bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polityka, kościół i społeczeństwo obywatelskie na Ukrainie. Recenzja książki Mykola Palinchaka „Transformacja stosunków państwo-Kościół w społeczeństwach postsocjalistycznych (na przykładzie państw Europy Środkowej i Wschodniej)”, Użhorod 2013
Authors: Jarnecki Michał
Published: January 2015

Politics, church and civic society in Ukraine. Review of the book by Mykola Palinchak, “Transformation of state - church relations in post-socialist societies (the example of states in Central and East Europe)”, Uzhorod 2013
Strategic Philanthropy
Authors: Liket Kellie , Maas Karen
Published: January 2015

Because it promises to benefit business and society simultaneously, strategic philanthropy might be characterized as a “happy marriage” of corporate social responsibility behavior and corporate financial performance. However, as evidence so far has been mostly anecdotal, it is important to understand to what extent empirics support the actual practice as well as value of a strategic approach, which creates both business and social impacts through corporate philanthropic activities. Utilizing data from the years 2006 to 2009 for a sample of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World), which monitors the world’s most sustainable companies, the authors test a model of strategic philanthropy in which the dependent variable is evidence that a firm does or does not measure business and social impacts simultaneously. From the DJSI data, the authors find a proposed measure of overall corporate social performance (CSP) to be the most important explanatory factor for engagement in strategic philanthropy. Moreover, this measure of CSP has a mediating effect on the relations between certain independent variables and strategic philanthropy. Other important findings provide support for the influence of the institutional factors industry and region on the likelihood that companies are practicing strategic philanthropy, but little effect of the business characteristics company size and profitability on that likelihood.
The Influence of Agritourism on Niche Meats Loyalty and Purchasing
Authors: Kline Carol , Barbieri Carla , LaPan Chantell
Published: January 2015

Although research has been increasing on agritourism, many questions remain. Studies have indicated that agritourism can bring both economic and noneconomic benefits to farmers and that sustainably raised agriculture products can lead to both health and environmental benefits. The current study explores the relationship between preferred meat attributes of the consumer (PMA), interest in visiting an agritourism farm (AI), and increased loyalty to a meat product or farm, termed the food system bond (FSB), among consumers in North Carolina, United States. Results indicate that (1) a preference for sustainable meat products has a positive influence on both interest in visiting a farm that raises livestock sustainably and on the food system bond and that (2) agritourism has a positive impact on the food system bond. This suggests the potential for agritourism to connect specialty consumers with niche farmers, increasing farm revenues, supporting sustainably raised agriculture, and fostering overall rural sustainability.
Exploring Ethnic Variation in the Relationship Between Stress, Social Networks, and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Black Americans
Authors: Marshall-Fabien Gillian L. , Miller David B.
Published: January 2015

The relationship between different types of stressors and depressive symptoms among older Black populations is poorly understood. Even less is known about the social networks that might buffer different stressors on individuals within Black ethnic groups. The purpose of this study was to examine whether there are differences in the relationship between stress and social networks on depressive symptoms by ethnic group while ethnicity functioned as a proxy for culture. Data were drawn from the National Survey of American Life, which includes older African Americans ( N = 837) and Caribbean Blacks ( N = 271). In this survey, the measures of stress were perceived discrimination and material hardship; measures of social networks were social support and social connectedness. The association between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms was significant for both groups while the association between material hardship and depressive symptoms was only significant for older African Americans. Results also indicate that compared with African Americans, Caribbean Blacks derived greater protective effects against depression from social support and social connectedness in late life.
The Activist Foundation of Sociology
Authors: Adair Stephen
Published: January 2015

The founding of the Association for Humanist Sociology in 1977 extended and redefined the values and practices that constituted the territory of sociology. The effort to redefine this territory grew out of a vision and understanding that was both crafted within and a consequence of new left social movements. Sixties social activism allowed people to come to see in new ways how dominant groups maintained control over consciousness, common sense and public discourse. Reflection on our own roots provides a site from which to consider both a change in the dialectic of ideology and technology and the challenges we face in shaking off the constraints of austerity under neoliberalism.
Surgical Management of Osteochondritis Dissecans Lesions of the Patella and Trochlea in the Pediatric and Adolescent Population
Authors: Kramer Dennis E. , Yen Yi-Meng , Simoni Michael K. , Miller Patricia E. , Micheli Lyle J. , Kocher Mininder S. , Heyworth Benton E.
Published: January 2015

Background:

There is a paucity of published data regarding the management of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions of the patellofemoral joint in children and adolescents.

Purpose:

To evaluate the functional outcomes of surgical management of OCD lesions of the patella and trochlea in children and adolescents. Secondary aims included elucidating predictors for higher functional outcomes and determining complication rates, surgical satisfaction, and ability to return to sports.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Patients aged 18 years and younger who were surgically treated for OCD of the patella or trochlea were identified. Charts were queried to record patient/lesion data, surgical procedure, results, and complications. Pre- and postoperative imaging was reviewed. Patients were asked to complete a follow-up athletic questionnaire and a Pediatric International Knee Documentation Committee (Pedi-IKDC) questionnaire. Statistical analysis was conducted to look for predictors for reoperation, residual pain, ability to return to sports, and lower Pedi-IKDC scores.

Results:

A total of 26 children (9 females, 17 males, 3 with bilateral lesions; thus, 29 lesions) were identified. The mean age was 14.7 years (range, 9-18, years), 21 of the 29 knees with lesions (72%) had open physes, and median follow-up was 3.8 years (range, 1-9 years). The most common location was the trochlea (17/29 lesions; 59%). Twenty-two lesions (76%) underwent transarticular drilling (n = 14) or drilling with fixation (n = 8), while 7 underwent excision and marrow stimulation. Four patients (14%) required unplanned reoperation. Internal fixation was predictive of reoperation (odds ratio [OR] = 8.7; 95% CI, 2.8-26.9; P = .04). At final follow-up, 14 knees (48%) were pain free, and 14 (48%) had mild residual pain. Female sex was predictive of residual pain (OR, 9; 95% CI, 2-56; P = .02). Twenty-two patients (85%) returned to sports. Longer duration of preoperative pain negatively affected return to sports (OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.05-0.97; P = .04). On postoperative MRI, the lesion appeared completely healed in 2 cases (18%) and partially healed in 9 cases (82%). All 15 survey respondents were satisfied with surgery. The mean Pedi-IKDC score was 82.4 ± 17.8 (range, 40.2-100).

Conclusion:

Surgical treatment of patellofemoral OCD in children and adolescents produces a high rate of satisfaction and return to sports. Female sex, prolonged duration of symptoms, and internal fixation may be associated with worse outcomes.
Cyclic Displacement After Meniscal Root Repair Fixation
Authors: LaPrade Robert F. , LaPrade Christopher M. , Ellman Michael B. , Turnbull Travis Lee , Cerminara Anthony J. , Wijdicks Coen A.
Published: January 2015

Background:

Recent biomechanical evidence suggests that the meniscus-suture interface contributes the most displacement to the transtibial pull-out repair for meniscal root tears. Therefore, optimization of surgical technique at the meniscus-suture interface may minimize displacement and improve the strength of meniscal root repairs.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the cyclic displacement and ultimate failure loads of 4 different meniscus-suture fixation techniques for posterior medial meniscal root repairs in human meniscus tissue. The hypothesis was that there would be no significant difference between the two simple sutures (TSS) technique and 3 other techniques in cyclic displacement or ultimate failure load.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

A total of 32 fresh-frozen, human, medial meniscal transplant specimens were randomly assigned to 4 meniscus-suture fixation techniques used for transtibial pull-out repair in posterior medial meniscal root tears (n = 8 per group). The suture techniques studied were (1) TSS, (2) modified Mason-Allen (MMA), (3) single double-locking loop (S-DLL), and (4) double double-locking loop (D-DLL). The menisci were subjected to a cyclic tensioning protocol representative of postoperative rehabilitation (10-30 N for 1000 cycles) and pulled to failure at a rate of 0.5 mm/s.

Results:

After 1000 cycles, the TSS group displaced the least (mean ± SD, 1.78 ± 0.64 mm), followed by the MMA (2.14 ± 0.65 mm), D-DLL (2.97 ± 0.57 mm), and S-DLL (3.81 ± 0.78 mm) groups. After 100, 500, and 1000 cycles, suture displacements using the TSS and MMA techniques were not significantly different ( P > .13), while the TSS technique resulted in significantly less displacement than the S-DLL and D-DLL ( P < .03) techniques. The ultimate failure loads of the MMA (325 ± 77 N) and D-DLL (320 ± 50 N) techniques were significantly greater than those of the TSS (192 ± 52 N) and S-DLL (217 ± 51 N) techniques ( P < .05).

Conclusion:

The TSS and MMA fixation techniques were not significantly different, while the TSS was significantly better at resisting displacement when compared with the S-DLL and D-DLL stitch configurations. The MMA and D-DLL techniques exhibited significantly greater failure loads than did the TSS and S-DLL techniques; however, all techniques demonstrated ultimate failure loads above the currently accepted rehabilitation force threshold.

Clinical Relevance:

The TSS fixation technique combines the lowest technical difficulty and the ability to resist displacement at time zero. The MMA technique, although more technically challenging, may provide an alternative means to resist displacement while enhancing the failure load.
Halogen-free fire retardant styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene-based thermoplastic elastomers using synergistic aluminum diethylphosphinate–based combinations
Authors: Langfeld Kirsten , Wilke Antje , Sut Aleksandra , Greiser Sebastian , Ulmer Bernhard , Andrievici Vlad , Limbach Patrick , Bastian Martin , Schartel Bernhard
Published: January 2015

Multicomponent flame retardant systems containing aluminum diethylphosphinate in thermoplastic styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene elastomers are investigated (oxygen index, UL 94, cone calorimeter, and mechanical testing). Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy, and elemental analysis illuminate the interactions in the condensed phase. Thermoplastic styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene elastomers are a challenge for flame retardancy (peak heat release rate at 50 kW m−2 > 2000 kW m−2, oxygen index = 17.2 vol%, no UL-94 horizontal burn rating) since it burns without residue and with a very high effective heat of combustion. Adding aluminum diethylphosphinate results in efficient flame inhibition and improves the reaction to small flame, but it is less effective in the cone calorimeter. Its efficacy levels off for amounts >∼25 wt%. As the most promising synergistic system, aluminum diethylphosphinate/melamine polyphosphate was identified, combining the main gas action of aluminum diethylphosphinate with condensed phase mechanisms. The protection layer was further improved with several adjuvants. Keeping the overall flame retardant content at 30 wt%, aluminum diethylphosphinate/melamine polyphosphate/titanium dioxide and aluminum diethylphosphinate/melamine polyphosphate/boehmite were the best approaches. An oxygen index of up to 27 vol% was achieved and a horizontal burn rating in UL 94 with immediate self-extinction; peak heat release rate decreased by up to 85% compared to thermoplastic styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene elastomers, to <300 kW m−2.
Victim Responses to Violence
Authors: Brennan Iain
Published: January 2015

The labeling of an incident as a crime is an essential precursor to the use of criminal law, but the contextual factors that influence this decision are unknown. One such context that is a frequent setting for violence is the barroom. This study explored how the setting of a violent incident is related to the decision by victims to label it as a crime. It tested the hypothesis that violent incidents that took place in or around a licensed premises were less likely to be regarded as crimes than violence in other settings. The hypothesis was tested using a pooled sample of respondents from successive waves of the British Crime Survey (2002/2003-2010/2011). Logistic regression models controlled for demographic factors, victim behavioral characteristics, and incident-specific factors including the seriousness of the violence. Respondents who were in or around a licensed premises at the time of victimization were less likely to regard that violence as a crime (adjusted odds ratio = 0.48, 95% confidence intervals [CIs] = [0.34, 0.67]) than respondents who were victimized in other locations. Despite a disproportionate amount of violence taking place in barrooms, it appears that the criminal nature of violence in these spaces is discounted by victims. The findings emphasize how context affects victim interpretations of crime and suggest a victim-centered reconceptualization of the “moral holiday” hypothesis of alcohol settings.
From Parliament to Courtroom
Authors: Kopeček Lubomír , Petrov Jan
Published: January 2015

The Czech Constitutional Court has gained a strong position within the political system. This article examines the judicial review of legislation from the point of view of the relation between the court and the parliament. The authors analyze trends in the use of petitions proposing the annulment of statutes, who makes use of the petitions, how successful the petitioners are, and what issues the petitions concern. The article pairs a quantitative view with a qualitative analysis of key selected decisions by the court, especially in the sphere of mega-politics. The authors test whether judicial review of legislation serves as a tool for parliamentary opposition. The results show the decisive effects of a legislative majority in the lower house of the parliament. If the government lacks a majority, the use of judicial review of legislation as an oppositional tool fades. Also important is the weakness of the upper house, which makes senators more likely to resort to using judicial review of legislation. An especially crucial factor is the presence of independent and semi-independent senators who, without broader political backing, see judicial review of legislation as a welcome tool. The most frequent topics of the petitions were transitional justice, social policy, and the legislative process.
Rate of Utilization of Skilled Birth Attendant and the Influencing Factors in an Urban Myanmar Population
Authors: Chamroonsawasdi Kanittha , Soe Malar , Charupoonphol Phitaya , Srisorrachatr Suwat
Published: January 2015

A survey study aimed at identifying rates and predictive factors on utilization of skilled birth attendant (SBA) among pregnant women. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 200 Myanmar women aged 18 to 49 years in Kalay Township. Data were collected by interview questionnaire from March 1 to 15, 2012, and data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation, χ2 test, and multiple logistic regression analysis. The utilization rate of SBA was 74%. Factors significantly predicting utilization of SBA ( P < .05) were level of maternal and child health (MCH) knowledge, attitude toward SBA, and accessibility to MCH services. The women who had a moderate to good level of knowledge utilized SBA 2.7 times more than those who had a poor level of knowledge (odds ratio = 2.705, 95% confidence interval = 1.31-5.57). The women who had a positive attitude toward SBA utilized SBA 7.7 times more than those who had a negative attitude (odds ratio = 7.708, 95% confidence interval = 3.71-15.98). The women who had high accessibility to MCH services utilized SBA 1.4 times more than those who had low accessibility (odds ratio = 1.477, 95% confidence interval = 1.05-2.21). These factors were able to correctly predict utilization of SBA at 74.9%. MCH knowledge and information on utilization of SBA should be strengthened during every antenatal care visit to enhance positive attitude on utilization of SBA and to increase accessibility to MCH services by providing community antenatal care or home visits.
The Correlation of Different Cotinine Levels With Questionnaire Results
Authors: Park Myung Bae , Nam Eun Woo , Lee Seon Kui , Kim Chun-Bae , Ranabhat Chhabi
Published: January 2015

This study compares the results of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (Self-Reported; KNHANEs [SR]) survey with urine-cotinine concentration (UCC) and the official index issued by the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS). We established standard cutoffs of 20 ng/mL, 30 ng/mL, 50 ng/mL, and 100 ng/mL to compare the results of UCC testing with those of self-reporting methods. The KYRBS demonstrated an overall current smoking rate of 12.25%, while the KNHANEs measured an overall rate of 9.63%. The UCC20 reported the highest current smoking rate at 25.6% overall. Methods that detected a lower prevalence of current smoking, in declining order, were the UCC30, UCC50, UCC100, online survey, and the KNHANEs (SR). The results of this study show that online surveys on smoking administered to adolescents have fewer false responses compared with the KNHANEs (SR). However, compared with UCC testing, online surveys still significantly underreport adolescent smoking rates.
Novice Nurses’ Experiences With Palliative and End-of-Life Communication
Authors: Hendricks-Ferguson Verna L. , Sawin Kathleen J. , Montgomery Kitty , Dupree Claretta , Phillips-Salimi Celeste R. , Carr Barb , Haase Joan E.
Published: January 2015

Health care providers recognize that delivery of effective communication with family members of children with life-threatening illnesses is essential to palliative and end-of-life care (PC/EOL). Parents value the presence of nurses during PC/EOL of their dying child. It is vital that nurses, regardless of their years of work experience, are competent and feel comfortable engaging family members of dying children in PC/EOL discussions. This qualitative-descriptive study used focus groups to explore the PC/EOL communication perspectives of 14 novice pediatric oncology nurses (eg, with less than 1 year of experience). Audio-taped focus group discussions were reviewed to develop the following 6 theme categories: ( a) Sacred Trust to Care for the Child and Family, ( b) An Elephant in the Room, ( c) Struggling with Emotional Unknowns, ( d) Kaleidoscope of Death: Patterns and Complexity, ( e) Training Wheels for Connectedness: Critical Mentors during PC/EOL of Children, and ( f) Being Present with an Open Heart: Ways to Maintain Hope and Minimize Emotional Distress. To date, this is the first study to focus on PC/EOL communication perspectives of novice pediatric oncology nurses.
Effective Prevention and Management of Tumor Lysis Syndrome in Children With Cancer
Authors: Li Ho Cheung William , Chung Oi Kwan Joyce , Tam Ching Janice , Chiu Sau Ying
Published: January 2015

The practice guidelines aimed to identify appropriate nursing management for the prevention and treatment of tumor lysis syndrome, in line with the current evidence-based medical guidelines. Using a systematic approach, 15 relevant articles were identified for the review. The evaluation of patient risk factors for tumor lysis syndrome and the appropriate medical and nursing assessment were identified. The treatment algorithms for the prevention of tumor lysis syndrome from both the medical and nursing perspectives have been established. In particular, the guidelines highlight the importance of pediatric oncology nurses in contributing to the prevention and management of tumor lysis syndrome.
Parents’ Experience With Their Child’s Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Popp Jill M. , Conway Mary , Pantaleao Ashley
Published: January 2015

Objectives: This study assessed the experience of parents who have a child diagnosed with cancer and whether parental hope, family functioning, and perceptions of care distinguish those parents who have adapted to the diagnosis versus those who have not adapted. Methods: Fifty parents completed an interview about the diagnosis experience and questionnaires about hopefulness, family functioning, and family-centered care. Results: A majority of parents had come to terms with the diagnosis; however, a subset indicated feeling emotionally disengaged from the experience and having persistent thoughts about why this had happened to them. In addition, parents who were having a difficult time adapting reported lower hopefulness and felt that they received more information about support services from medical providers compared with parents who had come to terms with the diagnosis. Conclusions: By recognizing families who continue to struggle with the diagnosis, nurses may be better equipped to approach families and evaluate their needs, including coping and adaptation. Asking parents about their experience can also lead to more appropriate and timely care and referral and allows nurses to provide care that engenders hopefulness.
Treatment of Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer
Authors: Lauer Amy L.
Published: January 2015

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer are a unique population of patients who experience a period of intense and dramatic life changes when they are diagnosed. Overall, AYAs with cancer are resilient; however, their psychosocial needs are often underestimated or unmet. Currently, there are inconsistencies in how AYAs are screened and treated for anxiety and depression. Barriers to treatment include clinicians’ lack of confidence in distinguishing between side effects of treatment and depression/anxiety. Additional barriers include the black box warning for prescribing antidepressants and difficulty partnering with mental health professionals. This article seeks to provide recommendations for pediatric oncology clinicians on how to identify and address anxiety and depression in AYAs and how to partner with mental health professionals in their treatment, and it suggests directions for future research.
Designing a Culturally Appropriate Visually Enhanced Low-Text Mobile Health App Promoting Physical Activity for Latinos
Authors: Bender Melinda S. , Martinez Suzanna , Kennedy Christine
Published: January 2015

Rapid proliferation of smartphone ownership and use among Latinos offers a unique opportunity to employ innovative visually enhanced low-text (VELT) mobile health applications (mHealth app) to promote health behavior change for Latinos at risk for lifestyle-related diseases. Using focus groups and in-depth interviews with 16 promotores and 5 health care providers recruited from California clinics, this qualitative study explored perceptions of visuals for a VELT mHealth app promoting physical activity (PA) and limiting sedentary behavior (SB) for Latinos. In this Phase 1 study, participants endorsed visuals portraying PA guidelines and recommended visuals depicting family and socially oriented PA. Overall, participants supported a VELT mHealth app as an alternative to text-based education. Findings will inform the future Phase 2 study development of a culturally appropriate VELT mHealth app to promote PA for Latinos, improve health literacy, and provide an alternative to traditional clinic text-based health education materials.
An experimental investigation on the health monitoring of concrete structures using piezoelectric transducers at various environmental temperatures
Authors: Zou Dujian , Liu Tiejun , Liang Chaofeng , Huang Yongchao , Zhang Fuyao , Du Chengcheng
Published: January 2015

The application of piezoelectric transducers in in situ health monitoring of concrete structures has been widely investigated. However, previous experimental studies were normally performed in an isothermal room environment, which offers insufficient considerations for temperature variations that real engineering structures experience in practical monitoring cases. In this article, the temperature effects on smart aggregate–based monitoring results are treated by performing active structural health monitoring on two plain concrete specimens at various temperatures. Experimental results show that the amplitude of the monitoring signal increases with temperature, with low-frequency signals being more sensitive to temperature variation while high-frequency signals less temperature dependent. This research demonstrates the necessity of temperature compensation in smart aggregate–based monitoring techniques.
Training the Personal and Home Care Aide Workforce
Authors: Luz Clare , Hanson Katherine
Published: January 2015

Personal care aides (PCAs) are critical to meeting the need for low-cost, high-quality care for frail older adults at home. Developing this workforce entails not only increasing its size but also ensuring that PCAs possess the skills necessary to deliver competent, safe, and respectful care. Yet, no federal PCA competencies or training requirements exist, and state requirements vary widely. In 2010, a 77-hour PCA model training program was developed as part of a national demonstration. However, a key finding of this study was that many enrollees faced serious socio-economic challenges that prevented them from graduating. This report details findings from a survey sent to all non-completers to ascertain reasons for attrition and improve program success. It offers recommendations for future program planners.
Weekly Calendar Planning Activity for University Students: Comparison of Individuals With and Without ADHD by Gender
Authors: Lahav Orit , Ben-Simon Anat , Inbar-Weiss Nurit , Katz Noomi
Published: January 2015

Objective: To introduce a revised version of the Weekly Calendar Planning Activity (WCPA) adapted for university students (Weekly Calendar Performance Activity for students [WCPA-S]) and compare the performance of this activity between students with and without ADHD and across gender groups. Method: Participants included a total of 157 students, ages 20 to 30, enrolled in universities/colleges and divided into two groups: students with ADHD (male = 23, female = 38) and without ADHD (male = 33, female = 63). A two-way ANOVA was used for data analyses. The WCPA-S was administered to each student individually. Results: Significant differences were found between students with and without ADHD and across genders in performance, duration of performance, and in the number of strategies used. Conclusion: The WCPA-S proved to be an effective performance-based diagnostic tool for the utilization of executive functions in the daily life of university students. This instrument can be used to predict success in higher education and to support learning among university students with ADHD.
Occupational Status Is Compromised in Adults With ADHD and Psychometrically Defined Executive Function Deficits
Authors: Halleland Helene B. , Sørensen Lin , Posserud Maj-Britt , Haavik Jan , Lundervold Astri J.
Published: January 2015

Objective: Problems related to executive function (EF) are frequently reported in adults with ADHD. However, only a subgroup of patients show deficits on common neuropsychological tests designed to measure EF. We investigated whether this subgroup also had higher levels of functional impairments, including unemployment, than the ADHD group without such deficits. Method: We defined executive function deficit (EFD) from selected tests from the Delis–Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) and assessed ADHD symptoms and psychiatric comorbidity with the use of questionnaires in 79 ADHD patients and 77 controls (IQ above 80 in both groups). Results: In the ADHD group, 24.3% had EFD. This subgroup showed significantly higher frequency of unemployment, more reading and writing problems, lower IQ scores, and more self-reported ADHD symptoms in childhood than the ADHD subgroup without EFD. Conclusion: These findings indicate that it may be possible to identify individuals at risk of functional impairments, and emphasizes the importance of effective treatment programs targeting EF.
The Role of Interpersonal Traits in Social Decision Making
Authors: Zhao Kun , Smillie Luke D.
Published: January 2015

Economic games are well-established experimental paradigms for modeling social decision making. A large body of literature has pointed to the heterogeneity of behavior within many of these games, which might be partly explained by broad interpersonal trait dispositions. Using the Big Five and HEXACO (Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, eXtraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Openness to Experience) personality frameworks, we review the role of personality in two main classes of economic games: social dilemmas and bargaining games. This reveals an emerging role for Big Five agreeableness in promoting cooperative, egalitarian, and altruistic behaviors across several games, consistent with its core characteristic of maintaining harmonious interpersonal relations. The role for extraversion is less clear, which may reflect the divergent effects of its underlying agentic and affiliative motivational components. In addition, HEXACO honesty-humility and agreeableness may capture distinct aspects of prosocial behavior outside the bounds of the Five-Factor Model. Important considerations and directions for future studies are discussed within the emerging personality–economics interface.
Studying legislative party politics in data scarce environments
Authors: Yadav Vineeta
Published: January 2015

Efforts to study the dynamics of legislative and party politics in developing countries often confront a serious obstacle – lack of public data on legislative actions. This paper proposes a new feasible approach for obtaining legislative information indirectly – analyzing the perceptions and lobbying behaviors of business interest groups who are experienced, knowledgeable and highly invested in staying informed on policymaking processes. I build on extant literatures on political parties and lobbying to show how we can systematically exploit group insights to study legislative parties in data-scarce environments and complement existing approaches in data-rich cases. I then demonstrate and evaluate this approach by using original data from a 2006 survey of 158 groups in a data-rich case, Brazil, to mediate existing scholarly debates regarding the sources of legislative unity of Brazilian parties.
Source Cues and Public Support for the Supreme Court
Authors: Clark Tom S. , Kastellec Jonathan P.
Published: January 2015

It is well known that the public often relies on cues or heuristics when forming opinions. At the same time, leading theories of opinion formation about the Supreme Court see such support as relatively fixed. Using a series of survey experiments, we find source cues significantly influence the public’s support for the Court, including the extent to which individuals believe the Court should be independent from the elected branches. Specifically, we find partisan source cues play a significant role in shaping public opinion regarding life tenure for the justices and the extent to which the Court should have the final say in constitutional matters—individuals are less likely to support court-curbing measures when informed that elites from the opposite party have proposed them than when such measures are endorsed by either a neutral source or members of their own party. We also find a strong connection between specific support for particular decisions and the degree to which people believe the Court should be free from external influence, as individuals are more likely to say the justices should be influenced by demonstrators when the side they favor is the one doing the demonstrating. These results have important implications for understanding the extent to which politicians can shape the public’s overall support for the Court, as well as for assessing the degree to which the public views the Court as a “political” institution.
The Benefits, Limitations, and Cost-Effectiveness of Advanced Technologies in the Management of Patients With Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Vigersky Robert A.
Published: January 2015

Background:

Hypoglycemia mitigation is critical for appropriately managing patients with diabetes. Advanced technologies are becoming more prevalent in diabetes management, but their benefits have been primarily judged on the basis of hemoglobin A1c. A critical appraisal of the effectiveness and limitations of advanced technologies in reducing both A1c and hypoglycemia rates has not been previously performed.

Methods:

The cost of hypoglycemia was estimated using literature rates of hypoglycemia events resulting in hospitalizations. A literature search was conducted on the effect on A1c and hypoglycemia of advanced technologies. The cost-effectiveness of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) and real-time continuous glucose monitors (RT-CGM) was reviewed.

Results:

Severe hypoglycemia in insulin-using patients with diabetes costs $4.9-$12.7 billion. CSII reduces A1c in some but not all studies. CSII improves hypoglycemia in patients with high baseline rates. Bolus calculators improve A1c and improve the fear of hypoglycemia but not hypoglycemia rates. RT-CGM alone and when combined with CSII improve A1c with a neutral effect on hypoglycemia rates. Low-glucose threshold suspend systems reduce hypoglycemia with a neutral effect on A1c, and low-glucose predictive suspend systems reduce hypoglycemia with a small increase in plasma glucose levels. In short-term studies, artificial pancreas systems reduce both hypoglycemia rates and plasma glucose levels. CSII and RT-CGM are cost-effective technologies, but their wide adoption is limited by cost, psychosocial, and educational factors.

Conclusions:

Most currently available technologies improve A1c with a neutral or improved rate of hypoglycemia. Advanced technologies appear to be cost-effective in diabetes management, especially when including the underlying cost of hypoglycemia.
Non-linear parametric resonance driven oscillations of dumbell satellite in elliptical orbit under the combined effects of magnetic field of the earth and oblateness of the earth
Authors: Narayan A. , Pandey M. D.
Published: January 2015

Parametric resonance driven oscillations of a dumbbell satellite in elliptical orbit in central gravitational field of force under the combined effects of perturbing forces Earth Magnetic field and Oblateness of the Earth has been studied. The system comprises of two satellite connected by a light, flexible and inextensible cable, moves like a dumbbell satellite in elliptical orbit, in central gravitational field of force. The gravitational field of the Earth is the main force governing the motion and magnetic field of the Earth and Oblateness of the Earth are considered to be perturbing forces, disturbing in nature. Non-linear oscillations of dumbbell satellite about the equilibrium position in the neighborhood of parametric resonance \(w=1/2\), under the influence of perturbing forces, which is suitable for exploiting the asymptotic methods of Bogoliubov, Krilov and Metropoloskey has been studied, considering â€˜eâ€™ to be a small parameter. The Hamiltonian has been constructed for the problem and phase analysis has been applied to investigate the stability of the system.
Up in flames: a flammability assessment of alcohol-based hand sanitizers on common perioperative materials
Authors: Almengor Samuel , Monaghan W. Patrick , FL Jacksonville,
Published: January 2015

Introduction: The objective of this study was to perform a flammability assessment of alcohol-based hand sanitizers on common perioperative materials. There is an estimated 550â€“650 surgical fires that occur nationally each year, an instance comparable to that of wrong-site surgery, yet only about 100 operating room fires are reported each year.Â  The median cost of an OR fire settlement claim is $120,166.Â  Generation of fire requires the presence of three components, known as the â€œfire triadâ€: (1) an oxidizer, (2) an ignition source, and (3) fuel.Methods: The flammability of five common perioperative materials was assessed (conform stretch gauze, surgical drape, foam headrest, OR towels, and lap sponges).Â  The flammability of these materials was assessed alone and with six test liquids (Purell Advanced, Germ-X, generic hand sanitizer, spray hand sanitizer, ChloraPrep, and sterile water).Â  The assessments with the test liquids were conducted immediately after application and after five minutes.Â  The ignition sources used were a lighter and two spark generators (piezo-electric and battery-powered spark generator).Results: Two of the five perioperative materials were easily ignitable (OR towels and lap sponges), while the others exhibited flame retardant properties, which manifested itself as â€œmeltingâ€ when an ignition source was applied (conform stretch gauze, surgical drape, and foam headrest).Â  ChloraPrep served as the positive control and sterile water served as the negative control.Â  When alcohol-based hand sanitizers and ChloraPrep were added to these materials, the flammability increased.Â  The addition of sterile water to the perioperative materials rendered the material nonflammable. The piezo-electric spark generator did not elicit any combustion of perioperative materials with or without test liquids, but the battery-powered spark generator did.Conclusion: Commonly used alcohol-based hand sanitizers are flammable.Â  When alcohol-based hand sanitizers are applied to perioperative materials, their flammability increases, even materials which were previously nonflammable.Â  Electrostatic discharge did illicit combustion of alcohol-based hand sanitizer on any perioperative materials tested, and should be recognized as a genuine safety hazard.Â  Although these personal hand sanitizer products are commonly used for their antiseptic properties, one should exercise prudence with their use to avoid causing harm to the patient.
Fetomaternal outcomes of hospitalized hypertensive gravida in Shaqra General Hospital: a retrospective study
Authors: Abalos Russel , Ellasus Rosanta , Gutierrez John Mark
Published: January 2015

Background: Elevation of blood pressure during pregnancy can adversely affect both fetal and maternal outcomes. Other maternal and fetal complications may also arise which may result to maternal and fetal mortality.Objective: This study aimed to determine the fetal and maternal outcomes of hospitalized pregnant clients with hypertension.Methods: This 6-year retrospective research design was carried out in Shaqra General Hospital between January 2008 and November 2013. Following approval by the hospital research ethics committee and hospital administrators, hospital records were reviewed and examined using guide checklist. Universal sampling was applied totaling to 56 evaluable cases of pregnant women with hypertension.Results: Of 56 cases studied, year 2008 to 2013 had the most frequency of hypertensive mothers. Most women are in middle adulthood stage with age 25 years old and above, had more than one pregnancy (multigravida) and more than one viable pregnancy (multipara). Fetal outcome resulted to high number of babies who were term, appropriate for gestational age, with good Apgar score, no birth defect but high frequency of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions. Maternal outcome recorded no maternal deaths; however, 4% maternal complications (i.e., post-partum hemorrhage and HELLP syndrome) and more caesarean section deliveries were observed.Conclusion: Good Apgar score and absence of birth defects is associated with higher frequency of roomed-in babies and less NICU admissions. There were lesser complications to mothers who had more than one pregnancy. There were more NICU admissions from caesarean section deliveries.
A note on a new class of generalized Pearson distribution arising from Michaelis-Menten function of enzyme kinetics
Authors: Shakil Mohammad , Singh Jai Narain
Published: January 2015

Many problems of enzyme kinetics can be described by a function known as the Michaelis-Menten (M-M) function. In this paper, motivated by the importance of Michaelis-Menten function in biochemistry and other biological phenomena, we have introduced a new class of generalized Pearson distribution arising from Michaelis-Menten function. Various properties of this distribution are derived, for example, its probability density function (pdf), cumulative distribution function (cdf), moment, entropy function, and relationships with some well-known continuous probability distributions. The graphs of the pdf and cdf of our new distribution are provided for some selected values of the parameters. It is observed that our new distribution is positively skewed and unimodal. We hope that the findings of this paper will be useful in many applied research problems.Â 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 60E05, 62E10, 62E15.
Vibration analysis of five layer composite plate at different boundary conditions
Authors: Patil Devidas , Damle P.G. , Shinde Dinesh
Published: January 2015

Generally plates are subjected to the load conditions which may change by fixing different edges of the plate,that cause deflections transverse to the plate.In this paper a Vibration Analysis of a five layer composite plate is presented at different boundary condition. Vibration is the most influencing parameter of life & performance of particular machine element or engineering structures, and invariably, damping is used to reduce that. Various types of damping mechanisms have been developed over time to control the undesired vibration of structures. A composite plate having five layers is modeled in ANSYS parametric Design Language (APDL) platform & Finite element procedure is followed. Then, a set of results are presented to show the applicability of the present problem to various types of boundary conditions under free vibration conditions. Subsequently the results are compared with isotropic plate.
neuTube 1.0: A New Design for Efficient Neuron Reconstruction Software Based on the SWC Format
Authors: Feng Linqing , Zhao Ting , Kim Jinhyun
Published: January 2015

Brain circuit mapping requires digital reconstruction of neuronal morphologies in complicated networks. Despite recent advances in automatic algorithms, reconstruction of neuronal structures is still a bottleneck in circuit mapping due to a lack of appropriate software for both efficient reconstruction and user-friendly editing. Here we present a new software design based on the SWC format, a standardized neuromorphometric format that has been widely used for analyzing neuronal morphologies or sharing neuron reconstructions via online archives such as NeuroMorpho.org. We have also implemented the design in our open-source software called neuTube 1.0. As specified by the design, the software is equipped with parallel 2D and 3D visualization and intuitive neuron tracing/editing functions, allowing the user to efficiently reconstruct neurons from fluorescence image data and edit standard neuron structure files produced by any other reconstruction software. We show the advantages of neuTube 1.0 by comparing it to two other software tools, namely Neuromantic and Neurostudio. The software is available for free athttp://www.neutracing.com, which also hosts complete software documentation and video tutorials.
Pituitary MRI characteristics in 297 acromegaly patients based on T2-weighted sequences
Authors: Potorac Iulia , Petrossians Patrick , Daly Adrian F , Schillo Franck , Ben Slama Claude , Nagi Sonia , Sahnoun Mouna , Brue Thierry , Girard Nadine , Chanson Philippe , Nasser Ghaidaa , Caron Philippe , Bonneville Fabrice , Raverot Gérald , Lapras Véronique , Cotton François , Delemer Brigitte , Higel Brigitte , Boulin Anne , Gaillard Stéphan , Luca Florina , Goichot Bernard , Dietemann Jean-Louis , Beckers Albert , Bonneville Jean-François
Published: January 2015

Responses of GH-secreting adenomas to multimodal management of acromegaly vary widely between patients. Understanding the behavioral patterns of GH-secreting adenomas by identifying factors predictive of their evolution is a research priority. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between the T2-weighted adenoma signal on diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in acromegaly and clinical and biological features at diagnosis. An international, multicenter, retrospective analysis was performed using a large population of 297 acromegalic patients recently diagnosed with available diagnostic MRI evaluations. The study was conducted at ten endocrine tertiary referral centers. Clinical and biochemical characteristics, and MRI signal findings were evaluated. T2-hypointense adenomas represented 52.9% of the series, were smaller than their T2-hyperintense and isointense counterparts (P<0.0001), were associated with higher IGF1 levels (P=0.0001), invaded the cavernous sinus less frequently (P=0.0002), and rarely caused optic chiasm compression (P<0.0001). Acromegalic men tended to be younger at diagnosis than women (P=0.067) and presented higher IGF1 values (P=0.01). Although in total, adenomas had a predominantly inferior extension in 45.8% of cases, in men this was more frequent (P<0.0001), whereas in women optic chiasm compression of macroadenomas occurred more often (P=0.0067). Most adenomas (45.1%) measured between 11 and 20 mm in maximal diameter and bigger adenomas were diagnosed at younger ages (P=0.0001). The T2-weighted signal differentiates GH-secreting adenomas into subgroups with particular behaviors. This raises the question of whether the T2-weighted signal could represent a factor in the classification of acromegalic patients in future studies.