bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Development and Validation of an Online Spatial Network Measure
Authors: Loe Bao Sheng
Published: January 2019

Planning is an essential cognitive process of executive functions and is considered as one of the most important brain functions. Planning has been extensively studied in the field of neuropsychology, but there is a lack of computerized assessment tools of planning ability that are easily accessible to researchers and clinicians. The present study aims to validate a newly developed online spatial network test that is designed for both clinical and nonclinical populations. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a unidimensional factorial structure with moderate to high internal consistency in the test. Two-parameter logistic item response theory analysis showed acceptable item and model fit and no violation of the local independence assumption. The overall success rate exhibited a positive correlation with the performance of planning before attempting to solve the items. After correcting for attenuation, moderate to high correlations were found between the spatial network test and the International Cognitive Ability Resource 16 short form cognitive ability test and the automated perceptual maze test, respectively, demonstrating convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity. Future directions and potential applications of the spatial network test as an assessment tool to measure planning for researchers and clinicians are discussed in the end.
Dentate Gyrus Immaturity in Schizophrenia
Authors: Tavitian Ayda , Song Wei , Schipper Hyman M.
Published: January 2019

Hippocampal abnormalities have been heavily implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The dentate gyrus of the hippocampus was shown to manifest an immature molecular profile in schizophrenia subjects, as well as in various animal models of the disorder. In this position paper, we advance a hypothesis that this immature molecular profile is accompanied by an identifiable immature morphology of the dentate gyrus granule cell layer. We adduce evidence for arrested maturation of the dentate gyrus in the human schizophrenia-affected brain, as well as multiple rodent models of the disease. Implications of this neurohistopathological signature for current theory regarding the development of schizophrenia are discussed.
The Interpersonal Neurobiology of Child Maltreatment: Parasympathetic Substrates of Interactive Repair in Maltreating and Nonmaltreating Mother–Child Dyads
Authors: Lunkenheimer Erika , Busuito Alex , Brown Kayla M. , Panlilio Carlomagno , Skowron Elizabeth A.
Published: January 2019

Children’s repair of conflict with parents may be particularly challenging in maltreating families, and early, stressful parent–child interactions may contribute to children’s altered neurobiological regulatory systems. To explore neurobiological signatures of repair processes, we examined whether mother and child individual and dyadic respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) covaried with interactive repair differently in maltreating versus nonmaltreating mother–preschooler dyads ( N = 101), accounting for whether repair was mother or child initiated. Mother-initiated repair was equally frequent and protective across groups, associated with no change in mother or child RSA at higher levels of repair. But lower levels of mother repair were associated with child RSA withdrawal in nonmaltreating dyads versus child RSA augmentation in maltreating dyads. In maltreating dyads only, higher child-initiated repair was associated with higher mean mother RSA, whereas lower child repair was associated with mother RSA withdrawal. Findings suggest that interactive repair may have a buffering effect on neurobiological regulation but also that maltreating mothers and children show atypical neurobiological response to interpersonal challenges including differences related to children conducting the work of interactive repair that maltreating parents are less able to provide. We conclude by considering the role of maladaptive parent–child relationship processes in the biological embedding of early adversity.
“The Rippled Perceptions”: The Effects of LGBT-Inclusive TV on Own Attitudes and Perceived Attitudes of Peers Toward Lesbians and Gays
Authors: Yan Harry Yaojun
Published: January 2019

This study explores the effects and influence of presumed influence of consuming recent lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)-inclusive TV on attitudes toward lesbians and gays (ATLG) and perceived attitudes toward lesbians and gays (PATLG) among peers. Adding to previous research, this study testifies to the modest yet positive effects of current entertainment narratives on viewers’ ATLG. The results demonstrate dynamics of “the rippled perceptions”: people’s own attitudes are the “origin of peer perceptions”; media consumption and interpersonal contact predict participants’ own attitudes; the influence of presumed influence attenuates as the analysis moves from self, to close friends, and those of the same age.
Investigating the Value of Urine Volume, Creatinine, and Cystatin C for Urinary Biomarkers Normalization for Drug Development Studies
Authors: Adedeji Adeyemi O. , Pourmohamad Tony , Chen Yafei , Burkey Jennifer , Betts Catherine J. , Bickerton Susan J. , Sonee Manisha , McDuffie James E.
Published: January 2019

Novel urinary protein biomarkers have recently been identified and qualified in rats for the early detection of renal injury in drug development studies. However, there seems to be no standardized normalization method for analyzing these urinary biomarkers, as some users normalize with urinary creatinine (uCr), urine volume (uVol), or leave biomarker un-normalized. More recently, urinary cystatin C is also emerging as a urinary biomarker normalizer, given some of its characteristics as a glomerular filtration marker. The purpose of this study was to identify an optimal drug-induced kidney injury biomarker normalization method that can be adopted more uniformly in the field. To this end, we compared the variability of uVol, urinary cystatin C, and Cr in healthy rats; we evaluated the sensitivity of the renal biomarkers to renal injury after normalization with uVol, uCr, and cystatin C in rats with cisplatin-induced renal injury. We showed that, over time, uCr was less variable than urinary cystatin C and uVol. When the renal biomarkers were normalized with the 3 normalizing end points, the biomarkers showed (1) least variability following normalization with Cr in healthy animals and (2) poor sensitivity when normalized with urinary cystatin C in animals with renal injury. Overall, the results suggested that uCr is better than urinary cystatin C and uVol for normalizing renal biomarkers in rats under controlled preclinical conditions. To our knowledge, this is the first report that compared the variability of uVol, cystatin C, and Cr in the context of renal biomarkers’ normalization.
Exploring the Structure of Haplotype Blocks and Genetic Diversity in Chinese Indigenous Pig Populations for Conservation Purpose
Authors: Zhao Qing-bo , Sun Hao , Zhang Zhe , Xu Zhong , Olasege Babatunde Shittu , Ma Pei-pei , Zhang Xiang-zhe , Wang Qi-shan , Pan Yu-chun
Published: January 2019

Chinese indigenous pigs in the Taihu Lake region are well known for their high fecundity and other excellent characteristics. To better understand the characteristics of these breeds in this area as well as to provide the government and breeders the molecular basis for formulating a reasonable conservation policy, we explored the structure of haplotype blocks and genetic diversity of the 7 populations which is relevant for the management and conservation of these important genetic resources using next-generation sequencing data. In this study, a total of 131 300 single-nucleotide polymorphisms with minor allele frequencies ⩾0.05 were obtained for further analysis. In general, there are similar within-breed genetic diversities (He, Ho, Pn, Ar) among these 7 pig populations in the Taihu Lake region. Average values for the inbreeding coefficients estimates in the 7 populations are 0.110 (F1), 0.056 (F2), and 0.078 (F3). All the breeds have seen a continuous decline in Ne estimates over time with FJ and SW populations having a very similar curve. Moreover, the Ne of SMS pig breeds were smaller than other Chinese pig breeds, indicating that SMS pig breeds underwent stronger selection pressure than other Chinese pig breeds. The average genetic distances among the 7 populations in the Taihu Lake region were 0.235 (MMS), 0.240 (SMS), 0.269 (EH), 0.248 (MI), 0.221 (FJ), 0.254 (JX), and 0.212 (SW). A summary of the number of haplotype blocks and haplotype diversity was also presented. This study provide a deep understanding of the current situation of conservation in this region, thereby uncovering the pertinent insight to better formulate more reasonable preservation policies for the government departments and breeding planners to follow-up.
Evidence for the Fidelity and Effectiveness of Living Independent From Tobacco for People with Disabilities and Their Caregivers
Authors: Havercamp Susan M , Barnhart Wesley R , Ellsworth David , Coleman Erica , Lorenz Allison , Whalen Smith Cara N , Riddle Ilka K
Published: January 2019

People with disabilities (PWD) are more likely to use tobacco and less likely to access tobacco cessation programs compared with people without disabilities. Living Independent From Tobacco (LIFT), an evidence-based intervention designed for PWD, was piloted with dyads of PWD (n = 5) and their caregivers (n = 7). As an important source of practical and social support for PWD, caregivers also impact health-related attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors of PWD. Caregivers who smoke may unwittingly interfere with cessation efforts of the people they support. We found that LIFT could be offered to dyads of PWD and their caregivers with fidelity. The intervention was associated with increased use of coping strategies and self-efficacy to reduce smoking. Tobacco use decreased at post-test (−34.94%), with further reduction 6-months after the intervention (−50.60%). Implications for offering inclusive health promotion interventions to both PWD and their caregivers are discussed.
Try again. Fail again. Fail better. Analysis of the contribution of 65 evaluations to the modernisation of public action in France
Authors: Delahais Thomas , Lacouette-Fougère Clément
Published: January 2019

« Modernisation of Public Action » (MAP) was an initiative to make evaluation the main instrument of reform for public policies at State level in France: 80 evaluations were launched between 2012 and 2017. MAP is the late child of both « evaluation à la française » (a 1990s attempt to make evaluation a way to reinvent democracy) and RGPP (a policy review aimed at cost-cutting under President Sarkozy). We explain how this strange combination set the expectations for the MAP. We undertook a metaevaluation to assess the quality of the evaluations, which put a very high emphasis on use, but were initially lacking some basic features such as evaluation questions or an intervention logic. However they improved over time. Finally, using contribution analysis and Process Tracing, we subject 8 evaluation processes to 10 empirical tests to assess their use. We show the diversity of impact pathways leading to reform (or lack thereof), some of which are unexpected, stressing the importance of context and attitude of stakeholders in the impacts that can be expected.
A Sociolinguistic Perspective on Accent and Social Mobility in the UK Teaching Profession
Authors: Donnelly Michael , Baratta Alex , Gamsu Sol
Published: January 2019

A new interdisciplinary approach to understanding the role of accent in relation to intergenerational social mobility is introduced here. Sociological analyses that attend to accent often focus on broader regional distinctions or construct limiting dichotomies of accents, rather than capturing the full variety and range of accents, often found at smaller geographic levels. Drawing on the case of the teaching profession and using qualitative data collected as part of a study of teachers, we illustrate how integrating sociolinguistics into a sociological analysis of social mobility would allow us to combine the micro-geography of class, mobility, and speech to a more granular level. The analytical tools provided by sociolinguistics, outlined here, could push forward work on understanding prospects for, and experiences of, social mobility.
The ‘grey area’ of employment relations in the Polish videogame industry
Authors: Ozimek Anna M
Published: January 2019

This article discusses fraudulent contracting of work in the Polish videogame industry by addressing its relation to workers’ understanding of their insecure employment and the economic risk associated with it. Fraudulent contracting of work is understood as misuse of civil law contracts/self-employment to disguise different types of employment relations. The article draws upon in-depth interviews with Polish videogame workers and key sector organisations to examine their understanding of the prevalence of employment relations not covered by the labour code in the videogame industry. The interviewees presented polarised opinions about engagement with civil law contracts ranging from celebratory approaches to their flexibility to discussing their use by companies in order to circumvent the labour code provisions. This article argues that the understanding of work precarisation needs to be further investigated in relation to national regulatory systems and workers’ understanding of their own employment arrangements.
Analysis on interstory drift of high-rise residential quasi-megastructure
Authors: Sun Feifei , Xiao Ben , Jin Huajian
Published: January 2019

Based on the superior lateral resistant performance of mega-X layout pattern, the concept of quasi-megastructure was put forward to introduce quasi-mega mechanism in residential buildings, using normal members only, avoiding large architecture space occupation of mega members. Unlike the megastructures that are dominated by their primary structures, the quasi-megastructures mainly realize a synergistic mechanism between the frame structure and quasi-mega braces. In order to investigate its deformation mechanism and reduce the lateral stiffness irregularity, a simplified method for evaluating interstory drift of high-rise quasi-megastructure was proposed, based on three fundamental assumptions. Thus, the interstory drift formula for any specific layout scheme of quasi-megastructure can be deduced. The formula was validated by different layout schemes. By this method, the interstory drift proportion of quasi-megastructure was investigated, showing that the interstory drift of a target story mainly consists of drift due to rigid body rotation, pure shearing drift, and shear-lag added drift. And the vertical stiffness irregularity of the original scheme was due to great changes of shear-lag added drift in different neighboring stories. Thereafter, stiffened schemes were proposed, which effectively eliminate the interstory stiffness irregularity by complementing a quasi-mega cantilever wall of full height. Compared with mega frame structure, the original scheme has a similar overall deformation mechanism, while the properly stiffened quasi-megastructure scheme behaves quite close to mega braced frame structure, both in deformation mechanism and in structural efficiency.
A comparative study of flexural and shear behavior of ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete beams
Authors: Pourbaba Masoud , Sadaghian Hamed , Mirmiran Amir
Published: January 2019

In this research, the flexural and shear behavior of five locally developed ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete beams was experimentally investigated. Four-point loading tests were carried out on concrete specimens which were further compared with five normal-strength concrete beams constructed at the laboratory. The objective of this study is to assess the flexural and shear behavior of ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete beams and compare them with that of normal-strength beams and available equations in the literature. Results indicate underestimation of shear (up to 2.71 times) and moment capacities (minimum 1.27 times, maximum 3.55 times) by most of the equations in beams with low-reinforcement ratios. Finally, results reveal that the experimental flexural and shear capacities of ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete specimens are up to 3.5 times greater than their normal-strength counterpart specimens.
“I know what you’re going to ask me” Why respondents don’t read survey questions
Authors: Brosnan Kylie , Babakhani Nazila , Dolnicar Sara
Published: January 2019

Tracking respondents’ eyes while they complete a survey reveals that (a) they do not read instructions, survey questions, and answer options carefully enough, investing only as little as 32% of the required time; (b) their attention diminishes over the course of the survey; and (c) their self-reports of the survey experience do not reflect actual survey completion behavior. As much as 15% of survey data may be negatively affected by systematic respondent inattention. From these findings, we derive practical recommendations on how to improve pre-testing of surveys and how to reduce the likelihood of survey respondents ignoring instructions and not reading survey questions and answer options.
Big semiotics: Beyond signs and symbols
Authors: Lawes Rachel
Published: January 2019

This article is for marketers who use semiotics. It argues that semiotic analysis is not complete until signs and symbols are meaningfully connected to society, culture, and ideology. The unique qualities of top-down semiotics are explained. The implications for semiotics of structuralism and post-structuralism are discussed. Research questions are suggested and various kinds of analysis are demonstrated: diachronic, synchronic, and ideological analysis. Key concepts in analysis are explored such as power, simulation, and reading against the grain. Readers are directed to Foucault, Baudrillard, and Derrida as leaders in postmodern and post-structuralist thought. Theory is applied to examples likely to be of interest to marketers such as celebrity merchandise, smartphone accessories, and the TV advertising of a British department store.
Digital devices in the governing of the European Education Space: The case of SORPRENDO software for career guidance
Authors: Romito Marco , Gonçalves Catarina , De Feo Antonietta
Published: January 2019

In this paper, we discuss the case of the recent introduction of a career guidance software within Italian schools with the aim to explore the use of digital devices in the governance of educational processes within the field of lifelong guidance. First, we provide a semiotic analysis of the software and its online platform with the aim of exploring how it articulates a complex network of material and discursive relations. Second, we show the types of practices the software makes ‘affordable’ within the Italian school context, and the organisational and cultural tensions it creates. Following recent studies on digital governance and adopting a policy instrument approach, we show how the introduction of a digital object within the school environment mobilises school actors around new ways of conceiving and delivering education that transcends the local dimension (looking towards national and European ideas) and favours the penetration of economic imperatives and rationales within Italian schools. The career guidance software analysed constitutes in this regard a meaningful illustration of how the governance of the European education space is mediated, activated and accomplished using digital instruments. Software, platforms and websites exert a persuasive power on their users, who in turn contribute to transform the educational order while transforming themselves.
Mstatecox: A Package for Simulating Transition Probabilities from Semiparametric Multistate Survival Models
Authors: Metzger Shawna K. , Jones Benjamin T.
Published: January 2019

Multistate duration models are a valuable tool used in multiple fields to examine how subjects move through a series of discrete phases and stages. The models themselves may be fit using common statistical software, but their broader adoption has been limited because of a lack of software to substantively interpret their results. Transition probabilities are the common postestimation quantity for interpreting multistate duration model results. De Wreede, Fiocco, and Putter's (2011, Journal of Statistical Software 38(7): 1–30) mstate package provides R with the functionality to estimate these quantities from semiparametric multistate models, yet no Stata equivalent exists for semiparametric models. We introduce a new set of Stata commands to meet this need. Our mstatecox suite calculates transition probabilities from semiparametric multistate duration models with simulation. It can accommodate any configuration of stages and also has the ability to accommodate time-interacted covariates. We demonstrate our package's functionality using de Wreede, Fiocco, and Putter‘s European Registry of Blood and Marrow Transplantation example dataset.
Theory and Practice of Total-Factor Productivity Estimation: The Control Function Approach using Stata
Authors: Rovigatti Gabriele , Mollisi Vincenzo
Published: January 2019

Alongside instrumental-variables and fixed-effects approaches, the control function approach is the most widely used in production function estimation. Olley and Pakes (1996, Econometrica 64: 1263–1297), Levinsohn and Petrin (2003, Review of Economic Studies 70: 317–341), and Ackerberg, Caves, and Frazer (2015, Econometrica 83: 2411–2451) have all contributed to the field by proposing two-step estimation procedures, whereas Wooldridge (2009, Economics Letters 104: 112–114) showed how to perform a consistent estimation within a single-step generalized method of moments framework. In this article, we propose a new estimator based on Wooldridge's estimation procedure, using dynamic panel instruments à la Blundell and Bond (1998, Journal of Econometrics 87: 115–143), and we evaluate its performance by using Monte Carlo simulations. We also present the new command prodest for production function estimation, and we show its main features and strengths in a comparative analysis with other community-contributed commands. Finally, we provide evidence of the numerical challenges faced when using the Olley–Pakes and Levinsohn–Petrin estimators with the Ackerberg–Caves–Frazer correction in empirical applications, and we document how the generalized method of moments estimates vary depending on the optimizer or starting points used.
Allowing for Informative Missingness in Aggregate Data Meta-Analysis with Continuous or Binary Outcomes: Extensions to Metamiss
Authors: Chaimani Anna , Mavridis Dimitris , Salanti Georgia , Higgins Julian P. T. , White Ian R.
Published: January 2019

Missing outcome data can invalidate the results of randomized trials and their meta-analysis. However, addressing missing data is often a challenging issue because it requires untestable assumptions. The impact of missing outcome data on the meta-analysis summary effect can be explored by assuming a relationship between the outcome in the observed and the missing participants via an informative missingness parameter. The informative missingness parameters cannot be estimated from the observed data, but they can be specified, with associated uncertainty, using evidence external to the meta-analysis, such as expert opinion. The use of informative missingness parameters in pairwise meta-analysis of aggregate data with binary outcomes has been previously implemented in Stata by the metamiss command. In this article, we present the new command metamiss2, which is an extension of metamiss for binary or continuous data in pairwise or network meta-analysis. The command can be used to explore the robustness of results to different assumptions about the missing data via sensitivity analysis.
Speaking Stata: From Rounding to Binning
Authors: Cox Nicholas J.
Published: January 2019

This is a basic review of how to bin variables in Stata, meaning how to divide their range or support into disjoint intervals. I survey rounding functions with emphasis on floor and ceiling functions as tools to get clearly defined intervals of equal width. Using a specific display format is usually a better idea than rounding to multiples of a fraction. Quantile binning is popular in several fields. I give tips and tricks on how to produce such bins and also on how to show their limitations. Experimentation with the display command or Mata is a good way to learn about functions and to test binning rules.
Color Palettes for Stata Graphics
Authors: Jann Ben
Published: January 2019

In this article, I introduce the colorpalette command, which provides many color palettes and color generators for use in Stata graphics. It supports color palettes from official Stata's graph schemes, a selection of palettes that have been proposed by users, standard collections such as the ColorBrewer or D3.js palettes, and HSV and HCL color generators. As a by-product, I also introduce commands for marker-symbol and line-pattern palettes.
Customizing Stata Graphs Made Easy (Part 2)
Authors: Jann Ben
Published: January 2019

In Jann (2018b, Stata Journal 18: 491–502), I presented a command called grstyle that simplifies changing the default look of Stata graphs. The command, however, still relies on idiosyncratic scheme file syntax, which may not be well known to many users. In this article, I therefore present an extension called grstyle set that automates the creation of sets of scheme file entries for a number of potentially useful adjustments, without much typing and without requiring much knowledge about scheme file syntax. Covered topics include, for example, the rendering of the background and coordinate system, the placement and look of the legend, the assignment of colors, symbols, and line patterns, and the assignment of relative or absolute sizes.
Implementing Valid Two-Step Identification-Robust Confidence Sets for Linear Instrumental-Variables Models
Authors: Sun Liyang
Published: January 2019

In this article, we consider inference in the linear instrumental-variables models with one or more endogenous variables and potentially weak instruments. I developed a command, twostepweakiv, to implement the two-step identification-robust confidence sets proposed by Andrews (2018, Review of Economics and Statistics 100: 337–348) based on Wald tests and linear combination tests (Andrews, 2016, Econometrica 84: 2155–2182). Unlike popular procedures based on first-stage F statistics (Stock and Yogo, 2005, Testing for weak instruments in linear IV regression, in Identification and Inference for Econometric Models: Essays in Honor of Thomas Rothenberg), the two-step identification-robust confidence sets control coverage distortion without assuming the data are homoskedastic. I demonstrate the use of twostepweakiv with an example of analyzing the effect of wages on married female labor supply. For inference on subsets of parameters, twostepweakiv also implements the refined projection method (Chaudhuri and Zivot, 2011, Journal of Econometrics 164: 239–251). I illustrate that this method is more powerful than the conventional projection method using Monte Carlo simulations.
Calculations Involving the Multivariate Normal and Multivariate t Distributions with and without Truncation
Authors: Grayling Michael J. , Mander Adrian P.
Published: January 2019

In this article, we present a set of commands and Mata functions to evaluate different distributional quantities of the multivariate normal distribution and a particular type of noncentral multivariate t distribution. Specifically, their densities, distribution functions, equicoordinate quantiles, and pseudo–random vectors can be computed efficiently, in either the absence or the presence of variable truncation.
A Novel Culinary Medicine Course for Undergraduate Medical Education
Authors: Hauser Michelle E.
Published: January 2019

Traditional nutrition education in medical school has been inadequate to prepare future physicians to counsel patients on practical dietary changes that can prevent and treat food-related disease. Culinary medicine is being used to address this in a variety of settings, including medical education. The Teaching Kitchen Elective for Medical Students at Stanford University School of Medicine spans 1 academic quarter and combines hands-on cooking of food that is delicious and healthy, correlations with multiple clinical specialties, and role-playing real-life examples of brief dietary counseling with patients to make nutrition education practical and approachable. The course has been run as a quasi-randomized controlled study comparing 3 cohorts of students versus wait-listed controls via precourse and postcourse surveys. Preliminary analysis of the first cohort of students shows significant improvements in attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors around healthy cooking and meal planning for the students compared with controls. Despite these promising preliminary results, more resources are needed to be able to hold the course frequently enough to meet student demand.
Decolonizing Research Paradigms in the Context of Settler Colonialism: An Unsettling, Mutual, and Collaborative Effort
Authors: Held Mirjam B. E.
Published: January 2019

All research is guided by a set of philosophical underpinnings. Indigenous methodologies are in line with an Indigenous paradigm, while critical and liberatory methodologies fit with the transformative paradigm. Yet Indigenous and transformative methodologies share an emancipatory and critical stance and thus are increasingly used in tandem by both Western and Indigenous scholars in an attempt to decolonize methodologies, research, and the academy as a whole. However, these multiparadigmatic spaces only superficially support decolonization which, in the Canadian context of settler colonialism, is a radical and unsettling prospect that is about land, resources, and sovereignty. Applying this definition of decolonization to the decolonization of research paradigms, this article suggests that such paradigms must be developed, from scratch, conjointly between Indigenous and Western researchers.
Science mapping the knowledge base on educational leadership and management from the emerging regions of Asia, Africa and Latin America, 1965–2018
Authors: Hallinger Philip
Published: January 2019

This bibliometric review of research sought to document and compare trends in educational leadership and management (EDLM) knowledge production from the emerging regions of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Using a science mapping methodology, the review identified 1171 articles published in nine “core” EDLM journals between 1965 and August 2018. This represented 22% of the full corpus of articles published in these EDLM journals during this period of time. Despite representing a relatively small portion of the overall corpus, these studies from emerging regions grew to comprise 42.5% of the corpus published between 2015 and 2018. Despite this broad pattern of growth, there was also significant geographical variation in the volume of articles published in these journals both between and within the regions. The review also identified “canonical scholars and documents” that have demonstrated lasting influence on this knowledge base. Co-citation analyses also revealed several schools of thought within this literature. The review concludes that the global literature in EDLM is undergoing a significant change in composition. The findings will inform scholarly efforts to develop a more diverse, representative, and globally relevant knowledge base. Recommendations are offered for strengthening the quality and scope of research from emerging regions of the world.
Radiographic Nuances in Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis
Authors: Rowan Nicholas R. , Janz Tyler A. , Schlosser Rodney J. , Soler Zachary M.
Published: January 2019

Background

Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) is characterized by higher revision endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) rates and unique radiographic features when compared to chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) or chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyposis (CRSsNP).

Objective

We hypothesized that an increased frequency of concha bullosa in AFRS or other radiographic nuances might allow for accumulation of allergic mucin and contribute to increased ESS revision rates.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed. Patient diagnosis (AFRS, CRSwNP, and CRSsNP), basic demographics, and prior ESS rates were collected.

Results

A total of 210 consecutive patients were included (AFRS = 70, CRSwNP = 70, and CRSsNP = 70). Pediatric AFRS patients had more unilateral disease (38.1% vs 4.4%; P = .007) and anterior ethmoid skull base erosion (23.8% vs 6.7%; P = .047) than adult AFRS patients. AFRS patients were more likely to be younger (24.9 ± 10.1 years vs 45.6 ± 14.4 years vs 48.7 ± 18.2 years; P < .001), African American (70% vs 14.3% vs 11.4%; P < .001), and have undergone prior ESS (54.3% vs 45.7% vs 31.4%; P = .02) than CRSwNP or CRSsNP patients. Concha bullosa were more prevalent in AFRS patients than CRSwNP or CRSsNP patients across the population (42.9%, 18.6%, and 14.3%; P < .001) and in the setting of no previous surgery (53.1%, 31.6%, and 16.7%; P < .001).

Conclusion

In this cohort, pediatric AFRS patients had more unilateral disease and anterior ethmoid skull base erosion. Concha bullosa prevalence was significantly higher in AFRS as compared to those with CRSwNP or CRSsNP, despite prior ESS. Surgeons should consider concha bullosa as a potential anatomical subsite to harbor recurrent or residual disease.
Localized malignant pleural mesothelioma arising in the interlobar fissure: a unique surgical case masquerading clinicopathologically as primary lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Guo Xin , Watanabe Jiro , Takahashi Kenji , Hayashi Tatsuro , Kurose Nozomu , Sasaguri Yasuyuki , Uramoto Hidetaka , Iwagaki Hiromi , Nabeshima Kazuki , Yamada Sohsuke
Published: January 2019

An 80-year-old male with previous workplace exposure to asbestos presented with a history of an increase in the pulmonary-to-hilar mass, measuring more than 50 mm in diameter, likely in the right lower lobe. We first interpreted it as suspicious of primary lung adenocarcinoma with direct invasion to the right hilar lymph node. A right middle and lower lobectomy with partial resection of upper lobe was performed, and gross examination showed a hilar tumor lesion, involving the middle/lower lobe to hilar lymph node and looking whitish to yellow-grayish, partly adjacent to the right pulmonary artery. On microscopic examination, the tumor was located on the extrapulmonary, interlobar pleural fissure, predominantly composed of a proliferation of atypical epithelioid cells, often arranged in an irregular and fused tubular growth pattern with an involvement of pulmonary artery. Immunohistochemically, these atypical cells are positive for several mesothelial markers, including calretinin, cytokeratin 5/6, and WT-1, whereas negative for thyroid transcription factor 1. Furthermore, p16 deletions were specifically detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization, and electron microscopy showed numerous, significantly elongated microvilli. Taken together, we finally made a diagnosis of localized malignant pleural mesothelioma, epithelioid-type, arising in the right interlobar fissure between lower and middle lobes. We should be aware that, owing to its characteristic features, clinicians and pathologists might be able to raise interlobar fissure localized malignant pleural mesothelioma as one of the differential diagnoses, based on careful clinicopathological examinations.
Protective effect of apelin preconditioning in a rat model of hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury; possible interaction between the apelin/APJ system, Ang II/AT1R system and eNOS
Authors: Sabry Maha M , Ramadan Nagwa M , Al Dreny Basant A , Rashed Laila A , Abo El Enein Ayman
Published: January 2019

Introduction

Hepatic ischemic reperfusion injury occurs in multiple clinical settings. Novel potential protective agents are still needed to attenuate this injury. Apelin preconditioning protects against ischemic reperfusion injury in different organs. However, the protective mechanism of apelin on hepatic ischemic reperfusion injury is not yet clear.

Aim

Evaluate the effect of apelin‐13 preconditioning on hepatic ischemic reperfusion injury and clarify possible interactions between apelinergic, renin‐angiotensin systems and endothelial nitric oxide synthase.

Methods

In total, 60 rats were assigned to four groups: control sham‐operated, ischemic reperfusion, apelin‐treated ischemic reperfusion and apelin + N‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester‐treated ischemic reperfusion. Apelin 2 µg/kg/day and N‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester 10 mg/kg/day were injected intraperitoneally daily for 3 days and 2 weeks respectively before hepatic ischemic reperfusion. Serum aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, hepatic malondialdehyde, apelin, gene expression of caspase‐3, endothelial nitric oxide synthase and angiotensin type 1 receptor and liver histopathology were compared between groups.

Results

Apelin significantly reduced serum aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, hepatic malondialdehyde, caspase‐3 and angiotensin type 1 receptor expression, whereas hepatic apelin and endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression were significantly increased with improved hepatic histopathology. N‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester co‐administration partially reversed this hepatoprotective effect.

Conclusion

Apelin‐13 reduced hepatic ischemic reperfusion injury. This protection could be related to the suppression of hepatic angiotensin type 1 receptor expression and elevation of hepatic apelin level and endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression, which counteracts the pathologic effects of Ang II/angiotensin type 1 receptor. An interaction exists between apelinergic, renin‐angiotensin systems and endothelial nitric oxide synthase in hepatic ischemic reperfusion pathophysiology.
The significance of M1/M2 macrophage-like monocytes in children with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Niu Xiao-Ling , Feng Dan , Hao Sheng , Kuang Xin-Yu , Wu Ying , Zhu Guang-Hua , Huang Wen-Yan
Published: January 2019

Monocytes/macrophages are important in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus. To research M1 and M2 macrophage-like monocytes in the peripheral blood of children with systemic lupus erythematosus and explore the clinical significance, M1 and M2 macrophage-like monocytes, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, and interleukin-18 are tested in the peripheral blood of children with systemic lupus erythematosus by flow cytometry. A correlation analysis is made between M1 and M2 macrophage-like monocytes and erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. As we found, the absolute number and percentage of M1 macrophage-like monocytes (CD163–CD14+) in macrophage-like monocytes (CD14+) in peripheral blood of the severe systemic lupus erythematosus group were higher than those of the control group and the mild–moderate systemic lupus erythematosus group ( F = 28.4, 21.7, 122, 81.7; P < 0.05). But there was no obvious difference between these three groups in terms of the absolute number of M2 macrophage-like monocytes (CD163+CD14+). The absolute number and percentage of M1 macrophage-like monocytes in macrophage-like monocytes had positive correlation with C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( r  = 0.46, 0.44, 0.367, 0.47; P < 0.05); whereas, the absolute number and percentage of M2 macrophage-like monocytes in macrophage-like monocytes had negative correlation with CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( r = –0.47, –0.45, –0.47, –0.32; P < 0.05). Thus, M1 macrophage-like monocytes have effective impact on inflammation in children with systemic lupus erythematosus. M2 macrophage-like monocytes, to a large extent, have the opposite functions compared to M1 macrophage-like monocytes. In children with systemic lupus erythematosus, macrophages play important role in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus and M1 macrophage-like monocytes have functions in active systemic lupus erythematosus and they can induce the inflammation and have correlation with severity of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Clinical characteristics and drug tolerance for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in patients with agranulocytosis and fever in Shanghai
Authors: Han Xiu-Hua , Xu Hui-Li , Zhu Jun , Mao Yuan-Fei , Hu Jiong , Zhu Jian-Yi , Chen Fang-Yuan , Shi Ju-Mei , Tao Rong , Hao Si-Guo , Gu Shi-Yang , Liu Peng , He Hai-Yan , Hou Jian , Ding Yi , Liang Ai-Bin , Liu Li Gen , Zhu Qi , Yao Yong-Hua , Wang Chun
Published: January 2019

The characteristics of distribution of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with agranulocytosis and fever in 12 hospitals in Shanghai from 2012 to 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. WHONET 5.6 software was used to analyze the results of drug sensitivity test. Data from different diseases, different sample sources, and drug sensitivity tests were statistically analyzed to investigate the clinical distribution characteristics and drug resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with agranulocytosis and fever in Shanghai, China. This study revealed that, among these 109 strains of P. aeruginosa, they were mainly found in patients with acute myelocytic leukemia (AML; 48 strains, 44.04%) and patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL; 36 strains, 33.03%). The specimen sources were mainly respiratory tract secretions (58 strains, 53.21%) and blood (21 strains, 19.26%). The P. aeruginosa isolates from neutropenic sepsis patients showed high sensitivity to the following antibiotics: piperacillin/tazobactam, cefepime, ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, and amikacin with 91.1%, 89%, 89%, 87.9%, and 85.7% of isolates being sensitive, respectively. Furthermore, for P. aeruginosa isolates from the AML group of patients, the lowest antibiotic resistance rates were seen for ciprofloxacin (0%), cefoperazone/sulbactam (2.1%), and cefepime (7.1%), while for the ALL group the lowest antibiotic resistance rates were seen for piperacillin (2.8%), ceftazidime (2.8%), and cefepime (2.8%). Isolates from AML patients (21.3%) were significantly more likely to be piperacillin resistant than those from the ALL patients (2.8%). Therefore, P. aeruginosa infection is relatively common in patients with agranulocytosis and fever. The strains had a certain degree of resistance to commonly used antibiotics.
Nutrition and Inflammation Influence 1-Year Mortality of Surgically Treated Elderly Intertrochanteric Fractures: A Prospective International Multicenter Case Series
Authors: Belangero William , Barla Jorge Daniel , Rienzi Bergalli Daniel Horacio , Olarte Salazar Carlos Mario , Fernandez Daniel Schweitzer , Mite Vivar Miguel Angel , Zylberberg Alejandro , Carabelli Guido Sebastian , Kfuri Maurício
Published: January 2019

Introduction:

Hip fracture is a common and devastating event in older adults causing increased dependence, comorbidity, and mortality. Since new surgical techniques have not significantly improved the mortality rate, a better understanding of patient risk factors could improve the treatment algorithm and outcomes. This prospective study aimed to document the 1-year survival rate of patients with intertrochanteric fracture treated surgically in Latin America and to investigate risk factors associated with 1-year mortality.

Patients and Methods:

Between January 2013 and March 2015, 199 patients were prospectively enrolled. Inclusion criteria were aged 60 years or older, isolated intertrochanteric fracture (AO/OTA 31-A), and time to surgery within 10 days after injury. The follow-up period was 1 year. The association between mortality and patient demographics, comorbidity, surgical details, and preoperative laboratory parameters was assessed using log-rank tests.

Results:

Twenty patients died by 365 days after surgery (including 5 that died within 30 days of surgery) resulting in a 1-year survival rate of 89.8% (95% confidence interval = 84.6-93.3). The 1-year mortality was significantly associated with age (≥85 years old, P = .032), existing comorbidity ( P = .002), preinjury mobility level ( P = .026), mental state (Mini-Mental State Examination > 23, P = .040), low preoperative plasma albumin level ( P = .007), and high preoperative blood C-reactive protein level (CRP; P = .012). At the 1-year follow-up, patients on average did not regain their preinjury hip function and mobility, although the self-assessed quality of life was equal or better than before the injury.

Discussion:

As a prospective study, the current patient population had clear inclusion and exclusion criteria and was relatively homogeneous. The resulting associations between 1-year postoperative mortality and preoperative hypoalbuminemia and preoperative elevated CRP level are therefore especially notable. Previously identified risk factors such as male gender and time to surgery showed no significant association with 1-year mortality—the overall favorable condition of the current population or the lack of statistical power maybe responsible for this observation.

Conclusion:

The current results showed that under the condition of optimal surgical treatment and low surgery-related complication, preinjury health status as indicated by the blood level of albumin and CRP has a direct and significant impact on 1-year mortality rate.
A Child With Congenital Aglossia: A Narrative Review and Descriptive Case Study
Authors: McMicken Betty , Vento-Wilson Margaret , Warden Mary , Hall Melissa , Rogers Kelly
Published: January 2019

This article details an account of a young female with congenial aglossia. Because of the low incidence of this anatomical and physiological presentation, this narrative review includes a brief historical review of the disorder and a detailed description of: (1) reports in the literature of congenital hypoglossia and aglossia, (2) characteristics of speech in children with congenital aglossia below the age of 18 years, and (3) the medical history, speech acquisition, and course of intervention of a 5-year-old girl with congenital aglossia currently in speech treatment.