bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Finite time simultaneous attack for a maneuvering target with unknown acceleration
Authors: Wei Xiaoqian , Yang Jianying
Published: October 2018

This paper investigates the finite time simultaneous attack problem for a maneuvering target with unknown acceleration when the multiple attackers move slower than the target at the initial stage under a communication network having a spanning tree. Attackers can reach agreement before the precise strike when the upper bound on time to consensus is calculated beforehand. The unknown acceleration of the target can be estimated by a disturbance observer, and a cooperation protocol is designed to decrease chattering. Numerical simulations with comparisons demonstrate the effectiveness and the superiority of the proposed method.
Indigenous Places and the Making of Undocumented Status in Mexico-US Migration
Authors: Asad Asad L. , Hwang Jackelyn
Published: October 2018

The uneven distribution of economic and social resources across communities often falls along ethno-racial dimensions. Few demographers have considered whether such axes of place stratification in a migrant-sending country relate to individuals’ access to economic and social resources in a migrant-receiving country. Taking Mexico-US migration flows as our focus, we examine if having origins in an indigenous place, a primary axis of stratification in Mexico, is associated with migrants’ documentation status when crossing the border, a primary dimension of stratification in the United States. We rely on individual-level data from the Mexican Migration Project merged with municipal-level data from the Mexican Census. Using multilevel models, we find that migrants from communities in indigenous municipalities in Mexico are more likely to migrate undocumented than documented to the United States compared with those from communities in non-indigenous municipalities, net of the economic and social resources identified in prior work as useful for international movement. We discuss why indigenous places — marked by a set of correlated conditions of economic and social disadvantage — disproportionately channel migrants into an undocumented status. This study contributes to understandings of stratification processes in cross-border contexts and has implications for the production of inequality in the United States.
Psychological benefits of networking technologies in children’s experience of ensemble music making
Authors: Hanrahan Fidelma , Hughes Ed , Banerjee Robin , Eldridge Alice , Kiefer Chris
Published: October 2018

Little is currently known about the possible benefits of using networked technology to enhance ensemble performance. This study explored whether the introduction of specially devised technology – networked tablets using traditional music notation – to a primary school orchestra would enhance the experience of ensemble music. Particular emphasis was placed on how the technology could help children to overcome practical problems associated with ensemble playing for early-stage musicians (e.g., keeping in sync with other players), thereby leading to better engagement with the music and ultimately greater enjoyment. Findings from a thematic analysis of responses from a focus group with eight young orchestra players aged 9–11 years and from an interview with the orchestra conductor, together with indications from the statistical analysis of 28 orchestra participants’ questionnaire responses, suggest that the technology did help to reduce the practical problems associated with ensemble playing. This appeared to interrupt the downward spiral of frustration and lack of confidence in playing for some young people, and enhanced the likelihood of feelings of enjoyment and belonging.
A multilevel analysis of contextual risk factors for intimate partner violence in Ghana
Authors: Cofie Nicholas
Published: October 2018

While extant research suggests that context, structural socioeconomic and cultural factors matter in intimate partner violence research, quantitative research on the subject in sub-Saharan Africa, and in particular Ghana, has disproportionately focused on prevalence and individual level correlates of spousal violence. This research has ignored the role of the structural socioeconomic and cultural factors and contexts in understanding the causes and consequences of spousal violence in a setting where family life is heavily influenced by traditional norms and beliefs. These norms and beliefs may lead to inadequate and ineffective interventions geared at preventing or reducing spousal violence and its consequences. Guided by an integrated theoretical approach, this study addresses these issues by estimating a multilevel logistic regression model where the effects of both individual and community level risk factors for spousal violence are assessed. Data for the study come from the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey and the Ghana Population and Housing Census. The findings confirm the salient role of structural socioeconomic and cultural factors, such as patriarchal norms and residential instability, in the perpetration of spousal violence against women. Policy implications of these findings and directions for further research are discussed.
Revenue Structure and Spending Behavior in Nonprofit Organizations
Authors: Shon Jongmin , Hamidullah Madinah F. , McDougle Lindsey M.
Published: October 2018

Nonprofit organizations (NPOs) rely on multiple funding sources to meet organizational needs; and, heavy reliance on any one revenue source can limit an NPO’s ability to allocate funding. As such, in this study, we examine the association between funding source and spending behavior in a national sample of NPOs from 2008 to 2012. Our sample consists of 51,812 observations from 16,035 unique NPOs. Using Tobit maximum likelihood estimation, we find that NPOs that rely on, both, restricted and nonrestricted revenue sources are more limited in their ability to spend on administrative needs, whereas donation income restricts personnel spending of compensation. Revenue diversification, though, can help NPOs overcome this limitation and can provide NPOs with greater spending flexibility. Our findings also show, however, that these results differ for NPO hospitals and universities.
Vindicating Yahweh: A Close Reading of Lamentations 3.21-42
Authors: Stone Mark P.
Published: October 2018

Recent scholarship on Lamentations has focused on the voice of Daughter Zion in chs. 1–2. Interpreters argue that the frank protests constitute an antitheodicy and have placed these poems in opposition to the voice of the man in Lamentations 3, specifically 3.21-42. This section utilizes Deuteronomistic and Wisdom material to offer a theodicy, counseling penitent acceptance of God's righteous judgment. This article nuances previous analyses of Lam. 3.21-42, arguing in particular that vv. 33–39 subtly manipulate the expected theodic solution until Yahweh's culpability as oppressive agent is denied rather than justified. It is argued that the poet glimpses a ‘secular’ theodicy. This is accomplished through close exegesis of Lam. 3.21-42, and by utilizing Mikhail Bakhtin's concepts of ‘dialogism’ and ‘double-voicing’.
Genitourinary Pathologies during Hiv Infection
Authors: Musci R. , Strada G. , Carmignani L , Baccalin A , Scardino E. , Favini P.
Published: October 2018

With the growing number of patients with Hiv infection there has been a marked increase in the incidence of unusual genitourinary pathologies. Urologists find themselves dealing with opportunistic infection (viral and fungal infection), penile and testicular neoplasm and neurological bladder. The Authors present their experience and describe the problems correlated with urogenital pathologies during Hiv infection.
The cutaneo-urethral reflex. Description of the reflex and its role in stress urinary incontinence
Authors: Shafik A.
Published: October 2018

The present communication describes the “cutaneo-urethral reflex” and its clinical significance. The study comprised 39 healthy volunteers and 14 patients with urinary stress incontinence. The periurethral skin was stimulated by pencil electrode and the EMG activity of the external urethral sphincter was recorded by concentric needle electrode inserted into the sphincter. The external urethral sphincter basal activity was increased with periurethral skin stimulation. The reflex response was absent when the external urethral sphincter or the periurethral skin were anesthetized. The recording of the cutaneo-urethral reflex in 14 urinary stress incontinent patients showed absence of reflex in 4 patients and weak activity in 10. These results suggest a weak external urethral sphincter in stress incontinence. Together with the absent or weak straining urethral reflex, it is believed that urinary stress incontinence is due to weak external urethral sphincter contraction on coughing; intra-urethral pressure, on coughing, is not elevated enough to be above the intravesical pressure, with a resulting urinary leak. EMG recording of the urethral reflex may thus prove valuable in the diagnosis of control urinary disorders and can be included as an investigative tool in such disorders.
Validity of Transrectal Ultrasonography in the Early Diagnosis and Staging of Prostatic Cancer
Authors: Fini M. , Vagliani G. , Perrone A. , Salvi G. , Misuriello G. , Di Silverio A. , Milani M.
Published: October 2018

In 3 years of mass screening for early diagnosis of prostatic cancer, 57 tumors were found (57/5000, for a detection rate of 1.2%). Patients first underwent digital rectal examination (DRE): at present the least expensive, least invasive and most effective way to diagnose prostatic cancer. 420 men underwent transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) with a 5 MHz transverse and longitudinal transducer for pathological digital rectal findings, obstructive symptoms and other reasons. Prostatic biopsy was performed in 190 patients with DRE findings and/or hypoechoic zones of the prostatic gland (transrectal digitally directed or ultrasonically perineal guided biopsies). The specificity, sensitivity and prediction capacity of DRE and TRUS in this group of patients was evaluated. Sensitivity of DRE was 92%, specificity 42% (usual finding for mass screening); predictive positive value was 41 %, negative 93%. Sensitivity of TRUS was 77%, specificity 57%, predictive positive value was 44%, negative 86%. Data seem to confirm the ability of TRUS to reduce the number of “false positives” after DRE (and consequently the number of biopsies). However, contraindications for use in mass screenings are: sensitivity lower than with DRE, high false positive rate and prohibitive cost for systematic use. Validity of TRUS is confirmed in clinical staging for the selection of patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy, by comparison with local pathological staging.
Le complicanze della litotrissia extracorporea: Complications of ESWL
Authors: Serra V.
Published: October 2018

The frequency of ESWL complications is low, but is increasing with its application to large stones; with careful patient screening, the same measure of precaution and an attentive follow up, it is possible to reduce the consequences of complications.
Case histories
Authors: Invidiato F. , Ferro G. , Fiorello M. , Pizzarella M. , Ligato P. , Olfeni R. , Pegoraro V.
Published: October 2018

Two groups of patients have been chosen from our operating case histories (April '89 - December '91). They were subjected respectively to major and minor surgery. In the first group radical surgery of the kidney and of the bladder was considered while in the second group we examined the surgical and endoscopic treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy. The selected patients were subsequently subdivided according to age (under and above 75 years old) and according to the kind of operation.
Percutaneous needle aspiration and sclerotherapy with rolitetracycline in the treatment of hydrocele
Authors: De Siati M. , Grassi D. , Marzoli E , Franzolin N.
Published: October 2018

Thirty-one patients with unilateral or bilateral hydrocele were treated by percutaneous needle aspiration and subsequent sclerotherapy with rolitetracycline. Thirty patients were considered cured after a follow-up of one year. In 20 pts. the procedure proved to be definitive after the first sitting, in 6 cases the treatment was repeated twice and in 4 cases three times. Only in 1 a recurrence was observed after the third treatment. No complications related to the procedure were recorded.
Vaginal surgery in female urinary incontinence: Physiopathological concepts
Authors: Artibani W.
Published: October 2018

— The theoretical advantages and disadvantages of the vaginal approach for the treatment of female urinary incontinence are outlined on the basis of a literature review and personal experience. The need for a better understanding of the influence of the anatomy and function of the pelvic floor on the anatomy and function of the female bladder neck and urethra is highlighted. The main advantage of vaginal surgery is the simultaneous correction of anterior, central and posterior defects, restoring or preserving vesicourethral, sexual and rectoanal anatomy and function.
Usefulness of inferior mesenteric artery preservation in retroperitoneal lymph node dissection
Authors: Boccafoschi C. , Annoscia S. , Lozzi C. , Tiranti D.
Published: October 2018

— In stage II and III non-seminomatous germ-cell testis tumor, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection is generally advised, often associated with systemic chemotherapy. Most Authors report ligature and section of the inferior mesenteric artery without any complication. We reviewed some papers by Valdoni and co-workers about preservation and peeling of the afore-mentioned artery in colo-rectal radical surgery; such procedure is technically feasible and oncologically reliable and ensures good perfusion of the descending colon, especially in the case of vascular anomalies (accessory left colic flexure artery, mono- or bilateral absence of middle rectal artery). In fact those patients subjected to retroperitoneal lymph node dissection may request colonic resection in the future; therefore preservation of the inferior mesenteric artery may represent an example of surgical foresight.
Anterograde endoscopic management of proximal ureteric stones
Authors: Karsza A. , Szüle E. , Magasi P. , Heggagi M.A.
Published: October 2018

— The authors report on their experience gained in the percutaneous endoscopic treatment of 60 cases of stones in the upper ureter. The stones ranged in dimension from 12 to 15 mm. In 36 patients the push-back attempt was successful and after ultrasound crushing, the stones were removed percutaneously. After unsuccessful push-back in the other 24 patients, anterograde ureteroscopy was performed with crushing, using either Nd: YAG Pulsed Laser or electrohydraulic energy. Their experience shows that a combination of anterograde ureteroscopy and laser stone crushing is a reliable and efficient procedure for the treatment of impacted stones in the upper third of the ureter. In such cases laser crushing gives better results than the electrohydraulic procedure.
Penis Reconstruction with Cutaneous, Myocutaneous and Free Neurovascular Flaps
Authors: Crovella U. , Cocimano V.
Published: October 2018

Surgical techniques for the reconstruction of the penis are reported. Problems and difficulties still exist such as reconstruction of the neo-urethra and the possible occurrence of fistulas and/or stenosis; restoration of tactile and erogenous sensitivity; cosmetic and functional results; rejection of the functional endoprosthesis. Pros and cons connected with different techniques for the reconstruction of the penis, such as cutaneous, myocutaneous and free neurovascular flaps are examined. The use of skin-expanders for clitoris expansion gender transforming operations is considered and the results analysed.
The Problems of Prostheses
Authors: Perolino R. Marten , Cocimano V. , Pastorini S. , Pugno E.
Published: October 2018

The Authors describe in this work a surgical technique for constructing a penile prosthesis for transsexuals and for reconstructing the penis in patients submitted to post-neoplastic or post-traumatic surgery. This technique consists of 4 stages: in the first, a double-chamber prosthesis with inextensible sheath is placed; in the second and the third, the prosthesis is removed and covered with an abdominal flap after sub-cutaneous expansion; the fourth stage is for aesthetic retouches. The originality of this technique lies in the use of the inextensible sheath (of goretex or similar) and in the preparation of the flap in accordance with the abdominal angiosomes.
Perineal Urethrectomy for Transitional Urethral Tumours in Bladder Cancer Patients
Authors: De Carli P. , Marcellini M. , Fattahi H. , Mainiero G. , Ciammarughi B.M.
Published: October 2018

Transitional cell carcinoma is often multicentric in the urinary tract and urethral tumours are not infrequent in bladder cancer patients. The occurrence of urethral carcinoma is simultaneous or recurrent after radical cystectomy. The management of urethral neoplasms and results of 12 simultaneous and 10 post-cystectomy cases treated with perineal urethrectomy are reported. The Authors debate the role of primary and secondary surgical treatment and the perineal or prepubic technique. One case of urethral recurrence after orthotopic bladder substitution emphasizes that patients must be accurately evaluated to exclude urethral disease before cystoprostatectomy, and monitored for carcinoma of urethral remnant.
Physiochemical characterization and biological effect of anorganic bovine bone matrix and organic-containing bovine bone matrix in comparison with Bio-Oss in rabbits
Authors: Fan Yan-Pin , Lu Jian-Feng , Xu An-Tian , He Fu-Ming
Published: October 2018

Bovine origin matrix has been widely used in clinical applications and investigated by various research institutions. However, the potential factors that influence bone regeneration are still not thoroughly understood and need further investigations. In this study, bone regeneration properties of anorganic bovine bone matrix (ABBM), organic-containing bovine bone matrix (OBBM), and widely acknowledged anorganic bovine bone matrix (Bio-Oss) were compared. Besides, the correlations between physiochemical characterizations and bone regeneration properties of the three xenografts were also investigated. Physiochemical characterizations were measured by special instrumentations. In animal studies, the three xenografts were implanted into 8-mm-diameter cranial defects of 16 New Zealand white rabbits. The biological effects were evaluated by micro-computed tomography and histomorphometric analysis after 6 and 12 weeks of implantation. The physical characterizations showed that anorganic bovine bone matrix and Bio-Oss had more nanostructures, larger surface area, bigger pore volume, and bigger pore size than that of organic-containing bovine bone matrix. The chemical characterizations showed that anorganic bovine bone matrix and Bio-Oss had higher crystallinity than that of organic-containing bovine bone matrix, and organic-containing bovine bone matrix contained organic nitrogen (N) component. In vivo, anorganic bovine bone matrix and Bio-Oss possessed better bone regeneration properties than that of organic-containing bovine bone matrix. Taken together, nanostructures, larger surface area, bigger pore volume, and bigger pore size of xenografts played an active role in new bone formation. Besides, lower crystallinity and organic N element of xenografts produced a positive effect on graft degradation. The abovementioned findings could provide theoretical basis for better choice in clinical applications and better manufacturing hydroxyapatite-derived bone graft in the future.
Schools as Refuge? The Politics and Policy of Educating Refugees in Arizona
Authors: Koyama Jill , Chang Ethan
Published: October 2018

Despite the central role schools have played in the resettlement of refugees, we know little about how principals, teachers, parents, and staff at community-based organizations interpret and negotiate national immigration policy and state education policies. Combing critical discourse analysis (CDA) and actor-network theory (ANT), we capture how these actors work together and against each other to enact supports with regard to these newcomer students. Data includes a 36-month ethnography of refugee networks in Arizona. We argue that policies around English language acquisition and academic support further isolate refugee students and diminish their formal learning experiences in the United States.
Continuous Infusion Ampicillin for the Outpatient Management of Enterococcal Endocarditis: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Lewis Paul O. , Jones Abigail , Amodei Rachel J. , Youssef Dima
Published: October 2018

Treatment of enterococcal endocarditis requires up to 6 weeks of intravenous (IV) antimicrobial therapy. When susceptible, an ampicillin-based regimen is preferred. Studies evaluating ampicillin stability utilizing high-pressure liquid chromatography have indicated enhanced stability (greater than 24 hours at room temperature), supporting outpatient administration. Thus, we report the successful treatment of a 30-year-old male with tricuspid valve enterococcal endocarditis in an outpatient setting using continuous infusion ampicillin via an ambulatory infusion pump. The patient received daily gentamicin at an outpatient infusion center with the ampicillin dose to be infused over the next 24 hours. Outpatient ambulatory infusion pumps allow for delivery of ampicillin via continuous infusion or pump-programmed pulse dosing. Preparation and administration in an outpatient infusion center may be a viable option to circumvent stability and delivery issues. Furthermore, 81% (34/42) of treatment days were completed outpatient, supporting that this approach may increase access to treatment and help reduce the economic burden to health care.
Measuring impact through experimental design in entrepreneurship education: A literature review and research agenda
Authors: Longva Kjersti Kjos , Foss Lene
Published: October 2018

True experimental design and quasi-experimental design are considered to be rigorous research designs appropriate for assessing the impact of pedagogical interventions. This study explores the extent and application of experimental design in impact research on entrepreneurship education (EE) based on a systematic literature review. The findings reveal a substantial lack of methodologically rigorous studies on EE impact, which has severe implications for the accumulated knowledge on the subject. Furthermore, the article summarizes the findings from the body of experimental impact studies with a strong research design and concludes by indicating fruitful avenues for future research.
What Hippo and Grand Rapids Have to Say to Each Other
Authors: Gregory Eric
Published: October 2018

This essay situates James K. A. Smith’s Awaiting the King: Reforming Public Theology in the context of contemporary social criticism, Augustinian politics, and the cultural turn in religious ethics. While commending Smith’s liturgical ambitions and newfound appreciation for the democratic tradition, I raise critical questions pertaining to eschatology, war and nationhood, and the extent to which he overcomes familiar debates in Christian social ethics.
Holocene sea level and climate interactions on wet dune slack evolution in SW Portugal: A model for future scenarios?
Authors: Leira Manel , Freitas Maria C , Ferreira Tania , Cruces Anabela , Connor Simon , Andrade Cesar , Lopes Vera , Bao Roberto
Published: October 2018

We examine the Holocene environmental changes in a wet dune slack of the Portuguese coast, Poço do Barbarroxa de Baixo. Lithology, organic matter, biological proxies and high-resolution chronology provide estimations of sediment accumulation rates and changes in environmental conditions in relation to sea-level change and climate variability during the Holocene. Results show that the wet dune slack was formed 7.5 cal. ka BP, contemporaneous with the last stages of the rapid sea-level rise. This depositional environment formed under frequent freshwater flooding and water ponding that allowed the development and post-mortem accumulation of abundant plant remains. The wetland evolved into mostly palustrine conditions over the next 2000 years, until a phase of stabilization in relative sea-level rise, when sedimentation rates slowed down to 0.04 mm yr−1, between 5.3 and 2.5 cal. ka BP. Later, about 0.8 cal. ka BP, high-energy events, likely due to enhanced storminess and more frequent onshore winds, caused the collapse of the foredune above the wetlands’ seaward margin. The delicate balance between hydrology (controlled by sea-level rise and climate change), sediment supply and storminess modulates the habitat’s resilience and ecological stability. This underpins the relevance of integrating past records in coastal wet dune slacks management in a scenario of constant adaptation processes.
Assessing Graduate Sustainability Attributes Using a Vignette/Scenario Approach
Authors: Holdsworth Sarah , Thomas Ian , Sandri Orana
Published: October 2018

Equipping professionals with skills to make decisions in line with sustainability principles is essential for transitioning our societies towards sustainable development. Higher education is at the forefront of generating professionals with these skills. However, although sustainability has been included in many university graduate attribute statements, there exists little research on how graduates acknowledge and apply sustainability attributes in their workplace. This research project aimed to assess whether graduates of undergraduate programmes with sustainability attributes acknowledge and use sustainability capabilities after they have entered employment. The project developed a tool for assessing sustainability attribute uptake and application which took the form of a tested survey tool that uses a vignette/scenario-based question design to assess the level of attribute attainment. This tool was then tested on a graduate sample from the School of Property, Construction and Project Management at RMIT University, Australia. The project outcomes show promise for future applications of the scenario/vignette survey tool to provide educators with a feedback loop between curriculum design and pedagogy and professional application of course and programme learning outcomes. The purpose of this article is to present key results from the pilot and show how these can potentially be used in curriculum development and renewal to advance sustainability in higher education.
Globoid cell leukodystrophy (Krabbe disease) in a Merino sheep
Authors: Lee Effie , Fuller Maria , Carr Mandi , Manavis Jim , Finnie John
Published: October 2018

We describe the clinicopathologic features of an ovine case of Krabbe disease (globoid cell leukodystrophy). Brain lesions, sometimes bilaterally distributed, were present in the cerebellar peduncles, cerebellar folia white matter, medulla, pons, and spinal cord and characterized by marked myelin loss and numerous large macrophages (globoid cells), which tended to aggregate perivascularly. Gemistocytic astrocytes were abundant, and their nuclei were frequently abnormal. The activity of the deficient enzyme, galactosylceramide β-galactosidase, was undetectable in this neurologic disorder compared to age- and breed-matched control brains, and levels of the neurotoxic substrate, psychosine, were markedly elevated.
Simulation and optimization of overlapped iteration process with multi-coupled activities based on value analysis
Authors: Yin Fupeng , Gao Qi , Ji Xue
Published: October 2018

The appropriate iteration process model is the basis for managing and optimizing the product development process. In this article, we attempt to introduce the concept of process effectiveness and process value. The relationship between rework probability and process effectiveness is discussed. The evolution function of process effectiveness is proposed to drive the overlapped iteration process of multi-coupled activities. The evolution process with input information update is studied, and a simulation model is presented to obtain the accurate iteration process of development. It is useful to analyze the risks during development, and has good flexibility and versatility. The calculation method of process value for overlapped iteration process is given, and an optimization model for product development process is provided. The model is used to improve the development process of the stamping die of a car roof. With the model, we can get a suitable overlapping rate of multi-coupled activities to improve development performance.
Gender Differences in Violence and Other Human Rights Abuses Among Migrant Workers on the Thailand–Myanmar Border
Authors: Meyer Sarah R. , Robinson W. Courtland , Branchini Casey , Abshir Nada , Mar Aye Aye , Decker Michele R.
Published: October 2018

We describe human rights violations against migrant workers at the Thailand–Myanmar border, and evaluate differences by gender and industry. This mixed methods study pairs key informant interviews ( n = 40) with a cross-sectional quantitative survey of migrant workers from Myanmar ( n = 589) recruited via respondent-driven sampling. Key informants described significant hazards during migration, including deception, theft, and physical and sexual abuse, the latter primarily for women. Quantitative results confirmed prevalent mistreatment and abuse, with significant gender differences, most notably women’s disproportionate burden of sexual abuse. Current evidence on the nature of experiences, and significant differences by gender, can position prevention and response programming.
Opportunities for Identifying and Addressing Unhealthy Substance Use in Rural Communities: A Commentary on Cucciare et al (2017)
Authors: Cucciare Michael A , Scarbrough Catherine B
Published: October 2018

Unhealthy substance use is a public health problem facing rural communities across the United States. Unfortunately, numerous challenges including stigma, perceived need for care, and perceived accessibility of substance use treatment serve as barriers to many rural adults using substances in obtaining the care they need. It is therefore important to examine whether accessing health care options other than substance use treatment is associated with improved substance use. In a recent study published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, we explored whether use of outpatient medical care (OMC) was associated with reductions in substance use among rural stimulant users over a 3-year period. Overall, the results showed that, among rural adults using stimulants, those with at least one OMC visit had fewer days of alcohol, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine use over time. However, most participants reported not having any use of an OMC over the 3-year period, suggesting the need for identifying innovative opportunities to provide substance use help for persons living in rural settings. In this commentary, we discuss opportunities for detecting and addressing unhealthy substance use in retail clinics, via clergy and pharmacists.
Smoking during pregnancy in Finland – Trends in the MATEX cohort
Authors: Rumrich Isabell K. , Vähäkangas Kirsi , Viluksela Matti , Gissler Mika , Surcel Heljä-Marja , Korhonen Antti , De Ruyter Hanna , Hänninen Otto
Published: October 2018

Aims: In Finland, smoking rates in the general population are decreasing due to increased awareness of the adverse effects and tightened tobacco legislation. However, previous studies have shown that smoking in pregnant Finnish women remained as high as in the general Finnish female population at around 15% in 2010. Our aim was to describe temporal and spatial trends in smoking behaviour, and determinants of changes in smoking behaviour between first and second pregnancy. Methods: Self-reported smoking from the Finnish Medical Birth Register covered the years 1991–2015 ( N=1,435,009). The association of maternal age and socioeconomic status with smoking rate was analysed. Spatial trends were assessed at municipality level. Results: The overall smoking rate during early pregnancy remained fairly stable at around 15% from 1991 to 2015, but increased in teenage and young women below 25 years of age. The mean smoking rate (36%) was higher in these age groups than in older pregnant women (11%). Through the study period the smoking rate remained higher in blue collar workers compared with higher socioeconomic groups. Between the first and second child, on average only 4% of women started to smoke and 41% quitted. Smoking rates developed less favourably in Eastern Finland. Conclusions: The observed increase in smoking rate during pregnancy in teenage and young women is concerning. Pregnancy is a trigger point for smoking cessation in a big fraction of pregnant women. More studies are needed to explain the opposite trends of smoking rates in Northern and Western Finland compared with Eastern Finland.
Associations of partnering transition and socioeconomic status with a four-year change in daily steps among Finnish adults
Authors: Salin Kasper , Hirvensalo Mirja , Kankaanpää Anna , Magnussen Costan G. , Yang Xiaolin , Hutri-Kähönen Nina , Viikari Jorma , Raitakari Olli T. , Telama Risto , Tammelin Tuija H.
Published: October 2018

Aim: The aim of this prospective four-year follow-up study was to examine how socioeconomic status (SES) and change in marital status are associated with the change in pedometer-measured physical activity (PA) in adulthood among participants in the ‘Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study’. Methods: Questionnaires were completed and pedometers worn at baseline in 2007 and again at follow-up in 2011 by 1051 Finnish adults (62.3% female, aged 30–45 years in 2007). A latent change score model was used to examine mean change in daily total steps, aerobic steps and non-aerobic steps during weekdays and weekend days between 2007 and 2011. Results: In women re-coupling or finding a new partner was associated with decrease in total steps ( p=0.010) and being single was associated with increase in non-aerobic steps ( p=0.047) during weekdays from 2007 to 2011 compared to women who were married. In men, divorcing was associated with decrease in non-aerobic steps ( p=0.049). Conclusions: In order to promote PA in the general population of adults, it is recommended to pay attention to people with lower SES and those who have had changes in their marital status. These factors could be taken into account when developing strategies to promote PA among the adult population.
Psychiatric stressor recognition from clinical notes to reveal association with suicide
Authors: Zhang Yaoyun , Zhang Olivia R , Li Rui , Flores Aaron , Selek Salih , Zhang Xiang Y , Xu Hua
Published: October 2018

Suicide takes the lives of nearly a million people each year and it is a tremendous economic burden globally. One important type of suicide risk factor is psychiatric stress. Prior studies mainly use survey data to investigate the association between suicide and stressors. Very few studies have investigated stressor data in electronic health records, mostly due to the data being recorded in narrative text. This study takes the initiative to automatically extract and classify psychiatric stressors from clinical text using natural language processing–based methods. Suicidal behaviors were also identified by keywords. Then, a statistical association analysis between suicide ideations/attempts and stressors extracted from a clinical corpus is conducted. Experimental results show that our natural language processing method could recognize stressor entities with an F-measure of 89.01 percent. Mentions of suicidal behaviors were identified with an F-measure of 97.3 percent. The top three significant stressors associated with suicide are health, pressure, and death, which are similar to previous studies. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using natural language processing approaches to unlock information from psychiatric notes in electronic health record, to facilitate large-scale studies about associations between suicide and psychiatric stressors.
‘Mitori’ practices at a Japanese Hospital: Interactional analysis of the processes of death and dying in Japan
Authors: Kawashima Michie
Published: October 2018

Using 20 video recordings of Emergency Room treatment and over 5 years of Emergency Room fieldwork data, this study elucidates how interactional processes serve as resources for generating a cultural script of death in Japan called ‘Mitori’. A sudden death at a hospital, in which a patient is removed from their social network, is often considered as the opposite of a ‘good home death’. This study shows how hospital deaths in Japan are strongly interrelated with family participation. After showing the point where medical professionals decide to terminate resuscitation attempts, the analysis depicts interactional steps that shift the definition of environment from a place for treatment toward a place where ‘Mitori’ occurs; that is, a family encounter occurs with a dying patient. Conversation between a doctor and a family member consists of a step-by-step evidence- building story. The final section displays both conversational and physical resources used to establish ‘Mitori’.
It is in the numbers: How market orientation impacts journalists’ use of news metrics
Authors: Ferrucci Patrick
Published: October 2018

This study examines how market orientation affects the use of web analytics in newsrooms. The researcher conducted 57 in-depth interviews with journalists working full time in United States-based news organizations. These organizations varied by market orientation: strongly market oriented, somewhat strongly market oriented, somewhat weakly market oriented, and weakly market oriented. Using market theory for news production as a framework, this study found that prior research correctly identified how newsrooms utilize analytics, but did not necessarily illustrate the nuances in how organizations utilized analytics differently depending on market orientation. Finally, the piece extends and discusses the utility of market theory for news production.
Empathetic Leadership: How Leader Emotional Support and Understanding Influences Follower Performance
Authors: Kock Ned , Mayfield Milton , Mayfield Jacqueline , Sexton Shaun , De La Garza Lina M.
Published: October 2018

This article presents a theory of empathetic leadership and its initial test. Empathetic leadership provides a model of how leader understanding and support improves follower behaviors and affective states. For this article, we explored the link between empathetic leadership and follower performance. Specifically, we tested the causal processes by which empathetic language influences follower performance. These processes include follower job satisfaction and innovation. Findings support model hypotheses and provide preliminary causal support for the model.
EADetection: An efficient and accurate sequential behavior anomaly detection approach over data streams
Authors: Cheng Li , Wang Yijie , Zhou Yong , Ma Xingkong
Published: October 2018

Due to the increasing arriving rate and complex relationship of behavior data streams, how to detect sequential behavior anomaly in an efficient and accurate manner has become an emerging challenge. However, most of the existing literature simply calculates the anomaly score for segmented sequence, and there is limited work going deep to investigate data stream segment and structural relationship. Moreover, existing studies cannot meet efficiency requirements because of large number of projected subsequences. In this article, we propose EADetection, an efficient and accurate sequential behavior anomaly detection approach over data streams. EADetection adopts time interval and fuzzy logic–based correlation to segment event stream adaptively based on rolling window. Through dynamic projection space–based fast pruning, large number of repeated patterns are reduced to improve detection efficiency. Meanwhile, EADetection calculates the anomaly score by top-k pattern–based abnormal scoring based on directed loop graph–based storage strategy, which ensures the accuracy of detection. Specially, we design and implement a streaming anomaly detection system based on EADetection to perform real-time detection. Extensive experiments confirm that EADetection can achieve real time and improve accuracy, significantly reduces latency by 36.8% and reduces false positive rate by 6.4% compared with existing approach.
Fine-grained wireless propagation ambience sensing
Authors: Jing Nan , Sun Yu , Wang Lin , Shan Jinxin
Published: October 2018

The ubiquitous wireless network infrastructure and the need of people’s indoor sensing inspire the work leveraging wireless signal into broad spectrum for indoor applications, including indoor localization, human–computer interaction, and activity recognition. To provide an accurate model selection or feature template, these applications take the system reliability of the signal in line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight propagation into account. Unfortunately, these two types of signal propagation are analyzed in static or mobile scenario separately. Our question is how to use the wireless signal to estimate the signal propagation ambience to facilitate the adaptive complex environment? In this paper, we exploit the Fresnel zone theory and channel state information (CSI) to model the static and mobile ambience detectors. Considering the spatiotemporal correlation of indoor activities, the propagation ambience can be divided into three categories: line-of-sight (LOS), non-line-of-sight (NLOS), and semi-line-of-sight (SLOS), which is used to represent the intermediate state between the LOS and NLOS propagation ambience during user movement. Leveraging the hidden Markov model to estimate the dynamic propagation ambience in the mobile environment, a novel propagation ambience identification method, named Ambience Sensor (Asor), is proposed to improve the real-time performance for the upper applications. Furthermore, Asor is integrated into a localization algorithm, Asor-based localization system (Aloc), to confirm the effectiveness. We prototype Asor and Aloc based on commodity WiFi infrastructure without any hardware modification. In addition, the real-time performance of Asor is evaluated by conducting tracking experiments. The experimental results show that the median detection rate of propagation ambience is superior to the existing methods in absence of any a priori hypothesis of static or mobile scenarios.
A novel optical network model for network burden release and congestion reduction based on passive optical network
Authors: Li He , Yin Hongxi , Lin Shanshan
Published: October 2018

In this article, a new optical network structure coping with network congestion is proposed, which is based on passive optical network, and adopts data storage devices coupled with optical line terminal to release network burden. It is shown by our network performance simulation that this network has many merits such as free-scale, fewer connections, larger clustering coefficient, and smaller average shortest path length in comparison to the passive optical network. The novel network structure can replace the far-end service connections with the near-end ones, reduce congestions in an optical network, and, furthermore, relieve traffic burden in optical backbone and metropolitan area networks.
Expression of Nerve Injury-Induced Protein1 (Ninj1) in Endometriosis
Authors: Miyashita Mariko , Koga Kaori , Takeuchi Arisa , Makabe Tomoko , Taguchi Ayumi , Urata Yoko , Izumi Gentaro , Takamura Masashi , Harada Miyuki , Hirata Tetsuya , Hirota Yasushi , Wada-Hiraike Osamu , Yoshino Osamu , Fujii Tomoyuki , Osuga Yutaka
Published: October 2018

Objective:

The aim of this study was to clarify the expression of Ninj1 in endometriosis and adenomyosis lesions, and its inductive factor in human endometriotic stromal cells (ESCs).

Background:

Nerve injury-induced protein 1 (Ninj1) is a molecule originally identified in dorsal root ganglion neurons and Schwann cells after nerve injury and promotes neurite outgrowth. The aim of this study was to clarify the expression of Ninj1 in endometriosis and adenomyosis lesions, and its inductive factor in human endometriotic stromal cells (ESCs).

Materials and Methods:

Tissues were obtained with consent from patients diagnosed with ovarian endometrioma (n = 15 in total), peritoneal endometriosis (n = 5), adenomyosis (n = 5), and other gynecological disorders (n = 5, control) during surgery. Immunohistochemistry was conducted in order to detect Ninj1 protein expression in the lesion of endometriosis, adenomyosis, and eutopic endometrium. Nerve fibers in the ovarian endometrioma were detected by positive staining of PGP-9.5. To evaluate the effects of IL-1β on Ninj1 gene expression in endometriosis, ESCs isolated from ovarian endometrioma (n = 5) were treated with IL-1β (5 ng/mL) for 3 or 6 hours. Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression for Ninj1 was examined using quantitative RT-PCR.

Results:

The Ninj1 protein was expressed by ovarian endometrioma, peritoneal endometriotic, and adenomyotic tissue. Nerve fibers were found in the areas of positive staining for Ninj1 in ovarian endometrioma. IL-1β, an indicator of inflammation in endometriosis, significantly increased Ninj1 mRNA expression by ESC.

Conclusion:

Our study demonstrates that Ninj1 is expressed in endometriosis and adenomyosis and is induced by the inflammatory stimuli. Given the neurogenetic property of Ninj1, our results imply that Ninj1, induced by inflammation in endometriosis lesion, may contribute to the pathogenesis of pain symptoms characteristic of endometriosis.
Contrast-Enhanced MRI Evaluation of Bone–Patellar Tendon–Bone and Hamstring ACL Autograft Healing in Humans: A Prospective Randomized Study
Authors: Covey Dana Curtis , Sandoval Korina Erin , Riffenburgh Robert H.
Published: October 2018

Background:

Gadopentetate dimeglumine–enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or gadolinium-enhanced MRI, was used to prospectively study the postoperative course of bone–patellar tendon–bone (BPTB) and combined semitendinosus and gracilis (STG) tendon autografts following arthroscopically assisted reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in humans. Gadopentetate dimeglumine is a contrast agent that has been shown to enhance the signal of vascularized tissue when examined by MRI.

Purpose:

To prospectively determine and compare the pattern and timing of autograft revascularization following arthroscopically assisted ACL reconstruction by BPTB or STG autografts.

Study Design:

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods:

A total of 73 patients (63 males, 10 females) with ACL tears who were scheduled to undergo reconstruction consented to participate in this study. The patients were randomized to receive arthroscopically assisted reconstruction of the ACL employing either BPTB or STG autografts. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI scans were scheduled at 3-month intervals during the first postoperative year to assess the integrity, timing, and pattern of enhancement of the ACL graft. The temporal sequence and morphologic characteristics of imaged signals were compared for both types of ACL reconstructions.

Results:

Based on all knees with 1 exception, there were no statistically significant differences in gadopentetate dimeglumine–mediated graft enhancement grade observed between BPTB and STG autografts.

Conclusion:

The results suggest that autograft revascularization probably varies in intensity and location during the time course of graft healing. The interval signal changes observed 3 to 9 months, but especially 6 to 9 months, postoperatively are due to increased contrast uptake as a reflection of ongoing neovascularization during the process of ligamentization.