bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Three-Dimensional Analysis of the Pharyngeal Airway Volume and Craniofacial Morphology in Patients With Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate
Authors: Kuang Wenying , Zheng Jie , Li Shaolin , Yuan Shiyu , He Hong , Yuan Wenjun
Published: August 2020

Objective:

This study aimed to determine the correlations between the craniofacial morphology and pharyngeal airway volume in patients with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP).

Design:

Retrospective study.

Setting:

Tertiary hospital.

Participants:

Twenty-seven patients with complete BCLP and 27 class I control patients, aged 10 to 14 years.

Main Outcome Measure:

The pharyngeal airway volume and craniofacial morphology were evaluated using cone-beam computed tomography. Measurements were compared between groups and any correlations were identified.

Results:

A significantly smaller total pharyngeal airway volume (TPV), oropharyngeal airway volume, and upper (UOPV) and lower (LOPV) oropharyngeal airway volume were found in patients with BCLP than in class I control patients, with no difference in the nasopharyngeal volume between groups. Furthermore, the craniofacial morphology measurements of N-Me, S-Go, Or-C, Ptm-C, Me-C, Co-Go, Go-Me, Ptm-Or, N-S-Ar, and Ar-Go-Me significantly differed between the BCLP and control groups (all P < .05). Multiple regression analysis indicated that Ptm-C and Me-C; Ptm-C, Or-C, and Me-C; and Me-C explained 20.3%, 38.9%, and 17.1% of the variations in TPV ( P = .025), UOPV ( P = .002), and LOPV ( P = .018), respectively.

Conclusions:

Total pharyngeal airway volume, TPV, OPV, UOPV, and LOPV were significantly smaller in patients with BCLP than in class I controls. In patients with BCLP, the maxilla showed inhibited sagittal development and a retrograde position; moreover, the pharyngeal airway volume was weakly associated with the position of the maxilla and mandible relative to the coronal plane.
Cleft Lip and Palate YouTube Videos: Content Usefulness and Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Bozkurt Aylin Pasaoglu , Aras Isıl
Published: August 2020

Objective:

This study aimed to describe the content of YouTube videos about cleft lip and palate (CLP) and to describe the sentiment analysis of related comments.

Design:

Retrospective, YouTube video, and sentiment analysis.

Methods:

YouTube videos (N = 112) about CLP were examined, including demographics and ratings of quality and usefulness. Comments on CLP (N = 205) were classified by content, and measured from negative (−5) to positive (+5) with a sentiment analysis program.

Results:

Videos were uploaded most often by universities and hospitals (25%) and health information sites (22%). Most videos were educational (49.1%) or described patient experiences (48.2%). The most frequent video topics were terminology, CLP treatment, and prenatal diagnosis information. Based on the comprehensiveness of CLP topics covered, videos were generally rated by authors as moderately useful (31.5%) or very useful (35.7%). Comments were mostly made by people with CLP (79%), and the median sentiment scores were +3, and −2 for positive and negative sentiments, respectively. General content categories were positive comments (24.8%), provided information about themselves (24.4%), negative comments (19.5%), comments on usefulness of video (17.6%), or advice (9.3%). While 36.1% of comments noted no difficulties, the remaining comments included difficulties with surgery pain (13.2%), psychological state (12.2%), embarrassment (11.7%), physical appearance (10.2%), long term therapy (9.8%), and speech problems (6.8%).

Conclusions:

Although useful and educational YouTube videos were available, the variability of content quality suggests that caution be used in relying on videos for information and that experts in CLP treatment should be consulted.
The Effect of Earlier Bone Grafting, Prior to Orthodontic Treatment, on SWAG Ratings of Graft Outcomes
Authors: Lowry Catherine H. , Long Ross E. , Russell Kathleen , Giltner Jennifer Q. , Weaver Lexi , Mercado Ana M. , Beals Stephen , Beals Patricia , Daskalogiannakis John , Hathaway Ronald R. , Doucet Jean-Charles , Semb Gunvor , Shaw William C.
Published: August 2020

Objective:

To compare the outcomes between 2 groups of patients with complete clefts treated with early secondary alveolar bone grafting (ABG) at 2 centers (5-7 years, before orthodontic intervention) and to a third group of patients treated at one of those centers (center 1) who had received later secondary ABG (8-10 years, after orthodontic intervention).

Design:

Blind retrospective analysis of cleft site radiographs using Americleft Standardized Way to Assess Grafts (SWAG) scale.

Patients:

A total of 99 patients with complete clefts from 2 North American cleft/craniofacial centers.

Interventions:

Secondary ABG representing 2 protocols: early grafting at a mean age of 6.6 years prior to any orthodontic intervention, and later grafting at a mean age of 10.2 years following pregrafting orthodontic intervention.

Main Outcome Measures:

Using occlusal radiographs, the SWAG scale from 0 (failed graft) to 6 (ideal) was used. Six trained, calibrated raters scored each radiograph twice, with the average of the 2 ratings used as the final score. Reliability was assessed using the weighted κ statistic. The significance of differences between groups was determined using the Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn test for pairwise comparisons.

Results:

Inter-rater reliability of SWAG method was good (0.631). Intra-rater reliability was excellent (0.817). There was a tendency for improved total graft outcome in the early grafted group from center 1 compared to the later grafted group with improvement being significantly different in only the coronal third of the early, preorthodontic grafted group. However, the difference was not statistically significant for the graft overall.
Targeting Smad-Mediated TGFß Pathway in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
Authors: Ungogo Marzuq A.
Published: August 2020

Revascularization surgeries such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are sometimes necessary to manage coronary heart disease (CHD). However, more than half of these surgeries fail within 10 years due to the development of intimal hyperplasia (IH) among others. The cytokine transforming growth factor-beta (TGFß) and its signaling components have been found to be upregulated in diseased or injured vessels, and to promote IH after grafting. Interventions that globally inhibit TGFß in CABG have yielded contrasting outcomes in in vitro and in vivo studies including clinical trials. With advances in molecular biology, it becomes clear that TGFß exhibits both protective and damaging roles, and only specific components such as some Smad-dependent TGFß signaling mediate vascular IH. The activin receptor-like kinase (ALK)-mediated Smad-dependent TGFß signaling pathways have been found to be activated in human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) following injury and in hyperplastic preimplantation vein grafts. It appears that focused targeting of TGFß pathway constitutes a promising therapeutic target to improve the outcome of CABG. This study dissects the role of TGFß pathway in CABG failure, with particular emphasis on the therapeutic potentials of specific targeting of Smad-dependent and ALK-mediated signaling.
Young Women Subjected to Nonconsensual Condom Removal: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Sexual Self-Perceptions
Authors: Boadle Allira , Gierer Catherine , Buzwell Simone
Published: August 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate nonconsensual condom removal (NCCR), also termed “stealthing,” which involves a male partner removing a condom during sex without knowledge or consent. Young women ( N = 364) provided self-report data on sociodemographic characteristics, NCCR experiences, and sexual self-perceptions. Almost 10% of the participants reported experiencing NCCR, with increased risk linked to nonheterosexuality, nonexclusive relationship status, and more sexual partners. Women with NCCR histories reported less confidence to refuse unwanted sexual advances and felt less in control of themselves as sexual beings. Together, the findings suggested NCCR is a somewhat common sexual risk behavior which may pose acute and sustained psychosexual harm to victims.
Hepatopulmonary Syndrome in an Adolescent With Insidious Hypoxia and Small Intrahepatic Portal Venous Shunts: Posttransplant Benefit From Sildenafil
Authors: Slowik Voytek , Hildreth Amber , Pacheco M Cristina , Finn Laura S , King Jeremy , Shivaram Giridhar , Files Matthew , Hsu Evelyn K , Horslen Simon
Published: August 2020

We report a patient without known preexisting liver disease who presented with hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) due to aberrant intrahepatic portal venous development leading to portosystemic shunting. Liver transplantation resulted in resolution of portal hypertension and HPS and sildenafil was safely tolerated in the treatment of persistent fatigue and hypoxemia. Twelve months later, patient has normal allograft function and has returned to normal activity.
The Use of Short, Supplemental Content Videos in the Ad/PR Classroom
Authors: Murphy John , Bouchacourt Lindsay
Published: August 2020

The objective of the research reported in this article was to evaluate the usefulness of supplemental videos in the advertising and public relations (PR) classroom, featuring luminaries in these same fields. Students in an introductory course in advertising and PR were given an assignment based on videos from an online library of short videos. Through a survey, students shared their attitudes and open-ended opinions toward the assignment and the videos. The findings suggest that having an assignment that incorporated videos was a useful addition to stimulate students' understanding of course materials. The videos were regarded positively along a number of important dimensions and motivated students to learn more about the advertising industry. This paper also includes five suggestions for incorporating the videos in an instructional setting.
Effectiveness of ovariohysterectomy on feline mammary fibroepithelial hyperplasia treatment
Authors: de Melo Evelynne HM , Câmara Diogo R , Notomi Marcia K , Jabour Flávia F , Garrido Rita A , Nogueira Alexandre CJ , Júnior Jarbas CS , de Souza Fernando W
Published: August 2020

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ovariohysterectomy (OVH) on feline mammary fibroepithelial hyperplasia (FMFH) treatment, as well as the influence of previous injectable progestin on clinical signs and treatment of FMFH.

Methods

Seventy-nine female cats diagnosed with FMFH between 2014 and 2018 were included. The animals were distributed as follows: (1) treated only with OVH (TA) or OVH plus antiprogestin (TB); and (2) no administration (G1) or previous administration (G2) of injectable progestin before FMFH diagnosis. Data regarding clinical signs of FMFH, occurrence of persistent mammary growth after OVH, and time until complete remission of FMFH post-surgery were recorded and evaluated.

Results

Mastectomy was not performed in any cat during the study. TA was adopted in 71/79 (89.9%) cases, with 42/71 (59.2%) from G2 and 29/71 (40.8%) from G1. TB was adopted in 8/79 (10.1%) cats, all from G2. Total remission of FMFH was observed in 73/79 (92.4%) cats, with six animals from G2 having died (n = 6/79 [7.6%]). The time until complete remission of FMFH was higher ( P <0.0001) in cats from G2 than from G1. Moreover, animals from G2 had a higher percentage of persistent mammary growth after OVH ( P <0.001) and a tendency to higher mortality ( P = 0.052) compared with G1.

Conclusions and relevance

Previous treatment with injectable progestin may result in a more complex clinical presentation of FMFH. Ovariohysterectomy is a good treatment option for FMFH when there is no interest in breeding the queen. Treatment with antiprogestin is recommended, especially if persistent mammary growth is detected after OVH.
Bilateral acute angle closure glaucoma as an initial presentation of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome: A clinical case report
Authors: Yuan Fuxiang , Zhang Yu , Yan Xiaoran
Published: August 2020

Purpose:

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) is an autoimmune disease with bilateral granulomatous uveitis and various systemic manifestations. Bilateral acute angle closure glaucoma (AACG) can be a rare initial manifestation of VKH that may be misdiagnosed as primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG).

Case report:

A 62-year-old woman with bilateral painless loss of vision referred to Qingdao Municipal Hospital. She had been diagnosed as PACG before admission and prescribed with anti-glaucoma treatment which did not improve her symptom. She had severe bilateral uveitis, optic disk swelling, and serous retinal detachment in both eyes. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was 20 mmHg in the right eye and 23 mmHg in the left eye, and her best corrected visual acuities (BCVAs) were 0.02 in both eyes. She was treated with oral corticosteroid therapy on a tapering schedule. One month after the therapy, the IOP remained well-controlled with deepened anterior chamber. Her visual acuity and symptom were improved.

Conclusions:

We experienced a case of VKH disease with an unusual presentation of bilateral secondary AACG. It is important for ophthalmologists to know about this rare cause of painless loss of vision so that it could be treated properly.
Direct and transsynaptic retrograde degeneration and optic nerve head microvascular changes in patients with hemianopia
Authors: Celik Buyuktepe Tuna , Bingöl Kızıltunç Pınar , Buyuktepe Murat , Atilla Huban
Published: August 2020

Purpose:

To investigate optic nerve head (ONH) microvascular changes secondary to transsynaptic retrograde degeneration (TRD), comperatively with direct retrograde degeneration and healthy controls.

Methods:

Patients with hemianopia due to intracranial lesion included in the study. Intracranial lesion was categorized by location: postgeniculate (causing TRD), chiasmal (causing direct retrograde degeneration). For the postgeniculate lesions, the eye on the same side of the lesion was defined as the ipsilateral eye and the eye on the opposite side as the contralateral eye. Optic disc microvasculature was evaluated with the help of optic coherence tomography angiography.

Results:

Sixteen eyes of 16 patients with chiasmal lesion, 28 eyes of 14 patients with postgeniculate lesion, and 30 eyes of 30 healthy subjects were included in the study. Ipsilateral eyes of the patients with postgeniculate lesion had decreased vessel density at the temporal sectors compatible with the affected nasal side of the visual field. Contralateral eyes showed no reduction of the vessel density at the affected nasal sectors. The eyes with chiasmal lesions had decreased vessel density at the peripapillary region and nasal half of the ONH compatible with temporal hemianopia. Vascular changes in the chiasmal lesion were more prominent than those of the postgeniculate lesion. Retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell complex thickness were reduced.

Conclusion:

Vessel density of ONH was reduced in patients with homonymous hemianopia, providing evidence for TRD secondary to acquired postgeniculate lesion. Direct retrograde degeneration was more prominent in affected sectors when compared to TRD.
Understanding What You Have Found: A Family With a Mutation in the LAMA1 Gene With Literature Review
Authors: Elmas Muhsin , Gogus Basak , Solak Mustafa
Published: August 2020

Introduction:

Cerebellar dysplasia with cysts (CDC) is an imaging finding which is typically seen with in individuals with dystroglycanopathy. One of the diseases causing this condition is “Poretti-Boltshauser Syndrome; PTBHS” (OMIM #615960). Homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the LAMA1 gene cause this disease.

Case presentation:

7 years old twin siblings consulted to the medical genetics department because of walking problems and cerebellar examination findings.

Management and Outcome:

Clinical and radiological findings of the patient suggested a syndrome with recessive inheritance. Whole exome sequencing (WES) test was performed for definitive diagnosis. As a result of the patient’s WES analysis, a homozygous mutation was detected in the LAMA1 gene.

Discussion:

When determining the inheritance pattern of genetic diseases, if parents have consanquinity, this situation leads us to recessive inheritance diseases. Even if we are not consanquinity, but they say the same village, it is necessary to pay attention to the diseases of the recessive group. Whole exome sequencing analysis results in large amount of data generation. A good clinical evaluation is required to detect the mutation as a result of large data. To understand what we have found, we need to know what we are looking for.
Iraqi Experts Consensus on the Management of Type 2 Diabetes/Prediabetes in Adults
Authors: Abusaib Mohammed , Ahmed Mazyar , Nwayyir Hussein Ali , Alidrisi Haider Ayad , Al-Abbood Majid , Al-Bayati Ali , Al-Ibrahimi Salim , Al-Kharasani Abbas , Al-Rubaye Haidar , Mahwi Taha , Ashor Ammar , Howlett Harry , Shakir Mahmood , Al-Naqshbandi Murad , Mansour Abbas
Published: August 2020

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management differs dramatically between Iraqi public and private sectors; this variability is due to treatment access discrepancy. The aim of this consensus is to put for the first-time uniform recommendation on how to manage patients with T2DM taking in consideration the local obstacles in Iraq. These consensuses were approved by a group of Iraqi Internist and diabetologist from all over the country. Up-to-date and latest level of evidence was used throughout the recommendation.
Tissue Phantoms for Biomedical Applications in Raman Spectroscopy: A Review
Authors: Vardaki Martha Z , Kourkoumelis Nikolaos
Published: August 2020

Raman spectroscopy is a group of analytical techniques, currently applied in several research fields, including clinical diagnostics. Tissue-mimicking optical phantoms have been established as an essential intermediate stage for medical applications with their employment from spectroscopic techniques to be constantly growing. This review outlines the types of tissue phantoms currently employed in different biomedical applications of Raman spectroscopy, focusing on their composition and optical properties. It is therefore an attempt to present an informed range of options for potential use to the researchers.
Lubrication of journal bearings by shear thinning lubricants using different constitutive models
Authors: Azeez Sako , Bertola Volfango
Published: August 2020

The lubrication of hydrodynamic journal bearings using shear thinning fluids is investigated analytically by comparing three different constitutive models. Whilst journal bearings have been in use for a long time, they are still fundamental components of the most advanced mechanical systems, and will remain so for a long time to come. In particular, the modified Reynolds equations for the power-law (Ostwald-de Waele), the Carreau and the Cross models were derived based on the perturbation method. The three models were used to calculate the pressure distribution and the load carrying capacity, and their results were compared and discussed. It is shown that at high shear rates (i.e., high shaft speeds) the Carreau and Cross models, which better describe the rheology of shear-thinning fluids, yield higher magnitudes of the pressure than the power-law model, while at low shear rates the three models are in better agreement.
Inflammatory activity following motor progression due to critical CNS demyelinating lesions
Authors: Nayak Shreya , Sechi Elia , Flanagan Eoin P , Messina Steven , Kassa Roman , Kantarci Orhun , Weinshenker Brian G , Keegan B Mark
Published: August 2020

Background:

New inflammatory activity is of unclear frequency and clinical significance in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS); it is uncertain in patient cohorts with motor progression due to critical demyelinating lesions.

Objectives:

The aim of this study is to determine the likelihood of central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory activity, assessed by new clinical relapses or active magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions, following onset of motor progression due to critical demyelinating lesions.

Methods:

Patients with progressive upper motor neuron impairment for ⩾1 year attributable to critical demyelinating lesions with single CNS lesion (progressive solitary sclerosis (PSS)), 2 to 5 total CNS demyelinating lesions (progressive “pauci-sclerosis” (PPS)), or >5 CNS demyelinating lesions and progressive exclusively unilateral monoparesis or hemiparesis (PUHMS) were identified. Clinical data were reviewed for acute MS relapses, and subsequent MRI was reviewed for active T1-gadolinium-enhancing or T2-demyelinating lesions.

Results:

None of the 91 patients (22 PSS, 40 PPS, 29 PUHMS) identified experienced clinical relapses over a median clinical follow-up of 93 months (range: 12–518 months). Nine patients (10%) developed active lesions over median 84 months radiologic follow-up (range: 12–518 months). Active lesions occurred in 24% PUHMS, 5% PSS, and 3% PPS cohorts.

Conclusion:

New inflammatory activity, defined by active lesions and clinical relapses following motor progression in patients with critical demyelinating lesions, is low. Disease-modifying therapies that reduce demyelinating relapses and active MRI lesions are of uncertain benefit in these cohorts.
Does hotel class moderate the impact of crime on operating performance?
Authors: Yang Yang , Hua Nan
Published: August 2020

Hotel guests are more likely to be targeted by criminals than local residents, and the hotel business is particularly vulnerable to various crimes. This study investigates whether guests prefer to stay at luxury hotels when in insecure neighborhoods to reduce the risk of victimization. Using monthly property-level data from 352 hotels between 2010 and 2014 in Houston, Texas, we estimate a series of econometric models to investigate the impact of crime. Results suggest that hotel class moderates the effect of crime on lodging performance, and high-end hotels are less influenced by crime incidents. For luxury hotels, this effect is further moderated by the lodging market structure of vicinity such that the effect is smaller for luxury hotels in a more concentrated market. Lastly, this study carefully addresses theoretical implications that confirm the routine activities theory framework as well as practical implications that suggest measures and strategies handling various impacts related to crime and hotel class studied herein.
Low stroke incidence in the TEMPiS telestroke network during COVID-19 pandemic: Effect of lockdown on thrombolysis and thrombectomy
Authors: Schlachetzki Felix , Theek Carmen , Hubert Nikolai D , Kilic Mustafa , Haberl Roman L , Linker Ralf A , Hubert Gordian J
Published: August 2020

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic emergency departments have noted a significant decrease in stroke patients. We performed a timely analysis of the Bavarian telestroke TEMPiS “working diagnosis” database.

Methods

Twelve hospitals from the TEMPiS network were selected. Data collected for January through April in years 2017 through 2020 were extracted and analyzed for presumed and definite ischemic stroke (IS), amongst other disorders. In addition, recommendations for intravenous thrombolysis (rtPA) and endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) were noted and mobility data of the region analyzed. If statistically valid, group-comparison was tested with Fisher’s exact test considering unpaired observations and ap-value < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Upon lockdown in mid-March 2020, we observed a significant reduction in recommendations for rtPA compared to the preceding three years (14.7% [2017–2019] vs. 9.2% [2020], p = 0.0232). Recommendations for EVT were significantly higher in January to mid-March 2020 compared to 2017–2019 (5.4% [2017–2019] vs. 9.3% [2020], p = 0.0013) reflecting its increasing importance. Following the COVID-19 lockdown mid-March 2020 the number of EVT decreased back to levels in 2017–2019 (7.4% [2017–2019] vs. 7.6% [2020], p = 0.1719). Absolute numbers of IS decreased in parallel to mobility data.

Conclusions

The reduced stroke incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic may in part be explained by patient avoidance to seek emergency stroke care and may have an association to population mobility. Increasing mobility may induce a rebound effect and may conflict with a potential second COVID-19 wave. Telemedical networks may be ideal databases to study such effects in near-real time.
Exploring Australian regional cancer patients’ experiences of clinical trial participation via telehealth
Authors: Lee Jin Joo , Burbury Kate , Underhill Craig , Harris Samuel , Shackleton Kylie , McBurnie Jacquiline , McPhee Narelle , Osmond Felicity , Wilkins Kathleen , Baden Paul , Krishnasamy Meinir
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Regional cancer patients face various barriers in accessing specialist cancer services. Teletrials are a new model of care that utilise communications technologies to enable access to and participation in clinical trials close to home. The present study aimed to explore the experiences of regional cancer patients and their carers while participating in a teletrial, and those of regional patients who travelled to a metropolitan centre for trial participation.

Methods

A concurrent, mixed methods study design was used to address the study aim. Patient quality of life data were gathered for both groups and an audio-recorded semi-structured interview undertaken to explore patients’ and carers’ experiences of the two modes of trial participation. Greater weighting was given to the qualitative data.

Results

Participants described teletrials as an acceptable and valuable initiative that reduced overall burden of trial participation. Irrespective of mode of delivery, patients and carers identified access to trials and specialist cancer services as an important equity issue for regional cancer patients.

Discussion

From the perspective of regional cancer patients and carers, a teletrial offers convenient, acceptable access to a clinical trial. Although not all patients may want to engage in a teletrial, patients and carers agree that it offers equity of opportunity for trial participation, irrespective of where people live.
Days of worry: Emotional intelligence and social support mediate worry in the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Zysberg Leehu , Zisberg Anna
Published: August 2020

This study tested a model accounting for worries among 275 adults during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel. The main hypothesis posited that psychological and instrumental social support will mediate the association between emotional intelligence and worry, controlling for the level of exposure to the virus risk and demographics. The results showed that social support mediated the above association: social support showed a negative association with worries while instrumental support showed a positive one. The results are discussed in light of existing findings and theories.
Querying ‘Karen’: The rise of the angry white woman
Authors: Negra Diane , Leyda Julia
Published: August 2020

The (often memetic) figure of the white female ‘Karen’ has surged to prominence of late, moving from social media vernacular into broader usage at exactly the moment when twin crises of public health and racial social justice have fomented momentous change and uncertainty in American life. The angry ‘Karen’ is invoked to indicate her manipulation of her racial power, but she is equally significant, we suggest, for her positioning within a pre-existing antagonistic service economy.
Health monitoring sensor placement optimization based on initial sensor layout using improved partheno-genetic algorithm
Authors: Qin Xianrong , Zhan Pengming , Yu Chuanqiang , Zhang Qing , Sun Yuantao
Published: August 2020

Optimal sensor placement is an important component of a reliability structural health monitoring system for a large-scale complex structure. However, the current research mainly focuses on optimizing sensor placement problem for structures without any initial sensor layout. In some cases, the experienced engineers will first determine the key position of whole structure must place sensors, that is, initial sensor layout. Moreover, current genetic algorithm or partheno-genetic algorithm will change the position of the initial sensor locations in the iterative process, so it is unadaptable for optimal sensor placement problem based on initial sensor layout. In this article, an optimal sensor placement method based on initial sensor layout using improved partheno-genetic algorithm is proposed. First, some improved genetic operations of partheno-genetic algorithm for sensor placement optimization with initial sensor layout are presented, such as segmented swap, reverse and insert operator to avoid the change of initial sensor locations. Then, the objective function for optimal sensor placement problem is presented based on modal assurance criterion, modal energy criterion, and sensor placement cost. At last, the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed method are validated by a numerical example of a quayside container crane. Furthermore, the sensor placement result with the proposed method is better than that with effective independence method without initial sensor layout and the traditional partheno-genetic algorithm.
Linguistic, psychological and epistemic vulnerability in asylum procedures: An interdisciplinary approach
Authors: Määttä Simo K , Puumala Eeva , Ylikomi Riitta
Published: August 2020

This article analyzes three video-recorded asylum interviews, their written records and the corresponding decisions by the Finnish Immigration Service. The goal is to identify the causes and consequences of vulnerability in instances that are particularly important when assessing whether the asylum seeker has a well-grounded fear of persecution. A combination of linguistic, psychological and epistemic perspectives on vulnerability shows that these three dimensions are closely intertwined in asylum interviews. Linguistic vulnerability is linked for the most part to interpreting, whereas psychological vulnerability stems from the difficulty in recounting traumatic experiences. Both linguistic and psychological vulnerabilities are central forces that also lead to epistemic vulnerability. Epistemic vulnerability, we claim, gives rise to certain practices within the asylum procedure, which again represents the materialization of the discourses of reporting, truth and credibility.
Risk, safety and security among visitors to Istanbul
Authors: Mawby Rob I , Ozascilar Mine , Ziyalar Neylan
Published: August 2020

Discourses concerning risk have become increasingly popular among tourism academics. While these cover a wide range of safety and security concerns, there is rather less of a focus on risk from conventional crime than on terrorist threats. In contrast, criminologists have written extensively about the actual and perceived risk of crime. Both tourism academics and criminologists have addressed the question of who is most concerned about crime, but in each case this analysis has focused on questioning people at one point in time. This paper differs in that it compares the perceptions of risk of those arriving on a visit to Istanbul with perceptions of safety among a similar sample of those returning from their trip. In the former case, we consider tourists’ perceptions of risk prior to their arrival. In the latter case, their perceptions of safety after their trip, and the consequences of this for future visits, a key concern within the tourism industry.
The All Affected Principle, and the weighting of votes
Authors: Angell Kim , Huseby Robert
Published: August 2020

In this article we defend the view that, on the All Affected Principle of voting rights, the weight of a person’s vote on a decision should be determined by and only by the degree to which that decision affects her interests, independently of her voting weights on other decisions. Further, we consider two recent alternative proposals for how the All Affected Principle should weight votes, and give reasons for rejecting both.
A simple and effective Measurement-Changes-Correction strategy for damage identification with aleatoric and epistemic model errors
Authors: Lu Zhong-Rong , Yin Zhiyi , Zhou Junxian , Liu Jike , Wang Li
Published: August 2020

The model errors are often inevitably encountered when a practical structure is analyzed by a mathematical baseline model, and such model errors would have undesired effects on damage identification. Aiming to alleviate the effect of the model errors, a new Measurement-Changes-Correction strategy that simply uses measurement changes to correct the measured data is developed in this article. To this end, the performance of the Measurement-Changes-Correction strategy under the aleatoric and epistemic model errors is systematically analyzed. The analysis is proceeded along with comparison to the conventional two-step strategy where the intact damage parameters are first updated from the measured data and then, damage identification is conducted upon the updated parameters. Thereafter, it is found that (1) the Measurement-Changes-Correction strategy performs as well as the two-step strategy under small aleatoric and epistemic model errors, (2) the Measurement-Changes-Correction strategy can still work under large scaling model parameter errors, but the two-step strategy may not, and (3) the Measurement-Changes-Correction strategy only requires correction of the measured data by the measurement changes so that the computation cost by the Measurement-Changes-Correction strategy is almost half of that by the two-step strategy. Numerical examples and International Association for Structural Control–American Society of Civil Engineers benchmark problems are studied to verify the performance of the proposed Measurement-Changes-Correction strategy.
Integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior With Norm Activation in a Pro-Environmental Context
Authors: Setiawan Budi , Afiff Adi Zakaria , Heruwasto Ignatius
Published: August 2020

Background:

The theory of planned behavior (TPB) is one of the famous theories used to predict a person’s intentions in various contexts, using the subjective normative component. This article, therefore, focused on proposing a conceptual model to fill the existing gaps related to the pro-environmental context, based on the TPB, with the normative aspects supplemented by incorporating the norm activation theory (NAT).

Focus of the Article:

The interaction between subjective and personal norms needs to be considered in order to acquire empirical data support from social marketing scholars. The awareness of consequences is used to form personal norms that function as an “instrumental attitude” in predicting intention. The existence of attitude needs to be distinguished between the experiential and instrumental, reflected in the awareness of consequences.

Program Design/Approach:

Pro-environmental behavior (PEB) in the context of waste sorting is a shared function of intentions, personal norm, and perceived control. It plays an important role in mediating the influence of motivational factors of TPB and personal norm of NAT, on waste sorting. Communication strategies in promoting waste sorting activity have to integrate social pressure with a feeling of moral obligation.

Importance to the Social Marketing Field:

The conceptual model shows that the integration of TPB and NAT contributes a more comprehensive perspective for social marketers to promote the waste sorting behavior of the targeted society.

Methods:

Five essential stages are systematically arranged to integrate TPB and NAT. The first stage explains the basic equation of TPB and NAT. The second proposes three essential propositions. The third provides logical thinking of the integrated equation model, while the fourth stage creates the visual form and explains it in detail. The fifth stage provides a clear and concise managerial implication and limitation of the model, accompanied by the possibility to expand it in future studies.

Recommendations for Research or Practice:

The social marketing practitioners and academicians interested in the issue of PEB context from the community, need to consider the integration of TPB and NAT in their activities. Social pressure within the community is strengthened by the formation of a sense of moral obligation with the simultaneous strengthening of the experiential and instrumental attitude.

Limitations:

The proposed conceptual model is limited to the utilization of a cultural approach as the central premise. It is also limited to the use of the fundamental theory in predicting humans’ behavior in a waste sorting context.
Attrition in a Longitudinal Online Randomized Controlled Trial with Prospective Homeowners
Authors: Chin Alycia , Couper Mick P. , Beckett Dustin
Published: August 2020

Longitudinal survey and experimental research is essential for understanding psychological and economic processes, but attrition is a concern. We examine attrition in a 2016 longitudinal randomized controlled trial of more than 13,000 prospective U.S. homeowners, in which participants were invited to up to seven online surveys delivered every two weeks. Our research has two aims. First, we document overall attrition, finding that 60% of participants completed the study and attrition primarily occurred soon after enrollment. Second, we examine correlates of attrition, examining not only relationships with demographic and study characteristics (enrolling for text message reminders, survey delivery day) but also considering under-studied economic and psychological characteristics (time preferences, subjective numeracy, and financial literacy). Overall, we find that many variables, including some psychological characteristics, predict attrition. Our results suggest specific variables for researchers to measure in adjusting for attrition and identifying interventions to reduce attrition.
Preliminary Results of the Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society National Registry
Authors: Ahn Samuel S. , Tahara Robert W. , Jones Lauren E. , Carr Jeffrey G. , Blebea John
Published: August 2020

Purpose

To present a new outcomes-based registry to collect data on outpatient endovascular interventions, a relatively new site of service without adequate historical data to assess best clinical practices. Quality data collection with subsequent outcomes analysis, benchmarking, and direct feedback is necessary to achieve optimal care.

Materials and Methods

The Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society (OEIS) established the OEIS National Registry in 2017 to collect data on safety, efficacy, and quality of care for outpatient endovascular interventions. Since then, it has grown to include a peripheral artery disease (PAD) module with plans to expand to include cardiac, venous, dialysis access, and other procedures in future modules. As a Qualified Clinical Data Registry approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, this application also supports new quality measure development under the Quality Payment Program. All physicians operating in an office-based laboratory or ambulatory surgery center can use the Registry to analyze de-identified data and benchmark performance against national averages. Major adverse events were defined as death, stroke, myocardial infarction, acute onset of limb ischemia, index bypass graft or treated segment thrombosis, and/or need for urgent/emergent vascular surgery.

Results

Since Registry inception in 2017, 251 participating physicians from 64 centers located in 18 states have participated. The current database includes 18,134 peripheral endovascular interventions performed in 12,403 PAD patients (mean age 72.3±10.2 years; 60.1% men) between January 2017 and January 2020. Cases were performed primarily in an office-based laboratory (85.1%) or ambulatory surgery center setting (10.4%). Most frequently observed procedure indications from 16,086 preprocedure form submissions included claudication (59%), minor tissue loss (16%), rest pain (9%), acute limb ischemia (5%), and maintenance of patency (3%). Planned diagnostic procedures made up 12.2% of cases entered, with the remainder indicated as interventional procedures (87.6%). The hospital transfer rate was 0.62%, with 88 urgent/emergent transfers and 24 elective transfers. The overall complication rate for the Registry was 1.87% (n=338), and the rate of major adverse events was 0.51% (n=92). Thirty-day mortality was 0.03% (n=6).

Conclusion

This report describes the current structure, methodology, and preliminary results of OEIS National Registry, an outcomes-based registry designed to collect quality performance data with subsequent outcome analysis, benchmarking, and direct feedback to aid clinicians in providing optimal care.
Lumen Loss at 1 Year After Bare Nitinol Stent Implantation in the Superficial Femoral Artery
Authors: Ito Nobuhiro , Takahara Mitsuyoshi , Soga Yoshimitsu , Hiramori Seiichi , Hirose Kaoru , Tomoi Yusuke , Ando Kenji
Published: August 2020

Purpose

To investigate lumen loss (LL) at 1 year after bare nitinol stent (BNS) implantation for de novo superficial femoral artery (SFA) lesions.

Materials and Methods

The subjects were 701 consecutive patients (mean age 74±9 years; 492 men) with 817 de novo SFA lesions treated with BNS implantation between January 2004 and September 2015. The mean lesion length was 141±88 mm and the mean vessel diameter was 5.4±0.9 mm. The endpoint was LL at 1 year after BNS implantation. Secondary outcomes were restenosis and target lesion revascularization (TLR) estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method; estimates are reported with the 95% confidence interval (CI). LL was defined as the minimum lumen diameter immediately after BNS implantation minus that at 1 year measured by angiographic quantitative vessel analysis. The distribution of LL in the overall population was estimated using an accelerated failure time model.

Results

Mean LL at 1 year was estimated to be 1.74±1.28 mm (95% CI 1.63 to 1.84). Current smoking was positively associated with LL (p=0.015), whereas lack of cilostazol use was correlated with an increase in LL (p=0.001). Reference vessel diameter and lesion length did not have any significant association with LL at 1 year. The 1-year cumulative estimate of restenosis was 25% (95% CI 22% to 28%); the corresponding value for TLR was 18% (95% CI 15% to 21%).

Conclusion

Mean LL progressed by at least 1.6 mm up to 1 year after BNS implantation. The risk factors for increased LL were current smoker and lack of cilostazol use.
Management of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Disease: Similarities and Differences Among Cardiovascular Guidelines and NICE Guidance
Authors: Spanos Konstantinos , Nana Petroula , Behrendt Christian-Alexander , Kouvelos George , Panuccio Giuseppe , Heidemann Franziska , Matsagkas Miltiadis , Debus Sebastian , Giannoukas Athanasios , Kölbel Tilo
Published: August 2020

The development of endovascular techniques has improved abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) management over the past 2 decades. Different cardiovascular societies worldwide have recommended the endovascular approach as the standard of care in their currently available guidelines. While endovascular treatment has established its role in daily clinical practice, a new debate has arisen regarding the indications, appropriateness, limitations, and role of open surgery. To inform this debate, the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched from 2010 to May 2020; the systematic search identified 5 articles published between 2011 and 2020 by 4 cardiovascular societies and the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Four debatable domains were assessed and analyzed: diagnostic methods and screening, preoperative management, indications and treatment modalities, and postoperative follow-up and endoleak management. The review addresses controversial proposals as well as widely accepted recommendations and “gray zone” issues that need to be further investigated and analyzed, such as screening in women, medical management, and follow-up imaging. While the recommendations for AAA management have significant overlap and agreement among international cardiovascular societies, the NICE guidelines diverge regarding the role of open repair in aortic disease, recommending conventional surgery in most elective cases.
The Integrated Analyses of Driver Genes Identify Key Biomarkers in Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Xu Qili , Song Aili , Xie Qigui
Published: August 2020

Aim:

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer, the incidence rate has continuously increased worldwide. However, there are still lack of effective molecular biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The study was conducted to identify driver genes that may serve as potential biomarkers for the disease.

Methods:

The computational tools oncodriveCLUST, oncodriveFM, icages and drgap were used to detect driver genes in thyroid cancer using somatic mutations from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Integrated analyses were performed on the driver genes using multiomics data from the TCGA database.

Results:

A set of 291 driver genes were identified in thyroid cancer. BRAF, NRAS, HRAS, OTUD4, EIF1AX were the top 5 frequently mutated genes in thyroid cancer. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified 4 coexpression modules. The modules 1-3 were significantly associated with patients’ tumor size, residual tumor, cancer stage, distant metastasis and multifocality. SEC24B, MET and ITGAL were the hub genes in the modules 1-3 respectively. Hierarchical clustering analysis of the 20 driver genes with the most frequent copy number changes revealed 3 clusters of PRAD patients. Cluster 1 tumors exhibited significantly older age, tumor size, cancer stages, and poorer prognosis than cluster 2 and 3 tumors. 16 genes were significantly associated with number of lymph nodes, tumor size and pathologic stage, such as IL7 R, IRS1, PTK2B, MAP3K3 and FGFR2.

Conclusions:

The set of cancer genes and subgroups of patients shed insight on the tumorigenesis of thyroid cancer and open up avenues for developing prognostic biomarkers and driver gene-targeted therapies in thyroid cancer.
Association of ERCC5 Genetic Polymorphisms With Cirrhosis and Liver Cancer
Authors: Yang Gang , Yang Yuxia , Ma Xin , Huang Lijun , Li Wenbin , Song Xuejuan , Zhang Huiqin , Liu Wenwen , Lu Juanjuan
Published: August 2020

Introduction:

To explore association of excision repair cross-complementing 5 ( ERCC5) genetic polymorphisms with cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Methods:

A total of 365 patients were enrolled, including control group (n = 133), cirrhosis group (n = 122), and liver cancer group (n = 110). The genotyping of ERCC5 rs2016073, rs751402, rs2094258, rs2296147, and rs2296148 was measured by using MassARRAY iPLEX technology.

Results:

There were no significant differences in gender and drinking among the 3 groups ( P > .05). There were significant differences among the 3 groups in both age-group ≤60 and >60 subgroup patients. Locus rs2016073 was significantly different among 3 groups, and genotype GG (n = 0) was not observed in liver cancer group. As for locus rs751402, there were significant differences among 3 groups, and genotype AA (n = 0) was not observed in liver cancer group. As for locus rs2094258, there were no significant differences among 3 groups. Locus rs2296147 showed no significant differences among 3 groups ( P > .05), but genotype CC was not observed in liver cancer group (n = 0). As for locus rs2296148, there were significant differences among 3 groups, and genotype TC (n = 0) was not observed in cirrhosis group. Regression analysis found locus rs751402 had significant difference between control group and cirrhosis group, patients with genotype AA and genotype GG were more likely to have cirrhosis than those with genotype GA.

Conclusion:

Our study suggested that genotype AA, genotype GG of ERCC5 locus rs751402, and genotype TC of locus rs2296148 may be important targets for cirrhosis, while ERCC5 polymorphisms (rs2016073 and ERCC5 polymorphisms, rs2016073 with genotype GG, and rs751402 with genotype AA) may be potential markers for liver cancer.