bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Community and the Crime Decline: The Causal Effect of Local Nonprofits on Violent Crime
Authors: Sharkey Patrick , Torrats-Espinosa Gerard , Takyar Delaram
Published: October 2017

Largely overlooked in the theoretical and empirical literature on the crime decline is a long tradition of research in criminology and urban sociology that considers how violence is regulated through informal sources of social control arising from residents and organizations internal to communities. In this article, we incorporate the “systemic” model of community life into debates on the U.S. crime drop, and we focus on the role that local nonprofit organizations played in the national decline of violence from the 1990s to the 2010s. Using longitudinal data and a strategy to account for the endogeneity of nonprofit formation, we estimate the causal effect on violent crime of nonprofits focused on reducing violence and building stronger communities. Drawing on a panel of 264 cities spanning more than 20 years, we estimate that every 10 additional organizations focusing on crime and community life in a city with 100,000 residents leads to a 9 percent reduction in the murder rate, a 6 percent reduction in the violent crime rate, and a 4 percent reduction in the property crime rate.
Phacomatosis Pigmentovascularis: Simple Presentation of a Not So Simple Dermatological Condition
Authors: Kola Bhargavi , Mehrafza Mariam , Kane Alex
Published: October 2017

Cutaneous vascular malformations are rare disorders that are often confused with more common infantile hemangiomas. We report the case of a female infant who presented with phacomatosis pigmentovascularis type IIA with features of Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome.
Treatment options for back pain provided online in Canadian magazines: Comparison against evidence from a clinical practice guideline
Authors: Sniderman Jhase A , Roffey Darren M , Lee Richard , Papineau Gabrielle D , Miles Isabelle H , Wai Eugene K , Kingwell Stephen P
Published: October 2017

Background:

Evidence-based treatments for adult back pain have long been confirmed, with research continuing to narrow down the scope of recommended practices. However, a tension exists between research-driven treatments and unsubstantiated modalities and techniques promoted to the public. This disparity in knowledge translation, which results in unsupported treatments continuing to be performed, may be linked to the information dispensed by the mass media.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to review the top 20 most circulated Canadian-produced general-interest and health-specific magazines to determine whether featured treatment options align with recommendations for back pain management in a Canadian clinical practice guideline (CPG).

Methods:

Online electronic searches of magazine websites were performed using the following terms: ‘back pain’, ‘low back pain’ (English); ‘ mal au dos’, ‘ lombalgie’, ‘ mal de dos’ and ‘ maux de dos’ (French). Independent reviewers screened for articles focusing on treatment, abstracted recommendations from included articles and then compared featured treatments with those outlined in the CPG.

Results:

A total of 1,775 articles were screened, with 82 articles from 15 magazines included. Articles cited scientific studies or consulted spine-care professionals in 7/15 and 9/15 magazines, respectively. There were 18 categories of treatments reported with 4/18 (22%) treatment options in agreement with CPG recommendations for acute/sub-acute and chronic back pain. Yoga/Stretching/Tai Chi/Pilates and Exercise/Physical activity were the most commonly reported treatment categories.

Conclusion:

Encouragingly, the majority of treatment options reported for low back pain were non-surgical. Overall, few articles recommended reassurance, back pain education or back-specific postural/strengthening/flexibility exercises. Popular magazines should provide details on article authors, cite scientific reports, consult spine-care professionals and provide relevant links to literature for readers to access more scientific information.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Health Care Professionals Toward Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting in Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital, Harar, Eastern Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Shanko Hussen , Abdela Jemal
Published: October 2017

Aims: This study was designed to assess knowledge, attitude and practices of adverse drug reaction reporting among healthcare professionals in Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital (HFSUH). Method: Hospital based descriptive cross sectional study was conducted on healthcare professionals of HFSUH. Based on purposive sampling technique, all eligible healthcare professionals (nurses, physicians and pharmacists) were involved in the study. A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were coded, entered and analyzed using SPSS version 16. The test of association of selected categorical variables were done using cross tabulation and Pearson Chi-square test. Result: Our study indicated that about 297 participants provided their response to the distributed questionnaires which makes the response rate 91.4%. Of the total healthcare professionals involved in the study, 99 (33.6%) of them were able to understand the difference between adverse drug reaction (ADR) and side effects, of which pharmacists were significantly reported (95.24%, P<0.05). About 175(59.3%) of the respondents engaged in the study were reportedly knew the national ADR reporting system in Ethiopia. On the other hand, 181(61.36%) of the participants were recognized the presence of ADR reporting form while 114 (38.64%) of the respondents had no any information about its presence in the country. Conclusion: The study revealed that a gap in knowledge, awareness and practice of healthcare professionals on ADR reporting. Therefore, specific strategies should be designed in order to improve awareness, knowledge and practice of healthcare professionals to tackle issue related to under-reporting of ADR.
When does an issue trigger change in a field? A comparative approach to issue frames, field structures and types of field change
Authors: Furnari Santi
Published: October 2017

Previous research has shown that institutional fields evolve around issues, but has devoted less attention to explain why certain issues trigger substantial field-level changes while others remain largely inconsequential. In this article, I argue that the extent to which an issue is likely to trigger field change and the type of field change triggered depend on the structure of the field and the ways in which the issue is framed. I develop a model linking two types of issue frames (adversarial vs collaborative issue frames) with two types of field structures (centralized vs fragmented). The model explains how the likelihood of field change and type of field change vary across four configurations of these issue frames and field structures. In particular, I highlight four types of field change that entail different re-distribution of power within a field (weakening vs reinforcing the field’s elite; aligning vs polarizing fragmented actors). Overall, I contribute a much called-for comparative approach to institutional fields, explaining how the effects of issue frames on field change vary across different fields.
Teaching health-care trainees empathy and homelessness IQ through service learning, reflective practice, and altruistic attribution
Authors: Chrisman-Khawam Leanne , Abdullah Neelab , Dhoopar Arjun
Published: October 2017

This article describes a novel inter-professional curriculum designed to address the needs of homeless patients in a Midwestern region of the United States which has high rates of poverty. The curriculum is intended for healthcare trainees coming from undergraduate pre-medical programs, nursing, pharmacy, social work, clinical psychology, medical school and post-graduate medical training in family medicine, medicine-pediatrics, and psychiatry. The clinical component is specifically designed to reach destitute patients and the curriculum is structured to reverse commonly held myths about homelessness among the trainees, thereby improving their Homelessness Information Quotient, the ability to more fully understand homelessness. Participants across all disciplines and specialties have shown greater empathy and helper behavior as determined by qualitative measures. Learners have also developed a greater understanding of health-care systems allowing them to more consistently address social determinants of health identified by the authors as their Disparity Information Quotient. This article outlines the process of initiating a homeless service program, a curriculum for addressing common myths about homelessness and the effective use of narrative methods, relational connections, and reflective practice to enable trainees to process their experience and decrease burnout by focusing on the value of altruism and finding meaning in their work.
Childhood abuse in adults in primary care: Empirical findings and clinical implications
Authors: Porcerelli John H , Jones John R , Klamo Rachel , Heeney Rebecca
Published: October 2017

In the healthcare setting, adult patients with histories of childhood abuse are of significant concern and are frequently encountered in the primary care setting. However, there is a dearth of studies investigating the relationships between psychopathology, overall health, healthcare utilization, physician ratings of patient difficulty, and childhood abuse. The present study examines these relationships in primary care patients with (N = 45) and without (N = 129) histories of childhood abuse (physical, sexual, and both). Findings revealed that adult patients with histories of childhood abuse generally scored significantly higher on measures of psychopathology, emergency room use, and doctor–patient relationship difficulty, and lower on a measure of mental and physician-rated physical health. In a multiple regression analysis, income and a history of childhood sexual abuse significantly predicted overall mental health. In a second multiple regression analysis, income, depression, somatization, borderline personality disorder, and difficult doctor–patient relationship ratings significantly predicted physician-rated physical health. Overall, these findings suggest that a history of childhood abuse is associated with a host of negative health outcomes. Findings also suggest that negative feelings about a patient may help physicians identify patients with histories of childhood abuse. It is especially important for physicians to routinely include an assessment of childhood abuse during the psychosocial portion of the medical interview or through screening instruments.
Finite-time stabilization of port-controlled Hamiltonian systems with nonvanishing disturbances
Authors: Fu Baozeng , Li Shihua , Guo Lei , Yang Jun , Lan Qixun
Published: October 2017

This paper concerns the problem of finite-time stabilization of nonlinear port-controlled Hamiltonian systems subject to nonvanishing disturbances via a composite control manner. The composite controller is developed by combining the damping injection, the finite-time feedback control and the finite-time disturbance observer techniques. The key idea is that a finite-time disturbance observer is designed to estimate disturbances and the estimation of disturbances is employed to feedforward compensate the disturbances. Finite-time stability analysis for the augmented system is presented. An example of a nonlinear circuit system with simulation results demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Partial stabilization of underactuated post-capture combination with inaccurate measurement information and unknown disturbances
Authors: Chen Shiyu , Yuan Jianping , Wang Zheng , Zhu Zhanxia
Published: October 2017

This paper aims to address the attitude stabilization issue of post-capture combination with underactuated actuators, measurement inaccuracy and unknown external disturbances during on-orbit servicing. A precise and practical form of underactuated attitude dynamics is proposed for the asymmetric combination with two control torques. With the adopted partial stabilization strategy, a sliding mode controller is first proposed to achieve partial stabilization of the combination against the effect of unknown external disturbances. Through the additional consideration of the measurement inaccuracy in the inertia tensor and the mass centroid, an underactuated adaptive sliding mode controller with compensation laws is proposed in presence of uncertainties and disturbances. Numerical simulations validate the effectiveness of proposed partial attitude stabilization controllers.
Two-level control of photovoltaic systems using global perturbation-based extremum seeking control and model reference adaptive control
Authors: Dadkhah Tehrani Reza , Shabaninia Faridoon
Published: October 2017

One of the main renewable energy sources for the future is photovoltaic (PV) energy. Hence, working of the PV systems at maximum efficiency is taken into consideration in recent years. In this paper, for improving the performance of the global maximum power point tracking under partial shading conditions and uncertainty in parameters of DC-DC converter, a two-level adaptive control scheme is proposed. The proposed controller is capable of efficiently handling the uncertainties in the PV systems and the perturbations in the environment. The first level is global perturbation-based extremum seeking control (GPESC), and the second level is model reference adaptive control (MRAC). GPESC is used to find global maximum power point and MRAC is utilized to handle the dynamics of the DC-DC converter. Adequate difference in the time constants of control levels, causes decoupled control levels, which in turn makes it easy to design the controller. The performance of the proposed control scheme is evaluated through simulation based on four indicators: tracking accuracy, tracking efficiency, tracking speed and searching resolution for different irradiance patterns. The results are compared with GPESC and GPESC with PID controller.
Grass Is Greener on the Other Side: Return Migration of Indian Engineers and Scientists in Academia
Authors: Sabharwal Meghna , Varma Roli
Published: October 2017

Studies on skilled return migration from developed to developing countries have focused on the industrial sector. This article focuses on why academic engineers and scientists from developing countries leave developed countries to return to their countries of birth. Data for this study comes from a National Science Foundation funded study with 83 engineers and scientists who returned to India after study and work in U.S. universities. Better career prospects in India namely ample funding available for research, less competition for grants, ability to work on theoretical topics, and freedom in research objectives emerged as the key factors that prompted return. These findings, therefore, differ with return migration of industrial engineers and scientists who moved back primarily to start companies in India and immigration challenges in the United States. With very little scholarly work on return migration of academic engineers and scientists, this study expands the understanding of high skilled migration in a globalized world.
Health Professionals Prefer to Communicate Risk-Related Numerical Information Using “1-in-X” Ratios.
Authors: Sirota Miroslav , Juanchich Marie , Petrova Dafina , Garcia-Retamero Rocio , Walasek Lukasz , Bhatia Sudeep
Published: October 2017

Background. Previous research has shown that format effects, such as the “1-in-X” effect—whereby “1-in-X” ratios lead to a higher perceived probability than “N-in-N*X” ratios—alter perceptions of medical probabilities. We do not know, however, how prevalent this effect is in practice; i.e., how often health professionals use the “1-in-X” ratio. Methods. We assembled 4 different sources of evidence, involving experimental work and corpus studies, to examine the use of “1-in-X” and other numerical formats quantifying probability. Results. Our results revealed that the use of the “1-in-X” ratio is prevalent and that health professionals prefer this format compared with other numerical formats (i.e., the “N-in-N*X”, %, and decimal formats). In Study 1, UK family physicians preferred to communicate prenatal risk using a “1-in-X” ratio (80.4%, n = 131) across different risk levels and regardless of patients’ numeracy levels. In Study 2, a sample from the UK adult population ( n = 203) reported that most GPs (60.6%) preferred to use “1-in-X” ratios compared with other formats. In Study 3, “1-in-X” ratios were the most commonly used format in a set of randomly sampled drug leaflets describing the risk of side effects (100%, n = 94). In Study 4, the “1-in-X” format was the most commonly used numerical expression of medical probabilities or frequencies on the UK’s NHS website (45.7%, n = 2,469 sentences). Conclusions. The prevalent use of “1-in-X” ratios magnifies the chances of increased subjective probability. Further research should establish clinical significance of the “1-in-X” effect.
Diagnostic performance of advanced modeled iterative reconstruction applied images for detecting urinary stones on submillisievert low-dose computed tomography
Authors: Ahn Ju Hee , Kim Seung Ho , Kim Seung Jin , Nam In Chul , Lee Sung Jae , Pak Seong Yong
Published: October 2017

Background

Repeated computed tomography (CT) scans may be an issue in young adults with urinary stones. Therefore, it is important to know how far the dose can be reduced while maintaining the diagnostic performance.

Purpose

To generate a hypothesis that it is feasible to decrease the radiation dose to a sub-millisievert (mSv) level with the addition of advanced modeled iterative reconstruction (ADMIRE) while maintaining the sensitivity to standard-dose CT (SDCT) for the detection of urinary stones.

Material and Methods

Ninety-two consecutive patients with urinary stones underwent non-enhanced CT that consisted of standard (120 kVp, 200 mAs) and lose-dose (LDCT) (80 kVp, 60 mAs). The LDCT images were reconstructed separately with five different strengths of ADMIRE (hereafter, S1–S5) and filtered back projection (FBP). Two blinded radiologists independently recorded a number of urinary stones in the six LDCT datasets and SDCT. The sensitivity of each set for detecting urinary stones was compared using the McNemar test.

Results

A total of 240 urinary stones were analyzed. The sensitivities of the six LDCT datasets showed no difference (FBP, S1–S5, for reader 1: 78%, 79%, 79%, 80%, 80%, and 80%; for reader 2: 64%, 63%, 64%, 64%, 65%, and 66%, P > 0.05, respectively), which were lower than those of SDCT for both readers (reader 1: 88%; reader 2: 81%, P < 0.0001, respectively).

Conclusion

Despite the addition of ADMIRE, it may not be feasible to decrease the radiation dose to a sub-mSv level while maintaining the sensitivity to SDCT for the detection of urinary stones.
West Nile Virus Infection in Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus): Experimental Infection and Protective Effects of Vaccination
Authors: Nemeth Nicole M. , Bosco-Lauth Angela M. , Williams Lisa M. , Bowen Richard A. , Brown Justin D.
Published: October 2017

Ruffed grouse ( Bonasa umbellus) population numbers in Pennsylvania dramatically declined during the early 2000s and have subsequently remained depressed throughout much of the state. While this decline has been temporally associated with the presence of West Nile virus (WNV), lack of information on the WNV susceptibility of this popular game bird species has limited the ability to interpret the potential impacts of WNV. To address this knowledge gap, virologic, immunologic, pathologic, and clinical responses as well as protective effects of vaccination following experimental WNV inoculation in ruffed grouse were assessed. Four of 10 (40%) naive, WNV-inoculated grouse succumbed to infection within 8 days and had moderate mean peak viremia titers (107.0 plaque-forming units [PFU]/ml serum); severe necrotizing myocarditis with widespread, corresponding immunohistochemical labeling; and minimal encephalitis. Grouse that survived to the prescribed end point of 14 days postinoculation (6/10; 60%) had slightly lower mean peak viremia titers (106.8 PFU/ml serum), moderate myocardial lesions, and more widespread brain lesions with rare corresponding immunohistochemical labeling. Vaccinated, WNV-inoculated birds ( n = 5) had lower mean peak viremia titers (103.6 PFU/ml serum) and minimal lesions, and sham-inoculated, in-contact control birds ( n = 3) had no evidence of infection. All surviving, inoculated birds seroconverted, and WNV-specific antibodies were detectable in serum and Nobuto filter paper strip–eluted blood samples. These data suggest that WNV could serve as an additional population pressure on ruffed grouse in regions where transmission levels are high and WNV competent, ornithophilic vectors exist.
Enhancement of electrical conductivity of epoxy using graphene and determination of their thermo-mechanical properties
Authors: Imran Kazi A , Shivakumar Kunigal N
Published: October 2017

A three-roll mill processing technique was used to disperse graphene nanoplatelets into epon 828 epoxy system. As a first step of this research, processing of graphene/epoxy nanocomposites was explored with different weight percentages of graphene. After establishing an optimal and repeatable process to achieve good electrical properties, the materials were tested for thermal conductivity and mechanical properties. The xGnP-25 graphene nanoplatelet supplied by XG Science Inc. was used; the graphene average diameter was 25 μm and thickness was 6–10 nm. Mechanical mixing, sonication and three-roll mill dispersion techniques were investigated to disperse graphene in epon 828 epoxy. The study showed that the three-roll dispersion is effective, repeatable and potentially scalable to disperse graphene into epoxy to increase the electrical conductivity. The weight percentage of graphene used ranged from 0.5 to 5.0. Percolation threshold of graphene was found to be 1.0 wt%. Through-the-thickness or volume electrical conductivity increased by nine log cycles, thermal conductivity doubled and fracture toughness increased by one-third for 1.0 wt% addition of graphene to epon 828. However, the mechanical properties remained almost unchanged.
The effect of surface treatment of CF and graphene oxide on the mechanical properties of PI composite
Authors: Gang Du
Published: October 2017

Present investigation elucidates the effect of surface treatment on the mechanical response of carbon fiber (CF)/polyimide (PI) composite loaded with a range of graphene oxide (GO) content. Incorporation of 0.5 wt% GO in CF/PI exhibited 21.1% improvement in flexural strength. The state of interface and its impact on the tensile behavior at various testing temperatures have been discussed. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis of fractured surfaces has been carried out to comprehend various interfacial strengthening and failure micromechanisms. Surface-treated CFs were incorporated into PI matrix to fabricate a high-performance multiscale composite. To improve the stress transfer between PI and CFs, GO was also grown on fibers to produce GO-grown short CFs. The synergic reinforcing effects of combined fillers were analyzed on the fracture surface of composites through SEM.
Research Ethics in an Unethical World: The Politics and Morality of Engaged Research
Authors: Morrison Claudio , Sacchetto Devi
Published: October 2017

This article explores ethical dilemmas in researching the world of work. Recent contributions to Work, employment and society have highlighted challenges for engaged research. Based on the emancipatory epistemologies of Bourdieu, Gramsci and Burawoy, the authors examine moral challenges in workplace fieldwork, question the assumptions of mainstream ethics discourses and seek to identify an alternative approach. Instead of an ethics premised on a priori, universal precepts that treasure academic neutrality, this article recognises a morality that responds to the social context of research with participation and commitment. The reflection in this study is based on fieldwork conducted in the former Soviet Union. Transformation societies present challenges to participatory ethnography but simultaneously provide considerable opportunities for developing an ethics of truth. An approach that can guide engaged researchers through social conflict’s ‘messy’ reality should hinge on loyalty to the emancipation struggles of those engaged in it.
Compromise: What Makes it Bad?
Authors: Biggar Nigel
Published: October 2017

This article considers what makes a compromise bad. First, it defines a compromise as a decision involving a loss of good (i.e., an evil), which should therefore be accompanied by ‘agent-regret’. Regret, however, is not moral guilt. Pace proponents of ‘dirty hands’, a morally right compromise cannot retain elements of moral wrongness (as distinct from non-moral evil). Second, the article proceeds to elaborate the features of bad compromise further in terms of common moral sense: the preference of less rather than more of a single good; the preference of an inferior to a superior good; and the violation of an absolute moral rule. Third, it extends its elaboration in terms of three historical cases: the abandonment of strategic promotion of a good; tactical suspension for insufficient reasons; complicity in indubitable and certain injustice to avoid tolerable costs; and the violation of a basic principle of justice as distinct from normal judicial process. Finally, it adds a methodological epilogue, in which it reflects on whether its treatment of the topic has been sufficiently theological.
‘Getting the Reformation in America’: The Making of Paul Lehmann as a Public Theologian
Authors: Ziegler Philip G.
Published: October 2017

Paul L. Lehmann (1906–1994) was one of the leading Protestant theologians and ethicists of his generation. Working directly from archival sources and early writings, this article offers an account of the formation of key features of his distinctive theological perspective up to and including the first decades of his professional career. It argues that Lehmann prosecutes a distinctive and markedly Protestant form of public theology, centred on an understanding of the Word of God as a present, dynamic and humanising power, to which Christian faith, life and thought give witness and serve catalytically. In this, Lehmann shows himself to be a premier advocate for lines of thinking he first encountered in the work of Karl Barth and of his friend, Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Automatic stability control of three-wheeler vehicles – recent developments and concerns towards a sustainable technology
Authors: Sindha Jignesh , Chakraborty Basab , Chakravarty Debashish
Published: October 2017

Traffic congestion, pollution due to vehicular emissions and fuel energy crises are the major problems that have inspired research for the design of efficient and smaller vehicles as a regular mode of transport with a significantly lower carbon footprint. With an increased dependency on certain countries for fuel energy, electric mobility has been encouraged by policy makers so that national interests are not compromised. At the same time, enhanced standards of living have resulted in a demand for safer and comfortable transport. All of these factors have led to a need for a mode of transport that is efficient, compact, safe and comfortable. Electric three-wheelers are seen as one of the promising options that fits all of these requirements. Due to their high propensity to rollover during cornering, however, the use of three-wheeled vehicles (3Ws) is limited to low-speed applications for cheap transport. Recent developments in the field of rollover mitigation through active tilt control mechanisms indicate that the future mode of transport will be more exciting than the existing one. This paper is a review mainly focused on the recent technological developments in active-tilt-controlled three-wheeled vehicles. This paper gives a detailed review of the methodologies chosen, control strategies adopted, types of vehicle chosen for test/simulation, mathematical models applied, key findings and future work proposed to address the dynamics-related issues of tilting 3Ws.
The Humanizing Voice: Speech Reveals, and Text Conceals, a More Thoughtful Mind in the Midst of Disagreement
Authors: Schroeder Juliana , Kardas Michael , Epley Nicholas
Published: October 2017

A person’s speech communicates his or her thoughts and feelings. We predicted that beyond conveying the contents of a person’s mind, a person’s speech also conveys mental capacity, such that hearing a person explain his or her beliefs makes the person seem more mentally capable—and therefore seem to possess more uniquely human mental traits—than reading the same content. We expected this effect to emerge when people are perceived as relatively mindless, such as when they disagree with the evaluator’s own beliefs. Three experiments involving polarizing attitudinal issues and political opinions supported these hypotheses. A fourth experiment identified paralinguistic cues in the human voice that convey basic mental capacities. These results suggest that the medium through which people communicate may systematically influence the impressions they form of each other. The tendency to denigrate the minds of the opposition may be tempered by giving them, quite literally, a voice.
Does Far Transfer Exist? Negative Evidence From Chess, Music, and Working Memory Training
Authors: Sala Giovanni , Gobet Fernand
Published: October 2017

Chess masters and expert musicians appear to be, on average, more intelligent than the general population. Some researchers have thus claimed that playing chess or learning music enhances children’s cognitive abilities and academic attainment. We here present two meta-analyses assessing the effect of chess and music instruction on children’s cognitive and academic skills. A third meta-analysis evaluated the effects of working memory training—a cognitive skill correlated with music and chess expertise—on the same variables. The results show small to moderate effects. However, the effect sizes are inversely related to the quality of the experimental design (e.g., presence of active control groups). This pattern of results casts serious doubts on the effectiveness of chess, music, and working memory training. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings; extend the debate to other types of training such as spatial training, brain training, and video games; and conclude that far transfer of learning rarely occurs.
Factors Affecting International Reserves with Special Reference to India
Authors: Kashif Mohammad , Sridharan P. , Thiyagarajan S.
Published: October 2017

World international reserves holdings have accelerated sharply in recent times. Countries particularly developing ones are competitive enough to hoard these reserves and top 10 major holders are mostly from Asia. Interestingly India comes only ninth among them. Developing countries, particularly India, are in line to hoard foreign reserves and there are certain factors that affect international reserves holdings. This study analysed the impact of few macroeconomic factors on these reserves. Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) and Phillips-Perron (PP) tests were employed to check the stationarity of the variables on the time series data that were of annual frequency. It was found that all variables were co-integrated signalling long-run relationship. Error correction mechanism (ECM) was implemented to get short-run dynamics for which a negative relation was established for trade openness (TRDOP) which contradicts previous studies. The negative relationship of TRDOP with international reserves in India could be due to the outcome of sustained trade deficits of Indian balance of payments. The economic growth variable exhibits a positive relationship which is consistent with previous studies. All variables were found significant at a 5 per cent level. The ECM suggested the same results as its long-run counterpart.
Living Conditions and Consumption Standard of Rural Dalits: A Comparison across the States
Authors: Shergill H.S.
Published: October 2017

Comparison of living conditions and consumption standard of rural dalits shows considerable disparity across the states of India. In Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala, most of the rural dalits have not only escaped poor living conditions, but about one-fourth of them have graduated to better living conditions characterized by pucca house, in-house provision of piped drinking water and flush latrine, use of LPG for cooking and electricity for lighting. In eastern India, most of the rural dalits are still languishing in poor living conditions characterized by mud house, no outlet for waste water, no in-house provision of drinking water and latrine, and no electricity for lighting. In rest of the states, situation is slightly better than eastern India, but nowhere near Punjab, Kerala, etc. This regional pattern is replicated in consumption level of non-durable goods and ownership of durable consumer goods by rural dalits. More than half of the observed inter-state variation in living conditions and consumption standard of rural dalits is explained by level of agricultural development and level of non-agricultural (urban) development across the states.
Book Review: Indu Prakash Singh, CityMakers: Tribulations and Triumphs – A Saga of Heroic Struggle of the Homeless Residents of India
Authors: Mehta Simi , Kumar Arjun
Published: October 2017

Indu Prakash Singh, CityMakers: Tribulations and Triumphs – A Saga of Heroic Struggle of the Homeless Residents of India. New Delhi: Mukul Prakashan, 2016, ₹1000, 608 pp.
Prolonged exposure of resveratrol induces reactive superoxide species–independent apoptosis in murine prostate cells
Authors: Kumar Sanjay , Stokes James , Singh Udai P , Scissum-Gunn Karyn , Singh Rajesh , Manne Upender , Mishra Manoj K
Published: October 2017

Nitric oxide, a signaling molecule, inhibits mitochondrial respiration by binding with cytochrome c oxidase, resulting in elevated production of reactive superoxide species (reactive oxygen and nitrogen) in the mitochondria and increased susceptibility to cell death. Generation of mitochondrial superoxide species can be suppressed by natural compounds such as resveratrol, a dietary polyphenol found in the skin of red fruits. In various cancer cells, resveratrol shows anti-oxidant and cancer preventive properties. Since, the effect of resveratrol on reactive superoxide species–independent apoptosis in prostate cancer cells is not well illustrated; therefore, we investigated this phenomenon in TRAMP murine prostate cancer cells. To accomplish this, TRAMP cells were incubated with resveratrol, resveratrol + DETA-NONOate, DETA-NONOate (nitric oxide donor), resveratrol + L-NMMA, or L-NMMA (nitric oxide inhibitor) for 48 h, and reactive superoxide species in the mitochondria and culture supernatant were measured. In addition, the mitochondrial membrane potential, cell viability, expression of apoptotic markers (Bax and Bcl2), γ-H2A.x, p53, and caspase-3 was determined. We found that resveratrol suppressed reactive superoxide species such as reactive oxygen species in the mitochondria and nitric oxide in culture supernatant when compared to the DETA-NONOate treatment and disrupted the mitochondrial membrane potential. Resveratrol also reduced cell viability, altered the expression of apoptotic markers (Bax and Bcl2), and increased expression of γ-H2A.x (indicative marker of DNA fragmentation) and p53 (a critical DNA damage response protein). However, there was no appreciable modulation of the caspase-3. Therefore, our data suggest that resveratrol induces superoxide species–independent apoptosis and may act as a therapeutic agent against prostate cancer.
Cimetidine as an Inhibitor of Drug Metabolism: Therapeutic Implications and Review of the Literature
Authors: Bauman Jay H. , Kimelblatt Bruce J.
Published: October 2017

Cimetidine has been reported to decrease the clearance of anticoagulants, benzodiazepines, theophylline, propranolol, and anticonvulsants. A review of the literature regarding these interactions, their clinical significance, and management plans for patients receiving drugs reported to interact with Cimetidine are presented. Mechanisms of these interactions and factors that may predispose patients to enhanced drug effects are discussed. Additionally, drugs suspected to interact with Cimetidine are listed.
Effect of Chlorophyllin on Urinary Odor in Incontinent Geriatric Patients
Authors: Nahata Milap C. , Slencsak Carole A. , Kamp Judith
Published: October 2017

This randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study involved 20 incontinent geriatric patients; all had indwelling Foley catheters. Each patient received chlorophyllin 100 mg/d for two weeks and placebo daily for two weeks, separated by a washout period of one week. For each subject, the intensity of urinary odor was measured ten times during both the treatment and placebo regimen and three times during the washout period, using a visual analog scale. A decrease in urinary odor was associated with chlorophyllin in 12 patients and with placebo in 6 patients at the end of two weeks on each regimen. Chlorophyllin treatment was associated with about a 21-percent decrease in mean urinary odor intensity, whereas placebo increased the odor by about 9 percent. The mean intensity of urinary odor was lowest during the second week of chlorophyllin treatment. Despite the decrease in urinary odor in many patients receiving chlorophyllin, its effect was not significantly greater than that of placebo. Our data suggest that chlorophyllin 100 mg/d for two weeks may not be effective in incontinent geriatric patients with mild to moderate urinary odor.
Spiking Fever Induced by Isoniazid
Authors: Henderson Robert P. , Davis Harry L. , Self Timothy H.
Published: October 2017

In a 48-year-old man, a consistent pattern of spiking fever occurred ten days after the initiation of therapy with isoniazid and rifampin. The fever recurred upon rechallenge with isoniazid, but not with rifampin. Isoniazid has the potential to induce fever, and this is thought to be a hypersensitivity reaction.
Legal Issues Surrounding the Number of Dosage Units Dispensed
Authors: Fink Joseph L.
Published: October 2017

Pharmacists often are called upon to adjust the number of dosage units dispensed pursuant to a prescription. Common examples are requests to dispense half or double the amount requested by the prescriber. In some cases, reductions in quantity may be dictated by the provisions of a prescription drug insurance program, either private or governmental. A review of the literature reveals very little information on the legality of such actions by pharmacists.

Focusing on both the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and the federal Controlled Substances Act, a review of the law in this area is presented. Some states also have provisions, either in statutes or regulations, that address the issue. Specific examples are presented and discussed, with the goal being to clarify the law in this area with which the pharmacist must deal on a daily basis.
Buspirone: A New Type of Anxiolytic
Authors: Dommisse Cynthia S. , DeVane C. Lindsay , McLeod Donald C.
Published: October 2017

Buspirone is a member of a new class of agents known as azaspirodecanediones, and represents the first nonbenzodiazepine anxiolytic to be introduced in the U.S. in recent years. It does not resemble the benzodiazepines or older anxiolytics such as meprobamate and the barbiturates in pharmacologic profile. Buspirone lacks anticonvulsant activity, interacts minimally with central nervous system depressants such as alcohol, and does not cause muscle relaxation. The drug is reported to have minimal sedating effect, to cause no impairment of driving-related skills, and to have no euphoriant effect or addictive potential. With this low side-effect profile, buspirone should not require Drug Enforcement Agency scheduling controls.

Clinical trials indicate buspirone is efficacious in the treatment of mild to moderate anxiety disorders. Answers to questions of possible side effects related to dopaminergic intractions must await post-marketing experience. Buspirone is a suitable addition to drug formularies as its pre-marketing data suggest several advantages compared with anxiolytics currently available.
Alternative Pharmacologic Approaches to the Initial Management of Hypertension
Authors: McKenney James M.
Published: October 2017

Recent clinical trials in hypertension report more deaths due to coronary heart disease in mild hypertensives who received aggressive antihypertensive drug therapy and achieved better blood pressure control. Subset analyses of these trials suggest that diuretic therapy may have contributed to this outcome, possibly through a reduction in serum potassium or an elevation in serum lipids. Because of this, patients with an abnormal pretreatment electrocardiogram, history of myocardial infarction, unstable coronary heart disease, or diuretic-induced hyperlipidemia or hypokalemia unresponsive to management are candidates for alternative antihypertensive agents. A review of the literature suggests that most of the currently available β-blockers, the α1-antagonist prazosin, the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril, and the vasodilator hydralazine are effective alternatives to thiazide therapy in the initial management of hypertension and are recommended for particular subgroups of patients. Monotherapy with the centrally and peripherally acting sympatholytic agents is not recommended because of the frequent side effects encountered and the inferior hypotensive efficacy reported. Calcium channel blocking agents also appear to be suitable alternatives to thiazides in hypertension, but more experience with these is needed. Alternative pharmacologic agents may be selected on the basis of age, and, to a lesser extent, race.
Antimicrobial Drug Delivery to the Eye
Authors: Lesar Timothy S. , Fiscella Richard G.
Published: October 2017

A major obstacle in the treatment of ocular infections is the difficulty in obtaining adequate antimicrobial drug concentration at the site of infection. This article reviews the pharmacokinetic principles of ophthalmic drug delivery as it pertains to antimicrobial therapy. The administration of antimicrobials by topical application, subconjunctival injection, intravitreal injection, vitreous replacement fluid, and systemic administration are addressed. Representative data on the intraocular penetration of antimicrobials as well as recommended doses of drugs for ocular infections are presented.
The Lack of Inactivation of Tobramycin by Cefazolin, Cefamandole, and Moxalactam in Vitro
Authors: Earp Colleen M. , Barriere Steven L.
Published: October 2017

We examined the effects of mixing tobramycin with three cephalosporins, cefazolin, cefamandole, and moxalactam. Each cephalosporin was prepared from standard powder and diluted with human serum to concentrations of 50, 250, and 500 μg/ml and added to 10 μg/ml of tobramycin in human serum. Temperature environments of 4 °C (refrigeration), 24 °C (room temperature), and 37 °C (body temperature) were used and sampled at 0 hours (control), and at 8, 24, and 48 hours.

The results indicated no inactivation of tobramycin by any of the cephalosporins, regardless of temperature, concentration, or contact time. These results indicate that significant inactivation of tobramycin does not occur when it is combined in vitro with moxalactam, cefamandole, or cefazolin.
Sedative/Hypnotic Dependence: Patient Stabilization, Tolerance Testing, and Withdrawal
Authors: Perry Paul J. , Alexander Bruce
Published: October 2017

Physical dependence to sedative/hypnotic drugs is not an uncommon clinical problem. The withdrawal syndrome is analogous to alcohol withdrawal, except the duration of the syndrome occurs over a longer period of time with the symptoms being less intense than generally encountered with alcohol. The potential for withdawal reactions is probably greater for the shorter-acting agents than the longer-acting drugs. Potentially dependent sedative/hypnotic users require stabilization of their symptoms initially, followed by tolerance testing. If tolerant, the patients should be withdrawn using either a long-acting sedative/hypnotic (e.g., diazepam) or phenobarbital. Compared to other benzodiazepines and barbiturates, diazepam appears to be the drug of choice for treating dependent patients. Diazepam is rapidly adsorbed and distributed to the brain and therefore useful for stabilization and tolerance testing. It is metabolized on chronic administration to a long-acting metabolite, desmethyldiazepam, which makes the drug ideal for a tapered withdrawal schedule.
Antimicrobial Update
Authors: Prince Randall A.
Published: October 2017

New and soon-to-be introduced antimicrobials are reviewed and compared with agents already in use to determine possible therapeutic and/or cost advantages. Drugs discussed are amdinocillin, ticarcillin/clavulanic acid, ceftrixone, ceftazidime, imipenem/cilastatin, aztreonam, and quinolones.
Economic Evaluation of Pharmacologic Therapy
Authors: Hill Walter L.
Published: October 2017

Cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses are defined and described, particularly as they apply to evaluating costs in pharmacologic therapy. The cost-benefit analysis (CBA) approach is used to compare dissimilar alternatives, whereas the cost-effectiveness (CEA) approach compares similar alternatives with similar objectives.

A CBA, for instance, will demonstrate the economic effects of a program and can thus be used as a tool to compare the outcomes of several programs. A CEA, on the other hand, can help determine which of several alternatives is the least costly in achieving a stated objective.

A CEA approach was used to examine results of clinical trials with cefoxitin or piperacillin in 86 patients undergoing intraabdominal surgery at two institutions. Results of multivariate analysis showed that patients who had received piperacillin had significantly shorter hospital stays (1.59 days) than those who had received cefoxitin. Based on national average hospital per diem rates, piperacillin patients were said to have saved $680 compared with patients treated with cefoxitin. Moreover, piperacillin was less expensive than cefoxitin.
Asymptomatic Liver Injury Due to Erythromycin Stearate
Authors: Alcalay Joseph , Halevy Sima , Theodor Emanuel , Sandbank Miriam
Published: October 2017

A 73-year-old woman with rosacea, who had started treatment with erythromycin stearate 2 g/d, developed asymptomatic liver injury. The drug was discontinued and the laboratory findings of liver damage disappeared within 11 days. This is the first report of erythromycin stearate-induced asymptomatic hepatotoxicity.
Nifedipine-Induced Gingival Hyperplasia
Authors: Shaftic Alison A. , Widdup Lorie L. , Abate Marie A. , Jacknowitz Arthur I.
Published: October 2017

Gingival hyperplasia, a condition characterized by increased amounts of gingival connective tissue, has most commonly been observed in patients receiving phenytoin, but has also been noted in patients receiving cyclosporine and, as in this case report, nifedipine. Patients receiving nifedipine should be advised to practice good oral hygiene to lessen the possibility of hyperplasia occurring. If gingival hyperplasia develops in a patient taking nifedipine, the drug should be suspected as being
Precautions in the Use of Michaelis-Menten Kinetics in the Prediction of Phenytoin Levels
Authors: Jochsberger Theodore
Published: October 2017

The Michaelis-Menten equation is one of the various techniques available for predicting steady-state plasma levels of phenytoin. In actual practice, however, data are not always available or reliable. This case report emphasizes the importance of establishing the quality of the data and determining that steady state has been achieved. The addition of a third point to the graph used to estimate parameters greatly increases prediction accuracy.