bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lurasidone: an antipsychotic with antidepressant effects in bipolar depression?
Authors: Keks Nicholas A , Hope Judy , Castle David
Published: April 2016

Objective:

Lurasidone is a new serotonin–dopamine antagonist atypical antipsychotic which also appears to be effective in bipolar depression. This paper will briefly review the evidence concerning lurasidone.

Conclusions:

Lurasidone is an antagonist at dopamine D2, serotonin 5-HT2 and 5-HT7, and partial agonist at 5HT1a receptors; it has no anticholinergic or antihistaminic activity. Rapidly absorbed, it has a half-life of 18 ± 7 hours, will reach steady state in five days and is taken at night with food (absorption is halved on an empty stomach). It is hepatically metabolised with some potential for interactions. Lurasidone is an effective antipsychotic in acute schizophrenia, and non-inferior to quetiapine but not risperidone in 12-month studies. Lurasidone may cause mild sedation, nausea, agitation, insomnia and akathisia (especially at initiation). Risks for weight gain, hyperprolactinaemia and QTc prolongation are low. Lurasidone has demonstrated antidepressant efficacy both as monotherapy and in addition to lithium or valproate in bipolar depression, of a comparable degree to that seen with the combination of olanzapine and fluoxetine. Lurasidone appears to be a “metabolically-friendly” antipsychotic for schizophrenia where weight gain and hyperprolactinaemia are of concern, and may also prove useful in bipolar depression (although not approved for this condition in Australia).
Incorporating Patient Acuity Rating Score Into Patient Handoffs and the Correlation With Rapid Responses and Unexpected ICU Transfers
Authors: O’Donnell Christopher , Thomas Samantha , Johnson Crystal , Verma Lalit , Bae Jonathan , Gallagher David
Published: April 2016

Handoffs and rapid response team (RRT) activations have been a focus for quality improvement in hospital medicine. This study aimed to incorporate a previously used scoring system (1-7) for severity of illness on initial encounter as a handoff adjunct and to determine its impact on the number of RRTs and intensive care unit transfers. The Patient Acuity Rating (PAR) scale correlates with subsequent RRTs and transfers to a higher level of care, with higher scores leading to increased rates of RRTs and transfers. Patients who experienced an RRT at any time (mean score 4.69), within 24 hours (4.74), or an unplanned transfer (5.16) had higher PAR scores on assessment than those who did not (4.02; all P < .05). There was an increased likelihood of RRTs and transfers with scores of 6 or higher. There was no reduction in the quantity of RRTs or unplanned intensive care unit transfers comparing preintervention and postintervention data.
Immunological and pathological characterization of fatal rebound MS activity following natalizumab withdrawal
Authors: Larochelle Catherine , Metz Imke , Lécuyer Marc-André , Terouz Simone , Roger Michel , Arbour Nathalie , Brück Wolfgang , Prat Alexandre
Published: April 2016

Background:

Severe rebound multiple sclerosis (MS) activity is a life-threatening complication of natalizumab (NTZ) withdrawal, for which pathogenesis and treatment are still unclear. We report the immunological and pathological characterization of a case of central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory demyelination after NTZ discontinuation.

Objective:

To understand the pathophysiology of this neuroinflammatory condition.

Methods:

Antemortem blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis was compared with postmortem pathological studies, as well as with novel flow cytometry characterization of immune cells isolated from the CNS parenchyma.

Results:

Pathological analysis of the brain revealed the presence of innumerable active inflammatory demyelinating lesions typical of immunopathological pattern II. Monocytes/macrophages and B cells were enriched in the CNS parenchyma compared to the CSF. Numerous plasma cells were present in the lesions, but CD8 T lymphocytes were predominant in the parenchyma, as opposed to CD4 in the CSF. CNS-infiltrating lymphocytes expressed high levels of adhesion molecules, granzyme B (GzB), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and interleukin (IL)-17.

Conclusions:

Our results underline the differences in immune cell populations between the CSF and the CNS parenchyma, and suggest that aggressive immunosuppressive therapy targeting both T and B lymphocytes is warranted to control the overwhelming CNS inflammation.
Validity and reliability of Internet-based physiotherapy assessment for musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review
Authors: Mani Suresh , Sharma Shobha , Omar Baharudin , Paungmali Aatit , Joseph Leonard
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this review is to systematically explore and summarise the validity and reliability of telerehabilitation (TR)-based physiotherapy assessment for musculoskeletal disorders.

Method

A comprehensive systematic literature review was conducted using a number of electronic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library and CINAHL, published between January 2000 and May 2015. The studies examined the validity, inter- and intra-rater reliabilities of TR-based physiotherapy assessment for musculoskeletal conditions were included. Two independent reviewers used the Quality Appraisal Tool for studies of diagnostic Reliability (QAREL) and the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) tool to assess the methodological quality of reliability and validity studies respectively.

Results

A total of 898 hits were achieved, of which 11 articles based on inclusion criteria were reviewed. Nine studies explored the concurrent validity, inter- and intra-rater reliabilities, while two studies examined only the concurrent validity. Reviewed studies were moderate to good in methodological quality. The physiotherapy assessments such as pain, swelling, range of motion, muscle strength, balance, gait and functional assessment demonstrated good concurrent validity. However, the reported concurrent validity of lumbar spine posture, special orthopaedic tests, neurodynamic tests and scar assessments ranged from low to moderate.

Conclusion

TR-based physiotherapy assessment was technically feasible with overall good concurrent validity and excellent reliability, except for lumbar spine posture, orthopaedic special tests, neurodynamic testa and scar assessment.
The uncut version: The Mattachine Society’s pornographic epilogue
Authors: Hilderbrand Lucas
Published: April 2016

Countering dominant historical narratives of the Hal Call-led Mattachine Society (a homophile organization dating from the 1950s) as ‘conservative’ or ‘respectable,’ this article examines the organization’s 1970s evolution into a porn theatre and sex club known as the Cinemattachine (later the Circle J Cinema). Arguing for continuities between the 1970s Cinemattachine and prior Mattachine tactics, Call’s own publishing business ventures, and discourses of sexual education, this article suggests that the organization continued to negotiate evolving sexual politics through the exhibition of pornography.
It’s either you or me! Impact of deviations on social exclusion and leaving
Authors: Ditrich Lara , Sassenberg Kai
Published: April 2016

When detecting deviations from group norms, observers often respond by attempting to exclude the deviates or by leaving the group. Despite the commonalities between these two impactful responses, they have rarely been addressed simultaneously. Therefore, three experiments investigated how deviant behavior in small groups relates to observers’ intentions to exclude the deviate from the in-group and to leave that group themselves. Exclusion intentions are evoked by severe deviations from core elements of the group norm, mediated by heightened identity subversion (Studies 1–3). Study 3 demonstrated that leaving becomes more likely when perceived situational control is low—here evoked by acceptance of the deviant behavior by other in-group members, suggesting that aggravating conditions must be present for this response. Observing deviations seems to trigger leaving and exclusion intentions, yet they result from two distinct processes. We discuss our results in relation to work on group schism and literature on social exclusion.
Material selection and manufacturing of riblets for drag reduction: An updated review
Authors: West Nathan , Sammut Karl , Tang Youhong
Published: April 2016

Riblets are a well-researched and understood passive method for achieving viscous drag reduction. Since the 1970s, researchers have found that, with riblets, viscous drag reduction in the order of 8% is achievable in turbulent air and fluid flows. Most of the relevant literature provides insight into the drag-reductive mechanisms of riblets and the effect of riblet morphological design in varying flow conditions. A few recent studies have begun to investigate the influence of material properties on the drag-reductive ability of riblet surfaces with promising results. We here provide an updated review of material selection and riblet manufacture and show current trends. A brief summary is provided of the theories of riblet drag-reductive ability, riblet surface design, the role of material selection for drag reduction and current manufacturing techniques.
Effect of tool pin profile on distribution of reinforcement particles during friction stir processing of B4C/aluminum composites
Authors: Shojaeefard Mohammad Hasan , Akbari Mostafa , Khalkhali Abolfazl , Asadi Parviz
Published: April 2016

Boron carbide /aluminum composites have been produced on an aluminum–silicon cast alloy using friction stir processing. Effect of pin profile on the distribution of boron carbide in the stir zone of the friction stir processed specimens was investigated experimentally and numerically. The material flow generated by the threaded and circular tool pin profiles, being the main reason for the distribution of particles in the metal matrix, was numerically modeled using a thermomechanically coupled three-dimensional finite element model. Numerical and experimental results show that threaded pin profile produces a more uniform distribution of B4Cp than other pin profiles. Hardness tests were performed in order to investigate mechanical properties of the composites. Wear resistance of the composite was evaluated and obtained results showed that the hardness and wear resistance of the composite significantly improved.
Invisible to visible: Mapping the continuum of literacy learning experiences in an early years setting
Authors: Kervin Lisa , Turbill Jan , Harden-Thew Kathryn
Published: April 2016

The face of early childhood education continues to change. In Australia, the national early childhood guidelines, Early Years Learning Framework (2009) and the National Quality Framework have articulated and defined the work of early years’ educators in a range of areas, including literacy. Both frameworks state that their aim is to maintain the focus of the Development Strategy provide all Australian children with an educational foundation to support them throughout their lives. In this climate, and some years after the implementation of these guidelines, it seems timely to examine the literacy programmes, practices and perspectives of prior-to-school environments as they prepare children to transition to the early years of primary school. This paper reports on the findings of a study that aimed to explore the nature of literacy programmes, practices and perspectives, and in particular how such programmes support educators and children in one prior-to-school setting, as they prepare to transition to the first year of formal schooling. Analysis of the experiences offered in prior-to-school centres revealed a number of learning experiences that illustrated Bernstein’s notion of visible and invisible literacy learning pedagogies. It was found that viewing these learning experiences along a continuum from invisible to visible pedagogical practices was a useful framework for categorising the range of experiences in which the children engaged. It is suggested that such a continuum would be a useful framework for both prior-to-school and kindergarten teachers to better support children as they transition across settings. However, we must add a caveat, namely, that such a framework should not lead to increase pressure on prior-to-school settings to increase ‘visible pedagogical practices’ in order to ‘teach’ literacy skills.
The Effect of a Summer Camp Intervention on the Nutrition Knowledge and Dietary Behavior of Adolescent Girls
Authors: Jennings Leah , Nepocatych Svetlana , Ketcham Caroline , Duffy Diane
Published: April 2016

The purpose of this study was to design a rewards-based nutrition intervention program to improve knowledge and dietary behaviors of adolescent girls. Our participants consisted of eight girls ages 11 to 13 years. Nutritional knowledge was assessed before and after intervention program through a “Jeopardy” style quiz game and posttest questionnaires. Participants were also interviewed throughout the week about typical dietary behaviors, daily physical activity, and self-esteem. Educational activities took place for 2 to 3 hours each day and included a grocery store scavenger hunt, healthy baking demonstrations, and relay races. Participants received bracelets and charms as rewards for participation in activities. Nutritional knowledge increased for six out of eight participants, although the overall increase was not found to be statistically significant ( p = .20). Significant correlations were found between measures including dietary behavior (soda consumption per week and perceived importance of body weight: r = −.827, p = .01), self-esteem (weight and endurance: r = .801, p = .03), and fitness levels (weight and curl-ups completed in 30 seconds: r = −.729, p = .04). This study shows promising evidence that this nutrition education intervention could be effective at increasing nutrition knowledge, thus potentially affecting future dietary behaviors of adolescent girls.
Intravascular Ultrasound–Derived Stent Dimensions as Predictors of Angiographic Restenosis Following Nitinol Stent Implantation in the Superficial Femoral Artery
Authors: Miki Kojiro , Fujii Kenichi , Kawasaki Daizo , Shibuya Masahiko , Fukunaga Masashi , Imanaka Takahiro , Tamaru Hiroto , Sumiyoshi Akinori , Nishimura Machiko , Horimatsu Tetsuo , Saita Ten , Okada Kozo , Kimura Takumi , Honda Yasuhiro , Fitzgerald Peter J. , Masuyama Tohru , Ishihara Masaharu
Published: April 2016

Purpose: To identify intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) measurements that can predict angiographic in-stent restenosis (ISR) following nitinol stent implantation in superficial femoral artery (SFA) lesions. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of 97 patients (mean age 72.9±8.9 years; 63 men) who underwent IVUS examination during endovascular treatment of 112 de novo SFA lesions between July 2012 and December 2014. Self-expanding bare stents were implanted in 46 lesions and paclitaxel-eluting stents in 39 lesions. Six months after stenting, follow-up angiography was conducted to assess stent patency. The primary endpoint was angiographic ISR determined by quantitative vascular angiography analysis at the 6-month follow-up. Variables associated with restenosis were sought in multivariate analysis; the results are presented as the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: At follow-up, 27 (31.8%) angiographic ISR lesions were recorded. The lesions treated with uncoated stents were more prevalent in the ISR group compared with the no restenosis group (74.1% vs 44.8%, p=0.02). Lesion length was longer (154.4±79.5 vs 109.0±89.3 mm, p=0.03) and postprocedure minimum stent area (MSA) measured by IVUS was smaller (13.9±2.8 vs 16.3±1.6 mm2, p<0.001) in the ISR group. Multivariate analysis revealed that bare stent use (OR 7.11, 95% CI 1.70 to 29.80, p<0.01) and longer lesion length (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.16, p=0.04) were predictors of ISR, while increasing postprocedure MSA (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.82, p<0.01) was associated with lower risk of ISR. Receiver operating characteristic analysis identified a MSA of 15.5 mm2 as the optimal cutpoint below which the incidence of restenosis increased (area under the curve 0.769). Conclusion: Postprocedure MSA can predict ISR in SFA lesions, which suggests that adequate stent enlargement during angioplasty might be required for superior patency.
Utility of the Surgical Apgar Score in Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Stoll William D. , Taber David J. , Palesch Seth J. , Hebbar Latha
Published: April 2016

Background:

This study analyzed the utility of the Surgical Apgar Scoring (SAS) system in predicting morbidity in kidney transplantation. Recipient comorbidities were evaluated for any effect on the SAS and then globally assessed for any relationship with intensive care unit (ICU) admission, need for dialysis, creatinine at discharge, length of stay, incremental, and total cost of transplantation. The hypothesis for this study is that a low SAS will be a statistically significant predictor of postoperative morbidity and associated costs.

Methods:

This was an institutional review board (IRB)-approved retrospective longitudinal cohort study on 204 solitary kidney transplant recipients (2009-2011). Patients were divided into 2 groups: low to moderate = SAS ≤ 7 and high = SAS ≥ 8. These groups were then analyzed against a host of variables.

Results:

Sixty-five percent of patients had an SAS of 7 or lower, while 35% had an SAS of 8 and higher. Recipients with a history of stroke were 88% more likely to be in the low-moderate SAS group ( P = .017). Patients with lower SASs trended toward having less extended criteria donors (0.097) but were more likely to be admitted to the ICU ( P = .043), leading to significantly higher transplant event hospitalization costs. Higher SASs were more likely to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of discharge ( P = .027), leading to higher 30-day postdischarge costs ( P = .014). Readmission rates, however, and 30-day follow-up costs were similar between SAS groups after controlling for donor characteristics, specifically donor marginality and recipient estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Conclusion:

The findings of this study suggest that a history of stroke in the recipient may lend to a lower SAS and that a low SAS is associated with ICU admission following transplant, leading to higher hospital costs.
Edges of Empire
Authors: Ponzanesi Sandra
Published: April 2016

This essay explores the rather neglected case of Italian colonialism, and in particular, the ways in which colonial traces still linger on in Italian contemporary representations, reconfirming or transforming stereotypes and prejudices regarding issues of otherness, ethnicity, and sexuality, which are specific to the Italian case. Although Italian colonialism is subject to denial and oblivion, it is important to account for a growing postcolonial awareness, both in the scholarly field and in the wider cultural context, to better understand current issues of migration that are affecting Europe and challenging its global role as a democratic institution. The focus of the essay is on colonial photography and contemporary visual culture, pertaining to the fields of media, art, and politics. The goal is to detect the specificities of the Italian colonial legacy in contemporary culture, analyzing contemporary art production as well as figures such as football star Mario Balotelli and Italy’s first Black minister Cécile Kyenge, while also accounting for the larger European dimension, connecting and drawing parallels with transnational debates on postcolonial representations of gender and race.
A Study on Stereoscopic X-ray Imaging Data Set on the Accuracy of Real-Time Tumor Tracking in External Beam Radiotherapy
Authors: Esmaili Torshabi Ahmad , Ghorbanzadeh Leila
Published: April 2016

At external beam radiotherapy, stereoscopic X-ray imaging system is responsible as tumor motion information provider. This system takes X-ray images intermittently from tumor position (1) at pretreatment step to provide training data set for model construction and (2) during treatment to control the accuracy of correlation model performance. In this work, we investigated the effect of imaging data points provided by this system on treatment quality. Because some information is still lacking about (1) the number of imaging data points, (2) shooting time for capturing each data point, and also (3) additional imaging dose delivered by this system. These 3 issues were comprehensively assessed at (1) pretreatment step while training data set is gathered for prediction model construction and (2) during treatment while model is tested and reconstructed using new arrival data points. A group of real patients treated with CyberKnife Synchrony module was chosen in this work, and an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system was considered as consistent correlation model. Results show that a proper model can be constructed while the number of imaging data points is highly enough to represent a good pattern of breathing cycles. Moreover, a trade-off between the number of imaging data points and additional imaging dose is considered in this study. Since breathing phenomena are highly variable at different patients, the time for taking some of imaging data points is very important, while their absence at that critical time may yield wrong tumor tracking. In contrast, the sensitivity of another category of imaging data points is not high, while breathing is normal and in the control range. Therefore, an adaptive supervision on the implementation of stereoscopic X-ray imaging is proposed to intelligently accomplish shooting process, based on breathing motion variations.
Chelidonic acid evokes antidepressant-like effect through the up-regulation of BDNF in forced swimming test
Authors: Jeong Hyun-Ja , Yang Shi-Young , Kim Hee-Yun , Kim Na-Rae , Jang Jae-Bum , Kim Hyung-Min
Published: April 2016

Depression is usually accompanied by neuro-inflammatory reactions. Chelidonic acid, in particular, has shown anti-inflammatory effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-depressant effects of chelidonic acid and to discuss the potential mechanisms of a forced swimming test. Chelidonic acid was administered orally once a day for 14 days. On the 14th day, chelidonic acid resulted in a significant decrease in immobility time during the forced swimming test without alteration of locomotor activity, in an open field test. Chelidonic acid also increased the number of nissl bodies in the hippocampus. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase phosphorylation in the hippocampus were up-regulated by the administration of chelidonic acid. Chelidonic acid administration significantly increased the mRNA expression of hippocampal estrogen receptor-β. The levels of hippocampal interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α were effectively attenuated by the administration of chelidonic acid. In addition, chelidonic acid significantly increased the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin), dopamine, and norepinephrine compared with those levels for the mice that were administered distilled water in the hippocampus. These results suggest that chelidonic acid might serve as a new therapeutic strategy for the regulation of depression associated with inflammation.
Differences in Use of Glucose Rate of Change (ROC) Arrows to Adjust Insulin Therapy Among Individuals With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Who Use Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)
Authors: Pettus Jeremy , Edelman Steven V.
Published: April 2016

Objective:

To understand differences between individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in utilization of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data to adjust insulin therapy, either continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) or multiple daily insulin injections (MDI).

Methods:

We surveyed 300 individuals who regularly used real-time CGM, using 70 questions to obtain information about general CGM use and response to glucose rate of change (ROC) arrows.

Results:

The survey was completed by 222 T1D and 78 T2D respondents treated with intensive insulin therapy. T1D respondents included CSII (n = 166) and MDI (n = 56) users. T2D respondents were more balanced: 34 (44%) versus 44 (56%), respectively. A larger percentage of T1D then T2D respondents reported a constant use of CGM (85% vs 61%, P < .001). T1D and T2D respondents reported similar substantial increases in correction dosages in response to rapidly increasing glucose (>3 mg/dL/min; 2 arrows up): +140% versus +136%, P = .4534. However, T1D respondents reported making smaller correction dosage reductions than T2D respondents in response to rapidly decreasing glucose (−42% vs −80%, P < .001). Differences between T1D and T2D respondents were also observed in mealtime dosage adjustments in response to rapidly increasing glucose compared to when glucose is stable (flat arrow) at 110 mg/dl: +81% versus +108%, respectively ( P = .003). Although these adjustments are statistically different, both are large.

Conclusions:

CGM users often rely on ROC information when determining insulin doses and tend to be more aggressive in their insulin adjustments despite differences in type of diabetes.
Accreditation in the Professions
Authors: Pavlakis Alexandra , Kelley Carolyn
Published: April 2016

Program accreditation is a process based on a set of professional expectations and standards meant to signal competency and credibility. Although accreditation has played an important role in shaping educational leadership preparation programs, recent revisions to accreditation processes and standards have highlighted attention to the purposes, designs, and impacts of accreditation. This article examines programmatic accreditation in other professional disciplines to identify themes and trends that may have implications for the design of accreditation for educational leadership programs.
Student’s perspective of Residents as educators following introduction of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-International (ACGME-I) in SingHealth Residency
Authors: Goh Sok Hong , Tan Jestina Hwee Ming , Cook Sandy
Published: April 2016

Introduction:

Singapore’s postgraduate medical education underwent a transition in 2010, moving away from the House staff model to the American Residency model. Teaching was defined as a core competency for SingHealth Residency programs. This study sought to determine how this transition impacted medical students’ perception of Residents as teachers.

Methods:

A 19-item Likert-type questionnaire comprising three domains—(1) quality, (2) frequency and (3) engagement—was given to all Duke-NUS medical students at the end of each clerkship from the academic year (AY) 2009–10 through 2013–14. The first two academic years were classified as the pre-initiation stage of the Residency, and the latter three, the post-initiation stage. Students rated Residents they encountered in their most recent clerkship.

Results:

Student ratings have gradually improved, with the largest improvement occurring after the initiation of Residency, and after the introduction of Residents as Future Teachers courses. Student ratings in the post-initiation Residency years combined were significantly higher than the pre-initiation of Residency years combined, for all three domains. Analysis of individual items revealed significant improvement in student ratings on all items in all domains, except for the quality of teaching in performing procedural skills.

Conclusion:

Findings from this study indicate a positive shift in the teaching culture with the transition of Singapore’s postgraduate medical education from the House staff model to the Residency program.
To be in between: The meaning of PIS-divorce groups for children from divorced families
Authors: Lofthus Grethe Aarreberg , Skorpen Frode
Published: April 2016

The aim of this study was to gain increased understanding about lived experiences of teenagers participating in PIS-divorce groups (programme for implementation of divorce groups in school). From the perspective of caring science and based on an ontological assumption of human interdependence, as well as earlier research that showed lack of consensus on the effect of divorce on children, the question that we felt needed to be asked was how teenagers experienced PIS-divorce groups, and the meaning of this experience in the time after. The methodological approach was phenomenological-hermeneutical. The sample is based on interviews with five teenagers. The analysis uncovered two themes: To be in between and To be there for each other. Teenagers viewed the offer of support as important. PIS-divorce groups enabled them to increase their understanding of their life situation. The caring science concepts of suffering, love, and interdependence have contributed to give new and deeper understanding to teenagers’ lived experience.
Is Expanded HIV Testing Associated with Earlier HIV Diagnosis? Results from an HIV Clinic in Guatemala City
Authors: Liggett Alisha , Medina Narda , Samayoa Blanca , Mercado Danicela , Castillo Mirna , Argueta Erwin , Anderson Miguel , Anderson Matthew , Arathoon Eduardo
Published: April 2016

Background:

Most patients in Guatemala are diagnosed with advanced HIV disease. Patients that present late in the disease process may miss the morbidity and mortality benefits associated with early treatment and may unknowingly spread HIV to others.

Research Questions:

We examined trends in HIV detection and levels of immunosuppression at diagnosis from 2005 -2012 to determine if expanded HIV testing was associated with earlier detection of HIV.

Setting:

This study was conducted at the Clínica Familiar Luis Ángel García (CFLAG), a major HIV center associated with one of Guatemala’s two national hospitals. HIV testing expanded rapidly after 2007 due to grants from the Global Fund which allowed for routine prenatal testing.

Methods:

This study examined existing hospital and clinic databases from to evaluate results from HIV tests performed, and baseline CD4 cells/mm3 on all patients newly diagnosed with HIV infection from 2005 to 2012.

Results:

We found a decline in the number of HIV positive tests over the study period despite an increase in the total number of tests performed. Sixty-two percent of HIV infected individuals had AIDS at diagnosis. We observed a decrease in median CD4 cells/mm3 among the prenatal testees and no change in non-prenatal testees.

Discussion:

Expanded HIV counseling and testing services in our clinic did not result in earlier HIV diagnosis.
Participatory Action Research to Develop Nutrition Education Videos for Child Care Providers
Authors: Schober Daniel J. , Sella Ana Carolina , Fernandez Cristina , Ferrel Celia , Yaroch Amy L.
Published: April 2016

Child care offers an ideal setting to promote more healthful eating through nutrition education. However, many child care providers lack knowledge about nutrition and receive infrequent nutrition training. Although web-based training shows promise as a way to address this, most current trainings focus on information provision rather than direct skills training that promotes hands-on, experiential learning. The present study describes the development of nutrition education videos using a participatory action research (PAR) approach that has been successful in generating research evidence to address community-based challenges. This approach involves four major phases: (1) external consumer influence, (2) consumer-empowered team, (3) the research process, and (4) provider-valued outcomes. A case report design is used to describe the development of six nutrition education videos for child care providers (e.g., teaching taste, texture, and color; teaching nutritional benefits; teaching portion size). One hundred and fourteen providers, parents, and public health professionals viewed the videos. Results showed that the vast majority found the videos to be helpful or very helpful for instructing adults to teach children about nutrition. The videos were made publically available on a website ( http://TeachKidsNutrition.org ), and as of 1 year of being posted, the website had more than 4,919 visitors across the United States and internationally. Lessons learned throughout this process are discussed. The development of these videos using PAR presents a promising approach to assure that child care providers receive hands-on, experiential learning in nutrition education. Furthermore, this approach may contribute to obesity prevention efforts among child care providers.
Wardowski type fixed point theorems in complete metric spaces
Authors: Piri Hossein , Kumam Poom
Published: April 2016

In this paper, we state and prove Wardowski type fixed point theorems in metric space by using a modified generalized F-contraction maps. These theorems extend other well-known fundamental metrical fixed point theorems in the literature (Dung and Hang in Vietnam J. Math. 43:743-753, 2015 and Piri and Kumam in Fixed Point Theory Appl. 2014:210, 2014, etc.). Examples are provided to support the usability of our results.
Randomized Phase III Noninferiority Study Comparing Two Radiotherapy Fractionation Schedules in Patients With Low-Risk Prostate Cancer
Authors: Lee W. Robert , Dignam James J. , Amin Mahul B. , Bruner Deborah W. , Low Daniel , Swanson Gregory P. , Shah Amit B. , D’Souza David P. , Michalski Jeff M. , Dayes Ian S. , Seaward Samantha A. , Hall William A. , Nguyen Paul L. , Pisansky Thomas M. , Faria Sergio L. , Chen Yuhchyau , Koontz Bridget F. , Paulus Rebecca , Sandler Howard M.
Published: April 2016

Purpose

Conventional radiotherapy (C-RT) treatment schedules for patients with prostate cancer typically require 40 to 45 treatments that take place from > 8 to 9 weeks. Preclinical and clinical research suggest that hypofractionation—fewer treatments but at a higher dose per treatment—may produce similar outcomes. This trial was designed to assess whether the efficacy of a hypofractionated radiotherapy (H-RT) treatment schedule is no worse than a C-RT schedule in men with low-risk prostate cancer.

Patients and Methods

A total of 1,115 men with low-risk prostate cancer were randomly assigned 1:1 to C-RT (73.8 Gy in 41 fractions over 8.2 weeks) or to H-RT (70 Gy in 28 fractions over 5.6 weeks). This trial was designed to establish (with 90% power and an α of .05) that treatment with H-RT results in 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) that is not worse than C-RT by more than 7.65% (H-RT/C-RT hazard ratio [HR] < 1.52).

Results

A total of 1,092 men were protocol eligible and had follow-up information; 542 patients were assigned to C-RT and 550 to H-RT. Median follow-up was 5.8 years. Baseline characteristics were not different according to treatment assignment. The estimated 5-year DFS was 85.3% (95% CI, 81.9 to 88.1) in the C-RT arm and 86.3% (95% CI, 83.1 to 89.0) in the H-RT arm. The DFS HR was 0.85 (95% CI, 0.64 to 1.14), and the predefined noninferiority criterion that required that DFS outcomes be consistent with HR < 1.52 was met (P < .001). Late grade 2 and 3 GI and genitourinary adverse events were increased (HR, 1.31 to 1.59) in patients who were treated with H-RT.

Conclusion

In men with low-risk prostate cancer, the efficacy of 70 Gy in 28 fractions over 5.6 weeks is not inferior to 73.8 Gy in 41 fractions over 8.2 weeks, although an increase in late GI/genitourinary adverse events was observed in patients treated with H-RT.
Profiling and tandem mass spectrometry analysis of aminoacylated phospholipids in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Atila Metin , Luo Yu
Published: April 2016

Cationic modulation of the dominantly negative electrostatic structure of phospholipids plays an important role in bacterial response to changes in the environment. In addition to zwitterionic phosphatidylethanolamine, Gram-positive bacteria are also abundant in positively charged lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol. Increased amounts of both types of lipids render Gram-positive bacterial cells more resistant to cationic antibiotic peptides such as defensins.  Lysyl and alanyl-phosphatidylglycerol as well as alanyl-cardiolipin have also been studied by mass spectroscopy. Phospholipids modified by other amino acids have been discovered by chemical analysis of the lipid lysate but have yet to be studied by mass spectroscopy. We exploited the high sensitivity of modern mass spectroscopy in searching for substructures in complex mixtures to establish a sensitive and thorough screen for aminoacylated phospholipids. The search for deprotonated aminoacyl anions in lipid extracted fromBacillus subtilisstrain 168 yielded strong evidence as well as relative abundance of aminoacyl-phosphatidylglycerols, which serves as a crude measure of the specificity of aminoacyl-phosphatidylglycerol synthase MprF. No aminoacyl-cardiolipin was found. More importantly, the second most abundant species in this category is D-alanyl-phosphatidylglycerol, suggesting a possible role in the D-alanylation pathway of wall- and lipo-teichoic acids.
Mapping Zika virus infection using geographical information systems in Tolima, Colombia, 2015-2016
Authors: Rodriguez-Morales Alfonso J. , Galindo-Marquez Maria Leonor , García-Loaiza Carlos Julian , Sabogal-Roman Juan Alejandro , Marin-Loaiza Santiago , Ayala Andrés Felipe , Lozada-Riascos Carlos O. , Sarmiento-Ospina Andrea , Vásquez-Serna Heriberto , Jimenez-Canizales Carlos E. , Escalera-Antezana Juan Pablo
Published: April 2016

Objective: Geographical information systems (GIS) have been extensively used for the development of epidemiological maps of tropical diseases, however not yet specifically for Zika virus (ZIKV) infection.

Methods: Surveillance case data of the ongoing epidemics of ZIKV in the Tolima department, Colombia (2015-2016) were used to estimate cumulative incidence rates (cases/100,000 pop.) to develop the first maps in the department and its municipalities, including detail for the capital, Ibagué. The GIS software used was Kosmo Desktop 3.0RC1®. Two thematic maps were developed according to municipality and communes incidence rates.

Results: Up to March 5, 2016, 4,094 cases of ZIKV were reported in Tolima, for cumulated rates of 289.9 cases/100,000 pop. (7.95% of the country). Burden of ZIKV infection has been concentrated in its east area, where municipalities have reported >500 cases/100,000 pop. These municipalities are bordered by two other departments, Cundinamarca (3,778 cases) and Huila (5,338 cases), which also have high incidences of ZIKV infection. Seven municipalities of Tolima ranged from 250-499.99 cases/100,000 pop., of this group five border with high incidence municipalities (>250), including the capital, where almost half of the reported cases of ZIKV in Tolima are concentrated.

Conclusions: Use of GIS-based epidemiological maps helps to  guide decisions for the prevention and control of diseases that represent significant issues in the region and the country, but also in emerging conditions such as ZIKV.
THE INTERNATIONAL LEGAL PERSONALITY OF THE EAEU
Authors: Стародубцев Григорий , Starodubtsyev Grigoriy , Илюшкина Анна , Ilyushkina Anna
Published: April 2016

This article analyzes the international legal personality of

the Eurasian Economic Union. The conditions of the Eurasian integration,

the basic stages of formation and the perspectives of development

of Eurasian Economic Union are described in the article.
Facility Location with Client Latencies: LP-Based Techniques for Minimum-Latency Problems
Authors: Chakrabarty Deeparnab , Swamy Chaitanya
Published: April 2016

We introduce a problem that is a common generalization of the uncapacitated facility location (UFL) and minimum latency (ML) problems, where facilities not only need to be opened to serve clients, but also need to be sequentially activated before they can provide service. This abstracts a setting where inventory demanded by customers needs to be stocked or replenished at facilities from a depot or warehouse.

Formally, we are given a set ℱ of n facilities with facility-opening costs, a set 𝒟 of m clients, and connection costs c(i, j) specifying the cost of assigning a client j to a facility i, a root node r denoting the depot, and a time metric d() on ℱ ∪ {r}. Our goal is to open a subset of facilities, find a path P starting at r and spanning the open facilities to activate them, and connecting each client j to an open facility so as to minimize the total facility opening cost, the total client connection cost, and the total time of arrivals at each facility along P. We call this the minimum latency uncapacitated facility location (MLUFL) problem.

Our main result is an O(log n max(log n, log m))-approximation for MLUFL. Via a reduction to the group Steiner tree (GST) problem, we show this result is tight in the sense that any improvement in the approximation guarantee for MLUFL, implies an improvement in the (currently known) approximation factor for GST. We obtain significantly improved constant approximation guarantees for two natural special cases of the problem: (a) Related MLUFL, where the connection costs form a metric that is a scalar multiple of the time metric; (b) Metric uniform MLUFL, where we have metric connection costs and the time-metric is uniform.

Our LP-based methods are fairly versatile and are easily adapted with minor changes to yield approximation guarantees for MLUFL (and ML) in various more general settings, such as (i) the setting where the latency-cost of a client is a function (of bounded growth) of the delay faced by the facility to which it is connected; and (ii) the k-route version, where we can dispatch k vehicles in parallel to activate the open facilities.

Our LP-based understanding of MLUFL also offers some LP-based insights into ML. We obtain two natural LP-relaxations for ML with constant integrality gap, which we believe shed new light upon the problem and offer a promising direction for obtaining improvements for ML.
Reviews
Authors: Michalis Maria , Lax Stephen , McDowell Stephen D.
Published: April 2016

Post-Tv: Piracy, Cord-Cutting and the Future of Television, Michael Strangelove (2015) Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 347 pp., ISBN: 978-1442614529, p/bk, £18.99

Digital Broadcasting: An Introduction to New Media, Jo Pierson and Joke Bauwens (2015) Bloomsbury: New York, 176 pp., ISBN: 978-1847887412, p/bk, £34.95

Distribution Revolution: Conversations about the Digital Future of Film and Television, Michael Curtin, Jenifer Holt and Kevin Sanson (2014) Oakland: University of California Press, 260 pp., ISBN: 978-0520283251, p/bk, $29.95
The EU Digital Single Market as a mission impossible: Audio-visual policy conflicts for Estonia
Authors: Ibrus Indrek
Published: April 2016

The EU Commission has started to update its Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) as part of its larger push to implement its Digital Single Market (DSM) Strategy. It is expected that this will not be just a light fix for some of the ‘bugs’ in the regulation, but a major overhaul motivated by the significant changes in media systems related mostly to media convergence and globalization. In this context this article offers a small country’s view of these processes. It demonstrates in detail how Estonia, a very small country on the EU periphery, is challenged by the need to develop its positions with regard to the complex processes at the EU level. It discusses the ‘impossible conflicts’ that it encounters when trying to articulate its media policies and EU strategies. It also describes the complexities of developing media policy in a country where different government institutions are shaped by different ideological frameworks, and therefore have different policy goals; and how cultural policy goals tend to be sacrificed when they are in conflict with various techno-economic imperatives.
Audio-visual regulation transition in Israel: A view from within
Authors: Schejter Amit M. , Tirosh Noam
Published: April 2016

The Israeli Minister of Communications appointed on 4 February 2014 a tenmember expert committee to propose a regulatory framework for the future of commercial television (broadcast and cable) in light of the imminent introduction of over the top (OTT) audio-visual services. In this study, the authors describe the process influencing the committee’s final report. By comparing between the committee’s interim report and its final report, the study sheds light on the way regulation is designed in an era of transition. The reader will find in this study a detailed description of the different actors’ responses to new regulation proposals and will have the opportunity to observe how and if these reactions influenced the work of public servants.
The impact of DTT in the willingness to pay for TV in Spain
Authors: Medina Mercedes , Herrero Mónica , Etayo Cristina
Published: April 2016

The analogue switchover took place in Spain in April 2010, with the subsequent increase in the number of available channels for the citizens. New suppliers of audio-visual contents have appeared and a mixture of pay-services and free ones are competing. The aim of this article is to analyse the influence of socio-demographic variables in the subscription to television services before and after the full implementation of digital terrestrial television. Moreover, we will explore the possible relations between socio-demographic variables and reasons to subscribe. The theoretical framework is based on the nature of pay television as a media product and the audience satisfaction and willingness to pay for television. In order to contextualize the Spanish market in a broader international perspective, we provide some comparative aspects of the digital television developments in other European countries. The data for the empirical analysis of the willingness to pay for television contents in Spain come from two original surveys conducted in 2008 and 2012 and the sample size was 1000 individuals.
Public or state owned? The Brazilian Company of Communications (EBC) in the context of the democratization of the media in Brazil
Authors: Medeiros Débora
Published: April 2016

In 2007, President Luiz Inácio ‘Lula’ da Silva founded the Brazilian Company of Communications (Empresa Brasil de Comunicação – EBC), sparking a debate around the concept of public service broadcasting in the country: is the EBC truly public or is it state owned? And, more importantly, how can it contribute to the democratization of communication in Brazil? Supported by the company’s own publicly available documents, as well as studies of the Brazilian legislation, I offer an answer to the question posed above by analysing the EBC in light of three analytical categories: programming and national mission; organizational structure and level of autonomy; and editorial independence. These categories were developed based on reputable international sources and focusing on diverse aspects, ranging from the editorial line to the administrative structure. With this article, I hope to give my own contribution to the important discussion around the nature of public service broadcasting in developing democratic countries like Brazil, where other models than the ones known in Europe for public service broadcasting are being implemented or changed to fit these countries’ specific realities.
Evidence and Graham Harman’s Third Table
Authors: Ainsworth Peter
Published: April 2016

In this article I discuss Larry Sultan and Mike Mandel’s Evidence, 1977 contextualized by Graham Harman’s text, produced for ‘dOCUMENTA(13)’, The Third Table, 2012. It is my contention that, although Evidence may have been produced to subvert the modernist tropes of authorship and narrative, or to draw our attention to visual material, which is ‘ready-to-hand’, the photographs can also be explored as a visual metaphor for Graham Harman’s approach to Object-Orientated Ontology (OOO). I seek to demonstrate that there is significance in analysing the work in the context of Harman’s description of relations, his concepts of ‘overmining’ and ‘undermining’ and debates surrounding ‘OOO’. The article is a reading of the photographs, where the caption-less, unreferenced images, selected by Sultan and Mandel from various institutions and recontextualized in relation to art, are explored through ideas contained in Harman’s short text.