bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Uber, Marshrutkas and socially (dis-)embedded mobilities
Authors: Rekhviashvili Lela , Sgibnev Wladimir
Published: February 2018

This article offers a first comparative discussion about ride-sharing (ride-sourcing) practices and informal transport. It focuses primarily on Uber, and marshrutkas – a socially and economically crucial mobility offer prevailing in many post-Soviet cities. The absence or evasion of state regulations, low labour standards of transport workers, and high safety risks for passengers unite the high-tech globalised corporate ride-sourcing sector and low-tech localised marshrutkas. The digital technological leap has made it infinitely easier to recruit transport workers to de-territorialise coordination activities, to advocate for avoiding regulations and draw significant capital investments. In cities of the Global North this leads to an informalisation of formerly relatively protected labour relations. In cities of the Global South, this can involve the loss of horizontally embedded modes of shared transport, in favour of corporate ride-sourcing: further fragmentation and alienation of the labour force, without solving issues of negative externalities.
Death Is Not the End: A Register-Based Study of the Effect of Parental Death on Adult Children’s Childbearing Behavior in Sweden
Authors: Dahlberg Johan
Published: February 2018

Macro-level studies have shown that rapid increases in mortality can affect fertility rates. Parental death has also been linked to negative psychological and physical outcomes, reduced relationship quality, and making bereaved children attach more importance to their families. No prior study has examined whether parental death influences adult children’s fertility at the microlevel. This study applies event history techniques to Swedish multigeneration registers listing 1.5 million individuals with micro data on mortality and fertility to investigate short-term (first birth risk) and long-term (childlessness at age 45) effects of parental death on adult children’s fertility. The principal finding is that parental death during reproductive age affects children’s fertility and this effect is mainly short term. The effects differ to some degree between men and women and depend on the stage of the life course in which the bereavement occurs. Younger individuals experiencing a parental death have a significantly higher first birth risk after the parental death compared with peers who did not experience a parental death. Individuals older than 23 who experience a parental death have no or lower first birth risk after the parental death compared with baseline. Men, compared with women, are more likely to end childless if they experience a parental death.
Operator-based robust nonlinear control of an uncertain wireless power transfer system using sliding mode technology
Authors: Gao Xudong , Deng Mingcong
Published: February 2018

In this paper, a mathematical modelling of a wireless power transfer system with a buck circuit is presented. Based on this modelling, an operator-based robust nonlinear control design scheme using sliding mode technology is proposed to consider the uncertain coupling coefficient, which results from an inaccurate distance between the transmit coil and receive coil in the wireless power transfer system. The proposed control design scheme has two advantages. First, in order to tackle the uncertain coupling coefficient, operator-based right coprime factorization is applied to guarantee robust stability of the nonlinear system. Sliding mode technology is also adopted to guarantee the tracking performance of the nonlinear system. Finally, simulations and experiments of the wireless power transfer system are tested using the proposed control design scheme. Results of both the simulations and experiments show the effectiveness of the proposed control design scheme.
Throwing our voices: ventriloquism as new media activism
Authors: Day Amber
Published: February 2018

Tipped off ahead of time about the Chevron company’s pending ad campaign designed to respond to consumer worries about the conduct of oil companies, the activist group The Yes Men produced its own copycat ads and fake press releases on Chevron’s behalf which spoke much more bluntly about the company’s misdeeds. Designed to be mistaken for the real, the dummy campaign was indeed picked up by the press, generating a series of reportage, retractions, and discussion. The Yes Men succeeded in temporarily ‘throwing their voice’ into the body of the Chevron corporation, using a savvy form of ventriloquism as a means of directing the public conversation. While it is reductive and inaccurate to speak of new media as inherently democratizing, it is essential to examine instances in which it is used strategically as such a force. In this case, Chevron, like most advertisers, was the first ventriloquist, seeking to speak through the bodies of seemingly satisfied consumers. However, the Yes Men successfully turned the tables by poaching on Chevron’s powerful public voice, seizing the multinational’s megaphone and encouraging others to join the conversation, providing a glimpse of a tactic tailored to capitalize on the democratic potential of new media.
Emotion regulation in action: Use, selection, and success of emotion regulation in adolescents’ daily lives
Authors: Lennarz Hannah K. , Hollenstein Tom , Lichtwarck-Aschoff Anna , Kuntsche Emmanuel , Granic Isabela
Published: February 2018

Successful emotion regulation (ER) is a central aspect of psychosocial functioning and mental health and is thought to improve and be refined in adolescence. Past research on ER has mainly focused on one-time measurements of habitual ER. Linking regulatory strategies to emotions in daily lives is key to understanding adolescents’ emotional lives. Using an Experience Sampling Method with 78 adolescents ( Mage = 13.91, SDage = .95, 66% girls), we investigated the use, selection, and success in down-regulating negative emotions of eight ER strategies across 44 assessments. Acceptance was the strategy employed most often followed by problem-solving, rumination, distraction, avoidance, reappraisal, social support, and suppression. Interestingly, negativity of the event influenced the use of ER strategies: With low intensity negative emotions, acceptance was more likely to be used, and with high intensity negative emotions, suppression, problem-solving, distraction, avoidance, social support, and rumination were more likely to be used. With regard to success, multilevel models revealed that problem-solving, reappraisal, and acceptance were more successful in down-regulating negative emotions than rumination. Further, among girls, no relations between the momentary use of ER strategies and depressive symptoms was found. Among boys, a negative relation between acceptance and depressive symptoms emerged. Results from this study suggest that there is a reciprocal relationship between the intensity of negative emotions and ER strategies and that gender differences may exist. Taken together, this study showed which ER strategies are used by a healthy adolescent sample, and these results are discussed with regard to their theoretical and practical importance.
Evidence‐Based Use of Perioperative Antibiotics in Otolaryngology
Authors: Patel Priyesh N. , Jayawardena Asitha D. L. , Walden Rachel L. , Penn Edward B. , Francis David O.
Published: February 2018

Objective

To identify and clarify current evidence supporting and disputing the effectiveness of perioperative antibiotic use for common otolaryngology procedures.

Data Sources

PubMed, Embase (OVID), and CINAHL (EBSCO).

Review Methods

English‐language, original research (systematic reviews/meta‐analyses, randomized control trials, prospective or retrospective cohort studies, case‐control studies, or case series) studies that evaluated the role of perioperative antibiotic use in common otolaryngology surgeries were systematically extracted using standardized search criteria by 2 investigators independently.

Conclusions

Current evidence does not support routine antibiotic prophylaxis for tonsillectomy, simple septorhinoplasty, endoscopic sinus surgery, clean otologic surgery (tympanostomy with tube placement, tympanoplasty, stapedectomy, and mastoidectomy), and clean head and neck surgeries (eg, thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy, salivary gland excisions). Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for complex septorhinoplasty, skull base surgery (anterior and lateral), clean‐contaminated otologic surgery (cholesteatoma, purulent otorrhea), and clean‐contaminated head and neck surgery (violation of aerodigestive tract, free flaps). In these cases, antibiotic use for 24 to 48 hours postoperatively has shown equal benefit to longer duration of prophylaxis. Despite lack of high‐quality evidence, the US Food and Drug Administration suggests antibiotic prophylaxis for cochlear implantation due to the devastating consequence of infection. Data are inconclusive regarding postoperative prophylaxis for nasal packing/splints after sinonasal surgery.

Implications for Practice

Evidence does not support the use of perioperative antibiotics for most otolaryngologic procedures. Antibiotic overuse and variability among providers may be due to lack of formal practice guidelines. This review can help otolaryngologists understand current evidence so they can make informed decisions about perioperative antibiotic usage.
Glomeruloid Microvascular Proliferation, Desmoplasia, and High Proliferative Index as Potential Indicators of High Grade Canine Choroid Plexus Tumors
Authors: Muscatello Luisa Vera , Avallone Giancarlo , Serra Fabienne , Seuberlich Torsten , Mandara Maria Teresa , Sisó Silvia , Brunetti Barbara , Oevermann Anna
Published: February 2018

Choroid plexus tumors (CPT) are intraventricular neoplasms accounting for 10% of all primary central nervous system tumors in dogs. They are frequently classified according to the human WHO classification into choroid plexus papilloma (CPP, grade I), atypical CPP (aCPP, grade II), and choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC, grade III). Histological features observed in canine CPT such as increased vascular density (IVD) and glomeruloid microvascular proliferation (GMVP) are not part of the WHO classification. This multi-centric study aimed to investigate tumor-associated vascular hyperplasia in dogs by determining the prevalence of GMVP and IVD in 52 canine CPT and their association with tumor grade. In addition, the expression of angiogenic factors was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 25 tumors to investigate the pathogenesis of tumor-associated vascular hyperplasia. Based on the classical histological hallmarks, this study of 52 CPT identified 22 (42%) CPP (grade I) and 30 of (58%) CPC (grade III). GMVP was more prevalent in CPC (13/30; 43%) than CPP (1/22; 4%), whereas IVD occurred to a similar extent in CPP and CPC. Desmoplasia was more common in CPC (19/30; 63%) than CPP (2/22; 9%), and similarly, the proliferative index (PI) of neoplastic epithelium was significantly higher in CPC (5.14%) than CPP (0.94%). The majority of CPT expressed platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), PDGFRα, PDGFRβ, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) irrespective of tumor grade or tumor-associated vascular hyperplasia. These results suggest that tumor-associated GMVP, desmoplasia, and PI may serve as histological indicators of malignancy in CPT.
Unfamiliar Face Matching With Frontal and Profile Views
Authors: Kramer Robin S. S. , Reynolds Michael G.
Published: February 2018

Research has systematically examined how laboratory participants and real-world practitioners decide whether two face photographs show the same person or not using frontal images. In contrast, research has not examined face matching using profile images. In Experiment 1, we ask whether matching unfamiliar faces is easier with frontal compared with profile views. Participants completed the original, frontal version of the Glasgow Face Matching Test, and also an adapted version where all face pairs were presented in profile. There was no difference in performance across the two tasks, suggesting that both views were similarly useful for face matching. Experiments 2 and 3 examined whether matching unfamiliar faces is improved when both frontal and profile views are provided. We compared face matching accuracy when both a frontal and a profile image of each face were presented, with accuracy using each view alone. Surprisingly, we found no benefit when both views were presented together in either experiment. Overall, these results suggest that either frontal or profile views provide substantially overlapping information regarding identity or participants are unable to utilise both sources of information when making decisions. Each of these conclusions has important implications for face matching research and real-world identification development.
Decade-long changes in spatial mismatch in Beijing, China: Are disadvantaged populations better or worse off?
Authors: Qi Yunlei , Fan Yingling , Sun Tieshan , Hu Lingqian (Ivy)
Published: February 2018

Although recent studies have extended the U.S.-centered spatial mismatch hypothesis to Chinese cities, few have examined spatial mismatch conditions over time in Chinese Cities. This research responds to the knowledge gap by using longitudinal data to examine changes in the patterns and magnitudes of spatial mismatch between the 2000s and 2010s in Beijing, China. The longitudinal examination uniquely focuses on spatial mismatch between population and transit-accessible jobs, as opposed to spatial mismatch between population and any jobs. Results show that spatial mismatch conditions worsened among all population groups in the past decade in Beijing, China. When comparing across population groups, spatial mismatch worsened to a much higher degree among disadvantaged groups including the migrant population without local hukou and the low-educated population without college education. Further analyses show that changes in population distribution were primarily responsible for the worsened spatial mismatch conditions. Changes in job distribution and transit networks had limited impacts. Policy recommendations to mitigate spatial mismatch in Beijing include reconfiguration of transit networks and promotion of affordable housing development in transit- and/or job-rich areas.
Prolonged Elevated Heart Rate and 90-Day Survival in Acutely Ill Patients: Data From the MIMIC-III Database
Authors: Sandfort Veit , Johnson Alistair E.W. , Kunz Lauren M. , Vargas Jose D. , Rosing Douglas R.
Published: February 2018

Purpose:

We sought to evaluate the association of prolonged elevated heart rate (peHR) with survival in acutely ill patients.

Methods:

We used a large observational intensive care unit (ICU) database (Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care III [MIMIC-III]), where frequent heart rate measurements were available. The peHR was defined as a heart rate >100 beats/min in 11 of 12 consecutive hours. The outcome was survival status at 90 days. We collected heart rates, disease severity (simplified acute physiology scores [SAPS II]), comorbidities (Charlson scores), and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) diagnosis information in 31 513 patients from the MIMIC-III ICU database. Propensity score (PS) methods followed by inverse probability weighting based on the PS was used to balance the 2 groups (the presence/absence of peHR). Multivariable weighted logistic regression was used to assess for association of peHR with the outcome survival at 90 days adjusting for additional covariates.

Results:

The mean age was 64 years, and the most frequent main disease category was circulatory disease (41%). The mean SAPS II score was 35, and the mean Charlson comorbidity score was 2.3. Overall survival of the cohort at 90 days was 82%. Adjusted logistic regression showed a significantly increased risk of death within 90 days in patients with an episode of peHR ( P < .001; odds ratio for death 1.79; confidence interval, 1.69-1.88). This finding was independent of median heart rate.

Conclusion:

We found a significant association of peHR with decreased survival in a large and heterogenous cohort of ICU patients.
A graphic pattern feature-mapping-based data-driven condition monitoring method for diesel engine malfunction identification and classification
Authors: Li Yiqing , Zhou Wen , Zi Yanyang
Published: February 2018

Effective condition monitoring of diesel engine can ensure the reliability of large-power machines and prevent catastrophic consequences. Cylinder pressure is capable of reflecting the whole combustion process of diesel engine, and hence can help to identify the malfunctions of the diesel engine during operation. In this paper, a graphic pattern feature-mapping method is proposed for graphic pattern feature recognition in data-driven condition monitoring. The graphic feature extraction and recognition are linked by labeled feature-mapping. It is used for identifying the running condition of the diesel engine via analyzing the cylinder pressure signal of the diesel engine. The different types of the malfunctions which are caused by different parts of the diesel engine such as induction system, valve actuating mechanism, fuel system, fuel injection system, etc. can be identified just by cylinder pressure signal. The bench experiment of a large-power diesel engine is performed to validate this graphic pattern recognition method. The results show that it has good accuracy on multi-malfunction identification and classification when the engine operates at one speed and one load.
Enhanced inpatient rounds, appointment reminders, and patient education improved HIV care engagement following hospital discharge
Authors: Khawcharoenporn Thana , Damronglerd Pansachee , Chunloy Krongtip , Sha Beverly E
Published: February 2018

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care engagement post hospital discharge is often suboptimal. Strategies to improve follow-up are needed. A quasi-experimental study was conducted among hospitalized HIV-infected patients between the period from 1 January 2013 to 30 June 2014 (preintervention period) and 1 July 2014 to 31 December 2015 (intervention period). During the intervention period, an HIV care team consisting of an Infectious Diseases physician, a nurse, a pharmacist, a social worker, and an HIV-infected volunteer made daily inpatient rounds. Prior to discharge, patients received a structured HIV education session and an outpatient appointment was scheduled for them with two telephone reminder calls following discharge. There were 240 HIV-infected patients enrolled (120 in each study period), of which the median age was 37 years (interquartile range [IQR] 28–44 years), 58% were male, 39% were newly diagnosed with HIV infection, 46% were hospitalized because of AIDS-related conditions, and the median CD4 cell count on admission was 158 cells/µl (IQR 72–382 cells/µl). The rate of HIV care engagement within 30 days after discharge was significantly higher in the intervention period compared to the preintervention period (95% versus 69%; P < 0.001). Independent factors associated with no care engagement within 30 days were patients in the preintervention period (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 6.36; P < 0.001) and new diagnosis of HIV infection (aOR 2.77; P = 0.009). The study findings suggest that enhanced inpatient rounds, appointment reminders, and patient education were shown to be associated with improved HIV care engagement after hospital discharge. Patients with a new diagnosis of HIV infection benefit from more intense outreach.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02578654
Thymoquinone alleviates the experimentally induced Alzheimer’s disease inflammation by modulation of TLRs signaling
Authors: Abulfadl YS , El-Maraghy NN , Ahmed AA Eissa , Nofal S , Abdel-Mottaleb Y , Badary OA
Published: February 2018

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by a robust inflammatory response elicited by the accumulation and deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) within the brain. Aβ induces detrimental inflammatory responses through toll-like receptors (TLRs) signaling pathway. Thymoquinone (TQ), the main active constituent of Nigella sativa oil, has been reported by several previous studies for its potent anti-inflammatory effect. The aim of this study is to elucidate the effect of TQ in improving learning and memory, using a rat model of AD induced by a combination of aluminum chloride (AlCl3) and d-galactose (d-Gal). TQ was administered orally at doses of 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg/day for 14 days after AD induction. Memory functions were assessed using the step through passive avoidance test. Amyloid plaques were shown to be present using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) levels in brain were assessed via ELISA and profiling TLR-2, TLR-4, myeloid differential factor 88, toll–interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β, interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF-3), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) expressions via real-time polymerase chain reaction. TQ improved AD rat cognitive decline, decreased Aβ formation and accumulation, significantly decreased TNF-α and IL-1β at all levels of doses and significantly downregulated the expression of TLRs pathway components as well as their downstream effectors NF-κB and IRF-3 mRNAs at all levels of doses ( p < 0.05). We concluded that TQ reduced the inflammation induced by d-Gal/AlCl3 combination. It is therefore reasonable to assign the anti-inflammatory responses to the modulation of TLRs pathway.
Frequency, serotype distribution, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Salmonella in small poultry flocks in California
Authors: Clothier Kristin A. , Kim Peony , Mete Aslı , Hill Ashley E.
Published: February 2018

Backyard poultry operations are increasingly popular and commonplace in both rural and suburban locations. Although Salmonella surveillance programs are well established for large commercial poultry systems, information on smaller operations is lacking. We identified the occurrence and serotype distribution of Salmonella spp. recovered from backyard flock cases submitted to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (Davis, CA) in 2012–2015, and evaluated minimum inhibitory concentration for 12 antimicrobials as well as the lesions associated with Salmonella spp. in these cases. From records of 2,347 backyard flock cases with 2,627 samples, 44 samples (1.7%) were positive for Salmonella spp. DNA by PCR, and 41 (1.6%) of these samples yielded a Salmonella isolate by culture for further characterization. Seventeen different serotypes, including 3 isolates identified to the serogroup level, were identified from these isolates. Antimicrobial resistance was infrequent; however, 2 multidrug–resistant isolates were identified. Enteric or systemic lesions associated with Salmonella recovery were uncommon, with 77.3% of cases having no disease attributable to Salmonella. Recovered serotypes overlap with those seen in commercial poultry as well as in foodborne outbreaks reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in humans. Zoonotic risks via contact and food product contamination make monitoring of backyard flocks for Salmonella a critical part of flock surveillance programs, and we propose a potential sampling scheme.
Dynamic Risk Assessment of Sexual Offenders: Validity and Dimensional Structure of the Stable-2007
Authors: Etzler Sonja , Eher Reinhard , Rettenberger Martin
Published: February 2018

In this study, the predictive and incremental validity of the Stable-2007 beyond the Static-99 was evaluated in an updated sample of N = 638 adult male sexual offenders followed-up for an average of M = 8.2 years. Data were collected at the Federal Evaluation Center for Violent and Sexual Offenders (FECVSO) in Austria within a prospective-longitudinal research design. Scores and risk categories of the Static-99 (AUC = .721; p < .001) and of the Stable-2007 (AUC = .623, p = .005) were found to be significantly related to sexual recidivism. The Stable-2007 risk categories contributed incrementally to the prediction of sexual recidivism beyond the Static-99. Analyzing the dimensional structure of the Stable-2007 yielded three factors, named Antisociality, Sexual Deviance, and Hypersexuality. Antisociality and Sexual Deviance were significant predictors for sexual recidivism. Sexual Deviance was negatively associated with non-sexual violent recidivism. Comparisons with latent dimensions of other risk assessment instruments are made and implications for applied risk assessment are discussed.
Effect of surface elasticity on extensional and torsional stiffnesses of isotropic circular nanorods
Authors: Gupta Prakhar , Kumar Ajeet
Published: February 2018

We present a continuum formulation to obtain the effects of surface residual stress and surface elastic constants on extensional and torsional stiffnesses of isotropic circular nanorods. Analytical expressions of axial force, twisting moment, and extensional and torsional stiffnesses are obtained. Unlike the case of rectangular nanorods, we show that the stiffnesses of circular nanorods also depend on surface residual stress components. This is attributed to non-zero surface curvature inherent in circular nanorods. We further normalize these expressions and analyze their asymptotic limits in the limit of the nanorod’s radius approaching both zero and infinity, corresponding to surface-dominated and bulk-dominated regimes, respectively. Finally, we use the recently proposed helical Cauchy–Born rule and perform molecular statics calculations to obtain axial force, twisting moment, and stiffnesses of the tungsten nanorod. The tungsten material is selected since its bulk crystal exhibits isotropy in the stress-free state. The results from molecular statics calculations are shown to match the derived continuum formulas accurately.
Diversification, Branding, and Performance of Professional Service Firms
Authors: Castaldi Carolina , Giarratana Marco S.
Published: February 2018

This article analyzes the effects of diversification and brand breadth on firm performance for professional service firms (PSFs). The research aim is two-fold. First, we test whether moving into products may put at risk the core resources that sustain PSFs’ competitive advantage. Second, we study which branding strategies best match their diversification attempts. Broad (narrow) brands characterize a branding strategy with scarce (plentiful) associations to specific product characteristics. We analyzed trademark portfolios of 47 U.S.-based management consulting firms in the 2000 to 2009 time period. Panel regression results suggest that (1) PSFs always benefit from diversification when they remain pure-service providers; (2) performance is positively related to a strategy of specialized narrow brands.
Trust liable for hypoxic birth injury and psychiatric injury caused to mother and grandmother: RE v Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust [2017] EWHC 824 (QB) (High Court, 12 April 2017 – Goss J)
Authors: Clarke Dan
Published: February 2018

In this case concerning a hypoxic birth injury, the High Court awarded damages for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to two “secondary victims” (the mother and grandmother) caused by the events in questions. This is one of only very few reported clinical negligence cases where such claims have succeeded.
Religion as an other(ed) identity within physical education: A scoping review of relevant literature and suggestions for practice and inquiry
Authors: Robinson Daniel B
Published: February 2018

In recent years, physical education (PE) pedagogues and researchers have studied, theorized about and provided practical suggestions related to diverse and intersecting identities (e.g. class, [dis]ability, gender, racialized identity, sexual orientation, etc.). Such efforts have had a profound impact upon those who have suffered the consequences of being ‘othered’ within PE, and more globally within schools, communities and societies. This impact notwithstanding, few PE scholars have focused closely upon the role that religion, particularly as an other(ed) identity, might play within PE. Given this current context, I have undertaken the task of writing this article with two goals in mind: (a) to offer a scoping review of peer-reviewed literature about religion as it relates to PE; and (b) considering that scoping review, to offer suggestions for future practice and inquiry.
Health anxiety and associated constructs in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease: A CHAMPS cohort study
Authors: Oliver Amanda M , Wright Kristi D , Kakadekar Ashok , Pharis Scott , Pockett Charissa , Bradley Timothy J , Tomczak Corey R , Erlandson Marta C
Published: February 2018

This study explored health anxiety and associated constructs in children and adolescents with congenital heart disease and typically developing children and adolescents. A total of 84 participants (7–16 years) completed measures of health anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety sensitivity, and DSM-IV anxiety disorder symptom categories. Results demonstrated that children and adolescents with congenital heart disease experienced significantly higher levels of health anxiety and associated constructs compared to typically developing children and adolescents. Our findings highlight a specific chronic physical health population who may be at risk of clinical levels of health anxiety and related psychopathology and require appropriate intervention.
Incremental validity of the comprehensive inventory of thriving in predicting self-reporting mental and physical health among community populations
Authors: Duan Wenjie , Fei Yujia , Zhao Jinli , Guo Xiaolong
Published: February 2018

This study examined psychometric properties and 1-year predictive validity of the Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving in China. In total, 556 participants in Chinese communities completed the Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving for confirmatory factor analysis. The other 533 individuals further completed the Flourishing Scale and Satisfaction With Life Scale and reported their physical and mental health 1 year later. The 18-factor correlated model showed a better goodness-of-fit than the seven-factor second-order related model. Thriving had higher correlation coefficients with depression, anxiety, stress, and doctor visits. The Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving is an efficient screening tool to differentiate the risk group from other groups and can predict health outcomes among community populations for active interventions.
The political rationality of restorative justice
Authors: Maglione Giuseppe
Published: February 2018

This article investigates the political conditions that have enabled the development of restorative justice, in England and Wales, over the last 40 years. By applying a governmentality approach, it conceptualizes the emergence of restorative justice as a response to distinctive political problematics, enacted by a range of governmental technologies and driven by a combination of competing political rationalities. In so doing, the article seeks to shed light on the assemblage of ambivalent principles and values that constitute restorative justice by linking them to conflicting political contingencies. This could have implications in understanding both the fragmentary growth of restorative justice in England and Wales, and, more generally, the political roots of restorative justice policies, programmes and practices beyond the British borders.
Mixing things up: How blocking and mixing affect the processing of codemixed sentences
Authors: Johns Michael A , Valdés Kroff Jorge R , Dussias Paola E
Published: February 2018

Aims and objectives/purpose/research questions:

The goal of this study is to determine if the way in which codemixed sentences are presented during experimental lab sessions affects the way they are processed, and how experimental design approximates (or not) patterns of language use in bilingual populations.

Design/methodology/approach:

An eye-tracking study was conducted comparing reading times on codemixed and unilingual Spanish sentences across two modes of presentation: (a) a blocked mode, where one block contained unilingual Spanish sentences and another one contained codemixed sentences; and (b) a mixed mode, where both unilingual and codemixed sentences were mixed together in a randomized fashion.

Data and analysis:

20 heritage speakers of Spanish were tested. Four reading measures extracted from the eye-tracking data were subjected to linear mixed-effects regression, with significance determined via backwards likelihood ratio tests, to examine differences across modes of presentation.

Findings/conclusions:

Codemixes took significantly longer to process in the blocked mode than in the mixed mode. This is in line with corpus data suggesting that intra-sentential codemixing does not occur for long stretches of time and is broken up by unilingual discourse.

Originality:

While a few studies have hinted at the potential confounds related to the presentation of codemixed or language-switching stimuli, the direct effects of experimental manipulation coupled with insights from sociolinguistic or corpus-based studies have not been tested.

Significance/implications:

To better understand bilingual codemixing, as well as the cost (or lack thereof) associated with it, lab-based studies of codemixing should take insights from sociolinguistic and corpus-based research. The results of this study suggest that the experience that participants bring into the lab can interact with experimental design and result in unexpected results.
Successful futures? New economy business logics, child rights, and Welsh educational reform
Authors: Lemke Melinda , Zhu Lei
Published: February 2018

The well-documented global economic disinvestment in schooling necessitates critical examination of policy discourses that influence educational systems and student learning. Situated within the critical policy studies tradition, the present study conducted a critical discourse analysis of the Donaldson Report (2015), a proposed comprehensive Welsh learning and accountability system. We begin with a brief discussion of research focused on global accountability reform within the new economy. To situate the Donaldson Report within this research, we review literature on reforms within the United Kingdom, with special attention to the Welsh educational policy context, which also includes incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into national policy. Findings highlight a limited Report focus on core educational rights embodied within the UNCRC and recommendations for a new system that leans toward a more technocratic and performance orientation. We conclude with implications for the exercise of children’s rights within Welsh schooling.
Design and analysis for a multifunctional rescue robot with four-bar wheel-legged structure
Authors: Ning Meng , Ma Zefeng , Chen Hanlong , Cao Jun , Zhu Changhong , Liu Yifan , Wang Yuefeng
Published: February 2018

Rescue robots can replace rescue workers in search and rescue missions in unknown environments and hence play an important role in disaster relief. To realize the advantages of high carrying capacity, easy control, and simple structure to adapt to a complex disaster scene, a novel wheel-legged rescue robot, integrated with rescue function modules, was designed for the present work. Three motion states were analyzed in detail. Mechanical properties were studied to provide basis for parameter optimization. The performance indices, which include mechanical properties, motion amplitudes and movement stability, were proposed, and the structural parameters were further analyzed and optimized based on these performance indices to make the overall performance of the robot achieve the best. Results show that the motion state of the wheel-legged rescue robot can perform real-time transformations and hence can be used in complex environments.
Youth athletes' sustained involvement in elite sport: An exploratory examination of elements affecting their athletic participation
Authors: Wendling Elodie , Flaherty Meredith , Sagas Michael , Kaplanidou Kyriaki
Published: February 2018

In this exploratory study, we first intended to identify the underlying structure of components affecting the sport participation of 1258 elite youth athletes from the USA through a principal component analysis of 23 items related to motives and barriers to participation and created for this study. A six-component solution was proposed, including college and professional aspirations and competence beliefs, coach and peer relationships, pressures from parents and coach, intrinsic and self-determined extrinsic motivation, external barriers, and non–self-determined extrinsic motivation. Noteworthy differences by age, gender, and race on those retained components were also reported. Lastly, results of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that 28% of the variance in sport enjoyment was explained by all retained components. Given the rapid growth of travel teams, this study provides a timely cross-sectional and multisport assessment of the state of elite youth sport in the USA. In consideration of optimistic outcomes observed in this study compared to alarming attrition trends commonly found in the elite youth sport environment, this study may serve as a reference as to the elements that influence sustained participation that is indispensable in today's youth sport landscape. Results also provided important theoretical contributions with respect to motivational processes underlying elite sport participation. Practical implications with regards to the influence of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and barrier elements on elite sport participation are also presented.
Mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock treated with the Impella CP microaxial pump for isolated left ventricular failure
Authors: Sieweke Jan-Thorben , Berliner Dominik , Tongers Jörn , Napp L Christian , Flierl Ulrike , Zauner Florian , Bauersachs Johann , Schäfer Andreas
Published: February 2018

Aims:

Cardiogenic shock is still associated with high mortality rates of around 50%. Intra-aortic counterpulsation had been frequently used in cardiogenic shock, but was previously found to provide no mortality benefit. We investigated the effect of an interdisciplinary and multiprofessional routine strategy of early invasive haemodynamic support in combination with complete revascularization in patients with cardiogenic shock before admission to our intensive care unit.

Methods and results:

We analysed all cardiogenic shock patients (mean age 62±13 years) presenting at our institution between 2013 and mid 2016, who received an Impella CP microaxial pump for isolated left ventricle support ( n=61). Sixty-one per cent ( n=37) had been resuscitated before Impella insertion. Overall mortality was 48% ( n=29/61) at 30 days. Thirty-day mortality was higher in resuscitated patients (resuscitated: 65% ( n=24/37); non-resuscitated: 21% ( n=5/24)). When applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria of the SHOCK-II trial, eligible patients ( n=25) had a markedly lower mortality (24% ( n=6/25) at 30 days) compared with the published trial (~40% in both arms). The observed mortality of SHOCK-II-like patients in the registry was also lower compared with their predicted mortality using IABP-Shock II score (49%) and CardShock score (36%).

Conclusion:

The results of this registry suggest that using a standardized protocol including early active haemodynamic support with Impella CP in cardiogenic shock in patients with isolated left ventricle failure may be associated with improved outcomes and lower than previously reported or predicted mortality rates. Pre-implantation cardiac arrest critically influences observed mortality. The results support the case for a randomized trial.
The politics of naming and ranking new media events in China
Authors: Wu Shiwen , Liu Stephanie Na
Published: February 2018

Rankings of new media events function as an important way to define and interpret these events in public space. By analyzing 40 rankings of 413 new media events between 2007 and 2016, we first provide an empirical analysis of the widely discussed decline and substantial shifts of new media events around 2014, namely, the decrease of contentious events and the increase of consensus events. Second, we find that some of the actors construct the rankings based on their long-standing values and philosophies, such as commercial media’s emphasis on progressivism and liberalism, and government propaganda departments’ focus on social management and institutional order. The divergent constructions over the naming and ranking of new media events demonstrate that new media events have become sites of contestation over the dominance of the Internet space and the collective memory of the Internet history in China.
Can Over-the-Counter Pain Medications Influence Our Thoughts and Emotions?
Authors: Ratner Kyle G. , Kaczmarek Amanda R. , Hong Youngki
Published: February 2018

Recent research at the intersection of social psychology and psychopharmacology is raising new questions about some of our favorite over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications. This work suggests that drugs like acetaminophen and ibuprofen might influence how people experience emotional distress, process cognitive discrepancies, and evaluate stimuli in their environment. These studies have the potential to change our understanding of how popular pain medications influence the millions of people who take them. However, this research is still in its infancy. Further studies are necessary to address the robustness of reported findings and fully characterize the psychological effects of these drugs.
WeRGreat, Inc. Merit Increase Decisions
Authors: David Jannifer G.
Published: February 2018

Although U.S. corporations rely heavily on merit pay programs to distribute pay increases to their employees, many undergraduate students, even those who have held jobs, lack exposure to merit pay programs until they take their first human resource management course. The exercise gives students an opportunity to experience how organizations make merit pay decisions. With this exercise, students decide what employee information is job-related and what is non–job-related, ensure their decisions conform to employment law, perform calculations to ascertain the actual dollar amounts of the raises, and consider other managers’ opinions through a group decision-making process. Finally, because this exercise is conducted in small groups, it can be used in classes of any size.
Effect of correcting for gestational age at birth on population prevalence of early childhood undernutrition
Authors: Perumal Nandita , Roth Daniel E. , Perdrizet Johnna , Barros Aluísio J. D. , Santos Iná S. , Matijasevich Alicia , Bassani Diego G.
Published: February 2018

Background

Postmenstrual and/or gestational age-corrected age (CA) is required to apply child growth standards to children born preterm (< 37 weeks gestational age). Yet, CA is rarely used in epidemiologic studies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which may bias population estimates of childhood undernutrition. To evaluate the effect of accounting for GA in the application of growth standards, we used GA-specific standards at birth (INTERGROWTH-21st newborn size standards) in conjunction with CA for preterm-born children in the application of World Health Organization Child Growth Standards postnatally (referred to as ‘CA’ strategy) versus postnatal age for all children, to estimate mean length-for-age (LAZ) and weight-for-age (WAZ) z scores at 0, 3, 12, 24, and 48-months of age in the 2004 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort.

Results

At birth (n = 4066), mean LAZ was higher and the prevalence of stunting (LAZ < −2) was lower using CA versus postnatal age (mean ± SD): − 0.36 ± 1.19 versus − 0.67 ± 1.32; and 8.3 versus 11.6%, respectively. Odds ratio (OR) and population attributable risk (PAR) of stunting due to preterm birth were attenuated and changed inferences using CA versus postnatal age at birth [OR, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32 (95% CI 0.95, 1.82) vs 14.7 (95% CI 11.7, 18.4); PAR 3.1 vs 42.9%]; differences in inferences persisted at 3-months. At 12, 24, and 48-months, preterm birth was associated with stunting, but ORs/PARs remained attenuated using CA compared to postnatal age. Findings were similar for weight-for-age z scores.

Conclusions

Population-based epidemiologic studies in LMICs in which GA is unused or unavailable may overestimate the prevalence of early childhood undernutrition and inflate the fraction of undernutrition attributable to preterm birth.
Economies of scope: context of agriculture, small family farmers and sustainability
Authors: Nayak Amar K. J. R.
Published: February 2018

What does this article offers? It raises questions on the assumptions of efficiency in agriculture, traces the history of the logic of scale replacing logic of scope, analyses its impact on sustainability and offers a framework to discern technical contradictions of efficiency across different sectors and find a balance for sustainability. It delves with a few basic questions: First, what is the assumption for efficiency in agriculture and food production? Second, how efficiency criterion of dominant players in one leading sector decimates the efficiency wisdom of another sector?

Tracing the evolution of theory and practice of ‘economies of scale’during the last three centuries of industrial revolution, the article shows the irony of adoptingeconomies of scaletime and again only to face greater economic recession, market failures, climate changes, food crisis and growing un-sustainability of our ecosystem. Through empirical evidences from small family farmers and farmer producer organizations from across India and based on the findings of eight years of action research on designing sustainable producer organization, the article highlights that ‘economies of scope’ in agriculture is not only more efficient for nutritious food production and climate resilience but also for sustainability of agricultural ecosystems and of overall socio-economic-environment.
When remote sensing meets topological data analysis
Authors: Duponchel Ludovic
Published: February 2018

Hyperspectral remote sensing plays an increasingly important role in many scientific domains and everyday life problems. Indeed, this imaging concept ends up in applications as varied as catching tax-evaders red-handed by locating new construction and building alterations, searching for aircraft and saving lives after fatal crashes, detecting oil spills for marine life and environmental preservation, spying on enemies with reconnaissance satellites, watching algae grow as an indicator of environmental health, forecasting weather to warn about natural disasters and much more. From an instrumental point of view, we can say that the actual spectrometers have rather good characteristics, even if we can always increase spatial resolution and spectral range. In order to extract ever more information from such experiments and develop new applications, we must, therefore, propose multivariate data analysis tools able to capture the shape of data sets and their specific features. Nevertheless, actual methods often impose a data model which implicitly defines the geometry of the data set. The aim of the paper is thus to introduce the concept of topological data analysis in the framework of remote sensing, making no assumptions about the global shape of the data set, but also allowing the capture of its local features.
Βιβλιοκρισία:O. DELOUIS – A. COUDERC – P. GURAN (επιμ.), Héritages de Byzance en Europe du Sud-Est à l’époque moderne et contemporaine (Mondes Méditerranéens et Balkaniques, no 4), École Française d’Athènes, Αθήνα 2013, 528 σελ. ISBN 978-2- 86958-253-8
Authors: ΚΟΥΤΖΑΚΙΩΤΗΣ Γιώργος
Published: February 2018

Βιβλιοκρισία:O. DELOUIS – A. COUDERC – P. GURAN (επιμ.), Héritages de Byzance en Europe du Sud-Est à l’époque moderne et contemporaine (Mondes Méditerranéens et Balkaniques, no 4), École Française d’Athènes, Αθήνα 2013,  528  σελ. ISBN 978-2- 86958-253-8