bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Initiating actor engagement with novel products
Authors: Ayi Wong Diana , Conduit Jodie , Plewa Carolin
Published: November 2019

While organizations continue to face extensive pressure to introduce novel products to the market, the question of how customers initiate engagement with novel products remains unanswered. This article draws on the ecosystem perspective of engagement, utilizing the lens of actor engagement, to develop a conceptual framework for actor engagement with novel products. It elaborates our understanding of the indirect interaction that actors have with a focal object through other actors. It demonstrates that through vicarious learning, actors establish cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social interactions with the novel product. Further, it explicates a process in which legitimacy judgments, at the micro- and macrolevels, play a central role in facilitating and evaluating engagement with products. This framework offers an important contribution to theory by elucidating the facilitating role of learning and introducing the concept of legitimacy to the engagement literature. A set of propositions is presented, and a future research agenda proposed for each of these propositions.
Performing place promotion—On implaced identity in marketized geographies
Authors: Andéhn Mikael , Hietanen Joel , Lucarelli Andrea
Published: November 2019

In the period that has become known as late capitalism, processes of commercialization are continuously taking on new forms. These tendencies enact an influence on how people understand themselves, the social relations they engage in, and the world around them. Geographical knowledge is no exception and has become increasingly shrouded in the language, symbolism, and tropes of marketing. Following the work of Judith Butler, we explore how these tendencies have profound implications on our self-construal, making discursive “implacement” an expedient factor in the marketization of identity. Further, we examine how two interrelated marketing discourses deal with places as commercial entities: the country-of-origin effect and place branding. In their commercial vernacular, they provide salient examples of subtle yet inescapable effects on the understanding of self-construal. In presenting this sensitizing diagnostic, we hope to further advance issues of stakeholdership as it pertains to the place-world and to offer new trajectories of critical inquiry into the commercial relevance of place.
Using creative research methods and movement to encourage reflection in children
Authors: Leigh Jennifer
Published: November 2019

Reflection is a vital part of learning, and yet in early childhood, research work on reflection is most commonly on that undertaken by teachers, and not children. This article draws from a participatory study showing how creative research methods and somatic movement enabled 22 children aged 4–11 to reflect on their experiences and document their reflections, and report findings for children aged 4–8. The aim of the research was to encourage the children to reflect deeply on their experiences, and to generate rich data. These data were used at the end of the study to stimulate discussion. The children demonstrated that they were able to reflect and articulate their experiences of the pressure to be right, the processes of journaling and drawing and reflection itself. The study used a variety of methods including journaling, drawing, mark-making and modelling as part of regular sessions of somatic movement exploration and education over 2 years within the school day.
Are the measurement properties of incremental exercise tests similar between patients with COPD and CHF?
Authors: Harvey-Dunstan Theresa C , Singh Sally J , Steiner Michael C , Morgan Michael D , Evans Rachael A
Published: November 2019

We investigated whether the differences in exercise limitation between patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or chronic heart failure (CHF) affect the repeatability or responsiveness of incremental exercise tests. Patients with COPD (Medical Research Council dyspnoea grade 2–5) and patients with CHF (New York Heart Association class II–IV) performed two incremental shuttle walk tests (ISWT) following familiarisation and two incremental cycle ergometer tests (ICE) within 2 weeks. Both tests were repeated on completion of a pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programme. One hundred and twelve patients were recruited. In response to exercise, patients with COPD were more likely than patients with CHF to have a ventilatory limitation ( p < 0.001) and less likely to have a cardiovascular limitation ( p < 0.001). The ISWT distance and ICE peak volume of oxygen uptake (VO2Peak) were similarly repeatable ( p = 0.11 and p = 0.47 for time and disease effect) and responsive to PR ( p = 0.44 and p = 0.67) between diseases. There was no difference in repeatability or responsiveness with either a ventilatory or cardiovascular limitation to exercise ( p > 0.20 for all comparisons). The coefficient of repeatability across the cohort was 60 m for the ISWT and 0.270 L/minute for ICE VO2Peak. The minimum important difference (MID) for the ISWT in both diseases for PR was 30 m. The repeatability and responsiveness of the ISWT distance and ICE VO2Peak are similar between patients with COPD and CHF and are unaffected by differences in exercise limitation. A change of 60 m in the ISWT or 0.270 L/minute in ICE VO2Peak is required to be 95% certain that a true change has occurred within an individual patient. For a group of patients with either COPD or CHF, the MID for the ISWT distance is estimated to be 30 m.
Impact of Race, Class, and Involvement on Collegiate Degree Attainment
Authors: Dorimé-Williams Marjorie L. , Giani Matthew S.
Published: November 2019

This study examines how intersections of race, class, and collegiate involvement shape students’ educational outcomes, specifically degree attainment. It explores (a) to what extent involvement influences student’s educational outcomes and (b) how the relationship between involvement and outcomes varies by socioeconomic status, race, and the intersection of both. Using data from the National Center on Education Statistics’ Education Longitudinal Study of 2002, statistical analyses, including logistic regression methods, were conducted to explore these relationships. The results of this study suggest that different forms of involvement may have positive or negative relationships with attainment in the aggregate, but these relationships are far more nuanced than they appear when disaggregated. This study sheds light on the intersecting relationship between involvement and attainment for different racial and socioeconomic status subgroups, offers guidance for practitioners and educators, and calls for a closer examination of the causal mechanisms driving diverse relationships between involvement and attainment.
Interventions to Reduce Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration by Men Who Use Substances: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Efficacy
Authors: Stephens-Lewis Danielle , Johnson Amy , Huntley Alyson , Gilchrist Elizabeth , McMurran Mary , Henderson Juliet , Feder Gene , Howard Louise M. , Gilchrist Gail
Published: November 2019

Introduction:

Despite the high prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration by men who use substances, limited evidence exists about how best to reduce IPV among this group.

Method:

A systematic narrative review with meta-analysis determined the effectiveness of interventions to reduce IPV by men who use substances. Inclusion criteria were randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials; adult heterosexual male IPV perpetrators where at least 60% of participants were alcohol and/or drug users; the intervention targeted IPV with or without targeting substance use (SU); outcomes included perpetrator and/or victim reports of IPV, SU, or both. Methodological quality was assessed.

Results:

Nine trials ( n = 1,014 men) were identified. Interventions were grouped into (1) integrated IPV and SU interventions ( n = 5), (2) IPV interventions with adjunct SU interventions ( n = 2), and (3) stand-alone IPV interventions ( n = 2). Cognitive behavioral and motivational interviewing therapies were the most common approaches. Data from individual trials showed a reduction in SU outcomes in the short term (≤3months; n = 2 trials) and IPV perpetration at different time points ( n = 3 trials) for interventions compared with treatment as usual (TAU). Meta-analysis with integrated IPV and SU interventions showed no difference in SU ( n = 3 trials) or IPV outcomes ( n = 4 trials) versus SU TAU.

Conclusions:

Little evidence exists for effective interventions for male IPV perpetrators who use substances. Outcomes in integrated interventions were not superior to TAU in meta-analysis. Future trials should consider the nature of the relationship between IPV and SU in intervention design, duration of intervention, and type and timing of outcome measures.
Personality Dimensions of Speech-Language Pathologists Who Work With Clients Who Stutter
Authors: Freud Debora , Zukerman Gil , Icht Michal
Published: November 2019

The personality characteristics of the speech-language pathologists (SLPs) may impact their success with each client they see, specifically in stuttering therapy. This initial study explores a general personality profile of SLPs who work in the area of stuttering compared with SLPs who do not. Personality dimensions were measured by the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). An occupational questionnaire was also administered. Results from 142 respondents were available for the analysis. Results indicated a significant interaction of group affiliation and patterns of NEO-FFI personality dimensions. SLPs who work with persons who stutter (PWS) were characterized by lower levels of Neuroticism. Lower Neuroticism levels, which are associated with elevated resilience to anxiety, may be a personality trait of SLPs who choose to work with PWS. Possibly, the SLPs’ resilience may facilitate a better therapeutic alliance with stuttering clients. We discuss the importance of the personality dimensions of the SLPs in the SLPs’ career education.
A Nurse-Led Low-Cost Intervention Effectively Traces Prevalence of Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections at a Low-Resourced Regional Referral Hospital in Western Uganda: A Case for Policy Change
Authors: Etyang Charles , Nambozi Grace , Brennaman Laura
Published: November 2019

Catheter associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is the most common hospital-acquired infection worldwide. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with limited resources for health care have not allocated resources to adequately monitor or prevent CAUTIs. The infection is associated with several adverse clinical outcomes, including antibiotic resistance, septicemia, and prolonged hospital stays, that burden the already resource-constrained health systems in LMICs with increased morbidity, health care costs, and deaths. Owing to the lack of resource allocation, little is known about the prevalence of CAUTI in the government-owned and operated hospitals in LIMCs. The purpose of this research was to test a method of CAUTI prevalence surveillance suitable to the resource-constrained health system in a LMIC and to determine the prevalence of CAUTI among hospitalized patients at the study site. In an intermittent 4-week data collection plan, the sample of 68 catheterized adult participants was evaluated for the presence of CAUTI using the three-pronged screening criteria of American Urological Society. CAUTI prevalence in the sample was 17.6%. The high prevalence of CAUTI in this sample represents a substantial risk of consequences to hospitalized patients and to the resource-constrained health system in this LMIC. This first report of CAUTI surveillance using readily available and affordable tools provides evidence to health ministry policymakers of the need for and value of monitoring and prevention programs for hospital-acquired infections in LMICs. We recommend LMIC health policymakers to establish infection prevention teams in hospitals and provide resources to continue surveillance and prevention of CAUTI and other hospital-acquired infections.
A comparison of methods for measuring thermal insulation of military clothing
Authors: Švecová Jana , Strohmandl Jan , Fišer Jan , Toma Róbert , Hajna Petr , Havelka Antonín
Published: November 2019

This study presents methods for measuring thermal insulation of military clothing assemblies used in various climatic regions of the world, with the exception of polar regions. With the use of FOX 314 and thermal manikin, the thermal insulation of the fabrics (military materials) was ascertained at simulating real climatic conditions of cold, arid, temperate and tropical zones according to European standard EN 60721-2-1: 2014. The aim of this study was to compare the values of thermal insulation of the duty of military clothing ascertained by two methods and to evaluate the reliability of methods and instruments used. The measured results show that the measurement methods used are different in terms of method and measurement conditions, the results of the thermal insulation and the resulting choice of military clothing in the type of climate. The functionality and suitability of the use of military clothing sets were verified in real climatic conditions, provided that the optimal thermal comfort of the wearer was achieved.
MiR-1/GOLPH3/Foxo1 Signaling Pathway Regulates Proliferation of Bladder Cancer
Authors: Liu Ming-Kai , Ma Tao , Yu Yang , Suo Yong , Li Kai , Song Shi-Chao , Zhang Wei
Published: November 2019

Objective:

To investigate role of microRNA-1/Golgi phosphoprotein 3/Foxo1 axis in bladder cancer.

Methods:

The expression of Golgi phosphoprotein 3 was determined in both bladder cancer tissues and cell lines using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. Golgi phosphoprotein 3 was knocked down by small hairpin RNA. MicroRNA-1 was overexpressed or inhibited by microRNA-1 mimic or inhibitor. Cell viability and proliferation were determined by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) and colony-formation assay. Cell apoptosis and cycle was detected using flow cytometer. The expression of microRNA-1 and Golgi phosphoprotein 3 was determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting was used to test the expression of Golgi phosphoprotein 3, Foxo1, p-Foxo1, AKT, p-AKT, p27, and CyclinD1. Binding between microRNA-1 and Golgi phosphoprotein 3 was confirmed by Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay.

Results:

MicroRNA-1 was downregulated in bladder cancer tissues, while Golgi phosphoprotein 3 was overexpressed in bladder cancer cells and tissues. In both bladder cancer 5637 and T24 cell lines, the cell viability and proliferation were dramatically reduced when Golgi phosphoprotein 3 was knocked down. The inhibition of Golgi phosphoprotein 3 remarkably promoted cell apoptosis and induced cell-cycle arrest, as well as decreased the expression of p-Foxo1, p-AKT, and CyclinD1 and increased the expression of p27. The overexpression of microRNA-1 significantly inhibited cell viability and proliferation, induced G-S cell-cycle arrest, and decreased the expression of Golgi phosphoprotein 3, p-Foxo1, and CyclinD1 and upregulated p27, while inhibition of microRNA-1 led to opposite results. Golgi phosphoprotein 3 was a direct target for microRNA-1.

Conclusion:

Overexpression of microRNA-1 inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell-cycle arrest of bladder cancer cells through targeting Golgi phosphoprotein 3 and regulation of Foxo1.
When the Conventional Treatment Fails: A Rare Approach to Superior Mesenteric Arterial Embolization
Authors: Haymet Andrew B. , Lee Daniel , Ho-Shon Kevin , Waugh Richard
Published: November 2019

Retroperitoneal haemorrhage is a rare but potentially life-threatening event. It may occur either spontaneously or secondary to percutaneous vascular access procedures, trauma, or ruptured aortic, iliac, or mesenteric aneurysms. As a result, the clinical presentation is variable. Computed tomography and/or angiography are vital for diagnosis. Management may range from conservative treatment for stable patients to emergency laparotomy or embolization for catastrophic haemorrhage. Direct percutaneous puncture of a deep intra-abdominal pseudoaneurysm is an accepted but infrequently performed technique due to a number of diagnostic and technical challenges. We describe the successful percutaneous transabdominal angioembolization of a superior mesenteric artery rupture in a 77-year-old woman with a large retroperitoneal haematoma. This was performed after a conventional femoral transarterial approach was unsuccessful.
Live–virtual–constructive simulation for testing and evaluation of air combat tactics, techniques, and procedures, Part 1: assessment framework
Authors: Mansikka Heikki , Virtanen Kai , Harris Don , Salomäki Jaakko
Published: November 2019

This paper advances live (L), virtual (V), and constructive (C) simulation methodologies by introducing a new LVC simulation framework for the development of air combat tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP). In the framework, TTP is developed iteratively in separate C-, V-, and L-simulation stages. This allows the utilization of the strengths of each simulation class while avoiding the challenges of pure LVC simulations. The C-stage provides the optimal TTP with respect to the probabilities of survival ( Ps) and kill ( Pk) of aircraft without considering the human–machine interaction (HMI). In the V-stage, the optimal TTP is modified by assessing its applicability with Pk and Ps, as well as HMI measures regarding pilots’ situation awareness, mental workload, and TTP adherence. In the L-stage, real aircraft are used to evaluate whether the developed TTP leads to acceptable Pk, Ps, and HMI measures in a real-life environment. The iterative nature of the framework enables that V- or L-stages can reveal flaws of the TTP and an inadequate TTP can be returned to the C- or V-stage for revision. This paper is Part 1 of a two-part study. Part 2 demonstrates the use of the framework with operationally used C- and V-simulators as well as real F/A-18C aircraft and pilots.
The End of Capitalism: Disengaging From the Economic Imaginary of Incremental Games
Authors: Ruffino Paolo
Published: November 2019

The article investigates how players of the incremental game AdVenture Capitalist write about the end of the game and the end of capitalism with it. The game visually and mechanically represents the economic imaginary of frictionless capitalism, characterized by endless and self-sufficient growth. AdVenture Capitalist has no end and does not require the player’s interaction. The analysis shows that players’ responses to their marginalization from an endless simulation are pataphysical: They privilege the particular over the general, the imaginary over the real, the exceptional over the ordinary, and the contradictory over the axiomatic. In so doing, players occasionally raise imaginary solutions to the end of capitalism. Examining the written traces of players’ disengagement from the simulation, the article intervenes in broader debates regarding the effects of games. It concludes that exceptional cases of overinterpretation reveal a complex transformative approach toward video games and the political and economic ideology represented therein.
The Titanic Game: Introducing Game Heuristics to Mixed Methods Theorizing and Data Analysis
Authors: Stolz Jörg , Lindemann Anaïd
Published: November 2019

Despite tremendous interest in social games and game studies, the potential of game heuristics for the field of mixed methods remains unknown. This article introduces game heuristics to mixed methods research, showing how it was used in a specific study on the survival probabilities on the Titanic. Specifically, we describe how game heuristics was used to create the explanandum, code and interpret the qualitative material, and set up and interpret the quantitative model. Furthermore, we show and explicate how game heuristics was used to construct seven types of meta-inferences. The Titanic data set is especially interesting, since it is routinely used for statistical mono-method teaching; however, it can be shown that a mixed methods approach leads to a better explanation.
Enhanced heat transfer in working fluids using nanoparticles with ramped wall temperature: Applications in engine oil
Authors: Arif Muhammad , Ali Farhad , Sheikh Nadeem Ahmad , Khan Ilyas
Published: November 2019

The purpose of this article is to investigate the flow of Maxwell fluid with nanoparticles, that is, molybdenum disulfide and graphene with ramped temperature condition at the boundary, and engine oil is considered as base fluid. Furthermore, molybdenum disulfide and graphene nanoparticles are uniformly distributed in the base fluid. The problem is modeled in terms of partial differential equations with physical initial and boundary conditions. To make the system of governing equations dimensionless, we introduced some suitable non-dimensional variables. The obtained dimensionless system of equations is solved using the Laplace transform technique. From graphical analysis, it can be noticed that the velocity is high with isothermal wall temperature and lower for ramped wall temperature. These solutions are verified by comparing with the well-known published results. In addition, the physics of all parameters of interest is discussed through graphs. The mathematical expressions for skin friction and Nusselt number are mentioned and the obtained results are presented in tabular form. Finally, the effect of molybdenum disulfide and graphene nanoparticles is briefly discussed for the flow and heat profiles for Maxwell nanofluid.
Ambiguous authority and hidden hierarchy: Collective leadership in an elite professional service firm
Authors: Empson Laura
Published: November 2019

This study represents a detailed analysis of collective leadership in an elite professional service firm, examining the distinctive power dynamics revealed among professional peers as they attempt to act decisively in response to an acute organizational crisis. It identifies how professional peers deliberately construct and amplify ambiguity in both the composition and authority of their collective leadership group, and examines how that ambiguity can serve a functional purpose for group members. Intuitive mutual adjustment is the prevailing pattern of interaction, but this changes to a more managed form of mutual adjustment as a hidden hierarchy is revealed in response to the crisis. The study identifies the micro interactions which constitute both intuitive and managed mutual adjustment, and shows how members of a collective leadership group can maintain cohesion and act decisively, in spite of lacking the formal authority to do so. The findings challenge some foundational assumptions of collective leadership theory and extend our understanding of leadership power dynamics more generally by demonstrating how leaders can exercise considerable informal power under the cloak of ambiguity, highlighting the hidden hierarchy that can exist within a collective, and emphasizing the significance of individual ‘heroic’ leader within collective leadership.
Transition-of-care planning: Preparing for the future care of the individual with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Authors: Tencza Mary , Forsythe Lydia
Published: November 2019

Individuals with an intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) are often harmed when faced with changes in their living or care circumstances. Their inability to make sudden quality of life choices puts them at a disadvantage due to cognitive and communication difficulties. A quality improvement project was conducted with adult habilitation agency clients with IDD. Use of evidence-based methods, team collaborative communication, patient safety guidelines, and adherence to agency mission and policies were instrumental in development of a transition-of-care plan form given to clients on admission or during scheduled manager visits. A follow-up survey resulted in significant quantitative data results showing the importance of future planning to the client and guardian.
Place of death of people with intellectual disabilities: An exploratory study of death and dying within community disability service settings
Authors: Todd Stuart , Brandford Sharon , Worth Rhian , Shearn Julia , Bernal Jane
Published: November 2019

This article describes an exploratory study of deaths of people with intellectual disabilities (IDs) that had occurred in group homes managed by an ID service provider in Australasia. Such settings are increasingly recognised as places for both living and dying. Little is known about the extent to which they encounter the death of a person with ID and with what outcomes. Data were obtained from service records and telephone interviews on 66 deaths occurring within a 2-year period. The findings suggest that death is an important but relatively rare event within ID services. This rate of death was influenced by the age structure of the population. Most of the deaths occurred within a hospital setting. Cause of death did not have much impact upon place of death. However, setting characteristics seemed to have some influence. As an exploratory study, lessons for future population-based research in this area are addressed.
On the Evolution of a Radical Concept: Affordances According to Gibson and Their Subsequent Use and Development
Authors: Chong Isis , Proctor Robert W.
Published: November 2019

James J. Gibson, the founder of ecological psychology, introduced a radical empiricist approach to perception and action centered on direct perception in naturalistic environments that was counter to popular representational views of his time. This direct perception approach and the associated introduction of the affordance concept have been extremely influential in several fields of study. However, since its inception, the affordance concept has evolved in a manner such that it now deviates significantly from Gibson’s original intention. This review follows use of the affordance concept by four sets of influential experimental psychologists: Gibson, Donald Norman, Mike Tucker and Rob Ellis, and Daniel Bub and Michael Masson. Particular attention is paid to the manner in which they applied the concept and the contributions provided by each set of researchers. The primary goal of this review is to determine what cognitive psychologists can take away from developments within the field and what considerations should be taken into account when using the term affordance. Having a more thorough understanding of the factors that led to the concept of affordance and its recent reformulations will better equip cognitive psychologists and, by extension, human factors researchers to further advance the study of perception–action relations.
Past the End of the Catbus Line: Mushishi’s Apparitional Actants
Authors: Cooley Kevin
Published: November 2019

After evaluating some of the limitations in the reception of Hayao Miyazaki’s films as advocacy for climate change reform, the author suggests the need for a new path in animation toward animating the nonhuman. He nominates the anime series Mushishi as the ideal trailblazer for a more ecologically sound and posthumanistically inclined future. Mushishi envisions a fairly realistic turn-of-the-20th-century Japan in which beings called ‘ mushi’, simple organisms that are neither plant nor animal nor Miyazaki-esque fantastic spirit, exist alongside small agrarian communities. Using Mushishi and its barely animated titular beings as a test case, he argues that animation’s allusory–illusory nature and depiction of nature can combat the central tenets of anthropocentrism, generating a visually figurative ontology in which humans and nonhuman animals, subjects and objects, and characters and landscapes are democratically leveled down to symbolic totems, all rendered unreal through the filter of cartooning.
Carefully Constructed Yet Curiously Real: How Major American Animation Studios Generate Empathy Through a Shared Style of Character Design
Authors: van Rooij Malou
Published: November 2019

Contemporary computer-animated films by the major American animation studios Pixar, Disney and DreamWorks are often described as evoking (extremely) emotional responses from their ever-growing audiences. Following Murray Smith’s assertion that characters are central to comprehending audiences’ engagement with narratives in Engaging Characters: Fiction, Emotion, and the Cinema (1995), this article points to a specific style of characterization as a possible reason for the overwhelming emotional response to and great success of these films, exemplified in contemporary examples including Inside Out (Pete Docter and Ronnie del Carmen, 2015), Big Hero 6 (Don Hall and Chris Williams, 2014) and How to Train Your Dragon (Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, 2010). Drawing on a variety of scholarly work including Stephen Prince’s ‘perceptual realism’, Scott McCloud’s model of ‘amplification through simplification’ and Masahiro Mori’s Uncanny Valley theory, this article will argue how a shared style of character design – defined as a paradoxical combination of lifelikeness and abstraction – plays a significant role in the empathetic potential of these films. This will result in the proposition of a new and reverse phenomenon to Mori’s Uncanny Valley, dubbed the Pixar Peak, where, as opposed to a steep drop, audiences reach a climactic height in empathy levels when presented with this specific type of characterization.
The interplay between non-symbolic number and its continuous visual properties revisited: Effects of mixing trials of different types
Authors: Pekár Judit , Kinder Annette
Published: November 2019

In the last few years, the existence of a pure number sense has been challenged. Recent studies suggest that numerosity processing is influenced not only by the number of elements in a display but also by continuous magnitudes, such as the size of the elements. The aim of our study was to replicate and extend the findings by Gebuis and Reynvoet, who systematically manipulated different continuous magnitudes either congruently or incongruently with discrete numerosity. We were particularly interested in finding the same pattern of congruency effects and assess its stability and robustness as this pattern indicates a complex influence of continuous magnitudes on numerosity judgements. We did so by showing stimuli of different conditions either in separate blocks or mixed together while participants solved a dot comparison task. Our results are in line with the notion that discrete number and continuous magnitudes are integrated in numerosity judgements by means of a weighing process. Moreover, our findings suggest that this integration is modified by the mode of presentation (blocked vs. mixed).
Can readers fully adopt the perspective of the protagonist?
Authors: Creer Sarah D , Cook Anne E , O’Brien Edward J
Published: November 2019

Despite the centrality of the protagonist during narrative comprehension, evidence indicates that readers do not typically approach the text from the protagonist’s point of view. Experiments 1a–1c demonstrated that both explicit task instructions and the first-person point of view resulted in comprehension being influenced by perspective-relevant information; this indicated that readers were adopting the perspective of the protagonist. However, Experiments 2a–3b showed that even when readers adopt the protagonist’s perspective, they cannot do so to the exclusion of related perspective-irrelevant information. Results are discussed in the context of the RI-Val model of comprehension in which perspective-relevant information and perspective-irrelevant information are both available and compete for influence during comprehension.
Shaken, not stirred: a schools test for aldehydes and ketones
Authors: Plater M John
Published: November 2019

A schools test for aldehydes and ketones in water at room temperature using test tubes has been developed in this laboratory using either phenylhydrazine hydrochloride or phenylhydrazine hydrochloride with NaOAc . 3H2O. The role of one equivalent of a strong or weak acid which catalyses the reaction is discussed.
A new 1,8-naphthalimide-based fluorescent “turn-off” sensor for detecting Cu2+ and sensing mechanisms
Authors: Qu Yao , Wu Yancong , Wang Cong , Zhao Kun , Wu Huilu
Published: November 2019

In this article, a new “turn-off” fluorescent sensor N- n-butyl-4-{2-[(ethylimino)methyl]phenol}-1,8-naphthalimide (HL) for CuII ions is synthesized, which contains a 1,8-naphthalimide moiety as the fluorophore and a Schiff base as the recognition group. As expected, it exhibits high selectivity and sensitivity for detecting CuII ions over other common metal ions in acetonitrile–2-(4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl)-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) (1:1 v/v, pH = 7.4) solution. In addition, the fluorescence intensity for HL showed a good linearity with the concentration of CuII ions in the range of 0.5–5.0 μM. The 2:1 binding stoichiometry between HL and CuII ions was established on the basis of combined fluorescence titrations, a Job’s plot, single-crystal X-ray analysis and mass spectrometry. The quenching response of HL toward CuII ions is attributed to the reverse photoinduced electron transfer mechanism. The proposed sensor HL is preliminarily applied to quantify CuII ions in water samples from the Yellow River and tap water.
Extended ray resection for sarcoma of the hand: long-term survival and functional results
Authors: Farzaliyev Farhad , Steinau Hans-Ulrich , Karadag Halil-Ibrahim , Touma Alexander , Podleska Lars Erik
Published: November 2019

In this retrospective study, we analysed the long-term oncological and functional results after extended ray resection for sarcoma of the hand. Recurrence-free and overall survivals were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method. The function of the operated hand was assessed with the Michigan Hand Questionnaire and compared with the contralateral side. Extended ray resection was performed in 25 out of 168 consecutive patients with soft-tissue and bony sarcomas of the hand. The overall 5- and 10-year, disease-specific survival rates were 86% and 81%, respectively. Local recurrences were observed in two patients. The Michigan Hand Questionnaire score for the affected hand at follow-up in nine patients was 82 points versus 95 for the healthy contralateral hands. We conclude that extended ray resection of osseous sarcomas breaking through the bone into the soft tissue or for soft tissue sarcomas invading bone is a preferable alternative to hand ablation when excision can be achieved with tumour-free margins.

Level of evidence: III
Three-ligament tenodesis for chronic scapholunate injuries: short-term outcomes in 203 patients
Authors: Blackburn Julia , van der Oest Mark J. W. , Poelstra Ralph , Selles Ruud W. , Chen Neal C. , Feitz Reinier ,   the Hand-Wrist Study Group
Published: November 2019

In this cohort study, we report on short-term outcomes of 203 patients (203 wrists) who underwent scapholunate ligament reconstruction using a three-ligament tenodesis technique between December 2013 and December 2017. Patients completed the Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation questionnaire and a visual analogue scale for pain online before surgery and at 3 months and 1 year after surgery. We also measured the range of movement before surgery, in 150 patients 3 months after surgery, and in 90 patients 1 year after surgery. The patients reported clinically significant improvements in both pain and function postoperatively, with continuing improvement at both 3 and 12 months. We conclude that the short-term outcomes of this procedure are generally good in term of patients’ function, satisfaction, and pain relief, but about 20% of the operated wrists did not improve. Our data may help patients and surgeons in joint decision-making regarding treatment for chronic scapholunate injuries.

Level of evidence: III
Characterization of the NLRP1 inflammasome response in bovine species
Authors: Vrentas Catherine E , Boggiatto Paola M , Olsen Steven C , Leppla Stephen H , Moayeri Mahtab
Published: November 2019

Inflammasomes act as sensors of infection or damage to initiate immune responses. While extensively studied in rodents, understanding of livestock inflammasomes is limited. The NLRP1 inflammasome sensor in rodents is activated by Toxoplasma gondii, Bacillus anthracis lethal toxin (LT), and potentially other zoonotic pathogens. LT activates NLRP1 by N-terminal proteolysis, inducing macrophage pyroptosis and a pro-inflammatory cytokine response. In contrast, NLRP1 in macrophages from humans and certain rodent strains is resistant to LT cleavage, and pyroptosis is not induced. Evolution of NLRP1 sequences towards those leading to pyroptosis is of interest in understanding innate immune responses in different hosts. We characterized NLRP1 in cattle ( Bos taurus) and American bison ( Bison bison). Bovine NLRP1 is not cleaved by LT, and cattle and bison macrophages do not undergo toxin-induced pyroptosis. Additionally, we found a predicted Nlrp1 splicing isoform in cattle macrophages lacking the N-terminal domain. Resistance to LT in bovine and human NLRP1 correlates with evolutionary sequence similarity to rodents. Consistent with LT-resistant rodents, bovine macrophages undergo a slower non-pyroptotic death in the presence of LPS and LT. Overall, our findings support the model that NLRP1 activation by LT requires N-terminal cleavage, and provide novel information on mechanisms underlying immune response diversity.
Tunable formation of copper metal, oxide, chloride and hydroxyl chloride nanoparticles from aqueous copper solutions using nanoscale zerovalent iron particles
Authors: Crane Richard , Sapsford Devin
Published: November 2019

The influence of different parameters (solid–liquid ratio, initial pH, initial Cu concentration and anion type) on the cementation of aqueous copper (Cu) with nanoscale zerovalent iron (nZVI) has been studied. The work has been established to study both the influence such parameters have on the kinetics and efficacy of the cementation process but also the physicochemical composition of resultant Cu-bearing products. The nZVI exhibited high Cu removal capacity (maximum removal 905.2 mg/g) due to its high surface area. X-ray diffraction determined the most common Cu-bearing precipitates were Cu2O, CuCl2 and Cu2(OH)3Cl for solutions containing Cl− counterions (CuCl2 salt precursor), while Cu0 and Cu2O were the most common phases for those containing [Formula: see text] counterions (CuSO4 salt precursor). Transmission electron microscopy determined such precipitates were discrete nanoparticles of relatively high purity Cu (e.g. >80 wt% Cu or ≥99.9 wt% Cu and O). Overall the results demonstrate nZVI as effective for the one-pot transformation of aqueous Cu into a range of different high purity Cu-bearing nanoparticles. The methodology developed herein is therefore likely to have important application in the recovery of Cu from wastewater and process solutions where the direct upcycling to high-value Cu-bearing nanoparticles is an advantageous form in which to recover Cu.
The classification as ‘worker’ under EU law
Authors: Sagan Adam
Published: November 2019

The paper discusses the concept of the term worker in European labour law, focusing on the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union in the Matzak case. First, the facts that are essential to Mr Matzak’s qualification as a worker are presented. In a second step, the part of the Court’s decision which refers to the concept of ‘worker’ is analysed. The third and main part deals in detail with the current discussion of the concept of the term ‘worker’ in EU law. This analysis should make it possible to systemise the decisions of the Court. Finally, an attempt is made to classify the decision of the Court in the Matzak within its own case law and to assess its consequences for future decisions.
Psychosocial factors and hypertension prevalence among Ghanaians in Ghana and Ghanaian migrants in Europe: The RODAM study
Authors: Awuah Raphael Baffour , de-Graft Aikins Ama , Dodoo F Nii-Amoo , Meeks Karlijn AC , Beune Eric JAJ , Klipstein-Grobusch Kerstin , Addo Juliet , Smeeth Liam , Bahendeka Silver K , Agyemang Charles
Published: November 2019

Despite progress made to prevent and control hypertension, its prevalence has persisted in many countries. This study examined the associations between psychosocial factors and hypertension among Ghanaian non-migrants and migrants. Data were drawn from the Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM) project. Findings show that among migrant women, those who experienced periods of stress at home/work had higher odds of hypertension. Among non-migrants, women with depression symptoms were more likely to be hypertensive. Furthermore, there was a positive association between negative life events and hypertension among non-migrant men. The findings highlight the importance of psychosocial factors in addressing hypertension prevalence in Ghanaian populations.
Explaining the “Racial Contradiction”: An Experimental Examination of the Impact of Sports Media Use and Response Strategy on Racial Bias Towards Athlete Transgressors
Authors: Brown Kenon A. , Dickhaus Joshua , Harrison Ray , Rush Stephen
Published: November 2019

Previous studies have found that minority athletes were perceived more positively than their White counterparts, which is counterintuitive to previous research. In order to explain this “racial contradiction,” this study analyzes how an athlete's response strategy and the amount of sports news consumed by participants could impact differences in the perceptions of athletes of different races. A between-subjects, double-blind experiment was conducted among 464 participants to examine how an athlete’s race, an athlete’s chosen response strategy, and participants’ level of sports news consumption affect the perception of athletes accused of criminal allegations. Results show that while low sports news consumers did not differ in their perception of an athlete regarding whether he was Black or White, high sports news consumers perceived Black athletes more positively than White athletes, supporting the “racial contradiction.” Also, results showed that while participants who were low sports news consumers accepted the White athlete’s use of denial more than that of the Black athlete, participants who were high sports news consumers accepted the Black athlete’s use of denial more than that of the White athlete.
Aberrant Cost–Benefit Integration During Effort-Based Decision Making Relates to Severity of Substance Use Disorders
Authors: Stuppy-Sullivan Allison M. , Buckholtz Joshua W. , Baskin-Sommers Arielle
Published: November 2019

Aberrant cost–benefit decision making is a key factor related to individual differences in the expression of substance use disorders (SUDs). Previous research highlights how delay-cost sensitivity affects variability in SUDs; however, other forms of cost–benefit decision making—effort-based choice—have received less attention. We administered the Effort Expenditure for Rewards Task (EEfRT) in an SUD-enriched community sample ( N = 80). Individuals with more severe SUDs were less likely to use information about expected value when deciding between high-effort, high-reward and low-effort, low-reward options. Furthermore, individuals whose severity of use was primarily related to avoiding aversive affective states and individuals with heightened sensitivity to delay costs during intertemporal decision making were the least sensitive to expected value signals when making decisions to engage in effortful behavior. Together, these findings suggest that individuals with more severe SUDs have difficulty integrating multiple decision variables to guide behavior during effort-based decision making.
Global sagittal spinal alignment in patients with degenerative low-grade lumbar spondylolisthesis
Authors: Kobayashi Hiroto , Endo Kenji , Sawaji Yasunobu , Matsuoka Yuji , Nishimura Hirosuke , Murata Kazuma , Takamatsu Taichiro , Suzuki Hidekazu , Aihara Takato , Yamamoto Kengo
Published: November 2019

Purpose:

Global sagittal spinal alignment undergoes changes on the basis of sagittal malalignment (trunk inclined forward) in natural degenerative progression. We hypothesized that this change would associate with the disease state of the degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DS). This study aimed to evaluate the global sagittal spinal alignment of low-grade DS by classifying in accordance with sagittal vertical axis (SVA).

Methods:

The DS group was classified into three types according to the adult spinal deformity classification: type 1, SVA < 40 mm; type 2, 40 mm ≤ SVA < 95 mm; and type 3, 95 mm ≤ SVA. Age and sagittal spinal parameters (thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis (LL), sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), and pelvic incidence (PI)) were compared among three types.

Results:

There were statistically significant differences in age, LL, PI, and PT among the three types. In comparison between two types, there was a statistically significant difference between type 1 and type 2 and between type 1 and type 3, but not between type 2 and type 3 in these parameters. PI tended to increase as the type increases. Furthermore, there was significant difference between types 1 and 3.

Conclusion:

We evaluated the features of the DS types classified by sagittal alignment. Large PI is one of the risk factors for SVA deterioration of DS. PI may be involved in the onset and progression of DS.
Percutaneous endoscopic discectomy might be effective in selected cases of pyogenic spondylitis
Authors: Kono Mamoru , Koda Masao , Abe Tetsuya , Miura Kousei , Nagashima Katsuya , Fujii Kengo , Kumagai Hiroshi , Noguchi Hiroshi , Funayama Toru , Yamazaki Masashi
Published: November 2019

Background:

Percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (PED) has been reported to be an effective procedure and minimally invasive surgical therapy for various spinal pathologies.

Objective:

To evaluate the clinical outcome of patients with pyogenic spondylitis who were treated with PED.

Methods:

Twenty-four patients with pyogenic spondylitis who underwent PED were evaluated for medical history, level of the affected intervertebral space, mode of onset, plain radiographs, epidural or psoas abscesses on MRI, results of blood and intraoperative sample cultures, preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) level, time until postoperative CRP normalization (CRP < 0.3), and any additional surgery. Patients who underwent additional surgery and showed uncontrollable inflammation were considered to have “failed” PED for pyogenic spondylitis. To elucidate the factors that were significantly associated with a failure of PED for pyogenic spondylitis, statistical analyses were conducted by univariate analysis.

Results:

Control of inflammation was achieved in 19 of 24 patients (76%) after PED for pyogenic spondylitis. The remaining five patients failed to achieve infection control by PED. One such patient was not able to control the infection after PED, and another patient developed an epidural abscess 2 weeks after PED. Remaining three “failed” patients had exacerbations of their infections during the postoperative course and required additional surgery. Univariate analyses demonstrated that diabetes mellitus (DM; p = 0.05), hemodialysis due to DM-induced renal failure ( p = 0.02), concomitant malignant disease ( p = 0.09), and acute onset ( p = 0.05) were possibly correlated with PED failure. Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that hemodialysis due to DM-induced renal failure was an independent factor associated with PED failure ( p = 0.03).

Conclusions:

PED might be considered as one of the alternative therapeutic options before invasive radical surgeries for pyogenic spondylitis after failure of standard conservative therapy. Even by less invasive PED, pyogenic spondylitis patients with DM-hemodialysis showed poor outcome.