bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Better Collaterals Are Independently Associated With Post-Thrombolysis Recanalization Before Thrombectomy
Authors: Seners Pierre , Roca Pauline , Legrand Laurence , Turc Guillaume , Cottier Jean-Philippe , Cho Tae-Hee , Arquizan Caroline , Bracard Serge , Ozsancak Canan , Ben Hassen Wagih , Naggara Olivier , Lion Stéphanie , Debiais Séverine , Berthezene Yves , Costalat Vincent , Richard Sébastien , Magni Christophe , Mas Jean-Louis , Baron Jean-Claude , Oppenheim Catherine
Published: March 2019

Background and Purpose—

In acute stroke patients with large vessel occlusion, the goal of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is to achieve early recanalization (ER). Apart from occlusion site and thrombus length, predictors of early post-IVT recanalization are poorly known. Better collaterals might also facilitate ER, for instance, by improving delivery of the thrombolytic agent to both ends of the thrombus. In this proof-of-concept study, we tested the hypothesis that good collaterals independently predict post-IVT recanalization before thrombectomy.

Methods—

Patients from the registries of 6 French stroke centers with the following criteria were included: (1) acute stroke with large vessel occlusion treated with IVT and referred for thrombectomy between May 2015 and March 2017; (2) pre-IVT brain magnetic resonance imaging, including diffusion-weighted imaging, T2*, MR angiography, and dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion-weighted imaging; and (3) ER evaluated ≤3 hours from IVT start on either first angiographic run or noninvasive imaging. A collateral flow map derived from perfusion-weighted imaging source data was automatically generated, replicating a previously validated method. Thrombus length was measured on T2*-based susceptibility vessel sign.

Results—

Of 224 eligible patients, 37 (16%) experienced ER. ER occurred in 10 of 83 (12%), 17 of 116 (15%), and 10 of 25 (40%) patients with poor/moderate, good, and excellent collaterals, respectively. In multivariable analysis, better collaterals were independently associated with ER (
P
=0.029), together with shorter thrombus (
P
<0.001) and more distal occlusion site (
P
=0.010).

Conclusions—

In our sample of patients with stroke imaged with perfusion-weighted imaging before IVT and intended for thrombectomy, better collaterals were independently associated with post-IVT recanalization, supporting our hypothesis. These findings strengthen the idea that advanced imaging may play a key role for personalized medicine in identifying patients with large vessel occlusion most likely to benefit from IVT in the thrombectomy era.
Neo-Mandaic in Early Mandaean Colophons. Part 2: Texts, Translations and Conclusion
Authors: Morgenstern Matthew
Published: March 2019

The first part of this article examined the features that distinguish the language of the earliest Mandaean colophons from Classical Mandaic and demonstrated that many of these features are shared with the contemporary Neo-Mandaic dialects recorded in the research literature since the 20th century. Part 2 presents editions and translations of the source texts with some brief philological notes and seeks to identify the origins of the linguistic innovations.
Weighted Visual and Vestibular Cues for Spatial Updating During Passive Self-Motion
Authors: Koppen Mathieu , ter Horst Arjan C. , Medendorp W. Pieter
Published: March 2019

When walking or driving, it is of the utmost importance to continuously track the spatial relationship between objects in the environment and the moving body in order to prevent collisions. Although this process of spatial updating occurs naturally, it involves the processing of a myriad of noisy and ambiguous sensory signals. Here, using a psychometric approach, we investigated the integration of visual optic flow and vestibular cues in spatially updating a remembered target position during a linear displacement of the body. Participants were seated on a linear sled, immersed in a stereoscopic virtual reality environment. They had to remember the position of a target, briefly presented before a sideward translation of the body involving supra-threshold vestibular cues and whole-field optic flow that provided slightly discrepant motion information. After the motion, using a forced response participants indicated whether the location of a brief visual probe was left or right of the remembered target position. Our results show that in a spatial updating task involving passive linear self-motion humans integrate optic flow and vestibular self-displacement information according to a weighted-averaging process with, across subjects, on average about four times as much weight assigned to the visual compared to the vestibular contribution (i.e., 79% visual weight). We discuss our findings with respect to previous literature on the effect of optic flow on spatial updating performance.
A “mille-feuilles” of stress tolerance in the desert plant Zygophyllum dumosum Boiss.: Highlighting epigenetics
Authors: Grafi Gideon
Published: March 2019

Plants thriving in harsh desert environments provide a suitable bio-system for unraveling novel mechanisms for survival under seasonal climate change and combination of temperature extremes, low water and nutrient availability and high salinity and radiation levels. The study of the desert plant Zygophyllum dumosum Boiss in its the natural habitat of the Negev desert revealed that stress tolerance is achieved by a plethora of mechanisms (e.g. morphological, molecular and developmental mechanisms), which are probably regulated by multiple genes that act together to bring about tolerance. Of particular interest is the finding that Z. dumosum like other Zygophyllaceae species, most of which inhabit dry and semidry regions of the world, do not possess the repressive epigenetic markers of histone H3 di- and tri-methylated at lysine 9; yet they possess mono methyl H3K9. We discuss the adaptive value of lessening epigenetic constraints with regard to the opportunistic behavior that makes plants most adaptable to change.
Muscari fatmacereniae (Asparagaceae, Scilloideae), a new species from southern Anatolia
Authors: EKER İSMAİL
Published: March 2019

A new species, Muscari fatmacereniae Eker sp. nov. (Asparagaceae), is described from Turkey. The diagnostic characters, description, detailed illustration, original photographs and geographical distribution of the new species are given. The conservation assessment, observations and taxonomic comments on the new species are also presented. The new species is compared with the closely related species M. armeniacum and M. botryoides.
Dimensions of personal meaning from engagement in occupations: A metasynthesis
Authors: Roberts Anne E. K. , Bannigan Katrina
Published: March 2019

Background.

Occupational scientists have offered various theoretical propositions regarding the dimensions of meaning derived from engagement in occupations, and empirical studies have explored the personal meaning of engaging in a wide range of occupations.

Purpose.

The study aimed to distil the dimensions of personal meaning from existing research, with a view to informing theory in this area.

Method.

A qualitative metasynthesis of research studies was conducted, focusing on research reporting individuals’ accounts of the personal meaning of an occupation to them. Twenty papers met the search criteria and were reviewed, rated for quality, analyzed, and synthesized following a process of meta-aggregation.

Findings.

There were four common dimensions of personal meaning: a sense of fulfilment; a sense of restoration; social, cultural, and intergenerational connection; and identity shaping.

Implications.

This review provides occupational therapists with sound evidence of the link between engagement in a meaningful occupation and a sense of personal and social well-being.
Self-perceived occupational performance of community-dwelling adults living with stroke
Authors: Jaber Ala’a F. , Sabata Dory , Radel Jeff D.
Published: March 2019

Background.

Stroke has long-term consequences for functional performance of daily activities. Evaluating client-perceived occupational performance provides insight for designing stroke-specific programs supporting home and community participation.

Purpose.

This study describes the personal characteristics and self-perceived occupational performance in community-dwelling adults with stroke.

Method.

A retrospective chart review was undertaken of 25 stroke survivors who sought services at a community-based centre. The outcome measures were the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) to evaluate self-perceived occupational performance and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to screen for cognitive impairment. The analysis used descriptive statistics.

Findings.

Mean participant age was 64 years, and most participants were Caucasian males (72%). The mean cognitive function score was 22.1 on MoCA, and the mean COPM performance and satisfaction subscores were 4.1 and 3.9, respectively. The top three challenging daily activities were driving, seeking employment, and functional mobility.

Implications.

Stroke-specific community programs should emphasize the diverse performance concerns important to stroke survivors.
Relationship between body functions and Arabic handwriting performance at different acquisition stages
Authors: Salameh-Matar Abeer , Basal Naser , Weintraub Naomi
Published: March 2019

Background.

The written languages and handwriting acquisition stages place different demands on the writer. Therefore, the relationship between body functions and handwriting performance may vary in different languages and acquisition stages; yet these demands have not been studied in the Arabic language.

Purpose.

We examined the relationship between linguistic, visual-motor integration (VMI), and motor coordination (MC) functions and Arabic handwriting at two handwriting acquisition stages.

Method.

This study used a cross-sectional and correlative design. Second- ( n = 54) and fourth-grade ( n = 59) students performed tasks examining reading, handwriting automaticity, VMI, MC, and copying a text.

Findings.

Handwriting automaticity significantly explained the variance in handwriting speed in both grades, in addition to the VMI in second grade and the MC in fourth grade. Enhanced performance in the VMI increased the likelihood of having good legibility in second but not in fourth grade.

Implications.

Similar to other languages, the body functions related to Arabic handwriting vary at the different acquisition stages. Handwriting evaluation should be adjusted to students’ acquisition stage.
The Role of Attentional Control in the Relationship Between Mindfulness and Anxiety
Authors: MacDonald Helen Z. , Olsen Anna
Published: March 2019

Mindfulness has been robustly associated with psychological health, predicting greater well-being, and lower levels of anxiety, depression, and stress across samples. Attentional control is the ability to voluntarily shift, focus, and train one’s attention and has also been linked with better psychological functioning. Less well-understood, however, are which domains of mindfulness may be associated with particular aspects of mental health, including anxiety, and whether attentional control may help to explain the relationship between specific facets of mindfulness and anxiety. This study examined self-reported shifting and focusing attentional control as mediators of the relationships between five domains of dispositional mindfulness (i.e., observing, describing, acting with awareness, nonjudging, and nonreacting) and symptoms of anxiety. Two hundred and eighty-six college students completed self-report questionnaires measuring dispositional mindfulness, attentional control, and symptoms of anxiety. Using mediation analyses, findings revealed an indirect effect of two facets of mindfulness on anxiety through focusing attentional control after controlling for shifting attentional control. These findings suggest that specific mindfulness skills are related to better attentional control skills, and that focusing attentional control may then protect against anxiety symptoms in college students. These results have critical implications for college students, who are experiencing anxiety and stress at increasing levels.
Acquired heart disease in children is not necessarily rheumatic
Authors: Agarwal Neha , Taneja Sunil
Published: March 2019

Acquired heart diseases (AHD) cause significant morbidity and mortality in children. There are limited studies on their burden in children. We conducted a retrospective study of 85 consecutive children diagnosed with AHD using clinical evaluation and echocardiography at Medical College, Kanpur, India to determine the aetiology and outcome of AHD in children. We found rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in one-third, cardiomyopathies or myocarditis combined in a further third and the remaining third were other causes, including pericardial diseases and metabolic or genetic disorders. These latter diseases were frequently misdiagnosed, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Hence, in children of all age groups presenting with unexplained shock, dyspnoea, hepatomegaly and ascites, cardiac status should be carefully and critically evaluated so that non-rheumatic AHD may not be missed.
Concepts of democracy in democratic and nondemocratic countries
Authors: Zagrebina Anna
Published: March 2019

Democratic experience constitutes an essential part of people’s world view and affects their understanding of democracy. This statement is confirmed by evidence from the World Values Survey (WVS) showing that the concept of democracy among citizens differs in democratic and nondemocratic societies. Democratic citizens associate democracy principally with gender equality, while people in nondemocratic countries associate it more strongly with a prospering economy and social control. People in democratic countries are also less likely to associate democracy with army rule and the intervention of religious authorities in political life than people in nondemocratic countries.
Speaking on Data’s Behalf: What Researchers Say and How Audiences Choose
Authors: Chandler Jesse J. , Martinez Ignacio , Finucane Mariel M. , Terziev Jeffrey G. , Resch Alexandra M.
Published: March 2019

Background:

Bayesian statistics have become popular in the social sciences, in part because they are thought to present more useful information than traditional frequentist statistics. Unfortunately, little is known about whether or how interpretations of frequentist and Bayesian results differ.

Objectives:

We test whether presenting Bayesian or frequentist results based on the same underlying data influences the decisions people made.

Research design:

Participants were randomly assigned to read Bayesian and frequentist interpretations of hypothetical evaluations of new education technologies of various degrees of uncertainty, ranging from posterior probabilities of 99.8% to 52.9%, which have equivalent frequentist p values of .001 and .65, respectively.

Subjects:

Across three studies, 933 U.S. adults were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk.

Measures:

The primary outcome was the proportion of participants who recommended adopting the new technology. We also measured respondents’ certainty in their choice and (in Study 3) how easy it was to understand the results.

Results:

When presented with Bayesian results, participants were more likely to recommend switching to the new technology. This finding held across all degrees of uncertainty, but especially when the frequentist results reported a p value >.05. Those who recommended change based on Bayesian results were more certain about their choice. All respondents reported that the Bayesian display was easier to understand.

Conclusions:

Presenting the same data in either frequentist or Bayesian terms can influence the decisions that people make. This finding highlights the importance of understanding the impact of the statistical results on how audiences interpret evaluation results.
Continuous monitoring of membrane lung carbon dioxide removal during ECMO: experimental testing of a new volumetric capnometer
Authors: Montalti Alice , Belliato Mirko , Gelsomino Sandro , Nalon Sandro , Matteucci Francesco , Parise Orlando , de Jong Monique , Makhoul Maged , Johnson Daniel M , Lorusso Roberto
Published: March 2019

Background:

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation constitutes a complex support modality, and accurate monitoring is required. An ideal monitoring system should promptly detect ECMO malfunctions and provide real-time information to optimize the patient–machine interactions. We tested a new volumetric capnometer which enables continuous monitoring of membrane lung carbon dioxide removal (V′CO2ML), to help in estimating the oxygenator performance, in terms of CO2 removal and oxygenator dead space (VDsML).

Methods:

This study was conducted on nine pigs undergoing veno-arterial ECMO due to cardiogenic shock after induced acute myocardial infarction. The accuracy and reliability of the prototype of the volumetric capnometer (CO2RESET™, by Eurosets srl, Medolla, Italy) device was evaluated for V′CO2ML and VDsML measurements by comparing the obtained measurements from the new device to a control capnometer with the sweep gas values. Measurements were taken at five different levels of gas flow/blood flow ratio (0.5-1.5). Agreement between the corresponding measurements was taken with the two methods. We expected that 95% of differences were between d − 1.96s and d + 1.96s.

Results:

In all, 120 coupled measurements from each device were obtained for the V′CO2ML calculation and 40 for the VDsML. The new capnometer mean percentage bias (95% confidence interval limits of agreement) was 3.86% (12.07-4.35%) for V′CO2ML and 2.62% (8.96-14.20%) for VDsML. A negative proportional bias for V′CO2ML estimation with the new device was observed with a mean of 3.86% (12.07-4.35%). No correlations were found between differences in the coupled V′CO2ML and VDsML measurements and the gas flow/blood flow ratio or temperature. Coupled measurements for V′CO2ML showed strong correlation (rs = 0.991; p = 0.0005), as did VDsML calculations (rs = 0.973; p = 0.0005).

Conclusion:

The volumetric capnometer is reliable for continuous monitoring of CO2 removal by membrane lung and VDsML calculations. Further studies are necessary to confirm these data.
The post-cardiac arrest syndrome: A case for lung–brain coupling and opportunities for neuroprotection
Authors: Mai Nguyen , Miller-Rhodes Kathleen , Knowlden Sara , Halterman Marc W
Published: March 2019

Systemic inflammation and multi-organ failure represent hallmarks of the post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS) and predict severe neurological injury and often fatal outcomes. Current interventions for cardiac arrest focus on the reversal of precipitating cardiac pathologies and the implementation of supportive measures with the goal of limiting damage to at-risk tissue. Despite the widespread use of targeted temperature management, there remain no proven approaches to manage reperfusion injury in the period following the return of spontaneous circulation. Recent evidence has implicated the lung as a moderator of systemic inflammation following remote somatic injury in part through effects on innate immune priming. In this review, we explore concepts related to lung-dependent innate immune priming and its potential role in PCAS. Specifically, we propose and investigate the conceptual model of lung–brain coupling drawing from the broader literature connecting tissue damage and acute lung injury with cerebral reperfusion injury. Subsequently, we consider the role that interventions designed to short-circuit lung-dependent immune priming might play in improving patient outcomes following cardiac arrest and possibly other acute neurological injuries.
Effect of Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound After Autologous Adipose-Derived Stromal Cell Transplantation for Bone-Tendon Healing in a Rabbit Model
Authors: Chen Can , Zhang Tao , Liu Fei , Qu Jin , Chen Yang , Fan Silong , Chen Huabin , Sun Lunquan , Zhao Chunfeng , Hu Jianzhong , Lu Hongbin
Published: March 2019

Background:

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), as a safe biophysiotherapy, can enhance bone-tendon (B-T) healing in vivo and induce osteogenic or chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells in vitro. This study aimed to determine whether LIPUS can improve the efficacy of transplanted mesenchymal stromal cells on B-T healing.

Hypothesis:

LIPUS can induce lineage-specific differentiation of transplanted adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) at the B-T healing site, thus resulting in superior healing quality when compared with LIPUS or ASCs alone.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

A total of 112 mature rabbits with partial patellectomy in the hindlimb were randomly assigned into mock sonication without ASCs (control), ultrasonication without ASCs (LIPUS), mock sonication with ASCs (ASCs), and ultrasonication with ASCs (LIPUS + ASCs). The treatment time of the mock sonication or ultrasonication was 20 minutes per day. Autologous ASCs were transplanted to the healing site by fibrin glue during the operation, and LIPUS was delivered daily starting at postoperative day 3 until euthanasia. The patella–patellar tendon junctions were postoperatively harvested at 8 and 16 weeks for radiological, histological, and mechanical evaluations. Additionally, 9 animals were used for ASC tracking with mCherry protein.

Results:

Radiologically, there was more new bone formation and remodeling in the LIPUS + ASCs group as compared with the other groups. Synchrotron radiation micro–computed tomography showed that the LIPUS + ASCs group significantly increased bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness, and trabecular number at the healing site as compared with the other groups at postoperative 8 weeks ( P < .05 for all). Histologically, immunohistochemical staining confirmed that the transplanted mCherry-ASCs can differentiate into osteoblasts and fibrochondrocytic-like cells. Meanwhile, as compared with the other groups, the LIPUS + ASCs group showed more formation and maturity of the fibrocartilage layer and new bone at postoperative weeks 8 and 16 ( P < .05 for all). Biomechanically, the LIPUS + ASCs group showed significantly higher failure load and stiffness versus the other groups at postoperative weeks 8 and 16 ( P < .05 for all).

Conclusion:

Autologous ASC transplantation stimulated with LIPUS can result in superior B-T healing quality when compared with LIPUS or ASCs alone.

Clinical Relevance:

This study demonstrates the effectiveness of using ASC transplantation stimulated with LIPUS for B-T healing and provides a foundation for future clinical studies.
Aβ1-42 increases the expression of neural KATP subunits Kir6.2/SUR1 via the NF-κB, p38 MAPK and PKC signal pathways in rat primary cholinergic neurons
Authors: Li Y , Ba M , Du Y , Xia C , Tan S , Ng KP , Ma G
Published: March 2019

ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP) may mediate a potential neuroprotective role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Given that exposure to Aβ1-42 in cultured primary cholinergic neurons for 72 h significantly upregulates the expression of KATP subunits Kir6.2/SUR1, we aim to study the underlying signal transduction mechanisms that are involved in Aβ1–42-induced upregulation of KATP subunits Kir6.2/SUR1. In the present study, we first identified the primary cultured rat cortical and hippocampal neurons using immunocytochemistry. 0.5 μM NF-κB inhibitor SN-50, 2 μM p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 or 2 μM PKC inhibitor Chelerythrine chloride (CTC) were then added in three separate groups, followed by 2 μM Aβ1–42 30 min later in all 3 groups. Western Blot was performed 72 h later to detect the expression of KATP subunits Kir6.2/SUR1. We found that Aβ1–42 significantly increased the level of KATP subunits Kir6.2/SUR1 expression at 72 h when compared with the control group ( p < 0.05). However, when compared with the Aβ1–42 group, the level of KATP subunits Kir6.2/SUR1 expression at 72 h significantly decreased in the SN50 + Aβ1–42 group, SB203580 + Aβ1–42 group, and the CTC + Aβ1–42 group ( p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that the NF-κB, p38 MAPK, and PKC signal pathways are partially involved in the upregulation of KATP subunits Kir6.2/SUR1 expression induced by Aβ1–42 cytotoxicity in neurons, which supports a potential theoretical basis of targeting these signal pathways in the treatment of AD.
A Qualitative Study of Independent Home Visits by Hospice Fellows: Addressing Gaps in ACGME Milestones by Fostering Reflection and Self-Assessment
Authors: Samala Renato V. , Hoeksema Laura J. , Colbert Colleen Y.
Published: March 2019

Background:

With the rapid growth in the number of fellowship programs in Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM), many are in the process of developing ways to demonstrate that fellows are attaining educational milestones. Reflection and self-assessment are key components of 2 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) competencies, practice-based learning and improvement, and systems-based practice, which have both been historically challenging to learn and assess.

Objective:

This article describes results of a content analysis of narrative data collected from HPM fellows’ self-assessments as they performed hospice home visits independently in a new clinical rotation.

Design:

This was a prospective qualitative study.

Settings/Participants:

Eight fellows completed 217 unsupervised hospice home visits from 2014 to 2016.

Measurements:

Fellows completed weekly self-assessment forms, which captured both clinical visit information and practice data elicited from responses to open-ended reflection prompts.

Results:

Analysis of 29 self-assessment forms generated 6 themes: patient- and family-centered care, self-efficacy, systems-based care, commitment to doing their best, catalyst for professional growth, and purpose and meaning in work. The fellows recognized numerous barriers distinct to providing care in homes. All fellows felt prepared to perform home visits throughout the rotation and after training.

Conclusions:

Narrative data collected during the independent home visit rotation provided evidence that HPM fellows detected gaps in their performance, planned for practice improvements in subsequent visits, and valued working within an interprofessional team. Built-in opportunities for fellows to reflect during training are critical in meeting ACGME milestones, and are integral to their professional development.
An Investigation of Teacher Evaluation Practice in Indiana: PL 90 Implementation and Issues for Administrators
Authors: Harvey Michael W. , Boyland Lori G. , Quick Marilynn M.
Published: March 2019

This study investigated teacher evaluation practices used in Indiana as the state was implementing a mandated teacher evaluation system (Public Law 90) and early reporting of subsequent teacher effectiveness results by the Indiana Department of Education. The study surveyed public school administrators: (a) superintendents, (b) special education directors, and (c) K-12 building principals via e-mail using Qualtrics. A total of 2,444 administrators were invited to participate with a 28% return rate. Summative and formative teacher evaluation methods were used, but emergent methods (as mandated in PL 90) were not widely used. Recommendations for a more unified approach to teacher evaluation are emphasized.
The Influence of Teachers’ Colorblind Expectations on the Political, Normative, and Technical Dimensions of Educational Reform
Authors: Liou Daniel D. , Leigh Patricia Randolph , Rotheram-Fuller Erin , Cutler Kelly Deits
Published: March 2019

This ethnographic case study examined the experiences of African American students within an urban school detracking reform initiative, which was intended to replace tracking practices through the institution of small schools. Over the course of a year, the researchers interviewed administrators, teachers, and students while gathering observational data from classrooms to explore the political nature of the reform and its impact on how students were viewed and treated by their teachers. Although this school reorganization aimed to expand opportunities for African American students, ultimately the data illustrated that restructuring efforts failed to change teachers’ attitudes and academic expectations, thereby denying students equitable educations. We found colorblindness to be a key factor that informed teachers’ persistent low expectations for students of color that reproduced tracking practices and inequitable opportunity structures in the smaller schools, thereby reinforcing the former stereotypes of low achievement for those students. This study calls for educators to challenge the racial ideologies of academic achievement, vis-a-vis teachers’ colorblind expectations, through political, normative, and technical dimensions of change to actualize educational equity in urban schools.
“Made Me Feel Connected”: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Intimate Partner Violence Routine Screening Pathways to Impact
Authors: Spangaro Jo , Koziol-McLain Jane , Rutherford Alison , Zwi Anthony B.
Published: March 2019

Intimate partner violence (IPV) routine screening is widely implemented, yet the evidence for pathways to impact remains unclear. Of the 32 abused women interviewed 16 weeks after antenatal IPV screening, 24 reported positive impact, six reported nil positive impact, and two reported negative impact. Using qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), key conditions for positive impact were care in asking, and support and validation from the midwife. Lack of these and lack of continuity of care were relevant to nil positive impact. Benefits included naming the abuse, connection, unburdening, taking steps to safety, and enabling informed care. Disclosure was not required for positive impact.
Microbial Quality of Drinking Water and Prevalence of Water-Related Diseases in Marigat Urban Centre, Kenya
Authors: Osiemo Mercy Mandere , Ogendi George Morara , M’Erimba Charles
Published: March 2019

Background:

Accessibility to potable water is a fundamental right for dignity and well-being. Despite this observation, more than 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. This is particularly true in the Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia regions.

Objective:

The main aim of this study was to assess microbial quality of drinking water and prevalence of water-related diseases in Marigat town, Baringo County, Kenya.

Methods:

Samples of drinking water were collected from water sources (boreholes, rivers, and wells) and at the point of use (households) and analyzed for Escherichia coli and total coliform (TC) bacteria using the most probable number method. In situ measurements of pH and temperature were performed using a Wagtech International portable meter. Clinical health records from the local health centers were also reviewed to assess the prevalence rates of some of the water-related diseases.

Results:

There were significant differences among water sources during dry season for E coli (F2,21 = 3.629, P < .05) and TC (F2,21 = 4.041, P < .05). Similar observations were made during wet season for E coli (F2,21 = 4.090, P < .05) and TC (F2,21 = 1.893, P < .05). Furthermore, there were significant interactions between the water sources and season for E coli (F2,42 = 7.66, P < .01) and TC (F2,42 = 5.494, P < .05). Drinking water in large plastic storage containers (herein referred to as sky-plast) had the highest E coli and TC concentrations. Typhoid was the most prevalent water-related disease during the dry season (10%), whereas diarrhea (3%) was the most prevalent during the wet season.

Conclusions and recommendations:

All drinking water at abstraction and point of use for Marigat residents are microbiologically contaminated and therefore pose serious health risks to consumers of such water. Thus, there is need for public health awareness campaigns on household water management to curb incidences of water-related diseases. Public health practitioners at county and national levels need to ensure that households have adequate access to potable water and improved sanitation.
Perceptions of provider power among sex buyers
Authors: Monto Martin , Milrod Christine
Published: March 2019

This manuscript provides a framework for understanding the relative power of male customers in heterosexual prostitution exchanges. Drawing on insights from Giddens' structuration theory, as well as basic principles of social exchange theory, we describe how personal qualities, relationship characteristics, and larger structural inequalities intersect to affect power relationships between buyers and providers. Consistent with recent scholarship that documents the complex array of cultural and economic factors that affect the experience of female sex providers, we examine how those processes also shape perceptions of power among buyers. While acknowledging that sex buyers are unlikely to have accurate understandings of the motives and constraints experienced by sex workers, we observe that customers do not universally perceive themselves to have greater power in such exchanges and that larger structural inequalities are not directly translated into differences in power in buyers' dyadic relationships with providers. Further, we argue that the variety of contexts in which prostitution takes place and the diversity of individuals who buy and sell sex mean that power relationships between buyers and providers vary substantially.
Experimental and numerical investigation on enhancing the structural integrity of composite sandwich structure
Authors: Mostafa A
Published: March 2019

Composite sandwich structure possesses unique characteristics in which the facings’ material provides a high in-plane stiffness/strength, while the core material keeps the facings a part to enhance the flexural stiffness/strength. However, sandwich structure is susceptible to shear failure due to the weak bond between the facings and the core materials. This article addresses this issue and provides an efficient semi-circular shear keys concept to be inserted in the interfacial surface between the sandwich structural elements to improve the facings–core interaction with marginal sacrifice in the strength-to-weight ratio. Composite sandwich panels composed of glass fibre–reinforced polymer skins and polyurethane foam core material have been investigated in this study. Mechanical tension, compression and shear tests were performed on the facings, while compression tests were conducted on the core materials to define the elasto-plastic response of the constituent’s materials. Four-point bending tests were performed on the conventional composite sandwich panel and panels incorporated with shear keys concept. Considerable improvement in the flexural stiffness and strength along with detouring the crack path was noticed for the samples incorporated with shear keys. A non-linear finite element analysis was established to verify the experimental results. Comparisons between the experimental and finite element results were presented and showed good agreement between both results which justified the parameters used in the finite element models and their capabilities to capture the mechanical behaviour and the damage mode of the investigated models.
Professional learning communities: Enhancing collaborative leadership in Singapore early childhood settings
Authors: Vijayadevar Sukuna , Thornton Kate , Cherrington Sue
Published: March 2019

Leadership in early childhood education has been promoted as a collaborative process in which all teachers, rather than just the positional leader, are involved. Collaborative leadership practices are not well understood within the marketised Singapore early childhood education context. Beyond mandatory leadership training, little is known about how leaders are supported to strengthen their leadership practices and involve others in leadership activities. School-based literature suggests that learning through professional learning communities expands the collective capacity of organisations; however, literature on professional learning communities in early childhood education is limited. This article reports on the findings of an interpretive case study examining the current understandings and leadership practices of principals in the Singapore early childhood education context, and investigating how participation in professional learning communities can support the development of collaborative leadership practices. The participants in two professional learning communities established as part of this study were six principals from an anchor-operator childcare provider and five principals from private childcare centres in Singapore. Two teachers working with each of the respective principals were also involved in focus group interviews to ascertain if there were changes in their principals’ leadership practices. Data was collected from professional learning community meetings, online reflections, pre- and post-professional learning community interviews with the principals, and follow-up focus group discussions with the teachers. The key findings indicate that praxis as a result of participation in a professional learning community led to some shifts in principals’ thinking about collaborative leadership practices and resulted in reported changes to their leadership approaches, distribution of leadership, and improved collegiality and collaborative learning for teachers. The results indicate that considering and implementing collaborative leadership practices through professional learning communities in the Singapore early childhood education context requires sensitivity towards Asian Singapore sociocultural values related to hierarchy and economic pragmatism.
Performing love, prosperity and Chinese hipsterism: Young independent travellers in Pai, Thailand
Authors: Kimber Simon , Yang JingJing , Cohen Scott
Published: March 2019

Young independent Chinese travellers are increasingly visiting Pai, a small town in northern Thailand, in part influenced by the popularity of the 2009 Thai movie Pai in Love. Using a performance perspective, combined with theory on affordances, which have not yet been applied in the growing body of research on Chinese tourists, this article examines the wide variety of performances in Pai by young independent Chinese travellers, many of which revolve around tourist photography. Drawing upon participant observation and in-depth interviews with Chinese travellers in Pai, the findings reveal that many young Chinese independent traveller performances in Pai revolve around the creation of online self-identities of prosperity and globalisation, love and alternative social identities such as Chinese hipsterism or Xiao Qing Xin. Central to many of these hybrid performances is the digital camera, which affords new, more playful, embodied ways of encountering and interacting with tourist attractions, while simultaneously offering a means of recording and refining performances that are then distributed via the ‘statusphere’. The article’s use of a performance lens provides new insights into Chinese tourism consumption, and highlights the importance of physical, material and social affordances in performing tourism.
Compensation for temperature-dependent phase and velocity of guided wave signals in baseline subtraction for structural health monitoring
Authors: Mariani Stefano , Heinlein Sebastian , Cawley Peter
Published: March 2019

Baseline subtraction is commonly used in guided wave structural health monitoring to identify the signal changes produced by defects. However, before subtracting the current signal from the baseline, it is essential to compensate for changes in environmental conditions such as temperature between the two readings. This is often done via the baseline stretch method that seeks to compensate for wave velocity changes with temperature. However, the phase of the signal generated by the transduction system is also commonly temperature sensitive and this effect is neglected in the usual compensation procedure. This article presents a new compensation procedure that deals with both velocity and phase changes. The results with this new method have been compared with those obtained using the standard baseline stretch technique on both a set of experimental signals and a series of synthetic signals with different coherent noise levels, feature reflections, and defect sizes, the range of noise levels and phase changes being chosen based on initial experiments and prior field experience. It has been shown that the new method both reduces the residual signal from a set baseline and enables better defect detection performance than the conventional baseline signal stretch method under all conditions examined, the improvement increasing with the size of the temperature and phase differences encountered. For example, in the experimental data, the new method roughly halved the residual between baseline and current signals when the two signals were acquired at temperatures 15°C apart.
Precision prevention: A focused response to shifting paradigms in healthcare
Authors: Ramos Kenneth S , Bowers Emma C , Tavera-Garcia Marco A , Ramos Irma N
Published: March 2019

Human health and disease are defined at the intersection of molecules, environment, and lifestyle, which combined determine phenotypic outcomes. To date, most clinical applications in the precision medicine space have focused on DNA, with lesser attention given to the biology encoded by RNA molecules, or the complexity of biological regulation at the level of proteins and metabolites. The totality of this information must be integrated in ways that allow for implementation of knowledge-based health promotion and prevention strategies that can help address current limitations in healthcare delivery. This review describes recent advances in the development of diagnostic tools for early detection and stratification of individuals suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and their heightened risk for the development of lung malignancies.

Impact statement

The study of LINE-1 retroelements and their role in the pathogenesis of diseases of the lung such as COPD and lung cancer may provide valuable diagnostic and therapeutic tools to identify pre-emptively individuals at risk of pulmonary disease progression. Limited information is presently available on the role of LINE-1 in the regulation of disease phenotypes and the development of novel therapeutics designed to curtail LINE-1-mediated pathogenesis. Successful implementation of precision prevention strategies may help to spare those impacted by obstructive pulmonary disease from continued deterioration, while realizing significant cost savings and improved quality of healthcare.
Candle charts for financial technical analysis
Authors: Dicle Mehmet F.
Published: March 2019

Technical analysis is an important part of financial industry, research, and teaching. The methodology has two parts: i) calculation of the individual tools and ii) visual representations. In this article, I provide a community-contributed command, candlechart, to draw the most common technical analysis charts. My intent is to draw these charts similarly to industry examples. The popular candle price chart is combined with charts for volume, moving-average convergence divergence, relative strength index, and Bollinger bands.
Power calculations for regression-discontinuity designs
Authors: Cattaneo Matias D. , Titiunik Rocío , Vazquez-Bare Gonzalo
Published: March 2019

In this article, we introduce two commands, rdpow and rdsampsi, that conduct power calculations and survey sample selection when using local polynomial estimation and inference methods in regression-discontinuity designs. rdpow conducts power calculations using modern robust bias-corrected local polynomial inference procedures and allows for new hypothetical sample sizes and bandwidth selections, among other features. rdsampsi uses power calculations to compute the minimum sample size required to achieve a desired level of power, given estimated or user-supplied bandwidths, biases, and variances. Together, these commands are useful when devising new experiments or surveys in regression-discontinuity designs, which will later be analyzed using modern local polynomial techniques for estimation, inference, and falsification. Because our commands use the communitycontributed (and R) package rdrobust for the underlying bandwidths, biases, and variances estimation, all the options currently available in rdrobust can also be used for power calculations and sample-size selection, including preintervention covariate adjustment, clustered sampling, and many bandwidth selectors. Finally, we also provide companion R functions with the same syntax and capabilities.
Variability in Institutional Board Review for a Multisite Assessment of Resident Professionalism
Authors: Linden Judith A. , Schneider Jeffrey I. , Cotter Andrea , Drexel Sabrina , Frosch Emily , Martin Niels D. , Canavan Colleen , Holtman Matthew , Mitchell Patricia M. , Feldman James A.
Published: March 2019

Residents serve as both trainees and employees and can be considered potentially vulnerable research participants. This can lead to variation in the institutional review board (IRB) review. We studied sites participating in the Assessment of Professional Behaviors Study sponsored by the National Board of Medical Examiners (2009-2011). Of the 19 sites, all but one were university affiliated. IRB review varied; 2/19 did not submit to a local IRB, 4/17 (23%) were exempt, 11/17 (65%) were expedited, and 2/17 (12%) required full Board review; 12/17 (71%) required written informed consent. The interval from submission to approval was 1 to 2 months (8/17); the range was 1 to 7 months. Although most stated there were no major barriers to approval, the most common concern was resident coercion and loss of confidentiality. Local IRB review of this educational research study varied.
Evaluating network importance measures based on the construction spectrum
Authors: Du Yongjun , Ye Zhenggeng , Zhang Pan , Guo Yaqi , Cai Zhiqiang
Published: March 2019

The construction spectrum is a useful tool to investigate the network reliability, which only depends on network structure and is called structure invariant. Importance measures are efficient tools to quantify and rank the impact of edges within a network. This study considers the K-terminal network with n edges and assumes that edges fail with an equal probability. The article focuses on investigating the importance measures of individual edge for the K-terminal network, including reliability achievement worth and reliability reduction worth, via the construction spectrum–based method. Generally, we establish the equations for reliability achievement worth and reliability reduction worth using the construction spectrum and determine the conditions under which the importance rankings generated by reliability achievement worth and reliability reduction worth only depend on the network structure through the construction spectrum. Similar results are obtained with reliability achievement worth and reliability reduction worth for pair of edges. A construction spectrum–based Monte-Carlo simulation is used to estimate reliability achievement worth and reliability reduction worth. Finally, a numerical example is presented to illustrate the application of these measures.