bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Insane acquittees and insane convicts: the rationalization of policy in nineteenth-century Connecticut
Authors: Goodheart Lawrence B
Published: November 2017

A current situation in Connecticut of whether a violent insane acquittee should be held in a state prison or psychiatric facility raises difficult issues in jurisprudence and medical ethics. Overlooked is that the present case of Francis Anderson reiterates much of the debate over rationalization of policy during the formative nineteenth century. Contrary to theories of social control and state absolutism, governance in Connecticut was largely episodic, indecisive and dilatory over much of the century. The extraordinary urban and industrial transformation at the end of the Gilded Age finally forced a coherent response in keeping with longstanding legal and medical perspectives.
Curating and re-curating the American war in Vietnam
Authors: Sylvester Christine
Published: November 2017

The American war in Vietnam killed 58,000 US military personnel and millions of people on the ground, creating a troubling war legacy that has been ‘resolved’ in the USA through state strategies to efface military mortalities. Drawing on Charlotte Heath-Kelly’s work addressing mortality denied or ignored in the field of international relations and that of Andrew Bacevich and Christian Appy on American militarism, I explore the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, as a site of war re-curations that refuse the effacement of mortality and disrupt the militarist myths that sustain it – namely, that America is renewed and revitalized through war, and that soldiers live on as American heroes when they sacrifice for the country. With the Vietnam Syndrome long since replaced by insistence on loving all soldiers, even if not all the country’s wars, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated to remembering those who were not publicly acknowledged for fighting and dying in America’s failed war. Assemblages of pictures, letters, and other items that a community of loss leaves at the Memorial re-curate the war by showing the lingering pain that war mortality inflicts on those who experience it decade upon decade. Taken together, the objects of war shown at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and collected each evening put mortality at the heart of war experience. The Memorial is therefore a key location of knowledge that challenges militarist appeals and state effacements in favor of what Viet Thanh Nguyen calls ‘just memory’ of war.
Convergence and divergence: An analysis of mechanical restraints
Authors: Jacob Jean Daniel , Holmes Dave , Rioux Désiré , Corneau Pascale , MacPhee Colleen
Published: November 2017

Background:

Psychiatric nurses are regularly confronted with the uses and effects of control interventions such as mechanical restraints. Although there are evident tensions in the literature regarding the use of mechanical restraints, very little research has focused on the lived and embodied experience of their use, whether from the patient’s perspective or the perspective of nursing staff responsible for their application.

Research aims:

(1) to gain access to the bodily phenomenon of being placed in mechanical restraints; (2) to give voice to the intimate experiential understanding of this experience; and (3) through phenomenological interpretation, to understand the subjective processes and meaning-making of this experience.

Research design:

For this research, we adopted a distinctly ethics-oriented application of the methodology known as interpretative phenomenological analysis, that is, the interpretive dimension of the research focused on ethical practice in mental healthcare – one that is informed by experiential accounts of the lived body.

Participants and research context:

A total of 40 in-depth semi-structured, nondirected interviews with both nurses (n = 21) and patients (n = 19) we conducted to meet the aims of this article. Participants were recruited from an inpatient psychiatric unit of a Canadian general hospital.

Ethical considerations:

The research received research ethics board clearance from both the hospital where the study took place and the University of Ottawa.

Findings:

The comparative analysis is presented under the following headings: (1) context of care, (2) meaning of quality of care, (3) emotional reactions and nurse–patient relationship, (4) meeting the needs and (5) need for alternatives.

Discussion/conclusions:

The research findings are discussed in light of current literature and implications for practice.
Navigation through inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity of endocrine resistance mechanisms in breast cancer: A potential role for Liquid Biopsies?
Authors: Reinhardt Florian , Franken André , Fehm Tanja , Neubauer Hans
Published: November 2017

The majority of breast cancers are hormone receptor positive due to the expression of the estrogen and/or progesterone receptors. Endocrine therapy is a major treatment option for all disease stages of hormone receptor–positive breast cancer and improves overall survival. However, endocrine therapy is limited by de novo and acquired resistance. Several factors have been proposed for endocrine therapy failures, which include molecular alterations in the estrogen receptor pathway, altered expression of cell-cycle regulators, autophagy, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition as a consequence of tumor progression and selection pressure. It is essential to reveal and monitor intra- and intertumoral alterations in breast cancer to allow optimal therapy outcome. Endocrine therapy navigation by molecular profiling of tissue biopsies is the current gold standard but limited in many reasons. “Liquid biopsies” such as circulating-tumor cells and circulating-tumor DNA offer hope to fill that gap in allowing non-invasive serial assessment of biomarkers predicting success of endocrine therapy regimen. In this context, this review will provide an overview on inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity of endocrine resistance mechanisms and discuss the potential role of “liquid biopsies” as navigators to personalize treatment methods and prevent endocrine treatment resistance in breast cancer.
Boosting trust by facilitating communication: A model of trustee investments in information sharing
Authors: Frey Vincenz
Published: November 2017

Trust problems hamper many social and economic exchanges. In such situations, there are often institutions that enable trustors to share information on the performance of trustees. While the benefits of such institutions have been researched extensively, little is known about their emergence. This article presents a game-theoretic model for the understanding of investments by trustees in establishing information sharing between trustors. The model allows for a simultaneous analysis of investments in and effects of institutions for information sharing. It captures two mechanisms by which a trustee’s investment can promote trust. First, a trustee’s investment in establishing information sharing can enable network effects that facilitate trust and trustworthiness. Second, it can promote trust by serving as a signal of intrinsic trustworthiness. The analysis of the model implies predictions for how characteristics of the interaction situation affect whether these mechanisms motivate a trustee to establish information sharing.
Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Curriculum to Prepare Volunteer Navigators to Support Older Persons Living With Serious Illness
Authors: Duggleby Wendy , Pesut Barbara , Cottrell Laura , Friesen Lynnelle , Sullivan Kelli , Warner Grace
Published: November 2017

The purpose of this article is to report the development, implementation, and evaluation of a curriculum designed to prepare volunteer navigators to support community-dwelling older persons with serious chronic illness. The role of the volunteer navigator was to facilitate independence and quality of life through building social connections, improving access to resources, and fostering engagement. A curriculum was constructed from evidence-based competencies, piloted and revised, and then implemented in 7 subsequent workshops. Workshop participants were 51 volunteers and health-care providers recruited through local hospice societies and health regions. Curriculum was evaluated through satisfaction and self-efficacy questionnaires completed at workshop conclusion. Postworkshop evaluation indicated a high degree of satisfaction with the training. One workshop cohort of 7 participants was followed for 1 year to provide longitudinal evaluation data. Participants followed longitudinally reported improved self-efficacy over 12 months and some challenges with role transition. Future improvements will include further structured learning opportunities offered by telephone postworkshop, focusing on advocacy, communication, and conflict management. Overall, volunteers were satisfied with the curriculum and reported good self-perceived efficacy in their new role as navigators.
A Predominant Oxidative Renal Metabolite of Empagliflozin in Male Mice Is Cytotoxic in Mouse Renal Tubular Cells but not Genotoxic
Authors: Smith James D. , Huang Zimei , Escobar Patricia A. , Foppiano Pamela , Maw Hlaing , Loging William , Yu Hongbin , Phillips Jonathan A. , Taub Mitchell , Ku Warren W.
Published: November 2017

In a previously reported CD-1 mouse 2-year carcinogenicity study with the sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor empagliflozin, an increased incidence of renal tubular adenomas and carcinomas was identified only in the male high-dose group. Follow-up investigative studies have shown that the renal tumors in male high-dose mice were preceded by a number of renal degenerative/regenerative findings. Prior cross-species in vitro metabolism studies using microsomes identified an oxidative metabolite (M466/2) predominantly formed in the male mouse kidney and which spontaneously degrades to a metabolite (M380/1) and reactive 4-OH crotonaldehyde (CTA). In order to further evaluate potential modes of action for empagliflozin-associated male mouse renal tumors, we report here a series of in vitro investigative toxicology studies conducted to evaluate the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of empagliflozin and M466/2. To assess the cytotoxic potential of empagliflozin and M466/2, a primary mouse renal tubular epithelial (mRTE) cell model was used. In mRTE cells, M466/2-derived in vitro 4-OH CTA exposure was cytotoxic, while empagliflozin was not cytotoxic or mitogenic. Empagliflozin and M466/2 were not genotoxic, supporting an indirect mode of action for empagliflozin-associated male mouse renal tumorigenesis. In conclusion, these in vitro data show that M466/2-derived 4-OH CTA exposure is associated with cytotoxicity in renal tubule cells and may be involved in promoting compound-related in vivo renal metabolic stress and chronic low-level renal injury, in turn supporting a nongenotoxic mode of tumor pathogenesis specific to the male mouse.
Moving Through the Lit World: The Emergent Experience of Urban Paths
Authors: Sumartojo Shanti , Pink Sarah
Published: November 2017

There is growing scholarship both on how light (and darkness) shapes our perception and experience of our surroundings and coalesces particular affective experiences. In this article, we build on this emerging field to address a fundamental but unexplored question for understanding urban experience: how is the experience of everyday movement through the city constituted in relation to automated urban lighting. We argue that the affective and sensory aspects of the “lit world” need to be accounted for, an aspect of quotidian urban experience that remains underexplored. In doing so, we discuss a mobile sensory ethnography of public urban “light routes” by drawing on the words and photographs of people moving through the city of Melbourne, Australia on their journeys home at the end of the day. Their stories about automated lighting reveal how particular affective intensities, responses to urban complexity and aesthetic experiences emerged on the move, and begin to account for the role of the “lit world” in everyday experience.
Thermal and acoustic performance expectations on timber buildings
Authors: Caniato Marco , Bettarello Federica , Ferluga Alessio , Marsich Lucia , Schmid Chiara , Fausti Patrizio
Published: November 2017

In recent years, building technologies have been developed in order to improve comfort and energy saving. European institutions and single countries firmly invite individuals to choose high energy-saving strategies in order to decrease carbon emissions and energy consumption. Examples could be found in thermal insulators added to façades and improvement of glazing performance. At present, two technologies are the most used in construction realization: traditional (concrete, masonry or in general heavyweight structure) or wood (timber, crosslam or in general timber lightweight structure). Designers, scientists and builders have their own opinions on these two topics, but good insulation performance are achievable with both of them. Nevertheless, for lay people as well as for designers, wooden structures seem more comfortable, reliable and insulated. Therefore, an international survey was realized in order to investigate what individuals expect from these two different construction technologies in terms of insulation performance. Results indicate that timber buildings stereotypes are confirmed for acoustic and thermal insulation and show how scientific communication may help to deal with new or untraditional constructions.
Parenting stress and life satisfaction in mothers of children with cerebral palsy: The mediating effect of social support
Authors: Wang Yongli , Huang Zhaoming , Kong Feng
Published: November 2017

In this study, we investigated the mediating effect of social support on the relationship between parenting stress and life satisfaction in Chinese mothers of children with cerebral palsy ( N = 369). The results showed that family support and friend support, but not significant-other support, had mediating effects on the relationship between parenting stress and life satisfaction. Moreover, the mediating effect of friend support was equal to family support. These results suggest that the focus should be on reducing parenting stress and increasing support from family and friends to help improve life satisfaction in mothers of children with cerebral palsy.
Trauma complexity and child abuse: A qualitative study of attachment narratives in adult refugees with PTSD
Authors: Riber Karin
Published: November 2017

The present study aimed to identify trauma types over the life course among adult refugees and to explore their accounts of childhood maltreatment. A sample of 43 Arabic-speaking refugees with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) attending a treatment context in Denmark were interviewed. Using a “Trauma Coding Manual” developed for this study, trauma types were identified in interview transcripts. In both men and women with Iraqi and Palestinian-Lebanese backgrounds, high levels of trauma complexity and high rates of childhood maltreatment were found (63%, n = 27). A number of concepts and categories emerged in the domains childhood physical abuse (CPA), childhood emotional abuse (CEA), and neglect. Participants articulated wide personal impacts of child abuse in emotional, relational, and behavioral domains in their adult lives. These narratives contribute valuable clinical information for refugee trauma treatment providers.
Performance evaluation of a miniature magnetic sector mass spectrometer onboard a satellite in space
Authors: Guo Meiru , Li Detian , Cheng Yongjun , Wang Yongjun , Sun Wenjun , Pei Xiaoqiang , Dong Meng , Sheng Xuemin , Zhao Lan , Li Yanwu
Published: November 2017

With the rapid development of space technology in China, it is urgent to use mass spectrometer to detect the space environment. In this work, a space miniature magnetic sector mass spectrometer is evaluated, which consists of three subsystems: (1) physical unit, (2) electric control unit, (3) and high voltage power. It has 90° magnetic sector-field analyzer with double trajectory, in which a trajectory measurement range is from 1 to 12 amu, the other range is from 6 to 90 amu.The mass spectrometer has two work models, one is used to measure space neutral gas when the filament of mass spectrometer ion source turned on, the other is used to measure space charged ions when the filament turned off. The absolute resolution of this device is less than 1 amu, the minimum detectable ion current is about 10−13 A, and the sensitivity is 10−6 A/Pa (N2). Its overall size is 170 mm × 165 mm × 170 mm, its weight is 4.5 kg, and its power consumption is 18 W. A series of environmental adaptability tests, including high and low temperature cycle, shock, vibration, thermal vacuum cycle, were carried out on the ground before launching, and sensitivity and peak position were also calibrated on the ground. In November 2012, the mass spectrometer was carried by an experimental satellite to 499 km sun synchronization and is still working right now. It successfully detected the atmosphere compositions both in the satellite orbit and gas-emitted from satellite, including O, He, 12CO2, 13CO2, H2, N2, O2, H2O, and so on.
Transarterial Embolization of a Renal Artery Aneurysm Concomitant With Renal Arteriovenous Fistula
Authors: Hongsakul Keerati , Bannangkoon Kittipitch , Boonsrirat Ussanee , Kritpracha Boonprasit
Published: November 2017

Congenital renal artery aneurysm is uncommon. Moreover, renal artery aneurysm concomitant with a congenital renal arteriovenous fistula is extremely rare. Transarterial embolization is the first-line treatment for these conditions. We report a case of a patient with congenital renal artery aneurysm concomitant with a congenital renal arteriovenous fistula of the upper polar left renal artery which was successfully treated by transarterial embolization with coil, glue, and Amplatzer vascular plug.
Endovascular Treatment of 12 Cases of Renal Arteriovenous Malformations: The Experience of 1 Center and an Overview of the Literature
Authors: Jia Zhen-Yu , Zhou Chun-Gao , Xia Jin-Guo , Zhao Lin-Bo , Zhang Wen , Liu Sheng , Shi Hai-Bin
Published: November 2017

Objectives:

Congenital renal arteriovenous malformations (rAVMs) represent rare vascular diseases. The heterogeneous vascular architecture of each rAVM determines the endovascular treatment techniques employed. We reported our experience with the endovascular treatment of a series of rAVMs.

Materials:

This retrospective study consisted of 12 patients with 12 rAVMs who underwent renal arterial embolization (RAE) in our hospital. Embolic materials, including particles, liquid embolic agents (n-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate, Onyx, and ethanol), and coils, were selectively used based on the decisions of interventional radiologists. Technical success was defined as the complete occlusion of the feeding arteries and nidus on postprocedure renal arteriography. Clinical success was defined as the resolution of hematuria or the disappearance of rAVM-relevant symptoms.

Results:

The median follow-up period was 13.5 months (range: 4-72). The technical success based on 12 procedures in 12 patients was 83.3% (10 of 12). In the 2 procedures that technically failed, the existence of multiple fine feeding arteries arising from the proximal portion of different segmental renal arteries explains the incomplete embolization. One of the 2 patients achieved clinical success without additional RAE. The other patient had recurrent hematuria 25 months after initial treatment, which was successfully managed conservatively with hemostatic agents. Thus, the clinical success was 91.7% (11 of 12).

Conclusions:

Renal artery embolization with the selective use of various embolic materials is an effective treatment for patients with rAVMs. The existence of multiple fine feeding vessels arising from the proximal portion of different segmental renal arteries is likely to affect the technical success of treatment.
Less-Affected Hand Function in Children With Hemiparetic Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Comparison Study With Typically Developing Peers
Authors: Rich Tonya L. , Menk Jeremiah S. , Rudser Kyle D. , Feyma Timothy , Gillick Bernadette T.
Published: November 2017

Background. Neurorehabilitation interventions in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) target motor abilities in daily life yet deficits in hand skills persist. Limitations in the less-affected hand may affect overall bimanual hand skills. Objective. To compare hand function, by timed motor performance on the Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function (JTTHF) and grip strength of children with UCP to children with typical development (CTD), aged 8 to 18 years old. Exploratory analyses compared hand function measures with regard to neurophysiological outcomes measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation and between group comparisons of hemispheric motor threshold. Methods. Baseline hand skills were evaluated in 47 children (21 UCP; 26 CTD). Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation testing assessed corticospinal tract and motor threshold. Results. The mean difference of the less-affected hand of children with UCP to the dominant hand of CTD on the JTTHF was 21.4 seconds (95% CI = 9.32-33.46, P = .001). The mean difference in grip strength was −30.8 N (95% CI = −61.9 to 0.31, P = .052). Resting motor thresholds between groups were not significant, but age was significantly associated with resting motor threshold ( P < .001; P = .001). Children with UCP ipsilateral pattern of motor representation demonstrated greater mean differences between hands than children with contralateral pattern of motor representation ( P < .001). All results were adjusted for age and sex. Conclusions. The less-affected hand in children with UCP underperformed the dominant hand of CTD. Limitations were greater in children with UCP ipsilateral motor pattern. Rehabilitation in the less-affected hand may be warranted. Bilateral hand function in future studies may help identify the optimal rehabilitation and neuromodulatory intervention.
Longitudinal Structural and Functional Differences Between Proportional and Poor Motor Recovery After Stroke
Authors: Guggisberg Adrian G. , Nicolo Pierre , Cohen Leonardo G. , Schnider Armin , Buch Ethan R.
Published: November 2017

Background. Evolution of motor function during the first months after stroke is stereotypically bifurcated, consisting of either recovery to about 70% of maximum possible improvement (“proportional recovery, PROP”) or in little to no improvement (“poor recovery, POOR”). There is currently no evidence that any rehabilitation treatment will prevent POOR and favor PROP. Objective. To perform a longitudinal and multimodal assessment of functional and structural changes in brain organization associated with PROP. Methods. Fugl-Meyer Assessments of the upper extremity and high-density electroencephalography (EEG) were obtained from 63 patients, diffusion tensor imaging from 46 patients, at 2 and 4 weeks (T0) and at 3 months (T1) after stroke onset. Results. We confirmed the presence of 2 distinct recovery patterns (PROP and POOR) in our sample. At T0, PROP patients had greater integrity of the corticospinal tract (CST) and greater EEG functional connectivity (FC) between the affected hemisphere and rest of the brain, in particular between the ventral premotor and the primary motor cortex. POOR patients suffered from degradation of corticocortical and corticofugal fiber tracts in the affected hemisphere between T0 and T1, which was not observed in PROP patients. Better initial CST integrity correlated with greater initial global FC, which was in turn associated with less white matter degradation between T0 and T1. Conclusions. These findings suggest links between initial CST integrity, systems-level cortical network plasticity, reduction of white matter atrophy, and clinical motor recovery after stroke. This identifies candidate treatment targets.
Ukrainian crisis through the lens of Russian media: Construction of ideological discourse
Authors: Pasitselska Olga
Published: November 2017

The Ukrainian–Russian conflict of 2013–2017 is characterized as ‘hybrid’ warfare, with a crucial role of informational component. Using ideological discourse analytic tools, this article demonstrates how two prominent Russian TV channels shaped the persuasive message, creating strong unity and mobilizing a high level of support among the national audience. Based on legitimation and de-legitimation patterns, Channel One and Russia-1 built ideologically polarized opposition between ‘Our’ and ‘Their’ sides of the conflict. The wide range of editorializing tools, socio-cultural and historical Soviet-time constructs, and references to gay culture served to promote one group and to debase the opposition. Close institutional ties between government and media in Russia sustain multiplicity and intertextuality of ‘general line’, thus eliminating discordant interpretations. The article shows strong evidence that the analyzed TV news programs present a typical illustration of ideological discourse, exploited by the Russian government in order to achieve its political goals.
The Sudden Devotion Emotion: Kama Muta and the Cultural Practices Whose Function Is to Evoke It
Authors: Fiske Alan Page , Seibt Beate , Schubert Thomas
Published: November 2017

When communal sharing relationships (CSRs) suddenly intensify, people experience an emotion that English speakers may label, depending on context, “moved,” “touched,” “heart-warming,” “nostalgia,” “patriotism,” or “rapture” (although sometimes people use each of these terms for other emotions). We call the emotion kama muta (Sanskrit, “moved by love”). Kama muta evokes adaptive motives to devote and commit to the CSRs that are fundamental to social life. It occurs in diverse contexts and appears to be pervasive across cultures and throughout history, while people experience it with reference to its cultural and contextual meanings. Cultures have evolved diverse practices, institutions, roles, narratives, arts, and artifacts whose core function is to evoke kama muta. Kama muta mediates much of human sociality.
Political Advertising on Social Media in the 2012 Presidential Election
Authors: Wei Ran , Golan Guy
Published: November 2017

This study explores the perceived effects of political ads that appeared on social media in the 2012 presidential campaign from a third-person effect perspective. Results of a survey using a probability sample of 496 college students indicated that the respondents tend to believe that political ads on social media have a greater influence on others than on themselves. However, the more desirable they viewed such ads, the more they admitted the ads to having influenced themselves. Finally, third-person perception of political ads on social media was found to be a positive predictor of engagement in promotional social media behavior after the influences of demographics, social media use, and political attitudes were taken into consideration.
Cumulative adversity, childhood behavioral problems, and educational mobility in China’s poorest rural communities
Authors: Shen Wensong , Hu Li-Chung , Hannum Emily
Published: November 2017

Behavioral problems are recognized as playing a potentially important role in educational attainment, but their function in contexts of extreme poverty is not well understood. In such settings, other factors might swamp any effects of children’s behavioral problems. Further, the interpretation of behavioral problems in circumstances of deep poverty is not clear: problematic behaviors might be in part a direct function of adverse experiences in childhood. In this paper, we focus on the case of 2000 rural youth sampled in the year 2000 from 100 villages in Gansu, one of China’s poorest provinces, and followed up through 2015. We investigate whether behavioral problems—internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and teacher-reported behavior problems—predict subsequent educational attainment among the rural poor, and consider the contributions of cumulative adversity to behavioral problems. Results in a high-poverty context where promotion decisions are closely tied to performance show that behavioral factors are linked to long-term educational outcomes. These results are robust to adjustment for a host of individual, family, and community context variables. There is some evidence that children in higher socioeconomic status families and in more developed communities are less vulnerable to experiencing behavioral problems. While girls are slightly less vulnerable to experiencing teacher-reported behavior problems than boys, there is no gender difference in the implications of behavioral problems for educational attainment. Finally, behavioral problems do not appear to operate simply as a proxy for measured family adversity.
Race, Ethnicity, and Criminal Justice Contact: Reflections for Future Research
Authors: Stewart Eric A. , Warren Patricia Y. , Hughes Cresean , Brunson Rod K.
Published: November 2017

Since the 1980s, the number of individuals in the U.S. criminal justice system has more than quadrupled and, as a result, incarcerates more people per capita than any other industrialized nation. The dramatic surge in incarceration can in part be attributed to the four decades of punitive crime policies that have produced large racial and ethnic disparities. While prior research has consistently demonstrated these sizable disparities, the purpose of the current research is 3-fold. First, we explore the current state of race–justice research with regard to offending/victimization, policing, and sentencing. We then explore the consequences of employment/earnings, families, and communities. We conclude by offering directions for future research.
Economic and Resource Impacts of Drip Method of Irrigation on Okra Cultivation
Authors: Narayanamoorthy A. , Devika N.
Published: November 2017

Drip method of irrigation (DMI) introduced relatively recently in India has proved to save sizeable water and augment productivity of crops. Studies conducted mostly on high-value fruit crops have confirmed the various benefits of DMI. However, not many studies have brought out the economic and resource impacts of drip irrigation including its benefit–cost pattern using survey data in crops like okra (ladies’ fingers) which is an important vegetable crop in India. In this article, we have made an attempt to fill this gap by using farm survey data collected from a water scarce district of Tamil Nadu state. We found from this study that DMI can reduce about 15 per cent of cultivation cost, save about 47 per cent of water resources and electrical energy, and augment about 49 per cent of productivity of okra over the same crop cultivated under conventional flood method of irrigation (FMI). Farmers cultivating okra under DMI are also able to generate an additional farm business income of ₹72,711/acre over the non-drip adopters. The net present worth and benefit-cost ratio estimated using different discount rates corroborate that investment in drip irrigation is economically highly viable for okra crop cultivating farmers.
Decentralised Rural Land Administration in Ethiopia
Authors: Adam Achamyeleh Gashu , Birhanu Tadesse Amsalu
Published: November 2017

This study is aimed to assess the performance of the local-level rural land administration institutions established in Amhara regional state of Ethiopia. The approach employed to evaluate the performance of the grassroots-level land administration institutions is based on indicators of good governance principles. To this end, questionnaire survey, interview and focus group discussion data collection tools were used to capture important and relevant data. The findings of this study showed that the land administration system (LAS) in the Amhara region seems to be well structured and the effort to strengthen good governance in land administration at local/village is a commendable intervention. The study has indicated that most land administration and arbitration committee members seem to have motivation to deliver service; however, capacity limitations have hindered them to extend their services based on the principles of good governance. Therefore, the need to promote good governance at local land administration institutions and providing capacity building trainings to the implementers at the grassroots level is recommended to make sure that the service delivery is improved and sustained.
Interpersonal Conflict-handling Styles: An Islamic Perspective
Authors: Azim Mohammad Tahlil
Published: November 2017

This research note explores conflict-handling styles from the Islamic perspective. According to Quran and the prophetic remarks, Islam prohibits dominating style and encourages obliging style, while it considers compromising, integrating and avoiding styles as acceptable for resolving interpersonal conflict. Managers can use the knowledge of Islamic instructions in their training, mentoring and counselling to handle conflicting parties within the organization and reduce the level of dysfunctional conflicts. In the end, the note offers indications for future studies where the level of religiosity (Islamic) may be a befitting mediating variable. Also, there may be studies on the influence of Islamic values in specific areas of human interactions within the workplace.
Factors Related to the Severity of Delirium in the Elderly Patients With Infection
Authors: Kuswardhani R. A. Tuty , Sugi Yosef Samon
Published: November 2017

Objective: Delirium is a common neuropsychiatric syndrome in the elderly characterized by concurrent impairments in cognition and behavior. Infection is one of the most important risk factors for delirium. The objective of this study is to elaborate the factors related to the severity of delirium in the elderly patients with infection. Method: An observational study on the relationship of several clinical parameters and the severity of delirium in elderly patients (more than 60 years) with infection was conducted at Geriatric Inpatient Ward, Sanglah Hospital. Delirium was defined by the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS). Charlson Age Comorbidity Index (CACI) scores were calculated as proposed by Charlson et al. Infection was confirmed by clinical, laboratory, and radiographic findings. Results: During 3 months, there were 60 elderly patients (35 men and 25 women) who were hospitalized with infection and delirium. In all, 33 (55.0%), 16 (26.7%), and 11 (18.3%) patients had pneumonia, urinary tract infection, and other infections, respectively, and 44 out of 60 (73.3%) patients had sepsis. There was no significant difference found in MDAS score between male and female patients and among different types of infection, but patients with sepsis had higher MDAS score significantly compared with patients without sepsis (19.48 ± 3.72 vs. 15.88 ± 2.82; p < .001). This study revealed that of several clinical parameters, only CACI ( R = .533; p < .001), blood urea nitrogen (BUN; R = .230; p = .040), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels ( R = .499; p < .001) were correlated with MDAS score significantly. By multiple linear regression test, CACI, IL-6, and sepsis have significant role, meanwhile, BUN has no role, on the severity of delirium. Conclusions: The CACI score, IL-6 levels, and sepsis have strong relationship with the severity of delirium, but BUN only has weak role in the severity of delirium in the elderly patients with infection.
Foot Structure and Function in Habitually Barefoot and Shod Adolescents in Kenya
Authors: Aibast Herje , Okutoyi Paul , Sigei Timothy , Adero Walter , Chemjor Danny , Ongaro Neford , Fuku Noriyuki , Konstabel Kenn , Clark Carol , Lieberman Daniel E. , Pitsiladis Yannis
Published: November 2017

Habitually barefoot (HB) children from the Kalenjin tribe of Kenya are known for their high physical activity levels. To date, there has been no comprehensive assessment of foot structure and function in these highly active and HB children/adolescents and link with overuse injuries. Purpose: The aim of this research is to assess foot structure, foot function, injury and physical activity levels in Kenyan children and adolescents who are HB compared with those who were habitually shod (HS). Methods: Foot structure, function, injury prevalence, and physical activity levels were studied using two studies with equal numbers of HS and HB. HS and HB children and adolescents were matched for age, sex, and body mass. Foot arch characteristics, foot strength, and lower-limb injury prevalence were investigated in Study 1 (n = 76). Heel bone stiffness, Achilles tendon moment arm length and physical activity levels in Study 2 (n=62). Foot muscle strength was measured using a strength device TKK 3360 and heel bone stiffness by bone ultrasonometry. The moment arm length of the Achilles tendon was estimated from photographs and physical activity was assessed using questionnaires and accelerometers. Results: Foot shortening strength was greater in HB (4.8 ± 1.9 kg vs 3.5 ± 1.8 kg, P < 0.01). Navicular drop was greater in HB (0.53 ± 0.32 cm vs 0.39 ± 0.19 cm, P < 0.05). Calcaneus stiffness index was greater (right 113.5 ± 17.1 vs 100.5 ± 116.8, P < 0.01 left 109.8 ± 15.7 vs 101.7 ± 18.7, P < 0.05) and Achilles tendon moment arm shorter in HB (right, 3.4 ± 0.4 vs 3.6 ± 0.4 cm, P < 0.05; left, 3.4 ± 0.5 vs 3.7 ± 0.4 cm, P < 0.01). Lower-limb injury prevalence was 8% in HB and 61% in HS. HB subjects spent more time engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity (60 ± 26 min·d−1 vs 31 ± 13 min·d−1; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Significant differences observed in foot parameters, injury prevalence and general foot health between HB and HS suggest that footwear conditions may impact on foot structure and function and general foot health. HB children and adolescents spent more time engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity and less time sedentary than HS children and adolescents.
Managing Persistent Hypoxemia: what is new?
Authors: Villar Jesús , Ferrando Carlos , Kacmarek Robert M
Published: November 2017

Mechanical ventilation is the standard life-support technique for patients with severe acute respiratory failure. However, some patients develop persistent and refractory hypoxemia because their lungs are so severely damaged that they are unable to respond to the application of high inspired oxygen concentration and high levels of positive end-expiratory pressure. In this article, we review current knowledge on managing persistent hypoxemia in patients with injured lungs.
Case Report: A rare case of prosthetic valve infective endocarditis caused by Aerococcus urinae
Authors: Adeel Muhammad , Tariq Saman , Akthar Hisham , Zaghloul Ahmed , Iorgoveanu Corina , Dehner Carina
Published: November 2017

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious and life threatening cardiac condition, most commonly caused by staphylococci, streptococci, enterococci and rarely by HACEK organisms (Haemophilus,Aggregatibacter,Cardiobacterium,Eikenella corrodensandKingella). Here, we present a case of IE caused byAerococcus urinaein a 75-year-old man with a bioprosthetic aortic valve. Aerococcus urinaeis a gram-positive, catalase negative microorganism, and is usually an isolate of complicated urinary tract infections in the elderly male population. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Awareness of this organism as a cause of IE is important, since failure to recognize the condition may lead to adverse clinical outcomes and significant complications with even fatal outcome, as in this case.
Anaesthesia for open wrist fracture surgery in adults/elderly
Authors: Sellbrandt Irene , Brattwall Metha , Warrén Stomberg Margareta , Jildenstål Pether , Jakobsson Jan G.
Published: November 2017

Anaesthetic technique for open surgery of acute distal for arm fracture in adults/elderly is not well defined. Regional anaesthesia, general anaesthesia or a combined general and regional block may be considered. General anaesthetic technique, the timing and drug/drug combination for the regional block must also be considered. This is a study around published studies assessing anaesthtic technique for wrist surgery. A systematic database search was performed and papers describing the effect of anaesthetic techniques were included.

We found sparse evidence for what anaesthetic technique is optimal for open wrist fracture repair. In total only six studies were found using our inclusion criteria, which all supported the short term, early recovery benefits of regional anaesthesia as part of multi-modal analgesia. More protracted outcomes and putting the type of block into context of quality of recovery and patients’ satisfaction is lacking in the literature. The risk for a pain rebound when the block vanishes should also be acknowledged. Therefore, further high quality studies are warranted concerning the anaesthetic technique for this type of surgery.
The impact of fresh gas flow on wash-in, wash-out time and gas consumption for sevoflurane and desflurane, comparing two anaesthesia machines, a test-lung study.
Authors: Leijonhufvud Fredrik , Jöneby Fredrik , Jakobsson Jan G.
Published: November 2017

Low-flow anaesthesia is considered beneficial for the patient and the environment, and it is cost reducing due to reduced anaesthetic gas consumption. An initial high-flow to saturate the circle system (wash-in) is desirable from a clinical point of view. We measured the wash-in and wash-out times (time to saturate and to eliminate the anaesthetic agent, AA), for sevoflurane and desflurane, in a test-lung with fixed 3 MAC vaporizer setting at different fresh gas flow (FGF) and calculated the consumption of AA. We tried to find an optimal flow rate for speed and gas consumption, comparing two anaesthesia machines (AMs): Aisys and Flow-i. Time to reach 1 minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) (wash-in) decreased (p<0.05) at higher flow rates (1 – 2 – 4) but plateaued at 4-4.8 l/min. The consumption of AA was at its lowest around 4-4.8 l/min (optimal flow) for all but the Aisys /desflurane group. Wash-out times decreased as FGF increased, until reaching plateau at FGF of 4-6 l/min. Aisys had generally shorter wash-in times at flow rates < 4 l/min as well as lower consumption of AA. At higher flow rates there were little difference between the AMs. The “optimal FGF” for wash-out, elimination of gas from the test-lung and circle system, plateaued with no increase in speed beyond 6 l/min. A fresh gas flow of 4 l/min. seems “optimal” taking speed to reach a 1 MAC ET and gas consumption into account during wash-in with a fixed 3 MAC vaporizer setting, and increasing fresh gas flow beyond 6 l/min does not seem to confirm major benefit during wash-out
Legal Arrangements Similar to Trusts in Estonia under the EU’s Anti-money-laundering Directive
Authors: Sepp Katrin
Published: November 2017

According to EU Directive 2015/849, all Member States must establish a central register of data on ultimate beneficial owners of corporate legal entities and also of trusts and legal arrangements similar to trusts. First of all, this requires identification of the latter arrangements in the individual Member States, which is not an easy task: the definition related to being ‘similar to trusts’ is quite vague. The main aim with the article was to determine the arrangements in Estonian private law that should be considered in implementation of the UBO-register rules. Therefore, a brief overview is provided of trusts and two types of arrangements used in civil-law systems for the same purposes – the Treuhand and fiducie. The piece then highlights the similarities between these and the trust, with the conclusion being drawn that being ‘trust-like’ in the context of the directive boils down to situations wherein from the outside the property has one person as an owner but there also exists an internal relationship that obliges the title-holder to observe certain duties and that may grant another person the economic benefit from the property. Next, the article turns to the Estonian legal scene. Under consideration are family- and succession-law devices (e.g., executorship of a will), various forms of shared ownership and communities (in particular, silent partnership and contractual investment funds), mandate and commission contracts, intermediated holding of securities, and fiduciary ownership for security purposes. The conclusion is that there indeed are arrangements in the Estonian legal system that fall into the category of trust-like arrangements under the directive but that the registration of UBO data for all of them would not be without difficulties. Finally, some criteria for registration of the relevant arrangements are proposed.
Special Job-sharing regulation – a Promoter of Flexible Working?
Authors: Kalson Agne
Published: November 2017

The need for additional flexibility and the search for ‘tailor-made’ employment relationships have given rise to new forms of employment all over Europe. Discussions on national level are held about whether and how to integrate emerging new forms of employment into national labour law. Some European Union countries where the new forms of employment have emerged in a larger extent or been evident for a longer time have inserted specific provisions in their national labour legislation. At the same time, many of the EU member states where new forms of employment are practised lack such specific regulation, and standard labour regulation is applied there when new forms of employment are used. The situation leads to a question as to whether the basic labour regulation is sufficient and clear enough to make the application of new forms of employment effective. The paper explores whether it is possible to determine, by proceeding from the example of job‑sharing (as a new form of work) and Estonian labour law, whether the absence of special job-sharing regulation on national level precludes or unreasonably restrains opportunities for parties to an employment relationship to increase the flexibility and enter into a job-sharing regime, in comparison to those countries where special job-sharing regulation exists. Comparative analysis that considers Italian, German, Slovakian, Hungarian, and Lithuanian job-sharing regulations enables covering the theme from the perspective of all existing national normative sources available in the EU. References to all of the job-sharing regulations and practices of EU countries where job-sharing is specifically stipulated help to offer solutions for the problems detected with regard to this research area. The results presented in the article enable other Member States to decide on the necessity of special job‑sharing regulation.
Anaesthetic-associated cardiac arrhythmias in dogs and cats: part 2
Authors: Miller Chris , Flaherty Derek
Published: November 2017

The first article in this series ( Miller and Flaherty, 2017 ) discussed the pathophysiology of peri-anaesthetic arrhythmias, and their generic treatment, with a more in-depth focus on bradyarrhythmias; this second article focuses on tachyarrhythmias. These fast heart rates can dramatically affect cardiac output and may have marked consequences for haemodynamic stability. A description of those tachyarrhythmias commonly seen in relation to anaesthesia is followed by a discussion on treatment considerations and options.