bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the institutionalization of pharmaceutical services in Brazilian primary health care
Authors: Souza Gisélia Santana , Costa Ediná Alves , Barros Rafael Damasceno de , Pereira Marcelo Tavares , Barreto Joslene Lacerda , Guerra Junior Augusto Afonso , Acurcio Francisco de Assis , Guibu Ione Aquemi , Álvares Juliana , Costa Karen Sarmento , Karnikowski Margô Gomes de Oliveira , Soeiro Orlando Mario , Leite Silvana Nair
Published: October 2017

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the current stage of the institutionalization of pharmaceutical services in Brazilian cities. METHODS: This study is part of the Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos (PNAUM – National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines), a cross-sectional, exploratory, and evaluative study composed by an information survey in a representative sample of cities, stratified by Brazilian regions. We interviewed municipal secretaries of health, responsible for pharmaceutical services, and pharmacists responsible for the dispensing of medicines. The variables selected from the interviews were grouped into five dimensions that defined three stages of pharmaceutical services institutionalization: incipient (0%-34.0%), partial (35.0%-69.0%), and advanced (70.0%-100%), estimated based on the interviewees’ answers. Frequencies were estimated with 95% confidence intervals. For the statistical association analysis, the Chi-square test was applied, with significance level of p<0.05. RESULTS: Our results show a partial and heterogeneous process of institutionalization of pharmaceutical services in Brazil, and an advanced stage in formal structures, such as the municipal health plans and the existence of a standardized list of medicines. The analysed variables in the “organization, structure, and financing” dimension configured stages that range from partial to advanced. The management presented partial institutionalization, positively showing the existence of computerized system, but also disparate results regarding the autonomy in the management of financial resources. Indispensable items related to the structure expressed disparities between the regions, with statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: The study showed a partial and heterogeneous process of institutionalization of pharmaceutical services in Brazilian cities, showing regional disparities. Variables related to the normative aspects of institutionalization were positively highlighted in all dimensions; however, it is necessary to conduct new studies to evaluate the institutionalization of pharmaceutical services’ finalistic activities
Polypharmacy:
Authors: Nascimento Renata Cristina Rezende Macedo do , Álvares Juliana , Guerra Junior Augusto Afonso , Gomes Isabel Cristina , Silveira Micheline Rosa , Costa Ediná Alves , Leite Silvana Nair , Costa Karen Sarmento , Soeiro Orlando Mario , Guibu Ione Aquemi , Karnikowski Margô Gomes de Oliveira , Acurcio Francisco de Assis
Published: October 2017

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the polypharmacy in primary health care patients and to identify its associated factors. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, exploratory, and evaluative study, part of the Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos – Serviços, 2015 (PNAUM – National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines – Services, 2015). The variable of interest was polypharmacy, defined as the use of five or more medicines. We sought to identify the association of sociodemographic variables and indicators of health conditions to polypharmacy. For group comparison, the Pearson’s Chi-square test was used. The association between polypharmacy and explanatory variables was evaluated by logistic regression model (p < 0.05). The quality of the adjustment was verified by Hosmer-Lemeshow test. RESULTS: The prevalence of polypharmacy among medicine users was 9.4% (95%CI 7.8–12.0) in the general population and 18.1% (95%CI 13.6–22.8) in older adults above 65 years old. We found statistically significant association between polypharmacy and age above 45 years, lower self-perception of health, presence of chronic diseases, having health insurance, care in emergency services, and region of the Country. South users presented the highest chances to polypharmacy. The most used medicines were those of the cardiovascular system, being compatible with the national epidemiological profile. CONCLUSIONS: Polypharmacy is a reality in the population met within the primary care of Brazilian Unified Health System and may be related to excessive or inappropriate use of medicines. The main challenge to qualify health care is to ensure that prescription of multiple medicines be appropriate and safe
Cardiovascular Health in African Americans: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Carnethon Mercedes R. , Pu Jia , Howard George , Albert Michelle A. , Anderson Cheryl A.M. , Bertoni Alain G. , Mujahid Mahasin S. , Palaniappan Latha , Taylor Herman A. , Willis Monte , Yancy Clyde W.
Published: October 2017

Background and Purpose:

Population-wide reductions in cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality have not been shared equally by African Americans. The burden of cardiovascular disease in the African American community remains high and is a primary cause of disparities in life expectancy between African Americans and whites. The objectives of the present scientific statement are to describe cardiovascular health in African Americans and to highlight unique considerations for disease prevention and management.

Method:

The primary sources of information were identified with PubMed/Medline and online sources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Results:

The higher prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors (eg, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk) underlies the relatively earlier age of onset of cardiovascular diseases among African Americans. Hypertension in particular is highly prevalent among African Americans and contributes directly to the notable disparities in stroke, heart failure, and peripheral artery disease among African Americans. Despite the availability of effective pharmacotherapies and indications for some tailored pharmacotherapies for African Americans (eg, heart failure medications), disease management is less effective among African Americans, yielding higher mortality. Explanations for these persistent disparities in cardiovascular disease are multifactorial and span from the individual level to the social environment.

Conclusions:

The strategies needed to promote equity in the cardiovascular health of African Americans require input from a broad set of stakeholders, including clinicians and researchers from across multiple disciplines.
Thyroid Function Within the Normal Range, Subclinical Hypothyroidism, and the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Baumgartner Christine , da Costa Bruno R. , Collet Tinh-Hai , Feller Martin , Floriani Carmen , Bauer Douglas C. , Cappola Anne R. , Heckbert Susan R. , Ceresini Graziano , Gussekloo Jacobijn , den Elzen Wendy P.J. , Peeters Robin P. , Luben Robert , Völzke Henry , Dörr Marcus , Walsh John P. , Bremner Alexandra , Iacoviello Massimo , Macfarlane Peter , Heeringa Jan , Stott David J. , Westendorp Rudi G. J. , Khaw Kay-Tee , Magnani Jared W. , Aujesky Drahomir , Rodondi Nicolas
Published: October 2017

Background:

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a highly prevalent disorder leading to heart failure, stroke, and death. Enhanced understanding of modifiable risk factors may yield opportunities for prevention. The risk of AF is increased in subclinical hyperthyroidism, but it is uncertain whether variations in thyroid function within the normal range or subclinical hypothyroidism are also associated with AF.

Methods:

We conducted a systematic review and obtained individual participant data from prospective cohort studies that measured thyroid function at baseline and assessed incident AF. Studies were identified from MEDLINE and EMBASE databases from inception to July 27, 2016. The euthyroid state was defined as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) 0.45 to 4.49 mIU/L, and subclinical hypothyroidism as TSH 4.5 to 19.9 mIU/L with free thyroxine (fT4) levels within reference range. The association of TSH levels in the euthyroid and subclinical hypothyroid range with incident AF was examined by using Cox proportional hazards models. In euthyroid participants, we additionally examined the association between fT4 levels and incident AF.

Results:

Of 30 085 participants from 11 cohorts (278 955 person-years of follow-up), 1958 (6.5%) had subclinical hypothyroidism and 2574 individuals (8.6%) developed AF during follow-up. TSH at baseline was not significantly associated with incident AF in euthyroid participants or those with subclinical hypothyroidism. Higher fT4 levels at baseline in euthyroid individuals were associated with increased AF risk in age- and sex-adjusted analyses (hazard ratio, 1.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.26–1.66, for the highest quartile versus the lowest quartile of fT4;
P
for trend ≤0.001 across quartiles). Estimates did not substantially differ after further adjustment for preexisting cardiovascular disease.

Conclusions:

In euthyroid individuals, higher circulating fT4 levels, but not TSH levels, are associated with increased risk of incident AF.
Sodium Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibition in Heart Failure
Authors: Lytvyn Yuliya , Bjornstad Petter , Udell Jacob A. , Lovshin Julie A. , Cherney David Z.I.
Published: October 2017

Despite current established therapy, heart failure (HF) remains a leading cause of hospitalization and mortality worldwide. Novel therapeutic targets are therefore needed to improve the prognosis of patients with HF. The EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial ([Empagliflozin] Cardiovascular Outcome Event Trial in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients) demonstrated significant reductions in mortality and HF hospitalization risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and cardiovascular disease with the antihyperglycemic agent, empagliflozin, a sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. The CANVAS trial (Canagliflozin Cardiovascular Assessment Study) subsequently reported a reduction in 3-point major adverse cardiovascular events and HF hospitalization risk. Although SGLT2 inhibition may have potential application beyond T2D, including HF, the mechanisms responsible for the cardioprotective effects of SGLT2 inhibitors remain incompletely understood. SGLT2 inhibition promotes natriuresis and osmotic diuresis, leading to plasma volume contraction and reduced preload, and decreases in blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and afterload as well, thereby improving subendocardial blood flow in patients with HF. SGLT2 inhibition is also associated with preservation of renal function. Based on data from mechanistic studies and clinical trials, large clinical trials with SGLT2 inhibitors are now investigating the potential use of SGLT2 inhibition in patients who have HF with and without T2D. Accordingly, in this review, we summarize the key pharmacodynamic effects of SGLT2 inhibitors and the clinical evidence that support the rationale for the use of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with HF who have T2D. Because these favorable effects presumably occur independent of blood glucose lowering, we also explore the potential use of SGLT2 inhibition in patients without T2D with HF or at risk of HF, such as in patients with coronary artery disease or hypertension. Finally, we provide a detailed overview and summary of ongoing cardiovascular outcome trials with SGLT2 inhibitors.
Incremental Prognostic Utility of Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain in Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy Patients and Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction
Authors: Tower‐Rader Albree , Betancor Jorge , Popovic Zoran B. , Sato Kimi , Thamilarasan Maran , Smedira Nicholas G. , Lever Harry M. , Desai Milind Y.
Published: October 2017

Background

In obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, we sought to determine whether
LV
global longitudinal strain (
LV
‐
GLS
) provided incremental prognostic utility.

Methods and Results

We studied 1019 patients with documented hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (mean age, 50±12 years; 63% men) evaluated at our center between 2001 and 2011. We excluded age <18 years, maximal
LV
outflow tract gradient <30 mm Hg, bundle branch block or atrial fibrillation, past pacemaker/cardiac surgery, including myectomy/alcohol ablation, and obstructive coronary artery disease. Average resting
LV
‐
GLS
was measured offline on 2‐, 3‐, 4‐chamber views using Velocity Vector Imaging (Siemens, Malvern,
PA
). Outcome was a composite of cardiac death and appropriate internal defibrillator (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) discharge. Maximal
LV
thickness, LV ejection fraction, indexed left atrial dimension, rest and maximal
LV
outflow tract gradient, and
LV
‐
GLS
were 2.0±0.2 cm, 62±4%, 2.2±4 cm/m
2
, 52±42 mm Hg, 103±36 mm Hg, and −13.6±4%. During 9.4±3 years of follow‐up, 668 (66%), 166 (16%), and 122 (20%), respectively, had myectomy, atrial fibrillation, and implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation, whereas 69 (7%) had composite events (62 cardiac deaths). Multivariable competing risk regression analysis revealed that higher age (subhazard ratio, 1.04 [1.02–1.07]),
AF
during follow‐up (subhazard ratio, 1.39 [1.11–1.69]), and worsening
LV
‐
GLS
(subhazard ratio, 1.11 [1.05–1.22]) were associated with worse outcomes, whereas myectomy (subhazard ratio, 0.44 [0.25–0.72]) was associated with improved outcomes (all
P
<0.01). Sixty‐one percent of events occurred in patients with
LV
‐
GLS
worse than median (−13.7%).

Conclusions

In obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with preserved LV ejection fraction, abnormal
LV
‐
GLS
was independently associated with higher events, whereas myectomy was associated with improved outcomes.
Contribution of Extra‐Cardiac Cells in Murine Heart Valves is Age‐Dependent
Authors: Anstine Lindsey J. , Horne Tori E. , Horwitz Edwin M. , Lincoln Joy
Published: October 2017

Background

Heart valves are dynamic structures that open and close over 100 000 times a day to maintain unidirectional blood flow during the cardiac cycle. Function is largely achieved by highly organized layers of extracellular matrix that provide the necessary biomechanical properties. Homeostasis of valve extracellular matrix is mediated by valve endothelial and interstitial cell populations, and although the embryonic origins of these cells are known, it is not clear how they are maintained after birth. The goal of this study is to examine the contribution of extracardiac cells to the aortic valve structure with aging using lineage tracing and bone marrow transplantation approaches.

Methods and Results

Immunohistochemistry and fate mapping studies using

CD
45‐Cre

mice show that the contribution of hematopoietic‐derived cells to heart valve structures begins during embryogenesis and increases with age. Short‐term (6 weeks),
CD
45‐derived cells maintain
CD
45 expression and the majority coexpress monocyte markers (CD11b), whereas coexpression with valve endothelial (
CD
31) and interstitial (Vimentin) cell markers were infrequent. Similar molecular phenotypes are observed in heart valves of irradiated donor mice following transplantation of whole bone marrow cells, and engraftment efficiency in this tissue is age‐dependent.

Conclusions

Findings from this study demonstrate that the percentage of
CD
45‐positive extracardiac cells reside within endothelial and interstitial regions of heart valve structures increases with age. In addition, bone transplantation studies show that engraftment is dependent on the age of the donor and age of the tissue environment of the recipient. These studies create a foundation for further work defining the role of extracardiac cells in homeostatic and diseased heart valves.
The Use of 3-D Spatial Visualisation in the Interpretation of the World War ii Battlefield of Kiska
Authors: Spennemann Dirk H.R.
Published: October 2017

The assessment of the cultural landscape of a battlefield requires hindcasting a battle commander’s view of the terrain and situation. For World War ii-era battlefields such analysis has to take into account the influence of aerial warfare – the interplay between attacking aircraft and the siting of anti-aircraft guns. Using the case example of Kiska (Aleutian Islands), this paper describes an example of three-dimensional spatial visualisation used to examine the nature and capability of anti-aircraft guns on the Japanese base of Kiska.
Reconstructing the Western North Pacific Summer Monsoon since the Late Nineteenth Century
Authors: Vega Inmaculada , Gallego David , Ribera Pedro , de Paula Gómez-Delgado F. , García-Herrera Ricardo , Peña-Ortiz Cristina
Published: October 2017

A new index, the western North Pacific directional index (WNPDI), based on historical wind direction observations taken aboard sailing ships, has been developed to characterize the western North Pacific summer monsoon (WNPSM) since 1898. The WNPDI measures the persistence of the surface westerly winds in the region 5°–15°N, 100°–130°E and easterly winds in the region 20°–30°N, 110°–140°E, exhibiting a consistent relationship with the summer precipitation in the areas affected by the WNPSM throughout the entire twentieth century. Its length doubles that of the previous WNPSM index (1948–2014) based on reanalysis products, which allows uncovering different relevant features of the WNPSM variability. The WNPSM had a significant interdecadal variability throughout the twentieth century. In particular, the period 1918–48 was characterized by less variable and stronger monsoons than in recent decades. Additionally, the relationship between the WNPSM and ENSO or El Niño Modoki has been evaluated during the entire twentieth century for the first time. It is confirmed that the WNPSM tends to be strong (weak) when El Niño (La Niña) develops during the whole record. Nevertheless, the relationship during the ENSO-decaying phase is not stable in time. Thus, the WNPSM tended to be strong (weak) when La Niña (El Niño) decayed only since the late 1950s, with an opposite relationship in the earliest part of the record. El Niño Modoki shows a rather stable and high correlation with the WNPDI during the whole study period throughout the twentieth century.
A Model of the Ocean Overturning Circulation with Two Closed Basins and a Reentrant Channel
Authors: Ferrari Raffaele , Nadeau Louis-Philippe , Marshall David P. , Allison Lesley C. , Johnson Helen L.
Published: October 2017

Zonally averaged models of the ocean overturning circulation miss important zonal exchanges of waters between the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans. A two-layer, two-basin model that accounts for these exchanges is introduced and suggests that in the present-day climate the overturning circulation is best described as the combination of three circulations: an adiabatic overturning circulation in the Atlantic Ocean associated with transformation of intermediate to deep waters in the north, a diabatic overturning circulation in the Indo-Pacific Ocean associated with transformation of abyssal to deep waters by mixing, and an interbasin circulation that exchanges waters geostrophically between the two oceans through the Southern Ocean. These results are supported both by theoretical analysis of the two-layer, two-basin model and by numerical simulations of a three-dimensional ocean model.
GSI-Based, Continuously Cycled, Dual-Resolution Hybrid Ensemble–Variational Data Assimilation System for HWRF: System Description and Experiments with Edouard (2014)
Authors: Lu Xu , Wang Xuguang , Tong Mingjing , Tallapragada Vijay
Published: October 2017

A Gridpoint Statistical Interpolation analysis system (GSI)-based, continuously cycled, dual-resolution hybrid ensemble Kalman filter–variational (EnKF-Var) data assimilation (DA) system is developed for the Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) Model. In this system, a directed moving nest strategy is developed to solve the issue of nonoverlapped domains for cycled ensemble DA. Additionally, both dual-resolution and four-dimensional ensemble–variational (4DEnVar) capabilities are implemented. Vortex modification (VM) and relocation (VR) are used in addition to hybrid DA. Several scientific questions are addressed using the new system for Hurricane Edouard (2014). It is found that dual-resolution hybrid DA improves the analyzed storm structure and short-term maximum wind speed (Vmax) and minimum sea level pressure (MSLP) forecasts compared to coarser, single-resolution hybrid DA, but track and radius of maximum wind (RMW) forecasts do not improve. Additionally, applying VR and VM on the control background before DA improves the analyzed storm, overall track, RMW, MSLP, and Vmax forecasts. Further applying VR on the ensemble background improves the analyzed storm and forecast biases for MSLP and Vmax. Also, using 4DEnVar to assimilate tail Doppler radar (TDR) data improves the analyzed storm and short-term MSLP and Vmax forecasts compared to three-dimensional ensemble–variational (3DEnVar) although 4DEnVar slightly degrades the track forecast. Finally, the new system improves overall RMW, MSLP, and Vmax forecasts upon the operational HWRF, while no improvement on track is found. The intensity forecast improvement during the intensifying period is due to the better analyzed structures for an intensifying storm.
Using an Ever–English Learner Framework to Examine Disproportionality in Special Education
Authors: Umansky Ilana M. , Thompson Karen D. , Díaz Guadalupe
Published: October 2017

Whereas most existing research has examined the prevalence of current English learners (ELs) in special education, we propose and test the use of the ever-EL framework, which holds the subgroup of EL students stable by following all students who enter school classified as ELs. Drawing on two administrative data sets, discrete-time hazard analyses show that whereas current EL students are overrepresented in special education at the secondary level, students who enter school as ELs are significantly underrepresented in special education overall and within most disability categories. Reclassification patterns, in part, explain these findings: EL students with disabilities are far less likely than those without disabilities to exit EL services, resulting in large proportions of dually identified students at the secondary level. These findings shed new light on EL under- and overrepresentation in special education and offer insights into policies and practices that can decrease EL special education disproportionality.
Challenges and Solutions to New Manager Onboarding
Authors: O’Neil Daniel P. , Amerine Lindsey , Woodward Carol
Published: October 2017

This article outlines challenges and solutions to new managers onboarding within a department of pharmacy.
Treatment of Hypertriglyceridemia-Induced Acute Pancreatitis With Insulin, Heparin, and Gemfibrozil: A Case Series
Authors: Hammond Drayton A. , Finlay Laura
Published: October 2017

Hypertriglyceridemia is the third most common worldwide cause of acute pancreatitis. Resolving the underlying etiology is imperative for optimal management. This is especially true with regard to hypertriglyceridemia, as this etiology may cause more severe acute pancreatitis and worse symptoms than other causes of the disease. Many pharmacological treatment options for hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTGP) have been proposed; however, the safety and efficacy for specific treatment regimens remain nebulous. At our institution, 6 patients, whose average Ranson criteria score were 5 and presenting triglyceride concentrations were 3501 mg/dL, were managed with a continuous infusion of insulin, subcutaneous heparin, and oral gemfibrozil for HTGP. Maximum insulin infusion rates ranged from 0.8 to 20.9 U/h. Half of the patients received nongemfibrozil cholesterol medication. Five patients experienced a resolution of HTGP (median day 3). The only adverse drug event was hypoglycemia in a single patient. Combination therapy with heparin, insulin, and gemfibrozil is safe and efficacious in quickly lowering serum triglyceride concentrations in HTGP. This combination warrants further study.
Compatibility, Stability, and Efficacy of Vancomycin Combined With Gentamicin or Ethanol in Sodium Citrate as a Catheter Lock Solution
Authors: Wei Yangjie , Yang Joshua WonJoon , Boddu Sai HS. , Jung Rose , Churchwell Mariann D.
Published: October 2017

Background: Indwelling catheters deliver lifesaving medical treatments for many chronically ill patients but are frequently a source of infection. Treatment may include an antimicrobial agent(s) and anticoagulant solution dwelling within the catheter. In vitro determinations of solution compatibility and stability are necessary prior to use in patients. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the physical compatibility, chemical stability, and antimicrobial activity of vancomycin (5 or 10 mg/mL) with gentamicin (1 mg/mL) or 40% ethanol in 4% sodium citrate lock solution over 72 hours. Methods: All solutions were prepared per manufacturer’s instructions. Samples were studied under 4 conditions: (1) 25°C with light, (2) 25°C without light, (3) 37°C with light, and (4) 37°C without light. Physical compatibility and chemical stability were assessed at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted at 0 and 72 hours. All studies were carried out in triplicate. Results: All solution combinations under each condition remained patent from baseline to 48 hours. One solution combination of vancomycin (5 mg/mL) and ethanol (40% v/v) in 4% sodium citrate revealed a slight turbidity at 72 hours. Clarity and pH remained stable in all other solutions during the entire study period. Chemical compatibility and antibiotic activity ranged from 95% to 105% and 95% to 106% of initial baseline values, respectively, for all solutions under 4 storage conditions. Conclusions: All antibiotic-anticoagulant lock solutions were found to be physically, chemically, and microbiologically stable during the 72-hour study period except vancomycin (5 mg/mL) and ethanol (40% v/v) in 4% sodium citrate solution which showed slight turbidity at 72 hours.
Asymmetric Labor Market Reforms: Effects on Wage Growth and Conversion Probability of Fixed-Term Contracts
Authors: Silva Marta , Martins Luis Filipe , Lopes Helena
Published: October 2017

The authors investigate the impact of a change in employment protection laws in Portugal that increased the maximum legal duration of fixed-term contracts. They find that this reform led to a reduction in the probability that a worker on a fixed-term contract would be converted to a permanent contract. In addition, those workers who had their contracts converted experienced a significantly higher hourly wage growth at the time of conversion and faced a lower reduction in wage growth during the years in which the changed legislation was in force. Consequently, the implementation of this law led to a 27% increase in the wage-growth differential between the two contracts. The findings are based on an endogenous regime-switching model using rich administrative linked employer–employee data.
In Search of the High Road: Meaning and Evidence
Authors: Osterman Paul
Published: October 2017

This article is the first in a series to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the ILR Review. We will be highlighting important research themes that have been featured in the journal over its many years of publication. In this article, Paul Osterman reviews research on the quality of jobs and recent debates over “High Road” and “Low Road” approaches to employment practices. Scholars and policy advocates frequently utilize the distinction between High Road and Low Road firms as a framework for efforts to improve the quality of work in low-wage employers. This article assesses the logic and evidence that underlies this construct. The author provides a definition of the concept and examines the evidence behind the assumption that firms have a choice in how they design their employment policies. He then takes up the assertion that firms that adopt a High Road model can “do well by doing good” and adds precision to this claim by reviewing the evidence that a profit-maximizing firm would benefit from following the High Road path. The article concludes by suggesting a research agenda and providing a framework for policy that flows from the conclusions drawn from the existing research base.
A comparative study of negative life events and depressive symptoms among healthy older adults and older adults with chronic disease
Authors: Zhang Han , Gao Tingting , Gao Jinglei , Kong Yixi , Hu Yueyang , Wang Ruimei , Mei Songli
Published: October 2017

Objective:

This study aims to study internal relations and functionary mechanism between social support, coping style, negative life events and depressive symptoms and compare these relations in healthy older adults and older adults with chronic disease.

Design:

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015. In total, 1,264 older adults with chronic disease and 749 healthy older adults participated in this investigation which consist of socio-demographic characters, negative life events, social support, coping style and depressive symptoms.

Results:

The path and direction of variable function in healthy older adults were inconsistent with older adults with chronic disease. Older adults with chronic disease had more severe depressive symptoms and negative life events, and lower social support and positive coping style. Negative life events, subjective support, positive coping style and negative coping style were significantly predicted depressive symptoms. Objective support may weaken the influence of negative life events on depressive symptoms in chronic disease group. Utilization of support and positive coping style worsen the effect of negative life events on depressive symptoms in healthy older adults.

Conclusion:

This study implied that to improve their mental health, attention should be paid to the role of biological, psychological and social stress factors and its inherent law of interaction.
Impact of economic crisis on the social representation of mental health: Analysis of a decade of newspaper coverage
Authors: Dias Neto David , Figueiras Maria João , Campos Sónia , Tavares Patrícia
Published: October 2017

Background:

Mass media plays a fundamental role in how communities understand mental health and its treatment. However, the effect of major events such as economic crises on the depiction of mental health is still unclear.

Aims:

This study aimed at analyzing representations of mental health and its treatment and the impact of the 2008 economic crisis.

Methods:

In total, 1,000 articles were randomly selected from two newspapers from a period before and after the economic crisis. These articles were analyzed with a closed coding system that classified the news as good or bad news according to the presence of themes associated with positive or stigmatizing representations.

Results:

The results show a positive representation of mental health and a negative representation of treatment. Furthermore, the economic crisis had a negative impact on the representation of mental health, but not on treatment.

Conclusion:

These findings suggest that the representation of mental health is multifaceted and may be affected differently in its dimensions. There is a need for stigma-reducing interventions that both account for this complexity and are sensitive to context and period.
Beneficial and detrimental effects of genetic explanations for addiction
Authors: Lebowitz Matthew S , Appelbaum Paul S
Published: October 2017

Background:

Addictions are highly stigmatized and increasingly construed as biomedical diseases caused by genes, partly to reduce stigma by deflecting blame. However, genetic explanations may have negative effects, which have been understudied in the context of addiction. How the effects of genetic explanations might differ for substance addictions versus behavioral addictions is also unknown.

Aims:

This study examined the impact of genetic explanations for addiction on measures of treatment expectancies, blame, and perceived agency and self-control, as well as whether these varied depending on whether the addiction was to a substance or a behavior.

Methods:

Participants read about a person (‘Charlie’) with either alcohol use disorder or gambling disorder, receiving either a genetic or nongenetic explanation of Charlie’s problem. They rated how much they blamed Charlie for his disorder, his likelihood of benefitting from medication or psychotherapy, and how much agency and self-control they ascribed to him.

Results:

Compared to the nongenetic explanation, the genetic explanation reduced blame and increased confidence in the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy. However, it also decreased the expected effectiveness of psychotherapy and reduced ascriptions of agency and self-control.

Conclusion:

Genetic explanations for addiction appear to be a ‘double-edged sword’, with beneficial effects that come at a cost.
Effects of Emotion Suppression on Life Satisfaction in Americans and Chinese
Authors: Nam Yeseul , Kim Young-Hoon , Tam Kevin Kim-Pong
Published: October 2017

The present study aimed to uncover culturally different ways in which emotion suppression affects life satisfaction. To do so, we manipulated American and Hong Kong Chinese participants to perceive that they had suppressed their emotions to either a greater extent (high suppression) or a lesser extent (low suppression). In the control condition, there was no manipulation. Then, participants indicated how satisfied they were with their lives. We found that American participants reported lower life satisfaction in the high-suppression (vs. control) condition, but no difference was found between the low-suppression and the control condition, suggesting that high use of emotion suppression undermines Americans’ life satisfaction. In contrast, Hong Kong Chinese participants reported higher life satisfaction in the low-suppression (vs. control) condition, but no difference was found between the high-suppression and the control condition, suggesting that Hong Kong Chinese benefit from low use of emotion suppression. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Interdependent Career Types and Divergent Standpoints on the Use of Advanced Technology in Medicine
Authors: Menchik Daniel A.
Published: October 2017

This paper uses the case of the uneven use of a robotic technology to explain how physicians with similar training come to engage in different medical practices. I develop a conceptual framework in which their decisions to use advanced technologies are informed by “interdependent career types,” a concept that incorporates features of the professional social context of physicians’ work and the expertise they use, and reflects how medicine distributes expertise via formal and informal referral structures. I draw on data regarding specialized physicians’ differentiated use of this technology over five years as well as interviews with those who continue to use the technology and those who have abandoned it. I argue that interdependent career types stratify physicians’ standpoints on multiple dimensions of medical work—including those related to their concerns about reputation, inclinations toward risk, and preferences regarding the use of their bodies.
Unstressed Vowel Reduction Across Majorcan Catalan Dialects: Production and Spoken Word Recognition
Authors: Llompart Miquel , Simonet Miquel
Published: October 2017

This study investigates the production and auditory lexical processing of words involved in a patterned phonological alternation in two dialects of Catalan spoken on the island of Majorca, Spain. One of these dialects, that of Palma, merges /ɔ/ and /o/ as [o] in unstressed position, and it maintains /u/ as an independent category, [u]. In the dialect of Sóller, a small village, speakers merge unstressed /ɔ/, /o/, and /u/ to [u]. First, a production study asks whether the discrete, rule-based descriptions of the vowel alternations provided in the dialectological literature are able to account adequately for these processes: are mergers complete? Results show that mergers are complete with regards to the main acoustic cue to these vowel contrasts, that is, F1. However, minor differences are maintained for F2 and vowel duration. Second, a lexical decision task using cross-modal priming investigates the strength with which words produced in the phonetic form of the neighboring (versus one’s own) dialect activate the listeners’ lexical representations during spoken word recognition: are words within and across dialects accessed efficiently? The study finds that listeners from one of these dialects, Sóller, process their own and the neighboring forms equally efficiently, while listeners from the other one, Palma, process their own forms more efficiently than those of the neighboring dialect. This study has implications for our understanding of the role of lifelong linguistic experience on speech performance.
Under the Law
Authors: Underwood Julie
Published: October 2017

Since a 1997 amendment to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, students with disabilities who attend private schools have not had the same rights to services and due process that are afforded to those who attend public schools. However, as a recent Minnesota court decision makes clear, state law may grant rights that the federal regulations do not.
True congenital atresia of the left main coronary ostium: delayed presentation
Authors: Raju Varadaraju , Hebbale Ramesh Chandrashekar , Muniswamy Chandra Sena , Sivanna Umesh , Rangaiah Sunil Kumar Kondethimmanahally
Published: October 2017

Congenital atresia of the left main coronary ostium is a rare coronary anomaly presenting in adulthood. A 48-year-old man presented with unstable angina. Coronary angiography showed an absent left coronary ostium with a super-dominant right coronary artery retrogradely filling the left system. Computed tomography-angiography with 3-dimensional reconstruction confirmed the absence of the left main coronary artery. In view of ongoing chest pain, the patient was offered coronary artery bypass surgery. Total arterial revascularization was performed with a left internal mammary artery-left radial artery Y-graft.
Review: Heliana de Barros Conde Rodrigues, Ensaios sobre Michel Foucault no Brasil: Presença, efeitos, ressonâncias (Michel Foucault in Brazil: Presence, Effects, Resonances)
Authors: Hoffman Marcelo
Published: October 2017

Michel Foucault visited Brazil five times from 1965 to 1976 yet the details of his overall presence in the country have remained largely unexplored even in Brazil. Heliana Conde’s Ensaios sobre Michel Foucault no Brasil has the great merit of introducing readers to these details through a reliance on a wide range of sources, including interviews with his interlocutors and the archives of the former intelligence service. While Conde's book covers various aspects of Foucault in Brazil up to his effects and resonances in our present, she compellingly illuminates how the military dictatorship cast a long and ominous shadow over each of his visits to the country.
Anatomical abnormalities of the pelvic venous system and their implications for endovascular management of pelvic venous reflux
Authors: Beckett David , Dos Santos Scott J , Dabbs Emma B , Shiangoli Irenie , Price Barrie A , Whiteley Mark S
Published: October 2017

Background

Pelvic venous reflux is often treated with pelvic vein embolisation; however, atypical pelvic venous anatomy may provide therapeutic challenges.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed seven patient files and reported symptoms, diagnostic imaging, aberrant anatomy and means by which the interventional radiologist successfully completed the procedure. Any follow-up data were included if available.

Results

Four anatomical abnormalities were found: internal iliac veins draining into the contralateral common iliac vein, duplicated inferior vena cava, reverse-angle renal veins with atypical left ovarian vein drainage and direct drainage of the internal iliac vein to the inferior vena cava. All patients were successfully treated with pelvic vein embolisation.

Conclusion

Abnormal embryologic development may cause variable pelvic venous anatomy. Knowledge of this will enable interventional radiologists to successfully treat such patients.
Change in perception of sclerotherapy results after exposure to pre–post intervention photographs
Authors: Santiago Fabricio R , Piscoya Mario , Chi Yung-Wei
Published: October 2017

Objective

To evaluate patients’ self-perception of cosmetic improvement before and after they were presented with pre- and postprocedure photographs after sclerotherapy with 75% dextrose.

Methods

Treatments included sclerotherapy of reticular and varicose veins using 75% dextrose. All treated limbs were photographed and classified according to Clinical, Etiology, Anatomy, and Pathology classification and Venous Clinical Severity Score pre- and posttreatment. The patients were queried before and after viewing the photos during these visits and indicated if they were very unsatisfied, dissatisfied, satisfied, or very satisfied. Nonparametric kappa correlation coefficient and a Chi square test were used to measure associations among agreement (p < 0.05 indicated statistical significance). The paired Wilcoxon test was used to compare statistical differences in mean Venous Clinical Severity Scores measured at different times (p < 0.05 indicated statistical significance). Data were analyzed using STATA software (version 12).

Results

Individuals were more satisfied with the results of sclerotherapy after exposure to images portraying their limbs two months after the procedure (p = 0.0028). This effect was maintained six months after sclerotherapy (p = 0.0027).

Conclusion

Patient exposure to pre- and postsurgical photographs is a simple intervention with the potential of improving patient satisfaction up to six months after treatment with sclerotherapy.
New data for venous thromboembolism in patients with small cell lung cancer: A review
Authors: Dimakakos Evangelos , Livanios Konstantinos , Gkiozos Ioannis , Charpidou Adriani , Ntalakou Eleutheria , Kainis llias , Syrigos Konstantinos
Published: October 2017

Malignancy is an important predisposing factor for thromboembolic disease. Patients with malignancy display 4 to 10 times greater risk than the general population. As for lung cancer, that risk seems to further increase and become up to 20 times higher. The aim of this article is to review the International literature in order to highlight for the first time, the correlation between thromboembolic disease and small cell lung cancer. PubMed, Medline and Embase databases were searched from 1990 up to 2016, for retrospective and prospective studies that investigate the correlation between thromboembolic disease and small cell lung cancer. The incidence rate of thromboembolic disease found in these studies ranged between 6.8% and 11.5%. Thromboembolic disease is associated with a reduced survival in patients with small cell lung cancer and six factors seemed to increase the risk of thromboembolism: chemotherapy, cisplatin treatment, smoking, extensive disease, the infiltration of the superior vena cava and multiple concomitant diseases. Thromboembolic disease shows an increased incidence in patients with small cell lung cancer and more research with well-designed studies is required in order to study in detail the anticoagulation treatment and the survival in small cell lung cancer patients.
Prevalence and Correlates of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Quebec
Authors: Diallo Fatoumata Binta , Fombonne Éric , Kisely Steve , Rochette Louis , Vasiliadis Helen-Maria , Vanasse Alain , Noiseux Manon , Pelletier Éric , Renaud Johanne , St-Laurent Danielle , Lesage Alain
Published: October 2017

Objective:

To estimate the prevalence, comorbidities, and service use of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) based on data from Quebec Integrated Chronic Diseases Surveillance System (QICDSS).

Methods:

We included all residents up to age 24 eligible for health plan coverage who were in Quebec for at least 1 day from January 1, 1996, to March 31, 2015. To be considered as having an ASD, an individual had to have had at least 1 physician claim or hospital discharge abstract from 2000 to 2015 indicating one of the following ASD diagnosis codes: ICD-9 codes 299.0 to 299.9 or their ICD-10 equivalents.

Results:

The QICDSS shows that the prevalence of ASD has risen steadily over the past decade to approximately 1.2% ( n = 16,940) of children and youths aged 1 to 17 years in 2014 to 2015. The same prevalence was obtained using Ministry of Education data. Common medical comorbidities included congenital abnormalities of the nervous system, particularly in the first year of life. Psychiatric comorbidity was much more highly prevalent, especially common mental disorders like anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Children and youths with ASDs made on average 2.3 medical visits per year compared with 0.2 in the general population. Between 18 and 24 years old, the mental health needs of individuals with ASDs were met less by medical specialists and more by general practitioners.

Conclusion:

Information derived from this database could support and monitor development of better medical services coordination and shared care to meet the continuous and changing needs of patients and families over time.
Specification of the Autonomic Cycles of Learning Analytic Tasks for a Smart Classroom
Authors: Aguilar Jose , Cordero Jorge , Buendía Omar
Published: October 2017

In this article, we propose the concept of “Autonomic Cycle Of Learning Analysis Tasks” (ACOLAT), which defines a set of tasks of learning analysis, whose objective is to improve the learning process. The data analysis has become a fundamental area for the knowledge discovery from data extracted from different sources. In the autonomic cycle, each learning analysis task interacts with each other and has different roles: Some of them must observe the learning process, others must analyze and interpret what happens in it, and finally, others make decisions in order to improve the learning process. In this article, we study the application of the autonomic cycle in a smart classroom, which is composed of a set of intelligent components of hardware (e.g., smart board) and software (e.g., virtual learning environments), which must exploit the knowledge generated by the ACOLAT to improve the learning process in the smart classroom. Moreover, we present the set of ACOLATs present in a smart classroom and the implementation of some of them.
Commodification of Development Rights and What It Does to the Urban Housing Market in Taiwan
Authors: Shih Mi , Chiang Ying-Hui , Chang Hsiutzu Betty , Chang Chin-Oh
Published: October 2017

The enactment of the transfer of development rights (TDR) policy in Taiwan since the late 1990s is part of a broader trend of commodification and deregulation of development rights. This study examines the spillover effect of TDR on the sale prices of existing housing stock that constitutes the main housing market for the majority of urban residents. Three hedonic models, ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, quantile regression, and spatial lag regression, show that the presence of TDR utilization in real estate development is a significant price driver that generates a financial burden that disproportionally affects poor families.