bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Who Gets Covered? Ideological Extremity and News Coverage of Members of the U.S. Congress, 1993 to 2013
Authors: Wagner Michael W. , Gruszczynski Mike
Published: April 2017

Does the news media cover ideological extremists more than moderates? We combine a measure of members of Congress’ ideological extremity with a content analysis of how often lawmakers appear in the New York Times from the 103rd to the 112th Congresses and on CBS and NBC’s evening newscasts in the 112th Congress. We show that ideological extremity is positively related to political news coverage for members of the House of Representatives. Generally, ideological extremity is not related to the likelihood of coverage for senators. Finally, we show that extreme Republicans are more likely to earn media attention than extreme Democrats.
Factors Associated With Staff Engagement in Patients’ Tobacco Treatment in a State Psychiatric Facility
Authors: Okoli Chizimuzo T. C. , Otachi Janet K. , Kaewbua Sooksai , Woods Marc , Robertson Heather
Published: April 2017

BACKGROUND: Persons with mental illnesses (MI) who use tobacco are likely to experience poorer physical health and worsened psychiatric symptomology as compared to their non–tobacco-using counterparts. Therefore, engaging them in treatment is an important aspect of evidence-based care. OBJECTIVE: To use the theory of planned behavior to examine factors associated with intentions to provide and the provision of evidence-based tobacco treatment. DESIGN: This study is based on a cross-sectional analysis of survey data from 195 staff at a state psychiatric hospital. Results: When controlling for demographic variables, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control toward providing tobacco treatment were associated with intentions to provide tobacco treatment, but only subjective norms and perceived behavioral control were associated with reported provision of evidence-based tobacco treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding factors that influence provider delivery of tobacco treatment can better determine strategies to reduce the disproportionate tobacco use and related illnesses in behavioral health settings.
Applying User-Centered Design to Develop an Audit and Feedback Intervention for the Home Care Sector
Authors: Colquhoun Heather L. , Sattler Deborah , Chan Christine , Walji Taheera , Palumbo Rachel , Chalmers Ian , Jokhio Iffat , Ivers Noah M.
Published: April 2017

The objective of this study was to optimize a planned audit and feedback (A&F) intervention for home and community care through incorporating user-centered design principles. Phase 1 comprised the development of a paper prototype, followed by testing of the prototype using semistructured interviews and focus groups. Phase 2 involved the development of a revised and online prototype based on the results of Phase 1, followed by user testing. A total of 39 participants across Phase 1 ( n = 33) and Phase 2 ( n = 6) provided input into the design of the A&F intervention. Key changes included improving clarity of the variables, reducing cognitive load, and highlighting opportunities for action. Preliminary findings suggest potential usefulness in this approach to optimize home care management.
Secondary paroxysmal dyskinesia in multiple sclerosis: Clinical–radiological features and treatment. Case report of seven patients
Authors: Ciampi Ethel , Uribe-San-Martín Reinaldo , Godoy-Santín Jaime , Cruz Juan Pablo , Cárcamo-Rodríguez Claudia , Juri Carlos
Published: April 2017

Secondary paroxysmal dyskinesias (SPDs) are short, episodic, and recurrent movement disorders, classically related to multiple sclerosis (MS). Carbamazepine is effective, but with risk of adverse reactions. We identified 7 patients with SPD among 457 MS patients (1.53%). SPD occurred in face ( n = 1), leg ( n = 2), or arm +leg ( n = 4) several times during the day. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed new or enhancing lesions in thalamus ( n = 1), mesencephalic tegmentum ( n = 1), and cerebellar peduncles ( n = 5). Patients were treated with clonazepam and then acetazolamide ( n = 1), acetazolamide ( n = 5), or levetiracetam ( n = 1) with response within hours (acetazolamide) to days (levetiracetam). No recurrences or adverse events were reported after a median follow-up of 33 months.
Age of diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in Latino children: The case of Venezuelan children
Authors: Montiel-Nava Cecilia , Chacín José A , González-Ávila Zoila
Published: April 2017

Latino children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder later in life, usually with more severe symptoms, and lower IQs, compared with non-Latino children. Possible reasons for such disparities could be due to lower levels of parent education, lower socioeconomic status, limited knowledge of parents about autism spectrum disorder, and diminished health-care knowledge. The goal of the study was to describe the age of parental concerns and at first autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, and factors associated with age at the first diagnosis in a sample of Venezuelan children. Diagnostic and demographic data were collected from 103 children between 2 and 7 years of age. Although the mean age of first concerns was 17 months, the age of diagnosis varied from 53.03 months for the Pervasive Developmental Disorders–Not Otherwise specified group to 54.38 months for the autism group. Although parents were aware of developmental difficulties before the second year of life, their children were diagnosed 36 months later. In Latin cultures, behavior problems are usually attributed to poor parenting skills, so parents might take longer to seek professional help. A better understanding of cultural influences on age of diagnosis will translate to quicker use of services independent of ethnicity.
Mass fainting in garment factories in Cambodia
Authors: Eisenbruch Maurice
Published: April 2017

This paper reports an ethnographic study of mass fainting among garment factory workers in Cambodia. Research was undertaken in 2010–2015 in 48 factories in Phnom Penh and 8 provinces. Data were collected in Khmer using nonprobability sampling. In participant observation with monks, factory managers, health workers, and affected women, cultural understandings were explored. One or more episodes of mass fainting occurred at 34 factories, of which 9 were triggered by spirit possession. Informants viewed the causes in the domains of ill-health/toxins and supernatural activities. These included “haunting” ghosts at factory sites in the wake of Khmer Rouge atrocities or recent fatal accidents and retaliating guardian spirits at sites violated by foreign owners. Prefigurative dreams, industrial accidents, or possession of a coworker heralded the episodes. Workers witnessing a coworker fainting felt afraid and fainted. When taken to clinics, some showed signs of continued spirit influence. Afterwards, monks performed ritual ceremonies to appease spirits, extinguish bonds with ghosts, and prevent recurrence. Decoded through its cultural motifs of fear and protest, contagion, forebodings, the bloody Khmer Rouge legacy, and trespass, mass fainting in Cambodia becomes less enigmatic.
Modal parameter identification of a long-span footbridge by forced vibration experiments
Authors: Wen Q , Hua XG , Chen ZQ , Guo JM , Niu HW
Published: April 2017

Performing forced vibration tests on full-scale structures is the most reliable way of determining the relevant modal parameters in structural dynamics, such as modal frequencies, mode shapes, modal damping, and modal masses. This study describes the modal identification of a double-level curved cable-stayed bridge with separate deck systems for pedestrians and vehicles via forced vibration tests. The steady-state structural responses to sinusoidal excitations produced by an electrodynamic shaker are recorded under varying excitation frequencies, and the frequency response functions are established. The measured frequency response functions are curve fitted to estimate the modal parameters. The numerical simulation of frequency response function–based modal parameter identification of an elastically multi-supported continuous beam structure is carried out, and the emphasis has been placed on the evaluation of the effect of an additional shaker mass, excitation frequency step and range, multi-mode vibration, and noise on identification results. Finally, the modal parameters for the first lateral mode of a double-level curved cable-stayed bridge are identified by forced vibration experiments, and the results are compared with those from ambient vibration tests and free vibration tests. The effect of the unmeasured wind excitation on identification is discussed. It is shown that the effect of ambient vibration is minor for wind velocity of 3–5 m/s. The damping ratios identified by forced and free vibration tests are comparable, while those from ambient vibration are subject to large variations. The modal mass obtained from forced vibration tests is in good agreement with finite element prediction, which provides design basis for mass-type dampers.
Engaging stigmatized communities through solutions journalism: Residents of South Los Angeles respond
Authors: Wenzel Andrea , Gerson Daniela , Moreno Evelyn , Son Minhee , Morrison Hawkins Breanna
Published: April 2017

In many communities across the United States, substantive local news is a rare commodity. For areas long stigmatized and associated with high levels of violence, crime, and poverty, negative reporting may be the only local news available. Drawing from communication infrastructure theory and literature on local news audiences and civic journalism, this study explores how a local solutions journalism project is received by members of an underrepresented and stigmatized community. Solutions journalism stories focus on responses to social problems, usually exploring problem-solving efforts that have the potential to be scaled. This case examines how participants in six focus groups with 48 African-American and Latino South Los Angeles residents responded to solutions-oriented stories produced by a local media project. Study findings illustrate how residents navigate and critically interpret local media coverage, and how their response to ‘solutions journalism’ is largely positive but tempered by concerns regarding structural inequalities.
The Immunity Community: A Community Engagement Strategy for Reducing Vaccine Hesitancy
Authors: Schoeppe Jennie , Cheadle Allen , Melton Mackenzie , Faubion Todd , Miller Creagh , Matthys Juno , Hsu Clarissa
Published: April 2017

Parental concerns about vaccine safety have grown in the United States and abroad, resulting in delayed or skipped immunizations (often called “vaccine hesitancy”). To address vaccine hesitancy in Washington State, a public–private partnership of health organizations implemented and evaluated a 3-year community intervention, called the “Immunity Community.” The intervention mobilized parents who value immunization and provided them with tools to engage in positive dialogue about immunizations in their communities. The evaluation used qualitative and quantitative methods, including focus groups, interviews, and pre and post online surveys of parents, to assess perceptions about and reactions to the intervention, assess facilitators and barriers to success, and track outcomes including parental knowledge and attitudes. The program successfully engaged parent volunteers to be immunization advocates. Surveys of parents in the intervention communities showed statistically significant improvements in vaccine-related attitudes: The percentage concerned about other parents not vaccinating their children increased from 81.2% to 88.6%, and the percentage reporting themselves as “vaccine-hesitant” decreased from 22.6% to 14.0%. There were not statistically significant changes in parental behaviors. This study demonstrates the promise of using parent advocates as part of a community-based approach to reduce vaccine hesitancy.
The Effect of Transplant Education on Nurses Attitudes Toward Organ Donation and Advocacy for Transplantation
Authors: Hoy Haley , Alexander Susan , Frith Karen H. , Ng Yeow Chye
Published: April 2017

Nurses are the largest group of health-care professionals, yet they are not uniformly educated regarding transplantation and organ donation. The future of transplantation hinges on education of this group. Before meaningful studies can be conducted, an instrument to measure attitudes and commitment to organ transplantation is needed. The purpose of this study was to examine content and construct validity as well as establish internal reliability of an investigator-developed online instrument to measure nurses’ attitudes and commitment to organ transplantation by registered nurses. The online instrument was administered to registered nurses enrolled in transplantation electives at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Vanderbilt University. Exploratory factor analysis revealed 4 components with eigenvalues over 1.0. The components were as follows: (1) desire to work in transplantation, (2) confidence in transplantation advocacy, (3) organ donation advocacy, and (4) procurement. Internal consistency of the revised instrument was established (α = .94). The Transplant-Registered Nurse (TXP-RN) instrument is a new instrument with excellent reliability and validity that can be used to measure attitudes and knowledge of American nurses about organ donation and transplantation. This important step is necessary before educational interventions can be accurately assessed.
A proactive multi-level cache selection scheme to enhance consumer mobility support in Named Data Networking
Authors: Rui Lanlan , Yang Suijia , Huang Haoqiu
Published: April 2017

Resending Interest packets to support consumer mobility in Named Data Networking usually leads to latency, which can severely affect the performance of applications with strict latency requirements. We propose a proactive multi-level cache selection scheme to enhance the consumer mobility support in Named Data Networking. This scheme focuses on a handover situation, wherein the consumer disconnects from a network or moves to another access router before receiving the requested content. The proactive multi-level cache selection is designed to prefetch contents into a subset of the neighboring routers, to achieve a trade-off between the latency and cache cost. In particular, this approach is feasible for a two-level router structure and scalable to a multi-level structure. The results obtained from simulation show that compared with equivalent schemes such as the original no-prefetch scheme in the Named Data Networking and the all-prefetch scheme, proactive multi-level cache selection for a two-level router structure can provide a better handover performance to some extent; the user experience is improved and the negative impacts of consumer mobility are alleviated.
The Role of Dietary and Lifestyle Factors in Maintaining Cognitive Health
Authors: Marchand Nathalie E. , Jensen Majken K.
Published: April 2017

Concern over loss of cognitive function, including descent into Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, grips a growing percentage of men and women worldwide as the global population ages. Many studies, though not all, suggest that maintaining cognitive health, as well as slowing and even preventing cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease, can be achieved by consuming healthy diets over a long enough period of time. This appears to be the case even for those who initiated dietary changes later in life, as evidenced by an intervention study assessing consumption of a healthy diet among those who were >50 years of age. All such diets share the common traits of being rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish or seafood, while also being low in red meat and sweets. A Mediterranean-style diet shares these characteristics and has been associated with an estimated 40% lower risk of cognitive impairment, including mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease in prospective studies, in addition to being associated with both a 65% lower risk of mild cognitive impairment and improved cognitive performance in a notable randomized controlled trial.
Preoperative risk factors for aneurysm sac expansion caused by type 2 endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair
Authors: Morisaki Koichi , Yamaoka Terutoshi , Iwasa Kazuomi , Ohmine Takahiro , Guntani Atsushi
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The objective of this study was to investigate the preoperatively definable risk factors which predict the aneurysm sac expansion caused by persistent type 2 endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair.

Methods

Between 2008 and 2014, retrospective analysis was performed to examine the predictive risk factors for aneurysm sac enlargement caused by persistent type 2 endoleak, which was defined as a continuous endoleak present for more than six months. Aneurysm sac expansion was diagnosed if the maximum transverse diameter increased by 5 mm or more compared with the preoperative measurement.

Results

During the study period, endovascular aneurysm repair was performed in 211 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and common iliac artery aneurysm. Sac enlargement for type 2 endoleaks was observed in 20 patients (9.5%). The presence of more than five patent lumbar arteries flowing into aneurysm sac in the preoperative computed tomography (hazard ratio, 3.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.24–10.8; p = 0.017) was a predictive factor for sac expansion caused by persistent type 2 endoleak on Cox regression analysis. The presence of a patent inferior mesenteric artery was not associated with the sac expansion caused by persistent type 2 endoleak.

Conclusions

The presence of more than five lumbar arteries flowing into the aneurysm sac was a preoperative risk factor for sac expansion caused by persistent type 2 endoleak.
Towards the development of a soft manipulator as an assistive robot for personal care of elderly people
Authors: Ansari Yasmin , Manti Mariangela , Falotico Egidio , Mollard Yoan , Cianchetti Matteo , Laschi Cecilia
Published: April 2017

Manipulators based on soft robotic technologies exhibit compliance and dexterity which ensures safe human–robot interaction. This article is a novel attempt at exploiting these desirable properties to develop a manipulator for an assistive application, in particular, a shower arm to assist the elderly in the bathing task. The overall vision for the soft manipulator is to concatenate three modules in a serial manner such that (i) the proximal segment is made up of cable-based actuation to compensate for gravitational effects and (ii) the central and distal segments are made up of hybrid actuation to autonomously reach delicate body parts to perform the main tasks related to bathing. The role of the latter modules is crucial to the application of the system in the bathing task; however, it is a nontrivial challenge to develop a robust and controllable hybrid actuated system with advanced manipulation capabilities and hence, the focus of this article. We first introduce our design and experimentally characterize its functionalities, which include elongation, shortening, omnidirectional bending. Next, we propose a control concept capable of solving the inverse kinetics problem using multiagent reinforcement learning to exploit these functionalities despite high dimensionality and redundancy. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the design and control of this module by demonstrating an open-loop task space control where it successfully moves through an asymmetric 3-D trajectory sampled at 12 points with an average reaching accuracy of 0.79 cm ± 0.18 cm. Our quantitative experimental results present a promising step toward the development of the soft manipulator eventually contributing to the advancement of soft robotics.
The search for common ground in conflict news research: Comparing the coverage of six current conflicts in domestic and international media over time
Authors: Baden Christian , Tenenboim-Weinblatt Keren
Published: April 2017

In its search for media influences in violent conflict, most existing scholarship has investigated the coverage of specific, salient conflict events. Media have been shown to focus on violence, sidelining concerns of reconciliation and disengaging rapidly as time proceeds. Studies have documented ethnocentric bias and self-reinforcing media hypes, which have been linked to escalation and radicalization. However, based on the existing studies, it remains hard to gauge if the unearthed patterns of media coverage are generally pervasive or limited to a few salient moments, specific conflicts or contexts. Likewise, we cannot say if different kinds of media apply similar styles of conflict coverage, or if their coverage is subject to specific contextual or outlet-specific factors. In this article, the authors compare the contents of both domestic and foreign opinion-leading media coverage across six selected conflicts over a time range of 4 to 10 years. They conduct a diachronic, comparative analysis of 3,700 semantic concepts raised in almost 900,000 news texts from 66 different news media. Based on this analysis, they trace when and to what extent each outlet focuses its attention on the conflict, highlights specific aspects (notably, violence and suffering, negotiations and peaceful solutions), and presents relevant in- and out-groups, applying different kinds of evaluation. The analysis generally corroborates the media’s tendency to cover conflict in an event-oriented, violence-focused and ethnocentric manner, both during routine periods and – exacerbated merely by degrees – during major escalation. At the same time, the analysis highlights important differences in the strength and appearance of these patterns, and points to recurrent contingencies that can be tied to the specific contextual factors and general journalistic logics shaping the coverage.
Validation of a three-dimensional finite element model of flex-pole impacts
Authors: Schindelwig Kurt , Ellensohn Stephan , Kaps Peter , Nachbauer Werner
Published: April 2017

Slalom skiers hit flex poles whereby an impulse is transferred from the skier to the flex pole. Each such impact leads to a speed reduction of the skier, which is clearly greater for relatively lighter skiers than it is for relatively heavier skiers. Additionally, there is an injury risk for the skier caused by the impact and the risk for breakage of the flex pole. For a detailed analysis of causes and consequences of this impact, three-dimensional finite element models were developed for flex poles and a pendulum impactor. The finite element models were validated by comparing data of experiments with the pendulum impactor and simulations. The comparisons included flex-pole motion, flex-pole speed, whiplash measure, pendulum impulse loss and cross-sectional deformed oval shapes. The differences of the comparisons were less than 3% for the first four parameters. The comparison of the cross-sectional deformed oval shapes’ behavior agreed well. With the new validated finite element model, the influence of factors such as flex-pole diameter, wall thickness, length and material properties on the transferred impulse and the mechanical loadability of the flex pole can be systematically analyzed. With this knowledge, specifications for flex poles can be adapted to improve fairness at slalom races and reduce the injury risk and the danger of damaging the upright pole.
Strategies to minimize readmission rates following major urologic surgery
Authors: Baack Kukreja Janet , Kamat Ashish M.
Published: April 2017

Readmissions after major surgical procedures are prevalent across multiple disciplines. Specifically, in urology, with incorporation of early discharge and recovery pathways, readmissions are emerging as an important problem and effecting an epidemic proportion of urology patients. As expected, readmissions have garnered the attention of major healthcare payers in the United States who see readmissions as easy targets because of the association with astronomical costs. More importantly, readmissions have a significant negative impact on patient sense of wellbeing, and places economic and other hardships on the doors of our patients and their families. Here, we explore the reasons patients are readmitted, using radical cystectomy as a case study, and means to decrease the incidence of readmissions. Since time to readmission for most major urologic oncology surgeries is within the first 2 weeks after discharge, this time frame is critical for efforts to improve symptom identification and reduce the total number and severity of readmissions. Readmission reduction to zero is unlikely for any major surgery, but with effective coordinated strategies, we must strive to reduce the rates as much as possible, as a means to improve the care continuum for our patients.
Comparison of Fixation Techniques of 3D-Woven Poly(ϵ-Caprolactone) Scaffolds for Cartilage Repair in a Weightbearing Porcine Large Animal Model
Authors: Friedman James M. , Sennett Mackenzie L. , Bonadio Marcelo B. , Orji Kerry O. , Neuwirth Alexander L. , Keah Niobra , Carey James L. , Moutos Franklin T. , Estes Bradley T. , Guilak Farshid , Madry Henning , Mauck Robert L. , Dodge George R.
Published: April 2017

Objective

To test different fixation methods of a 3-dimensionally woven poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffold within chondral defects of a weightbearing large animal model.

Methods

Full thickness chondral defects were made in the femoral condyles of 15 adult male Yucatan mini-pigs. Two surgical approaches were compared including total arthrotomy (traditional) and a retinaculum-sparing, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) approach. Following microfracture (MFX), scaffolds were placed without fixation or were fixed with fibrin glue, suture, or subchondral anchor. Experimental endpoints were between 1 and 6 weeks. Micro–computed tomography and histology were used to assess samples.

Results

The MIS approach was superior as the traditional approach caused medial condyle cartilage wear. One of 13 (7.7%) of scaffolds without fixation, 4 of 11 (36.3%) fibrin scaffolds, 1 of 4 (25%) of sutured scaffolds, and 9 of 9 (100%) of anchor-fixed scaffolds remained in place. Histology demonstrated tissue filling with some overgrowth of PCL scaffolds.

Conclusions

Of the methods tested, the MIS approach coupled with subchondral anchor fixation provided the best scaffold retention in a mini-pig chondral defect model. This finding has implications for fixation strategies in future animal studies and potential future human use.
Controlling Abnormal Joint Movement Inhibits Response of Osteophyte Formation
Authors: Murata Kenji , Kokubun Takanori , Morishita Yuri , Onitsuka Katsuya , Fujiwara Shuhei , Nakajima Aya , Fujino Tsutomu , Takayanagi Kiyomi , Kanemura Naohiko
Published: April 2017

Objective

Osteoarthritis (OA) is induced by accumulated mechanical stress to joints; however, little has been reported regarding the cause among detailed mechanical stress on cartilage degeneration. This study investigated the influence of the control of abnormal joint movement induced by anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in the articular cartilage.

Design

The animals were divided into 3 experimental groups: CAJM group ( n = 22: controlling abnormal joint movement), ACL-T group ( n = 22: ACL transection or knee anterior instability increased), and INTACT group ( n = 12: no surgery). After 2 and 4 weeks, the knees were harvested for digital microscopic observation, soft X-ray analysis, histological analysis, and synovial membrane molecular evaluation.

Results

The 4-week OARSI scores showed that cartilage degeneration was significantly inhibited in the CAJM group as compared with the ACL-T group ( P < 0.001). At 4 weeks, the osteophyte formation had also significantly increased in the ACL-T group ( P < 0.001). These results reflected the microscopic scoring and soft X-ray analysis findings at 4 weeks. Real-time synovial membrane polymerase chain reaction analysis for evaluation of the osteophyte formation–associated factors showed that the mRNA expression of BMP-2 and VEGF in the ACL-T group had significantly increased after 2 weeks.

Conclusions

Typically, abnormal mechanical stress induces osteophyte formation; however, our results demonstrated that CAJM group inhibited osteophyte formation. Therefore, controlling abnormal joint movement may be a beneficial precautionary measure for OA progression in the future.
Limited Plasticity of Prismatic Visuomotor Adaptation
Authors: Spang Karoline , Wischhusen Sven , Fahle Manfred
Published: April 2017

Movements toward an object displaced optically through prisms adapt quickly, a striking example for the plasticity of neuronal visuomotor programs. We investigated the degree and time course of this system’s plasticity. Participants performed goal-directed throwing or pointing movements with terminal feedback before, during, and after wearing prism goggles shifting the visual world laterally either to the right or to the left. Prism adaptation was incomplete even after 240 throwing movements, still deviating significantly laterally by on average of 0.8° (CI = 0.20°) at the end of the adaptation period. The remaining lateral deviation was significant for pointing movements only with left shifting prisms. In both tasks, removal of the prisms led to an aftereffect which disappeared in the course of further training. This incomplete prism adaptation may be caused by movement variability combined with an adaptive neuronal control system exhibiting a finite capacity for evaluating movement errors.
Self-evaluation of tobacco exposure by allied health students in a community college setting
Authors: Geiser Fiona , Much Meredith , Beyer Karen
Published: April 2017

Objective:

Tobacco education is among the initiatives encouraged for health professionals to help them appreciate the significance of addressing tobacco use among their patients. In this pilot study, a nicotine biomarker (cotinine) study was introduced to an applied microbiology course required of all allied health students. Participants assessed their own smoking status in the previous 24 h using a two-dimensional experimental design of a questionnaire and rapid urinary cotinine immunoassay. The study goals were >90% participation of the home-administered assay and high correlation of the results to cotinine standards. Allied health students (medical assistants, respiratory therapists, surgical technicians) were selected as the initial test group.

Methods:

The study was initiated 10 months after the college became 100% tobacco free. Participants were initially trained on the use and interpretation of the rapid cotinine test using three cotinine standards (0, 400, and 2000 ng/mL urine). Participants subsequently tested their own first-morning urine sample at home and then answered a questionnaire about their tobacco smoke (and/or nicotine) exposure in the previous 24-h period.

Results:

The cotinine laboratory was offered to a total of 161 students (88% female) over 24 months. Participants who reported no exposure to a nicotine product in any venue made up 55% of the group. Daily smokers made up 17% of the study participants as confirmed by their elevated cotinine levels (greater than 100 ng/mL urine). The remaining participants (28%) either resided with smokers and/or rode in an automobile with an individual smoking in the previous 24 h. Their cotinine levels were moderately elevated in some cases, particularly if they had ridden in a car with a smoker.

Conclusion:

The pilot study met our objectives of >90% participation and high correlation of urinary cotinine levels with questionnaire self-reports.
Marathoning with myotonic dystrophy type 2 (proximal myotonic myopathy) and leukopenia
Authors: Finsterer Josef , Safoschnik Georg , Witsch-Baumgartner Martina
Published: April 2017

Objectives:

A mild, slowly progressive course of proximal myotonic myopathy, also known as myotonic dystrophy type 2, over years allowing the patient to continue with extreme sport activity, has been only rarely reported.

Methods:

Case report.

Results:

The patient is a 54-year-old female sport teacher who developed myotonia of the distal upper limbs at the age of 32 years. Over the following 22 years, myotonia spreaded to the entire musculature. Myotonia did not prevent her from doing her job and from marathoning and improved with continuous exercise. Additionally, she had developed hypothyroidism, ovarial cysts, incipient cataract, motor neuropathy, hepatopathy, leukopenia, and mild hyper-CK-emia. A heterozygous CCTG-repeat expansion of 500–9500 was found in the CNBP/ZNF9 gene. At the age of 54 years, she was still performing sport, without presenting with myotonia on clinical examination or having developed other typical manifestations of proximal myotonic myopathy.

Conclusions:

This case shows that proximal myotonic myopathy may take a mild course over at least 22 years, that proximal myotonic myopathy with mild myotonia may allow a patient to continue strenuous sport activity, and that continuous physical activity may contribute to the mild course of the disease.
Challenges and opportunities in evaluating a digital sexual health intervention in a clinic setting: Staff and patient views
Authors: Bailey JV , Tomlinson N , Hobbs LJ , Webster R
Published: April 2017

Objectives

The aim of the study was to gather the views of sexual health clinic staff and male clinic users regarding digital sexual health promotion and online trial procedures.

Methods

The Men’s Safer Sex website was offered on tablet computers to men in the waiting rooms of three sexual health clinics, in a feasibility online randomised controlled trial (RCT). Interviews were conducted with 11 men who had participated in the trial and with nine clinic staff, to explore their views of the website and views of the online trial. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed, and we conducted a thematic analysis of interviews and of 281 free text comments from the online RCT outcome questionnaires.

Results

Clinic users and staff felt that digital interventions such as the Men’s Safer Sex website are useful, especially if NHS endorsed. Pre-appointment waiting time presents a good opportunity for intervention but clinic users and staff felt that a website should supplement rather than replace face-to-face healthcare. The RCT procedures fitted well around clinical activities, but men did not self-direct to the tablet computers. Staff were more concerned about consent and confidentiality than clinic users, and staff and patients were frustrated by multiple technical problems. The trial outcome questionnaire was thought-provoking and could constitute an intervention in itself. Participants felt that clinics would need to promote a digital intervention and/or offer the site routinely to promote engagement.

Conclusion

Digital interventions could usefully supplement in-person sexual health care, but there are important obstacles in terms of IT access in NHS settings, and in promoting engagement.
In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Thymus vulgaris Essential Oil Against Major Oral Pathogens
Authors: Fani Mohammadmehdi , Kohanteb Jamshid
Published: April 2017

The objective of present investigation was to determine antimicrobial activity of Thymus vulgaris oil on some oral pathogens. Thymus vulgaris oil was prepared by hydrodistillation and tested against 30 clinical isolates of each of Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, prepared from related oral infections using agar disk diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Thymus vulgaris oil at concentrations of 16 to 256 μg/mL exhibited strong inhibitory activity on all clinical isolates producing inhibition zones of 7.5 to 42 mm as measured by agar disk diffusion method. Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus mutans were the most sensitive isolates with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 1.9 and 3.6 μg/mL, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration values for C albicans, A actinomycetemcomitans, and P gingivalis were 16.3, 32, and 32 μg/mL, respectively.
Predicting Risk of Suicide Attempts Over Time Through Machine Learning
Authors: Walsh Colin G. , Ribeiro Jessica D. , Franklin Joseph C.
Published: April 2017

Traditional approaches to the prediction of suicide attempts have limited the accuracy and scale of risk detection for these dangerous behaviors. We sought to overcome these limitations by applying machine learning to electronic health records within a large medical database. Participants were 5,167 adult patients with a claim code for self-injury (i.e., ICD-9, E95x); expert review of records determined that 3,250 patients made a suicide attempt (i.e., cases), and 1,917 patients engaged in self-injury that was nonsuicidal, accidental, or nonverifiable (i.e., controls). We developed machine learning algorithms that accurately predicted future suicide attempts (AUC = 0.84, precision = 0.79, recall = 0.95, Brier score = 0.14). Moreover, accuracy improved from 720 days to 7 days before the suicide attempt, and predictor importance shifted across time. These findings represent a step toward accurate and scalable risk detection and provide insight into how suicide attempt risk shifts over time.
High-Risk Subgroup Membership Is a Predictor of 30-Day Morbidity Following Anterior Lumbar Fusion
Authors: Bronheim Rachel S. , Kim Jun S. , Di Capua John , Lee Nathan J. , Kothari Parth , Somani Sulaiman , Phan Kevin , Cho Samuel K.
Published: April 2017

Study Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Objective:

To determine if membership in a high-risk subgroup is predictive of morbidity and mortality following anterior lumbar fusion (ALF).

Methods:

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was utilized to identify patients undergoing ALF between 2010 and 2014. Multivariate analysis was utilized to identify high-risk subgroup membership as an independent predictor of postoperative complications.

Results:

Members of the elderly (≥65 years) (OR = 1.3, P = .02) and non-Caucasian (black, Hispanic, other) (OR = 1.7, P < .0001) subgroups were at greater risk for a LOS ≥5 days. Obese patients (≥30 kg/m2 ) were at greater risk for an operative time ≥4 hours (OR = 1.3, P = .005), and wound complications (OR = 1.8, P = .024) compared with nonobese patients. Emergent procedures had a significantly increased risk for LOS ≥5 days (OR = 4.9, P = .021), sepsis (OR = 14.8, P = .018), and reoperation (OR = 13.4, P < .0001) compared with nonemergent procedures. Disseminated cancer was an independent risk factor for operative time ≥4 hours (OR = 8.4, P < .0001), LOS ≥5 days (OR = 15.2, P < .0001), pulmonary complications (OR = 7.4, P = .019), and postoperative blood transfusion (OR = 3.1, P = .040).

Conclusions:

High-risk subgroup membership is an independent risk factor for morbidity following ALF. These groups should be targets for aggressive preoperative optimization, and quality improvement initiatives.
A Preliminary Algorithm Using Spine Measurement Software to Predict Sagittal Alignment Following Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy
Authors: Merrill Robert K. , Kim Jun S. , Leven Dante M. , Meaike Joshua J. , Kim Joung Heon , Cho Samuel K.
Published: April 2017

Study Design:

Retrospective case series.

Objective:

To evaluate if spine measurement software can simulate sagittal alignment following pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO).

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed consecutive adult spinal deformity patients who underwent lumbar PSO. Sagittal measurements were performed on preoperative lateral, standing radiographs. Sagittal measurements after simulated PSO were compared to actual postoperative measurements. A regression equation was developed using cases 1-7 to determine the amount of manual rotation required of each film to match the simulated sagittal vertical axis (SVA) to the actual postoperative SVA. The equation was then applied to cases 8-13.

Results:

For all 13 cases, the spine software accurately simulated lumbar lordosis, pelvic incidence lumbar lordosis mismatch, and T1 pelvic angle, with no significant differences between actual and simulated measurements. The pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), thoracolumbar alignment (TL), thoracic kyphosis (TK), T9 spino-pelvic inclination (T9SPi), T1 spino-pelvic inclination (T1SPi), and SVA were inaccurately simulated. The PT, SS, T9SPi, T1SPi, and SVA all change with manual rotation of the film, and by using the regression equation developed with cases 1-7, we were able to improve the accuracy and decrease the variability of the simulated PT, SS, T9SPi, T1SPi, and SVA for cases 8-13.

Conclusions:

Dedicated spine measurement software can accurately simulate certain sagittal measurements, such as LL, PI-LL, and TPA, following PSO. A number of measurements, including PT, SS, TL, TK, T9SPi, T1SPi, and SVA were inaccurately simulated. Our preliminary algorithm improved the accuracy and decreased the variability of certain measurements, but requires future prospective studies for further validation.
Orthoptic Treatment of Convergence Insufficiency in Parkinson’s Disease: A Case Series
Authors: Kergoat Hélène , Law Caroline , Chriqui Estefania , Kergoat Marie-Jeanne , Leclerc Bernard-Simon , Panisset Michel , Postuma Ronald , Irving Elizabeth L.
Published: April 2017

Introduction: This study reports a case series of orthoptic treatment (OT) for convergence insufficiency (CI) in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Method: We are reporting two cases of individuals with PD who completed OT for CI. Both had a confirmed diagnosis of CI, accompanied by CI-type symptomatology. They each underwent an OT program consisting of three office-based visits and 8 weeks of home-based exercises. Treatment outcome was based on the changes measured pre- versus post-OT on the near point of convergence, positive fusional vergences, and symptomatology score. Results: The two participants successfully completed therapy, gained ability to converge, had fewer symptoms, and were satisfied with the OT-induced changes they felt in their day-to-day lives. Conclusion: This case series show that OT for CI in PD is possible. Further research is required as these results demonstrate that OT has the potential to improve symptomatic CI in these patients. In the meantime, the positive results obtained in these two cases should encourage clinicians to consider OT (a therapy with no/minimal risk) for CI in patients with PD whose quality of life is affected by this binocular dysfunction.
The Policing of Anti-government Protests: Thailand’s 2013–2014 Demonstrations and a Crisis of Police Legitimacy
Authors: Sombatpoonsiri Janjira
Published: April 2017

Street interactions between the police and protesters can serve as a barometer of state–society conflict. This article seeks to examine the way in which the police respond to anti-government protests, and how these responses influence the politics of legitimacy at stake. Through the examination of protest policing in Thailand’s decade-long political conflicts, which reached the zenith in 2013–2014, I will show that police responses to these protests were a mixture of three approaches: accommodative, restrictive and hands-off. At least four factors influenced the interplay of these methods: (i) the police’s tactical improvement, which however faces structural challenges; (ii) a history of police politicization; (iii) extreme characteristics of the protests; and (iv) the nature of conflict over governmental legitimacy contributing to public mistrust in the police. The Thai case illustrates that handling anti-government protests necessitates political sensitivity and creativity. Otherwise, the government and especially the police can run the risk of further damaging public trust and institutional legitimacy.
The Legacy of Mary Scranton
Authors: Kwon Andrea
Published: April 2017

Mary Scranton was an American missionary to Korea, the first missionary sent there by the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society (WFMS) of the Methodist Episcopal Church. During her more than two decades of service, Scranton laid the foundations for the WFMS mission in Seoul and helped to establish the wider Protestant missionary endeavor on the Korean peninsula. Her pioneering evangelistic and educational work, including the opening of Korea’s first modern school for girls, reflected Scranton’s commitment to ministering to and with Korean women.
Resource-loaded piping spool fabrication scheduling: material-supply-driven optimization
Authors: Liu Jing , Soleimanifar Meimanat , Lu Ming
Published: April 2017

Background

As offsite prefabrication and modular construction continue to gain momentum into the future, material supply chain becomes increasingly complex for modern construction projects. Pre-engineered material supply presents itself as a driver for planning crew installation operations on site that involve skilled labor and heavy equipment.

Methods

This paper proposes a framework for implementing the material-supply-driven project planning and control optimization approach to deal with material delays that take place at the piping spool fabrication shop. Design drawings, contract deadlines, resources availability and material supply patterns are extracted from a real oil and gas expansion project to validate the proposed implementation methodology.

Results

An interactive Gantt chart with information on activity start time, duration, and allocated resources is generated to visualize the optimization outcome. In connection with the resource-constrained schedule, material supply-demand patterns over project duration are also visualized.

Conclusions

These two forms of visualizations provide insightful decision-making support in coping with material delay while fulfilling project objectives. Ultimately, material-supply driven crew job schedules in correspondence with particular objectives and implementation strategies can be generated, ready to guide project execution.
Unexpected behavior of logging-while-drilling neutron porosity logs in water-wet, sand-shale sequences
Authors: Goodyear Grant , Parker Timothy James , Kok Keng Hung , Kyi Ko Ko , Mansur Hussen , Zaman Salehudin Kamarul
Published: April 2017

When logging through certain water-wet sand-shale sequences offshore Malaysia, the thermal neutron porosity measurement from an 8-in logging-while-drilling (LWD) tool exhibits an apparent lack of dynamic range in its sandstone porosity response. Petrophysicists using these data to determine sandstone-silt-shale points were finding that the shale points fell too near the sandstone line to be usable. An extensive nuclear Monte Carlo modeling campaign was performed to address this issue, which indicated that the tool response, while unexpected, was accurate. Modeling verified that neutron logs can exhibit a poor dynamic range just by happenstance, but an accurate assessment of the shale volume fraction [Formula: see text] should still be feasible. Surprisingly, the shale responses for this LWD tool, a smaller LWD tool, and a wireline tool are quite similar, invalidating a common expectation that LWD tools should be noticeably more epithermal in their response, and thus be less sensitive to absorbers in the clays. Modeling the actual shales, based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses of cuttings, revealed the answer. In the wells with a poor dynamic range in the shale response, the quartz content was very high. Simulating the actual XRD-determined shales reproduced the actual log crossplot very nicely. Points in the shale crossplot fall near the sandstone line because the formations are primarily [Formula: see text], with only a small amount of clay. This result explains the response of the LWD tool.