bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Equatorial Dry Air Intrusion and Related Synoptic Variability in MJO Initiation during DYNAMO
Authors: Kerns Brandon W. , Chen Shuyi S.
Published: November 2013

Dynamics of the Madden–Julian oscillation (DYNAMO) was conducted over the equatorial Indian Ocean (IO) from October 2011 to March 2012. During mid- to late November, a strong Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) event, denoted MJO-2, initiated in the western IO and passed through the DYNAMO observation array. Dry air intrusions associated with synoptic variability in the equatorial region played a key role in the evolution of MJO-2. First, a sharp dry air intrusion surging from the subtropics into the equatorial region suppresses convection in the ITCZ south of the equator. This diminishes subsidence on the equator associated with the ITCZ convection, which leads to an equatorward shift of convection. It is viewed as a contributing factor for the onset of equatorial convection in MJO-2. Once the MJO convection is established, a second type of dry air intrusion is related to synoptic gyres within the MJO convective envelope. The westward-propagating gyres draw drier air from the subtropics into the equatorial region on the west side of the MJO-2. This dry air intrusion contributes to a 1–2-day break in the rainfall during the active phase of MJO-2. Furthermore, the dry air intrusion suppresses convection in the westerlies of the MJO in the IO. This favors the abrupt shutdown of MJO convection during transition to the suppressed phase in DYNAMO. The two types of dry air intrusions can redistribute convection from the ITCZ to the equator and favor the eastward propagation of the MJO convection. Further study of multiple MJO events is necessary to determine the generality of these findings.
Etiopathogenic Differences in Coronary Artery Disease and Peripheral Artery Disease
Authors: Agarwal Shikhar , Naderi Sahar
Published: November 2013

Cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1999 to 2004 were pooled for this study. Compared with coronary artery disease (CAD), a greater proportion of individuals with peripheral artery disease (PAD) were female, black, and active smokers. Patients with PAD had significantly higher serum concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and C-reactive protein than those with CAD alone. The risk of CAD increased with serum cotinine levels >0.02 ng/mL. However, the risk of PAD increased only with serum cotinine levels >138 ng/mL. Despite this association, there was no significant association of secondhand smoke exposure with CAD or PAD. In conclusion, patients with CAD and PAD differed with respect to several demographic and biochemical factors. The relationship between PAD and cotinine demonstrated a threshold phenomenon (serum cotinine levels >138 ng/mL).
The Lived Experience of Gratitude
Authors: Hlava Patty , Elfers John
Published: November 2013

This study broadens the construct of gratitude by exploring the lived phenomenal experience in a targeted sample of 51 participants with diverse demographic profiles. Participant descriptions of gratitude experience revealed both thematic patterns in somatic experience and a range of appraisals that included joy, love, awakening, release, awe, and feeling blessed. Cognitive appraisals showed significant correlation between meaning and intensity of gratitude affect, and their influence on relationship boundaries between “self” and “other.” Conclusions point to (a) the need for an expanded definition of the transactional nature of gratitude that accounts for the affective range of emotional experience, (b) the intentionality of gratitude focused on a transpersonal “other,” (c) the frequency and characteristics of the occurrence of an overwhelming emotional experience of gratitude associated with awe, and (d) the potential impact of gratitude on relational boundaries between self and other.
The first 100 thrombolysis cases in a novel Scottish mesh telestroke system
Authors: Hill E , Whitehead M , MacInnes B , Ellis G , Talbot A , Brodie F , Hughes N , Beggs S , Barber M
Published: November 2013

Stroke thrombolysis has been a major driver for change within stroke services. However, until recently its widespread application has been limited to tertiary centres. Transfer to tertiary care can lead to significant delays in thrombolysis. We developed a novel mesh telestroke network, which allows stroke specialists to make videoconference-based thrombolysis decisions either from one of three stroke units or from home. We report data on the first 100 patients treated using this model and retrospectively review the first 100 strokes thrombolysed with tissue plasminogen activator across three stroke units. Prospectively collected data were extracted from the Stroke Audit In Lanarkshire database. Case notes were retrieved for clarification when necessary. Outcome measures were timings from symptom onset to infusion, post-thrombolysis symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage and death. Fifty-one percent of cases were assessed by telestroke link. Median symptom onset to thrombolysis was 160 min (IQR 125–190). There were two symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhages, both in patients assessed face-to-face. Overall mortality was 14%. Our experience of tissue plasminogen activator is comparable to UK data extracted from SITS-MOST in overall timings and complication rates. This model of telemedicine could be replicated to provide safe thrombolysis to areas with challenging infrastructure, geography or insufficient stroke specialist cover.
Antidepressants for mothers: what are psychiatrists prescribing?
Authors: Kean LJ , Pasupuleti P , Shah P
Published: November 2013

Background and aims

Depressive illness in the perinatal period is common and can be associated with detrimental effects to both mother and child. The evolving evidence base on the safety of antidepressants in pregnancy and breastfeeding can make prescribing decisions challenging. This study aimed to investigate current prescribing practices and attitudes of hospital psychiatrists towards depression in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

Methods and results

This qualitative survey was conducted by way of e-mail survey to 95 psychiatrists, of all grades and specialities, based within The Royal Edinburgh Hospital. A majority of psychiatrists are choosing and avoiding antidepressants in accordance with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines. A minority of respondents are selecting classes of antidepressants, which raises concern about the safety of such prescribing decisions. The majority of psychiatrists expressed a lack of confidence when prescribing and expressed a wish for further training in this area.

Conclusion

This study indicates a degree of uncertainty amongst psychiatrists of all grades when prescribing to these special groups. We would recommend increased training in this area to all psychiatrists and an increased emphasis placed upon incorporating perinatal psychiatry within the postgraduate psychiatric curriculum.
Gentamicin use in neonates: should we have a change of practice?
Authors: Krishnamoorthy SS , Nair A , Furness J , Sanderson J
Published: November 2013

Background

Gentamicin, one of the most commonly used antibiotics in neonates, has potential toxicity. This study was performed to determine the incidence of potential toxicity of gentamicin in term and preterm neonates.

Methods

A one-year retrospective study in neonates admitted to Special Baby Care Units at University Hospital of North Durham and Darlington Memorial Hospitals. We reviewed each admission and looked through the case notes in detail to document information about gentamicin administration, dosage and elevated gentamicin levels in the blood. Pre-third dose gentamicin levels >2 mg/L were classified as elevated.

Results

Overall, 192 babies (83 term and 109 preterm) had documented gentamicin levels. Of these, 43% (84/192) manifested elevated gentamicin levels. Of the babies with elevated gentamicin levels, 67% (56/84) weighed less than 2.5 kg. When a combination of gestation period and weight was considered, 61% (51/84) of preterm infants weighing <2.5 kg had elevated levels whereas only one term infant <2.5 kg exhibited elevated levels.

Conclusion

Preterm neonates and specifically low birth weight neonates tolerate gentamicin poorly. Dosage and/or interval of administration of the medication may need modification in this group to minimise toxicity.
Cavernous haemangioma of the testis mimicking as testicular malignancy in an adolescent
Authors: Naveed S , Quari H , Sharma H
Published: November 2013

Haemangioma of the testis is a rare condition. This benign vascular neoplasm may arise either within the testicular parenchyma (intratesticular) as in this case or from adnexal structures of the testis (extratesticular). Intratesticular haemangioma is rarer than extratesticular form. Intratesticular vascular neoplasms are extremely rare tumours and mostly seen in children or young adults. There are 21 reported testicular haemangioma cases in the literature1–3 as indexed in PubMed. Since 2007, only 19 cases of cavernous haemangioma have been reported in the literature4 in PubMed and other indexed sites. We report a case of cavernous haemangioma of the testis to attract attention to testicular haemangioma and also to prevent invasive surgery of the testis.
Orofacial granulomatosis related to amalgam fillings
Authors: Ellison R , Green C , Gibson J , Ghaffar S
Published: November 2013

This paper reports on a case of Orofacial Granulomatosis (OFG) in which the presence of amalgam fillings appears to have played a part in the aetiology. Once these restorations were removed and replaced with an alternative composite restorative material, all symptoms and signs of OFG resolved completely. This case highlights the necessity to include dental metals in the patch test battery when performing delayed patch testing on patients with OFG.
Generalization by Mechanism
Authors: Bengtsson Bo , Hertting Nils
Published: November 2013

Drawing general inferences on the basis of single-case and small- n studies is often seen as problematic. This article suggests a logic of generalization based on thinly rationalistic social mechanisms. Ideal-type mechanisms can be derived from empirical observations in one case and, based on the assumption of thin rationality, used as a generalizing bridge to other contexts with similar actor constellations. Thus, the “portability” builds on expectations about similar mechanisms operating in similar contexts. We present the general logic behind such “rationalistic generalization” and relate it to other ideas about generalization from single-case studies.
Investigating Response Errors in Survey Data
Authors: Alwin Duane F.
Published: November 2013

This special issue of Sociological Methods & Research contributes to recent trends in studies that exploit the availability of multiple measures in sample surveys in order to detect the level and patterning to measurement errors. Articles in this volume focus on topics in one of (or some combination of) the three areas: (1) those that develop and test theoretical hypotheses regarding the behavior of measurement errors under specific conditions of measurement, (2) those that focus on the methodological problems encountered in the design of data collection permitting the estimation of measurement models, and (3) those that focus on the evaluation of existing models for detecting and quantifying the nature of measurement errors. The designs included in these investigations include those that incorporate follow-up probes, record-check studies, multitrait-multimethod designs, longitudinal designs, and latent class models for assessing measurement errors for categorical variables.
Reconfiguring Professional Work
Authors: Noordegraaf Mirko
Published: November 2013

Many public services are produced by professional workers who deal with cases and clients on the basis of professional knowledge and skills. As groups of workers, they acquired autonomies to structure professional knowledge and skills and to regulate case treatment. During the previous years, professional work has changed. Most often, the “new public management” is seen as the main driver: Service provision is said to be managerialized to make services more efficient and effective. This article rejects this simple explanation and argues that public professional work is affected by much more than managerial reform. It presents an analytical framework for tracing broader societal forces that reconfigure professional work. Professionals are not merely managed and measured; professional work in public services might be (a) reorganized, (b) restratified, and (c) relocated. Increasingly fragmented and dependent professional fields might have to seek new forms of control and new understandings of public professionalism are required.
The Influence of Capital Structure on Strategic Human Capital
Authors: Liu Xiangmin , van Jaarsveld Danielle D. , Batt Rosemary , Frost Ann C.
Published: November 2013

Strategic human capital research has emphasized the importance of human capital as a resource for sustained competitive advantage, but firm investments in this intangible asset vary considerably. This article examines whether and how external pressures on firms from capital markets influence their human capital strategy. These pressures have increased over the past three decades due to banking deregulation, technological innovation, and the rise of institutional investors and new financial intermediaries. Against this backdrop, this study examines whether a firm’s capital structure as measured by share turnover, shareholder concentration, and financial leverage is associated with firm investment in strategic human capital. Based on survey and objective financial data from 221 establishments in the United States and Canada, our analysis indicates that firms with greater share turnover, higher shareholder concentration, and higher levels of financial leverage are less likely to invest in human resource systems that create strategic human capital. Differences in national financial systems also lead to differential effects for U.S. and Canadian firms.
Fantasy orientation constructs and related executive function development in preschool: Developmental benefits to executive functions by being a fantasy-oriented child
Authors: Pierucci Jillian M. , O’Brien Christopher T. , McInnis Melissa A. , Gilpin Ansley Tullos , Barber Angela B.
Published: November 2013

This study explored unique constructs of fantasy orientation and whether there are developmental benefits for fantasy-oriented children. By age 3, children begin developing executive functions, with some children exhibiting high fantasy orientation in their cognitions and behaviors. Preschoolers ( n = 106) completed fantasy orientation measures and executive function tasks, including parent and teacher questionnaires. Principal Component Analysis revealed four specific constructs within fantasy orientation (FO). Relations were examined between children’s FO constructs and executive functions to determine if developmental benefits exist with being fantasy-oriented. Hierarchical linear regressions suggested that certain FO constructs are uniquely related to specific executive functions, such that there are potentially specific developmental benefits to being a fantasy-oriented child (i.e., inhibition and attention shift positively related to fantastical cognitions).
Exploration of the Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Parental Illness on Children’s Educational and Behavioral Functioning Using a Large Taiwanese Sample
Authors: Chen Yung-Chi
Published: November 2013

This study used data from Waves I and II of the Taiwan Educational Panel Survey (TEPS) to explore the potential short-term and long-term effects of parental illness and health condition on children’s behavioral and educational functioning. A sample of 11,018 junior high school students and their parents and teachers in Taiwan were included in this present study. The results supported previous work that parental illness may place children at slight risk for poor psychosocial adjustment and behavioral problems. Parental illness was associated with lower adaptive skills and more behavioral problems in children. Children of ill parents showed resilience in their educational functioning in the event of parental illness as children’s academic achievement and learning skills were not related to parental illness/health condition.
Utility of Head and Neck Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Sentinel Node Biopsy: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ahmed Mostafa M. , Moore Brian A. , Schmalbach Cecelia E.
Published: November 2013

Objective

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is standard of care for melanoma, but its role in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) has not been established. Study objectives include: (1) analyze the feasibility and reliability SLNB for head and neck (H&N) cSCC and (2) identify risk factors associated with a positive SLN.

Data Sources

MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane, and ASCO databases searches conducted (1946‐2013).

Review Methods

Using the PRISM model, a comprehensive systematic review of H&N cSCC SLNB studies with associated recurrence rates was conducted. Dual‐blinded data extraction identify primary outcomes (successful SLN harvest and false omission rate) and secondary outcomes (risk factors associated with a +SLN).

Results

Two hundred twenty‐one articles were screened; 73 patients from 11 publications met inclusion criteria (3 case series; 8 prospective cohorts). Studies ranged from 1 to 15 patients (median 5). Median age was 74 years. Median follow‐up was 21.5 months. Average tumor size was 3.09 cm. At least 1 SLN was identified in 100% of patients (median 2). Ten (13.5%) had a positive SLN; no additional metastatic nodes were identified in 9 patients receiving completion lymphadenectomy. Tumor diameter was not associated with SLN status (P =. 09; 95% CI, –.27 to 3.02). Risk factors (tumor depth, perineural invasion, location, differentiation) were not consistently recorded. Three of 63 (4.76%) failed regionally following a negative SLNB.

Conclusion

H&N cSCC SLNB is feasible and reliable for staging, with a false omission rate of 4.7% mirroring melanoma. Prospective studies documenting high risk features are required to further define its role.
Complications of Surgery for Sporadic Vestibular Schwannoma
Authors: Mahboubi Hossein , Ahmed Omar H. , Yau Amy Y. , Ahmed Yasmina C. , Djalilian Hamid R.
Published: November 2013

Objectives

We sought to investigate the postoperative complications of vestibular schwannoma excision and determine their significant clinical predictors.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional.

Setting

California Hospital Inpatient Discharge Datasets 1997‐2011.

Subjects and Methods

Data for vestibular schwannoma excisions performed in California were extracted using the ICD‐9‐CM code “04.01 excision of acoustic neuroma.” Demographics, principal payer, state of residence, comorbidities, as well as hospital case volume were examined as possible predictors. Postoperative complications and patient disposition were examined as outcome variables. Comorbidities and complications were identified using ICD‐9‐CM diagnoses and procedures codes.

Results

Overall, 6553 cases were examined. Comorbidities were present in 2539 (38.7%) patients. Postoperative complications occurred in 1846 (28.2%) patients; 1714 (26.2%) neurological and 337 (5.1%) medical complications. Patients’ admission ended with death or further care (ie, skilled nursing facilities) in 260 (4.0%) cases. Mortality rate was 0.2%. No significant changes were observed over time. Multivariate analysis revealed that the odds of neurological complications were greater in the 2007‐2011 period (OR = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.12‐2.04), in patients with comorbidities (OR = 1.48; 95% CI, 1.16‐1.88), and in hospitals with low case volume (OR = 1.69; 95% CI. 1.31‐2.18). The odds of medical complications were also greater in the 2007‐2011 period (OR = 1.69; 95%, CI 1.02‐2.80). Female gender, non‐Caucasian ethnicity, presence of comorbidities, and low hospital case volume were associated with greater odds of patients requiring further care.

Conclusion

Comorbidities and low hospital case volume were major risk factors for complications. No significant changes in rates of complications from vestibular schwannoma surgery were observed over the 15‐year period.
Exploring the financial impact of caring for family members receiving palliative and end-of-life care: A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Gardiner Clare , Brereton Louise , Frey Rosemary , Wilkinson-Meyers Laura , Gott Merryn
Published: November 2013

Background:

Research regarding the economic dimensions of palliative care is relatively limited. The economic implications of providing informal care are well recognised; however, within the context of palliative care, little is known about the costs and implications of providing care for a loved one at the end of life.

Aim:

To explore the financial costs and the financial impact of caring for family members receiving palliative/end-of-life care.

Design:

A systematic literature review of empirical research following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Data Sources:

Seven electronic databases were searched from inception to April 2012. Inclusion criteria were as follows: articles relating to the financial costs or implications of family caregiving at the end-of-life care, English language articles, empirical research or systematic reviews and articles relating to adults.

Results:

The review identified 21 relevant articles; however, evidence relating to the costs and implications of caregiving was relatively limited. The results indicate that the financial costs of caring for someone at the end of life are substantial. Financial costs can result in significant and multidimensional caregiver burden. Various factors were found to mediate the extent of financial burden.

Conclusions:

This review identified a significant gap in the evidence base regarding the economic implications of providing care to a family member within a palliative care context. Economic costs and implications are likely to be significant, and research to address this gap is urgently needed, particularly given policy initiatives in a number of developed countries to move the provision of palliative and end-of-life care from hospital to community settings.
Commitment Language and Homework Completion in a Behavioral Employment Program for Gang-Affiliated Youth
Authors: Smith Caitlin , Huey Stanley J. , McDaniel Dawn D.
Published: November 2013

Research with substance-abusing samples suggests that eliciting commitment language during treatment may improve motivation to change, increase treatment engagement, and promote positive treatment outcomes. However, the relationship between in-session client language and treatment success is not well-understood for youth offender populations. This study evaluated the relationship between commitment language, treatment engagement (i.e., homework completion), and weekly employment outcomes for six gang-affiliated juvenile offenders participating in an employment counseling intervention. Weekly counseling sessions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded for commitment language strength. Multilevel models were fit to the data to examine the relationship between commitment language and counseling homework or employment outcomes within participants over time. Commitment language strength predicted subsequent homework completion but not weekly employment. These findings imply that gang-affiliated delinquent youth who express motivation to change during employment counseling will be more likely to comply with counselor-initiated homework. Further research on counselor techniques for promoting commitment language among juvenile gang offenders is needed.
Biosynthetic alginate–polyester hydrogels with inherent free radical scavenging activity promote cellular response
Authors: Thankam Finosh G , Muthu Jayabalan
Published: November 2013

The prevention of deleterious effects of reactive oxygen species on the cell growth by biosynthetic hydrogels based on alginate–polyester copolymer was studied using H2O2 as the model ROS molecule. Chemically cross-linked biosynthetic hydrogels of alginate- co-poly(propylene fumarate)–n-butyl methacrylate, alginate- co-poly(propylene fumarate)–methyl methacrylate, alginate- co-poly(propylene fumarate)–2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and alginate- co-poly(propylene fumarate)– N,N′-methylene bisacrylamide with different biostabilities were prepared. We found that they were able to resist reactive oxygen species penetration into the cell to a greater extent which was evident from the live/dead assay, and increased intracellular glutathione levels compared to the H2O2-treated control. The hydrogels maintained the genomic integrity which was confirmed by comet assay. The inherent protective effects of these hydrogels without any antioxidant moiety may be mediated by dual mechanism: (a) prevention of migration of H2O2 into the cells by calcium-induced conformational changes and rigidity in phospholipids present in the surface membrane of cells by the calcium generated from degradation of hydrogel and (b) by the dilution of H2O2 by the free water in the hydrogel. These hydrogels have potential as injectable hydrogels to manage myocardial infarction and ischemia.
Violent Roots
Authors: Neuilly Melanie-Angela , Stout Kelly Rae , Lee Heeuk D.
Published: November 2013

Was the American Western Frontier a violent place? While many agree with the popular Wild West conception, others argue for a Workaday, quiet version of the West. The Wild West/Workaday West debate is an important one because some argue that current levels of violence in the United States are a result of the Western history of violence. Unfortunately, establishing such a history of violence is difficult because of methodological issues. We propose here to address these methodological issues and participate in the Wild West/Workaday West debate. We examine two death records sources for Walla Walla and Spokane counties in Eastern Washington between 1903 and 1907. We find that the two Northwestern counties under study were more violent at the beginning of the 20th century than at the beginning of the 21st century, even though Walla Walla was significantly less violent than Spokane.
Assessment of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living in Dementia
Authors: Sikkes Sietske A. M. , Pijnenburg Yolande A. L. , Knol Dirk L. , de Lange-de Klerk Elly S. M. , Scheltens Philip , Uitdehaag Bernard M. J.
Published: November 2013

Background:

Measuring impairments in “instrumental activities of daily living” (IADL) is important in dementia, but challenging due to the lack of reliable and valid instruments. We recently developed the Amsterdam Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire (A-IADL-Q; note 1). We aim to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of the A-IADL-Q for dementia in a memory clinic setting.

Methods:

Patients visiting the Alzheimer Center of the VU University Medical Center with their informants between 2009 and 2011 were included (N = 278). Diagnoses were established in a multidisciplinary consensus meeting, independent of the A-IADL-Q scores. An optimal A-IADL-Q cutoff point was determined, and sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Area under the curves (AUCs) were compared between A-IADL-Q and “disability assessment of dementia” (DAD). The additional diagnostic value of the A-IADL-Q to Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was examined using logistic regression analyses.

Results:

Dementia prevalence was 50.5%. Overall diagnostic accuracy based on the AUC was 0.75 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.70-0.81) for the A-IADL-Q and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.63-0.77) for the DAD, which did not differ significantly. The optimal cutoff score for the A-IADL-Q was 51.4, resulting in sensitivity of 0.74 and specificity of 0.64. Combining the A-IADL-Q with the MMSE improved specificity (0.94), with a decline in sensitivity (0.55). Logistic regression models showed that adding A-IADL-Q improved the diagnostic accuracy (Z = 2.55, P = .011), whereas the DAD did not.

Conclusions:

In this study, we showed a fair diagnostic accuracy for A-IADL-Q and an additional value in the diagnosis of dementia. These results support the role of A-IADL-Q as a valuable diagnostic tool.
Depth versus rigidity in the design of international trade agreements
Authors: Johns Leslie
Published: November 2013

I examine the impact of depth and rigidity in international trade agreements. Increasing the depth of required cooperation lowers the likelihood of full compliance and the stability of a trade regime. In contrast, increasing the rigidity of an agreement raises the likelihood of full compliance and lowers stability. Both depth and rigidity can lower tariffs if a state does not defect from its treaty obligations. I argue that if we control for the benefits of trade liberalization, then observable treaties will have a negative relationship between depth and rigidity. Deep agreements will be flexible, while shallow agreements will be rigid.
High-frequency corrosion fatigue behavior of AZ31 magnesium alloy in different environments
Authors: He XL , Wei YH , Hou LF , Yan ZF , Guo CL
Published: November 2013

The high-frequency corrosion fatigue behavior of extruded AZ31 magnesium alloy was investigated in different environments: air, gear oil and 3.5% NaCl solution. Compared with that in air, the corrosion fatigue limits were degraded by approximately 3.52% and 58.91%, respectively, and the corrosion fatigue lives were shortened by about 13.43% and 89.36%, respectively. In the same environment, the high-frequency fatigue limits are all higher than those tested at low frequency. The specimen geometrical shape plays a certain factor on stage characteristics of S–N curves. Compared with that of arc transition specimens, the stress sensitivity of line transition specimens is only reflected in a relatively high cycle fatigue life region. Different environments influence the corrosion failure kinetics processes (the crack initiation mechanism), but do not change the fatigue fracture mechanism of the alloy, and the higher loading frequency only accelerate the crack nucleation processes.
A patient with steroids and antihistaminic drug allergy and newly occurred chronic urticaria angioedema
Authors: Kutlu A , Karabacak E , Aydin E , Ozturk S , Bozkurt B
Published: November 2013

In this case report, successful use of omalizumab in the treatment of chronic urticarial and angioedema in a 24-year-old female patient with an allergic reaction history to almost every drug including steroids and antihistamines was presented. She also had allergy against a large number of foods, which were confirmed by oral provocation, specific Immunoglobulin E and allergy skin test.
Time, space and care: Rethinking transnational care from a temporal perspective
Authors: Zhou Yanqiu Rachel
Published: November 2013

Against the background of unprecedented international migration, it is not clear how people’s transnational mobility and ties have intersected with the temporalities associated with places or spaces. Drawing on the data from an empirical study of the caregiving experiences of Chinese grandparents in Canada, this case study reveals the simultaneous, yet uneven, temporal impacts of transnational care on individual, familial, and transnational levels. Although the coexistence of multiple temporalities enables Chinese skilled immigrant families to mobilize care resources across generations and nation-states, the dominance of the neoliberal temporal framework also means various consequences of such transnational ‘flexibility’. I argue that rethinking transnational care from a temporal perspective helps us identify the linkages, discrepancies and contradictions between ‘global time’ and peripheral temporalities and between time and space, and thus makes visible the inequalities – in particular, the temporal inequalities – embedded in human migration and social relations on a transnational scale.
Propensity score estimators for the average treatment effect and the average treatment effect on the treated may yield very different estimates
Authors: Pirracchio R , Carone M , Rigon M Resche , Caruana E , Mebazaa A , Chevret S
Published: November 2013

Objective

Propensity score matching is typically used to estimate the average treatment effect for the treated while inverse probability of treatment weighting aims at estimating the population average treatment effect. We illustrate how different estimands can result in very different conclusions.

Study design

We applied the two propensity score methods to assess the effect of continuous positive airway pressure on mortality in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure. We used Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the important differences in the two estimates.

Results

Continuous positive airway pressure application increased hospital mortality overall, but no continuous positive airway pressure effect was found on the treated. Potential reasons were (1) violation of the positivity assumption; (2) treatment effect was not uniform across the distribution of the propensity score. From simulations, we concluded that positivity bias was of limited magnitude and did not explain the large differences in the point estimates. However, when treatment effect varies according to the propensity score (E[Y(1)–Y(0)|g(X)] is not constant, Y being the outcome and g(X) the propensity score), propensity score matching ATT estimate could strongly differ from the inverse probability of treatment weighting-average treatment effect estimate. We show that this empirical result is supported by theory.

Conclusion

Although both approaches are recommended as valid methods for causal inference, propensity score-matching for ATT and inverse probability of treatment weighting for average treatment effect yield substantially different estimates of treatment effect. The choice of the estimand should drive the choice of the method.
Normalization of mean squared differences to measure agreement for continuous data
Authors: Almehrizi Rashid
Published: November 2013

Agreement among observations on two variables for reliability or validation purposes is usually assessed by the evaluation of the mean squared differences (MSD). Many transformations of MSD have been proposed to interpret and make statistical inferences about the agreement between the two variables, including the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and the random marginal agreement coefficient (RMAC). This paper presents a normalization of MSD based on a reference range and uses it to derive CCC and RMAC (or ACC alternatively). The normalization of MSD enables the comparison between these two coefficients. The paper compares thoroughly the differences between these two coefficients and their properties at different agreement levels. Results show that ACC has promising properties over CCC. A Monte Carlo simulations as well as real data applications are performed. ACC for more than two variables are also derived.
Nicholas Culpeper (1616–1654): London’s first general practitioner?
Authors: Farthing Michael JG
Published: November 2013

Nicholas Culpeper is often regarded as an ill-disciplined, maverick, mid-17th century herbalist and the father of contemporary alternative medicine. There are elements of this statement that have some truth but to dismiss his contribution to the development of health provision in London at the time would be a great injustice. Culpeper did not complete his apprenticeship as an apothecary and was not a formally trained physician, but he developed a clinical practice for the poor of London, indistinguishable from the role of the present day general practitioner. Observers at the time recognised his concern and compassion and his commitment to treat the whole patient and not just the disease. His enduring contribution was his translation from Latin of the physicians’ Pharmacopoeia Londinensis which could be regarded as the first major step towards the demystification of medicine. Culpeper’s London Dispensatory and the many other medical treatises that followed were affordable and widely available to the common man. Culpeper antagonised both apothecaries and physicians because he breached the regulations of the day by accepting patients directly. So perhaps Culpeper was, de facto, London’s first general practitioner, at least 150 years before the role was formally recognised in the Apothecaries Act 1815.
Medical missionaries to China: the antecedents
Authors: Fu Louis
Published: November 2013

Notwithstanding the traditional belief that disciples of Jesus Christ introduced Christianity into China, conclusive evidence showed that it was the Nestorian missionaries who entered China in AD 635. Alongside commercial contacts between the West and China during the prosperous T’ang dynasty (618–906), trepanation, bloodletting and the universal antidote theriac were introduced from the Byzantium Empire. Nestorian Christians built churches throughout China and offered some form of medical services. During the Yuan (Mongol) dynasty (1260–1368), foreign physicians were present in the Royal Court; the most famous was the astronomer, linguist and physician Ai-hsieh (Isaiah), Head of the Imperial Medical Bureau. With the fall of this dynasty, Christianity, being primarily the faith of a foreign community, naturally fell into oblivion. It was not until the sixteenth-century’s Age of Discovery when a safe sea route to China was found that a new phase of Christian missionaries began.
The Association Between the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and the Presence of Ventricular Premature Contractions in Young Adults
Authors: Yildiz Abdulkadir , Oylumlu Mustafa , Yuksel Murat , Aydin Mesut , Polat Nihat , Acet Halit , Akil Mehmet Ata , Bilik Mehmet Zihni , Kaya Hasan , Ertas Faruk
Published: November 2013

Inflammation has recently emerged in the pathogenesis of several cardiovascular disorders, including arrhythmias. The neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a simple marker for the assessment of inflammatory status. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the NLR and the ventricular premature contraction (VPC) existence. Patients aged between 18 and 40 years who were referred to the cardiology clinic were enrolled in the study. All patients’ complete blood counts and 24-hour Holter recordings were analyzed. The NLR was higher within the VPC group compared to the control group ( P < .001). According to the NLR tertiles, VPCs were more common in the higher NLR tertile ( P < .001). A cutoff point of 1.80 for the NLR had 71% sensitivity and 60% specificity in predicting VPC in apparently healthy individuals. After multivariate analysis, only the NLR remained significant predictor of presence of VPC. In conclusion, the NLR is independently and significantly associated with VPC existence.
A model and simulation of uterine contractions
Authors: Cochran Amy L , Gao Yingxin
Published: November 2013

We present a model of uterine contractions that consists of tissue mechanics, electrical activity, and intrauterine pressure. Uterine contractions were simulated to measure the impact that ± 3% changes in mechanical and electrical properties have on peak intrauterine pressure and the duration above 90% peak pressure. Peak pressure was overwhelmingly affected by changes in one mechanical property (maximum stress generated from cellular contraction), whereas duration above 90% peak pressure was overwhelmingly affected by changes in two electrical properties (the recovery rate and activation threshold of the action potential). In contrast, changes in other properties (e.g. pacemaker location and diffusion coefficient) had an impact on intrauterine pressure one order of magnitude smaller. Additionally, intrauterine pressure was strengthened by decreasing the fraction of fasciculi aligned in the longitudinal rather than the circumferential direction.
Efficacy and Safety of Atomoxetine Hydrochloride in Asian Adults With ADHD
Authors: Goto Taro , Hirata Yuko , Takita Yasushi , Trzepacz Paula T. , Allen Albert J. , Song Dong-Ho , Gau Susan Shur-Fen , Ichikawa Hironobu , Takahashi Michihiro
Published: November 2013

Objective: The efficacy and safety of atomoxetine was assessed in adult ADHD patients from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan in this first placebo-controlled Asian clinical study in adults of an ADHD medication. Method: Atomoxetine was compared with placebo (195 atomoxetine, 196 placebo) over 10 weeks. The change from baseline to endpoint and changes over time in the Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scale–Investigator Rated: Screening Version total score (CAARS-Inv: SV total score) were assessed along with changes in quality of life (QoL) and executive function. Results: Atomoxetine treatment resulted in a mean reduction of −14.3 (placebo, −8.8) in CAARS-Inv: SV total score and a steady increase of between-group differences from Week 2. Improvements in QoL and executive functioning were also observed. Treatment-emergent adverse events leading to discontinuation were infrequent (atomoxetine: 5.2%, placebo: 1.5%). Conclusion: Atomoxetine was tolerable and effective in improving QoL and executive function as well as ameliorating core ADHD symptoms in adult Asian patients.
An optical comparison of the cavitation characteristics of diesel and bio-diesel blends in a true-scale nozzle geometry
Authors: Reid Ben A , Hargrave Graham K , Garner Colin P , McDavid Robert M
Published: November 2013

This study undertakes an optical comparison of the cavitation phenomena present in a true-scale optical diesel injector at fuel injection pressures up to 2000 bar. The cavitating nozzle-flow characteristics of rapeseed methyl ester B20 and B100 bio-diesel blends are compared to those of standard ultra-low sulphur petroleum diesel as a means to establish any potential differences in fuel injector performance when bio-fuel blends are introduced to the fuel injection system. A difference in the propensity for cavitation to form is shown, with cavitation inception observed earlier in the 2 ms fuel injection event tested for the bio-diesel blends, with B20 cavitating more readily than B100. Once cavitation inception has occurred, the characteristics of the flow appear to be no different to those of petroleum diesel for fuel injection pressures up to 2000 bar.
Business models: A challenging agenda
Authors: Baden-Fuller Charles , Mangematin Vincent
Published: November 2013

Most research on business models lies in the literature on strategy and competitive advantage and focuses on their role as descriptors of actual phenomenon, often by reference to taxonomic categories. In this article, we explore how business models can be seen as a set of cognitive configurations that can be manipulable in the minds of managers (and academics). By proposing a typology of business models that emphasizes the connecting of traditional value chain descriptors with how customers are identified and satisfied, and how the firm monetizes its value, we explore how business model configurations can extend current work on cognitive categorization and open up new possibilities for organization research.
Opportunities in business model research
Authors: Eckhardt Jonathan T
Published: November 2013

The business model concept is widely used by practicing entrepreneurs and scholarly research on the business model concept has made contributions to the management literature. This essay links the business model literature to the growing work on the individual–opportunity nexus—which is a developing scholarly framework in entrepreneurship. Three potential linkages of overlapping research are discussed including research on the development of entrepreneurial taxonomies and conjecture formation.
Superintendents’ perceptions of the school improvement planning process in the southeastern USA
Authors: Dunaway David M , Bird James J , Wang Chuang , Hancock Dawson
Published: November 2013

The purpose of this study of school improvement planning in the southeastern USA was to establish the current view of the process through the eyes of the district superintendents. The answers to the questions were consistently mixed. Generally, the presence of school improvement planning is prevalent in the large majority of districts. However, the data indicate a lack of fidelity to the process between superintendents’ beliefs regarding the process and how they perceive those tasked with development and implementation of the process. Given that school improvement planning is an internationally accepted process, the findings have implications not just for the USA but for international audiences as well. The authors make two recommendations: (1) significant further research into the effects of the process on student learning, and (2) continued research into the reasons for the lack of congruency indicated here between district expectations and school development and implementation.
Learning leadership matters
Authors: Orphanos Stelios , Orr Margaret Terry
Published: November 2013

School leadership has been shown to exert a positive but mostly indirect influence on school and student outcomes. Currently, there is great interest in how quality leadership preparation is related to leadership practice and improved teacher outcomes. The purpose of the study was to understand the moderating influence of leadership preparation on leadership practices and teachers’ job collaboration, leadership and satisfaction. The study features a non-experimental design that combined data from a US study of exemplary leadership preparation and a nationally representative sample of elementary school principals. The sample consists of 175 teachers whose principals were prepared in an exemplary leadership program and 589 teachers whose principals were traditionally prepared. Data were analyzed with structural equation techniques and results have shown that innovative leadership preparation exerts a statistically significant direct effect on principalship leadership practices and a significant indirect effect on teacher collaboration and satisfaction. The results provide important policy implications. Investments in leadership preparation influences leadership practices that yield more positive teacher work conditions, which are essential for improve student learning and as a result leadership preparation program design and improvement can play an important role in district reform and school improvement.
Recurrent miscarriage
Authors: McBride Kate Louise , Beirne James Patrick
Published: November 2013

Recurrent miscarriage is defined as three or more consecutive pregnancy losses prior to the 24th week of gestation. The condition affects 1% of couples attempting to conceive and in the majority of cases no cause is identified. It can be an anxious and worrying time for those involved, and our role as GPs is made up of reassurance, support and tertiary referral where necessary. Fortunately, many couples proceed to having a successful pregnancy without the need for medical intervention. This article aims to discuss the aetiology, investigation and subsequent evidence-based management of recurrent pregnancy loss.