bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interaction of Activated Leukocytes with Polymeric Microspheres
Authors: Ayhan H. , Pişkin E.
Published: March 2018

Three types of polymeric particles with different surface wettabilities, i.e., poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA), poly(methylmethacrylate-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (P(MMA/HEMA)) and poly(methylmethacrylate)/poly(vinyl alcohol) PMMA/PVAL with a diameter of 1.5 μm were produced in this study. These particles were incubated with blood samples obtained both from three patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. In the blood samples taken before the bypass operations, there was considerable phagocytosis and/or adhesion of the PMMA particles, i.e., 14±4 particles per monocyte and 11±3 particles per neutrophil. While there was almost no phagocytosis and/or adhesion of the P(MMA/HEMA) and PMMA/PVAL particles. In the blood samples which were taken during bypass operations, phagocytosis and/or adhesion of PMMA microspheres increased significantly. The P(MMA/HEMA) and/or PMMA/PVAL particles adhered, or were even phagocytosed by the activated leukocytes in this case. Leukocytes activated during the bypass operations gradually returned to normal in about 24 h.
Activation of the Clotting System: Heparin-Coated versus Non Coated Systems for Extracorporeal Circulation
Authors: Urlesberger B. , Zobel G. , Rödl S. , Dacar D. , Friehs I. , Leschnik B. , Muntean W.
Published: March 2018

The purpose of this experimental study was to compare heparin-coated versus non-coated systems for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), to investigate the dynamic course of clotting activation in both groups.

Methods.

Eight pigs weighing 19.7 (± 1.3) kg, each underwent ECMO for 24 hours. Two groups were formed: in group 1, heparin-coated circuits were used with low dose heparinization (10 IU/kg/hr), whereas in group 2 non-coated circuits with high dose heparinization (60 IU/kg/hr) were used. Coagulation was monitored by measuring prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, antithrombin III (AT III) and specific markers of clotting activation (thrombin-antithrombin III complexes (TAT) and D-dimer). Furthermore, platelet count, hematocrit, activated clotting time (ACT), and plasma heparin concentration were determined regularly.

Results.

The dynamic course of the specific coagulation activation markers showed some differences: whereas TAT and D-dimer increased quickly in group 2, the increase in group 1 was delayed. Activation marker values tended to be lower in group 1 during the first six hours, after which no more differences between the groups were seen. After 24 hours of ECMO, TAT and D-dimer had nearly returned to baseline values. Platelets showed a continuous decrease throughout the experiment, which was very similar in both groups.

Conclusions.

The heparin coated system showed a distinct delay in clotting activation during the first six hours of ECMO. After six hours there were no more differences between the groups.
Optimisation of a Stentless Valve Prosthesis Based on an Analytic Parametric Model of the Aortic Valve
Authors: Redaelli A. , Di Martino E. , Mantero S. , Agazzi A. , Vangeri E. , Gamba A. , Fumero R.
Published: March 2018

An analytical mathematical model of a stentless aortic valve has been implemented. The valve is characterised by a trileaflet geometry, cilindrical leaflets; the aortic root is schematised by a conical surface which includes the leaflet attachments.

The model Is defined through six geometric parameters: the base radius, the valve height, the commissure radius, the leaflet radial, circumferential and attachment line lengths. Five performance indexes have been used to optimise the valve geometry, namely: the systolic area, the leaflet circumferential stress in diastole, the leaflet bending strain in systole and two bending angles related to the rotation of the leaflets from the diastolic to the systolic configuration.

The sensitivity analysis is carried out which can identify the influence of each geometric parameter on the performance indexes adopted for the optimum valve design.

The analysis of the results provides the geometric configuration which optimises the overall function of the valve throughout the cardiac cycle.
Intensive Predeposit-Hemodilution Autologous Blood Donation and IOBS Increase in Erythropoietic Levels in Patients Undergoing Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Borghi B. , Alleva R. , Ghermandi C. , Pratelli L. , Bonini A.M.
Published: March 2018

Erythropoietin (EPO) plasma levels were monitored during the perioperative period in 61 consecutive patients (22 males - 39 females), aged 62.5 ± 9.5 years, scheduled for hip arthroplasty. All patients underwent intraoperative blood salvage (IOBS) and were subdivided into three different groups according to their hemoglobin levels (Hb) 24 hours postoperatively (group A: Hb < 8 g/dl; group B: Hb between 8-9 g/dl; group C: HB ≥ 9 g/dl). Seventy-two hours after surgery EPO levels were significantly different in group A (135 ± 68) compared to group C (54.3 ± 32), with a positive correlation (p < 0.01) between Hb and EPO levels. On the basis of these results we suggest that a programmed autologous red blood cell collection aimed at obtaining the lowest hemoglobin values during the first 24 hours after surgery, may be of clinical utility in preventing homologous blood needs.
Myoglobin Clearance during Continuous Veno-Venous Hemofiltration with or without Dialysis
Authors: Nicolau D. , Feng Y.S. , Wu A.H.B. , Bernstein S.P. , Nightingale C.H.
Published: March 2018

The management of acute myoglobinuric renal failure, the major complication of rhab-domyolysis, continues to be a treatment dilemma for the clinician as limited therapeutic options are available. Previously, we have demonstrated that continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration (CAVH) is an effective technique for removing myoglobin in an animal model. In the present study, swine were administered four grams of equine myoglobin intravenously and underwent the continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) procedure for six hours each. Animals were studied in each of the following groups: CVVH at a pump rate 100 ml/minute, CVVH at a pump rate 200 ml/minute and CVVH at a pump rate 100 ml/minute plus dialysis at a dialysate flow rate of one Liter/h. Once the filtering process was initiated there was a rapid and sustained production of ultrafiltrate in all groups. The amount of myoglobin excreted in the ultrafiltrate over the six-hour filtering period was 688, 948 and 570 mg which corresponded to 17, 24 and 14 percent of the administered dose, respectively, for the three treatments. In comparison to previous CAVH experiments, CVVH removed more circulating myoglobin and the addition of the dialysis component did not appear to improve removal. Based on these findings, it appears that the CVVH hemofiltration system is a viable option for the removal of systemic myoglobin.
Reduction of Mononuclear Cytokine Production in Hemodialysis Patients Treated with Steam-Sterilized Low-Flux Polysulphone Membranes
Authors: Aucella F. , Vigilante M. , Grandone E. , Colaizzo D. , Margaglione M. , Modoni S. , Orlandini G. , Stallone C.
Published: March 2018

An increased cytokine production, correlated with long term complications of uremic disease, has been described during hemodialysis. To identify possible differences in the cytokine release of differently sterilized membranes, we enrolled six uremic patients on chronic hemodialysis. The patients underwent dialysis with ETO-sterilized low-flux polysulphone membranes (F6, Fresenius AG) for at least three months (At), they were then switched to steam-sterilized polysulphone membranes (F6-HPS Fresenius AG) and further evaluations after one (B1) and two months (B2) were carried out. A final evaluation (A2) was made one month after switching back to F6 dialyzers. At each time period, samples were drawn to measure IL-1B released by cultured mononuclear cells (MN). Moreover, dialysate samples were collected to test endotoxin levels. C3a and C5a levels were assessed at 0, 5, 15 and 60 min from starting hemodialysis. Anti-ETO IgE levels were also assayed at A1, B1 and A2.

The LAL test revealed a good quality dialysate. The mean pre-dialysis IL-1B levels were 215 pg/million cells at A1; falling to 49 at B1, and 54 at B2 (p≤0.01); there was then a sharp rebound at A2:284, p≤0.01. Post-dialysis levels followed the same pattern. No correlation between the dialysate endotoxin level and cytokine release was found. Complement activation did not change and in all the phases of the study no anti-ETO IgE was detected in any of the subjects. Our data suggest that the steam sterilized polysulphone membrane induces a lower cytokine release than the ETO sterilized membrane, although the mechanism by which it does so remains to be clarified.
A New Method of Mechanical Circulatory Support with an Implantable Multichamber Pump System (IMPS): Presentation and First Experimental Results
Authors: Petzold T. , Feindv P. , Paul V. , Gams E. , Gersonde K.
Published: March 2018

This paper presents a new cardiac support device for left ventricular failure which consists of two inflatable bellows positioned dorsally and ventrally to the left ventricle. The implantable multichamber pump system (IMPS) is driven by a pneumatic pump system and controlled by a microcomputer using ECG-trigger and pacemaker modules. It was implanted via thoracotomy in 8 pigs. The circulatory parameters were measured in the animals on β-blockers, with cardiac failure and in ventricular fibrillation with an activated (IMPS on) and deactivated (IMPS off) system.

IMPS significantly increased the left ventricular pressure (LVPsys IMPS off: 63 ∓ 6 mmHg vs IMPS on: 96 ∓ 8 mmHg) and the blood pressure in the common carotid artery (Bpca' IMPS off: 69/38 mmHg vs IMPS on: 95/40 mmHg).

The IMPS proved to be highly efficient in the therapy of animals with acute cardiac failure and in ventricular fibrillation in the experimental model. Apart from its efficiency the advantages with this system are the ease of handling and its high biocompatibility due to the lack of contact with circulating blood.
Development of Vibrating flow Pump for Left Ventricular Assist Circulation
Authors: Kobayashi S. , Nitta S. , Yambe T. , Sonobe T. , Nannka S. , Shizuka K. , Fkuju T. , Hashimoto H.
Published: March 2018

Vibrating flow pump (VFP) can generate high frequency oscillated blood flow within 1040 Hz. In this study, new type VFP was developed as a ventricular assist device. Left Ventricular assist circulation using VFP were performed as aseptic animal experiments using goats, hemodynamic parameters were recorded continuously at awaked state. Driving frequency of VFP was 25 Hz and pump flow rate was controlled to approximately 2 l/min. Frequency of VFP was 25 hz and pump flow rate was controlled to approximately 2 L/min. Frequency analysis method was used for analyzing hemodynamics. The peak of power was observed at 25 Hz from the Fourier transformation of blood flow waveform. Systemic vascular resistance was decreased by the start of left ventricular assistance using oscillated blood flow. No fatal arrhythmia was osberved during this study. As the conclusion, new type VFP has a sufficient performance for left ventricular assistance. Small size blood pump may be enabled by the oscillated blood flow because VFP is driven at high frequency moving with short stroke volume.
Mental Disorder, Psychological Distress, and Functional Status in Canadian Military Personnel
Authors: Sampasa-Kanyinga Hugues , Zamorski Mark A. , Colman Ian
Published: March 2018

Objective:

We examined the overlap between mood and anxiety disorders and psychological distress and their associations with functional status in Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel.

Method:

Data on Regular Forces personnel ( N = 6700) were derived from the 2013 Canadian Forces Mental Health Survey, a nationally representative survey of the CAF personnel. Current psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler K10 scale. Past-month mood and anxiety disorders were assessed using the World Health Organization World Mental Health Composite Diagnostic Interview.

Results:

The prevalence of psychological distress was the same as that of any past-month mood or anxiety disorder (7.1% for each). A total of 3.8% had both distress and past-month mood or anxiety disorder, 3.3% had past-month disorder without psychological distress, while another 3.3% had psychological distress in the absence of a past-month mood or anxiety disorder. After adjusting for age, sex, marital, education, income, language, element, rank, and alcohol use disorder, individuals with both psychological distress and past-month mood and anxiety disorders exhibited the highest levels of disability, days out of role, and work absenteeism relative to those with neither mental disorders nor psychological distress. Relative to individuals with both disorder and distress, those who endured distress in the absence of mental disorder exhibited lower, but meaningful, levels of disability compared with those with neither disorder nor distress.

Conclusions:

Disability is most severe among CAF personnel with both distress and past-month mood and anxiety disorders. Nevertheless, distress in the absence of disorder is prevalent and is associated with meaningful levels of disability.
Mental Health Screening and Differences in Access to Care among Prisoners
Authors: Martin Michael S. , Crocker Anne G. , Potter Beth K. , Wells George A. , Grace Rebecca M. , Colman Ian
Published: March 2018

Objective:

Disparities in mental health care exist between regional and demographic groups. While screening is recommended as part of a correctional mental health strategy, little work has been done to explore whether it can narrow regional and demographic disparities in access to care. We compared treatment access rates by sex, race, age, and region in relation to screening results.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using administrative data. All 7965 admissions to the prison system were followed for a median of 14 months.

Results:

Males and non-Indigenous minority racial groups had lower rates of treatment regardless of screening results; they were less likely both to self-report needs and to receive treatment if these needs were reported. Regional differences revealed higher treatment rates in Atlantic Canada and Ontario, as well as higher rates of inmates self-reporting needs on screening who did not receive treatment in the Atlantic, Québec, and Pacific regions. There were minimal differences between inmates of different age groups.

Conclusions:

Findings suggest potential resource gaps and/or differences in the performance of screening to detect mental health needs across demographic and regional groups. Screening did not narrow, and may have widened, differences between groups.
“I am Not a Feminist, but. . .”: Hegemony of a Meritocratic Ideology and the Limits of Critique Among Women in Engineering
Authors: Seron Carroll , Silbey Susan , Cech Erin , Rubineau Brian
Published: March 2018

Engineering is often described as an enduring bastion of masculine culture where women experience marginality. Using diaries from undergraduate engineering students at four universities, the authors explore women’s interpretations of their status within the profession. The authors’ findings show that women recognize their marginality, providing clear and strong criticisms of their experiences. But these criticisms remain isolated and muted; they coalesce neither into broader organizational or institutional criticisms of engineering, nor into calls for change. Instead, their criticisms are interpreted through two values central to engineering culture: meritocracy and individualism. Despite their direct experiences with sexism, respondents typically embrace these values as ideological justifications of the existing distributions of status and reward in engineering and come to view engineering’s nonmeritocratic system as meritocratic. The unquestioned presumption of meritocracy and the invisibility of its muting effects on critiques resembles not hegemonic masculinity—for these women proudly celebrate their femininity—but a hegemony of meritocratic ideology. The authors conclude that engineering education successfully turns potential critics into agents of cultural reproduction. This article contributes to ongoing debates concerning diversity in STEM professions by showing how professional culture can contribute to more general patterns of token behavior—thus identifying mechanisms of cultural reproduction that thwart institutional change.
Cosmetic Surgery History of the Specialty: The Importance of AACS Fellowships and the Webster Legacy
Authors: Haiavy Jacob
Published: March 2018

Cosmetic surgery has been performed for thousands of years. But it was not until the 20th century with advances in medicine and technology that allowed elective cosmetic surgery to be performed safely. This article reviews the history of the specialty as well as the contributions made by Dr Richard Webster and the importance of fellowship training for the future of the specialty.
The Moral Aesthetics of Compulsory Ultrasound Viewing and the Theological Future of Abortion
Authors: Hovey Craig
Published: March 2018

By law, women seeking abortions in some US states must undergo compulsory ultrasound viewing. This article examines the moral significance of this practice, especially as understood by pro-life religious groups, in light of Foucault’s recently published lectures on ‘The Will to Know’ and the place of the aesthetic. How does the larger abortion-debate strategy of ‘showing’ and ‘seeing’ images—whether of living or dead fetuses—work as an aesthetic form of argument that intends to evoke a moral response in the absence of reason-giving? The article draws on recent, parallel debates regarding disgust before concluding with a theological response to the priority of will over knowledge and vision over action as commentary on the future of abortion debate and law, especially in the United States.
Robust dynamic surface control of vehicle lateral dynamics using disturbance estimation
Authors: Hosseini-Pishrobat Mehran , Seyedzavvar Mirali , Hamed Mohammad Ali
Published: March 2018

This paper reports a disturbance estimation-based dynamic surface control method for stabilizing vehicle lateral dynamics through yaw moment control. Based on the single track vehicle model, an uncertain model of the vehicle lateral dynamics is developed which represents the effect of parametric uncertainty and lateral tire force nonlinearity by mismatched, lumped total disturbances. In this model, the longitudinal velocity of the vehicle is considered as a time-varying parameter. Using the developed mathematical vehicle model, an extended state observer is proposed to estimate the total disturbance signals. Next, a dynamic surface controller is designed with the objective of tracking the desired lateral velocity generated by a linear two-degrees-of-freedom vehicle dynamics. The dynamic surface controller uses the estimated disturbances of the extended state observer as feedforward inputs to compensate for the effects of the total disturbances. To achieve an improved robust performance against disturbance estimation errors, the [Formula: see text] control technique is incorporated into the DSC design. To this end, using a norm-bounded representation of the longitudinal velocity, the control design is formulated as the feasibility of a finite number of linear matrix inequalities. The stability and robustness of the extended state observer and the dynamic surface control systems are analyzed in a Lyapunov framework and the required mathematical proofs are presented. Considering a lane change and a J-turn maneuver, extensive numerical simulations are performed to show the effectiveness of the proposed control system. The results confirm the improved performance of the closed-loop system compared to the open-loop one, in various driving and road conditions.
Near infrared spectroscopy research performance in food science and technology
Authors: Khuwijitjaru Pramote
Published: March 2018

Near infrared spectroscopy has been employed by researchers and industries in various areas including food science and technology. In this article, data from Scopus database were analyzed to highlight the recent trends of research in this area. Also, the relation between research works and the current application and development of near infrared spectroscopy in food science and technology is discussed.
A New Methodological Frontier in Entrepreneurship Research: Big Data Studies
Authors: Schwab Andreas , Zhang Zhu
Published: March 2018

The emergence of “big data” and related analytic techniques are creating opportunities to advance empirical entrepreneurship theory and practice. This editorial focuses on the implications for the design and execution of empirical studies. It offers guidance on how to navigate related methodological challenges and outlines what editors, professional associations, research-method teachers, and administrators can do to enable high-quality big data research.
Buckling analysis of skew magneto-electro-elastic plates under in-plane loading
Authors: Kiran MC , Kattimani Subhaschandra
Published: March 2018

This article deals with the study of buckling behaviour of multilayered skew magneto-electro-elastic plate under uniaxial and biaxial in-plane loadings. The skew edges of the skew magneto-electro-elastic plate are obtained by transforming the local skew coordinate to the global using a transformation matrix. The displacement fields corresponding to the first-order shear deformation theory along with constitutive equations of magneto-electro-elastic materials are used to develop a finite element model. The finite element model encompasses the coupling between electric, magnetic and elastic fields. The in-plane stress distribution within the skew magneto-electro-elastic plate due to the enacted force is considered to be equivalent to the applied in-plane compressive loads in the pre-buckling range. This stress distribution is used to derive the potential energy functional of the skew magneto-electro-elastic plate. The non-dimensional critical buckling load is attained from the solution of the allied linear eigenvalue problem. Influence of skew angle, stacking sequence, span-to-thickness ratio, aspect ratio and boundary condition on the critical buckling load and their corresponding mode shapes is investigated.
Social Change and Micronesian Suicide Mortality: A Test of Competing Hypotheses
Authors: Lowe Edward D.
Published: March 2018

How do modernizing social changes affect suicide risks for youths in small economically developing societies? Since Durkheim, social researchers have hypothesized that processes of social disintegration and processes of normative cultural disequilibrium can increase suicide rates. A lifestyle incongruity hypothesis has also been proposed. This article tests these competing hypotheses for the epidemic of suicide that occurred on culturally diverse communities of the Pacific Islands of Micronesia. The sample includes 74 municipalities of the Federated States of Micronesia. Multiple regression analyses suggest that the best analytic model includes the degree of urbanization, the levels of social integration, and the incongruity between modern economic resources and achieved modern material lifestyle. These results suggest that researchers should attend more to the way communities aspire to and participate in global markets as opposed to shifting adult role structures and occupations as a site for understanding the relationship between rapid social change and suicide.
How Evaluators Can Use a Complex Systems Lens to Get “Untrapped” From Limiting Beliefs and Assumptions
Authors: Moore Marah , Parsons Beverly , Jessup Patricia
Published: March 2018

Evaluators are becoming increasingly aware that, to provide maximum benefit to the programs they evaluate, they must address the systems within which the programs work. However, evaluation practice is often influenced by beliefs and assumptions that are rooted in an understanding of these systems as stable and predictable. We identify four traps that can limit the usefulness of program evaluations when the instability and uncertainty of systems are not acknowledged. We explore how evaluators can get “untrapped” by using a complex systems lens to interrogate their beliefs and assumptions about (1) the purpose of the evaluation, (2) the definition of the evaluand and boundaries of the evaluation, (3) leveraging controlled evaluation methodologies to learn about complex systems, and (4) the meaning of “going to scale.” From our work on a national cross-site evaluation, we provide examples of ways a complex systems lens can increase the merit, worth, and significance of program evaluations.
Experimental and numerical investigation of lattice core sandwich beams under low-velocity bending impact
Authors: Taghipoor Hossein , Damghani Nouri Mohammad
Published: March 2018

The performance of sandwich beams with expanded metal sheets as core was studied under transverse impact loading. Relationships between the force and displacement at the mid-span of the sandwich beams were obtained from the experiments. Numerical simulations were carried out using ABAQUS/EXPLICT and the results were thoroughly compared with the experimental results. Then, the influence of the core layer number, cell orientation, size of the cell, and thickness of the substrates was investigated. The results showed that the increase in the core layers up to three times increased the energy absorption ( Ea) by 33.88%. Moreover, increasing the thickness by up to three times increased the Ea by 61.33%. It was found that effects of the cell size and cell orientation on the Ea were dependent on each other, governing the low-velocity impact response of the sandwich beams with lattice cores.
Comparison of Hair Cortisol Levels and Perceived Stress in Mothers Who Deliver at Preterm and Term
Authors: Duffy Allyson R. , Schminkey Donna L. , Groer Maureen W. , Shelton Melissa , Dutra Samia
Published: March 2018

Objective:

To evaluate relationships between hair cortisol levels and perceived stress in mothers who deliver preterm and term. We hypothesized that the rate of change in cortisol levels would be greater in the preterm delivery group.

Methods:

This preliminary study compared hair cortisol levels and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) scores in predominately Caucasian mothers who delivered preterm ( n = 22) and term ( n = 30). We collected PSS and hair samples of ≥10 cm in length from mothers after delivery. Hair was segmented into three sections, and cortisol was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results:

The mean gestational age was 31.45 ( SD = 4.2) weeks for preterm deliveries and 39.45 ( SD = 1.1) for term. Cortisol differed significantly in the third trimester between mothers delivering term and preterm ( t = 2.16, df = 48, p = .04) and trended toward significance in the second trimester ( t = 1.88, df = 48, p = .06). PSS differed significantly between the two groups ( t = −2.96, df = 50, p = .05). Our data did not provide support for our hypothesis.

Conclusion:

There appeared to be a blunted, flattened pattern of change in cortisol levels across gestation in the women who delivered preterm, suggesting diminished hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis responsiveness in mechanisms that promote preterm labor. Future studies are needed to further evaluate best strategies for measuring the mechanisms of allostatic load during pregnancy along with the psychoneuroendocrine and immune triggers and placental responses that lead to premature birth.
One-port vitreous cavity lavage with hybrid 27G infusion and 23G cannula
Authors: Zhu Dongqing , Zhang Jing , Zhou Jibo
Published: March 2018

Purpose:

To describe a new surgical technique for performing vitreous cavity lavage.

Methods:

After a 23G trocar cannula was inserted into the vitreous cavity at the lowest point of the eyeball 3.5 or 4 mm posterior to the limbus, a 27G infusion line with balanced salt solution was attached to the cannula. The infusion tube was partially withdrawn and the vitreous fluid with blood flowed out through the space between the larger lumen of the cannula and the smaller infusion tube. Meanwhile, vitreous cavity was irrigated with fresh balanced salt solution through the infusion line and the intraocular pressure (IOP) was maintained. The vitreous clarity was checked by indirect ophthalmoscopy.

Results:

A total of 14 eyes of 14 patients with postvitrectomy hemorrhage were treated with the lavage technique. The vision improved and the fundus could be sufficiently viewed next day in all cases. This fluid/fluid exchange procedure was also performed in fluid/air exchange in two cases of unclosed idiopathic macular hole with switching to air infusion instead of balanced salt solution infusion.

Conclusion:

This minimally invasive technique is a simple, safe, and efficient way of performing postvitrectomy vitreous cavity fluid/fluid or fluid/air exchange.
Do Bioflavonoids in Juniperus virginiana Heartwood Stimulate Oviposition in the Ladybird Coleomegilla maculata?
Authors: Riddick Eric W , Wu Zhixin , Eller Fred J , Berhow Mark A
Published: March 2018

Maximizing the reproductive potential of ladybird beetles fed factitious foods or artificial diets, in lieu of natural prey, is a major challenge to cost-effective mass rearing for augmentative biological control. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that compounds in redcedar, Juniperus virginiana, stimulate oviposition in the ladybird Coleomegilla maculata. We also tested the prediction that several bioflavonoids, identified in heartwood fractions, elicited this behavioral response. Phenolic compounds were extracted from J. virginiana heartwood sawdust, separated into several fractions, then presented to adult beetles, in a powdered, pure form, in the laboratory. Females preferentially oviposited within 1 to 2 cm of fractions B, C, D, and E, but not A or the unfractionated extract, at the base of test cages. Chemical analysis identified bioflavonoids in heartwood fractions and subsequent bioassays using several identified in fractions C, D, and E confirmed that quercetin, taxifolin, and naringenin (to a lesser extent) stimulated oviposition. All tested fractions and bioflavonoids readily adhered to the chorion of freshly laid eggs but did not reduce egg hatch. This study demonstrates that several bioflavonoids stimulate oviposition by C. maculata and could be useful for mass rearing programs.
Digital commoning and its challenges
Authors: Reijers Wessel , Ossewaarde Marinus
Published: March 2018

This article is a reply to Kostakis’ paper ‘In Defense of Digital Commoning’. It welcomes the criticisms raised by Kostakis against our initial account of the Illusion of the Digital Commons. We argue that we can largely defend our initial account by (1) justifying our choice for discussing ‘hybrid’ forms of digital commoning, (2) explaining the strategy of our approach, and (3) offering an additional critique of the digital platform as a basis for political action.
The fiscally moderate Italian populist voter: Evidence from a survey experiment
Authors: Franchino Fabio , Negri Fedra
Published: March 2018

Do economic policy preferences distinguish populist voters from mainstream ones? We compare the preference profile of the voters of the Five Star Movement (M5S), one of the most successful southern European populist parties, with the profile of voters of other parties at both the 2013 national and the 2014 European Parliament elections by means of a conjoint analysis experiment on economic policy programs. Despite economic insecurity and recent recessions being key drivers of populist voting, we provide evidence that M5S supporters are fiscally moderate: they are happy with the current size of government and oppose more spending. Their Euroscepticism, shared with right-wing voters and representing a new domestic divide, takes the form of a lukewarm support for the euro, which they would readily ditch if it were to improve economic performance.
The discerning voter: Party–voter linkages and local distribution under multilevel governance
Authors: Schneider Mark
Published: March 2018

What shapes voters’ expectations of receiving private benefits and local public goods in developing world democracies? Models of instrumental voting suggest that voters’ expectations are shaped by co-partisanship; however, this work does not consider the calculations that voters make in multilevel systems where different types of goods are allocated by different tiers of government. In this article, I argue that voters condition their expectations of private benefits on co-partisan ties with the local leader, but only do so with respect to local public goods when the local leader is aligned with the state government that controls the allocation of pork barrel spending. I test my argument with a vignette experiment conducted in rural India that randomly assigns the partisan affiliation of real village politicians and find empirical support for the argument. I also find suggestive evidence of strategic voting in local elections towards leaders aligned with the ruling party.
Luxurious or economical? An identification of tourists’ preferred hotel attributes using best–worst scaling (BWS)
Authors: Kim Bona , Kim Seongseop (Sam) , King Brian , Heo Cindy Yoonjoung
Published: March 2018

This article explores consumer tendencies to opt for luxury or economy hotels by identifying their most and least important selection attributes. The researchers investigate how sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics influence traveler assessments of hotel attributes. In explaining consumer hotel selection preferences, the researchers used an unconditional method—best–worst scaling (BWS). Based on an analysis of responses from 397 luxury hotel customers and 351 economy hotel customers in the United States, it was found that the two groups perceive hotel attributes differently. Differentials were also identified on the basis of gender, income, and frequency of purchase. While acknowledging that the task is complex, there is an urgent need to identify the factors influencing hotel selection, because hoteliers need to attract new markets and also balance this by retaining existing patrons. The findings extend existing literature by applying BWS to the identification of hotel selection attributes.
Terms and conditions apply: Fine print and the selling of tourism
Authors: Weaver Adam
Published: March 2018

The commodification of tourism includes the production and dissemination of words and images used to sell experiences. Tourism marketers use highly visible assurances that the experiences available are pleasurable, safe and convenient. These assurances are projected into a promotion-oriented front region. However, fine print terms and conditions – the rules that define the rights and obligations of tourism providers and consumers – occupy a back region that, in part, runs counter to the impressions fostered in the front region. Tourism marketing, it is argued, involves two mutually supportive domains that drive the sale of tourism: conspicuous (front region) words and images as well as inconspicuous (back region) fine print. A more comprehensive conceptualization of tourism marketing should consider the functions performed by the fine print. The four Ps typically associated with the marketing mix – product, price, promotion and place – are used for the purpose of organizing the analysis of the complexly crafted small type that is often hidden in plain sight but sometimes receives highly publicized scrutiny within a media-generated front region. Fine print terms and conditions (whether successfully obfuscated or the subject of a media expose) are responsible for creating a ‘stipulation surplus’, money earned or saved via the imposition of restrictions. The marketing of tourism involves the making of front region promises tempered by the imposition of back region parameters.
Imaginability of adoption, foster care, and life without a(nother) child and stress in women and men in fertility treatment
Authors: Passet-Wittig Jasmin , Schneider Norbert F
Published: March 2018

We study whether the imaginability of adoption, foster care, and life without a(nother) child protects from stress during fertility treatment. Data from a self-administered prospective cohort study of couples who had just started treatment were used (T1 = 441 respondents; T2 = 142 respondents). Most respondents cannot imagine alternatives to treatment. Adoption/foster care is preferred over life without children. Imaginability of alternatives is associated with lower fertility-related (T1) and treatment-related stress (T2). Experience of a pregnancy/birth does not moderate the association. Thus, the availability of alternatives to treatment turns out to be helpful in terms of self-regulation during fertility treatment.
The outcome of two-step blood pressure screening in dental healthcare
Authors: Andersson Helen , Hedström Lennart , Bergman Stefan , Bergh Håkan
Published: March 2018

Aim:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a two-step screening method for hypertension in dentistry regarding the number needed to screen (NNS) and positive predictive value (PPV) and to risk-classify those with newly diagnosed hypertension.

Methods:

In connection with their regular dental care check-up, 2025 subjects aged 40–75 years were screened for high blood pressure. Via a health questionnaire, data were collected concerning risk factors. Blood pressure was screened comprehensively in two steps, which included screening in a dental clinic and home measurements for one week. Recently discovered hypertensive participants were assessed for 10-year risk of cardiovascular mortality according to the guidelines of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

Results:

A total of 170 new hypertensive participants were found (NNS = 12; 95% confidence interval (CI): 11–13). The method yielded a PPV of 0.73 (95% CI: 0.68–0.78) and eliminated 84.8% of the false-positive participants. The results also showed that based on ESH/ESC risk estimation, 76.5% of those newly diagnosed hypertensive participants had a moderate or high risk of cardiovascular mortality within 10 years.

Conclusions:

The study shows that a two-step method for blood pressure screening in a dental setting including home measurement resulted in a high PPV and eliminated most of those with a false high blood pressure reading. The findings also show that two-step screening for hypertension is feasible in a larger population with more screening providers involved.
The legacy of Zygmunt Bauman
Authors: Beilharz Peter
Published: March 2018

The death of Zygmunt Bauman has called out various obituaries and responses. These often reflect the literature already existing on Bauman; some admiring, some puzzled, some begrudging. The sociological community seems divided between wanting to claim him as someone who helped keep us on the map or on social media, and pushing him away, as popularizer, journalist, or even charlatan. This article looks to interpreting this puzzle by way of assessing his legacy. It suggests that there is a logic or pattern to his works, in which signs of the times such as love, individualization, work or refugees are analysed symptomatically, in light of the overarching theory of liquid modernity.
The researcher-initiated autobiography’s work as an actant in producing knowledge about the social
Authors: Hanssen Jorid Krane
Published: March 2018

This article addresses how a researcher-initiated autobiography’s work as an actant may offer illuminating insights into how we as humans and nonhumans are associated in networks. The aim is to discuss how the effects of these associations produce knowledge about the social. With inspiration from actor-network theory and by using an example of a researcher-initiated autobiography from the study ‘The Daughters and Sons of Rainbow Families’, the discussion firstly concentrates on how associations between the autobiography and the researcher may produce emotional effects. Secondly, the discussion focuses on how a researcher-initiated autobiography works as an actant ‘in itself’. This indicates the necessity to trace associations between the written events (actants) in the text, and discuss their effects. As an example, the article addresses how associations between written events concerning family members, produce knowledge about the relations between the members.
Differences Between Moderate to Severely Cognitively Impaired Fallers Versus Nonfallers in Nursing Homes
Authors: Galik Elizabeth , Holmes Sarah , Resnick Barbara
Published: March 2018

Introduction:

The purpose of this study was to test differences in psychotropic medication, function, physical activity, agitation, resistiveness to care, comorbidities, and depression among moderate to severely cognitively impaired nursing home residents who were fallers versus nonfallers.

Methods:

This was a secondary data analysis using baseline data from a randomized controlled trial testing the Function and Behavior Focused Care intervention across 12 nursing homes. The sample included 336 older adults, the majority of whom were female and white.

Results:

There was a significant difference in the total number of comorbidities, agitation, the total number of psychotropic medications, depressive symptoms, and physical activity between those who fell and those who did not fall (Pillai-Bartlett trace = 4.91; P < .001).

Discussion:

Findings support prior work except with regard to medication use, cognition, and function. Due to inconsistent findings, additional research is recommended particularly with regard to the use of specific drug groups and medications.
Careflow Mining Techniques to Explore Type 2 Diabetes Evolution
Authors: Dagliati Arianna , Tibollo Valentina , Cogni Giulia , Chiovato Luca , Bellazzi Riccardo , Sacchi Lucia
Published: March 2018

In this work we describe the application of a careflow mining algorithm to detect the most frequent patterns of care in a type 2 diabetes patients cohort. The applied method enriches the detected patterns with clinical data to define temporal phenotypes across the studied population. Novel phenotypes are discovered from heterogeneous data of 424 Italian patients, and compared in terms of metabolic control and complications. Results show that careflow mining can help to summarize the complex evolution of the disease into meaningful patterns, which are also significant from a clinical point of view.
Automatic Adaptation of Basal Insulin Using Sensor-Augmented Pump Therapy
Authors: Herrero Pau , Bondia Jorge , Giménez Marga , Oliver Nick , Georgiou Pantelis
Published: March 2018

Background:

People with insulin-dependent diabetes rely on an intensified insulin regimen. Despite several guidelines, they are usually impractical and fall short in achieving optimal glycemic outcomes. In this work, a novel technique for automatic adaptation of the basal insulin profile of people with diabetes on sensor-augmented pump therapy is presented.

Methods:

The presented technique is based on a run-to-run control law that overcomes some of the limitations of previously proposed methods. To prove its validity, an in silico validation was performed. Finally, the artificial intelligence technique of case-based reasoning is proposed as a potential solution to deal with variability in basal insulin requirements.

Results:

Over a period of 4 months, the proposed run-to-run control law successfully adapts the basal insulin profile of a virtual population (10 adults, 10 adolescents, and 10 children). In particular, average percentage time in target [70, 180] mg/dl was significantly improved over the evaluated period (first week versus last week): 70.9 ± 11.8 versus 91.1 ± 4.4 (adults), 46.5 ± 11.9 versus 80.1 ± 10.9 (adolescents), 49.4 ± 12.9 versus 73.7 ± 4.1 (children). Average percentage time in hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dl) was also significantly reduced: 9.7 ± 6.6 versus 0.9 ± 1.2 (adults), 10.5 ± 8.3 versus 0.83 ± 1.0 (adolescents), 10.9 ± 6.1 versus 3.2 ± 3.5 (children). When compared against an existing technique over the whole evaluated period, the presented approach achieved superior results on percentage of time in hypoglycemia: 3.9 ± 2.6 versus 2.6 ± 2.2 (adults), 2.9 ± 1.9 versus 2.0 ± 1.5 (adolescents), 4.6 ± 2.8 versus 3.5 ± 2.0 (children), without increasing the percentage time in hyperglycemia.

Conclusion:

The present study shows the potential of a novel technique to effectively adjust the basal insulin profile of a type 1 diabetes population on sensor-augmented insulin pump therapy.
Better regulation and the social acquis
Authors: Laulom Sylvaine
Published: March 2018

The aim of this paper is to focus on a specific part of the Better Regulation procedures: the Regulatory Fitness and Performance programme (REFIT). Within the Better Regulation process, the REFIT programme is, more specifically, focussed on evaluating existing legislation. The REFIT programme began in 2010 when the European Commission announced that it would be reviewing EU legislation in selected policy fields through ‘fitness checks’ in order to keep current regulation ‘fit for purpose’. This included identifying ‘excessive regulatory burdens, overlaps, gaps, inconsistencies and/or obsolete measures which may have appeared over time. Pilot exercises began in 2010 in four areas: employment and social policy, environment, transport and industrial policy.’ In employment and social policy, the fitness check exercise was launched in the area of informing and consulting workers on the national level, with the evaluation of three Directives. The Commission then included Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) in the REFIT Programme. The third area evaluated was the Written Statement Directive. The paper analyses the REFIT as applied to the social field, through an evaluation of the REFIT Programme in the three areas where fitness checks have already been carried out. Our main conclusion is that the REFIT Programme has certainly legitimised the European Commission’s lack of action and has fulfilled its social agenda. However, at the end of the evaluation programmes, the REFIT has not yet led to deregulation. On the contrary, some gaps have been identified which have led the Commission to begin a legislative review process.
High-frequency spinal cord stimulation causing cardiac paresthesias after lead migration: a case report
Authors: Majmundar Neil , Spinazzi Eleonora Francesca , Doran Joseph , Mammis Antonios
Published: March 2018

Introduction:

High-frequency (HF) spinal cord stimulation (SCS), a relatively new form of spinal cord stimulation, provides stimulation frequencies of up to 10 kHz and allows for paresthesia-free pain relief, an advantage that distinguishes it from traditional stimulation therapy. Without paresthesias, patients with HF SCS do not experience position-dependent painful stimulation and do not have to experience treatment interruption during sleep. Lead migration is a well-known complication of conventional spinal cord stimulation and usually results in a loss of efficacy along with other unpleasant sensory symptoms. In this case report, we present an incidence of lead migration in HF SCS that resulted in paresthesias, a symptom not expected to occur in this novel therapy.

Case:

The patient, a 60-year-old female with post-laminectomy syndrome, underwent a trial of HF SCS with standard lead placement at T8-T9. She initially had pain relief, but returned to the office on post-operative day 2 complaining of left chest wall and cardiac paresthesias, without frank pain or palpitations, in addition to loss of efficacy for her back and leg pain. Imaging showed that the leads had migrated, with one lead reaching the levels of T1-T3.

Conclusion:

While HF SCS has emerged as an effective paresthesia-free means of reducing back and leg pain, we provide the first report of paresthesias occurring with the HF SCS system as a result of cephalad lead migration. As HF SCS is only now being utilized as a treatment modality, we must remain cautious of potential adverse outcomes in patients, in particular above T8.