRINT trial (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) on adverse events in patients with high blood pressure.
Perioperative/Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation and Risk of Subsequent Stroke and/or Mortality
Authors: Lin Meng-Hsin , Kamel Hooman , Singer Daniel E. , Wu Yi-Ling , Lee Meng , Ovbiagele Bruce
Published: May 2019

Background and Purpose—

Although believed to be transient and self-limiting, new-onset perioperative/postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) might be a risk factor for stroke and mortality. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the relationship of POAF with early and late risks of mortality and stroke.

Methods—

We searched Pubmed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library (1966 through March 2018) to identify cohort studies that reported stroke and mortality associated with POAF. We computed a random-effects estimate based on the Mantel-Haenszel method. Odds ratios with 95% CI were used as a measure of the association between POAF and early (in-hospital or within 30 days of surgery) stroke and mortality, while hazard ratios (HR) were used for long-term outcomes.

Results—

Our analysis included 35 studies with 2 458 010 patients. Pooling the results from the random-effects model showed that POAF was associated with increased risks of early stroke (odds ratio, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.47–1.80), early mortality (odds ratios, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.11–1.88), long-term stroke (HR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.07–1.77), and long-term mortality (HR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.27–1.49). Analyses focusing on high-quality studies obtained similar results. In subgroup analyses, POAF was more strongly associated with stroke in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery (HR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.70–2.35) than in patients undergoing cardiac surgery (HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.07–1.34).

Conclusions—

New-onset POAF is associated with an increased risk of stroke and mortality, both in the short-term and long-term. The best strategy to reduce stroke risk among these patients needs to be determined.
On Luticola Mann (Bacillariophyceae) in southeastern Brazil: taxonomy, ecology and description of two new species
Authors: SILVA-LEHMKUHL ANGELA MARIA DA , LUDWIG THELMA ALVIM VEIGA , TREMARIN PRISCILA IZABEL , BICUDO DENISE DE CAMPOS
Published: May 2019

In the present study, we analyzed the taxonomy and ecology of fourteen species of Luticola registered in oligo- to hypereutrophic reservoirs of southeastern Brazil. Two new species were described using light and scanning electron microscopy. Luticola bartolomeii sp. nov. and Luticola iporangensis sp. nov. are distinguished from morphologically similar species by a combination of valve outline and dimensions. In addition, L. bartolomeii showed occluded isolated areolae that have a different shape and location, hitherto not observed in other Luticola species. We also compared the morphology of the new species with similar taxa and provided information on their ecological preferences. Luticola panamaensis is first recorded in Brazil, and another eight species are recorded for the first time for the state of São Paulo. This study expanded the distribution of species and added new information to the ecology of Luticola, as well as provided the first SEM images for some already known species. Information on the co-occurrence of other diatom species in the samples is also included.
Review of Temnomastax Rehn & Rehn, 1942 (Orthoptera, Caelifera, Eumastacidae, Temnomastacinae)
Authors: OLIVIER RENAN S. , PUJOL-LUZ CRISTIANE V.A. , GRACIOLLI GUSTAVO
Published: May 2019

Temnomastax is the commonest genus of monkey grasshoppers in the central region of South America. Herein the revision of this genus is presented. Three new species are described, Temnomastax descampsi Olivier sp. nov., Temnomastax monnei Olivier sp. nov., and Temnomastax otavioi Olivier sp. nov. Temnomastax chiquitos syn. nov. is proposed as a new synonym of Temnomastax borellii. Three morphological groups are proposed: the Beni group composed of Temnomastax beni; the Latens group composed of T. borellii, T. hamus, T. latens and T. monnei sp. nov.; and the Tigris group composed of T. descampsi sp. nov., T. otavioi sp. nov., T. ricardoi and T. tigris. Identification keys, biological and distribution data are provided.
The Influence of Gravity Waves on the Slope of the Kinetic Energy Spectrum in Simulations of Idealized Midlatitude Cyclones
Authors: Menchaca Maximo Q. , Durran Dale R.
Published: May 2019

The influence of gravity waves generated by surface stress and by topography on the atmospheric kinetic energy (KE) spectrum is examined using idealized simulations of a cyclone growing in baroclinically unstable shear flow. Even in the absence of topography, surface stress greatly enhances the generation of gravity waves in the vicinity of the cold front, and vertical energy fluxes associated with these waves produce a pronounced shallowing of the KE spectrum at mesoscale wavelengths relative to the corresponding free-slip case. The impact of a single isolated ridge is, however, much more pronounced than that of surface stress. When the mountain waves are well developed, they produce a wavenumber to the −5/3 spectrum in the lower stratosphere over a broad range of mesoscale wavelengths. In the midtroposphere, a smaller range of wavelengths also exhibits a −5/3 spectrum. When the mountain is 500 m high, the waves do not break, and their KE is entirely associated with the divergent component of the velocity field, which is almost constant with height. When the mountain is 2 km high, wave breaking creates potential vorticity, and the rotational component of the KE spectrum is also strongly energized by the waves. Analysis of the spectral KE budgets shows that the actual spectrum is the result of continually shifting balances of direct forcing from vertical energy flux divergence, conservative advective transport, and buoyancy flux. Nevertheless, there is one interesting example where the −5/3-sloped lower-stratospheric energy spectrum appears to be associated with a gravity-wave-induced upscale inertial cascade.
Effective Inexpensive Management of Necrotizing Otitis Externa Is Possible in Resource-Poor Settings
Authors: Honnurappa Vijayendra , Ramdass Sangeetha , Mahajan Nilesh , Vijayendra Vinay Kumar , Redleaf Miriam
Published: May 2019

Introduction:

Necrotizing otitis externa resolves best with antimicrobial treatment. How to care for these patients and monitor their resolution remains a problem. Our protocol in Bangalore can manage these patients inexpensively and well.

Materials and Methods:

Patients who were referred to our patients became the subjects for this paper. They were managed through our protocol, which consists of IV ciprofloxacin and meropenem, weekly labs, weekly examinations, and photodocumention.

Results:

Fifty-one people presented with necrotizing otitis externa (NOE) between October 2015 and November 2017 and completed our entire protocol. Forty-six had complete resolution of their disease, while 5 had to undergo surgical removal of necrotic bone. Six of 8 patients with facial weakness had improvement in their House-Brackmann scores. Reduction of self-reported nocturnal pain, dissolution of ear canal granulations, and normalization of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) proved to be the most accurate indicators of disease regression.

Conclusion:

Patients are monitored closely with review of their otalgia, examination of their canal, repeated ESRs, effective control of their diabetes, and radiological imaging. All this can be done in a resource-poor country, which in turn serves as a model for the wealthier nations.
Recognising the edible urban commons: Cultivating latent capacities for transformative governance in Singapore
Authors: Ng Huiying
Published: May 2019

Across urbanising Asia, edible commons surprise, contradict or challenge social norms of being in public. Their presence provokes new adjudications of approaching, governing and managing shared and living property, prompting thought on how public and private realms of life may converge into informal modes of co-governance for green place-making and flourishing. Starting with an anecdote of stealing in a short-lived urban farm in Singapore, I conceptualise edible urban commons as ‘active moments’. Specifically, they are active moments where a generative form of friction and fiction emerges, and as such, are allegorical packages that transmit latent capacities. I suggest that closer attention to forms of regulatory slippage in these spaces generates insight about latent capacities for transformation. Finally, I propose a preliminary set of latent capacities for transformative governance towards an ecological identity that supports edible commoning in cities.
Resurrection in Mark 12: Refining the Covenant Hypothesis
Authors: Macdonald A.D.
Published: May 2019

The defence of resurrection in Mk 12.18-27 has been understood in various ways, based on different reconstructions of the logic of Jesus’ citation of Exod. 3.6. These various approaches may be generally grouped under two broad categories: ‘present relationship’ hypotheses and ‘covenant/context’ hypotheses. This study evaluates those approaches, seeking to critique the existing covenant/context proposals of F. Dreyfus (1959) and Bradley R. Trick (2007) and extend their insights in new directions. In doing so, it focuses on citation context and similar reasoning in other early Jewish and Christian texts, including an overlooked analogue in Heb. 11. It will be argued that this context and these analogues lend support to a revised version of the covenant/context hypothesis that understands Mk 12 as predicating resurrection on divine faithfulness to the covenant between God and the patriarchs.
‘You shall not wash my feet εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα’ (John 13.8): Time and Ethics in Peter’s Interactions with Jesus in the Johannine Narrative
Authors: Rahmsdorf Olivia
Published: May 2019

In search of ‘timeless’ norms or behavioral examples, the Gospel of John seems to offer few options. The principle of brotherly love exempliﬁed in the act of foot washing is often considered as the only example of ethically signiﬁcant material in the Johannine narrative. However, by taking a closer look at the ‘tempo’ of actions and the characters’ orientation in time, we can understand that Peter’s protest against the foot washing is not only in favor of norms that secure existing hierarchies, but is driven by temporal norms, i.e. his genuine fear of death. Peter’s protest (Jn 13.8) indicates his desire for the eternal life promised by Jesus (Jn 11.25-26) and at the same time it serves as a defense against the foot washing as pointing to his own burial, which he infers from Jesus’ earlier interpretation of the anointing of his feet (Jn 12.7). Starting from this vantage point, a multitude of other interesting (time) conﬂicts and behavioral patterns come to light, revealing both Jesus, through his act of foot washing, and all of those who encounter him in their own actions and reactions, as instructive moral agents.
Crafting the Eschaton: The Second Death and the Lake of Fire in Revelation
Authors: Woodington J. David
Published: May 2019

The idea of a ‘second death’ (Rev. 2.11; 20.6, 14; 21.8) is found nowhere else in the NT except for Revelation. One of the more striking characteristics of the second death in the Apocalypse is its equivalency with ‘the lake of fire’ (Rev. 19.20; 20.10, 14-15), a phrase unique to John himself save for a few temporally distant Egyptian sources. By exploring why John might have been motivated to identify these two concepts directly with each other, one can better appreciate the creative rhetorical work he has performed in order to inform his readers about the nature of the eschaton.
Questioning the Feasibility of the Major Synoptic Hypotheses: Scribal Memory as the Key to the Oral–Written Interface
Authors: Chang Kai-Hsuan
Published: May 2019

Instead of blurring the oral and the literary media in antiquity (R. Bultmann and B. Gerhardsson) or dividing them with unsatisfying principles (J.D.G. Dunn), this article follows recent scholarship on orality to explore the mechanical operation of ancient scribal memory as the oral-written interface. In so doing, I argue that the agreement of order between the Synoptic Gospels is characteristic of memory-based utilizations of written texts and does not necessarily indicate the scribes’ visual contact with those texts. It is, rather, the very high degree of verbal agreement that indicates Matthew’s frequent visual contact with Q 10–11 and 12–13 throughout the gospel, even when following Mark’s narrative sequence by memory. This approach explains the infrequent micro-conflations on the Two Document Hypothesis (2DH) with a more mechanically probable procedure, and so strengthens the argument that the 2DH is more feasible than the Two Gospel Hypothesis and the Farrer-Goulder Hypothesis.
A multi-objective ant colony optimization with decomposition for community detection in complex networks
Authors: Liu Ruochen , Liu Jiangdi , He Manman
Published: May 2019

Community detection in complex networks plays an important role in mining and analyzing the structure and function of networks. However, traditional algorithms for community detection-based graph partition and hierarchical clustering usually have to face expensive computational costs or require some specific conditions when dealing with complex networks. Recently, community detection based on intelligent optimization attracts more and more attention because of its good effectiveness. In this paper, a new multi-objective ant colony optimization with decomposition (MACOD) for community detection in complex networks is proposed. Firstly, a new framework of multi-objective ant colony algorithm specialized initially for the complex network clustering is developed, in which two-objective optimization problem can be decomposed into a series of subproblems and each ant is responsible for one single objective subproblem and it targets a particular point in the Pareto front. Secondly, a problem-specific individual encoding strategy based on graph is proposed. Moreover, a new efficient local search mechanism is designed in order to improve the stability of the algorithm. The proposed MACOD has been compared with four other state of the art algorithms on two benchmark networks and seven real-world networks including three large-scale networks. Experimental results show that MACOD performs competitively for the community detection problems.
First Report on the Publication and Conservation of the Tomb of Ramesses III in the Valley of the Kings (KV 11)
Authors: Weber Anke
Published: May 2019

The tomb of Ramesses III (KV 11) in the Valley of the Kings is one of the archaeological sites of ancient Egypt that has received very little attention from the scientific community. The tomb was open to the public for a long time and is in danger of quick deterioration. The site was closed from August 2016 until October 2017 for the installation of new walkways, glass panels, and an improved lighting system. The Ramesses III (KV 11) Publication and Conservation Project now aims to record, document, and preserve the entire tomb.

This article is a first report on the planned publication and conservation of the tomb of Ramesses III (KV 11) in the Valley of the Kings. Like so many other tombs in the wadi, it presents the astonishing case of a tomb that has been known for a long time but was never thoroughly studied. In the following, we present the research aims of the newly formed Ramesses III (KV 11) Publication and Conservation Project1 as well as the preparatory work that has been undertaken by our team members. All observations and notes were made over the last six years during short campaigns, partly within the framework of a previous research project,2 which constitutes the basis of preliminary work in KV 11.

The article focuses on the historical background of the tomb, its research history, including former investigators and concessions, supposed causes of destruction, suggestions for preservation, and procedures for research and documentation. We present the main problems we have to deal with at the outset of the project and describe the methods we propose to adopt. Further annual reports on the progress and first results of our work in order to preserve this important site of Egypt’s cultural heritage will follow in due course.
Accelerating Bus Electrification: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Barriers and Drivers to Scaling Transit Fleet Electrification
Authors: Blynn Kelly , Attanucci John
Published: May 2019

Although transit buses have a relatively small impact on greenhouse gas emissions, they have a larger impact on urban air quality, have commercially available electric models, and have historically commercialized clean technologies that enabled deployment in other heavy-duty vehicles. This paper investigates what factors affect transit agencies’ decisions to go beyond electric bus pilots to larger scale deployments, with the goal of identifying strategies to enable an accelerated transition to an electrified fleet. This mixed methods analysis utilized quantitative total cost of ownership analysis and qualitative interviews to study the barriers and drivers of electric bus investment for transit fleets in three case study states: California, Kentucky, and Massachusetts. A total cost of ownership analysis estimated electric buses are already more cost-effective than diesel buses in many agency contexts, but are sensitive to key parameters such as annual mileage, fossil fuel costs, and electricity tariffs and supporting policies that vary widely. Though multiple agencies in California reported planning to fully electrify their fleets, outside California where less supportive policies exist, fewer agencies reported planning to procure additional electric buses, primarily owing to high first cost and undesirable tradeoffs with maintaining transit service levels. Interview respondents also reported other substantial barriers such as oversubscribed grant programs, charging infrastructure costs, electricity costs, and additional operational complexity, suggesting a need for multiple complementary policies to overcome these barriers and ensure agencies can transition to a new technology without affecting transit service.
Travel Time Differences between Cargo Cycles and Cars in Commercial Transport Operations
Authors: Gruber Johannes , Narayanan Santhanakrishnan
Published: May 2019

Cargo cycles are gaining more interest among commercial users from different business sectors, and they compete with cars in urban commercial transport. Though many studies show the potential of cargo cycles, there is still a reluctance to deploy them. One possible reason for this is the lack of knowledge regarding their suitability in relation to travel time. Therefore, this study aims to explore cargo cycles’ travel time performance by quantifying the travel time differences between them and conventional vehicles for commercial trips. The authors compare real-life trip data from cargo cycles with Google’s routed data for cars. By doing this, the authors explore the factors affecting the travel time difference and propose a model to estimate this difference. The attributes for the model were selected keeping in mind the ease of obtaining values for the variables. Results indicate cycling trip distance to be the most significant variable. The study shows that expected travel time difference for trips with distances between 0 and 20 km (12.4 mi) ranges from -5 min (cargo cycle 5 min faster) to 40 min with a median of 6 min. This value can decrease if users take the optimal cycling route and the traffic conditions are worse for cars. Although what is an acceptable amount of travel time difference depends on the user, practitioners can be certain of the travel time difference they can expect, which enables them to assess the suitability of cargo cycles for their commercial operations.
Pedestrian Network Analysis using a Network Consisting of Formal Pedestrian Facilities: Sidewalks and Crosswalks
Authors: Zhang Hua , Zhang Yuanyuan
Published: May 2019

Central to every pedestrian network analysis is the mapping of the network. Many studies have used street networks (SNs) to analyze connectivity. Recent studies suggest that analyses based on informal pedestrian networks (e.g., park trails, greenways, or shortcuts) may provide a more robust network representation, however, no studies have examined whether switching to a network consisting of formal pedestrian facilities (FPFs) (e.g., sidewalks and crosswalks) would provide more effective representation of real pedestrian movement and perceptions. Does it yield different outcomes compared to an SN? When does an SN still remain a good proxy, and when should a FPF network (FPFN) be adopted? How worthwhile is it to switch to a FPFN? To address these questions, this paper examines the difference between SNs and FPFNs and how the differences affect the outcomes of network measures. Four U.S. neighborhoods were selected to represent different types of networks. Four classic connectivity measures and four new measures related to crossings were evaluated using both SNs and FPFNs. Comparisons were conducted and the following conclusions drawn: (i) using FPFNs yields greatly different outcomes from using SNs, (ii) an SN can broadly describe the morphological features of a network, especially for a gridiron pattern with narrow streets and small blocks full of sidewalks and crosswalks; however, an FPFN performs much better in describing features which are invisible when using SNs; and (iii) using FPFNs can provide opportunities to develop new measures of performance, such as safety or convenience.
A Psychometric Analysis of the Algebra and Precalculus Concept Readiness Assessment for Community Colleges
Authors: Peralta Yadira , Kohli Nidhi , Strom April , Duranczyk Irene , Mesa Vilma , Watkins Laura
Published: May 2019

Understanding students’ readiness for precalculus and calculus at the community college level is critical not only because of the key role community colleges play in higher education but also because calculus remains a gateway course for students in advancing to higher level mathematics. The Algebra and Precalculus Concept Readiness Assessment for Community Colleges (APCR-CC) was designed to investigate community college students’ quantitative reasoning abilities and conceptual understanding in algebra. The present study investigates the psychometric properties of the APCR-CC instrument using item response theory based on a sample of intermediate and college algebra students from six community colleges collected in a pretest ( N = 1,131) and posttest ( N = 772) setting. We examine unidimensionality, item fit, local item independence, measurement invariance, and sensitivity to instruction. Our findings suggest that the APCR-CC instrument is sufficiently characterized by one underlying construct, local dependence does not seem to be an issue, and 80% of the items in the APCR-CC instrument are sensitive to instruction.
Analyzing Lynch’s City Imageability in the Digital Age
Authors: Meenar Mahbubur , Afzalan Nader , Hajrasouliha Amir
Published: May 2019

This paper explores the role of virtual mapping environments in analyzing people’s perception of spaces and their implications in planning. We examine how people interpret Kevin Lynch’s “city imageability” in the digital age by asking two questions: (1) how can we create mental images of city elements by using virtual versus physical environments? (2) What are the strengths and weaknesses of each method? We studied sixty-eight mental maps—created by thirty-four participants—identifying five factors for disagreements on city elements: scale, eye level, details, accuracy/timeliness, and sensory/movement. We conclude by suggesting how practitioners can take a balanced approach for city imageability analysis.
“Until You Hit Rock Bottom There’s No Support”: Contradictory Sources and Systems of Support for Mothers Experiencing Homelessness in Southwestern Ontario
Authors: Benbow Sarah , Forchuk Cheryl , Gorlick Carolyne , Berman Helene , Ward-Griffin Catherine
Published: May 2019

Nurses are vital community advocates and uniquely situated to support mothers experiencing homelessness. The purpose of this study was to examine the multidimensional nature of social exclusion in the lives of mothers experiencing homelessness in Southwestern Ontario. This article reports findings from one segment of a larger study that critically examined the sociopolitical context, health needs, exclusionary and inclusionary forces, and strategies of resistance demonstrated by mothers experiencing homelessness. Central to the women’s experiences of mothering while homeless were their interactions with “the system.” The contradictory nature of these systems was categorized into four subthemes: (1) “Until you hit rock bottom there’s no support,” (2) “It’s just not enough”: Insufficient support, (3) “Help comes with a price”: Support with surveillance, and (4) “Every shelter is so different”: Organizational philosophies impacting support. The contradictory nature of the system created an illusion of support, but in mothers’ lived realities, it perpetuated experiences of exclusion in spaces ironically designed to enhance inclusion. Implications for nursing practice include action the macro-, meso-, and microlevels. Nurses can advocate for Housing-First initiatives and evidence-informed approaches to poverty reduction while recognizing the system-level barriers to health and providing respective, compassionate care.
Barriers to Leaving a Relationship From the Perspective of Married Abused Iranian Women: Secondary Analysis of the Interviews With Abused Women
Authors: Taherkhani Sakineh , Negarandeh Reza , Farshadpour Fatemeh
Published: May 2019

Violence has a heavy impact on the physical and mental health of women in developed and developing countries; however, most of the violence victims would suffer in silence and never leave their relationship. The aim of the present study was to identify the barriers to leaving a relationship from the perspective of married abused Iranian women. The present study was a secondary analysis of the interviews conducted in a primary study. The primary study that was conducted using the grounded theory approach has assessed the coping process with domestic violence in 24 married abused Iranian women. These women were selected from local parks, health centers, and universities of Tehran city using a purposive sampling method. Qualitative secondary analysis of the interviews was conducted, in accordance with the goal of this study, using content analysis. Four categories emerged through the analysis of the data including “fear,” “lack of resources,” “beliefs and attitudes,” and “dependence” and the common theme between these categories was “ deterrents to leaving an abusive relationship.” Results indicated that contextual factors such as fear, lack of resources, attitudes and beliefs, and dependence were the reason for not leaving a relationship. Interventions for enriching women’s resources (improving the condition of education and employment, and improvement of the formal and informal support systems), education about domestic violence and its management methods, and modification of the existing attitudes and beliefs in this regard could keep abused women from experiencing more violence.
The Penalties For Self-Reporting Sexual Harassment
Authors: Hart Chloe Grace
Published: May 2019

Although sexual harassment in the workplace is illegal, it often goes unreported. This study employs causal evidence to evaluate one deterrent to reporting: bias against women known to be sexual harassment targets. I theorize about the form this bias takes and test the argument with a national survey experiment run in five waves from October 2017 to February 2018, where participants were asked to propose employment outcomes for an employee with one of four harassment experiences. Participants were less likely to recommend a woman for promotion if she self-reported sexual harassment relative to otherwise identical women who experienced nonsexual harassment or whose sexual harassment was reported by a coworker. The woman who self-reported sexual harassment experienced normative discrimination: that is, the promotion bias was significantly mediated by perceptions that she was less moral, warm, and socially skilled than the woman whose coworker reported her sexual harassment. These results indicate that women may hesitate to report sexual harassment because they rightly perceive that doing so could cause them to experience bias. Yet they also suggest that bias can be avoided if a bystander reports the harassment. Finally, exploratory analyses suggest that in the wake of #MeToo this bias may be fading.
Evaluating the Scholarly Impact of Vocational Research With Diverse Racial/Ethnic Groups: 1969–2017
Authors: Zhu Jiajia , Lee Bo Hyun , Diaz David , Flores Lisa Y.
Published: May 2019

Using citation analysis, this study evaluates the scholarly impact of 482 career-related articles on diverse racial/ethnic groups (DREGs) in the United States from a pool of 6,453 journal articles published in the Journal of Vocational Behavior ( JVB), Career Development Quarterly ( CDQ), Journal of Career Development ( JCD), and Journal of Career Assessment ( JCA) from 1969 to 2017. DREG career articles from JVB had the highest average citations, followed by CDQ, JCA, and JCD. DREG career articles on cross-cultural validation and cultural specificity received the most total citations, followed by articles on practice/interventions and racial/ethnic disparities. DREG career articles had a growing impact over time, with articles in cultural specificity having more impact in recent years than articles in other content areas. We discuss various citation trends that emerged for DREG articles by journal and content, address factors that may have driven these citation trends, and make suggestions for improving the scholarly impact of future career research with DREGs.
Development and Validation of a Multidimensional Career Values Questionnaire: A Measure Integrating Work Values, Career Orientations, and Career Anchors
Authors: Abessolo Marc , Hirschi Andreas , Rossier Jérôme
Published: May 2019

Work values, career orientations, and career anchors are conceptually and empirically linked, and the aim of this article was to develop a new questionnaire that assesses their underlying common dimensions from a set of newly generated items. A first study, using a sample of Swiss French–speaking employees ( N = 239) and exploratory factor analysis techniques, enabled the identification of eight career values: social, management, specialization, mobility, independence, salary, work–life balance, and variety. In a second study with another sample of Swiss French–speaking employees ( N = 313), we confirmed this eight-factor structure and showed that these dimensions are reliable and stable over time. The measured career values were also meaningfully related to different work meanings and to job and career satisfaction. This newly created questionnaire enables an integrative assessment of career values and should be useful for researchers and practitioners to better understand and assist people in their career choices.
Development of an adaptive bypass element for passive entrainment flow control in dry powder inhalers
Authors: Kopsch Thomas , Murnane Darragh , Symons Digby
Published: May 2019

The release of drug from dry powder inhalers is strongly dependent on the patient's inhalation profile. To maximise the effect of the treatment, it is necessary to optimise dry powder inhalers to achieve drug delivery that (A) is independent of the inhalation manoeuvre and (B) is targeted to the correct site in the lung. The purpose of this study is to develop a dry powder inhaler with an adaptive bypass element that achieves desired drug delivery behaviour. Computational and experimental methods are used. First, the effect of a generic variable bypass element on entrainment behaviour is modelled. This is done by modelling a dry powder inhaler as a network of flow. Second, the behaviour of a potential variable bypass element, a flap valve, is studied both computationally and experimentally. Third, the flow resistances are optimised to achieve consistent and desired entrainment behaviour for patients with very different inhalation manoeuvres. A simulated dry powder inhaler device design was found that achieves an approximately constant entrainment flow rate of 12 L/min when total flow rates larger than 20 L/min are applied. The developed dry powder inhaler is predicted to accurately deliver drug for patients with highly different inhalation manoeuvres.
Damaged-aircraft trailer dynamics simulation and vibration optimization
Authors: Hong Zhenyu , Yu Xiaoli , Zhang Dongsheng , He Zhenpeng
Published: May 2019

As a rescue vehicle, damaged-aircraft trailer is used to move damaged aircraft quickly to restore the normal order of the airport. Several damaged-aircraft trailer parameters such as tire stiffness and damping of the suspension hydraulic system influence the dynamic performance significantly. In this article, a simplified 9 degrees of freedom model of damaged-aircraft trailer is established considering the physical parameters of suspension and tires. The relationships among the parameters of the suspension hydraulic components, the elastic force and damping force are established, and then the optimization model of the whole vehicle is obtained. In order to reduce the secondary damage to the aircraft, the multi-island genetic algorithm is used to optimize the suspension system and tire. During the calculation, the maximum vertical acceleration of damaged-aircraft trailer is taken as objective function for variable parameters of the suspension hydraulic system and the tire. As a result, the performance of the vehicle is greatly improved with the maximum acceleration of 0.2 m/s2 after optimization.
Investigation of functional characteristics of a synergistically configured parallel-type shape memory alloy variable stiffness actuator
Authors: Nalini D , Josephine Selvarani Ruth D , Dhanalakshmi K
Published: May 2019

Variable stiffness actuator is the essential element for force control and motion generation of most mechanical systems that are used for soft robotic, biomimetic and biomedical applications. Mechanical systems when integrated with smart materials enable controlled variation of stiffness in addition to control of force and displacement, thus exhibiting superior characteristics. Active compliant/variable stiffness actuator using shape memory alloy allows simple and compact design, exhibits comparable actuator efficiency and offers directional controllable actuation, self-sensing and a wide range of variable stiffness. The functional characteristics of a synergistically operated translational/linear compliant variable stiffness actuator, configured synergistically with shape memory alloy wire(s) and passive compression spring, are determined experimentally under no load without control to offer translational actuation. Repetitive actuation is made possible through electrical activation (direct Joule heating) of shape memory alloy wire(s) and the aiding force (the restoring (bias) force) of the passive spring. Actuation with variable stiffness is obtained from the inherent stiffness variation of shape memory alloy during its phase transformation, along with the fixed stiffness of the passive compliant element. The scope of improving the range of stiffness through varied forms and connections of the elements is recognized, while retaining the basic structure without compromising its simplicity.
Patient Self-worth and Communication Barriers to Trust of Israeli Patients in Acute-Care Physicians at Public General Hospitals
Authors: Gabay Gillie
Published: May 2019

Patient trust is positively related to health outcomes, but there remain barriers to patient trust in physicians. This narrative study analyzed patient experiences and highlights barriers to patient trust underlying communication with physicians in acute care. Snowball sampling was used. Informants were 12 participants, in poor physical health, upon discharge from a 3-week hospitalization in an acute-care setting at an Israeli public general hospital. Two narrative interviews were conducted with each participant upon and after discharge. Findings suggest presurgery barriers to trust (lack of acknowledgment of patient’s crisis, underrating patient’s autonomy, and use of unique empathy) and postsurgery barriers to trust (lack of attentive listening, lack of medical professionalism, and delegitimization to patients’ self-alienation). Two common narrative identities emerged linking trust with self-worth. To build trust, physicians are called upon to extend their dedication from dedication to improve clinical outcomes to dedication to improve clinical outcomes and preserve patients’ self-worth.
Integrating fuzzy Kano model and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process to evaluate requirements of smart manufacturing systems
Authors: Qu Yuanju , Xinguo Ming , Qiu Siqi , Liu Zhiwen , Zhang Xianyu , Hou Zengtao
Published: May 2019

In this article, an integrated method is proposed for evaluating the requirements of smart manufacturing systems under the era of Industry 4.0 and Industrial Internet of Things. This method uses systematic research on identifying, classifying, and evaluating the requirements of smart manufacturing systems with uncertainty, multi-users, and multi-disciplines. The results of this article provide a procedure to capture the preferential SMSs-R and the framework of SMSs-R. First, this method provides a comprehensive requirement of smart manufacturing identified by questionnaire survey, document reviews, and the affinity diagram method. Second, the classification of SMSs-R considers the multi-user preference by the fuzzy Kano model. Third, the best non-fuzzy performance and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process method is used for evaluating and ranking the SMSs-R factor to solve the uncertain, vague, and preferential questions. Finally, we validated the effectiveness of the method through a real discrete manufacturing enterprise case.
A hierarchic task-based programming model for distributed heterogeneous computing
Authors: Ejarque Jorge , Domínguez Marc , Badia Rosa M
Published: May 2019

Distributed computing platforms are evolving to heterogeneous ecosystems with Clusters, Grids and Clouds introducing in its computing nodes, processors with different core architectures, accelerators (i.e. GPUs, FPGAs), as well as different memories and storage devices in order to achieve better performance with lower energy consumption. As a consequence of this heterogeneity, programming applications for these distributed heterogeneous platforms becomes a complex task. Additionally to the complexity of developing an application for distributed platforms, developers must also deal now with the complexity of the different computing devices inside the node. In this article, we present a programming model that aims to facilitate the development and execution of applications in current and future distributed heterogeneous parallel architectures. This programming model is based on the hierarchical composition of the COMP Superscalar and Omp Superscalar programming models that allow developers to implement infrastructure-agnostic applications. The underlying runtime enables applications to adapt to the infrastructure without the need of maintaining different versions of the code. Our programming model proposal has been evaluated on real platforms, in terms of heterogeneous resource usage, performance and adaptation.