bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new species of Noccaea (Brassicaceae) from central Anatolia

Authors: ÖZGİŞİ KURTULUŞ
Published: February 2020

Noccaea atila-ocakii is described as a new species from Eskisehir, Turkey. Morphologically, it is similar to N. antitaurica and N. lilacina, but it is easily distinguished by several morphological characters, including the size of its basal leaves, shape of its cauline leaves and fruit, length of its style, number of ovules, etc. Phylogenetic relationships, based on the nuclear-encoded ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, within the genus are shown. Molecular data reveal that new species clearly differs from N. antitaurica and N. lilacina. Paraphyletic taxa in the phylogenetic tree also indicate that the generic circumscription of Noccaea by Al-Shehbaz is more convenient compared with previous delimitations of this genus. Diagnostic characters, a detailed description, and photographs of the new species are given; the IUCN Red List category and observations on the ecology of the populations are noted; and the distribution map of the new species and its closely related species in Turkey are presented.
Checklist, assemblage composition, and biogeographic assessment of Recent benthic foraminifera (Protista, Rhizaria) from São Vincente, Cape Verdes
Authors: SCHÖNFELD JOACHIM , LÜBBERS JULIA
Published: February 2020

We describe for the first time subtropical intertidal foraminiferal assemblages from beach sands on São Vincente, Cape Verdes. Sixty-five benthic foraminiferal species were recognised, representing 47 genera, 31 families, and 8 superfamilies. Endemic species were not recognised. The new checklist largely extends an earlier record of nine benthic foraminiferal species from fossil carbonate sands on the island. Bolivina striatula, Rosalina vilardeboana and Millettiana milletti dominated the living (rose Bengal stained) fauna, while Elphidium crispum, Amphistegina gibbosa, Quinqueloculina seminulum, Ammonia tepida, Triloculina rotunda and Glabratella patelliformis dominated the dead assemblages. The living fauna lacks species typical for coarse-grained substrates. Instead, there were species that had a planktonic stage in their life cycle. The living fauna therefore received a substantial contribution of floating species and propagules that may have endured a long transport by surface ocean currents. The dead assemblages largely differed from the living fauna and contained redeposited tests deriving from a rhodolith-mollusc carbonate facies at <20 m water depth. A comparison of the Recent foraminiferal inventory with other areas identified the Caribbean and Mediterranean as the most likely source regions. They have also been constrained as origin points for littoral to subtidal macroorganisms on other Cape Verdean islands. Micro-and macrofaunal evidences assigned the Cape Verde Current and North Equatorial Current as the main trajectories for faunal immigrations. The contribution from the NW African coast was rather low, a pattern that cannot be explained by the currently available information.
Morphology and phylogenetic analysis of two new species of deep-sea golden gorgonians (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Chrysogorgiidae) from seamounts in the Western Pacific Ocean
Authors: XU YU , ZHAN ZIFENG , LI YANG , XU KUIDONG
Published: February 2020

Two new species of deep-sea chrysogorgiid gorgonians are described from the tropical Western Pacific: Iridogorgia densispicula n. sp. from an unnamed seamount in the Caroline Plate with water depth of 1204 m and Iridogorgia squarrosa n. sp. from an unnamed seamount near the Mariana Trench with water depth of 1458 m. Iridogorgia densispicula n. sp. has a slender stem with bud-like polyps, dense sclerites in polyps and branches, spindle-like scales in polyp bases, and long rods in tentacles. Iridogorgia squarrosa n. sp. has a brown to nearly black axis, large polyps with eight obvious columns, elongated scales in the back of tentacles, and special scales at base of polyps with many sculptures. By the combination of these features, the two new species differ distinctly from each other and all other congeners. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that I. densispicula n. sp. is sister to all other Iridogorgia Verrill, 1883, while I. squarrosa n. sp. showed close relationship with I. splendens Watling, 2007.
Working together to reduce energy poverty in Timor-Leste with environmentally sustainable community-based economic development: A transnational developmental social work approach
Authors: Keevers Lynne
Published: February 2020

This article discusses the social development practices of an international collaboration working to reduce energy poverty through the provision of household solar lighting for Indigenous people living in remote communities in the Remexio district in Timor-Leste. The article discusses some of the findings of a practice-based study that uses collaborative inquiry to analyse the working model of ‘Lampu Diak’, the name of the solar lighting project, and its impacts on the health and well-being of local people and the communities in which they live. Underpinned by a practice-based sociomaterial approach, the analysis characterises the Lampu Diak project as a heterogeneous and distributed network. It discusses four of the developmental social work practices that sustain the project, with a particular emphasis on the introduction of clean, affordable, sustainable solar lighting and the associated ‘common funds’. Common funds are informal microcredit schemes managed by community-based self-help groups. The article explores the potential affordances, benefits and pitfalls of common funds and the unanticipated ways in which they continue to unfold and extend the Lampu Diak project. The article contributes an example of how a village-to-village transnational collaboration practises developmental social work in a particular context.
The Collateral Damage of In-School Suspensions: A Counterfactual Analysis of High-Suspension Schools, Math Achievement and College Attendance
Authors: Jabbari Jason , Johnson Odis
Published: February 2020

Even the least severe forms of exclusionary discipline are associated with detrimental effects for students that attend schools that overuse them. With a nationally representative longitudinal study of high school students, we utilize propensity score weighting to limit selection bias associated with schools that issue high numbers of in-school suspensions. Accounting for school social order and individual suspensions, we find that high-suspension schools are negatively associated with students’ math achievement and college attendance. We also find that when we account for high and low-suspension schools, attending an urban schools is associated with an increase in both math achievement and college attendance.
Whatever It Takes: How and When Supervisor Bottom-Line Mentality Motivates Employee Contributions in the Workplace
Authors: Babalola Mayowa T. , Mawritz Mary B. , Greenbaum Rebecca L. , Ren Shuang , Garba Omale A.
Published: February 2020

Given that many organizations are competitive and finance centered, organizational leaders may lead with a primary focus on bottom-line attainment, such that they are perceived by their subordinates as having a bottom-line mentality (BLM) that entails pursuing bottom-line outcomes above all else. Yet, the field is limited in understanding why such a leadership approach affects employees’ positive and negative contributions in the workplace. Drawing on social exchange theory, we theorize that supervisors high in BLM can influence employees’ felt obligation toward the bottom line, which in turn can influence employees’ task performance and unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB). We also examine employee ambition as a moderator of this process. Using three-wave, multisource data collected from the financial services industry, our results revealed that high-BLM supervisors elevate employee task performance as well as UPB by motivating employees’ felt obligation toward the bottom line. Furthermore, we found that employee ambition served as a first-stage moderator, such that the mediated relationships were stronger when employee ambition was high as opposed to low. Our findings break away from the dominant dysfunctional view of BLM and provide a more balanced view of this mentality.
Teenage mothers’ language use during shared reading: An examination of quantity and quality
Authors: Scott Amy , McNeill Brigid , van Bysterveldt Anne
Published: February 2020

This study investigated the impact of an emergent literacy intervention on the language quality and quantity used during shared reading interactions of 14 teenage mothers (M = 19;9, SD = 1;3) and their young children (M = 2;1, SD = 0;8). Mothers participated in a seven-week emergent literacy intervention focused on a range of behaviours they could use to enhance shared reading interactions with their children. A pre-post single group (no control/comparison group) research design was used to evaluate intervention effects on language use. Results demonstrated a significant intervention effect on most aspects of language quality and quantity measured. Number of total words, total utterances and number of different words demonstrated a statistically significant increase for both mothers and children; mothers used more rare-sophisticated words; and children used more different types of word classes. Context of talk for mothers also showed significant growth in areas of description and prediction/explanation. Results provide considerations for designing parent-focused interventions to effectively target both literacy and language development in children from at-risk populations.
Transcranial direct current stimulation for improving gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review
Authors: Diego Anna Patricia Nicole , Leung Ada WS
Published: February 2020

Introduction

The functional abilities of children with cerebral palsy are often compromised because of limited motor function. Transcranial direct current stimulation is a neuromodulation tool used as an adjunct to other therapeutic modalities to improve gross motor function. This review aimed to examine the quality of evidence and the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation for improving gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy.

Method

A systematic review was conducted, and eligible studies were critically appraised for methodological quality. Randomised controlled trials were selected to undergo meta-analysis for assessing the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation on clinical outcomes.

Results

Eight studies, including seven randomised controlled trials, fitted the inclusion criteria. All the randomised controlled trials were rated ‘moderate’ quality based on the grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE) system. Using meta-analysis, only cadence, an outcome measure of gait variables, demonstrated efficacy of intervention, mean difference 16.57 (10.88, 22.25); I2 = 0%, P = 0.83. Other gross motor and functional outcomes had either inconsistent mean difference or high heterogeneity.

Conclusion

Overall, the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation as a treatment in children with cerebral palsy remains unclear, and the findings should be interpreted with caution. The quality of evidence was mostly moderate, and more vigorous research incorporating functional outcomes should be conducted to guide clinical practice.
Holocene extreme paleofloods and their climatological context, Upper Colorado River Basin, USA
Authors: Liu Tao , Ji Lin , Baker Victor R , Harden Tessa M , Cline Michael L
Published: February 2020

Given its singular importance for water resources in the southwestern USA, the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) is remarkable for the paucity of its conventional hydrological record of extreme flooding. Short-term record-based flood frequency analyses lead to very great aleatory uncertainties about infrequent extreme flood events and their climate-driven causal associations. This study uses paleoflood hydrology to examine a small portion of the underutilized, but very extensive natural record of Holocene extreme floods in the UCRB. We perform a meta-analysis of 82 extreme paleofloods from 18 slack water deposit sites in the UCRB to show linkages between Holocene climate patterns and extreme floods. The analysis demonstrates several clusters of extreme flood activity: 8040–7960, 4400–4300, 3600–3460, 2900–2740, 2390–1980, 1810–720, and 600–0 years BP. The extreme paleofloods were found to occur during both dry and wet periods in the paleoclimate record. When compared with independent paleoclimatic records across the Rocky Mountains and the southwestern USA, the observed temporal clustering pattern of UCRB extreme paleofloods shows associations with periods of abruptly intensified North Pacific-derived storms connected with enhanced variability of El Niño. This approach demonstrates the value of creating paleohydrological databases and comparing them with hydro-climatic proxies in order to identify natural patterns and to discover possible linkages to fundamental processes such as changes in climate.
Elective surgery wait time reduction in Canada: A synthesis of provincial initiatives
Authors: Wennberg Erica A. B. , Takata Julie L. , Urbach David R.
Published: February 2020

In an effort to reduce wait times, Canadian provincial governments have introduced numerous wait time reduction programs and policies. The objective of this study was to provide an overview of elective surgery wait time reduction initiatives across the Canadian provinces from 2000 to 2018. Each of the 10 provincial government web sites were searched. A theoretical framework for elective surgery wait time reduction policies was developed. The final framework is broadly organized into a supply-demand-performance management model. The majority were categorized as supply-oriented initiatives, which have been implemented by all the provinces in some form. Demand-oriented initiatives have been implemented the least. Our conceptual framework may be used to categorize wait time reduction initiatives for the purpose of policy development and evaluation.
Imaging Findings of Acute Abdomen due to Complications of Meckel Diverticulum
Authors: Ichikawa Shintaro , Onishi Hiroshi , Motosugi Utaroh
Published: February 2020

Meckel diverticulum is the most common and well-known congenital anomaly of the digestive system. Although most cases are asymptomatic, Meckel diverticulum can have a variety of complications, including gastrointestinal bleeding as a result of peptic ulceration, diverticulitis, and small bowel obstruction. Although the radiologic findings of these complications have been reported, they are difficult to diagnose preoperatively because Meckel diverticulum is a small entity. Computed tomography and scintigraphy play an important role in the diagnosis of Meckel diverticulum and its complications. It is important to be familiar with the radiologic features of acute abdomen due to complications of Meckel diverticulum to be able to manage the condition appropriately.
The gender gap in welfare state attitudes in Europe: The role of unpaid labour and family policy
Authors: Goossen Mikael
Published: February 2020

Previous research has shown a prevailing ‘modern gender gap’ in socio-political attitudes in advanced capitalist economies. While numerous studies have confirmed gender differences in attitudes towards the welfare state in Europe, few have addressed the reason for this rift in men’s and women’s views about the role of government in ensuring the general welfare of citizens. In this article, I examine the relationship between gender equality in unpaid labour, family policy and the gender gap in welfare state attitudes. Based on data from 21 countries participating in the European Social Survey (ESS) Round 4, and using a mix of country- and individual-level regression models and multilevel models, I find that there is a clear relationship between country-level gender equality in unpaid labour and gender differences in support of an encompassing welfare state. A more equal distribution of unpaid care and domestic work correlates with women being increasingly supportive of a large and encompassing welfare state, in comparison with men. This pattern holds when controlling for individual-level economic risk and resources, cultural factors such as trust and social values traditionally related to the support of an encompassing welfare state, and beliefs about welfare state efficiency and consequences for society in general. This pattern is evident for countries with a low level of familistic policies, while no distinguishable pattern is discernible for highly familistic countries. These findings have implications for the perception of gender as an emergent social cleavage with respect to welfare state attitudes. The results are discussed in the light of institutional theories on policy feedback, familism, social role theory and previous findings relating to modernization theory and ‘gender realignment’.
Modeling of cumulative effects of time-varying drug exposures on within-subject changes in a continuous outcome
Authors: Danieli Coraline , Sheppard Therese , Costello Ruth , Dixon William G , Abrahamowicz Michal
Published: February 2020

An accurate assessment of the safety or effectiveness of drugs in pharmaco-epidemiological studies requires defining an etiologically correct time-varying exposure model, which specifies how previous drug use affects the outcome of interest. To address this issue, we develop, and validate in simulations, a new approach for flexible modeling of the cumulative effects of time-varying exposures on repeated measures of a continuous response variable, such as a quantitative surrogate outcome, or a biomarker. Specifically, we extend the linear mixed effects modeling to estimate how past and recent drug exposure affects the way individual values of the outcome change throughout the follow-up. To account for the dosage, duration and timing of past exposures, we rely on a flexible weighted cumulative exposure methodology to model the cumulative effects of past drug use, as the weighted sum of past doses. Weights, modeled with unpenalized cubic regression B-splines, reflect the relative importance of doses taken at different times in the past. In simulations, we evaluate the performance of the model under different assumptions concerning (i) the shape of the weight function, (ii) the sample size, (iii) the number of the longitudinal observations and (iv) the intra-individual variance. Results demonstrate the accuracy of our estimates of the weight function and of the between- and within-patients variances, and good correlation between the observed and predicted longitudinal changes in the outcome. We then apply the proposed method to re-assess the association between time-varying glucocorticoid exposure and weight gain in people living with rheumatoid arthritis.
Becoming war: Towards a martial empiricism
Authors: Bousquet Antoine , Grove Jairus , Shah Nisha
Published: February 2020

Under the banner of martial empiricism, we advance a distinctive set of theoretical and methodological commitments for the study of war. Previous efforts to wrestle with this most recalcitrant of phenomena have sought to ground research upon primary definitions or foundational ontologies of war. By contrast, we propose to embrace war’s incessant becoming, making its creativity, mutability and polyvalence central to our enquiry. Leaving behind the interminable quest for its essence, we embrace war as mystery. We draw on a tradition of radical empiricism to devise a conceptual and contextual mode of enquiry that can follow the processes and operations of war wherever they lead us. Moving beyond the instrumental appropriations of strategic thought and the normative strictures typical of critical approaches, martial empiricism calls for an unbounded investigation into the emergent and generative character of war. Framing the accompanying special issue, we outline three domains around which to orient future research: mobilization, design and encounter. Martial empiricism is no idle exercise in philosophical speculation. It holds the promise of a research agenda apposite to the task of fully contending with the momentous possibilities and dangers of war in our time.
Investigation and Analysis of Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Attitudes Toward Advanced Care Planning and Their Willingness to Implement
Authors: Shi Zheng-Yan , Li Xiao-Ling , Tang Meng-Yan , Peng Yao-Yao
Published: February 2020

Objective:

The purpose of this study is to understand the attitude of undergraduate nursing students toward advanced care planning (ACP) and their willingness to implement ACP and to analyze its influencing factors, so as to provide evidence-based basis for life and death education and ACP-related training in colleges and universities.

Methods:

A total of 312 nursing undergraduates from a university in Chengdu (China) were surveyed by using general information questionnaire, attitude scale of ACP, and willingness questionnaire to implement ACP.

Results:

The scores of undergraduate nursing students’ attitude toward ACP were 24.97 ± 2.75, and the scores of total willingness to ACP were 79.26 ± 9.70. Univariate analysis and multivariate linear regression analysis showed that religious belief, grade, family relationship, and family discussion of death were the factors influencing the willingness of nursing students to carry out ACP.

Conclusions:

The attitude of undergraduate nursing students toward ACP tended to be positive, but their cognition of ACP was misunderstood, and their willingness to implement ACP needed to be improved. To improve the awareness and implementating willingness of undergraduate nursing students to ACP, it was recommended that colleges and universities carried out systematic standardized life and death education courses and ACP-related training.
Gender-specific difference of in-vivo kinematics in patients with unilateral total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Peng Yun , Arauz Paul , Kwon Young-Min
Published: February 2020

Purpose:

Asymmetric gait patterns are known to persist in patients with unilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA). Little is known about the effect of gender on gait asymmetry. This study aimed to determine whether gait asymmetry differs between genders in unilateral THA patients and can be explained by component positioning.

Methods:

23 female and 10 male unilateral THA patients were included. Asymmetric hip kinematics during gait and component positioning were quantified using a combined computed tomography-based modelling and dual fluoroscopic imaging system. Multiple regression was performed to examine the unique and mediated contribution of gender to observed gait asymmetry.

Results:

Female and male patients differed most significantly in frontal plane gait asymmetry ( p = 0.001) and bilateral difference of vertical femoral offset ( p = 0.048). Compared with the native hip, the implanted hip exhibited significantly increased adduction ( p = 0.007) in females but significantly increased abduction ( p = 0.001) in males. The stem head of the implanted hip was more superiorly positioned compared to the native femoral head in female but more inferiorly positioned in male. Gender accounted for 41.5% variance of frontal plane gait asymmetry and was partially mediated by the bilateral difference of vertical femoral offset.

Conclusions:

Female unilateral THA patients exhibited significantly increased adduction in the implanted hip compared to the native hip, which is partially attributable to a more superiorly positioned femoral stem centre of rotation. The understanding of gender-specific differences of kinematic patterns may benefit female patients through targeted preoperative planning and postoperative rehabilitation.
“There’s No Way That You Get Paid to Do the Arts”: Unpaid Labour Across the Cultural and Creative Life Course
Authors: Brook Orian , O’Brien Dave , Taylor Mark
Published: February 2020

Unpaid labour is an important element of how precarity has been theorised. It is also an issue that is often seen as endemic to cultural and creative work. Questions as to the role of unpaid work, including but not limited to unpaid internships, have become central to understanding how the social exclusiveness of many cultural and creative jobs is reinforced through their precarity. This article uses survey and interview data to outline the differing experiences of unpaid labour in cultural jobs. It contrasts the meaning of ‘free’ work over the life courses of a range of creative workers, showing how it is stratified by social class, age, and career stage. By exploring the stratification of unpaid work as a form of precariousness in cultural jobs, and of who describes their experiences of unpaid work as benign, the article offers new empirical evidence for those challenging the negative impacts of precarious working conditions.
What do participants on digital media platforms produce? Tracking the development of Hello Sunday Morning from a blog, to a social network, to a self-tracking app
Authors: Carah Nicholas
Published: February 2020

This article analyses the development of the participatory online social movement and health intervention Hello Sunday Morning (HSM) from 2009 to 2016. HSM has developed a media platform comprised of blogs, social networking and self-tracking apps with the aim of changing individual and cultural drinking practices. The case of HSM enables us to reflect on the participatory culture of digital media platforms. I argue that participants don’t just construct the sociality of the platform – its practices of speaking and being heard – they also play a crucial role in generating exercises that are coded into the platform’s interfaces, protocols and algorithms, and they produce data that informs the platform’s ongoing development. The article draws on interviews with participants, analysis of the platform since 2009, and my own critical reflections on participating in research, evaluation and design activities.
Lessons Learned From the Recruitment of Undocumented African Immigrant Women for a Qualitative Study
Authors: Olukotun Oluwatoyin , Mkandawire-Valhmu Lucy
Published: February 2020

Although undocumented immigrants represent a particularly vulnerable population, they are underrepresented in health research. To facilitate the engagement of undocumented immigrants in health research, in this article, we describe the methodological issues encountered while conducting a qualitative study where we sought to understand the health care–seeking experiences of undocumented African immigrant women in the United States. Strategies employed in addressing methodological challenges and recommendation for future studies will also be discussed.
Effects of substrate materials and liner thickness on the adhesive strength of the novel thin spray-on liner
Authors: Chen Lianjun , Zhou Zhi , Liu Guoming , Cui Xiangfei , Dong Qizheng , Cao Huaixuan
Published: February 2020

In order to comprehensively investigate the influence of the thickness of thin spray-on liners on their adhesive strength with different surrounding rock environments, pull-off tests were employed to measure the adhesive strength of thin spray-on liners of different thickness on the surface of various substrates (granite, sandstone, concrete, and coal), which were used to simulate different surrounding rock environments. The results indicated that the failure mode was mainly liner material–substrate adhesion failure when granite, sandstone, or concrete was used as the substrate, while substrate failure was observed to occur more frequently when coal was used as the substrate. The variation rules of the adhesive strength ( σ) of thin spray-on liners, along with liner thickness ( t), for different surrounding rock environments were obtained: [Formula: see text] for granite, [Formula: see text] for sandstone, [Formula: see text] for concrete, and [Formula: see text] ( t < 4) and [Formula: see text] ( t≥4) for coal. Furthermore, analysis of the standard deviation of experimental adhesive-strength data suggested that the variation in adhesive strength decreased in the following sequence: coal > concrete > sandstone > granite. The achievements of the current study provide a theoretical basis for the on-site determination of thin spray-on liner thickness requirements, as well as the scientific and rational design of liner material structure.
Individual differences in Cantonese Chinese word recognition: Insights from the Chinese Lexicon Project
Authors: Lim Rosemarie YH , Yap Melvin J , Tse Chi-Shing
Published: February 2020

The Chinese Lexicon Project is a repository of lexical decision data for 25,286 Cantonese Chinese two-character compound words. To create that repository, 594 participants responded to approximately 1,404 words and 1,404 nonwords over three sessions. Using the data in this repository, the present study examines the variability and reliability of Chinese lexical decision performance, along with the moderating influence of individual differences on lexical processing. We generally found high to very high within- and between-session reliabilities for mean response times, ex-Gaussian parameters, accuracy rates, and a composite proficiency measure tapping lexical processing fluency. Using linear mixed effects models, we also found reliable interactions between fluency and two lexical effects. Specifically, more fluent readers showed larger effects of word frequency and semantic transparency. These results attest to the stability of Chinese word recognition performance, and are most consistent with a flexible lexical processing system that adapts optimally to task demands.
The Baloch nationalism in Pakistan: Articulation of the ethnic separatism after the end of the Cold War
Authors: Noraiee Hoshang
Published: February 2020

The tribal structures of the society in Balochistan has strongly influenced Baloch nationalism in Pakistan. The Baloch nationalism has been shaped in the process of widespread politico-tribal rivalry, in the context of a week state in Pakistan interacted with the post-cold war conditions marked by the absence of the Soviet Union hegemonic power, and the processes of globalization. In this framework, the attitudes, scope, and directions of the Baloch nationalism, in this area, have shifted. The radical nationalism predominantly has become more aggressive, more exclusionary, more puritan, and more ethnically oriented. It has become more relaxed in using unethical and deceitful means such as indiscriminate killing, kidnapping, ransom; arm trafficking, and sometimes some of the nationalists, if not directly, gaining benefit from the drug trafficking, and banditry to achieve their objectives. Considering the geopolitical conditions in the whole region, particularly in Pakistan and Afghanistan; and the strength of tribal- sardari values associated with inter and intra rivalries, it is not surprising to find a peculiar situation in Balochistan. This research is mainly based on literature review, but also some limited conversations with a few anonymous informants and contacts with some of the Baloch political and community organizations and activists.
Aligning assessment, technology, and multi-literacies
Authors: Cartner Helen , Hallas Julia
Published: February 2020

This article is premised on research that suggests there is a gap between technology use for teaching and learning and the technology used in assessment. Digital technology such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter, podcasts, and news feeds are increasingly used in teaching and learning. On the other hand, assessment is often only in traditional essay form and frequently via pen and paper. This article examines the complex nature of multimodal design and argues for assessment that has constructive alignment, which sets out the interdependence of learning outcomes, teaching, and assessment where all three are aligned as equal partners. The aim of the research described was to investigate whether teacher–learners believed there was alignment between learning outcomes, activities, and assessment that utilized digital media technology. This article presents findings from a small-scale case study that drew on qualitative data from Student Evaluations of the Paper and from online surveys from four cohorts of participating teachers in a postgraduate adult literacy, language, and numeracy professional development program. There were three important findings from the data that indicated the importance of firstly having alignment of digital technology and course design outcomes, activities, and assessments and that this was clearly visible to the participants. The second finding indicated the content was relevant to the teacher–learners and involved them in constructing their own learning through authentic and practical activities and assessment. The third finding indicated that course outcomes, activities, and assessment tasks were aligned with multi-literacy skills. It is argued that academics design courses that are constructively aligned connecting learners with outcomes, activities, and assessment, which include an explicit focus on teaching the multi-literacy skills required in a world that is becoming increasingly digital.
Understanding Myanmar and the Way Forward for Legal Education: From Rote Learning to Community Engagement Through Clinical Legal Education
Authors: Ross Nicholas , Ardussi Carly , Tushaus David , Win Soe Thiri , Lwin Zwe Pyae Sone
Published: February 2020

The aim of this article is to use a community needs assessment to teach law students knowledge, skills and values while identifying the areas of greatest need for access to justice services in the community. To begin, the international team of US and Myanmar law faculty and students researched literature on the country of Myanmar and various issues facing Myanmar’s citizens and its legal education system. We also had a team from Missouri Western State University on the ground in Myanmar working with the international non-governmental organization (NGO) BABSEACLE (formerly, Bridges Across Borders South East Asia Clinical Legal Education) to work with faculty and students at the Department of Law, Taunggyi. The team conducted a community needs assessment (CNA) on legal needs in Taunggyi, Myanmar, to better understand community teaching needs. BABSEACLE provides law schools with the tools and opportunities to expand clinical legal education (CLE). The team in Myanmar from Missouri Western State University consisted of Professor David Tushaus and two undergraduate students, Britane Hubbard and Kaylee Sharp, who had the opportunity to teach CLE in English to law students at Taunggyi University. Professor Tushaus served as an international clinician in residence (ICIR). BABSEACLE, operating in Myanmar since 2013, has successfully used ICIRs to introduce and strengthen CLE, by embedding experienced law professors and practitioners at local universities to serve as mentors to neophyte clinical faculty.5
“My Hijab Is Like My Skin Color”: Muslim Women Students, Racialization, and Intersectionality
Authors: Karaman Nuray , Christian Michelle
Published: February 2020

During the past several years a growing body of literature has encouraged sociologists to examine the intersection of race and Islam as a distinct form of racialization. What is further needed is an understanding of the experiences of racialization of Muslims through the prism of intersectionality. Applying and expanding Selod’s (2018a, 2018b) conceptualization of “gendered racialization” we argue American and international Muslim college women in the United States experience racialization at the intersection of nationality-culture; how their corporeal bodies are gendered and racially signified; religious-political expression; and legal-political policies and practices. Using data from 34 Muslim women college students we argue, first, that they are being racialized in similar practices and feel un-American and that they do not belong but how they mitigate racialization differs based on their intersecting identities. Specifically, the intersecting forces of nationality, gender and racial body signification, and religious-political expression are pertinent. Second, Muslim women college students negotiate their racialization with different coping strategies informed by their intersecting identities, notably their nationality and how they are bodily signified. These findings expose how whiteness is a malleable process for Muslim college women and choosing how to navigate racialization is determined by competing identities.
How can we minimise the use of regular oral corticosteroids in asthma?
Authors: Bourdin Arnaud , Adcock Ian , Berger Patrick , Bonniaud Philippe , Chanson Philippe , Chenivesse Cécile , de Blic Jacques , Deschildre Antoine , Devillier Philippe , Devouassoux Gilles , Didier Alain , Garcia Gilles , Magnan Antoine , Martinat Yan , Perez Thierry , Roche Nicolas , Taillé Camille , Val Pierre , Chanez Pascal
Published: February 2020

Options to achieve oral corticosteroid (OCS)-sparing have been triggering increasing interest since the 1970s because of the side-effects of OCSs, and this has now become achievable with biologics. The Société de Pneumologie de Langue Française workshop on OCSs aimed to conduct a comprehensive review of the basics for OCS use in asthma and issue key research questions. Pharmacology and definition of regular use were reviewed by the first working group (WG1). WG2 examined whether regular OCS use is associated with T2 endotype. WG3 reported on the specificities of the paediatric area. Key “research statement proposals” were suggested by WG4. It was found that the benefits of regular OCS use in asthma outside episodes of exacerbations are poorly supported by the existing evidence. However, complete OCS elimination couldn’t be achieved in any available studies for all patients and the panel felt that it was too early to conclude that regular OCS use could be declared criminal. Repeated or prolonged need for OCS beyond 1 g·year−1should indicate the need for referral to secondary/tertiary care. A strategic sequential plan aiming at reducing overall exposure to OCS in severe asthma was then held as a conclusion of the workshop.
Genomic and ecological attributes of marine bacteriophages encoding bacterial virulence genes
Authors: Silveira Cynthia B. , Coutinho Felipe H. , Cavalcanti Giselle S. , Benler Sean , Doane Michael P. , Dinsdale Elizabeth A. , Edwards Robert A. , Francini-Filho Ronaldo B. , Thompson Cristiane C. , Luque Antoni , Rohwer Forest L. , Thompson Fabiano
Published: February 2020

Background

Bacteriophages encode genes that modify bacterial functions during infection. The acquisition of phage-encoded virulence genes is a major mechanism for the rise of bacterial pathogens. In coral reefs, high bacterial density and lysogeny has been proposed to exacerbate reef decline through the transfer of phage-encoded virulence genes. However, the functions and distribution of these genes in phage virions on the reef remain unknown.

Results

Here, over 28,000 assembled viral genomes from the free viral community in Atlantic and Pacific Ocean coral reefs were queried against a curated database of virulence genes. The diversity of virulence genes encoded in the viral genomes was tested for relationships with host taxonomy and bacterial density in the environment. These analyses showed that bacterial density predicted the profile of virulence genes encoded by phages. The Shannon diversity of virulence-encoding phages was negatively related with bacterial density, leading to dominance of fewer genes at high bacterial abundances. A statistical learning analysis showed that reefs with high microbial density were enriched in viruses encoding genes enabling bacterial recognition and invasion of metazoan epithelium. Over 60% of phages could not have their hosts identified due to limitations of host prediction tools; for those which hosts were identified, host taxonomy was not an indicator of the presence of virulence genes.

Conclusions

This study described bacterial virulence factors encoded in the genomes of bacteriophages at the community level. The results showed that the increase in microbial densities that occurs during coral reef degradation is associated with a change in the genomic repertoire of bacteriophages, specifically in the diversity and distribution of bacterial virulence genes. This suggests that phages are implicated in the rise of pathogens in disturbed marine ecosystems.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with postoperative inadequate analgesia after single-port VATS in Chinese population
Authors: Xing Xiufang , Bai Yongyu , Sun Kai , Yan Min
Published: February 2020

Background

Postoperative inadequate analgesia following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a common and significant clinical problem. While genetic polymorphisms may play role in the variability of postoperative analgesia effect, few studies have evaluated the associations between genetic mutations and inadequate analgesia after single-port VATS.

Methods

Twenty-eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among 18 selected genes involved in pain perception and modulation were genotyped in 198 Chinese patients undergoing single-port VATS. The primary outcome was the occurrence of inadequate analgesia in the first night and morning after surgery which was defined by a comprehensive postoperative evaluation. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify the association between genetic variations and postoperative inadequate analgesia.

Results

The prevalence of postoperative inadequate analgesia was 45.5% in the present study. After controlling for age and education level, association with inadequate analgesia was observed in four SNPs among three genes encoding voltage-gated sodium channels. Patients with the minor allele of rs33985936 (SCN11A), rs6795970 (SCN10A), and 3312G > T (SCN9A) have an increased risk of suffering from inadequate analgesia. While the patients carrying the minor allele of rs11709492 (SCN11A) have lower risk experiencing inadequate analgesia.

Conclusions

We identified that SNPs in SCN9A, SCN10A, and SCN11A play a role in the postoperative inadequate analgesia after single-port VATS. Although future larger and long-term follow up studies are warranted to confirm our findings, the results of the current study may be utilized as predictors for forecasting postoperative analgesic effect for patients receiving this type of surgery.

Trial registration

This study was retrospectively registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT03916120) on April 16, 2019.
Why do you need a biostatistician?
Authors: Zapf Antonia , Rauch Geraldine , Kieser Meinhard
Published: February 2020

The quality of medical research importantly depends, among other aspects, on a valid statistical planning of the study, analysis of the data, and reporting of the results, which is usually guaranteed by a biostatistician. However, there are several related professions next to the biostatistician, for example epidemiologists, medical informaticians and bioinformaticians. For medical experts, it is often not clear what the differences between these professions are and how the specific role of a biostatistician can be described. For physicians involved in medical research, this is problematic because false expectations often lead to frustration on both sides. Therefore, the aim of this article is to outline the tasks and responsibilities of biostatisticians in clinical trials as well as in other fields of application in medical research.
Correction to: Time to move? Factors associated with burden of care among informal caregivers of cognitively impaired older people facing housing decisions: secondary analysis of a cluster randomized trial
Authors: Boucher Alexandrine , Haesebaert Julie , Freitas Adriana , Adekpedjou Rhéda , Landry Marjolaine , Bourassa Henriette , Stacey Dawn , Croteau Jordie , Painchaud Guérard Geneviève , Légaré France
Published: February 2020

Following publication of the original article [1], we have been notified that one of the authors’ given name and last names are reversed and misspelled and thus not reflected correctly (given name now is Painchaud-Guérard and it should be Geneviève and last name now is Geneviève and it should be Painchaud Guérard).
Evidence-based intrapartum practice and its associated factors at a tertiary teaching hospital in the Philippines, a descriptive mixed-methods study
Authors: Masuda Chisato , Ferolin Shirley Kristine , Masuda Ken , Smith Chris , Matsui Mitsuaki
Published: February 2020

Background

Evidenced-based practice is a key component of quality care. However, studies in the Philippines have identified gaps between evidence and actual maternity practices. This study aims to describe the practice of evidence-based intrapartum care and its associated factors, as well as exploring the perceptions of healthcare providers in a tertiary hospital in the Philippines.

Methods

A mixed-methods study was conducted, which consisted of direct observation of intrapartum practices during the second and third stages, as well as semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with care providers to determine their perceptions and reasoning behind decisions to perform episiotomy or fundal pressure. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyse the relationship between observed practices and maternal, neonatal, and environmental factors. Qualitative data were parsed and categorised to identify themes related to the decision-making process.

Results

A total of 170 deliveries were included. Recommended care, such as prophylactic use of oxytocin and controlled cord traction in the third stage, were applied in almost all the cases. However, harmful practices were also observed, such as intramuscular or intravenous oxytocin use in the second stage (14%) and lack of foetal heart rate monitoring (57%). Of primiparae, 92% received episiotomy and 31% of all deliveries received fundal pressure. Factors associated with the implementation of episiotomy included primipara (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 62.3), duration of the second stage of more than 30 min (aOR 4.6), and assisted vaginal delivery (aOR 15.0). Factors associated with fundal pressure were primipara (aOR 3.0), augmentation with oxytocin (aOR 3.3), and assisted delivery (aOR 4.8). Healthcare providers believe that these practices can prevent laceration. The rate of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) was 17%. Associated with OASIS were assisted delivery (aOR 6.0), baby weights of more than 3.5 kg (aOR 7.8), episiotomy (aOR 26.4), and fundal pressure (aOR 6.2).

Conclusions

Our study found that potentially harmful practices are still conducted that contribute to the occurrence of OASIS. The perception of these practices is divergent with current evidence, and empirical knowledge has more influence. To improve practices the scientific evidence and its underlying basis should be understood among providers.