bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in HIV-positive, antiretroviral treatment-naïve patients in a single centre study
Authors: Gedela Keerti , Edwards Simon G , Benn Paul , Grant Alison D
Published: December 2013

The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among antiretroviral treatment-naïve, HIV-positive individuals. We reviewed records of consecutive antiretroviral treatment-naïve patients, registering for care for the first time at a London clinic from 01 January 2008 to 31 December 2009. During this period, serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol was measured routinely for all new patients. 25-hydroxycholecalciferol deficiency and severe deficiency were defined as ≤50 and ≤25 nmol/L, respectively. Among 253 patients (82% men, median age 36 years, 64% white ethnicity), 148 (58.5%) were 25-hydroxycholecalciferol-deficient, including 32 (12.6%) who were severely deficient. In all, 73.5% (61/83) patients of non-white ethnicity were 25-hydroxycholecalciferol-deficient compared with 50.7% (76/150) of those reporting white ethnicity ( p < 0.001). Seven of eight (87.5%) patients with hypocalcaemia (<2.12 nmol/L) were 25-hydroxycholecalciferol-deficient. The prevalence of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol-deficiency was higher in winter and spring vs. summer and autumn (89/129 [69.0%] vs. 59/124 [47.6%], p < 0.001). Serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol deficiency was not associated with gender, CD4 count, HIV viral load or clinical stage. Serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol deficiency was common among antiretroviral treatment-naïve patients, with those of non-white ethnicity at highest risk. CD4 count, HIV viral load and HIV clinical staging do not help to identify those at risk, but low serum calcium should prompt investigation of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol levels.
Epidemiology of syphilis infection among drug users at methadone maintenance treatment clinics in China: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Bing-xiang , Zhang Li , Wang Yu-jie , Yan Jun-wei , Wan Ya-nan , Peng Wen-jia , Wang Jing
Published: December 2013

Illicit drug trade has re-emerged in China since 1979 and the number of drug addicts had increased. Syphilis is mainly spread through sexual contact and blood. The incidence of syphilis is high among drug users. Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinics have been implemented in China since 2004. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of syphilis among drug users at MMT clinics in China between 2004 and 2013. Chinese and English databases (CBM, CNKI, Weipu, Pubmed) of literature were searched for studies reporting syphilis among drug users in MMT clinics from 2004 to 2013. The prevalence estimates and risk factors were summarized through a systematic review and meta-analysis of published literatures. In all, 29 eligible articles with a total of 8899 drug users, were selected in this review. The pooled prevalence of syphilis infection was 7.78% (95%CI: 5.83%–9.99%). The meta-analyses demonstrated significant differences in syphilis infection rates between men and women (OR = 0.34 [95%CI: 0.26–0.45]) but not between drug users and non-intravenous drug users (OR = 0.82 [95%CI: 0.51–1.32]). Enhanced detection of syphilis and health promotion is warranted in MMT clinics in China.
Systematic review of cognitive behavioural interventions for HIV risk reduction in substance-using men who have sex with men
Authors: Melendez-Torres GJ , Bonell Chris
Published: December 2013

Men who have sex with men (MSM) experience disproportionately high rates of HIV and substance use. Though interventions based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) are effective for many psychiatric disorders, systematic reviews of CBT for substance use present mixed results and CBT has not been systematically reviewed for HIV risk reduction in MSM. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of non-pharmacological CBT for substance-using MSM were systematically reviewed to assess the evidence for these interventions’ impact on unprotected anal intercourse (UAI). We searched 20 databases on 22 September 2012. Of the 2801 records identified, both authors separately assessed 70 full-text articles for inclusion. In three included RCTs, one RCT compared CBT against non-treatment control and two RCTs compared CBT against CBT variants. Across studies, CBT led to UAI reductions, though at one-year follow-up, these reductions were generally not greater than in other trial arms. This evidence of moderate quality indicates that while CBT may reduce UAI in substance-using MSM, it is unclear if CBT is more effective than mere assessment. All RCTs tested intensive, clinic-based interventions requiring sustained participant commitment, indicating a need for research into briefer interventions, with particular focus on episodic substance use and effectiveness trials.
Population-level associations between antiretroviral therapy scale-up and all-cause mortality in South Africa
Authors: Larson Elysia , Bendavid Eran , Tuoane-Nkhasi Maletela , Mbengashe Thobile , Goldman Thurma , Wilson Melinda , Klausner Jeffrey D
Published: December 2013

Summary

Our aim was to describe the association between increasing access to antiretroviral therapy and all-cause mortality in South Africa from 2005 to 2009. We undertook a longitudinal, population-level study, using antiretroviral monitoring data reported by PEPFAR implementing partners and province-level and national all-cause mortality records from Statistics South Africa (provider of official South African government statistics) to analyse the association between antiretroviral therapy and mortality. Using mixed effects models with a random intercept for province, we estimated the contemporaneous and lagging association between antiretroviral therapy and all-cause mortality in South Africa. We also conducted subgroup analyses and estimated the number of deaths averted. For each 100 HIV-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy reported by PEPFAR implementing partners in South African treatment programmes, there was an associated 2.9 fewer deaths that year (95% CI: 1.5, 4.2) and 6.3 fewer deaths the following year (95% CI: 4.6, 8.0). The associated decrease in mortality the year after treatment reporting was seen in both adults and children, and men and women. Treatment provided from 2005 to 2008 was associated with 28,305 deaths averted from 2006 to 2009. The scale-up of antiretroviral therapy in South Africa was associated with a significant reduction in national all-cause mortality.
2013 European Guideline on the management of proctitis, proctocolitis and enteritis caused by sexually transmissible pathogens
Authors: de Vries Henry JC , Zingoni Adele , White John A , Ross Jonathan DC , Kreuter Alexander
Published: December 2013

Proctitis is defined as an inflammatory syndrome of the distal 10–12 cm of the anal canal, also called the rectum. Infectious proctitis can be sexually transmitted via genital-anal mucosal contact, but some also via mutual masturbation. N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis (including lymphogranuloma venereum), Herpes Simplex Virus and T. pallidum are the most common sexually transmitted anorectal pathogens. Shigellosis can be transferred via oral-anal contact and may lead to proctocolitis or enteritis. Although most studies on these infections have concentrated on men who have sex with men (MSM), a significant proportion of women have anal intercourse and therefore may also be at risk. A presumptive clinical diagnosis of proctitis can be made when there are symptoms and signs, and a definitive diagnosis when the results of laboratory tests are available. The symptoms of proctitis include anorectal itching, pain, cramps (tenesmus) and discharge in and around the anal canal. Asymptomatic proctitis occurs frequently and can only be detected by laboratory tests. The majority of rectal chlamydia and gonococcal infections are asymptomatic. Therefore when there is a history of receptive anal contact, exclusion of anorectal infections is generally indicated as part of standard screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Condom use does not guarantee protection from bacterial and protozoan STIs, which are often spread without penile penetration.
A case of multicentric Castleman’s disease in HIV infection with the rare complication of acquired angioedema
Authors: Fernando I , Scott G
Published: December 2013

Multicentric Castleman’s disease (MCD), a polyclonal lymphoproliferative disorder of unknown aetiology, is a well-recognised complication of HIV disease. We present a case of MCD in an HIV-positive patient that is unusual on two counts: our patient’s MCD first presented in the context of an immune restoration inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), following the initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). In addition, her MCD was associated with the unusual complication of acquired angioedema (AAE), which resolved following treatment of the MCD. While AAE is frequently found to have an underlying diagnosis of a lymphoproliferative disease, this is the first reported case linking AAE to MCD.
Hypertrophic pachymeningitis associated with cerebral spinal fluid hypovolemia as initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematous
Authors: Sanchez-Garcia ME , Gomez-Delgado F , Gomez-Garduño A , Blanco-Molina A , Puebla RA Fernandez de la
Published: December 2013

We report a case of a 61-year-old man with thickening of the dura mater associated with the presence of subdural collections as a consequence of cerebral spinal fluid hypovolemia (CSFH) and hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP) as presentation of systemic lupus erythematous (SLE). The patient complained about fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, headache and skin lesions. In the laboratory tests minimal normocytic anemia, mild leukopenia, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia and antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies (dsDNA), antibodies against extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) type SSA-Ro, anti-Smith antigen antibodies (anti-Sm) and anti-ribonucleoprotein antibodies (anti-RNP) were detected. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with and without gadolinium enhancement, revealed generalized thickening of the dura mater more severe at the right parieto-occipital lobes with the presence of subdural collections. The patient was diagnosed with SLE associated both with CSFH and HP. A conservative treatment with prednisone 60 mg daily, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) 1 g daily and hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice a day was started with significant clinical and radiological improvement (almost complete resolution of the subdural collections and clear decrease of meningeal thickness).

The authors emphasize that HP associated with CSFH in the context of SLE is a rare entity, which makes this case unique.
Stability of Bovine viral diarrhea virus 1 nucleic acid in fetal bovine samples stored under different conditions
Authors: Ridpath Julia F. , Neill John D. , Chiang Yu-Wei , Waldbillig Jill
Published: December 2013

Infection of pregnant cattle with both species of Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) can result in reproductive disease that includes fetal reabsorption, mummification, abortion, stillbirths, congenital defects affecting structural, neural, reproductive, and immune systems, and the birth of calves persistently infected with BVDV. Accurate diagnosis of BVDV-associated reproductive disease is important to control BVDV at the production unit level and assessment of the cost of BVDV infections in support of BVDV control programs. The purpose of the current study was to examine the stability of viral nucleic acid in fetal tissues exposed to different conditions, as measured by detection by polymerase chain reaction. Five different types of fetal tissue, including brain, skin and muscle, ear, and 2 different pooled organ samples, were subjected to conditions that mimicked those that might exist for samples collected after abortions in production settings or possible storage conditions after collection and prior to testing. In addition, tissues were archived for 36 months at −20°C and then retested, to mimic conditions that might occur in the case of retrospective surveillance studies. Brain tissue showed the highest stability under the conditions tested. The impact of fecal contamination was increased following archiving in all tissue types suggesting that, for long-term storage, effort should be made to reduce environmental contaminants before archiving.
Developing and Gathering Psychometric Evidence for a Fidelity Instrument
Authors: Snyder Patricia A. , Hemmeter Mary Louise , Fox Lise , Bishop Crystal Crowe , Miller M. David
Published: December 2013

Fidelity assessment has received renewed attention in recent years, particularly as distinctions have been made in implementation science between intervention fidelity and implementation fidelity. Considering both types of fidelity has been recommended when developing fidelity instruments. In the present article, we describe development of the pilot version of the Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool (TPOT-P) as a case example of designing a fidelity instrument for use in research and practice. The TPOT is a multimethod judgment-based rating scale designed to measure practitioners’ fidelity of implementation of practices associated with the Pyramid Model. We describe the structure of the TPOT-P in relation to Pyramid Model components and fidelity indicators. We summarize the measurement approaches grounded in generalizability theory and classical test theory that were used to investigate the psychometric properties of TPOT-P scores based on data collected by trained raters on three occasions in 50 preschool classrooms. Findings suggest the TPOT-P shows promise for dependably measuring teachers’ implementation of Pyramid Model practices.
Ten Years in the Trenches
Authors: Cooper Jay R.
Published: December 2013

This study reports the perceptions of faculty 10 years after participating and sustaining their involvement in academic service-learning. Issues explored include why participants became involved in service-learning, the perceived impact on the promotion and tenure process, the challenges and rewards reaped by participants, and what sustained them in their work. The study is unique in that faculty report on the factors that have impeded or allowed them to sustain their involvement in service-learning over a period of 10 years. The study supports earlier findings that suggest faculty become involved for a variety of reasons, primarily the potential outcomes that service-learning provides and the opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary fashion; that service-learning can have both a positive and negative impact on promotion and tenure; and that support at the institutional level is essential for engaging faculty in service-learning.
Measuring the Unmeasurable
Authors: Scrutton Roger , Beames Simon
Published: December 2013

Outdoor adventure education (OAE) has a long history of being credited with the personal and social development (PSD) of its participants. PSD is notoriously difficult to measure quantitatively, yet stakeholders demand statistical evidence that given approaches to eliciting PSD are effective in their methods. Rightly or wrongly, many stakeholders want evidence in numbers and not anecdote. This article examines 22 recent studies and 6 meta-analyses in the peer-reviewed literature that have made use of quantitative methods to measure PSD in OAE. The investigation revealed three recurring problem areas that are effectively weakening the body of literature: the sample, the questionnaire and its use, and management of variables. Examples of good practice are reviewed and concrete suggestions made to uphold methodological rigor.
Important Others
Authors: Thornton Linda C.
Published: December 2013

The music education profession needs the best and brightest students with potential to be excellent music educators to choose music education as a profession. Past research has identified several influences in the career choice of music educators, including important others in students’ lives. In particular, high school music teachers appear to influence the career choices of students who choose to major in music education. The present study surveyed a purposeful sample of high school music teachers to help illuminate these important others’ beliefs and actions on students’ music education career choices. Students’ love of music and their in-school experiences were perceived to highly influence career choice; direct encouragement and identifying students with a love and passion for music were frequently identified strategies. Through increased understanding of the career choice process, music teacher educators can work most effectively with K–12 teachers in music teacher recruitment efforts.
Proximal Reverse Chevron Metatarsal Osteotomy, Lateral Soft Tissue Release, and Akin Osteotomy Through a Single Medial Incision for Hallux Valgus
Authors: Jung Hong-Geun , Kim Tae-Hoon , Park Jong-Tae , Shin Min-Ho , Lee Sang-Hun
Published: December 2013

Background:

Scarring on the dorsal first web space after lateral soft tissue release can be a major contributor to patient dissatisfaction following hallux valgus surgery. We hypothesized that performing distal soft tissue procedure (DSTP), proximal reverse chevron metatarsal osteotomy (PCMO), and Akin osteotomy through a single medial incision would provide better clinical and radiographic results with improved patient satisfaction compared with bunion corrections performed through 2 incisions.

Methods:

The study included 117 feet (of 98 patients) with moderate to severe hallux valgus. Clinically, the preoperative and final follow-up visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, the preoperative and final follow-up American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) hallux metatarsophalangeal (MTP)-interphalangeal (IP) scores, first MTP joint range of motion (ROM), and patient satisfaction after the surgery were evaluated. Radiographically, the hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), hallux valgus interphalangeal angle (HIA), medial sesamoid position (MSP), and first to fifth metatarsal width (1-5MTW) were analyzed before and after surgery.

Results:

The mean AOFAS hallux score improved from 56.3 preoperatively to 90.6 at the final follow-up, and the mean VAS pain score decreased from 6.8 preoperatively to 1.5 at the final follow-up ( P < .001). Ninety-five percent of the patients were satisfied with the surgery. Radiographically, the mean HVA decreased from 36.1 degrees (range, 16.0 to 44.0 degrees) preoperatively to 5.4 degrees (range, –12.4 to 29.7 degrees) at the final follow-up ( P < .001), and the mean IMA decreased from 19.0 degrees (range, 9.0 to 28.0 degrees) preoperatively to 4.5 degrees (range, –5.0 to 14.2 degrees) at the final follow-up ( P < .001). The mean 1-5MTW also decreased by 16% (16 mm) from 97.3 mm (range, 85.0 to 110.0 mm) preoperatively to 81.3 mm (range, 70.0 to 95.0 mm) at the final follow-up ( P < .001).

Conclusion:

We achieved very favorable clinical and radiographic outcomes with minimal complications in patients with moderate to severe hallux valgus, by treating hallux valgus using DSTP, PCMO, and Akin osteotomy through a single medial incision. The single medial incision scar improved the cosmetic results by avoiding the formation of a disfiguring dorsal first web space scar.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, retrospective case series.
The Increasingly Important Role of Off-Level Testing in the Context of the Talent Development Perspective
Authors: Thomson Dana , Olszewski-Kubilius Paula
Published: December 2013

In the context of increasing interest and support for a developmental conception of giftedness, there is perhaps an ever-greater need for off-level testing for students with high potential. Off-level testing is no longer merely a single-use tool that helps administrators identify students for gifted programs, but provides essential information about where students’ various strengths are currently situated on the developmental trajectory, which helps students, parents, teachers, and administrators to develop dynamic and individualized “pathways” toward self-discovery, opportunities for challenge and growth, and ultimately productive and fulfilling life-work. It further provides a means for assessment of progress in a way that takes into account a student’s unique abilities and needs, as well as the way in which student abilities naturally differentiate as that student develops and matures.
Curriculum Issues
Authors: VanTassel-Baska Joyce
Published: December 2013

Research suggests that inquiry-based strategies are the most effective modes of delivery in working with the gifted students. The characteristics of the gifted reveal a strong basis for understanding the power of question-asking as a part of differentiating curriculum. This article describes three different models of questioning—Guilford, Bloom, and Paul—and how they provide multiple pathways for challenging the gifted through their content learning.
Scientific-Based Research and Randomized Controlled Trials, the “Gold” Standard? Alternative Paradigms and Mixed Methodologies
Authors: Christ Thomas W.
Published: December 2013

This article addresses three controversial issues related to mixed methods research and policy. First, “Scientific-Based Research” promoted by “No Child Left Behind” (NCLB) reinforces diametrically opposed paradigmatic views and research methodologies. As policy, NCLB prioritizes specific methodologies prescribing what counts as scientific evidence. Second, from a critical stance, federal policies shape and control decisions that funding agencies make regarding methodologies (Randomized Controlled Trials—Gold Standard). Third, top-down policies are currently framed in postpositivist ontological and epistemological conceptions and should include constructivist, critical, transformative, and emancipatory paradigms supporting alternative methodologies. This article challenges current practices of prioritizing specific research methodologies used to evaluate interventions. As an alternative, logical purpose statements and research questions should be the standard used to guide decisions about appropriate methodologies and procedures.
The Role of the Intellectual in Minority Group Studies
Authors: O’Brien Dai , Emery Steven D.
Published: December 2013

The role and position of minority group intellectuals in the social sciences has been the subject of some research and debate, but not, until recently, within the field of Deaf studies. In this article, we will explore the role of the Deaf intellectual in their relations to the academic field and the Deaf community. We offer a critique of the prevailing theoretical framework of postmodernism and an alternative approach based on critical theory and Bourdieusian frameworks. There is a dearth of literature in the area, and this article is intended to initiate a much-needed discussion, including scholars within disciplines such as sociology, political science, cultural studies, and critical theory.
Decolonizing Research on Palestinians
Authors: Al-Hardan Anaheed
Published: December 2013

This article builds on Indigenous and decolonial theorists’ and activists’ contention that European imperialism and colonialism are inseparable from modern knowledge production, and that the power/knowledge nexus continues to be implicated in the contemporary coloniality of the world. It examines the power relations inherent in imperialism and colonialism as they unfolded in the “before,” “during,” and “after” of a research project on Palestinian refugees that was conceptualized and initiated in the Anglo-Irish academy. It asks what kind of research can researchers, who are structurally positioned within the academies of the former/current imperialist powers and their allies, engage in while carrying out research in communities that are on the other end of the imperial and colonial equation. It concludes by discussing what the possibility of a decolonizing research practice in Palestinian refugee communities may begin to look like during the Palestinians’ settler-colonized and stateless present.
The Mammalian Toxicological Hazards of Petroleum-Derived Substances
Authors: McKee Richard H. , White Russell
Published: December 2013

Petroleum-derived substances are complex and composed of aliphatic (normal-, iso-, and cycloparaffins), olefinic, and/or aromatic constituents. Approximately 400 of these complex substances were evaluated as part of the US Environmental Protection Agency voluntary High Production Volume (HPV) Challenge program. The substances were separated into 13 groups (categories), and all available data were assessed. Toxicology testing was conducted as necessary to fully address the end points encompassed by the HPV initiative. In a broad sense, volatile hydrocarbons may cause acute central nervous system effects, and those that are liquids at room temperature pose aspiration hazards if taken into the lungs as liquids and may also cause skin irritation. Higher boiling substances may contain polycyclic aromatic constituents (PACs) that can be mutagenic and carcinogenic and may also cause developmental effects. Substances containing PACs can also cause target organ and developmental effects. The effects of aliphatic constituents include liver enlargement and/or renal effects in male rats via an α-2u-globulin-mediated process and, in some cases, small but statistically significant reductions in hematological parameters. Crude oils may contain other constituents, particularly sulfur- and nitrogen-containing compounds, which are removed during refining. Aside from these more generic considerations, some specific petroleum substances may contain unusually toxic constituents including benzene, 1,3-butadiene, and/or n-hexane, which should also be taken into account if present at toxicologically relevant levels.
A 13-Week Dermal Repeat-Dose Neurotoxicity Study of Hydrodesulfurized Kerosene in Rats
Authors: Breglia Rudolph , Bui Quang , Burnett Donald , Koschier Francis , Lapadula Elizabeth , Podhasky Paula , Schreiner Ceinwen , White Russell
Published: December 2013

A 13-week dermal repeat-dose toxicity study was conducted with hydrodesulfurized (HDS) kerosene, a test material that also met the commercial specifications for aviation turbine fuel (jet A). The objectives were to assess the potential for target organ toxicity and neurotoxicity. The HDS kerosene was applied to the shaved backs of Sprague-Dawley CD rats, 12/sex/group, 6 h/d, 5 d/wk in doses of 0 (vehicle control), 165 mg/kg (20% HDS kerosene), 330 mg/kg (40% HDS kerosene), or 495 mg/kg (60% HDS kerosene). Additional rats (12/sex) from the control and the high-dose groups were held without treatment for 4 weeks to assess recovery. Standard parameters of toxicity were investigated during the in-life phase. At necropsy, organs were weighed and selected tissues were processed for microscopic evaluation. Neurobehavioral evaluations included tests of motor activity and functional observations that were conducted pretest, at intervals during the exposure period and after recovery. No test substance-related effects on mortality, clinical observations (except dermal irritation), body weight, or clinical chemistry values were observed. A dose-related increase in skin irritation, confirmed histologically as minimal, was evident at the dosing site. The only statistically significant change considered potentially treatment related was an increase in the neutrophil count in females at 13 weeks. No test article-related effects were observed in the neurobehavioral assessments or gross or microscopic findings in the peripheral or central nervous system tissues in any of the dose groups. Excluding skin irritation, the no observed adverse effect level value for all effects was considered 495 mg/kg/d.
Effects of Restaurant Satisfaction and Knowledge Sharing Motivation on eWOM Intentions
Authors: Yang Fiona X.
Published: December 2013

The growth of consumer-generated media (CGM) has promoted the popularity of online knowledge sharing and electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM). While the topic of eWOM has drawn much attention in academy and industry, little research has been published addressing the factors influencing eWOM intentions. Using a well-known restaurant review website, Openrice.com, as an example, this study explored three predictors to eWOM intentions in an integrative framework: experience factor (restaurant satisfaction), knowledge sharing factors (egoistic and altruistic needs), and technology acceptance factors (perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use). In addition, the moderating role of technology acceptance factors on the relationships between experience/knowledge sharing factors and eWOM intentions were examined. The results of the study indicate that (1) individuals’ altruistic needs trigger positive eWOM, (2) the perceived usefulness of the website has a significant main effect on eWOM intentions, and (3) the perceived usefulness significantly moderates the relationships between satisfaction/egoistic needs and eWOM intentions. The discussions also provide implications and managerial insights for research and practice.
The Impact of Status Seeking on Consumers’ Word of Mouth and Product Preference—A Comparison Between Luxury Hospitality Services and Luxury Goods
Authors: Yang Wan , Mattila Anna S.
Published: December 2013

Despite the rapid growth of the luxury hospitality market, academic research has largely neglected the differences between luxury hospitality services and luxury goods, as well as the role of status seeking on luxury consumption. Relying on the status consumption and experience recommendation theories, the authors examine the combined effects of consumer characteristics (need for status) and product type (hospitality services vs. goods) on consumers’ word-of-mouth intentions. The results suggest that parvenus, who are high in need for status, are more likely to talk about their luxury goods purchases than patricians, who are low in need for status. More interestingly, both parvenus and patricians indicate equally strong intentions to spread positive word of mouth on luxury hospitality purchases. This study also extends the experience recommendation theory and reveals that parvenus are less likely to choose luxury hospitality services than patricians to advance their happiness.
Retention of Children and Their Families in the Longitudinal Outcome Study of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program
Authors: Gebreselassie Tesfayi , Stephens Robert L. , Maples Connie J. , Johnson Stacy F. , Tucker Alyce L.
Published: December 2013

Predictors of retention of participants in a longitudinal study and heterogeneity between communities were investigated using a multilevel logistic regression model. Data from the longitudinal outcome study of the national evaluation of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families program and information on communities participating in the evaluation were used to examine retention of participants at 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month follow-up interviews. Findings revealed that both child and family characteristics and community characteristics significantly influenced participation for up to 24-month follow-up. Specifically, behavioral and emotional problems at intake, referral source, proportion of total staff devoted to interviewers, and total amount of incentive paid out at baseline influenced retention of participants. In addition, significant random effects at both Level 2 and Level 3 indicated that retention varied significantly between communities and among children even after controlling for child and family characteristics.
Teleconsultation in vascular surgery: a 13 year single centre experience
Authors: Schmidt Christian AP , Schmidt-Weitmann Sabine H , Lachat Mario L , Brockes Christiane M
Published: December 2013

The University Hospital of Zurich has provided an email-based medical consultation service for the general public since 1999. We examined the enquiries in a 13-year period to identify those related to vascular surgery (based on 22 ICD-10 codes specific for vascular surgery). There were 40,062 questions, of which 643 (2%) were selected by ICD-10 codes. After exclusion of diagnoses not relevant to vascular surgery, 139 questions remained, i.e. an average rate of about one per month. The mean age of the users was 43 years (range 19–88). Most users (61%) were women. The majority of users asked questions about their own health problems (79%) with varicose veins and spider veins accounting for 63% of all questions. Arterial diseases accounted for 30%. The patient’s intention in contacting the service was to obtain advice on treatment options (37%), information about a diagnosis or symptoms (27%), or a second opinion (15%). The online service responded with detailed information and advice (87%) and suggested a referral to the family doctor or a specialist in 75%. Most patients (82%) rated the service overall as good or very good. It appears likely that telemedicine and in particular email teleconsultations will increase in vascular surgery in the future.
Is early joint attention associated with school-age pragmatic language?
Authors: Gillespie-Lynch Kristen , Khalulyan Allie , del Rosario Mithi , McCarthy Brigid , Gomez Lovella , Sigman Marian , Hutman Ted
Published: December 2013

In order to evaluate evidence for the social–cognitive theory of joint attention, we examined relations between initiation of and response to joint attention at 12 and 18 months of age and pragmatic and structural language approximately 6 years later among children with and without autism spectrum disorder. Initiation of joint attention at 18 months was associated with structural, but not pragmatic, language for children with and without autism spectrum disorder. School-age children with autism exhibited difficulties with structural and pragmatic language relative to non-autistic siblings of children with autism and low-risk controls. No evidence of the broader autism phenotype was observed. These findings do not support the social–cognitive theory of joint attention.
Development of an automated model to predict the risk of elderly emergency medical admissions within a month following an index hospital visit: A Hong Kong experience
Authors: Tsui Eva , Au SY , Wong CP , Cheung Alan , Lam Peggo
Published: December 2013

Objectives:

To develop an automated risk prediction model to identify elderly patients at high risk of emergency admission to medical wards within 28 days following an index hospital visit.

Methods:

A retrospective data analysis of 41 hospitals and 48 specialist outpatient clinics in Hong Kong. The study subjects were elderly patients aged 65 years or above, who had index hospital visit(s) in the year of 2005, which included hospitalizations at medical wards and attendances at the accident and emergency departments or specialist outpatient clinics for medical conditions. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the risk of emergency medical admission in 28 days after an index hospital visit. Model validation was performed against the complete cohort in 2006.

Results:

Over a million of episodes were included in the derivation cohort. A total of 14 predictor variables included patient socio-demographics, service utilization in the previous year, presence and number of chronic diseases and type of index episode. The model has a good discriminative ability with the area under receiver-operating characteristic curve at 0.819 and 0.824 for the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. The model has a sensitivity of 70.3 per cent, specificity of 78.4 per cent, positive predictive value of 21.7 per cent and negative predictive value of 96.9 per cent.

Conclusion:

This simple, accurate and objective risk prediction model has been computerized into an automated screening tool to recruit high-risk elderly patients discharged from all public hospitals in Hong Kong into the Community Health Call Centre service with an aim to prevent avoidable hospitalizations.
White Grain Mycetoma Caused by Scedosporium apiospermum in North India
Authors: Gupta Munesh Kumar , Banerjee Tuhina , Kumar Dhirendra , Rastogi Amit , Tilak Ragini
Published: December 2013

Mycetoma is chronic granulomatous infection of skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by both bacteria and fungi. We report a case of mycetoma caused by Scedosporium apiospermum in the right foot of a 45-year-old farmer in north India. The patient had a history of trauma in the sole of the right foot followed by discharge of white granules along with proximal progression. Scedosporium apiospermum was identified based on colony characteristics and microscopic features on slide culture. Mycetoma is a progressive disease. Foot is commonly affected in persons who walk barefoot, especially in south India. Untreated mycetoma progress and involve the underlying fasciae and tissues along with bones often resulting in loss of limb. By prompt and reliable diagnosis with corresponding antimicrobial administration, we can prevent further progression and limb disability.
Fuel-saving ship route using the Navy’s ensemble meteorological and oceanic forecasts
Authors: Chu Peter C , Miller Scott E , Hansen James A
Published: December 2013

Fuel conservation and carbon reduction are important issues in current naval operations. Optimal ship route (i.e. minimum fuel consumption) depends on specific ship platform characteristics and near real-time environment such as weather, ocean waves, and ocean currents. The environmental impact of shipping can be measured on different spatial and temporal scales. As a vital component of the smart voyage planning (SVP) decision aid, the US Navy’s meteorological and oceanographic (METOC) forecast systems play an important role in optimal ship routing, which enables fuel savings in addition to the aid of heavy weather avoidance. This study assesses the impact of METOC ensemble forecast systems on optimal ship route. Tests of the SVP decision aid tool are also conducted for operational fleet use and concept of operations for the USS Princeton guided missile cruiser (CG)-59 in a sea trial test following the 2012 Rim of the Pacific exercises.
Different Ways to Disagree
Authors: Garner Johny T.
Published: December 2013

Organizational communication processes are complex, but all too often, researchers oversimplify the study of these processes by relying on a single method. Particularly when scholars and practitioners partner together to solve organizational problems, meaningful results require methodological flexibility and diversity. As an exemplar of the fit between mixed methods research and engaged scholarship, the present project used surveys, observations, and interviews to study the process of dissent in two organizations. Results emphasized that each organization’s mission was a key factor in how employees expressed disagreement and how others responded. Emergent research questions and sequential data collection revealed insights that would have been missed in single method studies and provided more complete insights for the nonacademic practitioners involved in the study.
Recent Recommendations and Current Controversies in Sport Nutrition
Authors: Beals Katherine A. , Mitchell Anna
Published: December 2013

Adequate nutrition is absolutely essential for optimal training and performance of the athlete. Unfortunately many athletes lack sufficient nutrition knowledge to guide proper food choices. Similarly, the health professionals that athletes most frequently turn to for nutrition advice are often ill-equipped to address specific nutritional needs and issues. This article will summarize the most recent macronutrient (i.e., carbohydrate, protein and fat) and fluid recommendations for athletes. Micronutrients that have been shown to be inadequate in the diets of athletes will also be addressed. Finally, current controversies in sport nutrition will be examined in light of the most recent research and guidelines for applications to the athlete will be provided.
Repair: Comparing Facebook ‘chat’ with spoken interaction
Authors: Meredith Joanne , Stokoe Elizabeth
Published: December 2013

Previous research on the conversation analytic phenomenon of ‘repair’ has focused on its design and function in spoken interaction. Conversely, research on written text or writing rarely focuses on interaction. In this article, we examine repair in written discourse; specifically in online settings. The data corpus comprises one-to-one quasi-synchronous Facebook ‘chat’. First, we show that, as in spoken interaction, repair happens. This basic observation supports conversation analytic arguments that features of talk, like repair and laughter, do not ‘leak randomly’ into interaction but are precision-timed and designed to accomplish action. Second, we report on two types of repair: visible repair which can be seen and oriented to by both participants in the interaction, and message construction repair, which is available only to the message’s writer. While the practice of message construction repair is made possible through the affordances of the online medium, it nevertheless shows how participants in written interaction are oriented to the same basic contingencies as they are in spoken talk: building sequentially organized courses of action and maintaining intersubjectivity. We suggest that assumptions about differences between spoken and online interaction are premature. Rather, we argue that online interaction should be treated as an adaptation of an oral speech-exchange system.
Moral argumentation as a rhetorical practice in popular online discourse: Examples from online comment sections of celebrity gossip
Authors: Eronen Maria
Published: December 2013

This study analyses how online participants of celebrity gossip position themselves in relation to their audience through forms of moral argumentation and thereby contribute to social hierarchies. In this study, forms of moral argumentation are seen as enthymemes, that is, claim-reason units based on moral norms as premises. The material consists of a total of 900 asynchronous online comments in English and 900 in Finnish. In addition to rhetorical argumentation analysis, the study investigates the dependency of moral argumentation on three contextual variables: gendered violence as the topic of discussion (domestic violence/female celebrities’ fights), as the shared culture of participants (Finnish-speaking, ‘national’/English-speaking, ‘multicultural’ participants) and a media institution as the moderator of online discourse (media-generated/user-generated websites). Four forms of moral argumentation were found in the material: 1) theoretical (deductive), 2) practical (contextual), 3) categorical (stereotype-based) and 4) digital (‘crowding’) enthymeme. Theoretical, practical and categorical enthymemes are rhetorical in a traditional sense because they include the hierarchical idea of moral norms as the shared, more or less authoritarian, basis of a community. Digital enthymemes, conversely, are texts without clear borders or any notion of moral norms. Such arguments characterized especially user-generated, English-language discussions concerning female celebrities’ fights. This indicates that the digital enthymeme is particularly prevalent where there is a lack of obvious hierarchies in the context of argumentation. As this study argues, however, the seemingly non-hierarchical and individualistic participation through digital enthymemes is a mere illusion, for these enthymemes are based on crowd behaviour supportive of sexist and class-bound domination.
Caseworker Perceptions of Private Agency Family Safety Program Effectiveness
Authors: Marshall Debra , Lynxwiler John , Gay David A.
Published: December 2013

Scholarly research on governmental privatization efforts has expanded in many areas. However, less is known about the effectiveness of family safety privatization efforts at the state level. In Florida, family safety privatization efforts have been underway for several years now, and while evaluations are taking place, they do not reflect one key piece of information—the perceptions of family safety workers. Interviews with former and current family safety workers who work or worked for public and private family safety agencies in one Florida County are examined to assess the impact of program privatization. The model of care that has been instituted post-privatization (Coordination, Advocacy, Resources, Education and Support [CARES]) has been perceived as more effective than the former state model; however, respondents noted several problems that accompanied the shift to privatization. These issues along with recommendations for future planning are explored.
Efficacy of a Reduced Electroencephalography Electrode Array for Detection of Seizures
Authors: Rubin Mark N. , Jeffery Oliver J. , Fugate Jennifer E. , Britton Jeffery W. , Cascino Gregory D. , Worrell Gregory A. , Hocker Sara E. , Wijdicks Eelco F. , Rabinstein Alejandro A.
Published: December 2013

Background:

The expertise required for proper electroencephalography (EEG) setup can make the 10-20 array unwieldy in the hospital setting. There may be a role for an EEG array with reduced leads to improve the efficiency of inpatient practice.

Methods:

Clips from 100 EEG records, 50 ictal and 50 non-ictal, in adult inpatients from January 1, 2007, to January 1, 2012, were retrospectively reviewed and selected for digital lead reduction and blind review. Two epileptologists reviewed these tracings and documented the presence of seizures and severe disturbance of background. The reduced array included 7 leads spanning the scalp. Three different montages were available. Sensitivity and specificity of the reduced array were calculated using the formal EEG report as the comparison standard.

Results:

For the detection of any seizure, the reduced array EEG had a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 96%. Sensitivity for identifying encephalopathic patterns was 62% and specificity was 86%. Focal seizures were more readily identified by the reduced array (20 of 25) than were generalized ictal patterns (13 of 25).

Conclusion:

The reduced electrode array was insufficiently sensitive to seizure detection. Reducing EEG leads might not be a preferred means of optimizing hospital EEG efficiency.
Do Currency Equivalent Monetary Aggregates Have an Edge over Their Simple Sum Counterparts?
Authors: Paul Sunil , Ramachandran M.
Published: December 2013

The currency equivalent (CE) monetary aggregates are interpreted as aggregation theoretic money stock measures by Rotemberg et al. ( 1995 ), Barnett ( 1991 ) and Kelly ( 2009 ) and are far more superior to simple sum aggregates as a policy variable. In this context, the components of four official measures of monetary constructs—M1, M2, M3 and L1—are used to construct monthly CE monetary aggregates for the period from April 1993 to June 2009. Quarterly estimates of CE aggregates are also obtained by taking quarterly averages of monthly aggregates. The empirical evidences in terms of information content, velocity behaviour and cyclical behaviour show that there is a potential gain of using CE aggregates as compared to their sum counterparts in applications of policy interest.

JEL Classification: C43 E49
A Brief Survey of the Theory of Auction
Authors: Chatterjee Rittwik
Published: December 2013

This is a brief survey of the theory of auction. We first discuss the types of agents who participate in an auction and their respective objectives. In the next section we briefly explain the concepts of standard auction, revenue equivalence theorem (perhaps the most cited result in auction theory, along with the result of Myerson on optimal auction), optimal auction, interdependent valuations, risk and some other commonly used concepts. Finally we discuss the theory of contest, as contests are essentially auctions where a part of the payment function is exogenously given to the contestants.

JEL Classification: D44 (Auctions)