bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sphenoid Sinus Mucocele as a Cause of Isolated Pupil-Sparing Oculomotor Nerve Palsy Mimicking Diabetic Ophthalmoplegia
Authors: Mohebbi Alireza , Jahandideh Hesam , Harandi Ali Amini
Published: April 2019

A 37-year-old woman presented with isolated right-sided oculomotor nerve palsy. Neurologic examination revealed no other disorder. Computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses demonstrated complete opacification of the sphenoid sinus. Dense mucoid fluid was drained from the sphenoid sinus via an endoscopic transseptal sphenoid-otomy. A biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of sphenoid sinus mucocele. At follow-up 4 weeks postoperatively, the patient's ocular symptoms were markedly alleviated. Considering rare causes of isolated oculomotor nerve palsy, such as sphenoid sinus mucocele, is important in the differential diagnosis, even in patients with well-known risk factors such as diabetes mellitus.
Concha Bullosa Mucocele and Mucopyocele: A Series of 4 Cases
Authors: Al-Sebeih Khalid H. , Bu-Abbas Mohd H.
Published: April 2019

Concha bullosa is an aerated turbinate in the nose. It is a common anatomic variant that can develop a mucocele if obstructed, which can further progress to become a mucopyocele if infected. A mucopyocele can expand and cause destruction of neighboring tissues. A review of the literature revealed only 10 cases previously reported. We describe 2 cases of mucocele and 2 cases of mucopyocele.
Unilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Facial Nerve Paralysis Associated with Low-Voltage Electrical Shock
Authors: Özkinş Mahmut
Published: April 2019

Electrical injuries can occur as a result of contact with low- or high-voltage electricity. Low-voltage injuries are more common, as they usually occur in the home, but reports in the literature are few. After exposure to electric current, almost every organ system in the body is affected. The severity of an injury depends on many factors, including the type of current, the duration of exposure, and the resistance of the tissue involved. Reported cases of hearing loss and facial nerve paralysis associated with low-voltage electrical shock are rare, and minimal information is available about this circumstance. In this article, the author describes a case of low-voltage electrical shock in a 20-year-old man. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first report in the literature of a resolution of unilateral sensorineural hearing loss and facial nerve paralysis caused by a low-voltage electrical shock.
Facial Nerve Palsy Associated with a Cystic Lesion of the Temporal Bone
Authors: Kim Na Hyun , Shin Seung-Ho
Published: April 2019

Facial nerve palsy results in the loss of facial expression and is most commonly caused by a benign, self-limiting inflammatory condition known as Bell palsy. However, there are other conditions that may cause facial paralysis, such as neoplastic conditions of the facial nerve, traumatic nerve injury, and temporal bone leions. We present a case of facial nerve palsy concurrent with a benign cystic lesion of the temporal bone, adjacent to the tympanic segment of the facial nerve. The patient's symptoms subsided after facial nerve decompression via a transmastoid approach.
Dizziness in the Elderly: Diagnosing its Causes in a Multidisciplinary Dizziness Unit
Authors: van Leeuwen Roeland B. , Bruintjes Tjasse D.
Published: April 2019

We conducted a study to determine the causes of dizziness in patients aged 70 years and older who had been referred to our multidisciplinary dizziness clinic between Nov. 1, 2000, and Dec. 31, 2008. This population was made up of 731 patients—254 men (34.7%) and 477 women (65.3%). During their consultations, all of these patients were evaluated simultaneously by an ENT surgeon and a neurologist. We were able to identify the cause of dizziness in 620 of these patients (84.8%). The two most common causes were benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which was found in 202 patients (27.6%), and hyperventilation/anxiety, which was diagnosed in 112 patients (15.3%). Based on our findings, we conclude that the cause of dizziness can be established in the vast majority of elderly patients. We also compare our findings in these older patients with those of a group of 2,556 younger patients who were seen at our hospital and with the findings reported in other studies.
Evaluating the Role of Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography in the Assessment of Neurotologic Complaints
Authors: Joglekar Shruti S. , Bell Jason R. , Caroline Malka , Chase Paul J. , Domesek James , Patel Pinal S. , Sataloff Robert T.
Published: April 2019

We conducted a retrospective study to reexamine the value of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in the evaluation of patients with neurotologic complaints, and to assess the intra- and inter-radiologist variability of SPECT readings. Our study population was made up of 63 patients—23 men and 40 women, aged 34 to 91 years (mean: 59)—who had presented to a tertiary care otolaryngology practice and university hospital for evaluation of head trauma, sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and/or vertigo. All patients had undergone brain scanning with SPECT during their evaluation, and almost all had also undergone magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and standard computed tomography (CT). We compared the findings of all three imaging modalities in terms of their ability to detect neurotologic abnormalities. We found that detection rates were very similar among the three modalities; abnormalities were found in 24% of SPECT scans, 26% of MRIs, and 23% of CTs. Nevertheless, we did find that among 60 patients who underwent all three types of imaging, 13 (22%) exhibited areas of cerebral hypoperfusion on SPECT while their MRIs and CTs were read as either normal or nonspecific. In all, 18 of these 60 patients (30%) exhibited normal or nonspecific findings on all three types of imaging. In addition, when SPECT scans were read by the same radiologist at different times, different results were reported for 17 of the 63 scans (27%). Likewise, when SPECT scans were read by different radiologists, different results were reported for 21 of 63 scans (33%). We conclude that SPECT may be a valuable complementary diagnostic modality for making a comprehensive neurotologic evaluation and that it may detect abnormalities in some patients whose other imaging is read as normal. However, we did not find that SPECT was the most sensitive of the three modalities in neurotologic evaluation, as we had previously found in a preliminary study that the senior author (R.T.S.) published in 1996. In addition, with respect to our radiologists, both their intra- and inter-reader reliability was low, and we recommend additional study on this matter.
The Role of Contact Endoscopy in Screening for Premalignant Laryngeal Lesions: A Study of 141 Patients
Authors: Klančnik Marisa , Glunčić Ivo , Cikojević Draško
Published: April 2019

At their earliest stage, pathologic lesions of the laryngeal epithelium are macroscopically invisible. Ideally, these lesions should be detected before their clinical manifestations appear so that prompt management can be initiated. However, most diagnostic modalities are unable to detect early premalignant lesions. We conducted a retrospective study of the use of contact endoscopy in analyzing the vocal fold mucosal epithelium in adults who had been operated on at our hospital under general anesthesia for various nonlaryngeal diseases. After we identified 71 such patients who were smokers, we chose an almost equal number of nonsmokers (n = 70) for comparison purposes. In all, our study population was made up of 141 patients—51 men and 90 women, aged 21 to 78 years (mean: 52). All patients had normal findings on preoperative laryngeal endoscopy. Our goal was to determine if the routine use of this diagnostic modality is justified in selected cases. Contact endoscopy identified dysplastic vocal fold lesions in 4 patients and chronic laryngitis in 3; all 7 of these patients were smokers. Since early laryngeal lesions are not macroscopically evident, early detection of these changes by other means is associated with a better prognosis and easier management. Our study demonstrates that the use of contact endoscopy during general anesthesia as a standard diagnostic method in long-time cigarette smokers is fully justified.
Postauricular Fascia in Augmentation Rhinoplasty
Authors: Guerra Aldo Benjamin
Published: April 2019

Ten rhinoplasty operations performed using postauricular fascia for the purpose of augmenting the radix and dorsum of the nose were analyzed retrospectively. All the operations were performed over a 1-year period, between 2005 and 2006. The fascia of the postauricular area has been used as a source of pliable soft-tissue grafts in primary and revision rhinoplasty. It may be easily accessed using a single sulcus incision that also enables harvesting of ear cartilage grafts. Deficiency in the radix is an overlooked abnormality seen in many patients undergoing primary as well as revision rhinoplasty after aggressive hump removal. Recent trends in rhinoplasty have been to avoid the overly reduced nasal skeleton and to create a more balanced nasal surgery result. This article presents the use of the postauricular fascia as a radix graft that has been found to be simple to carry out, reliable, and long lasting. In addition, the fascia graft is useful in the camouflage of various nasal deformities in the dorsum and sidewalls. The average patient follow-up for the study was 24 months.
Button Battery Injuries in the Pediatric Aerodigestive Tract
Authors: Ettyreddy Abhinav R. , Georg Matthew W. , Chi David H. , Gaines Barbara A. , Simons Jeffrey P.
Published: April 2019

Children with a button battery impaction present with nonspecific symptoms that may account for a delay in medical care. We conducted a retrospective study of the clinical presentation, management, and complications associated with button battery ingestion in the pediatric aerodigestive tract and to evaluate the associated long-term morbidity. We reviewed the medical records of 23 patients who were treated for button battery impaction at our tertiary care children's hospital from Jan. 1, 2000, through July 31, 2013. This population was made up of 14 boys and 9 girls, aged 7 days to 12 years (mean: 4 yr). Patients were divided into three groups based on the site of impaction; there were 9 impactions in the esophagus and 7 each in the nasal cavity and stomach. We compiled information on the type and size of each battery, the duration of the impaction, presenting symptoms, treatment, and outcomes. The mean duration of battery impaction was 40.6, 30.7, and 21.0 hours in the esophagus, nasal cavity, and stomach, respectively. We were able to identify the specific type of battery in 13 cases; 11 of these cases (85%) involved a 3-V20-mm lithium ion battery, including all cases of esophageal impaction in which the type of battery was identified. The most common presenting signs and symptoms were vomiting (n = 7 [30%]), difficulty feeding (n = 5 [22%]), cough (n = 5), and bloody nasal discharge (n = 5); none of the presenting signs and symptoms predicted the severity of the injury or the outcome. The median length of hospital stay was far greater in the esophageal group (12 days) than in the nasal and stomach groups (1 day each; p = 0.006). Battery impaction in the esophagus for more than 15 hours was associated with a significantly longer postoperative hospital stay than impaction for less than 15 hours (p = 0.04). Esophageal complications included strictures (n = 5), perforation (n = 3), and tracheoesophageal fistula formation (n = 2). Clinicians should consider battery impaction in the upper aerodigestive tract as an emergency that can lead to significant long-term morbidity, and therefore immediate surgical intervention is required.
Malignant Transformation of a High-Grade Osteoblastoma of the Petrous Apex with Subcutaneous Metastasis
Authors: Kraft Casey T. , Morrison Robert J. , Arts H. Alexander
Published: April 2019

We describe the clinical presentation, management, and pathologic findings in a case of osteosarcoma of the petrous apex with an atypical metastasis to the lower abdominal wall. We retrospectively reviewed the record of a 49-year-old man who was diagnosed with a right petrous apex lesion, which biopsy identified as a high-grade osteoblastoma. After two attempts at en bloc resection were not curative, radiation and chemotherapy were recommended. The patient subsequently developed a cutaneous lower abdominal mass that was diagnosed as an osteosarcoma. Meanwhile, the petrous apex tumor continued to grow despite treatment until the patient died from the burden of disease. Temporal bone osteoblastomas and osteosarcomas are both extremely rare, and they can be difficult to differentiate histologically. Our case illustrates this difficulty and demonstrates the possibility of a high-grade osteoblastoma's malignant conversion to an osteosarcoma.
Hyperthyroidism in Patients with Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Sharma Sunil Dutt , Kumar Gaurav , Guner Karen , Kaddour Hesham
Published: April 2019

We present a retrospective case series of patients with hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. Our goal was to look at their clinical characteristics and outcomes to determine which patients would require further investigation. We reviewed the case notes of all patients with a histopathologic diagnosis of thyroid cancer and biochemical evidence of hyperthyroidism who had been treated at a thyroid cancer center from January 2006 through October 2013. During that time, 66 patients had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Of these, 8 patients (12%)—all women, aged 29 to 87 years (mean: 55.6; median: 50.5)—had biochemical evidence of hyperthyroidism. Among these 8 patients, 4 had an autonomously functioning toxic nodule (AFTN), 3 were diagnosed with Graves disease, and 1 had a toxic multinodular goiter. Five patients had suspicious features on preoperative ultrasonography. All 8 patients were diagnosed with the papillary type of thyroid carcinoma. The mean size of the tumor in the 4 patients with AFTN was significantly larger than it was in those with Graves disease (42.3 ± 23.8 mm vs. 3.8 ± 1.6; p = 0.04). The 3 patients with Graves disease all had incidentally found papillary microcarcinoma. Between these two groups, the patients with AFTN had a poorer prognosis; 2 of them had extracapsular invasion and lymph node metastasis, and another died of her disease. We found that the incidence of hyperthyroidism in thyroid cancer patients was relatively high (12%). In contrast to what has previously been reported in the literature, patients with AFTN seem to have more aggressive disease and poorer outcomes than do patients with Graves disease. Any suspicious nodule associated with hyperthyroidism should be evaluated carefully.
Does online anonymity boost illegal market trading?
Authors: Aldridge Judith
Published: April 2019

Anonymity allows the online trade in illegal products and services on cryptomarkets to flourish in spite of being enacted in a public location. Bolstered by the extensive media coverage of the cryptomarket trade in drugs, fraud and weapons, these platforms may function as a kind of criminal ‘gateway’, and in so doing facilitate – or indeed amplify – criminality. I argue, however, that researchers must establish – not assume – that the criminality facilitated by online anonymity will exclusively and uniformly produce more harmful outcomes. I consider here two possibilities in connection to the cryptomarket trade in illegal drugs: reduced drug market violence and reduced drug harms to users. Whether these potential ‘benefits’ are viewed as valuable will vary and depend substantially on the perspective and interests of the observer, including drug sellers, drug buyers, law enforcement officials, and academic researchers.
Legal infrastructures: How laws matter in the organization of new markets
Authors: Pellandini-Simányi Léna , Vargha Zsuzsanna
Published: April 2019

Research into the creation of markets highlights the importance of law-making, seen to express relations between stakeholders in emerging organizational fields. Less understood is the role of existing regulation, despite related work on path-dependency. We unpack the role of extant laws by analysing consecutive attempts to establish the mortgage market in post-socialist Hungary, mobilizing the anthropology of law and actor-network methods. Based on interviews and archival documents, we find, first, that existing laws exert agency in the market-building process not only through abstract legal ‘traditions’ but through technical features which may resist the market arrangements proposed by political-economic coalitions. Second, the resistance of law can vary based on whether its spokespersons (guardians of legal consistency) become ‘market engineers’ under specific organizational configurations. We theorize this agency with the concept of ‘legal infrastructure’, and show how it acts as a non-human organizer of markets, ensuring compatibility across the economy.
Nihilism, Existentialism, – and Gnosticism? Reassessing the role of the gnostic religion in Hans Jonas’s thought
Authors: Fossa Fabio
Published: April 2019

Late antique Gnosticism and Heidegger’s Existentialism are usually counted among the main theoretical targets of Hans Jonas’s philosophy of life and responsibility, since they are supposed to share the dualistic and nihilistic attitude the philosopher deemed most mistaken and pernicious. In particular, Gnosticism is commonly understood as the exact opposite of what Jonas strove to accomplish in his work. However, I think it is simplistic to relegate Gnosticism to a merely antagonistic role in the development of Jonas’s philosophy. My claim is that Gnosticism, being a non-nihilistic form of dualism, might have been a relevant source of inspiration – although not the only one – for amending the flaws of Heidegger’s Existentialism. By taking a closer look at the essay Gnosticism, Existentialism, and Nihilism, this article aims to clarify the critical and constructive role that Gnosticism might have played in shaping some of the major traits of Jonas’s thought. The first part of this essay deals with Jonas’s ‘gnostic reading’ of Heidegger’s Existentialism and highlights the positive insights drawn from such interpretative strategy. The second part focuses on three main motives in Jonas’s philosophy that may be traced back to the gnostic narrative: value objectivity and vulnerability, human responsibility and involvement in the history of being, and the sense of belonging to a wider dimension capable of providing orientation and meaning to human life.
Evaluating electoral management body capacity
Authors: Garnett Holly Ann
Published: April 2019

Electoral management bodies (EMBs) perform many functions crucial to promoting electoral integrity, from registering voters to resolving post-election disputes. The capacity of an EMB to perform its tasks, however, is difficult to measure in cross-national perspective. Data on resources and personnel provide only a partial picture of EMB capacity and expert surveys are limited in their comparability. This article presents a new proxy for measuring EMB capacity. It employs a content analysis of EMB websites in 99 countries to measure the presence of indicators of their major functions. It assesses the measurement validity of this new measure of capacity and conducts a small-scale test to determine whether EMBs that score highly do actively communicate with their citizens. An application of this new measure of EMB capacity demonstrates its importance in predicting overall electoral integrity, indicating its importance for future scholarly and policy research.
An analysis of undergraduate motivations, perceptions of value and concerns in pursuing higher popular music performance education
Authors: Hall Rich
Published: April 2019

The popular music performance undergraduate degree is a growing area within UK higher education. These courses carry a vocational emphasis and are popular with students looking to establish professional performing careers. As such, they are often marketed as an intermediary step towards this aspiration but, despite their popularity, there has been little critical review into their effectiveness. This article, based on doctoral research conducted by the author, draws on semi-structured interviews conducted with 12 second- and third-year undergraduates studying popular music performance-based courses. The article presents data and analysis concerning the motivations for study, perceptions of vocational value and the concerns around establishing professional careers. Concerns across four key areas are identified: (a) issues of negative public perception; (b) problematic conceptions of the popular music industries (PMI); (c) the value of practical experience over and above qualifications; and (d) negative narratives concerning developments in digital technologies and their effect on career opportunities. Implications from the article include the need for higher education providers (HEPs) to challenge students’ misconceptions concerning professional careers in the new popular music industries.
Challenges following a personalised diet adhering to dietary guidelines in a sample of Australian university students
Authors: Irwin Christopher , Desbrow Ben , Khalesi Saman , McCartney Danielle
Published: April 2019

Background:

Food-based dietary guidelines are designed to support populations to adopt a healthy diet. University students studying nutrition related courses are typically en-route to professional roles that involve advocating a healthy diet.

Aim:

The present study compared the dietary intake of university students enrolled in a foundation nutrition course against the Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADGs) and Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs), and explored students’ experiences of following a 3-day self-determined diet plan adhering to the ADGs/NRVs.

Methods:

Students ( n = 115) initially collected, and subsequently analysed a 3-day prospective diet record to determine food group/nutrient intake. Individuals then modified their diet to comply with recommendations (ADGs/NRVs) and attempted to implement the diet plan. Challenges associated with meeting the ADGs/NRVs were described in an online survey form.

Results:

Baseline food group and nutrient intakes deviated from the guidelines, with ‘lean meats & alternatives’ the only group consumed in recommended quantities. Students demonstrated the capacity to plan a modified personal diet adhering to the ADGs food group recommendations. However, when following this, several key challenges to dietary adherence were identified. Challenges were categorised as personal/behavioural factors (e.g. the quantity/type of food) and societal factors (e.g. time, cost, social factors).

Conclusion:

Overall, this study highlights challenges influencing adherence to dietary guidelines in a sample of undergraduate university students. Understanding these factors may help tailor advice to facilitate improved dietary patterns in this population group.
Georg Simmel’s Logic of the Future: ‘The Stranger’, Zionism, and ‘Bounded Contingency’
Authors: Morris-Reich Amos
Published: April 2019

For reasons that have more to do with the historiographical traditions of modern Jewish history and the history of critical thought than history itself, Georg Simmel – of Jewish descent – is rarely discussed within the frame of modern Jewish history. Bringing the two together as a theoretical contribution to Simmel studies and modern Jewish history alike, this article explores Simmel’s logic of contingency in the context of modern Jewish history. Which forms and types could Jews realistically seek to fulfill from the perspective of Simmel’s thought? Which could they hope to escape and what could they expect from the future? The author suggests that in answering these questions we disclose a peculiar notion of ‘bounded contingency’ embedded in Simmel’s positing of a non-binary, ‘gray area’ between the necessary and the impossible. This hypothesis is tested in several distinct contexts: a letter on Zionism from around 1900; an odd passage on love in the excursus on ‘The Stranger’ (1908); and a letter on individuals of Jewish background in German academia (1906). Simmel’s coherency lies in the ‘realist’ approach he adopts to reality as the domain of the contingently possible. When applied to Jewish history in general and Zionism in particular, this notion not only explains why Zionism is unfeasible but also demystifies its emergence as an attempt to escape the status of stranger in Europe. It also evinces why this Jewish national enterprise inevitably carried within it the seeds of the problem it sought to solve.
The prevalence of frailty among acute stroke patients, and evaluation of method of assessment
Authors: Taylor-Rowan Martin , Cuthbertson Gillian , Keir Ruth , Shaw Robert , Drozdowska Bogna , Elliott Emma , Stott David , Quinn Terence J
Published: April 2019

Objective:

We aimed to determine prevalence of pre-stroke frailty in acute stroke and describe validity of a Frailty Index–based assessment.

Design:

Cross-sectional.

Setting:

Single UK urban teaching hospital.

Subjects:

Consecutive acute stroke unit admissions, recruited in four waves (May 2016–August 2018). We performed the assessments within first week and attempted to include all admissions.

Main measures:

Our primary measure was a Frailty Index, based on cumulative disorders. A proportion of participants were also assessed with the ‘Frail non-disabled’ questionnaire. We evaluated concurrent validity of Frailty Index against variables associated with frailty in non-stroke populations. We described predictive validity of Frailty Index for stroke severity and delirium. We described convergent validity, quantifying agreement between frailty assessments and a measure of pre-stroke disability (modified Rankin Scale) using kappa statistics and correlations.

Results:

We included 546 patients. A Frailty Index–defined frailty syndrome was observed in 427 of 545 patients (78%), of whom, 151 (28%) had frank frailty and 276 (51%) were pre-frail. Phenotypic frailty was observed in 72 of 258 patients (28%). We demonstrated concurrent validity via significant associations with all variables (all p < 0.01). We demonstrated predictive validity for stroke severity and delirium ( p < 0.01). Agreement between the frailty measures was poor (kappa = –0.06) and convergent validity was moderate (Frail non-disabled ‘Cramer’s V’ = 0.25; modified Rankin Scale ‘Cramer’s V’ = 0.47).

Conclusion:

Frailty is present in around one in four patients with acute stroke; if pre-frailty is included, then a frailty syndrome is seen in three out of four patients. The Frailty Index is a valid measure of frailty in stroke; however, there is little agreement between this scale and other measurements of frailty.
Track deformable objects from point clouds with structure preserved registration
Authors: Tang Te , Tomizuka Masayoshi
Published: April 2019

Manipulating deformable objects is a challenging task for robots. The major difficulty lies in how to track these objects accurately, robustly, and efficiently, considering they have infinite-dimensional configuration space. To deal with these problems, this paper proposes a novel state estimator to track deformable objects from point clouds. A non-rigid registration method, named structure preserved registration (SPR), is developed to update the estimation by registering the object model towards the current point cloud measurement. Both the local structure and the global topology of the deformable object are considered during registration, which improves the estimation robustness under noise, outliers, and occlusions. The tracking result is further refined by running a dynamic simulation in parallel, which enforces the estimates to satisfy the physical constraints of the object. A series of real-time tracking experiments on 1D objects (ropes) and 2D objects (clothes) are performed to evaluate the proposed state estimator. A wire harness manipulation platform is also introduced where robots can manipulate soft wires to desired shapes and autonomously evaluate the manipulation quality through visual feedback.
Congenital brucellosis in a Chinese preterm neonate: A case report
Authors: Zhao Menghua , Huang Furong , Zhang Aimin , Zhang Bing , Zeng Ling , Xu Jun , Wang Juanmei
Published: April 2019

Although extremely rare, congenital brucellosis can occur via perinatal transmission. We report a case of an infant born prematurely at 34–36 weeks' gestation who had pyrexia, shortness of breath, hepatosplenomegaly and thrombocytopenia. Blood cultures were positive for Gram-negative coccobacilli and Brucella infection was suspected. While, serological tests were negative for Brucella antibodies, B. melitensis infection was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Serology of the parents’ blood confirmed the presence of Brucella. The family did not live in an endemic area but had ridden a camel 12 months before the pregnancy. The bacteria may have been sexually transmitted from father to mother and then to foetus via an intrauterine infection. In endemic areas or where the family has been in close contact with infected animals, brucellosis should be suspected in a severely ill neonate with an unknown infection. Thorough medical histories from the family are essential as early diagnosis and prompt therapy will almost certainly improve neonatal outcome.
Symptomatic pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma: a rare case of a solitary pulmonary nodule in a woman of advanced age
Authors: Yuan Zhu-Qing , Wang Qian , Bao Min
Published: April 2019

Background

Pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma (PSH) is a rare tumor that usually develops in middle-aged Asian women. PSH has four histological types (hemorrhagic, sclerotic, solid, and papillary) and often grows slowly in a lower lobe of the lung. Preoperative misdiagnosis frequently occurs because of the absence of specific clinical manifestations and imaging findings. Few reports have described PSH in women of advanced age. Case presentation: A 75-year-old woman presented to our hospital in China with a 5-day history of productive cough and intermittent hemoptysis. Computed tomography indicated bronchiectasis and a large mass in the left inferior lobe of the lung. Treatment of the bronchiectasis provided no symptom relief. The hemoptysis resolved following left lower pulmonary lobectomy, and PSH was pathologically diagnosed following surgery. At the time of this writing (after 6 months of follow-up), the tumor had not recurred, no metastases had been detected, and close follow-up was ongoing.

Conclusions

Both bronchiectasis and PSH can cause hemoptysis. This case demonstrates that PSH should be included as a differential diagnosis of hemoptysis in women of advanced age. For patients with chronic hemoptysis, the diagnosis of PSH should be considered if the therapeutic effect of bronchiectasis is poor.
Pelvic lipomatosis associated with portal vein thrombosis and hydronephrosis: a case report
Authors: Sercan Özkacmaz
Published: April 2019

Pelvic lipomatosis is an uncommon disease with no clear etiology and it occurs secondary to deposition of a large amount of fatty tissue in the pelvis. This deposition causes compression to the rectum, bladder, and venous structures. Because of this compression, various symptoms, such as recurrent urinary infections, dysuria, tenesmus, and constipation, have mostly been reported. However, iliac or superior vena cava thrombosis secondary to vascular compression of pelvic lipomatosis is rare. This report describes a case of pelvic lipomatosis, which was associated with right-sided mild hydronephrosis and portal vein thrombosis.
Bradycardia secondary to primary hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Liu Fei , Xin Zechang , Xia Yunlong , Yin Xiaomeng
Published: April 2019

Clinical doctors rarely associate hyperparathyroidism with significant bradyarrhythmia. We report a rare case of a patient initially misdiagnosed with primary sick sinus syndrome, which was eventually shown to be secondary to primary hyperparathyroidism.
Tectonic keratoplasty using femtosecond laser lenticule in pediatric patients with corneal perforation secondary to blepharokeratoconjunctivitis: a case report and literature review
Authors: Pant Om Prakash , Hao Ji-long , Zhou Dan-dan , Lu Cheng-wei
Published: April 2019

Blepharokeratoconjunctivitis secondary to ocular demodicosis in the pediatric population is often neglected and may result in a serious sight-threatening condition. In severe cases, it can lead to corneal perforation necessitating urgent corneal transplantation. However, the shortage and high cost of donor corneas is the foremost limitation of keratoplasty in developing countries. Small-incision lenticule extraction is an advanced flapless femtosecond laser refractive procedure in which an intrastromal corneal lenticule is detached and removed to correct myopia and myopic astigmatism. We herein describe a technique in which lenticules are used for the management of corneal perforation secondary to Demodex-induced blepharokeratoconjunctivitis. The lenticule was sutured over the site of the perforated cornea using 10-0 interrupted nylon sutures. The globe integrity was maintained with a good visual outcome. Thus, tectonic keratoplasty using small-incision lenticule extraction appears to be a safe, cost-effective, and reliable alternative method for the management of corneal perforation secondary to blepharokeratoconjunctivitis.
Approximate periodic solution for the large-amplitude oscillations of a simple pendulum
Authors: Big-Alabo Akuro
Published: April 2019

This paper presents approximate periodic solutions to the anharmonic (i.e. not harmonic or non-sinusoidal) response of a simple pendulum undergoing moderate- to large-amplitude oscillations. The approximate solutions were derived by using a modified continuous piecewise linearization method that enabled very accurate solutions to the pendulum oscillations for the entire range of possible amplitudes i.e. [Formula: see text]. The present solution method is very simple and can be used to obtain amplitude-frequency solutions as well as the displacement and velocity histories of the simple pendulum without the need for a complementary method. The purpose of this paper is to present simple and accurate approximate analytical solutions to the large-amplitude oscillations of the simple pendulum that can be applied by undergraduates.
Igai ‘the Lord of the Oasis’
Authors: Abruña Marti Heri
Published: April 2019

This article discusses 28 attestations of Igai, ‘the Lord of the Oasis’, some of them overlooked in previous work on the god. After a survey of previous research, the question of his name will be briefly addressed, and a diachronic analysis of his attestations will be presented. A table summarising the attestations mentioned in the text can be found at the end of the article.
Regional media framing of the Confederate flag debate in South Carolina
Authors: Frear Christopher , O’Boyle Jane , Kim Sei-Hill
Published: April 2019

Content analysis of 400 news stories in three South Carolina newspapers examines the frames used about the Confederate flag debate in the first 25 days after the 2015 Charleston church massacre. Stories focused on the legislative process in removing the flag more than the flag’s symbolic meaning or the shootings. The three newspapers cited reasons to support removal nearly three times more often than reasons to oppose and showed some distinct regional differences. About two thirds of stories in Charleston and Columbia had a favorable tone (support) toward flag removal, whereas the Greenville newspaper coverage was largely neutral.
Vulnerable Subgroups and Numeracy Practices: How Poverty, Debt, and Unemployment Relate to Everyday Numeracy Practices
Authors: Grotlüschen Anke , Buddeberg Klaus , Redmer Alina , Ansen Harald , Dannath Jesper
Published: April 2019

Adult numeracy is underresearched especially regarding numeracy practices. Research shows general correlations between numeracy skills and the use of these skills, indicating that low proficient groups use their skills less often than others do. Earlier research also shows correlations of low numeracy skills and practices with low income. Both results feed stereotypes that vulnerable subgroups—with low numeracy proficiency or a low monthly budget—would not calculate much and this would even cause their complicated income situation. Findings of this article show that the tighter the budget is the more likely vulnerable subgroups are to monitor it by frequent calculations of prices, costs, or budgets. This article connects representative Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies data from the German data set with a local sample of people with lowest income. Findings show that vulnerable subgroups calculate more often than other parts of the population, but they mostly do without technical devices.
Comparer les résultats d’un modèle logit dichotomique ou polytomique entre plusieurs groupes à partir des probabilités estimées
Authors: Deauvieau Jérôme
Published: April 2019

Il est très fréquent en sociologie de chercher à comparer les effets d’une variable d’un même modèle logit réalisé sur plusieurs groupes. La manière la plus courante de réaliser cette opération a souvent consisté à comparer directement la valeur du coefficient logit de la variable d’intérêt. Or, cette pratique soulève de sérieuses objections méthodologiques dans le cas de la modélisation logit. Ce point a été mis en évidence dans la littérature sociologique par Allison à la fin des années 1990. De la fin des années 2000 jusqu’à aujourd’hui, un nombre conséquent de travaux ont été consacrés à ce sujet. Notre objectif ici est de traiter cette question dans le cas où la variable d’intérêt est catégorielle et dans un cadre général regroupant la modélisation logit dichotomique et polytomique. Les solutions discutées dans cet article consistent à passer par une traduction du coefficient logit sous forme de probabilités. Après avoir rappelé les données du problème et les différents registres de solutions proposées, nous étudions le comportement de deux méthodes de traduction d’un coefficient logit, l’écart expérimental et l’écart pur, du point de vue de la comparaison entre plusieurs groupes des résultats d’une modélisation logit.
Smileys, Stars, Hearts, Buttons, Tiles or Grids: Influence of Response Format on Substantive Response, Questionnaire Experience and Response Time
Authors: Toepoel Vera , Vermeeren Brenda , Metin Baran
Published: April 2019

Studies of the processes underlying question answering in surveys suggest that the choice of (layout for) response categories can have a significant effect on respondent answers. In recent years, the use of pictures, such as emojis or stars, is often used in online communication. It is unclear if pictorial answer categories can replace traditional verbal formats as measurement instruments in surveys. In this article we investigate different versions of a Likert-scale to see if they generate similar results and user experiences. Data comes from the non-probability based Flitspanel in the Netherlands. The hearts and stars designs received lower average scores compared to the other formats. Smileys produced average answer scores in line with traditional radio buttons. Respondents evaluated the smiley design most positively. Grid designs were evaluated more negatively. People wanting to compare survey outcomes should be aware of these effects and only compare results when similar response formats are used.
Faire parler les patrons, faire parler des patrons
Authors: Offerlé Michel
Published: April 2019

Ce texte reprend et approfondit une intervention faite le 11 janvier 2018 au séminaire : « Les sciences sociales en question : grandes controverses épistémologiques et méthodologiques ». Il présente les enseignements méthodologiques issus de 3 enquêtes auprès de patrons, menées en partie avec des jeunes chercheuses et chercheurs. Il rappelle d’abord que les patrons ne forment pas une catégorie homogène et que ce sont des enquêté.es comme les autres. Il interroge néanmoins les limites de ce type d’enquête par « entretiens-prélèvements », seule technique d’entretien possible auprès de cette population, surtout pour les plus « grands » d’entre eux, et discute des sujets qu’un.e sociologue peut aborder avec des patrons.
Harnessing instability as an opportunity for health system strengthening: A review of health system resilience
Authors: Chamberland-Rowe Caroline , Chiocchio François , Bourgeault Ivy Lynn
Published: April 2019

In recent years, resilience has emerged as a prominent topic in global health systems discourse as a result of the increasing variety and volume of sources of instability inflicting strain on systems. In line with this study’s intent to bring together existing literature on health system resilience as a means to understand the process through which systems achieve resilience, a review of academic literature related to health system resilience was conducted. Emerging from this review is an operational model of resilience that builds on existing health systems frameworks. The model highlights health system resilience as a process through which leaders in all sectors need to be mobilized in order to harness instability as an opportunity for health system strengthening rather than a threat to the system’s sustainability and integrity.
Do personnel with lived experience cultivate public values? Insights and lessons from mental healthcare managers
Authors: Merritt Cullen C.
Published: April 2019

Health organizations charged with addressing public problems sometimes employ persons with relevant lived experience in meaningful organizational roles. Because of their prior experience, these individuals have intimate knowledge of the subject matter that professional training and education cannot replicate. Mental health treatment facilities in particular have demonstrated a growing trend toward incorporating staff members with lived experience. This study conducted semi-structured interviews with senior-level managers of organizations in this field to gain insight into the public values associated with this practice. Findings reveal that several public values, including dialogue, social cohesion, sustainability, productivity, and altruism, are cultivated when treatment facilities incorporate staff members with lived experience into service delivery. This study concludes with lessons for mental health leaders seeking to address mental illness.
Young Women’s Acknowledgment of Reproductive Coercion: A Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Lévesque Sylvie , Rousseau Catherine
Published: April 2019

Reproductive coercion (RC) is a form of violence perpetuated against women. It occurs when male partners adopt behaviors meant to control a woman’s birth control or pregnancy despite her wishes. This amounts to interference with a woman’s autonomy in reproductive decisions. The three main forms of RC are birth control sabotage (including nonconsensual condom removal), pregnancy coercion, and controlling the outcome of a pregnancy. This qualitative exploratory study examines issues in the acknowledgment of RC. Participants were 21 young women in Québec (Canada), who had experienced this form of violence. Results of individual semi-directed interviews reveal that RC can be difficult to acknowledge. A thematic analysis demonstrates that awareness is modulated by the manifestations of RC and by the emotional bond with the perpetrator. Acknowledgment of RC behavior varies according to the form that is experienced: Nonconsensual condom removal is the most readily identified, whereas acknowledgment of pregnancy pressure and pregnancy coercion takes longer, requiring repeated incidents before it is identified as a form of violence. In addition, acknowledgment is facilitated when relationships are casual and uncommitted compared with romantic and committed. Moreover, reading about the issue, confiding in a friend or acquaintance, and finding a new partner who respects one’s reproductive rights facilitate RC acknowledgment. In contrast, not self-identifying as a victim, assuming responsibility for the incident, having a limited understanding of sexual violence, and experiencing other forms of violence with an intimate partner contribute to impede RC acknowledgment. Results are discussed in terms of practical implications for young adults and health care professionals.
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Sexual Harassment in the United States, 2018
Authors: Raj Anita , Johns Nicole , Jose Rupa
Published: April 2019

This study was designed to assess racial/ethnic disparities in victimization from sexual harassment and assault by sex in the United States, and to assess racial/ethnic differences in depression/anxiety as a consequence of sexual harassment or assault, among those victimized. In January 2018, the organization Stop Street Harassment led a nationally representative online survey regarding lifetime experiences of sexual harassment and assault with women and men aged 18+ ( N = 2,009). We used sex-stratified multinomial logistic regression models to assess racial/ethnic differences in (a) self-reported victimization from these sexual abuses and (b) depression/anxiety due to these abuses among those reporting victimization. Eighty-one percent (81%) of women and 43% of men reported victimization from sexual harassment (27% and 6% indicating sexual assault, for women and men, respectively). Among those reporting harassment or assault, 30.8% of women and 19.8% of men reported depression or anxiety as a consequence. We found no significant racial/ethnic disparities in victimization from sexual harassment or assault among women, although an insignificant trend of increased risk for harassment was seen for Hispanic relative to White women (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.95, 3.99). Black relative to White men had lower odds of reporting sexual harassment (AOR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.30, 0.93), and Hispanic relative to White men had higher odds of reporting sexual assault (AOR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.06, 4.45). No racial/ethnic differences were observed for women or men in likelihood of depression or anxiety as a consequence of this abuse. These findings highlight the ubiquity of sexual harassment and assault, especially for women, with increased risk for Hispanics relative to Whites. In addition, findings demonstrate mental health effects of these types of abuses regardless of sex and race/ethnicity. Broad social change is needed to support prevention and intervention efforts with intersectional and trauma-informed approaches.