bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intrathrombus polymer coating deposition: a pilot study of 91 patients undergoing endovascular therapy for acute large vessel stroke. Part I: Histologic frequency
Authors: Mehta Rashi I , Rai Ansaar T , Vos Jeffrey A , Solis Orestes E , Mehta Rupal I
Published: May 2019

Background

Polymer coating embolism due to vascular medical device use is an increasingly recognized iatrogenic complication. This phenomenon has been linked with various adverse effects including neuroinflammation, acute ischemic stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, and death. Notably, procedure- and device-specific risks of this complication are poorly investigated. In this study, we evaluate the detectable frequency of intra-arterial polymer coating delamination among patients who underwent endovascular thrombectomy for treatment of acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion.

Methods

Ninety-two cerebral thrombectomy specimens were retrospectively analyzed for the presence of polymer coating particulates. Histologic findings were correlated with demographic and procedural details and patient outcomes.

Results

Evidence of polymer coating deposition was found in 30 of 92 extracted thrombi (33%). No correlation between intrathrombus polymer deposition and use of a specific thrombectomy device such as a stent retriever, aspiration catheter, or guide catheter was found. However, heterogeneous patterns of device use suggest a number of culprit devices. A trend toward longer procedure times and multiple thrombectomy passes was noted in positive cases. Intrathrombus polymer deposition was not associated with adverse clinical outcomes as measured by the 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS); however, small sample size and follow-up intervals limit interpretation. Ninety-day outcomes based on mRS may not fully capture the clinical effects of acute and/or delayed intracerebral polymer complications.

Conclusion

In light of documented adverse neurologic effects, the frequency of intrathrombus polymer particulates indicates the need for consensus testing methods and large-scale long-term prospective clinical device trials, with inclusion of relevant endpoints to better assess biomaterial and device risks to patients.
Intra-arterial chemotherapy for retinoblastoma: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ravindran Krishnan , Dalvin Lauren A , Pulido Jose S , Brinjikji Waleed
Published: May 2019

Background and purpose

Intra-arterial chemotherapy for retinoblastoma has been adopted as a first-line treatment option by numerous tertiary centers. The effect of intra-arterial chemotherapy on future rates of metastatic disease as well as on globe salvage in advanced eyes remains relatively unknown.

Methods

A search of PubMED, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science electronic databases was conducted from inception until January 2019 for studies with a minimum of 10 patients reporting outcomes and complications following intra-arterial chemotherapy for retinoblastoma.

Results

A total of 20 studies met the inclusion criteria for analysis, comprising 873 patients and 1467 eyes. Only one study was comparative; there was substantial heterogeneity in reported outcomes and several overlapping patient cohorts that were published. Across all studies, 174 of 1467 eyes were enucleated (11.8%). Metastatic disease occurred in 8 of 513 patients (1.6%). Globe salvage was achieved in 318 of 906 (35.6%) cases of advanced retinoblastoma. The most common ocular complication was retinal detachment, occurring in 23% of eyes, and the most common systemic complications were transient fever and nausea/vomiting.

Conclusions

There is a paucity of higher-level evidence with adequate follow-up surrounding the long-term safety of intra-arterial chemotherapy and effect on metastasis in retinoblastoma. Studies to date have been limited by short-term follow-up. Longitudinal prospective studies could provide greater insight into the ability of intra-arterial chemotherapy to reduce the risk of retinoblastoma metastasis.
Posttranscription Initiation Control of Gene Expression Mediated by Bacterial RNA-Binding Proteins
Authors: Babitzke Paul , Lai Ying-Jung , Renda Andrew J. , Romeo Tony
Published: May 2019

RNA-binding proteins play vital roles in regulating gene expression and cellular physiology in all organisms. Bacterial RNA-binding proteins can regulate transcription termination via attenuation or antitermination mechanisms, while others can repress or activate translation initiation by affecting ribosome binding. The RNA targets for these proteins include short repeated sequences, longer single-stranded sequences, RNA secondary or tertiary structure, and a combination of these features. The activity of these proteins can be influenced by binding of metabolites, small RNAs, or other proteins, as well as by phosphorylation events. Some of these proteins regulate specific genes, while others function as global regulators. As the regulatory mechanisms, components, targets, and signaling circuitry surrounding RNA-binding proteins have become better understood, in part through rapid advances provided by systems approaches, a sense of the true nature of biological complexity is becoming apparent, which we attempt to capture for the reader of this review.
Structural Basis of Response Regulator Function
Authors: Gao Rong , Bouillet Sophie , Stock Ann M.
Published: May 2019

Response regulators function as the output components of two-component systems, which couple the sensing of environmental stimuli to adaptive responses. Response regulators typically contain conserved receiver (REC) domains that function as phosphorylation-regulated switches to control the activities of effector domains that elicit output responses. This modular design is extremely versatile, enabling different regulatory strategies tuned to the needs of individual signaling systems. This review summarizes structural features that underlie response regulator function. An abundance of atomic resolution structures and complementary biochemical data have defined the mechanisms for response regulator enzymatic activities, revealed trends in regulatory strategies utilized by response regulators of different subfamilies, and provided insights into interactions of response regulators with their cognate histidine kinases. Among the hundreds of thousands of response regulators identified, variations abound. This article provides a framework for understanding structural features that enable function of canonical response regulators and a basis for distinguishing noncanonical configurations.
A Conversation with Maureen Cropper
Authors: Cropper Maureen L. , Kling Catherine L. , Sussman Fran
Published: May 2019

This article presents an interview with environmental economist Maureen L. Cropper. Maureen completed her Ph.D. at Cornell University and subsequently held positions at the University of California, Riverside, and the University of Southern California. At Riverside, she moved from monetary economics to environmental economics. She then landed at the University of Maryland, where she is a still a professor. She has taken on leadership roles in numerous institutional settings, including the US National Academy of Sciences and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board. Her contributions to environmental economics have been groundbreaking and extensive. Together with many collaborators—including former students and colleagues at the University of Maryland, World Bank, EPA, and Resources for the Future—Maureen has produced a body of work that spans theory, methods, and empirical applied economics. Her work covers the environment, energy, climate change, and transportation in both the United States and developing countries.
Dip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah: Bacteriophage-Mediated Rescoring of a Harmoniously Orchestrated RNA Metabolism
Authors: Dendooven T. , Lavigne R.
Published: May 2019

RNA turnover and processing in bacteria are governed by the structurally divergent but functionally convergent RNA degradosome, and the mechanisms have been researched extensively in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. An emerging research field focuses on how bacterial viruses hijack all aspects of the bacterial metabolism, including the host machinery of RNA metabolism. This review addresses research on phage-based influence on RNA turnover, which can act either indirectly or via dedicated effector molecules that target degradosome assemblies. The structural divergence of host RNA turnover mechanisms likely explains the limited number of phage proteins directly targeting these specialized, host-specific complexes. The unique and nonconserved structure of DIP, a phage-encoded inhibitor of the Pseudomonas degradosome, illustrates this hypothesis. However, the natural occurrence of phage-encoded mechanisms regulating RNA turnover indicates a clear evolutionary benefit for this mode of host manipulation. Further exploration of the viral dark matter of unknown phage proteins may reveal more structurally novel interference strategies that, in turn, could be exploited for biotechnological applications.
Expanding the RNA Virosphere by Unbiased Metagenomics
Authors: Zhang Yong-Zhen , Chen Yan-Mei , Wang Wen , Qin Xin-Chen , Holmes Edward C.
Published: May 2019

Although viruses comprise the most abundant genetic material in the biosphere, to date only several thousand virus species have been formally defined. Such a limited perspective on virus diversity has in part arisen because viruses were traditionally considered only as etiologic agents of overt disease in humans or economically important species and were often difficult to identify using cell culture. This view has dramatically changed with the rise of metagenomics, which is transforming virus discovery and revealing a remarkable diversity of viruses sampled from diverse cellular organisms. These newly discovered viruses help fill major gaps in the evolutionary history of viruses, revealing a near continuum of diversity among genera, families, and even orders of RNA viruses. Herein, we review some of the recent advances in our understanding of the RNA virosphere that have stemmed from metagenomics, note future directions, and highlight some of the remaining challenges to this rapidly developing field.
Analytical Solution for Electrical Problem Forced by a Finite‐Length Needle Electrode: Implications in Electrostimulation
Authors: Romero-Méndez Ricardo , Pérez-Gutiérrez Francisco G. , Oviedo-Tolentino Francisco , Berjano Enrique
Published: May 2019

Needle electrodes, widely used in clinical procedures, are responsible for creating an electric field in the treated biological tissue. This is achieved by setting a constant voltage along the length of their metallic section. In accordance with Laplace’s equation, the electric field is spatially non‐uniform around the electrode surface. Mathematical modelling can provide useful information on the spatial distribution of electrical fields. Indeed, exact solutions for the electrical problem are indispensable for validating numerical codes. All the analytical models developed to date to solve the needle electrode electrical problem have been one‐dimensional models, which assumed an electrode of infinite length. We here propose the first analytical solution based on a two‐dimensional model that considers the real length of the electrode in which the Laplace equation is solved through the method of separation of variables, dealing with the nonhomogeneous source term and boundary conditions by Green’s functions. On assuming a needle electrode of given length, the problem combines boundary conditions on the electrode boundary (of the first and second kind). Since this rules out using the Sturm‐Liouville Theorem, the problem is decomposed into two different problems and the principle of superposition is used. The solution obtained can reproduce a reasonable electric field around the electrode, especially the edge effect characterized by an extremely high gradient around the electrode tip.
Agent-Based Modeling of Employee Protection-Oriented Safety Proactivity Behaviors at Small Scale Enterprises
Authors: Wang Qiwei , Curcuruto Matteo , Mei Qiang , Liu Suxia , Zhou Qiaomei , Zhang JingJing
Published: May 2019

Although the safety production level at small scale enterprises is important for business success, critical safety interactions among the enterprises, its employees, the public, and the government have not been explained well in the literature. To address this gap, a bottom-up method of agent-based modeling is applied here that includes these key stakeholders. The study illustrates how employee protection-oriented safety proactivity behaviors, including whistleblowing and public exposure, can impact the safety production level at small scale enterprises, which are also watched by the public and regulated by the government. The results confirm that protection-oriented safety proactivity behaviors have a significant impact on the safety production levels at small enterprises through the interactions among multiple agents. The model results are validated using an employee questionnaire. The recommendation is for employees to encourage protection-oriented safety proactivity behaviors to improve safety production levels and for the public and the government to provide additional safety support.
Preparation and Characterization of Rigid Polyurethane Foams with Different Loadings of Lignin-Derived Polycarboxylic Acids
Authors: Wang Ruiqi , Zhou Bing , Zhu Yanchao , Wang Zichen
Published: May 2019

Lignin was modified by oxidation to prepare lignin-derived polycarboxylic acids (LPCAs). LPCAs can be introduced into rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs) via 1,4-dioxane. The expansion ratio and compressive strength of RPUFs were observed. When the loading of LPCAs was 0.67 wt% (based on polyol), the compressive strength of RPUF was the highest and was about 59.2% higher than that of the blank RPUF. The reinforcing mechanism of LPCAs was supposed that the interactions between LPCAs and RPUFs increased the strength of the cell walls. When the loading of LPCAs was less than 0.33 wt%, the expansion ratio of RPUFs increased slightly. The water resistance of RPUFs was not affected by LPCAs, suggesting that RPUFs with LPCAs could be used in a humid environment. Besides, the application of the oxidative modification products of lignin was broadened.
Functional Epithelium Remodeling in Response to Applied Stress under In Vitro Conditions
Authors: Pajic-Lijakovic Ivana , Milivojevic Milan
Published: May 2019

Mathematical modeling is often used in tissue engineering in order to overcome one of its major challenges: transformation of complex biological and rheological behaviors of cells and tissue in a mathematically predictive and physically manipulative engineering process. The successive accomplishment of this task will greatly help in quantifying and optimizing clinical application of the tissue engineering products. One of the problems emerging in this area is the relation between resting and migrating cell groups, as well as between different configurations of migrating cells and viscoelasticity. A deeper comprehension of the relation between various configurations of migrating cells and viscoelasticity at the supracellular level represents the prerequisite for optimization of the performance of the artificial epithelium. Since resting and migrating cell groups have a considerable difference in stiffness, a change in their mutual volume ratio and distribution may affect the viscoelasticity of multicellular surfaces. If those cell groups are treated as different phases, then an analogous model may be applied to represent such systems. In this work, a two-step Eyring model is developed in order to demonstrate the main mechanical and biochemical factors that influence configurations of migrating cells. This model could be also used for considering the long-time cell rearrangement under various types of applied stress. The results of this theoretical analysis point out the cause-consequence relationship between the configuration of migrating cells and rheological behavior of multicellular surfaces. Configuration of migrating cells is influenced by mechanical and biochemical perturbations, difficult to measure experimentally, which lead to uncorrelated motility. Uncorrelated motility results in (1) decrease of the volume fraction of migrating cells, (2) change of their configuration, and (3) softening of multicellular surfaces.
Adult Granulosa Cell Tumor of the Testis: A Case Report with a Review of the Literature
Authors: Dieckmann Klaus-Peter , Bertolini Julia , Wülfing Christian
Published: May 2019

Adult granulosa cell tumor (AGCT) of the testis represents a very rare testicular neoplasm that is poorly understood clinically. Here we report the case of a 22-year-old male who presented with unspecific scrotal symptoms. Scrotal sonography disclosed a 6 mm hypoechoic intratesticular lesion. Histological examination after orchiectomy revealed a homogeneous and well demarcated neoplasm with monomorphic cells with nuclear grooving and microfollicular formation of the so-called Call-Exner bodies. Immunohistology showed positive stainings of vimentin, calretinin, and inhibin with negative stainings of the typical germ cell tumor markers. Thus, the diagnosis of a benign AGCT was made. The patient is well one year after surgery. A total of 91 previous AGCT cases were identified in the literature. Median age of the cases reported to date is 44 years, median tumor size 3.2 cm. 54.3% of the AGCT cases were located on the left side. 12 cases (13.2%) were of malignant nature. Testis-sparing surgery would be the treatment of choice, but only two of all cases had received that procedure. The present report aims to increase the clinical knowledge of AGCT and specifically to increase the clinician’s vigilance with respect to testis-sparing surgery in probably benign testicular masses.
CFD Modelling of a Centrifugal Compressor with Experimental Validation through Radial Diffuser Static Pressure Measurement
Authors: Dewar Brett , Tiainen Jonna , Jaatinen-Värri Ahti , Creamer Mike , Dotcheva Mariana , Radulovic Jovana , Buick James M.
Published: May 2019

This paper compares experimental static pressure measurement with CFD simulation in a centrifugal compressor at 12 points through the diffuser. Three mass flow rates are selected, each for three operating speeds giving nine total operating conditions. The results show that the CFD model generally slightly underpredicts the static pressure value as compared to the experimental results. The discrepancy between experimental and numerical results ranges between -8% and +6% and is fairly consistent for a given operating condition, except for close to the blade trailing edge where the pressure variation is less regular and where the pressure is increasing most rapidly with radial position. In the consistent region, where the pressure gradient is low, the discrepancy is around two percent or less for simulations close to the design operating point. Away from the design operating point the errors increase up to approximately 5%. The simulation results were also used to investigate the effect of the position (from the blade trailing edge) of the impeller-diffuser interface (a characteristic of the frozen rotor simulation approach). Here an optimal position for the interface was found to be 2% of the blade radius. This value gave improved agreement with the experimental result in the initial region of the diffuser up to a distance of approximately 10% of the radius. At greater distances the position of the interface became less important. The results also highlighted a change in the pressure along the spanwise direction close to the tips. A dip in the pressure, which was observed in the experimental results, was only observed in the simulations close to the shroud. Close to the hub the simulation results recorded a small local peak. The simulation approach was then applied to further study the flow characteristics by examining the full-field velocity and pressure contours in the impeller and diffuser regions to identify changes due to the different operating conditions.
Prophylactic McCall Culdoplasty by a Vaginal Approach during Mini-Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
Authors: Gencdal Servet , Demirel Emine , Soyman Zeynep , Kelekci Sefa
Published: May 2019

Background. In gynecological surgery, one particular area of concern after hysterectomy is the risk of developing an enterocele or vaginal apical prolapse. The aims of this study were to evaluate the safety and efficacy of prophylactic McCall culdoplasty (MC) performed during mini-total laparoscopic hysterectomy (mini-TLH), as well as to compare the differences in apical support, total vaginal length (TVL), and sexual function at one and two years postoperatively. Methods. Data were retrospectively reviewed for all women who underwent mini-TLH and mini-TLH + MC at a tertiary care center between August 2012 and January 2016 were from the hospital database. There were 18 women who underwent mini-TLH + MC and were considered as the study group, while 20 women who were treated with mini-TLH were considered as the control group. The primary outcome measures were the differences in apical support and TVL and impact on sexual function. Results. After mini-TLH + MC, the apical vaginal support difference was improved by 2.2 cm. The mean difference in C point was 1.03 cm in the mini-TLH group, which was not significant at two years after the operation. The vaginal vault descent at two years after operation was more prominent in the mini-TLH group than the mini-TLH + MC groups. Apical support changes at two years after the operation were more prominent in the mini-TLH group (0.5 ± 0.6 cm) than the mini-TLH + MC group (1.9 ± 1.2 cm). Conclusion. Prophylactic MC by a vaginal approach during mini-TLH is safe, satisfactory, and efficient for apical support without severe morbidity.
Highly Selective Fluorescent Probe for the Detection of Copper (II) and Its Application in Live Cell Imaging
Authors: Guo Zhihao , Wang Xiuji , Wei Pei , Gao Yihua , Li Qin
Published: May 2019

The development of fluorescent methods for the detection of metal ions is of great importance due to their diverse environmental and biological roles. Herein, a rhodamine 6G-based off-on fluorescent probe (L1) with at-butyl pyrrole moiety as the recognition site was designed and synthesized. Photophysical studies show thatL1exhibits excellent sensitivity and selectivity towards Cu2+to other metal ions in neutral acetonitrile aqueous media. Mechanism studies suggest that the recognition process may associate with a Cu2+promoted hydrolysis reaction ofL1. Furthermore,L1has been successfully applied in fluorescence imaging of Cu2+ion in living cells.
Prevalence of HPV Genotypes in South Europe: Comparisons between an Italian and a Turkish Unvaccinated Population
Authors: Schettino Maria Teresa , De Franciscis Pasquale , Schiattarella Antonio , La Manna Viviana , Della Gala Alessandra , Caprio Francesca , Tammaro Carolina , Ammaturo Franco Pietro , Guler Tolga , Yenigün Ezgi Hanci
Published: May 2019

The human papilloma virus (HPV) is a DNA virus associated with benign and malignant lesions of skin and mucous membranes and is the most common sexually transmitted viral infection worldwide. We investigated the prevalence of HPV infection and associated risk factors in Italian and Turkish women population attending the gynecology outpatients clinic in Naples (Italy) and Pamukkale (Turkey). Women were enrolled from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli” in Naples (Italy) and of “Pamukkale University” in Denizli (Turkey) between January 2014 and June 2015. A questionnaire that included sociodemographic and sexual behavior characteristics, questions about HPV awareness, vaccine status, and reasons for not wanting to get vaccinated, and HPV-related knowledge was completed for each participant, and cervical cytology samples were collected. The prevalence of HPV infection was higher in the Italian group (52.6% vs 32.6%, p<0.001), while the distribution of genotypes is similar (p=0.325). Moreover, the differences in cytological alterations in these patients are significant (p<0.001). The analysis showed a higher prevalence of sexual behavioral characteristics (p<0.001) and better attention to the execution of the screening test in the Italian population (p<0.001). Italian women showed more knowledge and propensity to vaccination compared to Turkish women (p<0.001). Our data highlighted three relevant aspects: the different prevalence of cytological abnormalities, the different distribution of risk factors and, above all, the different attitude of women towards the primary prevention of cervical cancer between an Italian and a Turkish population group.
Human Menstrual Blood-Derived Stem Cells Inhibit the Proliferation of HeLa Cells via TGF-β1-Mediated JNK/P21 Signaling Pathways
Authors: Liu Qian-Yu , Ruan Feng , Li Jing-Yuan , Wei Li , Hu Ping , Chen Hou-Wen , Liu Quan-Wen
Published: May 2019

Human menstrual blood-derived stem cells (hMBSCs) are a novel type of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that have a high proliferative rate, multilineage differentiation potential, low immunogenicity, and low oncogenicity, making them suitable candidates for regenerative medicine. The therapeutic efficacy of hMBSCs has been demonstrated in some diseases; however, their effects on cervical cancer remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated whether hMBSCs have anticancer properties on cervical cancer cells in vivo and in vitro, which has not yet been reported. In vitro, transwell coculturing experiments revealed that hMBSCs suppress the proliferation and invasion of HeLa cervical cancer cells by inducing G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. In vivo, we established a xenografted BALB/c nude mouse model by subcutaneously coinjecting HeLa cells with hMBSCs for 21 days. We found that hMBSCs significantly decrease the average volume and average weight of xenografted tumors. ELISA, TGF-β1 antibody, and recombinant human TGF-β1 (rhTGF-β1) were used to analyze whether TGF-β1 contributed to cell cycle arrest. We found that hMBSC-secreted TGF-β1 and rhTGF-β1 induced cell cycle arrest and increased the expression of phospho-JNK and phospho-P21 in HeLa cells, which was mostly reversed by TGF-β1 antibody. These results indicate that hMBSCs have antitumor properties on cervical cancer in vitro and in vivo, mediated by the TGF-β1/JNK/p21 signaling pathway. In conclusion, this study suggests that hMBSC-based therapy is promising for the treatment of cervical cancer.
Investigation of Land Subsidence Based on the Column Element Settlement Model in a Soft-Soil Area
Authors: Chen Yang , Zhao Wen , Huang Yong , Jia Pengjiao
Published: May 2019

The Su-Xi-Chang area is located in the Yangtze River Delta in southeastern Jiangsu Province, China. More than 2 m cumulative land subsidence has occurred since 1980s. A range of monitoring programs, geological investigations, and numerical modeling has been implemented in order to establish a regional rehabilitation plan. In this paper, the column element settlement model (CESM) has been established to investigate the coupling effect of soil self-weight, upper loads, and groundwater withdrawal on land subsidence. The model has been verified by comparing with the land subsidence records in Changzhou and further applied to the investigation area. The results show that extensive groundwater withdrawal is the main cause of the land subsidence. Settlement caused by soil self-weight increases with the depth and decreases with upper loads, while settlement caused by upper loads increases with the intensity of upper loads and decreases with depth. The proportion of ground settlement caused by soil self-weight, upper loads, and groundwater withdrawal is also investigated.
Exploring Factors That Facilitate Acculturation Strategies and Academic Success of West African Immigrant Youth in Urban Schools
Authors: Kumi-Yeboah Alex , Brobbey Gordon , Smith Patriann
Published: May 2019

Immigrant students in U.S. educational system experience challenges learning to adapt and integrate into new educational environments. Little is known, however, about factors that facilitate acculturation strategies of immigrant youth from West Africa and how they affect their academic success and challenges faced. Considering the current political discourse over the influence of immigration in U.S. schools, 20 immigrant youth from Ghana and Nigeria were recruited and interviewed in the metropolitan area of New York City. Analyses of semi-structured interviews revealed that teacher, parent, and peer support; social and electronic media; and extracurricular activities emerged as the factors that helped acculturation strategies and academic success. Challenging factors were dealing with sociocultural differences; discrimination, stress, and social integration; and language differences. The article discusses the implications of these findings for teachers to understand acculturation strategies to help West African immigrant youth to adapt, acculturate, and integrate into new school environments.
A Study on Turkish and Lithuanian Young Adults’ Perception of Values
Authors: Öcal Adem , Yiğittir Süleyman , Kyburiene Laima , Navickiene Gemma
Published: May 2019

Whether on a national or an international level, it is important to settle how values are comprehended and justified. This study investigates how university students in Turkey and Lithuania make sense of certain values. The study has a pattern of a case study. The respondent selection was made by benefiting from the studies conducted in both countries. The investigation reveals how three values (family, social justice, and freedom) were understood by university students in both countries, and how they were justified. The data were collected through one of the qualitative research methods, the semistructured interview. The respondents included 32 students from Lithuania, and 40 students from Turkey. The data were analyzed using the content analysis technique. The results of this study suggest that values can be perceived differently both in individual and social platforms, and that, depending on the part of the society they emerged from, values can be justified by various points of view rooting from religion, tradition, and culture.
The Ubiquity of Understanding: Dimensions of Understanding in the Social and Natural Sciences
Authors: Stueber Karsten R.
Published: May 2019

Taking my departure from the discussion of the concept of understanding in contemporary epistemology, I will suggest that we need to fine-tune the concept of explanatory understanding in order to comprehensively describe the epistemic endeavors of the natural and social sciences. I will distinguish among the theoretical, narrative, and empathic modes of understanding. None of the sciences are exclusively characterized by one of these modes of understanding. Nevertheless, I will suggest that only the human sciences are characterized by a complex interplay of all three modes. Finally, I will argue that we can account for the explanatory autonomy of rational action explanations in light of this complex interplay.
Intergenerational Factors, Fatherhood Beliefs, and African American Fathers’ Involvement: Building the Case for a Mediated Pathway
Authors: Cooper Shauna M. , Ross Latisha , Dues Adrianne , Golden Alexandrea R. , Burnett Marketa
Published: May 2019

Intergenerational factors have been suggested as a critical interactional context shaping African American fathers’ beliefs and parenting practices. However, relatively little attention has been given to the identification of underlying processes guiding the association between intergenerational factors and African American fathers’ involvement with their children. The current investigation builds the case for fathering role ideologies and sense of parenting competence as mediators. The sample was composed of 185 African American fathers ( M = 32.20 years, SD = 8.24) residing in a midsized city in the Southeastern region of the United States. Results revealed that fathering role ideologies, but not sense of parenting competence, mediated the relationship between African American fathers’ intergenerational factors and their involvement. Findings from this investigation highlight underlying mechanisms guiding the relationship between intergenerational factors and African American fathers’ involvement with their children. Implications for intervention and prevention programming for African American fathers are discussed.
Contracts, Agency Vulnerability, and the Allocation of Federal Funds
Authors: Kasdin Stuart , Lin Luona
Published: May 2019

Legislators have the potential for credit claiming from agency spending in a congressional district only when the awarded contracts or grants are sufficiently large to be noticed or appreciated. Therefore, unlike previous research on distributive politics, we examine the allocation of contracts considering the size of the contracts, not just the overall spending or the numbers of contracts per congressional district. We use a difference-in-difference analysis to evaluate how agencies altered their allocations of contracts in response to the 2006 congressional elections, in which partisan control of the Congress changed to the Democrats. We find that federal agencies responded to the election by allocating larger contracts to Democratic districts. In addition, we find that agencies whose programs received lower scores on the Bush administration’s Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) allocated larger contracts to Democratic than Republican districts than did agencies whose programs received higher PART ratings.
The Costs and Benefits of Volunteering Programs in the Public Sector: A Longitudinal Study of Municipal Governments
Authors: Ivonchyk Mikhail
Published: May 2019

Public sector volunteering is an increasingly common phenomenon that has attracted public administration scholars’ attention for several decades. Previous literature suggests that one of the main advantages of citizen involvement in public service delivery is related to subsequent cost savings. However, a lack of longitudinal data has limited our ability to test this proposition and constrained our understanding of the subject. The main goal of this study is to fill this lacuna and analyze the relationship between volunteering and the level of spending as well as the number of paid employees in city governments across 10 years. The empirical findings indicate that volunteer involvement is indeed significantly and negatively associated with the level of spending and the number of paid employees, with the number of services unaffected. The cost savings, however, may come with delays most likely because it takes time and resources to properly train volunteers. This may also drive up administrative costs.
Feeder Bus Timetable Design and Vehicle Size Setting in Peak Hour Demand Conditions
Authors: Dou Xueping , Meng Qiang
Published: May 2019

This study proposes a solution to the feeder bus timetabling problem, in which the terminal departure times and vehicle sizes are simultaneously determined based on the given transfer passengers and their arrival times at a bus terminal. The problem is formulated as a mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP) model with the objective of minimizing the transfer waiting time of served passengers, the transfer failure cost of non-served passengers, and the operating costs of bus companies. In addition to train passengers who plan to transfer to buses, local passengers who intend to board buses are considered and treated as passengers from virtual trains in the proposed model. Passenger attitudes and behaviors toward the waiting queue caused by bus capacity constraints in peak hour demand conditions are explicitly embedded in the MINLP model. A hybrid artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm is developed to solve the MINLP model. Various experiments are set up to account for the performance of the proposed model and solution algorithm.
Can We Map-Match Individual Cellular Network Signaling Trajectories in Urban Environments? Data-Driven Study
Authors: Bonnetain Loïc , Furno Angelo , Krug Jean , Faouzi Nour-Eddin El
Published: May 2019

Mobile phone data collected by network operators can provide fundamental insights into individual and aggregate mobility of people, at unprecedented spatiotemporal scales. However, traditional call detail records (CDR) have fundamental issues because of low accuracy in both spatial and temporal dimensions, which limits their applicability for detailed studies on mobility, especially in urban scenarios. This paper focuses on a new generation of mobile phone passive data, individual cellular network signaling data, characterized by higher spatiotemporal resolutions than traditional CDR. A framework based on unsupervised hidden Markov model is designed for map-matching such data on a multimodal transportation network, aimed at accurately inferring the complex multimodal travel itineraries and popular paths people follow in their urban daily mobility. This information, especially if computed at large spatiotemporal scales, can represent a solid basis for studying actual and dynamic travel demand, to properly dimension multimodal transport systems and even perform anomaly detection and adaptive network control. The approach is evaluated in a case study based on real cellular traces collected by a major French operator in the city of Lyon, and a validation study at both microscopic and macroscopic levels proposed. The results show that this approach can properly handle sparse and noisy cell phone trajectories in complex urban environments. Moreover, the results are promising concerning popular paths detection and reconstruction of origin–destination matrices.
Impacts on Driver Perceptions in Initial Exposure to ADAS Technologies
Authors: Nylen Ashley B. , Reyes Michelle L. , Roe Cheryl A. , McGehee Daniel V.
Published: May 2019

Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) offer great promise in improving the safety of our roadways. Although ADAS have rapidly entered the U.S. passenger vehicle market, little is known about driver understanding and attitudes toward ADAS, especially the impact of their initial exposure to the technologies. Whereas some ADAS may be easy to learn and use, others are more complex and have limitations that may not be obvious to the driver. The Technology Demonstration Study was conducted to evaluate how the ways in which drivers learn about ADAS affect their knowledge and perceptions of the technology. Two base learning methods were utilized for the study, both of which are traditional forms of learning for the average driver: reading the owner’s manual and making observations inside the vehicle. From these base learning methods, four learning protocols were developed, two of which included both methods. This paper investigates how drivers’ perceptions of usefulness, apprehension, and trust with regard to ADAS functionality were affected by initial exposure to the technology. Participants who observed ADAS during a demonstration drive had more positive perceptions relative to those who only read about them, particularly for ADAS that provide vehicle control.
Revisiting BISFT Summer School 2004, University of Bristol, ‘Embracing Diversity: Seeking Harmony’
Authors: Boyce-Tillman June
Published: May 2019

The article discusses a model first described in a Keynote and revisited to reflect how certain ways of knowing have become subjugated by the power structures of Western society and need to be brought into relationship with the dominant culture. The original keynote did not examine all the polarities which were developed in Unconventional Wisdom (Boyce-Tillman 2007a). The article explains how I have developed these in my theology, performance and professional practice. The article shows how I have used the thinking in a variety of contexts and forms bringing together the arts and theology to produce a practical theology for my ministry as a Christian priest and a composer/conductor.
Revisiting BISFT Summer School 1994, Durham University, ‘Changing Perceptions’
Authors: Stuart Elizabeth
Published: May 2019

In 1994 Elizabeth Stuart addressed the situation of the lesbian and gay community with regard to its relationship with Church, Community and with Feminism. Since writing the 1994 paper she has engaged in more reflection on the nature of desire in the light of the tragedy of human relating. If desire cannot have its telos, its fulfilment in human relating which is fragile and mortal and yet can enable us temporarily to create room in ourselves for others, then it must point beyond itself and have its end beyond us in God.
Encouraging On-Time Completion of Leprosy Patients Treatment: Implementing E-Leprosy Framework to Primary Health Care in Indonesia
Authors: Rachmani Enny , Hsu Chien-Yeh , Chang Peter W. S. , Jumanto Jumanto , Fuad Anis , Ningrum Dina N. A. , Yeh Chih-Yang , Lin Ming-Chin
Published: May 2019

Low adherence to leprosy treatment is the main challenge in Indonesia. This is a quasi-experimental observational study in a real setting of a leprosy control program in Indonesia. The study is aimed at evaluating an e-leprosy framework in increasing the rate of on-time attendance at primary health care and on-time completion of treatment of leprosy patients. This study has implemented an e-leprosy framework for primary health care at Pekalongan District. The intervention was conducted for 19 months to observe a 1-episode long-term treatment of leprosy patients. The study collected data of 391 registered patients from June 2012 to March 2016. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, this study selected 188 patients. The SMS (short message service) reminders proved to be effective in increasing on-time completion and on-time attendance rates by 21% and 14.6%, respectively. There is a trend for late collections of the drugs at the 3rd, 8th, and 11th multidrug therapy drug collections.
Dexamethasone as Abortive Treatment for Refractory Seizures or Status Epilepticus in the Inpatient Setting
Authors: Ramos Alexander B. , Cruz Roberto A. , Villemarette-Pittman Nicole R. , Olejniczak Piotr W. , Mader Edward C.
Published: May 2019

Refractory seizures or status epilepticus (RS/SE) continues to be a challenge in the inpatient setting. Failure to abort a seizure with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may lead to intubation and treatment with general anesthesia exposing patients to complications, extending hospitalization, and increasing the cost of care. Studies have shown a key role of inflammatory mediators in seizure generation and termination. We describe 4 patients with RS/SE that was aborted when dexamethasone was added to conventional AEDs: a 61-year-old female with temporal lobe epilepsy who presented with delirium, nonconvulsive status epilepticus, and oculomyoclonic status; a 56-year-old female with history of traumatic left frontal lobe hemorrhage who developed right face and hand epilepsia partialis continua followed by refractory focal clonic seizures; a 51-year-old male with history of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage who exhibited left-sided epilepsia partialis continua; and a 75-year-old female with history of breast cancer who manifested nonconvulsive status epilepticus and refractory focal clonic seizures. All patients continued experiencing RS/SE despite first- and second-line therapy, and one patient continued to experience RS/SE despite third-line therapy. Failure to abort RS/SE with conventional therapy motivated us to administer intravenous dexamethasone. A 10-mg load was given (except in one patient) followed by 4.0- 5.2 mg q6h. All clinical and electrographic seizures stopped 3-4 days after starting dexamethasone. When dexamethasone was discontinued 1-3 days after seizures stopped, all patients remained seizure-free on 2-3 AEDs. The cessation of RS/SE when dexamethasone was added to conventional antiseizure therapy suggests that inflammatory processes are involved in the pathogenesis of RS/SE.
Jumping to the Head of the Invisible Line: Queuing and Waiting in Electronic Ticket Systems
Authors: Seeley J. Lotus
Published: May 2019

Research on queuing and waiting has demonstrated how these practices exemplify tacit norms of social organization and how the dynamics of deference embedded in waiting (re)produce the status of the waiting individual and/or the power of individuals in charge of queues. Less attention has been given to the broader effects of the agentic efforts of individuals to decrease their wait times and increase their priority in their original queue, what I term the active management of waiting. Using ethnographic and interview data on IT support workers at a large university, I document how high-status individuals engage in three active management of waiting strategies: trumping the queue, circumventing the queue, and refusing to queue. As I show, these strategies are patterned by organizational status and thus not only (re)produce the status of the waiting individual but also exert a disciplinary effect on servers and help (re)produce organizational status structures as a whole.
Presentation and Outcomes of Childhood Cancer Patients at Uganda Cancer Institute
Authors: Mutyaba Innocent , Wabinga Henry R. , Orem Jackson , Casper Corey , Phipps Warren
Published: May 2019

Introduction. Limited data suggest that children with cancer in sub-Saharan Africa have poor survival. We aimed to describe the presentation, treatment outcomes, and factors associated with survival among children with cancer managed at Uganda Cancer Institute. Methods. We retrospectively evaluated patients with childhood cancer (age ≤19 years) from Kyadondo County treated at Uganda Cancer Institute from 2006 to 2009. Cox’s regression and Kaplan-Meier methods were used to study 1-year survival. Results. Among 310 patients studied, median age was 7 years (range = 0.25-19 years), 64% were boys, and 92% had histological confirmation of cancer diagnosis. The commonest diagnoses were Burkitt lymphoma (BL, N = 87), Kaposi sarcoma (KS, N = 68), non-BL non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL, N = 32), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL, N = 28), Wilms (N = 28), and Hodgkin disease (HD, N = 20). Advanced disease at diagnosis was common for all cancers (ranging from 45% for KS to 83% for non-BL NHL). Overall, 33.2% abandoned treatment. One-year survival was 68% for HD (95% confidence interval [CI] = 11.3-40.6), 67% for KS (95% CI = 52.1-77.9), 55% for BL (95% CI = 42-66.9), 44% for Wilms (95% CI = 22.5-63), 43% for non-BL NHL (95% CI = 23.3-61.3), and 20% for ALL (95% CI = 6.4-38.7). In univariate and multivariate analysis, anemia and thrombocytopenia were associated with mortality for several cancers. Conclusion. Survival among children with cancer in Uganda is poor. Advanced stage disease and loss to follow-up likely contribute to poor outcomes. Anemia and thrombocytopenia may augment traditional staging methods to provide better prognostic factors in Uganda and warrant further evaluation.