bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The practice of parodying: YouTube as a hybrid field of cultural production
Authors: Boxman-Shabtai Lillian
Published: April 2018

Parody is so pervasive in participatory culture that it is described as a central component of Internet vernacular. Valuable insight has accumulated about parodies as artifacts, however, little is known about their creators. Drawing on the sociology of culture, this article explores YouTube music video parodies as a field of cultural production. Through interviews with 22 YouTubers recruited from a sample of top-ranked parodies, it examines the relationship between practitioner characteristics and their evaluation of parody. Contrary to other studies of participatory culture, the field was predominantly male in its participation and norms. It presented a divide between ‘strategic’ and ‘passionate’ practitioners who used parody to different ends. Nevertheless, interviewees valued similar attributes of parody, often diverging from scholarly definitions of the genre as critical commentary. This dynamic and the genre’s popularity are explained by the hybrid qualities of the field, which encourage diverse uses of parody.
The determinants of mobile-phone usage among small-scale poultry farmers in Ghana
Authors: Folitse Benjamin Yao , Manteaw Seth Awuku , Dzandu Lucy Payne , Obeng-Koranteng Grace , Bekoe Stephen
Published: April 2018

This paper makes the firm assumption that the effective use of ICT tools such as the mobile phone may hold the key to introducing the needed dynamism and efficiency in agricultural extension delivery in Ghana. It therefore seeks to examine the dynamics of the use of mobile phone among poultry farmers in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. One hundred and fifty poultry farmers selected from the Greater Accra Region were interviewed using structured questionnaires. The study showed a high penetration of mobile phones among the poultry farmers. A regression analysis showed that demographic variables such as age, sex, educational level, experience and size of holdings influenced the use of mobile phone. Network failure was cited as the major constraint to the use of mobile phones. There is the need for the required investment to build a more robust infrastructural base for the use of mobile phone as it remains a critical tool to supporting agricultural extension delivery among Ghanaian farmers.
Occupation-based metacognitive group intervention for older adults experiencing memory problems: Feasibility study
Authors: Rotenberg Shlomit , Maeir Adina
Published: April 2018

Introduction

Subjective memory complaints in older adults are associated with adverse emotions and functional deficits. This feasibility study evaluated an occupation-based metacognitive group intervention for older adults with subjective memory complaints, and examined post-intervention changes on occupational goal attainment and metamemory.

Method

Twenty-three older adults participated in the study. A quantitative pre-post test design was used, and short qualitative interviews were performed following the intervention. The 15-week intervention used metacognitive methods within an occupation-based approach. Metacognitive learning was embedded in a social leisure book club, and mediation was provided to support attainment of individualized occupational goals in everyday life. Quantitative measures of goal attainment and metamemory were used, as well as qualitative interviews.

Findings

Most (68%) targeted occupational goals were obtained, with very little transfer to untrained goals. Significant improvements were found in perceived memory ability in daily life. No changes were found regarding memory beliefs or frequency of strategy use.

Conclusion

The results suggest that this intervention was feasible and has the potential to promote attainment of occupational goals and reduce memory-related mistakes in daily life.
Using Open Source Data to Measure Street Walkability and Bikeability in China: A Case of Four Cities
Authors: Gu Peiqin , Han Zhiyuan , Cao Zhejing , Chen Yulin , Jiang Yang
Published: April 2018

Whether people would choose to walk or ride a bike for their daily travel is affected by how desirable the environment is for walking and biking. To better inform urban planning and design practices, studies on measuring walkability and bikeability have emerged in western countries over the last decade. However, such efforts are still rare in developing countries, partially due to the scarcity of urban data. Utilizing open source data, this paper puts forward a methodology to comprehensively and objectively measure street walkability and bikeability in China. The methodology was applied to four Chinese cities: Tianjin, Chongqing, Kunming, and Shijiazhuang. Analyses showed the following results: (1) city centers tend to have higher walkability than periphery areas; (2) a preliminary bikeable street network exists in most cities (except mountainous cities), but the prevalence of bike lanes on streets is much lower than that of sidewalks; (3) the problem of illegal parking on both sidewalks and bike lanes is severe, especially in city centers; (4) biking safety and comfort is compromised due to a lack of physically separated bike lanes; and (5) the street wall continuity varies from place to place whereas the street network in traditional city centers is much denser than newly developed car-oriented areas. The end of the paper provides corresponding policy implications.
What Characteristics Define Participants of Michigan’s Healthy Food Incentive Program?
Authors: Parks Courtney A. , Jaskiewicz Lara J. , Dombrowski Rachael D. , Fricke Hollyanne E. , Hortman Sarah B. , Trumbull Elissa , Hesterman Oran B. , Yaroch Amy L.
Published: April 2018

To characterize participants of a statewide healthy food incentive program in terms of shopping behaviors, surveys were collected at farmers markets (N = 436) and grocery stores (N = 131). Farmers market and grocery store respondents were mostly forty-five to fifty-four years old (21 percent to 24 percent) and female (72 to 82 percent). Grocery store respondents were more diverse. Farmers market participants were more likely to be female ( p = .011), not have children ( p = .006), and traveled further compared to grocery store participants. As healthy food incentive programs expand, participant characteristics should inform tailored outreach to expand to diverse populations to have a greater public health impact.
Nonpharmacologic and Medication Minimization Strategies for the Prevention and Treatment of ICU Delirium: A Narrative Review
Authors: Blair Gregory J. , Mehmood Talha , Rudnick Mona , Kuschner Ware G. , Barr Juliana
Published: April 2018

Delirium is a multifactorial entity, and its understanding continues to evolve. Delirium has been associated with increased morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and cost for hospitalized patients, especially for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Recent literature on delirium focuses on specific pharmacologic risk factors and pharmacologic interventions to minimize course and severity of delirium. While medication management clearly plays a role in delirium management, there are a variety of nonpharmacologic interventions, pharmacologic minimization strategies, and protocols that have been recently described. A PubMed search was performed to review the evidence for nonpharmacologic management, pharmacologic minimization strategies, and prevention of delirium for patients in the ICU. Recent approaches were condensed into 10 actionable steps to manage delirium and minimize medications for ICU patients and are presented in this review.
Bioinspired nanocarriers for an effective chemotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Xu Lei , Wu Shuo , Zhou Xiaoqiu
Published: April 2018

Drug-loaded nanoparticles have been widely researched in the antitumor. However, some of them are unsatisfactory in the long blood circulation and controlled drug release. Red blood cell (RBC) membrane vesicles (RV)-coated nanoparticles have gained more and more attention in drug delivery for their many unique advantages, such as excellent stability, long blood circulation, and reduced the macrophage cells uptake. Herein, by utilizing the advantages of RV, we fabricated RV-coated poly(lactide- co-glycolide) (PLGA)–docetaxel (RV/PLGA/DTX) nanoparticles to enhance the antitumor efficiency in vivo. The RV/PLGA/DTX showed spherical morphology with particle size of about 100 nm and zeta potential at −12.63 mV, which could maintain stability for a long time. The RV/PLGA/DTX significantly enhanced cellular uptake of DTX compared to PLGA/DTX in HepG2 cells. Moreover, RV/PLGA/DTX showed the strongest antitumor effect in vitro. Prolonged blood circulation and enhanced DTX accumulation at the tumor site through enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect were achieved by RV/PLGA/DTX, which eventually obtained satisfactory antitumor effect and depressed system toxicity on mice bearing HepG2 xenografts mouse models when compared with free DTX. The hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunofluorescence assays further proved the advantages of RV/PLGA/DTX in vivo antitumor. These RV-coated nanoparticles provide a mimetic therapy, completely inhibited the growth of the HepG2 cells, and with simple compositions, suggesting it to be an ideal strategy for improving the antitumor effect of drug-loaded nanoparticles.
Opportunities and challenges for big data analytics in US higher education
Authors: Attaran Mohsen , Stark John , Stotler Derek
Published: April 2018

Business leaders around the world are using emerging technologies to capitalize on data, to create business value and to compete effectively in a digitally driven world. They rely on data analytics to accelerate time to insight and to gain a better understanding of their customers’ needs and wants. However, big data and data analytics solutions in higher education are new topics. There has been limited progress in accumulating the extremely rich data that flow through higher education systems for the purpose of acquiring usable information for students, instructors, administrators and the public. The key objective of this article is to propose a conceptual model for the successful implementation of analytics in higher education. The article also examines some of the potential benefits of big data and analytics as applied to the world of higher education and explores implementation challenges that can be expected. Furthermore, the study reviews key attributes of successful analytics platforms and illustrates some of the routes that might be taken to implement these technologies in education. Finally, it highlights the successful implementation of analytics solutions in several universities.
Identification of the time-varying modal parameters of a spacecraft with flexible appendages using a recursive predictor-based subspace identification algorithm
Authors: Ni Zhiyu , Liu Jinguo , Wu Zhigang
Published: April 2018

This study focuses on the recursive identification of the time-varying modal parameters of on-orbit spacecraft caused by structural configuration changes. For this purpose, an algorithm called recursive predictor-based subspace identification is applied as an alternative method to improve the computational efficiency and noise robustness, and to implement an online identification of system parameters. In the existing time-domain identification methods, the eigensystem realization algorithm and subspace identification methods are usually applied to obtain the on-orbit spacecraft modal parameters. However, these approaches are designed based on a time-invariant system and singular value decomposition, which require a significant amount of computational time. Thus, these methods are difficult to employ for online identification. According to the adaptive filter theory, the recursive predictor-based subspace identification algorithm can not only avoid the singular value decomposition computation but also provide unbiased estimates in a general noisy framework using the recursive least squares approach. Furthermore, in comparison with the classical projection approximation subspace tracking series recursive algorithm, the recursive predictor-based subspace identification method is more suitable for systems with strong noise disturbances. By establishing the dynamics model of a large rigid-flexible coupling spacecraft, three cases of on-orbit modal parameter variation with time are investigated, and the corresponding system frequencies are identified using the recursive predictor-based subspace identification, projection approximation subspace tracking, and singular value decomposition methods. The results demonstrate that the recursive predictor-based subspace identification algorithm can be used to effectively perform an online parameter identification, and the corresponding computational efficiency and noise robustness are better than those of the singular value decomposition and projection approximation subspace tracking series approaches, respectively. Finally, the applicability of this method is also verified through a numerical simulation.
Indefinite Detention, Colonialism, and Settler Prerogative in the United States
Authors: Saito Natsu Taylor
Published: April 2018

The primacy accorded individual civil and political rights is often touted as one of the United States’ greatest achievements. However, mass incarcerations of indefinite duration have occurred consistently throughout US history and have primarily targeted people of color. The dominant narrative insists that the United States is a political democracy and portrays each instance of indefinite detention in exceptionalist terms. This essay argues that the historical patterns of indefinite detention are better explained by recognizing the United States as a settler colonial state whose claimed prerogative to expand its territorial reach and contain/control populations over which it exercises jurisdiction has inevitably resulted in the involuntary inclusion and concomitant exclusion of peoples of color.
Seizing Opportunities for Markets of Discovery: The Reconfigurations of Value Chains in Pharmaceutical Industry in the Global South
Authors: Pádua Muriela Hinard De , Fontes Margarida , Sousa Cristina
Published: April 2018

This article investigates whether Asian countries are becoming more active at the discovery stage, a higher stage of the drug development value chain. We conduct the first quantitative study to investigate these countries positioning in drug discovery activities. For this purpose, we draw on a database containing historical information on more than 61,000 drugs, for the period 1994–2015, and extract and analyse data on the drug discovery events in which a selected group of Asian countries were involved.

The results show that these countries are increasingly involved in activities of discovery and that, in some of them, these activities are predominantly conducted on drugs owned by local organisations. Along with this process, markets for discovery are being created, both through sub-contracting and through partnerships among local organisations (for their own drugs) and between local and non-local ones. Second, drawing on the strategies and organisational set-ups adopted in each country, we distinguish a number of profiles regarding the ways competences for markets for discovery are being built. Third, we identify the existence of a strong regional centre of competences, acting as a local–global articulation locus for markets of discovery.

These results provide new insights into the ways Asian countries are moving up the drug development value chain and contribute to our understanding of the learning processes underway in different contexts and the variety of configurations resulting from these processes, supporting a discussion on the potential role of policies to further expand markets for discovery.
Magnetic field effect on free vibration of smart rotary functionally graded nano/microplates: A comparative study on modified couple stress theory and nonlocal elasticity theory
Authors: Shojaeefard Mohammad Hassan , Saeidi Googarchin Hamed , Mahinzare Mohammad , Eftekhari Seyed Ahmad
Published: April 2018

In this article, free vibration behavior of a rotating nano/microcircular plate constructed from functionally graded magneto-elastic material is simulated with the first-order shear deformation theory. For the sake of comparison, the nonlocal elasticity theory and the modified couple stress theory are employed to implement the small size effect in the natural frequencies behavior of the nano/microcircular plate. The governing equations of motion for functionally graded magneto-elastic material nano/microcircular plates are derived based on Hamilton’s principle; comparing the obtained results with those in the literature, they are in a good agreement. Finally, the governing equations are solved using the differential quadrature method. It is shown that the vibrational characteristics of functionally graded magneto-elastic material nano/microcircular plates are significantly affected by non-dimensional angular velocity, size dependency of the Eringen’s and the modified couple stress theories, and power law index for clamped and hinged boundary conditions. Results show that a critical point occurs by increasing the angular velocity and the effect of several parameters are changed after this point.
Child Temperament, Maternal Feeding Practices, and Parenting Styles and Their Influence on Obesogenic Behaviors in Hispanic Preschool Children
Authors: Innella Nancy , McNaughton Diane , Schoeny Michael , Tangney Christy , Breitenstein Susan , Reed Monique , Wilbur Joellen
Published: April 2018

Although obesogenic behaviors (physical activity and/or sedentary behavior and dietary intake) are known predictors of childhood weight status, little is known about mother and child behaviors contributing to obesogenic behaviors and obesity in Hispanic preschool children, whose obesity rate is higher than in non-Hispanic Whites and non-Hispanic Blacks. The purpose of this cross-sectional, descriptive study was to examine relationships among child temperament, maternal behaviors (feeding practices and parenting style), child obesogenic behaviors, and child weight status in 100 Hispanic preschool children. Results showed that higher scores on the negative affectivity dimension of child temperament were associated with higher scores on the dimension of permissive parenting, and permissive parenting was associated with less time spent in sedentary behaviors ( B = −3.53, confidence interval [−7.52, −0.90]). Findings can guide school nurses in developing interventions that consider child temperament and parenting style to promote nonobesogenic behavior in Hispanic preschoolers.
Outcome of trabeculectomy with Ologen versus Mitomycin C: A comparative prospective study in Bangladesh
Authors: Sarker Bipul Kumer De , Abdullahi Sadiq M , Hassan Zafrul , Kabir Jahangir , Badmus Sarat , Alam Sarwar , Rahman Mostafizur , Malek Mohammad I , Mahatma Mallika
Published: April 2018

Aims:

To compare the efficacy and safety of trabeculectomy with Ologen versus Mitomycin C in primary glaucoma

Materials and methods:

This is a prospective study of patients aged 18 years and above, diagnosed with primary glaucoma randomised to having trabeculectomy with Ologen or Mitomycin C. The primary outcome measure was success of trabeculectomy defined as intraocular pressure >5 mmHg but ≤21 mmHg. Complete success was defined as intraocular pressure achieved without anti-glaucoma medication and qualified success was defined as intraocular pressure achieved with additional anti-glaucoma medication.

Results:

At the end of 12 months follow-up, the postoperative mean intraocular pressure in the Ologen group was 12.8 ± 1.6 mmHg and 13.4 ± 2.2 mmHg in the Mitomycin C group. The Ologen group achieved complete success in 86.5% and qualified success in 13.5% of the patients, while the Mitomycin C group achieved complete and qualified success in 85.5% and 14.5%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the success rate of both the groups ( p = 0.57). Furthermore, no significant intraocular pressure difference was noted between the two groups at the end of 12 months follow-up ( p = 0.14).

Conclusion:

Trabeculectomy augmented with Ologen appeared to be as successful and safe as trabeculectomy augmented with Mitomycin C, with no reported adverse reaction to Ologen.
Tourism capital
Authors: Camuñez José Antonio , Pablo-Romero Maria P , Sánchez-Rivas Javier
Published: April 2018

In this study, a new conception of the relationships between competitiveness, tourism, and economic growth is proposed. The naturally occurring or inherited tourism resources within the territory, together with productive resources and the relationships between them, are the determining elements of the capacity of the economy to grow. The analysis of this new conceptual framework implies the need to assess the productive factors on the one hand, and the tourism capital (TC) on the other, the latter being measured by some kind of indicator that is not affected by the productive factors. In this study, a TC index is developed for the first time in the literature. It is calculated for the Spanish provinces in 2014, by using synthetic indicators constructed from a weighted average of the initially proposed indicators, where the weight of each of these is obtained through a confirmatory factor analysis. The TC index may allow future empirical studies to analyze how tourism affects economic growth, in relation to other productive factors.
Innovation in tourism
Authors: Montresor Sandro
Published: April 2018

This commentary note critically re-examines the extant literature on innovation in tourism and delineates the pattern that has characterized its development over the last two decades. By referring to different reviews and integrating them with the inspection of subsequent contributions, a divergence is identified with respect to some core aspects of the innovation literature. The motivations and the implications of this divergence are discussed. In particular, some risks are identified in its continuation, which an alternative synthetic combination between tourism and innovation studies could curb.
Emerging themes in entrepreneurial behaviours, identities and contexts
Authors: Jones Paul , Klapper Rita , Ratten Vanessa , Fayolle Alain
Published: April 2018

This article introduces the Special Issue (SI) Emerging themes in Entrepreneurial Behaviours, Identities and Contexts. This SI focuses on advancing the entrepreneurship literature by enhancing understanding of the connections between entrepreneurial behaviours, identities and contexts. Thus, the research questions that this SI addresses are the following: (1) What kind of emerging contexts are influencing entrepreneurial behaviour? and (2) What can we learn from emerging themes about entrepreneurial identities?
Heritage interests: Americanism, Europeanism and Neo-Ottomanism
Authors: Luke Christina
Published: April 2018

The district of Novi Pazar in southwestern Serbia offers an ideal case study to explore heritage and diplomacy. By analyzing processes of Europeanization and perceptions of Neo-Ottomanism in heritage practices, the article demonstrates how past, present, and future plans for South East Europe are embroiled in development trajectories that encompass partners from not only Europe and Turkey but also the United States, Asia, and the Middle East. The World Heritage Center at UNESCO and its partner organization, International Council on Monuments and Sites, hold firm commitments to the Christian identities of Stari Ras and Sopoćani and legacies of medieval Raška as well as the legacies of Imperial Rome. Yet, they operate in a vacuum, neglecting to consider the hyper-connectivity that is transforming not only the physical landscapes of the region and the revitalization of Sandžak and Islamic identities but also the corporate and diplomatic spheres of transnational and multidimensional interests.
Global Posttrauma Symptoms: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Literature
Authors: Michalopoulos Lynn Murphy , Meinhart Melissa , Yung Justina , Barton Samuel Monroe , Wang Xinyi , Chakrabarti Urmi , Ritchey Megan , Haroz Emily , Joseph Nakita , Bass Judith , Bolton Paul
Published: April 2018

Exposure to potentially traumatic events is a global health problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Assessments for symptoms resulting from trauma exposure rely heavily on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which may not be relevant in all regions of the globe. We examined posttrauma symptoms that were not limited to Western constructs of mental health (i.e., PTSD). In a systematic review, we searched nine databases to identify posttrauma symptoms arising in qualitative literature published before July 17, 2017. A total of 17,938 records were identified and 392 met inclusion criteria. The 392 studies represented data on 400 study populations from 71 different nationalities/ethnicities. The presence and frequency of posttrauma symptoms were examined across all regions. Fisher’s exact tests were also conducted to compare frequencies in posttrauma symptoms across region and gender. Based on a weighted analysis across regions, a list of global posttrauma symptoms ( N = 85) was compiled into an item bank. We found that the majority of DSM-5 PTSD symptoms were mentioned across regions (with the exception of inability to recall specific aspects of the trauma and blame of self or others for the event). Across all regions, we also found a number of symptoms mentioned that were not part of PTSD and its associated features. Findings suggest that assessing posttrauma symptoms solely based on PTSD may be limiting to global populations. Research, policy, and practice implications are discussed.
The Female Detective, Neurodiversity, and Felt Knowledge in Engrenages and Bron/Broen
Authors: McHugh Kathleen
Published: April 2018

The neurodiverse female detective in transnational crime dramas embodies complex ways of seeing the gender-based violence these series frequently contain. This detective both orients and disrupts their narrative and visual fields with what I will argue is her surveilling yet troubled look. She inhabits the longstanding transnational tradition of the male defective detective and derives from two recent Anglo-European generic staples: female-led crime dramas and neurodiverse protagonists. In her, gender trouble in the look and its object meet up with the problem of the norm. Beginning with the example of Engrenages ( Spiral, 2005) and then focusing on autism spectrum detective Saga Norén (Sofia Helin) in Bron/Broen, this article considers how the generic familiars and innovations vested in this character alter the dynamics of the gaze, recast the significance of empathy and justice, and enable violence, gender, and everyday social norms to be unsettled in potentially feminist ways.
Broken Bodies/Inquiring Minds: Women in Contemporary Transnational TV Crime Drama
Authors: Coulthard Lisa , Horeck Tanya , Klinger Barbara , McHugh Kathleen
Published: April 2018

This special issue concentrates on a dominant trend in contemporary transnational crime television: quality dramas featuring serial criminals who break the bodies/psyches of young women or children, thereby attracting the inquiries of female detectives who have suffered trauma themselves. This trend has generated resources, industrial partnerships, avid viewers, and, importantly for the authors here, feminist commentary across continents. We reframe the debate over whether these shows are feminist or misogynist by exploring staples of transnational language that underwrite their popularity in disparate national markets. In fact, we address the paradoxical gender-based violence and female empowerment at their core as crucial to their transnational legibility by tracking recurring elements that circulate a gendered and raced lingua franca rooted in fundamentals of media aesthetics: strategies of storytelling and genre, modes of perception, and the production of affect. Ultimately, these programs raise questions about cultural currencies of televised feminism in the digital era.
The Listening Detective: Thinking Music, Gender, and Transnational Crime’s Affective Turn
Authors: Coulthard Lisa
Published: April 2018

This essay argues that in extending the audiovisual convention of “thinking music” and focusing it on the traumatized mind of the female detective, crime series such as Top of the Lake (2013–), Marcella (2016–), and From Darkness (2015–) present female knowledge as fundamentally emotional, even irrational. In these series, the female detective is victimized, traumatized, troubled, and her thinking music is distorted, discordant, affectively charged. Arguing that the female detective’s “thinking” music moves away from the forensic mode’s “showing and telling” and toward “listening” as an investigatory model, this essay posits a sonic turn that recalibrates the genre’s engagement with the female victim along affective and emotional lines. Analyzing this trope, this essay connects the female detective’s sonically defined emotional investment to transnational crime drama’s self-reflexive strategies of affective legibility.
Communication Frequency and Types of Supportive Messages: A Mixed Methods Approach to Examining Mexican-Origin College Students’ Relationships With Their Mothers and Fathers
Authors: Alfaro Edna C.
Published: April 2018

The current study examined communication between Mexican-origin college students ( n = 84) and their parents and the supportive messages that students received. Students attend a Hispanic Serving Institution in central Texas. Most students (96.4%) communicated weekly with parents. Females communicated more with their mothers. Relationship quality was positively related to communication with fathers. Parents’ supportive messages targeted characteristics of parent–child relationships and noncognitive predictors of academic outcomes. Findings demonstrate that parents are a viable focus for college retention efforts.
Delay optimal opportunistic pipeline routing scheme for cognitive radio sensor networks
Authors: Liu Anfeng , Chen Wei , Liu Xiao
Published: April 2018

In order to solve the problem of spectrum scarcity in wireless sensor networks, cognitive radio technology can be introduced into wireless sensor networks, giving rising to cognitive radio sensor networks. Delay-sensitive data applications in cognitive radio sensor networks require efficient real-time communication. Opportunistic pipeline routing is a potential technology to reduce the delay, which can use nodes outside the main forwarding path forward data opportunistically when the transmission fails. However, the energy efficiency of cognitive radio sensor networks with opportunistic pipeline routing is low, and the data transmission delay can be further optimized. In view of this situation, we propose the delay optimal opportunistic pipeline routing scheme named Variable Duty Cycle for Opportunistic Pipeline Routing (VDCOPR). In the Variable Duty Cycle for Opportunistic Pipeline Routing scheme, the nodes employ high duty cycle in the area far from the sink, and low duty cycle in the area near to the sink, which can achieve the balance of energy consumption and reduce the data transmission delay while not affecting network lifetime. The theoretical analysis and experimental results show that, compared with previous opportunistic pipeline routing, energy consumption of network is relatively balanced and the data transmission delay can be reduced by 36.6% in the Variable Duty Cycle for Opportunistic Pipeline Routing scheme.
Dynamic capacity provision for wireless sensors’ connectivity: A profit optimization approach
Authors: Sanchis-Cano Angel , Guijarro Luis , Condoluci Massimo
Published: April 2018

We model a wireless sensors’ connectivity scenario mathematically and analyze it using capacity provision mechanisms, with the objective of maximizing the profits of a network operator. The scenario has several sensors’ clusters with each one having one sink node, which uploads the sensing data gathered in the cluster through the wireless connectivity of a network operator. The scenario is analyzed both as a static game and as a dynamic game, each one with two stages, using game theory. The sinks’ behavior is characterized with a utility function related to the mean service time and the price paid to the operator for the service. The objective of the operator is to maximize its profits by optimizing the network capacity. In the static game, the sinks’ subscription decision is modeled using a population game. In the dynamic game, the sinks’ behavior is modeled using an evolutionary game and the replicator dynamic, while the operator optimal capacity is obtained solving an optimal control problem. The scenario is shown feasible from an economic point of view. In addition, the dynamic capacity provision optimization is shown as a valid mechanism for maximizing the operator profits, as well as a useful tool to analyze evolving scenarios. Finally, the dynamic analysis opens the possibility to study more complex scenarios using the differential game extension.
Efficient identity-based authenticated key agreement protocol with provable security for vehicular ad hoc networks
Authors: Dang Lanjun , Xu Jie , Cao Xuefei , Li Hui , Chen Jie , Zhang Yueyu , Fu Xiaotong
Published: April 2018

In vehicular ad hoc networks, establishing a secure channel between any two vehicles is fundamental. Authenticated key agreement is a useful mechanism, which can be used to negotiate a shared key for secure data transmission between authentic vehicles in vehicular ad hoc networks. Among the existing identity-based two-party authenticated key agreement protocols without pairings, there are only a few protocols that provide provable security in strong security models such as the extended Canetti–Krawczyk model. This article presents an efficient pairing-free identity-based one-round two-party authenticated key agreement protocol with provable security, which is more suitable for real-time application environments with highly dynamic topology such as vehicular ad hoc networks than the existing identity-based two-party authenticated key agreement protocols. The proposed protocol is proven secure under the passive and active adversaries in the extended Canetti–Krawczyk model based on the Gap Diffie–Hellman assumption. The proposed protocol can capture all essential security attributes including known-session key security, perfect forward secrecy, basic impersonation resistance, key compromise impersonation resistance, unknown key share resistance, no key control, and ephemeral secrets reveal resistance. Compared with the existing identity-based two-party authenticated key agreement protocols, the proposed protocol is superior in terms of computational cost and running time while providing higher security.
A New Perspective on Vacuum-Assisted Closure for the Treatment of Anastomotic Leak Following Low Anterior Resection for Rectal Cancer, Is It Worthy?
Authors: Jimenez-Rodriguez Rosa Maria , Araujo-Miguez Angela , Sobrino-Rodriguez Salvador , Heller Frederick , Díaz-Pavon Jose M. , Bozada Garcia Juan M. , De la Portilla Fernando
Published: April 2018

Background. Anastomotic dehiscence is a common complication of anterior resection. In this work, we evaluate the management of the pelvic cavity after low rectal resection using vacuum closure (VAC) with a gastroscope, and we establish factors that determine the success of closure and analyzed the rate of ileostomy closure after leakage was resolved. Patients and Methods. This is a descriptive case series analysis conducted at a tertiary hospital. Twenty-two patients with low colorectal anastomosis leakage or opening of the rectal stump after anterior resection for rectal cancer were included. They were treated with VAC therapy. Results. The total number of endoscopic sessions was 3.1 ± 1.9 in the anterior resection with anastomosis group and 3.2 ± 1.8 in the Hartmann group. In 11 patients the therapy was administered in an ambulatory setting. The mean time to healing was 22.3 ± 14.7 days. Full resolution was achieved in 19 patients (followed-up 1 year). Ileostomy closure was carried out in 5 patients (38.46%) during follow-up. None of these patients showed leakage signs. Statistically significant differences were obtained depending on the onset of therapy, with better results in patients who underwent earlier vacuum-assisted therapy (before the sixth week after initial surgery), P = .041. Conclusions. VAC therapy is an alternative to surgery that can be safely administered in an ambulatory setting. Early administration in the 6 weeks following surgery is an independent predictive factor for successful closure; however, colonic transit was only recovered in a small percentage of patients.
From Illusion to Reality: A Brief History of Robotic Surgery
Authors: Marino Marco Vito , Shabat Galyna , Gulotta Gaspare , Komorowski Andrzej Lech
Published: April 2018

Purpose. Robotic surgery is currently employed for many surgical procedures, yielding interesting results. Methods. We performed an historical review of robots and robotic surgery evaluating some critical phases of its evolution, analyzing its impact on our life and the steps completed that gave the robotics its current popularity. Results. The origins of robotics can be traced back to Greek mythology. Different aspects of robotics have been explored by some of the greatest inventors like Leonardo da Vinci, Pierre Jaquet-Droz, and Wolfgang Von-Kempelen. Advances in many fields of science made possible the development of advanced surgical robots. Over 3000 da Vinci robotic platforms are installed worldwide, and more than 200 000 robotic procedures are performed every year. Conclusion. Despite some potential adverse events, robotic technology seems safe and feasible. It is strictly linked to our life, leading surgeons to a new concept of surgery and training.
A Framework for Community and Stakeholder Engagement: Experiences From a Multicenter Study in Southern Africa
Authors: Musesengwa Rosemary , Chimbari Moses J. , Mukaratirwa Samson
Published: April 2018

Community and stakeholder engagement (CSE) are central to conducting multicenter health research. Multicenter studies are, however, considerably more complex because they involve a geographically diverse pool of participants and researchers, making uniform application of CSE strategies difficult. This article describes a framework to achieve CSE based on the experiences of a conducting a multicenter study in Southern Africa. The CSE framework is divided into three phases: before research commences, during, and after the study. This CSE framework offers a practical step-by-step guide on the operational aspects of CSE in a multicenter study. The framework shows the importance of consistent monitoring and evaluation during implantation of CSE.
Attitudes Toward Return of Genetic Research Results to Relatives, Including After Death: Comparison of Cancer Probands, Blood Relatives, and Spouse/Partners
Authors: Radecki Breitkopf Carmen , Wolf Susan M. , Chaffee Kari G. , Robinson Marguerite E. , Lindor Noralane M. , Gordon Deborah R. , Koenig Barbara A. , Petersen Gloria M.
Published: April 2018

Genetic research generates results with implications for relatives. Recommendations addressing relatives’ access to a participant’s genetic research findings include eliciting participant preferences about access and choosing a representative to make decisions about access upon participant incapacity/death. Representatives are likely to be blood relatives or spouse/partners (who may share genetically related children). This raises the question of whether relatives hold similar attitudes about access or divergent attitudes that may yield conflict. We surveyed pancreatic cancer biobank participants (probands) and relatives in a family registry (blood relatives and spouse/partners of probands); 1,903 (>55%) surveys were returned. Results revealed few attitudinal differences between the groups. A slightly higher proportion of blood relatives agreed with statements reflecting proband privacy. In conclusion, probands’ decisions on access are likely to be accepted by relatives; in choosing a representative, probands may not face major differences in attitudes about privacy/sharing between a blood relative and a spouse/partner.
‘It’s not like the Germans to take something that wasn’t theirs’
Authors: Schwind Kai Hanno
Published: April 2018

At the time of its conception, the producers of Stromberg, the German adaptation of the British situation comedy The Office, were accused of copyright infringement. Based on exclusive data from qualitative interviews with the creative personnel, this article contributes to the previously under-theorised field of television comedy production studies in non-Anglophone contexts. Exploring the clash of standardised procedures on the global television market with traditional practices and a distinct production culture in Germany, it challenges established theorisations of television ‘format’ and argues for a more nuanced and case-specific understanding of how adaptation processes facilitate and stimulate creativity across borders.
The savior and the devil: Media representations of school–non-governmental organization interactions
Authors: Tamir Eran , Tucker Khen , Yemini Miri
Published: April 2018

This study maps, characterizes, and conceptualizes the media discourse and coverage of non-governmental organization–school interactions within public education in Israel, while depicting the evolving dynamics and framing of this ever prominent phenomenon. The authors employed two complementary methodologies for the analysis: critical discourse analysis and framing theory. Specifically, this study pinpoints how neo-liberal notions are used and communicated to the public, and what role different newspapers play in framing those interactions and in helping to shape public opinion regarding the new engagements between schools and non-governmental organizations. The authors depict the ways in which school–non-governmental organization interactions are presented and framed to popular and elite audiences, and discuss the possible implications of their findings in light of the growing prominence of external entities in public schooling.
Medication errors involving intravenous patient-controlled analgesia: results from the 2005–2015 MEDMARX database
Authors: Mohanty Maitreyee , Lawal Oluwadolapo D. , Skeer Margie , Lanier Ryan , Erpelding Nathalie , Katz Nathaniel
Published: April 2018

Background:

The aim of this study was to determine the current magnitude and characteristics of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) errors, and to identify opportunities for improving the PCA modality.

Methods:

We conducted a descriptive analysis of IV-PCA medication errors submitted to the MEDMARX database. Events were restricted to those occurring in inpatient hospital settings between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2015. IV-PCA errors were classified by error category, cause of error, error type, level of care rendered, and actions taken.

Results:

A total of 1948 IV-PCA errors were identified as potential errors (3.9%), nonharmful errors (89.5%), or harmful errors (6.7%) based on the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention taxonomy for categorizing medication errors. Of these, 19.1% required a clinical intervention to address the deleterious effects of the error, indicating an underestimation of the risks associated with IV-PCA errors. The most frequent types of errors were improper dose/quantity (43.2%) and omission errors (19.9%). While human performance deficit was the leading cause of error (50.2%), other common causes included failure to follow procedure and protocol (42.2%) and improper use of the pump (22.7%). Although remedial actions were often taken to prevent error recurrence, actions were taken to rectify the systemic deficits that led to errors in only a minority of cases (11.8%).

Conclusion:

Preventable errors continue to pose unnecessary risks to patients receiving IV-PCA. Multimodal analgesic regimens and novel PCA systems that reduce human error are needed to prevent errors while preserving the advantages of PCA for the management of acute pain.
Anatomy of the posterior and middle ethmoidal arteries via computed tomography
Authors: Yamamoto Hiroki , Nomura Kazuhiro , Hidaka Hiroshi , Katori Yukio , Yoshida Naohiro
Published: April 2018

Objective:

The aim of this study is to investigate the anatomy of the posterior and middle ethmoidal arteries from the viewpoint of an endoscopic sinus surgeon.

Methods:

Based on 100 computed tomography images, the anatomical position of the posterior ethmoidal artery in relation to the posterior ethmoid cells was classified into five types. The presence of the posterior and middle ethmoidal arteries, their distance from the skull base, and their length exposed in the ethmoid cells were measured. The association of patients’ age and sex, presence of the middle ethmoidal artery, and anatomical type of the posterior ethmoidal artery with the posterior ethmoidal artery distance from the ethmoid roof was analyzed.

Results:

The posterior ethmoidal artery’s position, relative to the ethmoid cell walls, was most often near the first wall, anterior to the optic canal (92.5%). The posterior ethmoidal artery’s distance from the skull base ranged from 0 to 6.4 mm (mean: 1.2 mm). Older age, longer length of the posterior ethmoidal artery exposed in the ethmoid cells, and absence of the middle ethmoidal artery were positively associated with a longer posterior ethmoidal artery distance from the skull base.

Conclusion:

Attention should be paid to the posterior and middle ethmoidal arteries.
Analysis of adverse events of renal impairment related to platinum-based compounds using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database
Authors: Naganuma Misa , Motooka Yumi , Sasaoka Sayaka , Hatahira Haruna , Hasegawa Shiori , Fukuda Akiho , Nakao Satoshi , Shimada Kazuyo , Hirade Koseki , Mori Takayuki , Yoshimura Tomoaki , Kato Takeshi , Nakamura Mitsuhiro
Published: April 2018

Objectives:

Platinum compounds cause several adverse events, such as nephrotoxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity, myelosuppression, ototoxicity, and neurotoxicity. We evaluated the incidence of renal impairment as adverse events are related to the administration of platinum compounds using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database.

Methods:

We analyzed adverse events associated with the use of platinum compounds reported from April 2004 to November 2016. The reporting odds ratio at 95% confidence interval was used to detect the signal for each renal impairment incidence. We evaluated the time-to-onset profile of renal impairment and assessed the hazard type using Weibull shape parameter and used the applied association rule mining technique to discover undetected relationships such as possible risk factor.

Results:

In total, 430,587 reports in the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database were analyzed. The reporting odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for renal impairment resulting from the use of cisplatin, oxaliplatin, carboplatin, and nedaplatin were 2.7 (2.5–3.0), 0.6 (0.5–0.7), 0.8 (0.7–1.0), and 1.3 (0.8–2.1), respectively. The lower limit of the reporting odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for cisplatin was >1. The median (lower–upper quartile) onset time of renal impairment following the use of platinum-based compounds was 6.0–8.0 days. The Weibull shape parameter β and 95% confidence interval upper limit of oxaliplatin were <1. In the association rule mining, the score of lift for patients who were treated with cisplatin and co-administered furosemide, loxoprofen, or pemetrexed was high. Similarly, the scores for patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus were high.

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest a potential risk of renal impairment during cisplatin use in real-world setting. The present findings demonstrate that the incidence of renal impairment following cisplatin use should be closely monitored when patients are hypertensive or diabetic, or when they are co-administered furosemide, loxoprofen, or pemetrexed. In addition, healthcare professionals should closely assess a patient’s background prior to treatment.