bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immature stages of the genus Oxythyrea (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) with a key to third instar larvae, and notes on the biology of the genus
Authors: VONDRÁČEK DOMINIK , HADJICONSTANTIS MICHAEL , ŠÍPEK PETR
Published: October 2018

The genus Oxythyrea Mulsant, 1842 comprises ten currently recognized species. So far, larval descriptions for only three species are available. Here, we present comprehensive descriptions of third instar larval morphology for the six previously unstudied Oxythyrea species along with detailed re-descriptions of larval morphology for the previously described species. All descriptions are supplemented by photographs and line art drawings of the morphological structures. This work also contains a key to third instar larvae of the genus Oxythyrea as well as observations from collecting sites with focus on biological characteristics of all covered species including pictures of biotopes and host plants for adults. In addition, notes on the breeding circumstances for species are provided.
Effect of Upper- and Lower-Level Baroclinicity on the Persistence of the Leading Mode of Midlatitude Jet Variability
Authors: Robert Loïc , Rivière Gwendal , Codron Francis
Published: October 2018

The sensitivity of the variability of an eddy-driven jet to the upper- and lower-level baroclinicity of the mean state is analyzed using a three-level quasigeostrophic model on the sphere. The model is forced by a relaxation in temperature to a steady, zonally symmetric profile with varying latitude and intensity of the maximum baroclinicity. The leading EOF of the zonally and vertically averaged zonal wind is characterized by a meridional shift of the eddy-driven jet. While changes in the upper-level baroclinicity have no significant impact on the persistence of this leading EOF, an increase in lower-level baroclinicity leads to a reduced persistence. For small lower-level baroclinicity, the leading EOF follows a classical zonal index regime, for which the meridional excursions of the zonal wind anomalies are maintained by a strong positive eddy feedback. For strong lower-level baroclinicity, the jet enters a poleward-propagation regime, for which the eddy forcing continuously acts to push the jet poleward and prevents its maintenance at a fixed latitude. The enhanced poleward propagation when the lower-level baroclinicity increases is interpreted as resulting from the broader and weaker potential vorticity gradient that enables the waves to propagate equatorward and facilitates the poleward migration of the critical latitude. Finally, the decrease in the persistence of the leading EOF as the lower-level baroclinicity increases is shown not to result from the impact of changes in the mean climatological jet latitude.
Impact of the Extended Boreal Summer Intraseasonal Oscillation on Western North Pacific Tropical Cloud Cluster Genesis Productivity
Authors: Zhao Haikun , Chen Shaohua , Klotzbach Philip J. , Raga G. B.
Published: October 2018

Tropical cloud clusters (TCCs) are traditionally viewed as precursors of tropical cyclone (TC) genesis. Most studies have focused on the impact of the extended boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) on TC activity over the western North Pacific (WNP), while the modulation of the ISO on WNP TCC genesis productivity (TCCGP), that is, the ratio of TC to TCC counts, has been investigated much less frequently. This study suggests that the extended boreal summer ISO modulates WNP TCCGP, with higher (lower) TCCGP during convectively active (inactive) ISO phases. Changes in TCCGP are found to be closely associated with changes of large-scale environmental factors. During the convectively active ISO phase, significantly increased TCCGP is associated with strengthened low-level cyclonic circulation anomalies and increased midlevel relative humidity anomalies over the WNP basin. The genesis potential index (GPI) contains several large-scale environmental variables demonstrated to relate to TCs and TCCs. The GPI can adequately depict the ISO modulation of WNP TCCGP through its alterations of large-scale parameters. Low-level vorticity makes the largest contribution to the change of TCCGP with a secondary contribution from midlevel relative humidity. Interestingly, the nonlinear GPI terms make comparable contributions, which can be partly explained by the synoptic-scale wave activity associated with the ISO mode. Stronger (weaker) 3–8-day synoptic-scale wave train intensity and increased (decreased) low-level eddy kinetic energy are found to be associated with the enhanced (weakened) monsoon circulation over the WNP basin during convectively active (inactive) ISO phases.
Patent Foramen Ovale Closure Versus Medical Therapy in Cryptogenic Strokes and Transient Ischemic Attacks: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials
Authors: Vidale Simone , Russo Filippo , Campana Carlo , Agostoni Elio
Published: October 2018

Cryptogenic strokes account for about 25% to 40% of total ischemic strokes, and 1 of the 3 of these have a patent foramen ovale (PFO). A meta-analysis concerning the effectiveness and safety of PFO closure in cryptogenic strokes or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) was performed. We systematically searched Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library through April 2018. Eligible studies were randomized clinical trials. Primary and secondary end points were, respectively, stroke or TIA and stroke recurrences. We calculated risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all end points using fixed- and random-effects meta-analyses. Data were included from 6 trials involving 3560 patients. In the pooled analysis, PFO closure was superior to medical treatment for both primary (RR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.18-0.82; P < .02) and secondary end points (RR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.44-0.76; P < .001). Transcatheter closure significantly increased the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF; RR: 5.74; P < .001). Percutaneous closure is superior to medical treatment in reducing stroke and TIA recurrence, even if with a significant risk increasing for new-onset AF. These findings suggest that transcatheter closure is indicated in patients with cryptogenic strokes and large PFO.
How Do States Implement College- and Career-Readiness Standards? A Distributed Leadership Analysis of Standards-Based Reform
Authors: Pak Katie , Desimone Laura M.
Published: October 2018

Purpose: Our primary purpose is to examine the implementation of college- and- career- readiness content standards in Kentucky, Ohio, and Texas through the lens of distributed leadership theory, and to determine the affordances and challenges of this distributed leadership through the lens of policy attribute theory. Research Methods/Approach: We analyze data from 66 hour-long interviews of state and district administrators across the three states collected from Spring 2016 to Spring 2017. Using a deductive coding approach, we developed themes around distributed leadership as they pertain to the five attributes of policy implementation: specificity, consistency, authority, power, and stability. Findings: Using the distributed leadership and policy attribute theories, we find similar trends in state leaders distributing instructional leadership to regional, district, and organizational leaders to add specificity to the college and career readiness standards at the expense of compromising the consistency and power of the reform. This distribution of leadership is thought to contribute to the authority of the reform, though this authority is made tenuous by the instability of educational policies at the national and state levels. Implications: We highlight the need to examine the implementation of education policy using leadership frameworks and to understand leadership relationships between the state their regional and district partners. We extend the use of the distributed leadership theory beyond the K-16 level and the use of policy attribute theory to showcase where state actors can strengthen their reform initiatives.
A simple capacitive proximity sensor experiment for exploring the effects of body capacitance and earth ground
Authors: Scher Aaron D
Published: October 2018

Capacitive proximity sensors are well-suited for educational projects due to their low cost and simple design. Traditional undergraduate textbooks and lab exercises rarely highlight the fact that the performance of capacitive proximity sensors can be quite sensitive to ground loading. This paper presents a simple classroom demonstration for exploring this topic in detail. The capacitive proximity sensor for this demonstration is a hand-held LCR meter connected to a homemade capacitor composed of two strips of aluminum foil. Students explore the operation of this sensor for two different system ground configurations. In the first case the LCR meter is battery powered (floating ground referenced) and in the second case the LCR meter is powered by AC mains supply (earth ground referenced). When a student positions their hand near the foil strips, the battery-powered sensor measures an increase in capacitance. Conversely, the AC-mains-powered sensor measures a decrease in capacitance. The instructor guides students to discover for themselves the reason for this seemingly puzzling difference by modeling parasitic capacitance and ground loading using simple circuit models.
“The Game Ain’t What It Used to Be”: Drug Sellers’ Perceptions of the Modern Day Underground and Legal Markets
Authors: Fader Jamie J.
Published: October 2018

This study draws on interviews with 20 drug sellers in Philadelphia to explore their subjective perceptions of risk and reward within the modern context of increased police scrutiny and few illegal or legal opportunities for social mobility. Most respondents earned little, viewed drug sales negatively, and perceived the next generation of drug sellers to be unpredictable and prone to risk. They sought exit opportunities, associating continued participation in drug sales with childhood and wishing to participate more fully in the mainstream economy. Half of the sample worked in legal employment, and many argued that this was both necessary and beneficial to reducing risk. The findings suggest that traditional theories explaining participation in drug sales may need to be re-examined in light of changes in the landscape of the drug economy. Moreover, they may provide context to understanding why deterrence-based policies have generally failed to disrupt drug markets.
Examining Variability in Language Minority Students’ Reading Achievement: The Influence of School and Ethnic Background Macro Contexts
Authors: Reid Tingting , Heck Ronald H.
Published: October 2018

The steady increase in immigration in the United States over the past few decades has focused attention on the necessity for school districts to provide English language services in order for children with diverse language backgrounds to participate fully in public education. In this study, we utilize a large state-representative sample of elementary-aged students from culturally diverse backgrounds to examine gaps in the reading achievement of English learners versus their native English-speaking peers. Our inquiry examines the theoretical importance of micro–macro linkages to assess the relative impacts of school contexts and ethnic/cultural backgrounds on students’ reading achievement.
Effect of smart textile metamaterials on electromagnetic performance for wireless body area network systems
Authors: Moradi Bahareh , Fernández-García Raul , Gil Ignacio
Published: October 2018

In this work, the utilization of different textile materials for manufacturing of metamaterial with the aim of controlling the signal propagation in smart textile applications is investigated. The performance of composite structures of embroidered yarn conductor transmission lines loaded with split-ring resonator geometries in felt and cotton substrates are reported. The proposed structure allows propagating or filtering the transmitted signal in the microwave frequency range. The experimental results exhibit a rejection band between 1.3 and 2.6 GHz for felt substrate and between 1.6 and 2.6 GHz for cotton substrate with stop-band levels lower than –20 dB. The presented e-textile structures are designed, electromagnetically simulated and measured. The measured results are in good agreement with three-dimensional electromagnetic simulations. The effect of bending of the e-textiles for realistic scenarios is also studied. The experimental results show that by changing the radius of bending from 10 to 65 mm, the resonance frequency is shifted up 290 and 144 MHz for cotton and felt substrates, respectively.
Transitional optics: Exploring liminal spaces after conflict
Authors: Murphy Joanne , McDowell Sara
Published: October 2018

The purpose of this article is to engage in a new conceptualisation of liminality, as it applies to space and place in societies emerging from conflict but not yet at peace. We adopt a case study approach of two urban environments: Derry/Londonderry, a city that experienced acute levels of violence during the Northern Ireland conflict, and Bilbao, the largest city in the Basque Country, which has been at the crux of the cultural and economic struggle for Basque independence. The visual, built environment has been significantly reconfigured in both cities to communicate the transition from conflict. Yet the optics of peacebuilding does not necessarily reflect the experiences of communities as they move through complex processes. A more nuanced and critical reading of the urban environment often reveals stagnation within peace processes and the existence of liminal, inbetween spaces. This paper suggests that ‘transitional optics’ in societies moving out of conflict can physically illuminate the complex nature of building peace, and argues that the idea of permanent liminality can offer new ways of understanding the ways in which transitional processes can become trapped. An ‘end-point’ is not always achievable, or perhaps, for some, desirable. The characteristics of permanent liminality can be identified in three main areas: political imagery, physical regeneration and public space as a conflict arena.
What to Do After Visiting a Museum? From Post-consumption Evaluation to Intensification and Online Content Generation
Authors: Antón Carmen , Camarero Carmen , Garrido María-José
Published: October 2018

In the context of museums, this article analyses to what extent visitor evaluation of the experience (attainment, emotion, and satisfaction) drives their short-term online behavior: consumption of further online content (intensification) and posting content in online sites (content generation). On the basis of the optimal stimulation level theory and on the balance theory, it proposes that the evaluation of the experience has an inverted U-effect on visit intensification intention while a U-effect on the intention to generate content after the visit. Findings indicate that satisfaction fosters the intention to intensify or consume further content, while the perception of having gained the maximum attainment and emotional value limits it. On the other hand, while satisfaction and the perception of a profitable visit motivate visitors to post online comments, poor experiences in museums have no impact on the generation of online content.
Tweeting the Black Travel Experience: Social Media Counternarrative Stories as Innovative Insight on #TravelingWhileBlack
Authors: Dillette Alana K. , Benjamin Stefanie , Carpenter Chelsea
Published: October 2018

African-Americans in the United States have long since been confronted with harassment and discrimination while traveling because of segregated lodging, restaurants, and other leisure activities. However, African-Americans/Blacks are one of the fastest-growing tourist groups. This work builds on previous research on the Black travel experience analyzing over 300 tweets using the trending hashtag #TravelingWhileBlack through a critical race theory lens. By analyzing how Black tourists are traveling, this study reveals how experiential knowledge of Black travelers can contribute to the learning environment of the tourism industry. Three emergent themes were identified: (1) occurrences of racism, (2) awareness of being Black while traveling, and (3) meaningful experiences traveling while Black, suggesting that experiential knowledge of travelers of color brings different perspectives, which will, it is hoped, move toward eliminating all forms of subordination and create a more just society.
Need for guidelines for the combined management of pregnancy and dengue: a retrospective study from an Indian tertiary care maternity hospital
Authors: Kallur Sailaja Devi , Surapaneni Tarakeswari , Boorugu Hari Kishan , Aziz Nuzhat , Gala Anisha Ramniklal , Donnuri Swathi
Published: October 2018

The incidence of dengue has risen in India in recent years. Evidence suggests that dengue in pregnancy may be associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. The aim of our study was to analyse outcomes in pregnant women with confirmed dengue infection who had the benefit of close monitoring and intensive management at a tertiary maternity facility. We reviewed hospital data of 44 (0.11%) such women at Fernandez Hospital, a tertiary maternity unit, during the five-year period from 2011 to 2016. Maternal and fetal variables were collected from case sheets.

Dengue haemorrhagic fever was seen in 15.9% and dengue shock syndrome in one fatal case (2.2%). Thrombocytopenia was seen in 31 cases (70.4%) and 14 (31.81%) received platelets transfusions. Fetal outcomes in our series were favourable, except for one stillbirth, with 45.4% preterm deliveries and 15.9% small for gestational age babies. Dengue in pregnancy is definitely associated with maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. A high index of suspicion of dengue is required in pregnant women with pyrexia and thrombocytopenia.
Effect of reinforcement filler on vulcanization, diffusion, mechanical, and electrical properties of natural rubber
Authors: El-Gamal AA
Published: October 2018

The present work investigates the properties of natural rubber (NR) filled with different contents of reinforcing carbon black (CB) and other compounding ingredients. The curing characteristics were tested at 157°C. It was found that the equilibrium solvent uptake ( Qmax) decreases with the increase of the CB concentration due to reduction of the free volume. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength and hardness of CB filled rubber composites were remarkably improved, indicating the inherent reinforcing potential of CB. The percentage of elongation at break of filled CB rubber was found to be lower than that of pure NR. The dielectric constants ( ε′), dielectric loss ( ε″), and alternating current (AC) electrical conductivity ( σAC) were investigated for all samples as a function of frequency and temperature. It is concluded that the high CB content causes the formation of channels, increasing the AC conductivity of the composites.
The Transmission of Information in Chinese Folk Religion: Reflections on Fieldwork in Putian, Fujian
Authors: Wu Chongqing
Published: October 2018

In folk religion, the key to interaction among gods, ghosts, and people lies in the transmission of information. The separation between the spheres of yin and yang leads to an asymmetry of information and the need for communication. The transmission of information between ghosts and the living displays a differential mode of association 差序格局 in interpersonal relations. Two important means for this transmission are block divination 卜杯 and the spirit mediums known as tongji 童乩. The choice determines the mode of interaction between humans and spirits, the specific role played by gods, and the type of information they provide. That information may be called “sacred knowledge,” which contrasts with ordinary social knowledge in the characteristics, mechanisms, and rules regarding its transmission.
Why Paul’s Fabulous Body is Missing its Belly: The Rhetorical Subversion of Menenius Agrippa’s Fable in 1 Corinthians 12.12-30
Authors: Smith Daniel Lynwood
Published: October 2018

In 1 Cor. 12.12-30, Paul addresses factionalism in Corinth by rhetorically reworking the famed fable of the Members and the Belly. Whereas historiographical narratives typically depict Menenius Agrippa using this fable about talking body parts to restore the status quo of plebeian submission, Paul uses certain elements of the fable to make his disruptive case for unity among the Corinthians. Paul’s subversive embellishment of the fable excises the belly, which plays a central role in the older tale. Other Pauline discussions of the ancient belly help to make sense of this surprising surgical move, one of Paul’s many rhetorical maneuvers that are aligned with the prescriptions found in ancient handbooks of preliminary exercises, or προγυμνάσματα.
Self-esteem development in middle childhood: Support for sociometer theory
Authors: Magro Sophia W. , Utesch Till , Dreiskämper Dennis , Wagner Jenny
Published: October 2018

Though it is well-established that self-esteem develops from childhood well into old age, little is known about the processes that influence this change, especially among young populations. This international, cross-sequential study examined the development of self-esteem in 1599 second-graders (Age MT1 = 7.99, SDT1 = 0.52 years; 52% male) in the Netherlands and Germany over three years. Multilevel models revealed that mean-level trends in self-esteem were stable across time among all demographic groups, but that males and students in the Netherlands consistently had higher self-esteem than females and students in Germany. Further analyses examining the role of social support in self-esteem development demonstrated that individuals with better peer and family social support tended to have higher levels of self-esteem and that within-person changes in social support were directly related to changes in self-esteem level, providing support for sociometer theory. These findings suggest that demographic factors as well as social support are important predictors of self-esteem as early as middle childhood.
How friendship is defined matters for predicting intergroup attitudes: Shared activities and mutual trust with cross-ethnic peers during late childhood and early adolescence
Authors: Grütter Jeanine , Tropp Linda R.
Published: October 2018

We examined how two different definitions of cross-ethnic friendships, namely reciprocal peer nominations for shared activities and mutual trust, predict attitudes towards immigrant students among non-immigrant Swiss children and early adolescents ( N = 309). Among both Swiss children and early adolescents, only the number of mutually trusting peer nominations with immigrant students, but not the number of mutual nominations for shared activities, positively predicted inclusive intergroup attitudes. In addition, the perception of cooperation on a common goal in the classroom positively correlated with the number of cross-ethnic—but not same-ethnic—friends whom students trusted. We discuss the implications of our findings in relation to developmental research on the antecedents of intergroup attitudes and positive cross-ethnic relationships among children and early adolescents.
Text classification for cognitive domains: A case using lexical, syntactic and semantic features
Authors: Qiao Chen , Hu Xiao
Published: October 2018

Various automated classifiers have been implemented to categorise learning-related texts into cognitive domains. However, existing studies have applied limited linguistic features, and most have focused on texts written in English, with little attention given to Chinese. This study has tried to fill the gaps by applying a comprehensive set of features that have rarely been used collectively in previous research, with a focus on Chinese analytical texts. Experiments were conducted for classifier learning and evaluation, where a feature selection procedure significantly improved the classification performance. The results showed that different types of features complemented each other in forming strong collective representations of the original texts, and the discriminant nature of the features can be reasonably explained by language usage phenomena. The proposed approach could potentially be applied to other datasets of analytical writings involving cognitive domains, and the text features explored could be reused and further refined in future studies.
Restrictive Ventilatory Patterns in Residents of Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Authors: Kovach Christine R. , Taani Murad H. , Evans Crystal-Rae , Kelber Sheryl , Margolis Irwin
Published: October 2018

Restrictive ventilatory patterns (RVPs) in older adults may contribute to morbidity and decreased quality of life. The purpose of this study was to begin to understand (a) the number of older adults residing in Continuing Care Retirement Communities with RVPs, (b) factors associated with RVP, and (c) whether RVP is associated with ambulation level. This descriptive study was conducted at three sites. RVP was evident in 34 of the 65 participants (52%), and 33 (97%) of these were either moderate or severely restricted. Dementia, dyspnea, kyphosis, and lower muscle strength were significant predictors of RVP. Eighty percent of the nonambulatory participants had RVP and 38% of the ambulatory participants had RVP. Designing interventions to address modifiable factors associated with RVP may prevent respiratory infections, help people to achieve better lung health, and increase physical activity tolerance.
Partner Type Attitudes of Parents and Adolescents: Understanding the Decline in Transnational Partnerships among Turkish Migrants in Flanders
Authors: Van Pottelberge Amelie , Dupont Emilien , Caestecker Frank , Van de Putte Bart , Lievens John
Published: October 2018

This article describes an unprecedented decline in transnational partnerships among Turkish migrants in Flanders, using population data on all marriages between 2001 and 2008. Studying parental preferences regarding partner selection, we examine attitudinal mechanisms behind this decline. Based on a representative survey, our first result is that (direct) parental involvement in partner selection is lower among the more recent marriage cohorts. Second, parents and adolescents have moved away from a focus on the origin country in partner selection, while ethnic homogamy remains preferred. Third, openness toward mixed partnerships is found among a small but salient proportion of parents and associated with the religious attendance of male parents. We conclude that an attitudinal shift has occurred from a focus on the origin country to an orientation toward the local (ethnic) community. This decline in transnational partnerships is more a product of intense attitudinal change than a reflection of a policy change in the direction of discouraging partner migration and has implications for the integration and demographic characteristics of Turkish ethnic minorities in Flemish society. Additionally, international migration patterns are affected as the character of long-lasting migration from Turkey to Europe is changing and partner migration, one of the most accessible channels to enter Europe, is rapidly decreasing.
Quality of dying and quality of end-of-life care of nursing home residents in six countries: An epidemiological study
Authors: Pivodic Lara , Smets Tinne , Van den Noortgate Nele , Onwuteaka-Philipsen Bregje D , Engels Yvonne , Szczerbińska Katarzyna , Finne-Soveri Harriet , Froggatt Katherine , Gambassi Giovanni , Deliens Luc , Van den Block Lieve
Published: October 2018

Background:

Nursing homes are among the most common places of death in many countries.

Aim:

To determine the quality of dying and end-of-life care of nursing home residents in six European countries.

Design:

Epidemiological survey in a proportionally stratified random sample of nursing homes. We identified all deaths of residents of the preceding 3-month period. Main outcomes: quality of dying in the last week of life (measured using End-of-Life in Dementia Scales – Comfort Assessment while Dying (EOLD-CAD)); quality of end-of-life care in the last month of life (measured using Quality of Dying in Long-Term Care (QoD-LTC) scale). Higher scores indicate better quality.

Setting/participants:

Three hundred and twenty-two nursing homes in Belgium, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and England. Participants were staff (nurses or care assistants) most involved in each resident’s care.

Results:

Staff returned questionnaires regarding 1384 (81.6%) of 1696 deceased residents. The End-of-Life in Dementia Scales – Comfort Assessment while Dying mean score (95% confidence interval) (theoretical 14–42) ranged from 29.9 (27.6; 32.2) in Italy to 33.9 (31.5; 36.3) in England. The Quality of Dying in Long-Term Care mean score (95% confidence interval) (theoretical 11–55) ranged from 35.0 (31.8; 38.3) in Italy to 44.1 (40.7; 47.4) in England. A higher End-of-Life in Dementia Scales – Comfort Assessment while Dying score was associated with country ( p = 0.027), older age ( p = 0.012), length of stay ⩾1 year ( p = 0.034), higher functional status ( p < 0.001). A higher Quality of Dying in Long-Term Care score was associated with country ( p < 0.001), older age ( p < 0.001), length of stay ⩾1 year ( p < 0.001), higher functional status ( p = 0.002), absence of dementia ( p = 0.001), death in nursing home ( p = 0.033).

Conclusion:

The quality of dying and quality of end-of-life care in nursing homes in the countries studied are not optimal. This includes countries with high levels of palliative care development in nursing homes such as Belgium, the Netherlands and England.
Economic evaluation of the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of subcutaneous ketamine in the management of chronic cancer pain
Authors: McCaffrey Nikki , Flint Thomas , Kaambwa Billingsley , Fazekas Belinda , Rowett Debra , Currow David C , Hardy Janet , Agar Meera R , Quinn Steve , Eckermann Simon
Published: October 2018

Background:

Treating chronic, uncontrolled, cancer pain with subcutaneous ketamine in patients unresponsive to opioids and co-analgesics remains controversial, especially in light of recent evidence demonstrating ketamine does not have net clinical benefit in this setting.

Aim:

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of subcutaneous ketamine versus placebo in this patient population.

Design and setting:

A within-trial cost-effectiveness analysis of the Australian Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative’s randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of ketamine was conducted from a healthcare provider perspective. Mean costs and outcomes were estimated from participant-level data over 5 days including positive response, health-related quality of life (HrQOL) measured with the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Palliative Care (FACIT-Pal), ketamine costs, medication usage and in-patient stays.

Results:

There was no statistically significant difference in responder rates, but higher toxicity and worse HrQOL for ketamine participants (mean change −3.10 (standard error (SE) 1.76), ketamine n = 93; 4.53 (SE 1.38), placebo n = 92). Estimated total mean costs were AU$706 higher per ketamine participant (AU$6608) compared with placebo (AU$5902), attributable to the cost of higher in-patient costs as well as costs of ketamine administration. The results were robust to sensitivity analyses accounting for different medication use costing methods and removal of cost outliers.

Conclusion:

The findings suggest subcutaneous ketamine in conjunction with opioids and standard adjuvant therapy is neither an effective nor cost-effective treatment for refractory pain in advanced cancer patients.
Intramedullary nail versus locking plate for treatment of proximal humeral fractures: A meta-analysis based on 1384 individuals
Authors: Li Ming , Wang Yanhua , Zhang Yupeng , Yang Ming , Zhang Peixun , Jiang Baoguo
Published: October 2018

Objective

The optimal surgical intervention on the treatment for proximal humeral fractures (PHFs) remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes following fixation of PHFs by intramedullary nails or locking plates

Methods

The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, China Knowledge Resource Integrated (CNKI), Chongqing VIP and Wanfang databases were systematically searched for studies published between January 01, 1996 and December 31, 2016 that investigated intramedullary nail vs. locking plate in the surgical treatment of PHFs. A meta-analysis examined incision length, blood loss, operation time, fracture healing time, Constant scores and post-operative complications. The methodological and evidence quality were also assessed by MINORS and GRADE system.

Results

From the original 1024 references, 20 studies involving 1384 patients met the eligibility criteria. Analyses showed that intramedullary nails were superior to locking plates in incision length, peri-operative bleeding time, operation time and fracture healing time. However, there were no differences between treatments in Constant score or post-operative complications.

Conclusion

Although the evidence quality was poor, the results suggest that compared with locking plates, intramedullary nails may be a better choice for the repair of PHFs.
Characteristics of wooden intraocular foreign body by magnetic resonance imaging in rabbits
Authors: Wen Baohong , Cheng Jingliang , Zhang Huixia , Zhang Yong , Zhang Xiaonan , Yan Chenyu , Zhang Fengguang
Published: October 2018

Objective

Intraocular foreign body (IOFB), a frequent cause of ocular trauma, causes serious damage to the eyes. This study was designed to elaborate and compare the characteristics of different magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences in detecting wooden IOFBs in rabbits.

Methods

The right vitreous of 24 healthy rabbits was randomly implanted with diverse wooden foreign bodies (diameter φ = 0.2 mm). The T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), proton density-weighted imaging (PDWI), and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) sequences were applied individually 2 weeks after the implantation.

Results

IOFBs were detected as linear low signals on T1WI, T2WI, PDWI, and SWI (SWI image). The detectable rates of poplar wood with a length of 0.5 mm were 0%, 50%, 0%, and 67% for T1WI, T2WI, PDWI, and SWI, respectively. SWI and T2WI sequences exhibited higher sensitivity than T1WI and PDWI. The detectable rates of the first three SWI sequences (magnitude, phase, and SWI) were all 67%, which was higher than that of the minimum intensity projection sequence (33%).

Conclusion

MRI is practicable in the diagnosis of wooden IOFBs. SWI and T2WI are optimal for the integrated diagnosis of wooden IOFBs and could be used for diagnosis and immediate treatment.
Treatment outcomes and therapeutic evaluations of patients with left ventricular aneurysm
Authors: Sui Yonggang , Teng Siyong , Qian Jie , Zhao Zhenyan , Zhang Qian , Wu Yongjian
Published: October 2018

Objective

This study was performed to analyze and compare the efficacy of three treatment methods for left ventricular aneurysm (LVA): coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) combined with left ventricular resection, drug treatment, and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

In total, 183 patients with LVA from Fuwai Hospital were divided into three groups according to the treatment method: 51 patients underwent left ventricular resection combined with CABG (CABG-resection group), 65 underwent drug treatment (drug group), and 67 underwent PCI (PCI group). The clinical characteristics and survival rates of the patients were compared among the three groups.

Results

The patients’ basic data and medical history were analyzed. The postoperative left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were significantly higher than those before surgery, indicating that the left ventricular function markedly improved after the operation.

Conclusion

Surgery is recommended as the first treatment option for LVA, and conservative therapy can be considered for selected patients. Although the difference was not statistically significant, CABG with left ventricular resection was associated with a better LVEF and LVEDD and higher survival and non-recurrence rates than PCI or drug treatment.
Beraprost sodium versus clopidogrel for preventing vascular thromboembolic events of arteriovenous fistula in uraemic patients: a retrospective study with a mean 3-year follow-up
Authors: Wan Ziming , Zhu Ying , Yang Ruikun , Zhang Yongjian , Yang Chen , Cao Lei , Yan Wenjing , Wang Qi , Li Ning , Zhao Mingdong , Gui Keke , Xiong Min
Published: October 2018

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the efﬁcacy of beraprost sodium (BPS) or clopidogrel (CL) using vascular thromboembolic events (VTEs) of arteriovenous fistula as a primary endpoint in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing arteriovenous fistula surgery.

Methods

We performed a multicentre, retrospective cohort study from August 2012 to August 2016. We studied patients with ESRD who underwent arteriovenous fistula surgery and received peroral administration of 40 µg BPS, three times per day, for 1 month, or 75 mg CL (initial dose of 300 mg), one time per day, for 1 month. The time to first on-study VTE was the primary endpoint.

Results

The BPS-treated cohort had a significantly delayed time to first VTE compared with the CL-treated cohort (hazard ratio 0.33, 95% confidence interval 0.18–0.56). An increased incidence of VTEs was detected in the 1-month follow-up, with rates of 2.4% and 8.7% for BPS and CL, respectively. This difference persisted over time, with rates of 8.0% and 18.1% at the final follow-up, respectively.

Conclusion

CL-treated patients with ESRD have a greater risk of VTEs compared with BPS-treated patients. CL-treated patients also tend to experience a VTE within the first month after cessation of oral administration.
Cartooning the Camp: Aesthetic Interruption and the Limits of Political Possibility
Authors: Wedderburn Alister
Published: October 2018

Over the last 30 years, post-structuralist, feminist and other IR theorists have asked questions of the ways in which discourses on sovereignty seek to foreclose political possibility. To do so, they have advanced a decentralised, contested, incomplete and relational understanding of politics that presupposes some sort of intersubjective agency, however fragmented. There is one site, however, that appears to confound this line of argument insofar as it is commonly understood to exemplify an entirely non-relational, anti-political ‘desolation’: the concentration camp. Drawing on feminist theory to establish the terms of an aesthetic mode of ‘interruption’, this article will identify a compelling challenge to this position in a comic book drawn by Horst Rosenthal, a German–Jewish detainee at Gurs in Vichy, France, who was later killed at Auschwitz–Birkenau. Rosenthal’s piece will be read as an ‘aesthetic interruption’ that mounts a powerful critique of the logic underpinning his concentrationary experience, and in so doing demonstrates one way in which (to however painfully limited a degree) the political might be ‘brought back in’ to discussions about sovereign power.
Correlates of Attitudes Toward Dating Violence Among Police Cadets in China
Authors: Qu Jia , Wang Liang , Zhao Jihong
Published: October 2018

Scholars have highlighted that incidents of dating violence are quite frequent among college students, and subsequent consequence can be devastating. A key factor that has been singled out in most studies on dating violence concerns an individual’s attitudes toward dating violence. It is assumed that there is a link between one’s attitudes and associated behaviors. The purpose of this study is to investigate correlates of attitudes toward dating violence among police cadets in a 4-year university in China. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that police cadets were the subjects of research on this important topic. Besides several commonly adopted variables in the analysis in the United States, we incorporated three variables that were unique to this study (the assistance-oriented police strategy, internship experience, and knowing anti-domestic violence law). The findings revealed that preference of gender-role, perceptions of the nature of dating, and police strategies have significant effect on cadets’ sentiment of dating violence. We also discussed the limitations of this study and highlight several areas that future research needs to focus on.
The Preference for Strangulation in a Sexually Motivated Serial Killer
Authors: Pettigrew Mark
Published: October 2018

The existing literature on the killing method of choice for sexually motivated serial killers suggests strangulation as the preferable means of homicide, when the victim is female. When homicide victims are male, however, existing research suggests that firearms and blades are preferable methods of causing death. A case is presented here of a sexually motivated male serial killer who exclusively targeted males and who chose strangulation as his means of killing. Analysis suggests that not only is the psychological constitution of the killer an important factor in understanding how they kill victims but, also, the nature of the sexual act is an important determinant in the method of killing in male on male sexually motivated killing.
Application and Evaluation of the Reinforcement Learning Approach to Eco-Driving at Intersections under Infrastructure-to-Vehicle Communications
Authors: Shi Junqing , Qiao Fengxiang , Li Qing , Yu Lei , Hu Yongju
Published: October 2018

Eco-driving behavior is able to improve vehicles’ fuel consumption efficiency and minimize exhaust emissions, especially with the presence of infrastructure-to-vehicle (I2V) communications for connected vehicles. Several techniques such as dynamic programming and neural networks have been proposed to study eco-driving behavior. However, most techniques need a complicated problem-solving process and cannot be applied to dynamic traffic conditions. Comparatively, reinforcement learning (RL) presents great potential for self-learning to take actions in a complicated environment to achieve the optimal mapping between traffic conditions and the corresponding optimal control action of a vehicle. In this paper, a vehicle was treated as an agent to select its maneuver, that is, acceleration, cruise speed, and deceleration, according to dynamic conditions while approaching a signalized intersection equipped with I2V communication. An improved cellular automation model was utilized as the simulation platform. Three parameters, including the distance between the vehicle and the intersection, signal status, and instant vehicle speeds, were selected to characterize real-time traffic state. The total CO2 emitted by the vehicle on the approach to the intersection serves as a measure of reward policy that informs the vehicle how good its operation was. The Q-learning algorithm was utilized to optimize vehicle driving behaviors for eco-driving. Vehicle exhaust emissions and traffic performance (travel time, stop duration, and stop rate) were evaluated in two cases: (1) an isolated intersection, and (2) a medium-scale realistic network. Simulation results showed that the eco-driving behavior obtained by RL can not only reduce emissions but also optimize traffic performance.
Bundling Bridge and Other Highway Projects: Patterns and Policies
Authors: Qiao Yu Julie , Fricker Jon D. , Labi Samuel , Mills Trevor
Published: October 2018

The concept of project bundling—combining multiple projects into a single contract—continues to gain momentum. Unanswered questions from past studies include how to quantify project bundling benefits. This paper addresses the issue using a data-driven approach that involves initial comparisons of the unit average project costs of single and bundled projects, preliminary investigations of the potential influential variables of project cost, the development of project cost statistical models, and an analysis of past and possible future bundling strategies. The study found that the primary drivers of project cost include the project size (economies of scale), bundling strategy (economies of bundling), and bidding market conditions (economies of competition). It is also shown that the similarity between different project types in terms of their constituent pay items is an influential factor on project cost. The study confirmed that larger contracts yield economies of scale but may also lead to less competition (discouraging all but the largest firms from bidding). This finding suggests the existence of a contract-size threshold beyond which the unit project cost increases with increasing project cost. By analyzing past bundling strategies, the study identified the most frequent combinations of work categories in the past bundled contracts. The study also carried out scenario analyses using hypothetical bundling strategies applied to actual past projects and determined that bundling projects using a carefully designed strategy can yield significantly reduced overall contract costs.
In Good Company: When Gender Diversity Boosts a Company’s Reputation
Authors: Wilton Leigh S. , Sanchez Diana T. , Unzueta Miguel M. , Kaiser Cheryl , Caluori Nava
Published: October 2018

Many companies highlight their gender diversity, in part to signal positive attributes about the organization. We explored whether or not advertising gender diversity improves White men’s beliefs about an organization. In four studies, we found that White men expected a company to have a more broadminded and tolerant climate when the company noted it was gender diverse––and the gender diversity was described as including White women––as compared to when it did not address its gender diversity. In Studies 1 ( n = 105), 2 ( n = 101), and 3 ( n = 151), a White gender-diverse organization was also viewed as more prestigious than an organization that did not address its gender diversity. In Studies 3 and 4 ( n = 183), a gender-diverse company that highlighted a Black woman employee did not receive the same overall reputation boosts as the White gender-diverse company did. Our research indicates that companies that advertise their gender diversity may receive a boost to their reputation. We suggest that this research can inform organizational efforts to address gender diversity by encouraging companies to consider the intersection of gender and race in shaping both prejudicial attitudes and the experiences of minority groups. Additional online materials for this article are available on PWQ’s website at http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/suppl/10.1177/0361684318800264