bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychometric properties of BREALD-30 for assessing adolescents’ oral health literacy
Authors: Lima Larissa Chaves Morais de , Neves Érick Tássio Barbosa , Dutra Laio Da Costa , Firmino Ramon Targino , Araújo Luiza Jordânia Serafim de , Paiva Saul Martins , Ferreira Fernanda Morais , Granville-Garcia Ana Flávia
Published: August 2019

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry (BREALD-30) administered to adolescents. METHODS: The study included 750 adolescents: 375 aged 12 years and 375 aged 15–19 years, attending public and private schools in Campina Grande, state of Paraíba, Brazil, in 2017. Reliability was measured based on internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Convergent validity was measured based on correlations between BREALD-30 and Functional Literacy Indicator scores. Divergent validity was measured by comparing BREALD-30 scores with sociodemographic variables. For predictive validity, the association between BREALD-30 scores and the presence of cavitated carious lesions was tested using a multiple logistic regression model. All statistical tests were performed with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: BREALD-30 showed good internal consistency for the 12 year olds and 15 to19 year olds (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.871 and 0.834, respectively) and good test-retest reliability [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.898 and 0.974; kappa = 0.804 and 0.808, respectively]. Moreover, item-total correlation was satisfactory for all items. BREALD-30 had convergent validity with the Functional Literacy Indicator for 12 year olds (rs = 0.558, p < 0.001) and for 15 to 19 year olds (rs = 0.652, p < 0.001). Participants with higher oral health literacy levels who attended private schools (p < 0.001), belonged to economic classes A and B2 (p < 0.001), and who had parents with higher education levels (p < 0.001) were included, indicating the divergent validity of the BREALD-30. Participants with lower BREALD-30 scores were more likely to have cavitated carious lesions [12 year olds: odds ratio (OR) = 2.37; 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.48–3.80; 15 to 19 year olds: OR = 1.96; 95%CI 1.24–3.11]. CONCLUSIONS: BREALD-30 shows satisfactory psychometric properties for use on Brazilian adolescents and can be applied as a fast, simple, and reliable measure of oral health literacy.
Real-life challenge: training program on drug use and adolescence in primary health care
Authors: Pereira Bruna Antunes de Aguiar Ximenes , Azevedo Renata Cruz Soares de
Published: August 2019

Guidelines emphasize the importance of approaching substance use by adolescents, particularly in primary health care. However, there are problems with its incorporation. The objective of this study was to present the training stages on the theme for professionals in primary health care. Researchers conducted logistic structuring, content elaboration and evaluation of difficulties before and after training. Sixty percent of professionals involved in the care of adolescents in a medium-sized city participated in the study. More than half of them stated having difficulties in the approach, mainly theoretical limitations and short consultations. After the training, the professionals informed whether they felt more prepared, but practical difficulties remained.
Epigenetic Regulation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells by Histone H3 Lysine 9 Dimethylation Attenuates Target Gene-Induction by Inflammatory Signaling
Authors: Harman Jennifer L. , Dobnikar Lina , Chappell Joel , Stokell Benjamin G. , Dalby Amanda , Foote Kirsty , Finigan Alison , Freire-Pritchett Paula , Taylor Annabel L. , Worssam Matthew D. , Madsen Ralitsa R. , Loche Elena , Uryga Anna , Bennett Martin R. , Jørgensen Helle F.
Published: August 2019

Objective:

Vascular inflammation underlies cardiovascular disease. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) upregulate selective genes, including MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases) and proinflammatory cytokines upon local inflammation, which directly contribute to vascular disease and adverse clinical outcome. Identification of factors controlling VSMC responses to inflammation is therefore of considerable therapeutic importance. Here, we determine the role of Histone H3 lysine 9 di-methylation (H3K9me2), a repressive epigenetic mark that is reduced in atherosclerotic lesions, in regulating the VSMC inflammatory response.

Approach and Results:

We used VSMC-lineage tracing to reveal reduced H3K9me2 levels in VSMCs of arteries after injury and in atherosclerotic lesions compared with control vessels. Intriguingly, chromatin immunoprecipitation showed H3K9me2 enrichment at a subset of inflammation-responsive gene promoters, including
MMP3
,
MMP9
,
MMP12
, and
IL6
, in mouse and human VSMCs. Inhibition of G9A/GLP (G9A-like protein), the primary enzymes responsible for H3K9me2, significantly potentiated inflammation-induced gene induction in vitro and in vivo without altering NFκB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell) and MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signaling. Rather, reduced G9A/GLP activity enhanced inflammation-induced binding of transcription factors NFκB-p65 and cJUN to H3K9me2 target gene promoters
MMP3
and
IL6
. Taken together, these results suggest that promoter-associated H3K9me2 directly attenuates the induction of target genes in response to inflammation in human VSMCs.

Conclusions:

This study implicates H3K9me2 in regulating the proinflammatory VSMC phenotype. Our findings suggest that reduced H3K9me2 in disease enhance binding of NFκB and AP-1 (activator protein-1) transcription factors at specific inflammation-responsive genes to augment proinflammatory stimuli in VSMC. Therefore, H3K9me2-regulation could be targeted clinically to limit expression of MMPs and IL6, which are induced in vascular disease.
Mechanism of Enhanced MerTK-Dependent Macrophage Efferocytosis by Extracellular Vesicles
Authors: de Couto Geoffrey , Jaghatspanyan Ervin , DeBerge Matthew , Liu Weixin , Luther Kristin , Wang Yizhou , Tang Jie , Thorp Edward B. , Marbán Eduardo
Published: August 2019

Objective:

Extracellular vesicles secreted by cardiosphere-derived cells (CDC
ev
) polarize macrophages toward a distinctive phenotype with enhanced phagocytic capacity (M
CDCev
). These changes underlie cardioprotection by CDC
ev
and by the parent CDCs, notably attenuating the no-reflow phenomenon following myocardial infarction, but the mechanisms are unclear. Here, we tested the hypothesis that M
CDCev
are especially effective at scavenging debris from dying cells (ie, efferocytosis) to attenuate irreversible damage post-myocardial infarction.

Approach and Results:

In vitro efferocytosis assays with bone marrow-derived macrophages, and in vivo transgenic rodent models of myocardial infarction, demonstrate enhanced apoptotic cell clearance with M
CDCev
. CDC
ev
exposure induces sustained MerTK expression in M
CDCev
through extracellular vesicle transfer of microRNA-26a (via suppression of
Adam17
); the cardioprotective response is lost in animals deficient in MerTK. Single-cell RNA-sequencing revealed phagocytic pathway activation in M
CDCev
, with increased expression of complement factor
C1qa
, a phagocytosis facilitator.

Conclusions:

Together, these data demonstrate that extracellular vesicle modulation of MerTK and C1qa expression leads to enhanced macrophage efferocytosis and cardioprotection.
SCF (Stem Cell Factor) and cKIT Modulate Pathological Ocular Neovascularization
Authors: Kim Koung Li , Seo Songyi , Kim Jee Taek , Kim Jaetaek , Kim Won , Yeo Yeongju , Sung Jong-Hyuk , Park Sang Gyu , Suh Wonhee
Published: August 2019

Objective:

Aberrant neovascularization is a leading cause of blindness in several eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The identification of key regulators of pathological ocular neovascularization has been a subject of extensive research and great therapeutic interest. Here, we explored the previously unrecognized role of cKIT and its ligand, SCF (stem cell factor), in the pathological ocular neovascularization process.

Approach and Results:

Compared with normoxia, hypoxia, a crucial driver of neovascularization, caused cKIT to be highly upregulated in endothelial cells, which significantly enhanced the angiogenic response of endothelial cells to SCF. In murine models of pathological ocular neovascularization, such as oxygen-induced retinopathy and laser-induced choroidal neovascularization models, cKIT and SCF expression was significantly increased in ocular tissues, and blockade of cKIT and SCF using
cKit
mutant mice and anti-SCF neutralizing IgG substantially suppressed pathological ocular neovascularization. Mechanistically, SCF/cKIT signaling induced neovascularization through phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β and enhancement of the nuclear translocation of β-catenin and the transcription of β-catenin target genes related to angiogenesis. Inhibition of β-catenin-mediated transcription using chemical inhibitors blocked SCF-induced in vitro angiogenesis in hypoxia, and injection of a β-catenin agonist into
cKit
mutant mice with oxygen-induced retinopathy significantly enhanced pathological neovascularization in the retina.

Conclusions;

Our data reveal that SCF and cKIT are promising novel therapeutic targets for treating vision-threatening ocular neovascular diseases.
Heparan Sulfate–Editing Extracellular Sulfatases Enhance VEGF Bioavailability for Ischemic Heart Repair
Authors: Korf-Klingebiel Mortimer , Reboll Marc R. , Grote Karsten , Schleiner Hauke , Wang Yong , Wu Xuekun , Klede Stefanie , Mikhed Yuliya , Nobre André , Bauersachs Johann , Klintschar Michael , Rudat Carsten , Kispert Andreas , Niessen Hans W. , Lübke Torben , Dierks Thomas , Wollert Kai C.
Published: August 2019

Rationale:

Mechanistic insight into the inflammatory response after acute myocardial infarction may inform new molecularly targeted treatment strategies to prevent chronic heart failure.

Objective:

We identified the sulfatase SULF2 in an in silico secretome analysis in bone marrow cells from patients with acute myocardial infarction and detected increased sulfatase activity in myocardial autopsy samples. SULF2 (Sulf2 in mice) and its isoform SULF1 (Sulf1) act as endosulfatases removing 6-
O
-sulfate groups from heparan sulfate (HS) in the extracellular space, thus eliminating docking sites for HS-binding proteins. We hypothesized that the Sulfs have a role in tissue repair after myocardial infarction.

Methods and Results:

Both Sulfs were dynamically upregulated after coronary artery ligation in mice, attaining peak expression and activity levels during the first week after injury. Sulf2 was expressed by monocytes and macrophages, Sulf1 by endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Infarct border zone capillarization was impaired, scar size increased, and cardiac dysfunction more pronounced in mice with a genetic deletion of either Sulf1 or Sulf2. Studies in bone marrow-chimeric Sulf-deficient mice and Sulf-deficient cardiac endothelial cells established that inflammatory cell-derived Sulf2 and endothelial cell-autonomous Sulf1 promote angiogenesis. Mechanistically, both Sulfs reduced HS sulfation in the infarcted myocardium, thereby diminishing Vegfa (vascular endothelial growth factor A) interaction with HS. Along this line, both Sulfs rendered infarcted mouse heart explants responsive to the angiogenic effects of HS-binding Vegfa
164
but did not modulate the angiogenic effects of non-HS-binding Vegfa
120
. Treating wild-type mice systemically with the small molecule HS-antagonist surfen (bis-2-methyl-4-amino-quinolyl-6-carbamide, 1 mg/kg/day) for 7 days after myocardial infarction released Vegfa from HS, enhanced infarct border-zone capillarization, and exerted sustained beneficial effects on cardiac function and survival.

Conclusions:

These findings establish HS-editing Sulfs as critical inducers of postinfarction angiogenesis and identify HS sulfation as a therapeutic target for ischemic tissue repair.
The road ahead in clinical network neuroscience
Authors: Douw Linda , van Dellen Edwin , Gouw Alida A. , Griffa Alessandra , de Haan Willem , van den Heuvel Martijn , Hillebrand Arjan , Van Mieghem Piet , Nissen Ida A. , Otte Willem M. , Reijmer Yael D. , Schoonheim Menno M. , Senden Mario , van Straaten Elisabeth C. W. , Tijms Betty M. , Tewarie Prejaas , Stam Cornelis J.
Published: August 2019

Clinical network neuroscience, the study of brain network topology in neurological and psychiatric diseases, has become a mainstay field within clinical neuroscience. Being a multidisciplinary group of clinical network neuroscience experts based in The Netherlands, we often discuss the current state of the art and possible avenues for future investigations. These discussions revolve around questions like “How do dynamic processes alter the underlying structural network?” and “Can we use network neuroscience for disease classification?” This opinion paper is an incomplete overview of these discussions and expands on ten questions that may potentially advance the field. By no means intended as a review of the current state of the field, it is instead meant as a conversation starter and source of inspiration to others.
Ritual and Rationality in Islam: A Case Study on Nail Polish
Authors: Mustafa Abdul-Rahman
Published: August 2019

This article examines an ongoing controversy in Islamic ritual law concerning the effect of nail polish on one’s ritual purity. Ritual law serves as the canvas on which some of the most intriguing debates on Islamic theology, rationality and legal reasoning are sketched out as rival conceptualizations of the nature of God – as a rational and merciful agent or as supra-rational being – generate rival sets of jurisprudential and legal doctrines. The study of ritual law also reveals key fault lines in contemporary Sunni Islamic legal and theological thought, particularly the ways in which scholars expressing varying degrees of sympathy with Salafism – from the South Asian Ahl-e Ḥadīth tradition, the Ahl al-Ḥadīth tradition and the Ḥanbalī tradition – create new positions in Sunni law while continuing to champion principles and precedents valorized in Salafism and making their arguments legible in Sunnism.
Clinical Veterinarians’ Perceptions about Sexes and Breeds of Dogs Involved in Aggressiveness in Montevideo, Uruguay
Authors: Ruiz Santos Paul , Belino María , Rijo Ruben , Piaggio José , Damián Juan Pablo
Published: August 2019

Aggression is the most common dog behavioral problem, with important implications for public health. The aim of this study was to determine the perception of veterinarian clinicians of Montevideo regarding canine aggression, the sex effect, and the main breeds involved. One hundred veterinary clinics of Montevideo city were randomly selected to complete a survey about aggressiveness in dogs. Most veterinarians opined that males are more involved than females in canine aggression and that the Pit bull, the German Shepherd, and Uruguayan Cimarron breeds were the most involved in both types of aggression considered (between canines and towards people), while the Cocker Spaniel breed was involved in aggression towards humans and the Rottweiler breed in aggression between dogs. This work highlights that both veterinarians and other experts within the community identify the Uruguayan Cimarron as being aggressive, which indicates that the behavior of this breed may be of particular concern.
L’idée D’Université à L’heure des Démocraties Modernes : Quel Projet ?
Authors: Point Christophe
Published: August 2019

With this proposal, we wish to revisit the Idea of the University in the perspective of the democratic project of the American philosopher and pragmatist John Dewey. Our hypothesis consists in the thesis that the deweyen project confronts the problem of the social distribution of knowledge, in the aim of giving us the means to transform the latter. In this way, if we consider that the university is part of this distribution through its student learning function, then our purpose is to demonstrate that this learning is currently guided by an individual intelligence paradigm harms that the development of collective intelligence. For John Dewey, the latter is one of the central means of his democratic project which would reconcile the Idea of a University with real University institutions. Therefore, according to him, if universities want to contribute to the democratic project, we must adopt a new pedagogical orientation promoting individual and collective intelligence.
Cat Demographics & Impact on Wildlife in the USA, the UK, Australia and New Zealand: Facts and Values
Authors: Rowan Andrew N. , Kartal Tamara , Hadidian John
Published: August 2019

The estimated populations of domestic cats in the USA, whether pets, stray or feral, vary widely and have changed significantly over the past forty to fifty years. Accurate estimates of these populations are necessary to determine appropriate policy responses to calls to control domestic cats and to determine the impact of domestic cats on wildlife populations. Domestic cat predation on wild animals is being hotly debated in Australia, New Zealand and the USA (but much less so in the UK). The paper explores some of the different policy approaches being promoted in each country and examines the status of cats in each country. For example, although there is strong movement to control cat predation in New Zealand, the country also has the highest relative (to humans) population of pet cats in the world, despite the vulnerability of native animals to predation by introduced carnivores.
Two new species of Connarus (Connaraceae) from Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Authors: TOLEDO CÁSSIO A.P. , SOUZA VINICIUS CASTRO , LUCAS EVE J.
Published: August 2019

Two new species of Connarus are here described and illustrated: C. aureus and C. tomentosus. These taxa are until now known only to the Atlantic Forest in Southeastern Brazil. Diagnostic characteristics of the new species and an identification key of Connarus from Bahia and Espírito Santo states are provided, along with information on their habitat and ecology.
Observations on the terrestrial leech Haemopis septagon Sawyer & Shelley, 1976 (Annelida: Hirudinea) from the Outer Banks, North Carolina, USA, with a revision of the species
Authors: SAWYER ROY T.
Published: August 2019

The terrestrial leech Haemopis septagon Sawyer & Shelley, 1976, is indigenous to the Great Dismal Swamp and environs of northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia, USA. Ever since its discovery in 1895 at Lake Drummond in the Dismal Swamp, this elusive species has been recognized as taxonomically aberrant. For example, it is the only jawed leech in the United States with seven annuli between gonopores, and the only one with sixteen complete (5-annulate) segments, both highly conserved characters in the Hirudinidae.                The discovery of two populations of H. septagon in the Albemarle Peninsula in the Outer Banks region of North Carolina afforded an opportunity to investigate the taxonomy and biology of this inadequately characterized species. Its description in this study is the first comprehensive account of the external and internal anatomy of this species since its incomplete original description in 1976. This study is also an opportunity to correct errors in the incomplete original description, and to elucidate morphological and developmental variability of taxonomic significance. Evidence is presented for the first time of a possible aquatic or semi-aquatic form of H. septagon.                These Albemarle individuals were compared to the holotype from Durham County, NC, specimens from southeastern Virginia and a terrestrial leech recently reported from southern New Jersey. All of these fall within the variability demonstrated in this study for the Albemarle populations, and are accordingly recognized as the same species, H. septagon.  Consequentially, Haemopis ottorum Wirchansky & Shain, 2010, is recognized as a junior synonym of Haemopis septagon.
Two species of Ceradocus collected from coastal areas in Japan, with description of a new species (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Maeridae)
Authors: ARIYAMA HIROYUKI
Published: August 2019

Two species of the amphipod genus Ceradocus Costa, 1853 were collected from coastal areas in Japan: C. kiiensis sp. nov. from Wakayama Prefecture and C. laevis Oleröd, 1970 from Okinawa Prefecture. Both of the species share the asymmetrical male gnathopod 2, the larger male gnathopod 2 with strongly oblique palm and the uropod 3 with wide rami. Ceradocus kiiensis also has the palm with a single excavation in the larger male gnathopod 2 and the pleonites 1–3 with many dorsal teeth. This new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the absence of the anterodistal projection on the basis of the larger male gnathopod 2, the presence of the posterior teeth on the pleonal epimera 1–2, and others. Ceradocus laevis is characterized by the palm having triangular and small trapezoidal projections in the larger male gnathopod 2, the pereopods 5–7 bases with rounded posterodistal lobe, the pleonites and urosomites lacking dorsal teeth, and the pleonal epimera 1–2 without posterior teeth. This species can be easily distinguished from C. kiiensis by the smooth dorsal margins of the pleonites. A key to Ceradocus species in Japan is provided.
Supporting First-Generation, Low-Income, and Underrepresented Students’ Transitions to College Through Comprehensive and Integrated Programs
Authors: Kezar Adrianna , Kitchen Joseph A.
Published: August 2019

This special issue of American Behavioral Scientist focuses on college transition programs that have either comprehensive or integrated designs, exploring whether, how, and why these programs are making progress toward improving success among marginalized student populations to address long-standing retention and completion gaps that have troubled higher education for decades. Comprehensive programs offer a broad range of supports coordinated within a single program. Integrated programs link students to several existing supports on campus so that they essentially become a comprehensive support program. There are multiple institutional and structural factors that can thwart the success and development of underrepresented and marginalized students. Comprehensive and integrated programs represent an opportunity to structure or coordinate an environment within the larger university community that is explicitly oriented toward the particular needs and success of these student populations. This volume of articles focuses on two major comprehensive and integrated programs: (1) the Thompson Scholars Learning Communities program and (2) the California State University STEM Collaboratives Initiative.
Sharing a Journey, Sharing a Story: The Missiological Hope
Authors: Kaunda Chammah J.
Published: August 2019

This article engages the Emmaus narrative from a missiological hope perspective. It argues that the story conceals critical resources for constructing a critical missiological hope in the African context of neo-colonialism which can empower African Christians to actively participate in God’s mission of struggle for liberation and a search to actualize the reign of God on earth as it is heaven.
Does cultural proximity contain terrorism diffusion?
Authors: Böhmelt Tobias , Bove Vincenzo
Published: August 2019

What are the security consequences of population movements? This article seeks to provide a better understanding of when, how, and under what conditions terrorism diffuses across countries via migration flows as a vehicle. We contribute to this debate by studying the influence of migrants’ cultural proximity to the native population of their host country. It is argued that cultural closeness can contain such terrorism diffusion. Similarities in societal norms, customs, or beliefs seem likely to induce trust in the social interactions between migrants and locals. This, in turn, makes it more difficult for terrorist organizations to exploit transnational population movements for radicalization and as a recruitment pool – one of the core mechanisms linking population flows with terrorism. Conversely, migrants from culturally distant societies may find it more challenging to integrate into their new homes. A fertile ground for terrorist organizations for the recruitment of new followers is thereby more likely. Our analyses present consistent evidence that the effect of terrorism diffusing across countries weakens when accounting for cultural closeness between migrants and host societies. This key finding of our research has crucial implications for policy’s and scholars’ understanding of terrorism, the diffusion of terrorism across countries, and the security consequences of population movements.
Which Future for Traditional Travel Agencies? A Dynamic Capabilities Approach
Authors: Abrate Graziano , Bruno Clementina , Erbetta Fabrizio , Fraquelli Giovanni
Published: August 2019

The advent of the digital age seems to have displaced brick-and-mortar travel agencies. This implies that to be competitive, traditional travel agencies must reconfigure their business processes. Using the resource-based view as a theoretical paradigm predicting performance differentials, this article investigates the impact of dynamic capabilities on operational capabilities, and the way network resources, generally deriving from interfirm connections, moderate this relationship. The empirical research design uses a two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis approach on a sample of traditional travel agencies. The findings, corroborated by a subsequent qualitative analysis, suggest that the dynamic capabilities unfolding from shifting the business processes from the outgoing to the incoming market segment, and from retailing to packaging tourism products, boost the competitiveness of brick-and-mortar travel agencies. However, while network resources positively support the shift from outgoing to incoming processes, they may hinder the shift from retailing to packaging processes.
A Transformative Era: The Roberts Court, Constitutional Interpretation, and Public Administration
Authors: Newbold Stephanie P.
Published: August 2019

The Constitutional School of American Public Administration dictates that the rule of law serves as the intellectual and practical foundation of the field. One way to support the Constitutional School is to examine how the U.S. Supreme Court works to shape the administrative state in its own image. This article provides a thorough examination for how the Court under Chief Justice John Roberts constitutionally protected laws affecting gay marriage, affirmative action, abortion rights, gun ownership, and health care while simultaneously narrowed constitutional protections concerning voting rights, campaign finance laws, and employer mandated contraceptive coverage. These contrasting constitutional viewpoints not only represent a transformative era in the history of the nation’s highest Court but also in how public administrative agencies implement the Court’s decisions.
Discrete-time backstepping control with nonlinear adaptive disturbance attenuation for the inverted-pendulum system
Authors: Adıgüzel Fatih , Yalçın Yaprak
Published: August 2019

A discrete-time backstepping controller with an active disturbance attenuation property for the Inverted-Pendulum system is constructed in this paper. The main purpose of this study is to show that Immersion and Invariance (I & I) approach can be used to design a nonlinear observer for disturbance estimation and demonstrate its effectiveness considering a nonlinear system with an unstable equilibrium point, namely Inverted-Pendulum system, by utilizing the estimated values in backstepping control design. All designs are directly performed in discrete-time domain to obtain directly implementable observer and controller in discrete processors with superior performance compared to emulators. The Inverted-Pendulum system is not in strict feedback form therefore backstepping procedure cannot be directly applied. In order to enable backstepping construction, firstly a partial feedback linearization is performed and afterwards a novel discrete-time coordinate transformation is proposed. Prior to the construction of partial feedback linearizing and backstepping controller, a nonlinear disturbance estimator design is proposed with Immersion and Invariance approach. The estimated disturbance values used in the partial feedback linearization and construction of the backstepping controller. The global asymptotic stability of the estimator and local asymptotic stability of overall closed loop system are proved in the sense of Lyapunov. Performance of proposed direct discrete-time backstepping control with discrete I & I observer is compared with a backstepping sliding mode controller with another nonlinear disturbance observer (NDO) by simulations.
Migration, Gender Roles, and Mental Illness: The Case of Somali Immigrants in Norway
Authors: Næss Anders
Published: August 2019

This article explores why Somali immigrant women in Norway have a lower utilization rate of mental-health services compared to Somali men. Based on qualitative research, it argues that the maintenance of traditional gender ideals shapes barriers and opportunities for mental-health utilization. Discussing health beliefs and responses in relation to gender roles and integration, the study identifies different illness implications for Somali men and women. Whereas Somali women’s symbolic association with family accentuates perceived stigma, contributing to collective and individual concealments, higher utilization of mental-health services among Somali men is associated with social exposure. The findings suggest that research and outreach measures related to mental health require attention to immigrant women.
Disability, cash transfers and family practices in South Africa
Authors: Kelly Gabrielle
Published: August 2019

Relative to other low and middle-income countries, South Africa provides a generous set of cash transfers (social grants) targeted at people with disabilities. This article explores the influence of disability-related grants on family practices and configurations, care arrangements and household composition in the Western Province of South Africa. The article draws on the findings of two studies: 1) an ethnographic study of disability grant recipients and applicants in a low-income Cape Town community and; 2) a study of interactions between healthcare staff, disability grant applicants and their families. Findings show that disability grant income is shared within households and the contribution of a stable income provides opportunities for people with disabilities to exercise agency, be seen as valuable household members and secure care and support from other household members. However, conflicts may arise over how income is shared and may lead to the extortion, abuse and neglect of people with disabilities, particularly in cases of severe disablement. Given the lack of adequate social provisioning for those who are able-bodied and unemployed, disability also becomes highly valued in households and the potential suspension or cancellation of a grant can interfere with adherence to treatment. The study emphasises the influence of policy structures and economic conditions on household dynamics and care outcomes and contributes to the sparse international evidence-base on the role that disability welfare benefits play in household dynamics and care outcomes.
Putting the shameful body to death: some critiques and a way forward in the soteriology of shame
Authors: Cozens Simon , Ochs Christoph
Published: August 2019

The concepts of ‘honour and shame’ have emerged in contemporary missiological discourse as a key tool for ministry among ‘shame cultures’. While a recognition of different cultural values is an important step towards contextualisation, the soteriological models presented in these discussions are primarily based on a number of hidden assumptions which require further investigation: that shame is overcome by an outpouring of honour; that shame is a problem between humanity and God; and that the ‘honour system’ of this world is a viable model in which to locate salvation. We review these assumptions and instead propose an understanding of salvation for shame based on the rejection of honour, the subversion of shame, the death of the shameful body and rebirth in new community.
Teachers observing classroom communication: An application of the Communicating Supporting Classroom Observation Tool for children aged 4–7 years
Authors: Law James , Tulip Josie , Stringer Helen , Cockerill Maria , Dockrell Julie
Published: August 2019

The nature of ‘Teacher talk’ is likely to have a considerable bearing on the child’s learning but measuring the communication environment in the classroom can present challenges. One tool which does this is the Communication Supporting Classroom Observation Tool (CSCOT). Initial use suggested that it was valid and reliably used by specialists (psychologists and speech and language therapists) and special educational needs coordinators (SENCOs). A key question is whether it can be used routinely by classroom teachers and whether results coincide with those in earlier studies. CSCOT observations were carried out by teachers in 33 schools (32 Reception classrooms, 25 in Year 1 and 25 in Year 2) in two local authorities in the North East of England and teachers were asked afterwards to reflect on their experiences using the tool. Scores were in line with those in earlier studies and were consistently higher on all dimensions for reception compared to Year 2, but there was no difference between other year groups. Results were mostly consistent with the original studies. Language learning environment was higher relative to both language learning opportunities and interactions across all years (which again did not differ). There was a moderate interaction between language learning environment where scores were significantly higher in the Reception group and lower in the Year 2 group. Teachers supported the use of the CSCOT in their feedback, suggesting that CSCOT was easy to use and useful in informing practice. The CSCOT clearly has utility as a starting point in auditing classroom communication. It allows teachers to compare between classrooms and year groups and potentially fosters collaboration between teachers and specialist practitioners who focus on communication such as speech and language therapists. Further work could link the observation tool into an intervention program co-constructed with teachers.
Adolescent Sexual Harassment, Shame, and Depression: Do Experiences of Witnessing Harassment Matter?
Authors: Li Joyce , Craig Wendy M.
Published: August 2019

This preliminary study explored a person-group dissimilarity hypothesis in the context of adolescent sexual harassment. Theory suggests that victimized youth are expected to experience worse outcomes if they perceive victimization to be a rare experience among their peers. This study comprised 435 middle school students who reported on their experiences of sexual harassment (victimization and witnessing), shame, and depressive symptoms. We tested a cross-sectional conditional indirect-effects model, with shame mediating the relationship between victimization and depressive symptoms (the indirect effect) and with witnessing as a moderator of the indirect effect. For all students, shame mediated the relationship between victimization and depressive symptoms. For female students, there was a buffering effect of witnessing, whereby the indirect effect was weaker at high levels of witnessing. These findings have potential implications for theory and intervention, suggesting the importance of examining young people’s social contexts to better understand their responses to sexual harassment.
The Development of Creativity
Authors: Sawyer Keith
Published: August 2019

This article discusses the important scholarly contributions to our understandings of creativity, education, and the arts. I describe many important contributions, beginning with Dr. Ellen Winner’s foundational studies of child development and the arts in the 1970s and 1980s. I identify several common themes throughout her career. First, I characterize her work as problem finding in nature—exploring new areas and identifying promising new research questions. Second, I discuss the interdisciplinary nature of her work—describing the broad range of empirical studies she has conducted, not only in the arts but also topics ranging from dyslexia to wisdom later in life. Third, I summarize her important contributions to our empirical understandings of the benefits of arts education. Finally, I describe the deeply collaborative nature of her work, noting students and colleagues that she has published with.
Metagenomic next-generation sequencing diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary infectious lesions through virtual navigation, radial EBUS, ultrathin bronchoscopy, and ROSE
Authors: Liu Nana , Kan Jianying , Cao Wenbin , Cao Jie , Jiang Erlie , Zhou Yang , Zhao Mingfeng , Feng Jing
Published: August 2019

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of combined rapid on-site evaluation of cytology (ROSE), ultrathin bronchoscopy, virtual bronchoscopic navigation, radial endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS), and metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) for diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary infectious lesions.

Methods

Specimens from patients with peripheral lung infection were obtained by transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and mNGS was used to detect pathogenic microorganisms. The sensitivity and specificity of mNGS were compared between TBLB tissue and BAL fluid.

Results

The most common pathogens of pulmonary infectious lesions in this study were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter baumannii. The specificity of mNGS was higher in TBLB tissue than in BAL fluid, but mNGS of BAL fluid had higher sensitivity.

Conclusions

The combination of ROSE, ultrathin bronchoscopy, virtual bronchoscopic navigation, radial EBUS, and mNGS technology yielded high efficacy for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary infectious lesions. TBLB and BAL specimens have respective advantages in specificity and sensitivity for mNGS analysis.
National Board Quotas and the Gender Pay Gap among European Managers
Authors: Maume David J , Heymann Orlaith , Ruppanner Leah
Published: August 2019

As European countries have mandated quotas for women’s representation on boards, and as women have increasingly entered the ranks of management, a persistent gender gap in managerial pay remains. Drawing a sample of managers in the 2010 European Social Survey, the gender gap in pay was decomposed, finding that employer devaluation of women accounted for the majority of the gender gap in pay. This was especially true in countries without mandated quotas, but in countries that had adopted quotas for female representation on boards, results were consistent with the proposition that quotas moderated the labour market for managers (i.e. the gender gap in managerial pay was smaller as was the portion of the gap attributable to discrimination). As board quotas have increasingly been adopted across Europe, more research is needed on their ameliorative effects on gender inequality in the wider labour market.
The critical reception of the DSM-5: Towards a typology of audiences
Authors: Roy Melissa , Rivest Marie-Pier , Namian Dahlia , Moreau Nicolas
Published: August 2019

Since its initial publication, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders has been the object of criticism which has led to regular revisions by the American Psychiatric Association. This article analyses the debates that surrounded the publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Building on the concepts of public arenas and reception theory, it explores the meaning encoded in the manual by audiences. Our results, which draw from a thematic analysis of traditional and digital media sources, identify eight audiences that react to the American Psychiatric Association’s narrative of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.): conformist, reformist, humanist, culturalist, naturalist, conflictual, constructivist and utilitarian. While some of their claims present argumentative polarities, others overlap, thus challenging the idea, often presented in academic publications, of a fixed debate. In order to further discuss on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, we draw attention to claims that ‘travel’ across different communities of audiences.
Constructing publics in museums’ science communication
Authors: Hetland Per
Published: August 2019

This article investigates how scientists at natural history museums construct publics in science communication and identifies four major constructions based on Braun and Schultz’s categories: the general public, the pure public, the affected public, and the partisan public. This study draws on data from 17 research scientists at two natural history research museums in Norway who were interviewed about their public outreach activities focusing on practices, settings, designated outcomes, scientists’ incentives to communicate science, and, finally, the speaking positions available for the different publics; the aim was to provide an understanding of the four constructed publics in museums’ science communication. When scientists construct different publics, they emphasize relevance as an important quality assurance device.
The Influence of Victims’ Unmet Basic Needs as a Mediator in Trafficking Relationships: A Research Note
Authors: Twis Mary K.
Published: August 2019

Domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) is the commercial sexual exploitation of a minor American citizen or permanent resident within the United States. It is a human rights abuse and carries significant consequences for victims’ psychological, physical, and social health. To interrupt DMST victimization patterns, it is important for researchers and advocates to fully understand how victims’ vulnerabilities are exploited by different people in their lives, but investigations of DMST victim–trafficker relationships are largely unexplored in the literature. The purpose of this cross-sectional path analysis of archival data, therefore, is to explore the influence of victims’ unmet basic needs on their victimization within specific types of DMST relationships. The results of this study suggest that unmet basic needs may play less of a role in influencing victim–trafficker relationship type than might be hypothesized based upon broader understandings of human trafficking vulnerability.
Direct Effects of High-Impact Practices on the Success of Business Majors in Large, Mostly Nonresidential Public Universities
Authors: Roldan Malu , Kothari Tanvi , Dunn-Jensen Linda M.
Published: August 2019

High-impact practices (HIPs) have been shown to be effective in helping first-year students successfully transition into college. However, since most of the research on HIPs has been done in small liberal arts settings, little is known about the efficacy and implementation practices of HIPs in large, public, primarily nonresidential institutions, or business schools within these institutions. This article seeks to address this need. Our study suggests that a comparison among students involved in HIPs versus those who forgo the experiences shows significant differences in impact, particularly on degree completion. However, further analysis shows that the gains were primarily achieved among students who were not members of underrepresented minority (URM) groups. As institutions face pressure from key constituents to improve graduation rates while reducing achievement gaps, it is becoming increasingly important for administrators and faculty to assess which approaches are most likely to achieve both these aims, particularly as scaling HIPs to larger settings is expensive and fraught with difficulties. This study reports on the effectiveness of HIPs for supporting the success of both URM and non-URM students and makes recommendations for building student success programs that ensure the success of all students, especially in large, diverse higher education institutions.
The Application of PRECEDE Model on Preventing Osteoporosis in Women
Authors: Khani Jeihooni Ali , Ghasemi Maryam , Mobaraei Amir Hossein , Jamshidi Hassan , Afzali Harsini Pooyan
Published: August 2019

The aim of this study is investigating the efficiency of educational intervention based on PRECEDE model on promotion of osteoporosis prevention behaviors in women. This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 200 women registered in two health centers of Fasa city, Fars province, Iran in 2017 to 2018. A questionnaire including items evaluating demographic information and PRECEDE model constructs was used for measuring nutrition and walking performance of studied women in osteoporosis prevention before and 12 months after intervention. Bone mineral density (BMD) was recorded at the lumbar spine and femur before and 12 months after intervention. One year after intervention, the intervention group showed a significant increase in knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, reinforcing factors, enabling factors, nutrition, and walking performance compared to the control group. Also, the value of lumbar spine and hip BMD T-Score of the intervention group was increased, while this value was reduced in the control group. Our findings showed that educational interventions based on PRECEDE model can positively affect prevention behaviors from osteoporosis by improving subjects’ knowledge, attitude, enabling factors (resources such as health care access and services that can provide motivation for prevention behaviors from osteoporosis in women), self-efficacy, and reinforcing factors.
Incorporating Prescription Drug Utilization Information Into the Marketplace Risk Adjustment Model Improves Payment Accuracy and Reduces Adverse Selection Incentives
Authors: Xu Jianhui , Trish Erin , Joyce Geoffrey
Published: August 2019

Beginning with the 2018 benefit year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services started incorporating select prescription drug utilization information into the Marketplace risk adjustment model. There has been little evidence about the impact of this change on payment accuracy and the mechanisms through which it may occur. Using commercial claims in 2017 from a large national health insurer, we find that the policy change improves payment accuracy in our sample and would help mitigate insurers’ selection incentives for some enrollees through two channels: imputing missing diagnoses and varying risk scores to better capture the heterogeneity in expenditures among patients with certain health conditions. However, while improving payment accuracy overall, there are potential perverse incentives that could distort treatment choice for marginal patients. Additionally, overcompensation and undercompensation persists for certain patient subgroups, suggesting an opportunity to further refine and improve the model.