bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Pain, Dyspnea, and Goals of Care Among Adults With Cystic Fibrosis: A Comprehensive Palliative Care Survey
Authors: Chen Elaine , Killeen Kathryn M. , Peterson Sarah J. , Saulitis Anna K. , Balk Robert A.
Published: February 2016

Background:

Palliative care is increasingly important in the care of adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). Symptoms such as pain and dyspnea are prevalent, yet severity may be underestimated. Little information is available to describe patient preferences for end-of-life care (EOLC). The objective of this study was to describe patient perceptions about pain, dyspnea, and advance care planning.

Methods:

We developed a survey to assess pain, dyspnea, and EOLC in adults with CF. Questions were compiled and adapted from existing tools. The survey was administered to all patients in a single adult CF care center. Descriptive data were compiled as counts (proportions) and median (25th and 75th percentile). Mann Whitney U test was used to determine differences between individuals who experienced pain and dyspnea. A P value of .05 was utilized to determine significance.

Results:

Thirty-seven of 43 surveys were returned. Twenty-four percent reported chronic pain. Patients who reported pain with airway clearance had lower lung function (predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 [FEV1] 42% vs 65%, P < .05) and body mass index (19.6 vs 22.3, P < .05) than patients without pain. Those reporting dyspnea at rest had lower median FEV1 (28% vs 61%, P < .05). Patients with lower lung function are more likely to have considered end-of-life decisions (73% vs 31%, P < .05).

Conclusion:

Pain and dyspnea are common among adults with CF. Few had an advance directive in place, but most are open to discussing EOLC issues. Results of this single-center study may not represent the entire population, thus a multicenter investigation should be pursued.
A Typology of Guanxi-Based Governance Mechanisms for Knowledge Transfer in Business Networks of Chinese Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Authors: Ko Wai Wai , Liu Gordon
Published: February 2016

Guanxi has strong implications for interactions among individuals in Chinese society. This study investigates guanxi-based governance mechanisms in the context of knowledge transfer among Chinese small and medium-sized manufacturing firms. We analyze, in-depth, qualitative interview data gathered from 78 Chinese engineers who work for Chinese small and medium-sized die-casting manufacturers. Our findings reveal that guanxi influences the production of three forms of guanxi-enabled trust: guanxi-enabled relational trust, calculative trust, and institutional trust. By combining these forms of trust, we generate a typology of seven guanxi-based governance mechanisms for knowledge transfer—“guanxi-hu,” “huibao,” “lun,” “gan-qing,” “jiao-qing,” “ren-qing,” and “mianzi.” We discuss the research and managerial implications of our findings.
Black Males’ Perceptions of the Work–College Balance
Authors: Wood J. Luke , Harrison John D. , Jones T. Kenyatta
Published: February 2016

This study discusses the impact of employment on academic success among Black male students in the community college, from students’ perspectives. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with 28 participants from a southwestern community college. Findings from this study illustrated that students, in general, discussed employment as a barrier to their academic success. In particular, students noted the difficulty in adjusting to new working schedules, being too tired to fully apply themselves to their studies, and tenuous relationships with supervisors/employers. Recommendations for preparing students for and facilitating a successful work–college balance are extended.
Aberrant Expression of Napsin A in Breast Carcinoma With Apocrine Features
Authors: Vitkovski Taisia , Chaudhary Shweta , Sison Cristina , Nasim Mansoor , Esposito Michael John , Bhuiya Tawfiqul
Published: February 2016

An incidental finding of napsin A–positive breast carcinoma with apocrine features during workup for metastatic cancer in an axillary lymph node led to our investigation of the incidence of napsin A expression in breast carcinomas, focusing on those with apocrine features. We included 97 cases of breast carcinomas and performed immunohistochemistry with napsin A, GATA-3, thyroid transcription factor-1, and GCDFP-15. There was a statistically significant difference between apocrine and nonapocrine cases with respect to polyclonal napsin A H-scores ( P < .00152), monoclonal napsin A H-scores ( P < .00631), GATA-3 H-scores ( P < .00029), and GCDFP-15 H-scores ( P < .00251). Of the 49 cases of apocrine carcinoma, monoclonal napsin A antibody was positive in 66.7% of cases, including in 7 (14.6%) that showed 3+ staining. The majority of nonapocrine cases were negative (62.5%) or weakly (1+) positive (29.2%), with none exhibiting 3+ strength. It is important for pathologists to be aware that breast carcinomas with apocrine features can express napsin A.
Rate of Malunion Following Bi-plane Chevron Medial Malleolar Osteotomy
Authors: Bull Patrick E. , Berlet Gregory C. , Canini Cameron , Hyer Christopher F.
Published: February 2016

Background:

Access to the medial half of the talus can be challenging even with an osteotomy. Although several techniques are presented in the literature, critical evaluation of fixation, union, and alignment is lacking. The chevron medial malleolar osteotomy provides advantages of perpendicular instrumentation access and wide exposure to the medial talus. Postoperative displacement resulting in malunion, and possibly provoking ankle osteoarthritis, is a known complication. The present study describes our experience with the osteotomy.

Methods:

A consecutive series cohort of 50 bi-plane chevron osteotomies performed from 2004 to 2013 were evaluated. Forty-six were secured using 2 lag screws, and 4 were secured using 2 lag screws and a medial buttress plate. Radiographic studies performed at 2, 6, and 12 weeks and at final follow-up were analyzed for postoperative displacement, malunion, non-union, and hardware-related complications.

Results:

At initial postoperative follow-up, 47 of 50 had adequate radiographs for review, and 18 of 47 (38.3%) showed some displacement when compared to the initial osteotomy fixation position. By final follow-up, 15 of 50 (30.0%) had measurable incongruence. Hardware removal was performed in 13 (26.0%) cases at an average of 2.4 years postoperation.

Conclusion:

Bi-plane medial malleolar chevron osteotomy fixed with 2 lag screws showed a 30.0% malunion rate with an average of 2 mm of incongruence on final follow-up radiographs, which is higher than what has been reported in the literature. In our practice, we now use a buttress plate and more recently have eliminated postoperative osteotomy displacement.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, retrospective case series.
Computed Tomographic Evaluation of Joint Geometry in Patients With End-Stage Ankle Osteoarthritis
Authors: Wiewiorski Martin , Hoechel Sebastian , Anderson Andrew E. , Nowakowski Andrej M. , DeOrio James K. , Easley Mark E. , Nunley James A. , Valderrabano Victor , Barg Alexej
Published: February 2016

Background:

Deformation of the talus and the distal tibia can be frequently observed during ankle joint osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of this study was to objectify these morphologic changes. We hypothesized that a flattening of the talus and a broadening of the distal tibia surface occurs in end-stage OA of the ankle joint.

Methods:

Twenty-seven computed tomography (CT) ankle joint examinations of unilateral ankle OA were matched by sex and age with 27 CT examinations of healthy ankle joints. Three-dimensional reformatting and measurements were performed with geometry analysis software. The following parameters were assessed: sagittal radius of the talus, talus height, and mediolateral and anteroposterior width of the distal tibial joint surface.

Results:

Medial, midsagittal, and lateral sagittal arc radii of osteoarthritic tali were significantly larger compared to tali of controls. There was a statistically significant difference in the height of the osteoarthritic talar dome in the medial and in the lateral frontal segment and in the medial central segment compared to tali of controls. The anteroposterior width and the sagittal curvature of the distal tibia was significantly larger in OA ankles than in the control group. The mediolateral measurements were comparable across both groups.

Conclusion:

Flattening of the talus appears to be more pronounced in the frontal aspect of the talus. The distal tibia broadens anteroposteriorly. These findings may contribute to better understanding of ankle OA development.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective comparative cohort study.
Characterization and Surgical Management of Achilles Tendon Sleeve Avulsions
Authors: Huh Jeannie , Easley Mark E. , Nunley James A.
Published: February 2016

Background:

An Achilles sleeve avulsion occurs when the tendon ruptures distally from its calcaneal insertion as a continuous “sleeve.” This relatively rare injury pattern may not be appreciated until the time of surgery and can be challenging to treat because, unlike a midsubstance rupture, insufficient tendon remains on the calcaneus to allow for end-to-end repair, and unlike a tuberosity avulsion fracture, any bony element avulsed with the tendon is inadequate for internal fixation. This study aimed to highlight the characteristics of Achilles sleeve avulsions and present the outcomes of operative repair using suture anchor fixation.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 11 consecutive Achilles tendon sleeve avulsions (10 males, 1 female; mean age 44 years) that underwent operative repair between 2008 and 2014. Patient demographics, injury presentation, and operative details were reviewed. Postoperative outcomes were collected at a mean follow-up of 38.4 (range, 12-83.5) months, including the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot score, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, plantarflexion strength, patient satisfaction, and complications.

Results:

Eight patients (72.7%) had preexisting symptoms of insertional Achilles disease. Ten of 11 (90.9%) injuries were sustained during recreational athletic activity. An Achilles sleeve avulsion was recognized preoperatively in 7 of 11 (64%) cases, where lateral ankle radiographs demonstrated a small radiodensity several centimeters proximal to the calcaneal insertion. Intraoperatively, 90.9% of sleeve avulsions had a concomitant Haglund deformity and macroscopic evidence of insertional tendinopathy. All patients healed after suture anchor repair. The average AOFAS score was 92.8 and VAS score was 0.9. Ten patients (90.9%) were completely satisfied. One complication occurred, consisting of delayed wound healing.

Conclusions:

Achilles tendon sleeve avulsions predominantly occurred in middle-aged men with preexisting insertional disease, while engaged in athletic activity. Suture anchor fixation, combined with addressing concomitant insertional pathology, was a reliable and safe technique for the operative management of Achilles tendon sleeve avulsions. The majority of patients returned to their preinjury levels of work and recreational activity.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, retrospective case series.
Is Emotional Lability Distinct From “Angry/Irritable Mood,” “Negative Affect,” or Other Subdimensions of Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Children With ADHD?
Authors: Liu Lu , Chen Wai , Vitoratou Silia , Sun Li , Yu Xiaoyan , Hagger-Johnson Gareth , Wu Zhaomin , Yang Li , Qian Qiujin , Wang Yufeng
Published: February 2016

Objective: Emotional lability (EL) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) frequently co-occur with ADHD. This study evaluates whether EL merely represents the negative “mood/affect” component of ODD or forms a distinct dimension. Method: EL and ODD data from 1,317 ADHD participants were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for binary data. Results: Within ADHD, 39.4% children had ODD and 42.6% had EL. A sizable proportion expressed only either ODD or EL: 16.6% had ODD-only, 19.7% had EL-only, and 22.9% expressed both. In both EFA and CFA, EL forms a separate dimension from ODD items and the “mood/affect” subdimensions (whether classified by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [5th ed.; DSM-5] or the Burke et al. models or the de novo ODD subdimensions derived from our data). This factorial structure remains invariant across gender. Conclusion: EL is distinct from ODD and its “mood/affect” subdimensions. In line with emerging evidence, our findings provide further evidence of factorial validity for EL as a separate construct from ODD.
Change in haematological and selected biochemical parameters measured in feline blood donors and feline whole blood donated units
Authors: Spada Eva , Proverbio Daniela , Baggiani Luciana , Bagnagatti De Giorgi Giada , Ferro Elisabetta , Perego Roberto
Published: February 2016

Objectives

The quality of whole blood (WB) units is influenced by many factors, starting with selection of donors and the method of blood collection. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes that occur in haematological and selected biochemical parameters in blood transferred from a feline blood donor to feline WB unit.

Methods

Data from 27 feline blood donations were used in this study. Cats were anaesthetised with a combination of tiletamine and zolazepam. Blood (10 ml/kg body weight to a maximum of 60 ml/cat) was collected in citrate–phosphate–dextrose–adenine (CPDA) anticoagulant. Lactated Ringer’s solution (10 ml/kg) was administered intravenously starting halfway through the donation. Haematological and selected biochemical parameters (complete blood count, free haemoglobin, % haemolysis, glucose, sodium, potassium, pH) were measured in the blood donor before donation and in the corresponding donated WB unit soon after collection.

Results

Significant decreases occurred between blood donor and WB unit in red blood cells (mean difference −1.06 × 1012/l; P <0.0001), haemoglobin (mean difference −1.6 g/dl; P <0.0001), haematocrit (mean difference −4.6%; P <0.0001), red cell distribution width (mean difference −0.9%; P = 0.0003), white blood cells (mean difference −2.17 × 109/l; P <0.0001), pH (mean difference −0.5; P <0.0001) and potassium (mean difference −1.4 mmol/l; P <0.0001). Significant increases occurred between blood donor and WB unit in platelets (mean difference +87.00 ×109/l; P = 0.0039), glucose (mean difference +25.42 mmol/l; P <0.0001) and sodium (mean difference +20 mmol/l; P <0.0001).

Conclusions and relevance

When using a blood collection protocol with intravenous fluid administration midway through the donation and a CPDA:blood ratio of 1:7, there were significant changes in both the haematological and biochemical characteristics between the blood donors and WB units. The majority of these changes may be the result of the anticoagulants used for storage. Understanding these changes may assist selection of blood donors and help prediction of the characteristics of the donated WB unit.
MACEs Not Associated With the Use of Biologic Therapy for Psoriasis in Real-World Clinical Practice
Authors: Kim Whan B. , Qiang Judy , Yeung Jensen
Published: February 2016

Introduction:

Previous reports have shown inconsistent findings with regard to the relationship between biologic therapy and risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs).

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to determine the overall rate of MACEs in a cohort of 398 patients.

Methods:

All patients treated with biologics for psoriasis at 2 academic centers in Toronto, Ontario, between September 2005 and September 2014 were considered for inclusion. Medical records were reviewed to identify MACEs.

Results:

A total of 398 patients were included. The median duration of disease was 19.8 years. Median time to biologic therapy withdrawal because of an adverse event was 23.5 months. In this cohort, no MACEs were identified in patients treated with biologic therapy.

Conclusions:

Biologic treatment for psoriasis was not associated with increased cardiovascular risk in this cohort. These results require validation in larger studies.
Physical activity: The importance of the extended theory of planned behavior, in type 2 diabetes patients
Authors: Ferreira Gabriela , Pereira M Graça
Published: February 2016

This study focused on the contribution of the extended theory of planned behavior regarding intention to perform physical activity, adherence to physical activity, and its mediator role in the relationship between trust in the physician and adherence to physical activity, in a sample of 120 patients with type 2 diabetes. The results revealed that positive attitudes and perception of control predicted a stronger intention to do physical activity. The intention to do physical activity was the only predictor of adherence to physical activity. Planning mediated the relationship between trust in the physician and adherence. Implications for patients with type 2 diabetes are discussed.
ILLNESS IS WORK: Revisiting the concept of illness careers and recognizing the identity work of patients with ME/CFS
Authors: Grue Jan
Published: February 2016

The concept of careers has an extensive history in the sociology of health and illness. Among other things, the notion of a career has been used to describe the changing identities of patients diagnosed with mental illness, to identify distinct stages in the progression of various illnesses, and to recognize the cooperative efforts of hospitalized patients. However, the career concept may be reanalyzed as part of an analytical metaphor that makes salient both the agency of people with illnesses and the social structures in which they are enmeshed. This metaphor, ILLNESS IS WORK, can valorize and aid understanding of the identity work and actions of patients with chronic illnesses, particularly illnesses with a low degree of social recognition and medical prestige such as myalgic encephalopathy and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Switching codes and registers: An analysis of heritage Arabic speakers’ sociolinguistic competence
Authors: Albirini Abdulkafi , Chakrani Brahim
Published: February 2016

Aims:

This study focuses on heritage speakers’ ability to use their Arabic varieties and English in the construction of narratives of personal experience. This is critical because English, Colloquial Arabic (CA), and Standard Arabic (SA) are part of the sociolinguistic reality of the families and communities in which many heritage Arabic speakers live.

Design:

The study compares and contrastes heritage speakers’ Arabic and English narratives with respect to codes, registers, and functions in the narratives.

Data and analysis:

Fifteen Arabic and 15 English narratives from five participants, fluent in Arabic and English, were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively.

Findings:

The results reveal that, despite their fluency in their heritage language, respondents lack the sociolinguistic competence to socially and pragmatically deploy CA and SA appropriately in their narratives. In the Arabic narratives, respondents alternated frequently between CA and SA, but they were not always able to maintain the asymmetrical functions of CA and SA. English was used mainly as a compensation strategy, yet participants were able to integrate contextually appropriate English registers in discourse. In the English narratives, participants switched parsimoniously to Arabic for fillers and culturally specific terms and expressions. Moreover, they displayed a greater register control based on the events in their narratives.

Originality:

This is one of few studies focusing on the sociolinguistic competence of heritage Arabic speakers. It is the first study to examine the distribution and functions of Arabic varieties and English in personal narratives rendered in Arabic and English.

Implications:

The study indicates that a full understanding of heritage language acquisition requires an evaluation of the sociolinguistic aspects of language use. Heritage speakers are influenced by contextual factors and by the lack of a community of practice, elements that are key in understanding their sociolinguistic competence.
Capturing the centrality of age and life-course stage in the provision of unpaid care
Authors: Hamilton Myra , Cass Bettina
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this article is to construct a new theoretical framework of care-giving that places age, and the life-course stage of carers, at the centre of conceptual understanding and analysis. Although care theory is heavily gendered, it pays far less attention to age differences among the diverse participants in care-giving. This article argues that the age and life-course stage of carers is central to differential pathways into care-giving, experiences of care-giving, and effects of care-giving in the present and future. To support this, the article draws on qualitative data from a study on the circumstances and experiences of Australian children and young people who provide care for family members with disability or chronic illness. Claiming that theories of care are incomplete if age differences, intersecting with gender and other socio-demographic differences, are not treated as central to the conceptualization, the article outlines a framework for an age-sensitive theory of care-giving.
Imagining otherwise: A (brief) Darwinian encounter with quality standards
Authors: Duhn Iris , Grieshaber Sue
Published: February 2016

The prevailing discourse of quality in early childhood education in Australia and internationally supports the idea that everyone, from families to educators, policymakers, researchers and politicians, wants high-quality early childhood education programs for all young children. This dominance is so pervasive that it becomes difficult to think about quality in any other terms, putting limitations on ‘what it is possible to think’ when it comes to quality early childhood education. In an attempt to suspend the habitual and contested assumptions associated with the mission for quality, this article aims to move beyond what these discourses make it possible to think and imagine by traversing some of the territory as it exists currently in Australia. As part of this, we adopt an exploratory approach where we try and imagine otherwise. We do this by presenting a vignette, a rich description of a child/pipe/sand event, which we work through using the National Quality Standard in Australia and a brief Darwinian encounter. The intention is to use what is familiar (observation, quality measurement) and make the familiar less familiar in order to create niches for variations and alternative imaginings of ‘quality’.
Creating dialogues: Exploring the ‘good early childhood educator’ in Chile
Authors: Viviani Maria
Published: February 2016

The aim of this study was to explore the different ways in which a number of Chilean stakeholders conceptualise the ‘good early childhood educator’ in Chile. In a context where new foreign narratives are increasingly dominating the field and the recent standardisation of the educators’ professional role is being implemented, this research constitutes a critical and alternative viewpoint, analysing the situation as a whole and creating dialogues between key actors in order to open possibilities to new understandings. Twenty-three participants, including early childhood educators, teacher educators and key informants from national providers of early childhood education, were interviewed. Adopting a postmodern approach to grounded theory (situational analysis), the participants’ discourses were analysed and compared, together with a diversity of identified elements and human and non-human actors. Shared meanings, conflicts, tensions and local understandings were identified in the data and cartographic tools were used to illustrate them. The article concludes with some reflections on the new possibilities these findings can bring to the future of structures and discourses within the early childhood profession in Chile and worldwide.
(Re)configuring quality: From a hegemonic framework to story telling
Authors:   The Red House Children’s Centre
Published: February 2016

In this brief colloquium, the authors consider a reconfiguring of quality and how this has impacted on practice in an early years setting. They demonstrate how their move from a formal quantitative strategic plan for the setting to their current narrative version, known as ‘Violet’s Story’, contributes to the academic debate of quality framed by post-humanist theory and narrative methods. The authors explain how this shift reflects a ‘qualia’ understanding of quality and, in doing so, show how the narrative strategies and techniques deployed embody post-humanist sympathies, taking the reader beyond the subjective to reveal some of the complexities of entanglement that make up a shifting, contextualised understanding of quality. Finally, the authors illustrate the theoretical by representing one practitioner’s reflection on what it can be like to work within a fluid, contextualised understanding of quality. They conclude that further studies should follow this line of inquiry for a better understanding of the real impact that such a reconfiguration of quality has on early years settings, the experiences of practitioners, and children and their families.
Stakeholder collaboration: A means to the success of rural tourism destinations? A critical evaluation of the existence of stakeholder collaboration within the Mournes, Northern Ireland
Authors: McComb Emma J , Boyd Stephen , Boluk Karla
Published: February 2016

Tourism has long been pursued by governments as a means of development in rural areas. Negatively, rural areas have certain characteristics that inhibit their ability to achieve the full benefits of tourism. Consequently, many rural tourism destinations to date have found that the benefits to be gained are over-stated. Stakeholder collaboration has been deemed critical for the success of sustainable tourism. In fact, in the context of rural tourism destinations stakeholder collaboration can be particularly advantageous in addressing specific factors relevant to rural tourism destinations that may inhibit the success of the destination. However, successful attempts to implement stakeholder collaboration have been limited. A growing body of literature reveals that successful stakeholder collaboration relies on numerous elements, which have to be incorporated for the success of the process. The paper reveals how simply attempting to implement stakeholder collaboration is not enough for its success, instead various components need to be incorporated throughout the continuous process, in particular attention is paid to establishing trust across the various stakeholder group.
Cross-cultural tourist behavior: An examination of tourists’ behavior in guided tours
Authors: Özdemir Cansev , Yolal Medet
Published: February 2016

This study attempts to explore behavioral characteristics of international tourists visiting Istanbul in guided tours, and to examine the differences and similarities among tourists of different nationalities using data provided by Turkish tour guides. Data were collected utilizing a survey site designed for research for Turkish tour guides working in Istanbul, Turkey. The results suggest that there are three underlying dimensions of tourists’ behavior during guided tours, namely, shopping, activities, and social interaction. Significant differences are observed among seven nationalities. Pair comparisons of the groups belonging to the three dimensions are conducted for the purpose of revealing similarities and differences. The Japanese are found to be the most distinct tourist group in comparison to others. Finally, conclusions and implications are discussed at the end of the study.
Watching the watchers: conducting ethnographic research on covert police investigation in the United Kingdom
Authors: Mac Giollabhuí Shane , Goold Benjamin , Loftus Bethan
Published: February 2016

It has long been claimed that the police are the most visible symbol of the criminal justice system (Bittner, 1974). There is, however, a significant strand of policing – covert investigation that relies routinely on methods of deception – that resists public revelation (Ross, 2008). The growing importance of covert police investigation has profound implications for the relationship between citizen and the state in a democratic society, but it is relatively unexplored by police researchers. In this article, we describe the methodology of the first ethnographic study of how the introduction of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (2000) – a piece of ‘enabling’ legislation that regulates the conditions under which law enforcement agencies can intervene in the privacy of individuals – has effected the conduct of covert police investigation in the United Kingdom. We describe our ethnographic experience in the ‘secret world’ of covert policing, which is familiar in many respects to ethnographers of uniformed officers, but which also differed significantly. We contend that the organizing principle of surveillance – the imperative to maintain the secrecy of an operation – had a marked impact on our ethnographic experience, which eroded significantly our status as non-participant observers and altered out reflexive experience by activating the ‘usefulness’ of our gender.
Assessing the transition between school and university: Differences in assessment between A level and university in English
Authors: Wilson Frances , Child Simon , Suto Irenka
Published: February 2016

High stakes assessments are commonly used at the end of secondary school to select students for higher education. However, growing concerns about the preparedness of new undergraduates for university study have led to an increased focus on the form of assessments used at upper secondary level. This study compared the structure and format of assessments used at upper secondary level (GCE A level qualifications), and the first year of undergraduate study of English literature in England. Greater diversity of assessment was found at university compared to A level, while there was little difference in the level of scaffolding and guidance provided in assessment materials. We conclude that it seems inevitable that some students will meet forms of assessment with which they are unfamiliar at university. Implications for the design of first-year undergraduate courses are discussed.
Robust control synthesis for dynamic vessel positioning
Authors: You Sam-Sang , Lim Tae-Woo , Kim Joon-Young , Choi Hyeung-Sik
Published: February 2016

This article considers key theoretical and practical issues that arise in the robust control synthesis for dynamic positioning. A dynamically positioned vessel maintains its position (fixed location or predetermined track) by means of active thrusters and propellers. The concise kinematics and vessel dynamics are presented using three degrees of freedom model for describing the horizontal motions. Then, the mixed H∞ and µ-synthesis framework has been employed to deal with perturbed model under external disturbances as well as measurement noises. To avoid excessive control energy for dynamic positioning system, the high frequency waves have been filtered using simple weighting functions. Using optimal Hankel-norm model approximation, the resulting full-order controller has been significantly reduced to make it easy to implement the practical works. Next, the simulation results in both frequency and time domains are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the robust control algorithms using the appropriate weighting functions. Finally, it is found that the proposed dynamic positioning system provides good maneuverability and robustness over a wide range of operating conditions, even under parametric variations and sea disturbances with sensor noises.
Smart lighting control with workspace and ceiling sensors
Authors: Caicedo D , Li S , Pandharipande A
Published: February 2016

We consider energy-efficient indoor lighting control for adapting to daylight and user presence changes. Light sensors located at ceiling luminaires and at workspace desks are used to provide illumination information feedback, along with user presence information from occupancy sensors at ceiling luminaires, to a lighting controller. The light sensors at the workspace transmit information at a lower update rate than the sensors at the ceiling. Using this sensing information, we propose a control method to adapt the dimming levels of the luminaires such that desired illumination levels are achieved at the workspace level. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated in an office lighting testbed.
Preclinical lung disease in early rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Robles-Perez Alejandro , Luburich Patricio , Rodriguez-Sanchon Benigno , Dorca Jordi , Nolla Joan Miquel , Molina-Molina Maria , Narvaez-Garcia Javier
Published: February 2016

Early detection and treatment of lung disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may ameliorate disease progression. The objectives of this study were to investigate the frequency of asymptomatic lung abnormalities in early RA patients and the potential association of positive RA blood reactive biomolecules with lung involvement. A prospective observational study was performed in a cohort of patients with early RA (joint symptoms < 2 years) without respiratory symptoms, who were included in a screening program for lung disease with a baseline chest radiograph (CR) and complete pulmonary function tests (PFTs). In those patients with lung abnormalities on the CR or PFTs, a high-resolution chest computed tomography scan (HRCT) was performed. We included 40 patients (30 women). Altered PFTs were detected in 18 (45%) of these patients. These cases had a diffusion lung transfer capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) of <80% of predicted, without a significant reduction in the forced vital capacity. The HRCT detected abnormalities in 11 of the 18 patients. Diffuse bronchiectasis was the main finding. An inverse correlation between the anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) levels and DLCO was found. Asymptomatic lung disease is present in up to 45% of early RA patients and can be determined by PFTs and ACPA levels.
Work Engagement and Career
Authors: Lee Yunsoo , Kwon Kibum , Kim Woocheol , Cho Daeyeon
Published: February 2016

Work engagement is currently one of the most studied topics in organizational science. Moreover, from the various performance-based perspectives of human resource development (HRD), work engagement is closely tied to employees’ career. However, although research on work engagement and career has been conducted, more research is necessary to understand these concepts and investigate their relationship given their positive influences on organizations. More specifically, a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between work engagement and career that draws on the extant literature is both relevant to and beneficial for HRD professionals seeking to design and implement career-related strategies to enhance individual employees’ levels of work engagement. Thus, this study aims to examine the relationship between work engagement and career, ultimately synthesizing current studies into an integrated framework that describes the work engagement–career relationship and suggests future research agendas.
Maximizing efficiency and diagnostic accuracy triage of acute stroke patients: A case-control study
Authors: Zuckerman Scott L , Sivaganesan Ahilan , Zhang Chi , Dewan Michael C , Morone Peter J , Ganesh Kumar Nishant , Mocco J
Published: February 2016

Background

Recent data have demonstrated that mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is beneficial for patients presenting within zero to six hours of symptom onset after stroke. However, transferring all patients with possible strokes for endovascular therapy and MT would be inefficient and costly. We conducted a case-control study to identify a subset of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) to identify patients with large-vessel occlusion (LVO) to a high degree of specificity, in order to select those patients for whom transfer is most appropriate.

Methods

Acute code stroke alerts presenting to a comprehensive stroke center from 2012 to 2013 (779) and corresponding NIHSS were collected. All patients had vascular imaging and 125 demonstrated LVO (cases) and were compared to 272 small-vessel strokes and stroke mimics (controls). Demographics of both groups and modified receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated for each combination of three NIHSS items to optimize specificity of LVO for those who would benefit from MT.

Results

The average NIHSS of cases was higher than controls (12.5 vs. 6.5, p < 0.0001). The subset of three NIHSS items with the largest modified AUC (optimized for specificity) was maximum “Arm,” “Sensory,” and “Extinction.” Using a cutoff of seven out of a total 10 possible points, the sum score for these items has 90.2% specificity and 16.0% sensitivity for LVO.

Conclusion

We present a validated three-question subset of the NIHSS for those who would benefit from MT with a high degree of specificity.
Embolization of a congenital arteriovenous fistula of the internal maxillary artery: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Santillan Alejandro , Johnson Jeremiah , Birnbaum Lee A
Published: February 2016

A 13 year-old girl with a congenital carotid–jugular fistula presented with a pulsatile mass and a thrill on the left side of her neck. Angiography showed a fistula between the left internal maxillary artery and the jugular vein. The patient underwent coil embolization using a transarterial balloon-assisted technique and one week later, a transvenous approach. The fistula was completely obliterated, and the patient’s symptoms resolved.
‘Donut’ basilar aneurysm with brainstem compression: Treatment using a flow diverting stent
Authors: Maingard Julian , Brooks Mark
Published: February 2016

Partially thrombosed aneurysms with circular flow dynamics around central thrombus pose a therapeutic dilema. We demonstrate the successful treatment of a patient with a large basilar donut aneurysm with a flow diverting stent without the use of embolisation coils in order to obviate the risk of further brainstem compression.
The importance of protection glasses during neuroangiographies: A study on radiation exposure at the lens of the primary operator
Authors: Tavares JB , Sacadura-Leite E , Matoso T , Neto LL , Biscoito L , Campos J , Sousa-Uva A
Published: February 2016

Background

In interventional neuroradiology, few operators routinely use radiation protection glasses. Moreover, in most centers, radiation dose data only accounts for whole body dose without specific information on lens dose. In 2012, the International Commission on Radiological Protection advised that the threshold limit value for the lens should be 20 mSv/year instead of the previous 150 mSv/year limit. The purpose of this study was to compare the radiation dose in the operator’s lens during real diagnostic and interventional neuroangiographies, either using or without lead protection glasses.

Methods

Using the Educational Direct Dosimeter (EDD30 dosimeter), accumulated radiation dose in the lens was measured in 13 neuroangiographies: seven diagnostic and six interventional. Operators with and without radiation protection glasses were included and the sensor was placed near their left eye, closest to the radiation beam.

Results

Without glasses, the corrected mean dose of radiation in the lens was 8.02 µSv for diagnostic procedures and 168.57 µSv for interventional procedures. Using glasses, these values were reduced to 1.74 µSv and 33.24 µSv, respectively.

Conclusion

Considering 20 mSv as the suggested annual limit of equivalent dose in the lens, neuroradiologists may perform up to 2,494 diagnostic procedures per year without protecting glasses, a number that increases to 11,494 when glasses are used consistently. Regarding intervention, a maximum of 119 procedures per year is advised if glasses are not used, whereas up to 602 procedures/year may be performed using this protection. Therefore, neuroradiologists should always wear radiation protection glasses.
Silk blouses and fedoras: The female detective, contemporary TV crime drama and the predicaments of postfeminism
Authors: Jermyn Deborah
Published: February 2016

This article examines the markedly contrasting fates of two recent female protagonist led police series, the dismally received Prime Suspect USA (NBC, 2011) and widely celebrated The Fall (BBC, 2013– ), asking what the reception of each suggests about the state of play for women in TV crime drama in today’s postfeminist culture. What do women cops need to do to make the cut in an era in which, on the one hand, it seems they are more prevalent and have more opportunities than ever before (Gerrard, 2014); but also, on the flip side of this, in which they must somehow offer something ‘extra’ to survive in an era where the presence of a female detective in itself is no longer an innovation or novelty? In an era in which, to adopt Angela McRobbie’s much-cited phrase, ‘feminism has been taken into account’ (2007: 255), how can these series’ invocation of feminism or ‘feminist issues’ be understood as fundamental to their respective demise and triumph? I argue that, crucially, Prime Suspect USA’s account of sexist bullying in the NYPD was greeted as hackneyed and overblown, where The Fall spoke adroitly to a media culture in which ratings can be won via a superficial but glossily packaged nod to the female detective’s postfeminist ‘progress’, while relishing misogynistic violence. Hence the article also asks, what implications does an inquiry of the kind undertaken here – where interrogation of the genre combines comparative text-based analysis with critical reflection on the author’s own perturbed response to the eroticisation of violence against women in The Fall – have for future models of feminist criticism of TV crime drama?
Segment-based adaptive window and multi-feature fusion for stereo matching
Authors: Shi Hua , Zhu Hong , Wang Jing , Yu Shun-Yuan , Fu Zheng-Fang
Published: February 2016

As to the problems of local stereo matching methods, such as matching window selection difficulty, fuzzy disparity edges and low accuracy in weak texture regions, this paper proposes an efficient stereo matching algorithm to improve the stereo matching accuracy in these regions. First of all, we segment the stereo images and calculate the adaptive support window according to the area of each segmentation region. Second, the matching cost is computed based on the feature fusion of color and gradient, and then the initial disparity can be achieved. Finally, the ultimate matching disparity can be obtained through a series post-processing, including consistency checking, mismatch correcting, disparity refinement and so on. Test results of Middlebury Stereo Datasets show that the proposed algorithm is effective with high matching precision, and especially can tackle well with the weak texture and slope surfaces regions.
Rolling resistance, vertical load and optimal number of wheels in human-powered vehicle design
Authors: Baldissera Paolo , Delprete Cristiana
Published: February 2016

Even if it makes a smaller contribution than aerodynamic drag, rolling resistance plays a non-negligible role in the efficiency of human-powered vehicles, whether they are designed for daily commuting or to set speed records. The literature, experimental evidence and models show that the rolling resistance coefficient of cycling wheels strongly depends on the supported load, suggesting that the number of wheels and the load distribution could play a role in vehicle design and in road-test data analysis. Starting with an in-depth look at the relationship between a single wheel and overall vehicle rolling resistance coefficients, an analysis is proposed and discussed with the aim of minimizing the rolling resistance of a vehicle. Finally, a parametric surface response model for rolling resistance is obtained as a function of wheel size and the number of wheels. The overall analysis overturns the popular assumption according to which ‘the more wheels, the more rolling resistance’, at least according to a strict definition of the phenomenon.
The Cost-Effectiveness of Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring (RT-CGM) in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Fonda Stephanie J. , Graham Claudia , Munakata Julie , Powers Julia M. , Price David , Vigersky Robert A.
Published: February 2016

Background:

This analysis models the cost-effectiveness of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM) using evidence from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that demonstrated RT-CGM reduced A1C, for up to 9 months after using the technology, among patients with type 2 diabetes not on prandial insulin. RT-CGM was offered short-term and intermittently as a self-care tool to inform patients’ behavior.

Method:

The analyses projected lifetime clinical and economic outcomes for RT-CGM versus self-monitoring of blood glucose by fingerstick only. The base-case analysis was consistent with the RCT (RT-CGM for 2 weeks on/1 week off over 3 months). A scenario analysis simulated outcomes of an RT-CGM “refresher” after the active intervention of the RCT. Analyses used the IMS CORE Diabetes Model and were conducted from a US third-party payer perspective, including direct costs obtained from published sources and inflated to 2011 US dollars. Costs and health outcomes were discounted at 3% per annum.

Results:

Life expectancy (LE) and quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE) from RT-CGM were 0.10 and 0.07, with a cost of $653/patient over a lifetime. Incremental LE and QALE from a “refresher” were 0.14 and 0.10, with a cost of $1312/patient over a lifetime, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were $9319 and $13 030 per LY and QALY gained.

Conclusions:

RT-CGM, as a self-care tool, is a cost-effective disease management option in the US for people with type 2 diabetes not on prandial insulin. Repeated use of RT-CGM may result in additional cost-effectiveness.
Penetrating retro-orbital foreign body – large glass shards: A maxillofacial surgery case report
Authors: Blackhall Kristian K , Laraway David C
Published: February 2016

Objectives:

This case report looks at a 53-year-old patient who had suffered a penetrating foreign body injury to the retro-orbital space and the surgical approach taken to remove the large glass fragments found and to correct the damage caused. Having fallen while holding a drinking glass, this patient suffered multiple laceration injuries to the maxillofacial region upon the glass shattering in contact with the face. However, unbeknownst to the patient, several glass fragments became embedded in the retro-orbital space, and this was only detected on presentation 2 days post-injury with unusual symptoms of sharp, sudden pain elicited on extreme gaze as well as ocular motility restriction.

Methods:

This embedded foreign body required a creative surgical approach to remove it involving gaining access to the retro-orbital space via a superior approach and cautiously following the path the glass shards took upon entry, all the way to the posterior aspect of superior rectus. Intra-operative radiographic guidance was required due to the restriction of operating within this space and particularly when removing glass fragments distal to superior rectus.

Results and Conclusion:

The patient recovered well and experienced an immediate improvement in ocular motility with a return to relative normality over the next few months.