bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Motivational and Cognitive Predictors of the Propensity to Intervene Against Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Alfredsson Helen , Ask Karl , von Borgstede Chris
Published: December 2013

A survey using a community-based sample ( N = 650) was conducted to identify motivational and cognitive predictors of individuals’ propensity to intervene against intimate partner violence (IPV). A hierarchical regression analysis showed that motivational factors accounted for the greatest proportion of the variance in self-reported propensity. Specifically, personal norm (i.e., an individual’s felt obligation to intervene) was the strongest individual predictor, followed by affective response (i.e., the extent to which an individual responds to IPV with negative emotions). Although cognitive factors explained only a small portion of the variance, the propensity to intervene was significantly higher for respondents who perceived IPV as a prevalent issue and who did not view the perpetrator as responsible for the solution of IPV. The findings suggest that attempts to facilitate public intervention should target specific, rather than general, aspects of public norms and beliefs about IPV.
Latina Immigrants, Interpersonal Violence, and the Decision to Report to Police
Authors: Pitts Kimberly Mathis
Published: December 2013

Interpersonal violence (IPV) occurs across all ethnic and racial groups and affects women of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. Battered women of Latin American descent are less likely to seek help from either formal or informal sources and these women are more likely to stay longer in an abusive relationship before seeking help. To contribute to the growing body of literature on IPV, this research will examine particular situational and individual-specific characteristics of IPV incidents experienced by Latina immigrant women living in a metropolitan area in the Southern United States. Based on a sample of 568 immigrant Latina women collected over a 6-year period, this research explains whether particular situational and individual-specific characteristics of IPV incidents affect the decisions of Latina victims to report to the police.
Women’s Decisions to Not Seek Formal Help for Partner Violence
Authors: Leone Janel M. , Lape Megan E. , Xu Yili
Published: December 2013

This study examined the help-seeking decisions of low-income women ( n = 389) in two types of physically violent heterosexual relationships—intimate terrorism (i.e., physical violence used within a general pattern of coercive control) and situationally violent (i.e., physical violence that is not part of a general pattern of coercive control). Intimate terrorism victims were significantly more likely than situational couple violence victims to cite fear as a reason for not seeking help from the police, medical centers, and counselors/agencies. In contrast, situational couple violence victims more often said that they did not need help. Regression analyses also indicate that additional violence-related factors predict women’s help-seeking. Findings emphasize the importance of distinguishing between types of male partner violence and recognizing women’s exertions of personal choice and perceptions of dangerousness when examining their decisions about seeking help from service providers.
Incorporating Unstructured Socializing Into the Study of Secondary Exposure to Community Violence
Authors: Zimmerman Gregory M. , Messner Steven F. , Rees Carter
Published: December 2013

Secondary exposure to community violence, defined as witnessing or hearing violence in the community, has the potential to profoundly impact long-term development, health, happiness, and security. While research has explored pathways to community violence exposure at the individual, family, and neighborhood levels, prior work has largely neglected situational factors conducive to secondary violence exposure. The present study evaluates “unstructured socializing with peers in the absence of authority figures” as a situational process that has implications for secondary exposure to violence. Results indicate that a measure of unstructured socializing was significantly associated with exposure to violence, net of an array of theoretically relevant covariates of violence exposure. Moreover, the relationships between exposure to violence and three of the most well-established correlates of violence exposure in the literature—age, male, and prior violence—were mediated to varying degrees by unstructured socializing. The results suggest a more nuanced approach to the study of secondary violence exposure that expands the focus of attention beyond individual and neighborhood background factors to include situational opportunities presented by patterns of everyday activities.
Passive fault-tolerant sliding mode attitude control for flexible spacecraft with faulty thrusters
Authors: Mirshams M , Khosrojerdi M , Hasani M
Published: December 2013

The attitude control subsystem plays a significant role in the overall performance of the spacecraft. Attitude control subsystem is vitally important to design the control system with rapid response performance, high control precision and insensitive to external perturbations. In this paper a novel fault-tolerant control design technique against faulty thrusters is investigated. This technique uses adaptive sliding mode control with application to spacecraft attitude maneuvering control system. The principle of the proposed fault-tolerant control scheme is to design sliding mode attitude controller using the time variable sliding surface to compensate the effect of partial loss of the actuators effectiveness. This adaptive law calculates the ability of spacecraft maneuvering in following the control input based on kinematic energy of the estimated and real model of the spacecraft. It is shown that the presented controller can accommodate the actuator faults, even while resisting the external disturbances. Moreover, in the control law scheme the effect of actuator saturation/constraint has been considered. An additional advantage of the proposed fault-tolerant control strategy is that the control design does not require a fault detection and isolation mechanism to detect, separate, and identify the actuator faults on-line. The associated stability proof is constructive and accomplished by the development of Lyapunov function candidate, which shows that the attitude orientation and angular velocity will globally asymptotically converge to zero. Moreover, several numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed controller despite the external perturbations, moment of inertia uncertainty and faulty actuators. The numerical results clearly demonstrate the good performance of the adaptive sliding mode control despite the actuator fault comparison with some other controllers.
Coordinated control of static synchronous compensator and automatic voltage regulator in multi-machine power systems using pseudo-generalized Hamiltonian theory
Authors: Lei Bangjun , Fei Shumin , Zhai Junyong
Published: December 2013

Flexible alternating current transmission system devices are widely used to enhance the power transfer limit and stability improvement in transmission networks. They also help damp out both local and inter-area low-frequency oscillations. Using pseudo-generalized Hamiltonian theory, this article investigates the coordinated control of automatic voltage regulator of synchronous generator and static synchronous compensator in multi-machine power systems. First, via a proper variable transformation and pre-feedback control, the dissipative pseudo-generalized Hamiltonian realization of the static synchronous compensator and power system are completed, respectively. Then, based on the obtained dissipative pseudo-generalized Hamiltonian realization, a brand new nonlinear coordinated control law is constructed. Simulation results indicate that the proposed coordinated control scheme can effectively improve both the transient stability and voltage regulation performance of the power system.
Physiological Linkage of Dyadic Gaming Experience
Authors: Järvelä Simo , Kivikangas J. Matias , Kätsyri Jari , Ravaja Niklas
Published: December 2013

Dyadic gaming experience was studied in a psychophysiological experiment where conflict structure and the presence of an artificial intelligence (AI) agent in a turn-based game were varied in four different conditions. Electrocardiographic and electrodermal activity signals of 41 same-gender dyads were recorded to study joint changes in their physiological signals. A strong physiological linkage was found within dyads in all conditions, but the linkage scores did not differentiate between conflict modes. The only significant difference in linkage between conditions was an increase when the AI agents were not present. In addition, linkage was associated with different self-report scales assessing social presence. These results suggest that social presence and physiological linkage within dyads are higher when dyads can focus on each others’ actions without distractions.
Reduction of Infarct Size by the Therapeutic Protein TAT-Ndi1 In Vivo
Authors: Mentzer Robert M. , Wider Joseph , Perry Cynthia N. , Gottlieb Roberta A.
Published: December 2013

Lethal myocardial ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury has been attributed in part to mitochondrial respiratory dysfunction (including damage to complex I) and the resultant excessive production of reactive oxygen species. Recent evidence has shown that reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide–quinone internal oxidoreductase (Ndi1; the single-subunit protein that in yeast serves the analogous function as complex I), transduced by addition of the TAT-conjugated protein to culture media and perfusion buffer, can preserve mitochondrial function and attenuate I/R injury in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and Langendorff-perfused rat hearts. However, this novel metabolic strategy to salvage ischemic-reperfused myocardium has not been tested in vivo. In this study, TAT-conjugated Ndi1 and placebo-control protein were synthesized using a cell-free system. Mitochondrial uptake and functionality of TAT-Ndi1 were demonstrated in mitochondrial preparations from rat hearts after intraperitoneal administration of the protein. Rats were randomized to receive either TAT-Ndi1 or placebo protein, and 2 hours later all animals underwent 45-minute coronary artery occlusion followed by 2 hours of reperfusion. Infarct size was delineated by tetrazolium staining and normalized to the volume of at-risk myocardium, with all analysis conducted in a blinded manner. Risk region was comparable in the 2 cohorts. Preischemic administration of TAT-Ndi1 was profoundly cardioprotective. These results demonstrate that it is possible to target therapeutic proteins to the mitochondrial matrix and that yeast Ndi1 can substitute for complex I to ameliorate I/R injury in the heart. Moreover, these data suggest that cell-permeable delivery of mitochondrial proteins may provide a novel molecular strategy to treat mitochondrial dysfunction in patients.
Effect of microwave power on kinetics and characteristics of microwave vacuum-dried longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) pulp
Authors: Su Dongxiao , Zhang Mingwei , Wei Zhencheng , Tang Xiaojun , Zhang Ruifen , Liu Lei , Deng Yuanyuan
Published: December 2013

The drying kinetics of longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) pulp processed by microwave vacuum under different microwave levels (2.67, 5.33, 8.00, and 10.67 W/g) was investigated (pressure controlled at −85 ± 2 kPa) in the present study. It was found that the drying rate of longan pulp was dependent on the microwave power, and the rehydration rate increased from 1.96 to 2.17 with the increase of microwave power from 2.67 to 10.67 W/g. Among nine selected thin layer models, the microwave vacuum drying of longan pulp was well represented by five models, which were Page, Modified Henderson and Pabis, Wang and Singh, Logarithmic, and Midilli models. Furthermore, the results of statistical analysis indicated that the Midilli model could describe the best experimental data. In addition, scanning electron microscope observation showed that the microwave vacuum-dried longan pulp had a porous structure.
Factor Structure of Attention Capacities Measured With Eye-Tracking Tasks in 18-Month-Old Toddlers
Authors: de Jong Marjanneke , Verhoeven Marjolein , Hooge Ignace T. C. , van Baar Anneloes L.
Published: December 2013

Objective: Attention capacities are critical for adaptive functioning and development. Reliable assessment measures are needed for the study of attention capacities in early childhood. In the current study, we investigated the factor structure of the Utrecht Tasks of Attention in Toddlers Using Eye-tracking (UTATE) test battery that assesses attention capacities in 18-month-old toddlers with eye-tracking techniques. Method: The factor structure of 13 measures of attention capacities, based on four eye-tracking tasks, was investigated in a sample of 95 healthy toddlers (18 months of age) using confirmatory factor analysis. Results: Results showed that a three-factor model best fitted the data. The latent constructs reflected an orienting, alerting, and executive attention system. Conclusion: This study showed support for a three-factor model of attention capacities in 18-month-old toddlers. Further study is needed to investigate whether the model can also be used with children at risk of attention problems.
Problems and Stakeholder Responsibilities in Island Tourism: The Case of Tioman Island in Malaysia
Authors: Ho Jo Ann , Chia Kei Wei , Ng Siew Imm , Ramachandran Sridar
Published: December 2013

Tioman Island in Malaysia was once voted one of the most beautiful islands in the world. However, this ranking has gradually slipped, due to development and poor environmental management of the island. The authors employ the stakeholder theory in examining the perceptions of four stakeholder groups (tourists, local residents, government agencies, and business operators) on the environmental problems faced on the island and to identify the parties jointly responsible for solving these problems. A total of 15 problems were identified from 46 exploratory interviews conducted prior to the questionnaire survey. A questionnaire was constructed based on the interview data, and 320 questionnaires were collected from the four stakeholder groups. The results provide support that different stakeholder groups identify different problems and they perceived responsibility for solving these problems. The findings also indicated that problems related to limited road access, neglect of local community, limited phone and internet access, and dirty beaches needed immediate attention.
An Exploratory Study of Convention Destination Competitiveness from the Attendees’ Perspective
Authors: Lee Jumyong (Stephen) , Choi Youngsoo , Breiter Deborah
Published: December 2013

Destination competitiveness has become a prominent part of hospitality and tourism literature. Competitiveness, however, is not easily defined or uniformly calculated because a number of diverse factors must be considered. Although meeting planners’ site selection criteria has been studied in existing convention destination research, the attendees’ perspective has rarely been examined. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the indicators that affect a convention destination’s competitiveness in the eyes of convention attendees. Data were collected from three trade shows hosted by three different convention destinations, which resulted in 696 usable responses for data analyses. Importance-performance analysis (IPA) was implemented on seven attributes of convention destination competitiveness. In addition, the overall destination competitiveness indices were calculated to see the relative competitiveness among the destinations. Repeated measures of MANOVA were conducted to complement and to offer valid interpretation of the IPA results.
Comparison of serum fatty acid concentrations in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and healthy controls
Authors: Hall Daniel J , Freeman Lisa M , Rush John E , Cunningham Suzanne M
Published: December 2013

n-3 fatty acids have some benefits in humans and dogs with cardiac disease, and plasma n-3 fatty acid concentrations have been shown to be decreased in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF). However, there are no published studies reporting fatty acid concentrations in cats with cardiac disease. Therefore, the goal of this study was to compare serum fatty acid concentrations in normal cats and cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and determine if fatty acid concentrations correlate with left atrial size or the presence of CHF. Serum fatty acid concentrations were measured in normal cats and cats with HCM by gas chromatography. Twenty-three cats with HCM and 20 healthy controls were enrolled. Compared with healthy controls, cats with HCM had higher concentrations of palmitic acid ( P = 0.01), docosahexanoic acid (DHA; P = 0.001) and total n-3 fatty acids ( P = 0.03), and lower concentrations of linoleic acid ( P = 0.03). Among cats with HCM, there were no differences in plasma fatty acid concentrations, and no association between left atrial dimension and fatty acid concentrations. Cats with HCM have some alterations in plasma fatty acids compared with healthy controls. Given the higher plasma concentrations of DHA, DHA supplementation is unlikely to have benefits in terms of correcting a deficiency; however, other effects of DHA or of supplementation of EPA warrant further investigation.
Per-endoscopic trans-tympanic traction for the management of feline aural inflammatory polyps: a case review of 37 cats
Authors: Greci Valentina , Vernia Erika , Mortellaro Carlo M
Published: December 2013

Feline aural inflammatory polyps are benign growths originating from the tympanic cavity or the Eustachian tube. They usually occur in young cats, which present either signs of otitis externa and otitis media, or respiratory signs, depending on the direction of polyp growth. Neurological signs are also reported. Simple traction and ventral bulla osteotomy (VBO) are the most common techniques used for treating this condition in cats; corticosteroids are recommended to reduce risk of recurrence given the inflammatory nature of the disease. The most common complications after treatment are Horner’s syndrome, polyp recurrence and facial nerve paralysis. The aim of this report is to describe the per-endoscopic trans-tympanic traction (PTT) technique for treating feline aural inflammatory polyps and to report the short- and long-term follow-up of this procedure. PTT allowed resolution of the aural inflammatory polyps in 94% of cats during a mean long-term outcome of 19 months. Three cats (8%) developed Horner’s syndrome immediately after the PTT procedure, which resolved within a few weeks, and five cats had polyp recurrence (13.5%). Only two cats had a poor outcome and were diagnosed with chronic otitis media at 22 months, and chronic otitis media and polyp recurrence at 46 months after the PTT procedure, respectively. PTT was shown to be an effective technique for treating aural inflammatory polyps and registered fewer neurological complications (8%) than VBO (57–81%) or simple traction (43%), and a recurrence percentage (13.5%) similar to VBO (0–33%) and much lower than traction alone (57%).
Feline mediastinal lymphoma: a retrospective study of signalment, retroviral status, response to chemotherapy and prognostic indicators
Authors: Fabrizio Francesca , Calam Amy E , Dobson Jane M , Middleton Stephanie A , Murphy Sue , Taylor Samantha S , Schwartz Anita , Stell Anneliese J
Published: December 2013

Historically, feline mediastinal lymphoma has been associated with young age, positive feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) status, Siamese breed and short survival times. Recent studies following widespread FeLV vaccination in the UK are lacking. The aim of this retrospective multi-institutional study was to re-evaluate the signalment, retroviral status, response to chemotherapy, survival and prognostic indicators in feline mediastinal lymphoma cases in the post-vaccination era. Records of cats with clinical signs associated with a mediastinal mass and cytologically/histologically confirmed lymphoma were reviewed from five UK referral centres (1998–2010). Treatment response, survival and prognostic indicators were assessed in treated cats with follow-up data. Fifty-five cases were reviewed. The median age was 3 years (range, 0.5–12 years); 12 cats (21.8%) were Siamese; and the male to female ratio was 3.2:1.0. Five cats were FeLV-positive and two were feline immunodeficiency-positive. Chemotherapy response and survival was evaluated in 38 cats. Overall response was 94.7%; complete (CR) and partial response (PR) rates did not differ significantly between protocols: COP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone) (n = 26, CR 61.5%, PR 34.0%); Madison–Wisconsin (MW) (n = 12, CR 66.7%, PR 25.0%). Overall median survival was 373 days (range, 20–2015 days) (COP 484 days [range, 20–980 days]; MW 211 days [range, 24–2015 days] [ P = 0.892]). Cats achieving CR survived longer (980 days vs 42 days for PR; P = 0.032). Age, breed, sex, location (mediastinal vs mediastinal plus other sites), retroviral status and glucocorticoid pretreatment did not affect response or survival. Feline mediastinal lymphoma cases frequently responded to chemotherapy with durable survival times, particularly in cats achieving CR. The prevalence of FeLV-antigenaemic cats was low; males and young Siamese cats appeared to be over-represented.
Thermal performance of mechanical face seal with built-in heat pipe
Authors: Xiao Nian , Khonsari MM
Published: December 2013

Performance of a prototype mechanical face seal with built-in heat pipe is experimentally evaluated. The results demonstrate the feasibility of using phase change to remove frictional heating and thus reduce interfacial temperature. In this design, the heat pipe is integrated into the seal mating ring and there is no need to modify the gland design or the flush arrangement. The experimental results show that by means of phase change, this design is capable of significantly reducing the temperature at the seal rings’ interface. To gain insight into the heat transfer enhancement of the heat pipe mating ring, a one-dimensional steady-state heat transfer analysis is applied to predict the ring wall temperature distribution and to estimate the saturated vapor temperature. The effective thermal conductivity of heat pipe mating ring is estimated. These results of prediction are in good agreement with experimental measurements.
Are we ready to build health systems that consider the climate?
Authors: Mayhew Susannah , Belle Sara Van , Hammer Michael
Published: December 2013

At last, climate change does appear to have entered mainstream consciousness. In the scientific community, the climate change debate has shifted from focusing on establishing the truth of the claim that climate change is a reality to warming public opinion to the cause and acknowledging that climate change will have far-reaching effects on how we build, organize and manage climate-responsive social systems including health care systems. There is particular urgency to the debate for health services and systems in low income countries where some of the worst effects of climate change will be felt and where health systems are already over-stretched due to long-term lack of investment, a double burden of disease (preventive and non-communicable), a crisis in human resources and governance deficiencies. Despite the urgency, the health care systems development community appears insular in its interests and actions, and a clear leader that could coordinate the activities of different researchers, research bodies, policy makers and international organizations across relevant sectors including disaster management, climate and health care systems, has yet to emerge. This essay considers the political landscape, possible leaders and why it is necessary for health systems’ professionals to move beyond the health sector in order to secure support for health and health care systems development in a post-Millennium Development Goals development framework that is defined by climate change.
The Relationship Development Assessment – Research Version: Preliminary validation of a clinical tool and coding schemes to measure parent-child interaction in autism
Authors: Larkin Fionnuala , Guerin Suzanne , Hobson Jessica A , Gutstein Steven E
Published: December 2013

The aim of this project was to replicate and extend findings from two recent studies on parent-child relatedness in autism (Beurkens, Hobson, & Hobson, 2013; Hobson, Tarver, Beurkens, & Hobson, 2013, under review) by adapting an observational assessment and coding schemes of parent-child relatedness for the clinical context and examining their validity and reliability. The coding schemes focussed on three aspects of relatedness: joint attentional focus (Adamson, Bakeman, & Deckner, 2004), the capacity to co-regulate an interaction and the capacity to share emotional experiences. The participants were 40 children (20 with autism, 20 without autism) aged 6–14, and their parents. Parent-child dyads took part in the observational assessment and were coded on these schemes. Comparisons were made with standardised measures of autism severity (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, ADOS: Lord, Rutter, DiLavore, & Risi, 2001; Social Responsiveness Scale, SRS: Constantino & Gruber, 2005), relationship quality (Parent Child Relationship Inventory, PCRI: Gerard, 1994) and quality of parent-child interaction (Dyadic Coding Scales, DCS: Humber & Moss, 2005). Inter-rater reliability was very good and, as predicted, codes both diverged from the measure of parent-child relationship and converged with a separate measure of parent-child interaction quality. A detailed profile review revealed nuanced areas of group and individual differences which may be specific to verbally-able school-age children. The results support the utility of the Relationship Development Assessment – Research Version for clinical practice.
Identifying predictors of high sodium excretion in patients with heart failure: A mixed effect analysis of longitudinal data
Authors: Masterson Creber Ruth , Topaz Maxim , Lennie Terry A , Lee Christopher S , Puzantian Houry , Riegel Barbara
Published: December 2013

Background:

A low-sodium diet is a core component of heart failure self-care but patients have difficulty following the diet.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to identify predictors of higher than recommended sodium excretion among patients with heart failure.

Methods:

The World Health Organization Five Dimensions of Adherence model was used to guide analysis of existing data collected from a prospective, longitudinal study of 280 community-dwelling adults with previously or currently symptomatic heart failure. Sodium excretion was measured objectively using 24-hour urine sodium measured at three time points over six months. A mixed effect logistic model identified predictors of higher than recommended sodium excretion.

Results:

The adjusted odds of higher sodium excretion were 2.90, (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15–4.25, p<0.001) for patients who were obese; 2.80 (95% CI: 1.33–5.89, p=0.007) for patients with diabetes; and 2.22 (95% CI: 1.09–4.53, p=0.028) for patients who were cognitively intact.

Conclusion:

Three factors were associated with excess sodium excretion and two factors, obesity and diabetes, are modifiable by changing dietary food patterns.
Evaluation of three body abrasive wear behavior of bidirectional jute fiber reinforced epoxy composites
Authors: Mishra Vivek , Biswas Sandhyarani
Published: December 2013

The need of eco-friendly, sustainable, and biodegradable material for structural and non-structural application increases day by day. Jute fiber is one of the largely produced natural fibers and has properties comparable to synthetic fibers. Currently, abrasive wear of the agricultural and engineering machine components is one of the major industrial problems. An attempt has been made in this paper to study the abrasive wear behavior of bidirectional jute fiber–epoxy composites. Composites of five different compositions with fiber loading ranging from 0 to 48 wt.% were prepared using hand lay-up technique. Observations has been made under steady state condition to understand the effect of sliding velocity and normal load on the specific wear rate and coefficient of friction of the composites. It further outlines a methodology based on Taguchi's experimental design approach to make a parametric analysis of wear behavior. It has been found that the composites with 36 wt.% fiber loading exhibits minimum specific wear rate at different sliding velocity and normal load. The parametric combination of factors, such as sliding velocity of 144 cm/s, fiber loading of 48 wt.%, normal load of 40 N, sliding distance of 70 m, and abrasive size of 200 µm shows an optimum condition for minimum specific wear rate, whereas sliding velocity of 144 cm/s, fiber loading of 12 wt.%, normal load of 10 N, sliding distance of 80 m, and abrasive size of 300 µm show an optimum condition for minimum coefficient of friction. Finally, the worn surfaces were examined using a scanning electron microscope.
Hydrophobic behaviour of non-fluorinated sol–gel based cotton and polyester fabric coatings
Authors: Colleoni Claudio , Guido Emanuela , Migani Veronica , Rosace Giuseppe
Published: December 2013

Water repellency was conferred to cotton and polyester fabrics by an hybrid organic–inorganic finishing obtained by hydrolysis and subsequent condensation of octyltriethoxysilane (OTES) under acidic conditions, in combination with melamine based crosslinking agent N, N, N′, N′, N″, N″-hexakis(methoxymethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine (MF). The application on textile samples was carried out by padding followed by drying and thermal treatment. Water-resistance properties were determined in terms of the contact angle, water uptake and drop adsorption times, whereas the surface composition of treated fabrics was characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared analyses. Textile fabrics treated with the hybrid OTES–MF sol exhibited the best water-repellent properties, when compared to those treated with OTES or MF finishing alone. In particular, cotton and polyester samples, treated with a 60 g/L MF solution in a 1:4 MF:OTES molar ratio, showed a water contact angle of 130° and 150°, respectively. The high hydrophobicity of the treated fabrics is supposed to be due to the structural and stereochemical properties of the finishing. The presence of the MF triazine ring seems to favour both the improvement of the outward orientation of the OTES alkyl chains, and the crosslinking of N-methylol groups to form a three-dimensional film around the fibres which increases the surface roughness. The contact angle values and the characteristic IR peaks confirmed the presence of the hybrid coating on cotton fabrics even after multiple washing cycles.
Factors related to bowel cleansing failure before colonoscopy: Results of the PACOME study
Authors: Hautefeuille Gaëlle , Lapuelle Jean , Chaussade Stanislas , Ponchon Thierry , Molard B Richard , Coulom Pierre , Laugier René , Henri Franck , Cadiot Guillaume
Published: December 2013

Background

The factors associated with inadequate bowel cleansing leading to colonoscopy failure are not well known.

Objective

We conducted a multicentre, prospective, observational case–control study in order to identify these factors.

Methods

Investigators included one patient with colonoscopy failure due to inadequate bowel cleansing (failure group) and the following patient with complete colonoscopy (success group). Data related to demographics, medical history, and preparation were collected and compared. Factors associated with bowel cleansing failure were identified by multivariate logistical regression analysis.

Results

A total of 101 gastroenterologists included 202 patients from 1 November 2009 to 15 January 2010. There was no difference between both groups with regards to baseline characteristics. In univariate analysis, factors significantly associated with bowel cleansing failure were vomiting during preparation (p  = 0.0007), incomplete intake of the preparation (p  = 0.002), and constipation (p  = 0.02). Type and timing of preparation were not significantly different between groups. In multivariate analysis, incomplete intake of the preparation (OR 4.5, 95% CI 1.2–17.3), constipation (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.2–14.9), and treatment with neuroleptics or antidepressants (OR 9.9 (95% CI 1.4–71.0) were independent predictors of colonoscopy failure.

Conclusions

Factors associated with bowel cleansing failure were incomplete intake of the preparation, constipation, and treatment with psychotropic drugs. Interventions to reduce poor colonoscopy preparations should be targeted at these at‐risk patients.
JAK2 or CALR mutation status defines subtypes of essential thrombocythemia with substantially different clinical course and outcomes
Authors: Rumi Elisa , Pietra Daniela , Ferretti Virginia , Klampfl Thorsten , Harutyunyan Ashot S. , Milosevic Jelena D. , Them Nicole C. C. , Berg Tiina , Elena Chiara , Casetti Ilaria C. , Milanesi Chiara , Sant’Antonio Emanuela , Bellini Marta , Fugazza Elena , Renna Maria C. , Boveri Emanuela , Astori Cesare , Pascutto Cristiana , Kralovics Robert , Cazzola Mario
Published: December 2013

Key Points

JAK2 (V617F)-mutated essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera are different phenotypes in the evolution of a single neoplasm. CALR-mutated essential thrombocythemia is a distinct disease entity not only at the molecular level, but also with respect to clinical outcomes.
Effect of facemasks on empathy and relational continuity: a randomised controlled trial in primary care
Authors: Wong Carmen Ka Man , Yip Benjamin Hon Kei , Mercer Stewart , Griffiths Sian , Kung Kenny , Wong Martin Chi-sang , Chor Josette , Wong Samuel Yeung-shan
Published: December 2013

Background

There is limited evidence to support the use of facemasks in preventing infection for primary care professionals. Negative effects on communication has been suggested when the physician wears a facemask. As communication skills and doctor patient relationship are essential to primary care consultations, the effects of doctor’s facemask wearing were explored.

Method

A randomised controlled study was conducted in primary care to explore the effects of doctors wearing facemasks on patients’ perception of doctors’ empathy, patient enablement and patient satisfaction. Primary care doctors were randomized to mask wearing and non mask wearing clinical consultations in public primary care clinics in Hong Kong. Patients’ views were gathered using the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) Measure, Patient Enablement Instrument (PEI) and an overall satisfaction rating scale. The effects of face mask wearing were investigated using multilevel (hierarchical) modelling.

Results

1,030 patients were randomised to doctor-mask wearing consultations (n = 514) and non mask wearing consultations (n = 516). A significant and negative effect was found in the patients’ perception of the doctors’ empathy (CARE score reduction -0.98, p-value = 0.04). In the more established doctor-patient relationship, the effect of doctors’ mask wearing was more pronounced (CARE score reduction -5.67, p-value = 0.03).

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that when doctors wearing a facemask during consultations, this has a significant negative impact on the patient’s perceived empathy and diminish the positive effects of relational continuity. Consideration should be taken in planning appropriate use of facemasks in infectious disease policy for primary care and other healthcare professionals at a national, local or practice level.

Clinical trial registration

This trial was registered on Chinese Clinical Trial Register (ChiCTR). Registration no.: ChiCTR-TTRCC-12002519. URL: http://www.chictr.org/en/proj/show.aspx?proj=3486. Due to administrative error, registration of trial did not take place until after the trial started on 1st August 2011 and registration number was released on 21st September 2012.
Determination of French influenza outbreaks periods between 1985 and 2011 through a web-based Delphi method
Authors: Debin Marion , Souty Cécile , Turbelin Clément , Blanchon Thierry , Boëlle Pierre-Yves , Hanslik Thomas , Hejblum Gilles , Le Strat Yann , Quintus Flavien ,   the DelFluWeb study group, Falchi Alessandra
Published: December 2013

Background

Assessing the accuracy of influenza epidemic periods determined by statistical models is important to improve the performance of algorithms used in real-time syndromic surveillance systems. This is a difficult problem to address in the absence of a reliable gold standard. The objective of this study is to establish an expert-based determination of the start and the end of influenza epidemics in France.

Methods

A three-round international web-based Delphi survey was proposed to 288 eligible influenza experts. Fifty-seven (20%) experts completed the three-rounds of the study. The experts were invited to indicate the starting and the ending week of influenza epidemics, on 32 time-series graphs of influenza seasons drawn using data from the FrenchSentinellesNetwork (Influenza-like illness incidence rates) and virological data from the WHO-FluNet. Twenty-six of 32 time-series graphs proposed corresponded to each of the French influenza seasons observed between 1985 and 2011. Six influenza seasons were proposed twice at each round to measure variation among expert responses.

Results

We obtained consensual results for 88% (23/26) of the epidemic periods. In two or three rounds (depending on the season) answers gathered around modes, and the internal control demonstrated a good reproducibility of the answers. Virological data did not appear to have a significant impact on the answers or the level of consensus, except for a season with a major mismatch between virological and incidence data timings.

Conclusions

Thanks to this international web-based Delphi survey, we obtained reproducible, stable and consensual results for the majority of the French influenza epidemic curves analysed. The detailed curves together with the estimates from the Delphi study could be a helpful tool for assessing the performance of statistical outbreak detection methods, in order to optimize them.
Prognostic limitations of the Eurotransplant-donor risk index in liver transplantation
Authors: Reichert Benedikt , Kaltenborn Alexander , Goldis Alon , Schrem Harald
Published: December 2013

Background

Liver transplantation is the only life-saving therapeutic option for end-stage liver disease. Progressive donor organ shortage and declining donor organ quality justify the evaluation of the leverage of the Donor-Risk-Index, which was recently adjusted to the Eurotransplant community’s requirements (ET-DRI). We analysed the prognostic value of the ET-DRI for the prediction of outcome after liver transplantation in our center within the Eurotransplant community.

Results

291 consecutive adult liver transplants were analysed in a single centre study with ongoing data collection. Determination of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was performed to calculate the sensitivity, specificity, and overall correctness of the Eurotransplant-Donor-Risk-Index (ET-DRI) for the prediction of 3-month and 1-year mortality, as well as 3-month and 1-year graft survival. Cut-off values were determined with the best Youden-index. The ET-DRI is unable to predict 3-month mortality (AUROC: 0.477) and 3-month graft survival (AUROC: 0.524) with acceptable sensitivity, specificity and overall correctness (54% and 56.3%, respectively). Logistic regression confirmed this finding (p = 0.573 and p = 0.163, respectively). Determined cut-off values of the ET-DRI for these predictions had no significant influence on long-term patient and graft survival (p = 0.230 and p = 0.083, respectively; Kaplan-Meier analysis with Log-Rank test).

Conclusions

The ET-DRI should not be used for donor organ allocation policies without further evaluation, e.g. in combination with relevant recipient variables. Robust and objective prognostic scores for donor organ allocation purposes are desperately needed to balance equity and utility in donor organ allocation.
Labour supply and income distribution effects of the working income tax benefit: a general equilibrium microsimulation analysis
Authors: Annabi Nabil , Boudribila Youssef , Harvey Simon
Published: December 2013

In this study we assess the impact of the Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) on labour supply, GDP and income distribution in Canada, using a general equilibrium microsimulation model. We also estimate labour supply and demand elasticities using survey data to ensure that households’ behaviour is properly captured in the model. Simulation results show that the WITB affects particularly labour market participation of low- and medium-skilled lone-parents families. These positive effects on labour supply translate into higher after-tax incomes leading to a decline in low-income rates and low-income gaps. Our findings suggest that enhancing the WITB could provide additional income support to working Canadian families while reducing work disincentives for those trapped behind the welfare wall.

JEL classification

C15, D33, D58, J08, I32, O51
Do non-wage cost rigidities slow down employment? Evidence from Turkey
Authors: Ayhan Sinem H
Published: December 2013

This paper examines the role of non-wage cost rigidities in slowing down employment creation by assessing the effect of a policy aimed at fostering employment for women and young men introduced in Turkey in 2008. Exploiting a difference-in-difference-in differences strategy, I assess the employment effect of the reduction in the employer contribution share of the social security premiums. The results, net of the recent crisis effect, suggest a positive effect of the reduction in non-wage costs on employment creation for the targeted group (women) shortly after the announcement of the policy.

JEL Classification

C31; J08; J21; J32
Evaluation of American Joint Committee on Cancer, International Union Against Cancer, and Brigham and Women's Hospital Tumor Staging for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Karia Pritesh S. , Jambusaria-Pahlajani Anokhi , Harrington David P. , Murphy George F. , Qureshi Abrar A. , Schmults Chrysalyne D.
Published: December 2013

Purpose

To compare American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), International Union Against Cancer (UICC), and Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) tumor (T) staging systems for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and validate BWH staging against prior data.

Patients and Methods

Primary tumors diagnosed from 2000 to 2009 at BWH (n = 1,818) were analyzed. Poor outcomes (local recurrence [LR], nodal metastasis [NM], and disease-specific death [DSD]) were analyzed by T stage with regard to each staging system's distinctiveness (outcome differences between stages), homogeneity (outcome similarity within stages), and monotonicity (outcome worsening with increasing stage).

Results

AJCC and UICC T3 and T4 were indistinct with overlapping 95% CIs for 10-year cumulative incidences of poor outcomes, but all four BWH stages were distinct. AJCC and UICC high-stage tumors (T3/T4) were rare at 0.3% and 3% of the cohort, respectively. Most poor outcomes occurred in low stages (T1/T2; AJCC: 86% [95% CI, 77% to 91%]; UICC: 70% [61% to 79%]) resulting in heterogeneous outcomes in T1/T2. Conversely, in BWH staging, only 5% of tumors were high stage (T2b/T3), but they accounted for 60% (95% CI, 50% to 69%) of poor outcomes (70% of NMs and 83% of DSDs) indicating superior homogeneity and monotonicity as previously defined. Cumulative incidences of poor outcomes were low for BWH low-stage (T1/T2a) tumors (LR, 1.4% [95% CI, 1% to 2%]; NM, 0.6% [95% CI, 0% to 1%]; DSD, 0.2% [95% CI, 0% to 0.5%]) and higher for high-stage (T2b/T3) tumors (LR, 28% [95% CI, 19% to 38%]; NM, 25% [95% CI, 16% to 35%]; and DSD, 22% [95% CI, 13% to 34%]), which validated an earlier study of an alternative staging system.

Conclusion

BWH staging offers improved distinctiveness, homogeneity, and monotonicity over AJCC and UICC staging. Population-based validation is needed. BWH T2b/T3 tumors define a high-risk group requiring further study for optimal management.
Inclusion Complexation of Three Structural Isomers of Mono(deoxyguanidino)-α-cyclodextrin with the p-Nitrophenolate Ion
Authors: Takezawa Keita , Matsui Yoshihisa , Yamamoto Tatsuyuki , Yoshikiyo Keisuke
Published: December 2013

Three structural isomers of monoguanidino-modified α-cyclodextrin (CD), i.e., mono(6-deoxy-6-guanidino)-α-CD (1), mono(3-deoxy-3-guanidino)-α-CD (2), and mono(3-deoxy-3-guanidino-altro)-α-CD (3), were synthesized to study equilibria for the formation of inclusion complexes with the p-nitrophenolate ion (p-NP−). The binding constants (Ka’s) for the equilibria, determined by UV–vis titration at 298 K and pH 10.6, showed that 1 with a positively charged guanidino group on the primary hydroxy side of α-CD binds the negatively charged p-NP− more strongly than the native α-CD. On the contrary, either 2 or 3, with the same functional group on the secondary hydroxy side, binds p-NP− less strongly than the native α-CD. The Ka values for 1, 2, and 3 decreased, while that for the native α-CD remained virtually constant, with increasing ionic strength of the solutions. The two-dimensional 1H NMR spectra of rotating frame nuclear overhauser effect spectroscopy showed that p-NP− included in the cavity of 1, 2, 3, or α-CD directs the nitro group toward the primary hydroxy side of the host. These results were explained on the basis of electrostatic interaction, including charge–charge, charge–dipole, and dipole–dipole interaction, between the hosts and the guest.
Awarding Price, Contract Performance, and Bids Screening: Evidence from Procurement Auctions
Authors: Decarolis Francesco
Published: December 2013

This paper presents evidence on the perverse trade-off that first price auctions induce between low prices at the awarding stage and poor ex post performance when bids are not binding commitments. By exploiting the different timing with which first price auctions were introduced in Italy to procure public works, this study finds that at least half of the cost savings from lower winning prices are lost because of ex post renegotiation. Screening the lowest price bid for its responsiveness prevents performance worsening but also reduces the initial cost savings by a third and induces delays in awarding the contract. (JEL D44, H54, H57, R42)
Competitive Effects of Means-Tested School Vouchers
Authors: Figlio David , Hart Cassandra M. D.
Published: December 2013

We use the introduction of a means-tested voucher program in Florida to examine whether increased competitive pressure on public schools affects students’ test scores. We find greater score improvements in the wake of the program introduction for students attending schools that faced more competitive private school markets prior to the policy announcement, especially those that faced the greatest financial incentives to retain students. These effects suggest modest benefits for public school students from increased competition. The effects are consistent across several geocoded measures of competition and isolate competitive effects from changes in student composition or resource levels in public schools. (JEL H75, I21, I22, I28)
Parental Education and Offspring Outcomes: Evidence from the Swedish Compulsory School Reform
Authors: Lundborg Petter , Nilsson Anton , Rooth Dan-Olof
Published: December 2013

We use the Swedish compulsory school reform to estimate the causal effect of parental education on sons’ outcomes. To this end, we use data from the Swedish military enlistment register on the entire population of males and consider outcomes, such as cognitive skills, noncognitive skills, and various dimensions of health at the age of 18. We find positive effects of maternal education on sons’ skills and health status but no effects of paternal education. One reason behind this result may be that the fathers affected by the reform did not face any labor market returns to their increased schooling. (JEL I21, J12, J24)