bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Book Review: Jean Dreze (Ed.), Social Policy, Essays from Economic and Political Weekly
Authors: Padel Felix , Gupta Malvika
Published: March 2017

Jean Dreze (Ed.), Social Policy, Essays from Economic and Political Weekly, New Delhi: Orient BlackSwan, 2016, 496 pp., ₹795, ISBN: 978-81-250-6284-4 (Paperback).
Book Review: South Asia State of Minorities Report Collective, South Asia State of Minorities Report 2016: Mapping the Terrain
Authors: Jha Pushpanjali
Published: March 2017

South Asia State of Minorities Report Collective, South Asia State of Minorities Report 2016: Mapping the Terrain, New Delhi, Books for Change, 400 pp., ISBN: 978-81-926907-3-5.
Improved locating algorithm of railway tunnel personnel based on collaborative information fusion in Internet of Things
Authors: Yang Ou
Published: March 2017

With larger-scale of railway construction in China, there are more and more larger-scale tunnel projects in process. Tunnel engineering constructions are very difficult, high risk, and there are many unpredictable factors that may cause safety issues, such as landslides, roof caving and water bursts, threatening the construction personnel’s safety. The personnel positioning tracking systems have been studied and applied preliminarily in railway tunnel construction. It is important to know how many people are underground, and workers must sign in/out one by one at tunnel entrances when they come in or leave; a process that is time-consuming and sometimes irritating to those who line up and must exit one-by-one to sign in. Active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems can respond to transponders on the personnel’s helmets or jackets to quickly identify workers coming and going without stopping to sign in and out. It can also alert management when a person enters without a transponder. Indoor moving target recognition and tracking in Internet of Things is a popular research and application topic in recent years. This paper proposes an indoor moving target recognition and tracking method based on RFID and Charge Coupled Device (CCD) collaborative information fusion. First, RFID technique and the proposed extended virtual reference elimination (extended virtual reference elimination) approach are used to recognize and to coarsely locate the target. Second, based on the coarse localization results, the monitoring/sleeping control of different CCDs will be realized. Subsequently, the background-difference method is used to detect the target in CCD monitoring image and realize precise localization with multiple angle of view fusion. Finally, with weighted average of the two localization results, the moving target location is obtained. The method combines the advantages of RFID fast recognition and localization and CCD precise localization. The experiment results indicate that the proposed collaborative information fusion method can effectively improve the accuracy and real-time performance of indoor moving target tracking.
Reliable filter synthesis for a class of stochastic systems under nonhomogeneous Markovian switching
Authors: Long Yue , Xu Chao , Zhou Zhenyu
Published: March 2017

This paper is concerned with the problem of reliable filter synthesis for a class of stochastic systems with random occurring nonlinearities and mode-dependent delays under nonhomogeneous Markovian switching. By considering a new sensor failure model, which is valid to describe the drift faults, the loss of effectiveness, the stuck as well as the outage faults besides the normal case, a procedure of filter synthesis is proposed. Further, the filter gains are characterized in terms of solutions to a convex optimization problem with less conservativeness. Finally, the theoretical results are illustrated through an example of the aircraft engine.
Analysis of iterative learning control for an oscillating control system with two delays
Authors: Liang Chengbin , Wang JinRong
Published: March 2017

In order to track the desired reference trajectory from an oscillating control system with two delays in a finite time interval, we design iterative learning control updating laws to generate a sequence of input control functions such that the error between the output and the desired reference trajectories tends to zero via a suitable norm in the sense of uniform convergence. Here, we adopt a delayed matrix function to characterize the output state, which can be easily solved in the simulation. As a result, convergence analysis results are given. Finally, simulation results are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed controllers.
Consonant cluster production in children with cochlear implants: A comparison with normally hearing peers
Authors: Faes Jolien , Gillis Steven
Published: March 2017

In early word productions, the same types of errors are manifest in children with cochlear implants (CI) as in their normally hearing (NH) peers with respect to consonant clusters. However, the incidence of those types and their longitudinal development have not been examined or quantified in the literature thus far. Furthermore, studies on the spontaneous speech of Dutch-speaking children with CI are missing. This article compares children with CI and NH children with respect to their use of word-initial two-consonant clusters and the frequency of each type of error. The spontaneous speech of nine Dutch-speaking children with CI and an age-matched cohort of NH children was analysed from word-onset up to age seven. Results showed that accuracy and frequency of consonant clusters increases with age and that the age at implant activation is crucial in children with CI. Cross-sectional comparisons showed that some aspects of consonant cluster production in children with CI lag behind that of their NH peers, but that children with CI catch up by age five.
“In One We Shall Be Slower”
Authors: Shears Jonathon
Published: March 2017

While Byron is a poet often associated with feelings of resentment and anger, he is usually marginalized when it comes to the topic of forgiveness in the Romantic period. If forgiveness is debated in Byron then it is usually dominated by the suspicion that surrounds the “forgiveness-curse” in the Coliseum stanzas of Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage Canto IV. This article proposes that we have too quickly dismissed this proclamation as insincere and that it is in fact a biblically orthodox utterance which, once reread in such terms, allows us to see forgiveness as a much wider theme in Byron’s verse than has previously been thought. The essay argues that a more clearly defined Christian ethical framework needs to be constructed to enable readers to understand Byron’s representations of forgiveness.
Defending Tennyson
Authors: Colón Christine A.
Published: March 2017

Dorothy L. Sayers’s interactions with Tennyson’s poetry provide a powerful example of her theology of charitable reading. Unlike many of her contemporaries, Sayers refused to oversimplify Tennyson’s works. She defended him from his critics and used some of his ideas to inform Gaudy Night, crafting an insightful critique of The Princess that acknowledges the poem’s problems but also emphasizes its underlying truths. Sayers never completely articulated her theology of charitable reading, but with her approach to Tennyson, she enacts the theology that is implicit in her reflections on the artist in The Mind of the Maker.
Thyroid Surgery in a Resource‐Limited Setting: Feasibility and Analysis of Short‐ and Long‐term Outcomes
Authors: Jafari Aria , Campbell David , Campbell Bruce H. , Ngoitsi Henry Nono , Sisenda Titus M. , Denge Makaya , James Benjamin C. , Cordes Susan R.
Published: March 2017

Objective

The present study reviews a series of patients who underwent thyroid surgery in Eldoret, Kenya, to demonstrate the feasibility of conducting long‐term (>1 year) outcomes research in a resource‐limited setting, impact on the quality of life of the recipient population, and inform future humanitarian collaborations.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Tertiary public referral hospital in Eldoret, Kenya.

Subjects and Methods

Twenty‐one patients were enrolled during the study period. A retrospective chart review was performed for all adult patients who underwent thyroid surgery during humanitarian trips (2010‐2015). Patients were contacted by mobile telephone. Medical history and physical examination, including laryngoscopy, were performed, and the SF‐36 was administered (a quality‐of‐life questionnaire). Laboratory measurements of thyroid function and neck ultrasound were obtained.

Results

The mean follow‐up was 33.6 ± 20.2 months after surgery: 37.5% of subtotal thyroidectomy patients and 15.4% of lobectomy patients were hypothyroid postoperatively according to serologic studies. There were no cases of goiter recurrence or malignancy. All patients reported postoperative symptomatic improvement and collectively showed positive pre‐ and postoperative score differences on the SF‐36.

Conclusion

Although limited by a small sample size and the retrospective nature, our study demonstrates the feasibility of long‐term surgical and quality‐of‐life outcomes research in a resource‐limited setting. The low complication rates suggest minimal adverse effects of performing surgery in this context. Despite a considerable rate of postoperative hypothyroidism, it is in accordance with prior studies and emphasizes the need for individualized, longitudinal, and multidisciplinary care. Quality‐of‐life score improvements suggest benefit to the recipient population.
Population survey of attitudes and beliefs regarding organic, genetically modified, and irradiated foods
Authors: Gwira Baumblatt Jane A , Carpenter L Rand , Wiedeman Caleb , Dunn John R , Schaffner William , Jones Timothy F
Published: March 2017

Background:

Sales of organic foods are increasing due to public demand, while genetically modified (GM) and irradiated foods are often viewed with suspicion.

Aim:

The aim of this research was to examine consumer attitudes toward organic, GM and irradiated foods to direct educational efforts regarding their consumption

Methods:

A telephone survey of 1838 residents in Tennessee, USA was conducted regarding organic, GM, and irradiated foods.

Results:

Approximately half of respondents (50.4%) purchased organic food during the previous 6 months (‘consumers’). The most common beliefs about organic foods by consumers were higher cost (92%), and fewer pesticides (89%). Consumers were more likely than non-consumers to believe organic food tasted better (prevalence ratio 3.6; 95% confidence interval 3.02–4.23). A minority of respondents were familiar with GM foods (33%) and irradiated foods (22%).

Conclusion:

Organic food consumption is common in Tennessee, but knowledge about GM and irradiated foods is less common. Consumer health education should emphasize the benefits of these food options, and the safety of GM and irradiated foods.
Concubinage and Motherhood in Qing China (1644–1911)
Authors: Du Yue
Published: March 2017

This article explores concubinage, a widespread form of quasi-marriage in Qing China (1644–1911), and its relationship with motherhood and social mobility. By examining legal codes and court records, this research challenges the academic paradigm, mainly based on literati writings, that portrays concubines as reproductive tools for their husband-masters and their husband-masters’ wives. It shows that bearing or raising sons or daughters helped concubines achieve upward social mobility recognized and protected by law and that motherhood remained the major source of power and security for concubines in the Qing. After household divisions, concubine-mothers gained lifelong custodial rights of property, which formally consolidated concubine-mothers’ upward mobility from daughters or widows in lower-class families to matriarchs in well-to-do households.
Groin Problems in Male Soccer Players Are More Common Than Previously Reported
Authors: Harøy Joar , Clarsen Ben , Thorborg Kristian , Hölmich Per , Bahr Roald , Andersen Thor Einar
Published: March 2017

Background:

The majority of surveillance studies in soccer have used a time-loss injury definition, and many groin problems result from overuse, leading to gradually increasing pain and/or reduced performance without necessarily causing an absence from soccer training or match play. Thus, the magnitude of groin problems in soccer has probably been underestimated in previous studies based on traditional injury surveillance methods.

Purpose:

To investigate the prevalence of groin problems among soccer players of both sexes and among male soccer players at different levels of play through a new surveillance method developed to capture acute and overuse problems.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

We registered groin problems during a 6-week period of match congestion using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Overuse Injury Questionnaire. A total of 240 players from 15 teams across different levels of play and from both sexes were included, and they responded to the weekly questionnaire. We calculated the average weekly prevalence of all groin problems and substantial groin problems.

Results:

Of the 240 players, 112 male players (59%) and 20 female players (45%) reported at least 1 episode of groin problems. The average weekly prevalence of any groin problem and substantial groin problem for all male players was 29% (range, 23%-32% across different levels) and 10% (7%-13%), respectively. Elite male players had an increased risk of experiencing groin problems (odds ratio: 3.1, 95% CI: 1.5-6.4, P = .03) compared with elite female players. There was no difference in the risk of experiencing groin problems among elite, subelite, and amateur male players. For substantial problems, there was no difference between elite male and elite female players or among levels of play for senior male soccer players.

Conclusion:

We found a high prevalence of groin problems among male soccer players during a period with match congestion. Time-loss definition as used in previous injury surveillance studies captured only one-third of the male groin problems registered with the new method. Elite male players had 3 times’ higher risk of reporting groin problems as compared with elite female players, while playing level did not influence the risk of reporting a groin problem among males.
Clinical Assessment of the Dynamic Labral Shear Test for Superior Labrum Anterior and Posterior Lesions
Authors: Sodha Sonal , Srikumaran Uma , Choi Kyubo , Borade Amrut U. , McFarland Edward G.
Published: March 2017

Background:

Diagnosing superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) lesions through physical examination remains challenging. The dynamic labral shear test (DLST) has been shown to have likelihood ratios (LRs) of 31.6 and 1.1 for diagnosing SLAP lesions.

Purpose:

To determine the clinical utility of the DLST for diagnosing SLAP lesions.

Study Design:

Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

This prospective, consecutive case series included 774 patients who underwent diagnostic arthroscopy and a preoperative DLST between 2007 and 2013. Patients were divided into 3 groups: 610 control patients with no SLAP lesion but with other abnormalities, 9 patients with isolated SLAP lesion (ISL), and 155 patients with concomitant SLAP lesion (CSL), who had a SLAP lesion and another shoulder abnormality. We determined sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), odds ratio (OR), and diagnostic accuracy (DA) of the DLST with and without other tests.

Results:

The DLST was positive for 242 of 610 controls (40%), 7 of 9 patients (78%) in the ISL group, and 88 of 155 patients (57%) in the CSL group. In the ISL group, the DLST had a sensitivity of 78%, specificity of 51%, PPV of 2%, NPV of 100%, OR of 3.58, and DA of 51%. In comparison, the ORs were 1.09 for the active compression test, 1.30 for the lift-off test, and 1.53 for the relocation test, which were not significantly different from each other. For diagnosing a SLAP lesion existing in a joint with other associated injury, the DLST had a sensitivity of 57%, specificity of 52%, PPV of 23%, NPV of 83%, OR of 1.4, and DA of 53%. Combining all 4 tests did not improve the OR for detecting ISLs or CSLs.

Conclusion:

The DLST is sensitive but not specific for detecting ISLs. With an OR of 3.58, the DLST is useful for diagnosing ISLs. However, in patients who have CSLs, the DLST is not as useful for diagnosing SLAP lesions.
Arthroscopic Repair of Anterosuperior Massive Rotator Cuff Tears: Does Repair Integrity Affect Outcomes?
Authors: Kim Sung-Jae , Choi Yun-Rak , Jung Min , Lee Wonyong , Chun Yong-Min
Published: March 2017

Background:

The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical outcomes and structural integrity after arthroscopic repair of anterosuperior massive rotator cuff tears (RCTs) and to compare clinical outcomes between healed and retear groups.

Hypothesis:

The authors hypothesized that although both groups would exhibit improved clinical outcomes compared with their preoperative status, the healed group would have better clinical outcomes than the retear group, and in the retear group, the subscapularis retear subgroup would have inferior outcomes compared with the intact subscapularis repair subgroup.

Study Design:

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

This study included 73 of 90 eligible patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of an anterosuperior massive RCT. Functional outcomes after 2-year follow-up were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, subjective shoulder value (SSV), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder score, and active range of motion. Patients were assigned to the healed group (group H, n = 34) or retear group (group R, n = 39) based on magnetic resonance arthrography results at 6 months postoperatively. Group R was composed of subgroup R1 (subscapularis retear) and subgroup R2 (intact subscapularis repair).

Results:

Retearing occurred in 53% of patients. At 2-year follow-up, group H exhibited better outcomes for all functional scores versus group R, respectively ( P < .001): VAS pain score (1.0 vs 2.1), SSV (90.2 vs 77.4), ASES score (90.8 vs 76.6), and UCLA shoulder score (31.0 vs 24.9). Within both groups, all scores improved significantly compared with preoperative values ( P < .001). At follow-up, group H had significantly better forward flexion ( P = .018) and internal rotation ( P = .002) than group R; within both groups, active range of motion improved in all planes compared with the preoperative condition ( P < .001). Subgroup R1 exhibited inferior outcomes versus subgroup R2, respectively: VAS pain score (2.6 vs 1.5; P = .012), ASES score (70.9 vs 83.6; P = .013), SSV (70.9 vs 85.4; P = .005), and UCLA shoulder score (22.0 vs 28.5; P = .001).

Conclusion:

After arthroscopic repair of anterosuperior massive RCTs, 53% of patients exhibited retearing. The healed group had better functional outcomes than the retear group. The subscapularis retear subgroup exhibited significantly inferior outcomes compared with the intact subscapularis repair subgroup.
Learning Disabilities and Achieving High-Quality Education Standards
Authors: Gartland Debi , Strosnider Roberta
Published: March 2017

This is an official document of the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (NJCLD), of which Council for Learning Disabilities is a long-standing, active member. With this position paper, NJCLD advocates for the implementation of high-quality education standards (HQES) for students with learning disabilities (LD) and outlines the necessary ingredients that contribute to successful outcomes for students with LD in meeting HQES.
Sexual violence and biased military interventions in civil conflict
Authors: Johansson Karin , Sarwari Mehwish
Published: March 2017

What is the impact of foreign troop support on combatant-perpetrated sexual violence against civilians? We hypothesize that biased troop support increases the risk of sexual violence by the subordinate party both as a consequence of strategic considerations and as a product of a situation increasingly conducive to opportunistic behavior. Time-series cross-section analyses of all civil wars during 1989–2012 are largely supportive of our expectation. Rebel groups are more likely to perpetrate sexual violence the more troop support the state receives. Likewise, state forces are more prone to commit sexual violence the more they are challenged by troops supporting the rebel group(s).
Impact of Bedside Tracheostomy on Procalcitonin Kinetics in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Sato Koji , Okajima Masaki , Noda Toru , Taniguchi Takumi
Published: March 2017

Background:

Critically ill patients are particularly vulnerable to invasive procedures and complications; however, tracheostomy is frequently performed in the intensive care unit (ICU). We analyzed the effects of tracheostomy on procalcitonin (PCT) kinetics and investigated whether PCT could reliably predict septic complications after tracheostomy.

Methods:

We retrospectively identified 134 patients who underwent bedside tracheostomy during their ICU stay at a Japanese university hospital from October 2010 to December 2015. We extracted PCT data from the day of the procedure (day 0) to postoperative day 2 and defined alert PCT as a PCT level ≥0.5 ng/mL, which had not decreased from the previous day. We divided patients into the following groups: nonevent, aseptic complication, and septic complication.

Results:

Twelve (9.2%) patients developed acute aseptic complications, and 12 (9.2%) patients developed septic complications. In the nonevent group, the PCT value decreased continuously in the initial PCT ≥ 0.5 ng/mL subgroup ( P < .001, P <.001 for trend). In contrast, significant changes were not observed in the initial PCT < 0.5 ng/mL subgroup. Significant differences and an upward trend in alert PCT incidence rate existed between the groups ( P < .001, P < .001 for trend): nonevent group, 5.5%; aseptic complication group, 41.7%; and septic complication group, 66.7%. In a multivariate linear regression model, septic complications were independently associated with PCT change at postoperative days 1 and 2 (adjusted β = 3.58, P < .001; adjusted β = 9.84, P < .001, respectively). Procalcitonin predicted septic complications more accurately than C-reactive protein, with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of 0.8 versus 0.63 ( P = .058) and 0.91 versus 0.69 ( P = .036) at postoperative days 1 and 2, respectively.

Conclusion:

Our results demonstrated that PCT was not elevated after uncomplicated surgical tracheostomy in critically ill patients.
Methodology based on best practice rules to design a new-born trochoidal gear pump
Authors: Gamez-Montero PJ , Castilla R , Codina E
Published: March 2017

The trochoidal gear pump, also known as gerotor, owing to its remarkable advantages compared to other hydraulic pumps is chosen for many engineering applications. As each application is unique, the designer ought to be knowledgeable of the required specifications as a first task but need not be an expert in the hydraulic pump design. The review of the existing research reveals significant gaps to develop a new-born project and the work presented in this paper, drawn on existing research work and the authors’ own experience and know-how, aims to overcome them. The objective of the paper is then to provide a summary of the best practice rules to design a trochoidal gear pump from scratch achieving a thorough understanding. In the conceptual stage, making decisions come according to a predetermined set of four parameters known by the designer that will lead to the complete development of the trochoidal gear set. Afterwards, in the design process, the most important characteristics of the pump such as the porting, the pump construction, and the limitations are presented based on the significant explanations, with regard to each feature, selection, effects, and good practices. As a result, the methodology presented compiles the process of engineering in designing a new trochoidal gear pump as a catalogue of guidelines aiming to overcome a vague design due to a lack of knowledge. This collection of best practice rules intends to guide the designer to take good decisions early in the design process that limit design change later in the final stage—the prototype.
Experimental study of the influence levels of different vehicle seat adjustments on the fore-and-aft modal characteristics using the orthogonal array method
Authors: Zhang Zheng , Ye Dong , Li Feng , Lu Congda , Shao Mingxing , Jin Kaili
Published: March 2017

The vehicle seat modal characteristics (in particular, the first resonant frequency and the corresponding modal shape) play important roles in the seat design and the ride comfort. This paper investigated the relationship between the first modal characteristics and the positions of the adjusters on the vehicle seat. There are four adjusters on the vehicle seat to change its position so as to match the driver’s somatotype, the driving and the sitting habits. Different seat positions inevitably cause changes in the resonant frequency. An orthogonal array method was adopted to evaluate the influence levels of the adjusters by using a Pareto chart. It was found that the first modal (fore-and-aft) shape is almost uninfluenced by the variations in the adjuster positions, whereas the first modal frequency is greatly influenced by the changes in the adjuster positions. The first modal frequency is most affected by the variation in the slider position, followed by the variation in the headrest adjuster position, the variation in the recliner position and the variation in the height adjuster position.
Ethical challenges experienced by clinical research nurses:: A qualitative study
Authors: Larkin Mary E , Beardslee Brian , Cagliero Enrico , Griffith Catherine A , Milaszewski Kerry , Mugford Marielle T , Myerson Joanna M , Ni Wen , Perry Donna J , Winkler Sabune , Witte Elizabeth R
Published: March 2017

Background:

Clinical investigation is a growing field employing increasing numbers of nurses. This has created a new specialty practice defined by aspects unique to nursing in a clinical research context: the objectives (to implement research protocols and advance science), setting (research facilities), and nature of the nurse–participant relationship. The clinical research nurse role may give rise to feelings of ethical conflict between aspects of protocol implementation and the duty of patient advocacy, a primary nursing responsibility. Little is known about whether research nurses experience unique ethical challenges distinct from those experienced by nurses in traditional patient-care settings.

Research objectives:

The purpose of the study was to describe the nature of ethical challenges experienced by clinical research nurses within the context of their practice.

Research design:

The study utilized a qualitative descriptive design with individual interviews.

Participants and research context:

Participating nurses (N = 12) self-identified as having experienced ethical challenges during screening. The majority were Caucasian (90%), female (83%), and worked in outpatient settings (67%). Approximately 50% had > 10 years of research experience.

Ethical considerations:

The human subjects review board approved the study. Written informed consent was obtained.

Findings:

Predominant themes were revealed: (1) the inability to provide a probable good, or/do no harm, and (2) dual obligations (identity as a nurse vs a research nurse). The following patterns and subthemes emerged: conflicted allegiances between protocol implementation, needs of the participant, desire to advance science, and tension between the nurse–patient therapeutic relationship versus the research relationship.

Discussion:

Participants described ethical challenges specific to the research role. The issues are central to the nurse–participant relationship, patient advocacy, the nurse’s role in implementing protocols, and/or advancing science.

Conclusion:

Ethical challenges related to the specialized role of clinical research nurses were identified. More research is warranted to fully understand their nature and frequency and to identify support systems for resolution.
Strategic Entrepreneurial Agency in Emerging Markets
Authors: Alvi Farzad H. , Carsrud Alan L.
Published: March 2017

This article introduces the concept of strategic entrepreneurial agency (SEA) to describe the impromptu and improvised nature of strategy making by managers of ventures in emerging markets. The concept is at the intersection of strategy, international entrepreneurship (IE) and entrepreneurship literatures. Rather than customary firm-level approaches that dominate the literature, the concept of SEA argues that learning and individual agency are critical for addressing the institutional upheaval of emerging markets. The psychology of the entrepreneur and IE from the individual as opposed to firm perspective are central in the institutional contexts of emerging markets. The article proposes research propositions informed by psychology of the entrepreneur and strategy-as-practice.
Results of a metabolic health clinic at a hostel for homeless men
Authors: Nielssen Olav , Chudleigh Alan , Chen Mia , Large Matthew , Markovic Tania , Cooper Lucy
Published: March 2017

Objectives:

People who are homeless have high mortality and morbidity, including from metabolic disorder. The aim of this study was to report on the characteristics and progress of the metabolic health of people attending a metabolic clinic at a homeless men’s shelter.

Methods:

Homeless men attending the clinic were assessed by measuring their weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, blood lipids, fasting blood glucose and, if indicated, HbA1c. The sample characteristics of people who attended once (one-off clients) were compared to those who attended on more than one occasion (returning clients). Changes in health status were examined among returning clients by comparing baseline results to those at their last clinic visit.

Results:

Baseline data were recorded on a total of 136 men, of whom 126 had a consultation with a general practitioner and at least one blood test. The 136 clients had a median BMI of 27.4 kg/m2. Forty-three were obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2), 18 had class II obesity (BMI >35 kg/m2) and seven were underweight (BMI <20 kg/m2). Sixty-five had an intervention for either a newly diagnosed condition or a change to existing medical treatment. Seventy-six returning clients were seen on an average of 2.3 further occasions. Returning clients had significant improvements in measures of metabolic health.

Conclusions:

Homeless people in Sydney appear to be at a high risk of metabolic disease. The feasibility of a metabolic health clinic was demonstrated, and an encouraging improvement in some health indicators was found.
Where pseudo-hallucinations meet dissociation: a cluster analysis
Authors: Wearne Deborah , Curtis Guy J , Genetti Amanda , Samuel Mathew , Sebastian Justin
Published: March 2017

Objectives:

The possible link between cognitive areas of perception and integration of consciousness was examined using assessments of hallucinations and derealisation/depersonalization.

Methods:

Sixty-five subjects in three main diagnostic groups – posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), borderline personality disorder (BPD) and schizophrenia – identified by their treating psychiatrist as hearing voices were surveyed regarding characteristics of hallucinations, derealisation/depersonalization, delusions and childhood/adult trauma.

Results:

A cluster analysis produced two clusters predominantly determined by variables of hallucinations measures, childhood sexual abuse and derealisation/depersonalization scores.

Conclusions:

History of childhood trauma and variability in derealisation/depersonalization scores were better predictors of external, negative, uncontrollable voices than diagnosis of BPD or PTSD. The potential links between dissociative states and pseudo-hallucinations are discussed.
Proximal-Type Epithelioid Sarcoma: Report of an Unusual Case in the Uterine Cervix
Authors: Suárez-Zamora David Alfonso , Barrera-Herrera Luis Eduardo , Rodríguez-Urrego Paula Andrea , Palau-Lázaro Mauricio Alfonso
Published: March 2017

Epithelioid sarcoma is a rare malignant mesenchymal neoplasm (less than 1% of all sarcomas) with epithelioid morphology. Among the 2 subtypes, proximal represents only one-third of cases and commonly involves deep tissues of pelvic region, including the perineum, genital area, and groin, and occurs more frequently in older patients who present a more aggressive course. In the female genital tract, proximal-type epithelioid sarcoma (PES) mainly affects the vulva and is extremely uncommon in the uterus. To our knowledge, only a few cases of PES involving the cervix and uterine body have been previously reported in the literature. We report a 23-year-old woman who presented with abnormal vaginal bleeding. She was found to have a cervical mass, which was resected and diagnosed as a hemangioendothelioma. However, 2 months later, the mass recurred and the histopathological analysis at our institution demonstrated a PES confined to the uterine cervix. It is important to include this neoplasm in the differential diagnosis of epithelioid tumors that can involve the female genital tract because it has a significant impact on prognosis and treatment.
Dose–Response Head-to-Head Comparison of Inodilators Dobutamine, Milrinone, and Levosimendan in Chronic Experimental Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Tavares-Silva Marta , Alaa Mohamed , Leite Sara , Oliveira-Pinto José , Lopes Lucas , Leite-Moreira Adelino F. , Lourenço André P.
Published: March 2017

The choice of inodilator drug in the acute management of patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) having right ventricular (RV) failure remains unsettled and challenging. Comprehensive experimental evaluations may provide further insight and fundamental translational research clues to support inodilator selection and clinical trial design. Our aim was to compare acute dose–response hemodynamic effects of inodilators dobutamine (DOB), milrinone (MIL), and levosimendan (LEV) in chronic experimental PH. Seven-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly injected with 60 mg·kg−1monocrotaline (MCT) or vehicle (Ctrl, n = 7) and underwent systemic and pulmonary artery (PA) pressure and RV pressure–volume (PV) hemodynamic evaluation under halogenate anesthesia 24 to 30 days after injection. The MCT-injected animals (n = 7 each) randomly received dose–response infusions of DOB (1, 3, 6 and 12 μg·kg−1·min−1), MIL (MIL: 1, 3, 6 and 12 μg·kg−1·min−1), or LEV (0.3, 0.6, 1.2 and 2.4 μg·kg−1·min−1). Load-independent indexes were obtained by inferior vena cava occlusion at baseline and after the last dose. All inodilators increased RV ejection fraction, preload recruitable stroke work, and ventricular–vascular coupling without jeopardizing perfusion pressure. Dobutamine raised heart rate and PA pressure. Only LEV increased cardiac index and decreased PA elastance and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Moreover, only LEV downward-shifted the end-diastolic PV relationship, thereby improving RV compliance. Adding sildenafil to LEV further decreased PVR. Levosimendan had beneficial acute systolic and diastolic functional effects in experimental chronic PH and RV afterload compared to DOB and MIL. It should be further tested in clinical trials enrolling patients with PH in the perioperative and critical care settings.
Citizen Science as a Means for Increasing Public Engagement in Science
Authors: Martin Victoria Y.
Published: March 2017

Citizen science is often assumed to increase public science engagement; however, little is known about who is likely to volunteer and the implications for greater societal impact. This study segments 1,145 potential volunteers into six groups according to their current engagement in science (EiS). Results show groups with high levels of EiS are significantly more interested in volunteering and more likely to participate in various research roles than those with lower EiS scores. While citizen science benefits some in science and society, its use as a strategy to bring about positive shifts in public science engagement needs to be reconsidered.
Semi-active seismic control of an 11-DOF building model with TMD+MR damper using type-1 and -2 fuzzy algorithms
Authors: Bathaei Akbar , Zahrai Seyed Mehdi , Ramezani Meysam
Published: March 2017

Nowadays, vibration control of structures is considered as a challenging field among scientists and engineers. Structural damage and financial losses due to recent earthquakes in different countries have more than ever before accentuated the importance of controlling earthquake-induced vibrations. In recent years, semi-active control has been introduced as an efficient and reliable type of structural control which provides the reliability of passive control and flexibility of active control systems at the same time. In this study, the performance of a semi-active tuned mass damper (TMD) with adaptive magnetorheological (MR) damper is investigated using type-1 and -2 fuzzy controllers for seismic vibration mitigation of an 11-degree of freedom building model. The TMD is installed on the roof and the MR damper is located on the 11th story. The MR damper has a capacity of producing a 1000 kN control force. The fuzzy system is designed based on the acceleration and velocity of the top floor determining the input voltage needed to produce the control force based on accelerating or decelerating movements of structure. The seismic performance of semi-active type-2 controller, which considers the uncertainties related to input variables, is higher than that of the type-1 fuzzy controller. The type-2 fuzzy controller is capable of reducing further the maximum displacement, acceleration, and base shear of the structure by 11.7, 14, and 11.2%, respectively, compared to the type-1 fuzzy controller.
Pepsi® or Coke®? Influence of acid on dasatinib absorption
Authors: Knoebel Randall W , Larson Richard A
Published: March 2017

Dasatinib is a second generation ABL kinase inhibitor used in the management of chronic myeloid leukemia or Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL). Dasatinib's bioavailability is highly dependent on gastric pH. When proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are co-administered with dasatinib, absorption is significantly reduced. Cola intake at the time of drug administration has been demonstrated to lead to relevant increases in the bioavailability for other acid labile drugs during PPI treatment. This manuscript reviews the relevant literature supporting a strategy of temporarily lowering the gastric pH with a carbonated beverage at the time of drug administration. The use of cola provides an easy to implement way to significantly improve dasatinib bioavailability, especially during concomitant use of a PPI.
Digital flexor musculotendinous contracture in two Devon Rex cats
Authors: Thom Leonie K , Pool Roy R , Malik Richard
Published: March 2017

Clinical summary:

A 13-year-old, spayed Devon Rex with unilateral digital flexor musculotendinous contracture of the forelimb was treated by surgical tenotomy. The condition improved transiently, but recurred rapidly and became bilateral. Histopathologic analysis of necropsy tissues resulted in a morphologic diagnosis of fibromyositis of the antebrachial muscles causing contracture and flexural deformity of the carpi and phalanges of both thoracic limbs. A search for similar cases yielded the clinical notes of a second cat, a 10-year-old, spayed Devon Rex, also with bilateral disease. This second case responded well to surgical tenotomy but tissue biopsies were not obtained to permit microscopic assessment of the underlying pathologic process.

Relevance and novel information:

Acquired and permanent contracture of the digital flexor muscles and/or tendons of the forelimbs is a rare and poorly described condition of cats. The very limited number of documented cases describing disease affecting one or more digits (but not the carpus) infers a causal link with onychectomy, but reported histopathologic changes have been limited to the tendons. The two cases described in this report suffered contracture of the carpus and all digits bilaterally, one without previous onychectomy and the other 9 years after onychectomy. There were novel histopathologic findings in the muscles of the one case for which biopsy material was available. Information gained from these two cases provides a new perspective for the investigation and treatment of future cases. Specifically, consideration should be given to an underlying immune-mediated myopathic process and a possible genetic predisposition in the Devon Rex breed. Currently, the poorly understood etiopathogenesis hinders our ability to definitively recommend treatment options, which might include corticosteroids and other forms of immunosuppressive therapy.
Hearing disorders in cats: Classification, pathology and diagnosis
Authors: Strain George M
Published: March 2017

Practical relevance:

Auditory function is a sense that is central to life for cats - being important in situational awareness of potential predators, pursuit of prey, and for communication with conspecifics, humans and other species. Deafness in cats is most frequently the result of a genetic disorder, strongly associated with white fur and blue eyes, but may also result from acquired causes such as advancing age, ototoxic drugs, infection, environmental noise and physical trauma. Deafness can be sensorineural, where there is loss of cochlear hair cells, or conductive, where sound is muffled on its way to the inner ear.

Clinical challenges:

Establishing whether a cat is deaf can be difficult as behavioral testing of hearing is subjective and does not reliably detect unilateral deafness. Brainstem auditory evoked response testing is an objective measure but is limited in its availability. Currently, sensorineural deafness is irreversible because no treatments are available to restore lost hair cells. Conductive hearing loss can usually be treated, although full hearing recovery following otitis media may take weeks as the body clears the middle ear of debris.

Evidence base:

The author draws on the published literature and his extensive research on clinical aspects and molecular genetics of deafness, principally in companion animals, to review types and forms of deafness in cats. He also discusses current diagnostic approaches and provides brief advice for managing cats with hearing loss.
Natural frequencies and damping ratios of multi-layered laminated glass beams using a dynamic effective thickness
Authors: Pelayo F , López-Aenlle M
Published: March 2017

Multi-layered laminated glass panels are those with at least three monolithic glass layers and two viscoelastic interlayers. Multi-layered laminated glass panels are commonly used in floors, roofs and other horizontal glazing accessible to the public where a high level of security is required. Although the glass can be consider as a linear-elastic material, the viscoelastic interlayers determine a non-linear behavior of the laminated structure that must be taken into consideration. In this paper, a dynamic effective thickness is proposed to predict the natural frequencies and damping ratios of multi-layered laminated glass beam-like structures with different boundary conditions and at different temperatures. Furthermore, the presented dynamic effective thickness can be also used to any frequency domain calculations such as displacements and stresses. To validate the proposed model, operational modal analysis was carried out on a multi-layered laminated glass beam to obtain the experimental natural frequencies and damping ratios at 20, 25, 30 and 35℃. Moreover, a finite element model of the beam was also assembly for the sake of comparison. The proposed model predicts the natural frequencies with errors less than 5%, whereas the discrepancies in damping ratios are less than 50%.
The psychological costs of social support imbalance: Variation across relationship context and age
Authors: Wang Diana , Gruenewald Tara
Published: March 2017

Psychological well-being benefits of receiving social support are well-established. Growing evidence also suggests parallel benefits of giving support. However, much less attention has been given to understanding the psychological correlates of imbalance in giving and receiving social support. We examined associations between social support (given, received, and imbalance) and psychological well-being in multiple relationship types (friends, family, and spouse). Greater levels of both receiving and giving social support were independently associated with more favorable psychological well-being, while imbalance in the ratio of support given and received was associated with poorer psychological well-being. Findings varied between relationship types and across age.
Psychological and behavioral effects of obesity prevention campaigns
Authors: Simpson Courtney C , Griffin Brandon J , Mazzeo Suzanne E
Published: March 2017

Public health campaigns are often used to prevent or reduce obesity. However, social psychological theory suggests these efforts might not be universally helpful and could potentially have detrimental consequences. This investigation explored the effects of obesity prevention campaigns. Participants were randomized to view either weight-focused or weight-neutral campaigns. Assessments at three time points (pre, post, and follow-up) examined the differences between groups in reactions to campaigns and changes in health behaviors and psychological outcomes. Compared with weight-neutral campaigns, weight-focused campaigns were associated with increases in negative perceptions of obesity and decreases in self-efficacy for health behavior change.
Question resistance and its management in Chinese psychotherapy
Authors: Yao Xue-li , Ma Wen
Published: March 2017

From the tape-recording of naturally occurring Chinese psychotherapy sessions, this article explores how repeated occurrences of resistance are managed in the course of interactional sequences and the participants’ actions within these sequences. By employing the methods of conversation analysis, we discuss the main discursive strategies employed by the clients to express their resistance and investigate how the therapist manages this. We find that clients show their resistance to the therapist’s questions in four ways: keeping silence, providing minimal response, making non-answer responses, and being over-talkative. Persistent asking is the main technique we identify in the data for the therapist to manage the resistance; in the meantime, asking questions in a stepwise way, making requests after facing resistance to questions, active retreating and reformulating of the client’s words are employed as subsidiary techniques. The successful management of resistance leads to a smooth sequential development of the psychotherapy, while inappropriate strategies might result in a halt or even breakdown of the therapeutic work. In psychotherapy, resistance is a result of the shared interaction between client and therapist. It is such a complex issue that, in order to understand and manage it, we also take into consideration the broader social and cultural context in which it occurs.
On liveness: using arts workshops as a research method
Authors: Tarr Jen , Gonzalez-Polledo Elena , Cornish Flora
Published: March 2017

Drawing on a research project using arts workshops to explore pain communication, we develop a methodological reflection on the significance of the liveness of arts-based methods. We discuss how liveness informed the design of workshops to provoke novel forms of communication; how it produced uncontrollable and unpredictable workshops, whose unfolding we theorize as ‘imprography’. It also constituted affective and collective experiences of ‘being there’ as important but difficult-to-record parts of the data, which raises challenges to current understandings of what constitutes data, particularly in the context of team research and in light of directives for archiving and reuse. We explore the implications of liveness for methodological practice.