bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-Angiogenics: Their Value in Lung Cancer Therapy
Authors: Janning Melanie , Loges Sonja
Published: April 2018

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Different targeted therapies and the introduction of immunotherapy have successfully improved outcome for patients with non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). Anti-angiogenic drugs are an essential component in the treatment of NSCLC patients. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A antibody bevacizumab is approved for first-line treatment of advanced-stage patients in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy. Ramucirumab, a VEGF receptor antibody, and nintedanib, an anti-angiogenic multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, are approved for second-line treatment in combination with docetaxel. This review provides a summary of pivotal trials with anti-angiogenic drugs in NSCLC in different settings. We give an overview of how to position anti-angiogenic therapy in the current treatment algorithms and highlight future directions. The identification of predictive biomarkers for patient selection could improve the success of anti-angiogenic drugs and represents an important area of research. In addition, novel therapeutic targets including endothelial metabolomic intermediates and cellular components of the tumor microenvironment could lead to the identification of innovative new targets besides the VEGF axis.
Projected Costs of Informal Caregiving for Cardiovascular Disease: 2015 to 2035: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Dunbar Sandra B. , Khavjou Olga A. , Bakas Tamilyn , Hunt Gail , Kirch Rebecca A. , Leib Alyssa R. , Morrison R. Sean , Poehler Diana C. , Roger Veronique L. , Whitsel Laurie P.
Published: April 2018

Introduction:

In a recent report, the American Heart Association estimated that medical costs and productivity losses of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are expected to grow from $555 billion in 2015 to $1.1 trillion in 2035. Although the burden is significant, the estimate does not include the costs of family, informal, or unpaid caregiving provided to patients with CVD. In this analysis, we estimated projections of costs of informal caregiving attributable to CVD for 2015 to 2035.

Methods:

We used data from the 2014 Health and Retirement Survey to estimate hours of informal caregiving for individuals with CVD by age/sex/race using a zero-inflated binomial model and controlling for sociodemographic factors and health conditions. Costs of informal caregiving were estimated separately for hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and other heart disease. We analyzed data from a nationally representative sample of 16 731 noninstitutionalized adults ≥54 years of age. The value of caregiving hours was monetized by the use of home health aide workers’ wages. The per-person costs were multiplied by census population counts to estimate nation-level costs and to be consistent with other American Heart Association analyses of burden of CVD, and the costs were projected from 2015 through 2035, assuming that within each age/sex/racial group, CVD prevalence and caregiving hours remain constant.

Results:

The costs of informal caregiving for patients with CVD were estimated to be $61 billion in 2015 and are projected to increase to $128 billion in 2035. Costs of informal caregiving of patients with stroke constitute more than half of the total costs of CVD informal caregiving ($31 billion in 2015 and $66 billion in 2035). By age, costs are the highest among those 65 to 79 years of age in 2015 but are expected to be surpassed by costs among those ≥80 years of age by 2035. Costs of informal caregiving for patients with CVD represent an additional 11% of medical and productivity costs attributable to CVD.

Conclusions:

The burden of informal caregiving for patients with CVD is significant; accounting for these costs increases total CVD costs to $616 billion in 2015 and $1.2 trillion in 2035. These estimates have important research and policy implications, and they may be used to guide policy development to reduce the burden of CVD on patients and their caregivers.
Associations of Fitness, Physical Activity, Strength, and Genetic Risk With Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Tikkanen Emmi , Gustafsson Stefan , Ingelsson Erik
Published: April 2018

Background:

Observational studies have shown inverse associations among fitness, physical activity, and cardiovascular disease. However, little is known about these associations in individuals with elevated genetic susceptibility for these diseases.

Methods:

We estimated associations of grip strength, objective and subjective physical activity, and cardiorespiratory fitness with cardiovascular events and all-cause death in a large cohort of 502 635 individuals from the UK Biobank (median follow-up, 6.1 years; interquartile range, 5.4–6.8 years). Then we further examined these associations in individuals with different genetic burden by stratifying individuals based on their genetic risk scores for coronary heart disease and atrial fibrillation. We compared disease risk among individuals in different tertiles of fitness, physical activity, and genetic risk using lowest tertiles as reference.

Results:

Grip strength, physical activity, and cardiorespiratory fitness showed inverse associations with incident cardiovascular events (coronary heart disease: hazard ratio [HR], 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77–0.81; HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93–0.97; and HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.63–0.74, per SD change, respectively; atrial fibrillation: HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.73–0.76; HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.91–0.95; and HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.56–0.65, per SD change, respectively). Higher grip strength and cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with lower risk of incident coronary heart disease and atrial fibrillation in each genetic risk score group (
P
trend
<0.001 in each genetic risk category). In particular, high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with 49% lower risk for coronary heart disease (HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.38–0.69) and 60% lower risk for atrial fibrillation (HR, 0.40; 95%, CI 0.30–0.55) among individuals at high genetic risk for these diseases.

Conclusions:

Fitness and physical activity demonstrated inverse associations with incident cardiovascular disease in the general population, as well as in individuals with elevated genetic risk for these diseases.
Performance of a Blood Pressure Smartphone App in Pregnant Women
Authors: Raichle Christina J. , Eckstein Jens , Lapaire Olav , Leonardi Licia , Brasier Noé , Vischer Annina S. , Burkard Thilo
Published: April 2018

Hypertensive disorders are one of the leading causes of maternal death worldwide. Several smartphone apps claim to measure blood pressure (BP) using photoplethysmographic signals recorded by smartphone cameras. However, no single app has been validated for this use to date. We aimed to validate a new, promising smartphone algorithm. In this subgroup analysis of the iPARR trial (iPhone App Compared With Standard RR Measurement), we tested the Preventicus BP smartphone algorithm on 32 pregnant women. The trial was conducted based on the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol revision 2010 for validation of BP measuring devices in adults. Each individual received 7 sequential BP measurements starting with the reference device (Omron-HBP-1300) and followed by the smartphone measurement, resulting in 96 BP comparisons. Validation requirements of the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol revision 2010 were not fulfilled. Mean (±SD) systolic BP disagreement between the test and reference devices was 5.0 (±14.5) mm Hg. The number of absolute differences between test and reference device within 5, 10, and 15 mm Hg was 31, 53, and 64 of 96, respectively. A Bland–Altman plot showed an overestimation of smartphone-determined systolic BP in comparison with reference systolic BP in low range but an underestimation in medium-range BP. The Preventicus BP smartphone algorithm failed the accuracy criteria for estimating BP in pregnant women and was thus not commercialized. Pregnant women should be discouraged from using BP smartphone apps, unless there are algorithms specifically validated according to common protocols.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT02552030.
Discovery of New Blood Pressure Phenotypes and Relation to Accuracy of Cuff Devices Used in Daily Clinical Practice
Authors: Picone Dean S. , Schultz Martin G. , Peng Xiaoqing , Black J. Andrew , Dwyer Nathan , Roberts-Thomson Philip , Chen Chen-Huan , Cheng Hao-Min , Pucci Giacomo , Wang Ji-Guang , Sharman James E.
Published: April 2018

Cuff blood pressure (BP) is the reference standard for management of high BP, but the method is inaccurate and can lead to BP misclassification. The aims of this study were to determine whether distinctive BP phenotypes exist based on BP transmission (amplification) variability from central-to-peripheral arteries and whether applying one standard cuff BP measurement approach (eg, oscillometry) to all people could discriminate the BP phenotypes. Intra-arterial BP was measured at the ascending aorta and brachial and radial arteries in 126 participants (61±10 years; 69% male) after coronary angiography. Central-to-peripheral systolic BP (SBP) transmission (SBP amplification) was defined by ≥5 mm Hg SBP increase between the aorta-to-brachial or brachial-to-radial arteries. Standard cuff BP was measured 4 different times using 3 different devices. Three independent investigators also provided data (n=255 from 4 studies) using another 3 separate cuff BP devices. Four distinct BP phenotypes were discovered based on variability in SBP amplification: phenotype 1, both aortic-to-brachial and brachial-to-radial SBP amplification; phenotype 2, only aortic-to-brachial SBP amplification; phenotype 3, only brachial-to-radial SBP amplification; and phenotype 4, neither aortic-to-brachial nor brachial-to-radial SBP amplification. Aortic SBP was significantly higher among phenotypes 3 and 4 compared with phenotypes 1 and 2 (
P
=0.00074), but this was not discriminated using any standard cuff BP measures (
P
=0.31). Data from independent investigators confirmed the key findings. This is the first-in-human discovery of BP phenotypes that have significantly different BPs, but which are not discriminated by standard cuff BP devices used in daily clinical practice. Improved BP device accuracy may be achieved by considering individual phenotypic BP differences.
History of Asthma From Childhood and Arterial Stiffness in Asymptomatic Young Adults
Authors: Sun Dianjianyi , Li Xiang , Heianza Yoriko , Nisa Hoirun , Shang Xiaoyun , Rabito Felicia , Kelly Tanika , Harville Emily , Li Shengxu , He Jiang , Bazzano Lydia , Chen Wei , Qi Lu
Published: April 2018

Asthma is related to various cardiovascular risk. Whether a history of asthma from childhood contributes to arterial stiffness in adulthood, a noninvasive surrogate for cardiovascular events, is unknown. Prospective analyses were performed among 1746 Bogalusa Heart Study participants aged 20 to 51 years with data on self-report asthma collected since childhood. Aorta–femoral pulse wave velocity (af-PWV, m/s) was repeatedly assessed among adults ≥aged 18 years. Generalized linear mixed models and generalized linear models were fitted for the repeated measurements of af-PWV and its changes between the last and the first measurements, respectively. After a median follow-up of 11.1 years, participants with a history of asthma from childhood had a higher af-PWV (6.78 versus 6.13;
P
=0.048) and a greater increase in af-PWV (8.99 versus 2.95;
P
=0.043) than those without asthma, adjusted for age, sex, race, smoking status, heart rate, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, lipids, and glycemia. In addition, we found significant interactions of asthma with body mass index and systolic blood pressure on af-PWV and its changes (
P
for interaction <0.01). The associations of asthma with af-PWV and its changes appeared to be stronger among participants who were overweight and obese (body mass index ≥25 kg/m
2
) or with prehypertension and hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥120 mm Hg) compared with those with a normal body mass index or systolic blood pressure. Our findings indicate that a history of asthma from childhood is associated with higher af-PWV and greater increases in af-PWV, and such associations are stronger among young adults who are overweight or with elevated blood pressure.
Thymosin β4 Deficiency Exacerbates Renal and Cardiac Injury in Angiotensin-II–Induced Hypertension
Authors: Kumar Nitin , Liao Tang-Dong , Romero Cesar A. , Maheshwari Mani , Peterson Edward L. , Carretero Oscar A.
Published: April 2018

Thymosin β4 (Tβ4), a ubiquitous peptide, regulates several cellular processes that include cell morphology, wound healing, and inflammatory response. Administration of exogenous Tβ4 is protective in diabetic nephropathy and in a unilateral ureteral obstruction model. However, the role of endogenous Tβ4 in health and disease conditions remains unclear. To elucidate the pathophysiological role of endogenous Tβ4 in hypertension, we examined angiotensin-II (Ang-II)–induced renal and cardiac damage in Tβ4 knockout (Tβ4 KO) mice. Tβ4 KO and wild-type C57BL/6 mice were infused continuously for 6 weeks with either vehicle or Ang-II (980 ng/kg per minute). At baseline, Tβ4 deficiency did not affect renal and cardiac function. Systolic blood pressure in the Ang-II group was similar in wild-type and Tβ4 KO mice (wild-type Ang-II, 179.25±10.11 mm Hg; Tβ4 KO Ang-II, 169.81±6.54 mm Hg). Despite the similar systolic blood pressure after Ang-II infusion, Tβ4-deficient mice had dramatically increased albuminuria and decreased nephrin expression in the kidney (
P
<0.005). In the heart of Tβ4 KO mice, Ang-II reduced ejection fraction and shortening fraction (ejection fraction: wild-type Ang-II 77.95%±1.03%; Tβ4 KO Ang-II 62.58%±3.25%;
P
<0.005), which was accompanied by cardiac hypertrophy and left ventricular dilatation. In addition, renal and cardiac infiltration of CD68 macrophages, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and total collagen content were increased after Ang-II infusion in Tβ4 KO mice (
P
<0.005). Overall, our data indicate that endogenous Tβ4 is crucial in preventing tissue injury from Ang-II–induced hypertension. This study gives new insights into the protective role of endogenous Tβ4 in hypertensive end-organ damage.
Composite Respect for Animals Scale
Authors: Randler Christoph , Binngießer Janine , Vollmer Christian
Published: April 2018

A valid and convenient method to measure nonhuman animal attitudes contributes to feasible survey studies and the evaluation of educational programs. There are established scales for measuring animal attitudes but only some have acceptable psychometric properties: others address only a small fraction of the constructs, and some are overly long. We therefore aimed to develop a short, practicable measurement of animal attitudes that contains the constructs developed previously. Two studies were conducted: in the first one, 127 items were subjected to an exploratory factor analysis, which extracted 51 items in 10 factors. The scale was reduced to 20 items retaining all of the initial constructs with 13 positive and 7 negative items, which were subjected to a confirmatory factor analysis in study 2. Correlations with personality, meat consumption, age, and gender provide evidence for validity. We suggest using this short, unidimensional Composite Respect for Animals Scale covering a broad construct.
Social Unrest in the uk and Turkey: Rethinking Police Violence against Dissident Communities
Authors: Cayli Baris , Hodgson Philip , Walsh Dave
Published: April 2018

The present study explores police violence during the riots in London and Gezi Park protests in Istanbul. This study puts forth that the rise of social injustice in theukand the erosion of plural democracy in Turkey clarify the paradox of state intervention because the two states prioritized rapid repression of uprising without consolidating public trust and social justice in the society. This comparative study reveals that the liberal and non-religious elements of the capitalist ruling system in theukcontain similar fractions of state repression when compared to the authoritarian and religious elements of the capitalist ruling system in Turkey. The authors conclude that police violence endures the social control of dissident communities while it maintains the sustainability of different capitalist ruling systems in the periods of social unrest.
Juristic Differences over the Implementation of Qiṣāṣ against a Muslim Who Kills a Non-Muslim
Authors: Amanullah Muhammad
Published: April 2018

Muslim jurists differ on whether Muslims who murder non-Muslims should be sentenced to death or not. Although Ḥanafī jurists maintain that they should be, most Muslim jurists hold that they should not. Modern scholars such as ʿAwdah, El-Awa and others have discussed the issue. Based on classical and modern fiqh (Islamic law) literature, this article examines the principal arguments used by both groups, concluding that the Ḥanafī opinion is to be preferred because it is based on stronger proofs and conforms more closely to the public interest of contemporary Muslims and non-Muslims.
The eu Directive 2014/89 Establishing a Framework for Maritime Spatial Planning
Authors: Krämer Ludwig
Published: April 2018

Directive 2013/89 introduces the obligation for Member States to draw up and implement maritime spatial plans. According to the 19th recital of the Directive the main purpose of maritime spatial planning is to promote sustainable development and to identify the utilization of maritime space for different sea uses as well as to manage spatial uses and conflicts in marine areas. The following contribution analyses the genesis and main instruments of the Directive and it concludes that Directive will probably fail to achieve this objective.
A new species of the genus Tridactylus Olivier, 1789 (Orthoptera, Tridactyloidea, Tridactylidae) from India
Authors: GUPTA SUNIL KUMAR , SHI JIAN-PING , CHANDRA KAILASH
Published: April 2018

A new species of genus Tridactylus bijakherensis sp. nov. is described from Korba, Chhattisgarh, India, with a key to the Indian species of the genus Tridactylus Olivier, 1789.
First record of Gasteruption Latreille (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea: Gasteruptiidae) from Fiji with the description of a new species
Authors: PARSLOW BEN A. , STEVENS MARK I. , SCHWARZ MICHAEL P.
Published: April 2018

A new Gasteruption Latreille species, G. tomanivi, is described from Viti Levu, Fiji. The new species is the first record of the genus for Fiji and can be distinguished from other Oceanian Gasteruption species by the length of the mesosoma and the large malar space compared with the length of the pedicel. DNA Barcode (mtDNA—COI) sequence is provided.
A new deep-sea scalpelliform barnacle, Vulcanolepas buckeridgei sp. nov. (Eolepadidae: Neolepadinae) from hydrothermal vents in the Lau Basin
Authors: CHAN BENNY K.K. , CHANG YEN-WEI
Published: April 2018

The present study describes a new species of Vulcanolepas from the Lau Basin in the South Pacific. The basal angle of the tergum of Vulcanolepas buckeridgei sp. nov. is elevated from the capitular-peduncular margin at ~1/6 of the capitular height. The mandibles of V. buckeridgei sp. nov. are tridentoid; the cutting margins of the second and third teeth are long and each tooth possesses 18–20 sharp spines. The proximal segments of the anterior and posterior rami of cirrus I are protuberant and with dense, simple setae. DNA barcode sequences of Vulcanolepas buckeridgei sp. nov. are similar to Vulcanolepas sp. 1 collected from the Lau Basin (Herrera et al. 2015). Vulcanolepas buckeridgei is morphologically similar to Vulcanolepas ‘Lau A’ collected in the Lau Basin (Southward & Newman 1998). This suggests that Vulcanolepas buckeridgei sp. nov. is widespread in the Lau Basin.
The Influence of ENSO Flavors on Western North Pacific Tropical Cyclone Activity
Authors: Patricola Christina M. , Camargo Suzana J. , Klotzbach Philip J. , Saravanan R. , Chang Ping
Published: April 2018

El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a major source of seasonal western North Pacific (WNP) tropical cyclone (TC) predictability. However, the spatial characteristics of ENSO have changed in recent decades, from warming more typically in the eastern equatorial Pacific during canonical or cold tongue El Niño to warming more typically in the central equatorial Pacific during noncanonical or warm pool El Niño. We investigated the response in basinwide WNP TC activity and spatial clustering of TC tracks to the location and magnitude of El Niño using observations, TC-permitting tropical channel model simulations, and a TC track clustering methodology. We found that simulated western North Pacific TC activity, including accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) and the number of typhoons and intense typhoons, is more effectively enhanced by sea surface temperature warming of the central, compared to the eastern, equatorial Pacific. El Niño also considerably influenced simulated TC tracks regionally, with a decrease in TCs that were generated near the Asian continent and an increase in clusters that were dominated by TC genesis in the southeastern WNP. This response corresponds with the spatial pattern of reduced vertical wind shear and is most effectively driven by central Pacific SST warming. Finally, internal atmospheric variability generated a substantial range in the simulated season total ACE (±25% of the median). However, extremely active WNP seasons were linked with El Niño, rather than internal atmospheric variability, in both observations and climate model simulations.
Four simple ways to increase power without increasing the sample size
Authors: Lazic Stanley E
Published: April 2018

Underpowered experiments have three problems: true effects are harder to detect, the true effects that are detected tend to have inflated effect sizes and as power decreases so does the probability that a statistically significant result represents a true effect. Many biology experiments are underpowered and recent calls to change the traditional 0.05 significance threshold to a more stringent value of 0.005 will further reduce the power of the average experiment. Increasing power by increasing the sample size is often the only option considered, but more samples increases costs, makes the experiment harder to conduct and is contrary to the 3Rs principles for animal research. We show how the design of an experiment and some analytical decisions can have a surprisingly large effect on power.
Core and Peripheral Voters: Predictors of Turnout Across Three Types of Elections
Authors: Bhatti Yosef , Dahlgaard Jens Olav , Hansen Jonas Hedegaard , Hansen Kasper M
Published: April 2018

Citizens who abstain from voting in consecutive elections and inequality in turnout in democratic elections constitute a challenge to the legitimacy of democracy. Applying the law of dispersion, which stipulates higher levels of turnout and higher levels of equality in turnout are positively related, we study turnout patterns across different types of elections in Denmark, a high-turnout European context. Across three different elections with turnout rates from 56.3% to 85.9%, we use a rich, nationwide panel dataset of 2.1 million citizens with validated turnout and high-quality sociodemographic variables. A total of 9% of the citizens are abstainers in the three consecutive elections, and these are disproportionately male, of non-Western ethnic background, with little education, and with low income. The law of dispersion finds support as inequalities in turnout increase when turnout decreases and vice versa. Furthermore, municipalities with lower turnout have higher inequalities in participation than high-turnout municipalities in local elections.
Promise and Provocation: Humble Reflections on Critical Participatory Action Research for Social Policy
Authors: Sandwick Talia , Fine Michelle , Greene Andrew Cory , Stoudt Brett G. , Torre María Elena , Patel Leigh
Published: April 2018

This essay reflects on the promise and challenges of community-engaged, critical participatory action research (CPAR) hinged to social policy in times of racialized state violence and massive community resistance. With cautious optimism, we argue for the potential of CPAR to facilitate more just social policy, by enhancing research validity, policy integrity, and organizing capacity. Drawing on a series of CPAR projects, we also raise a series of ethical, political, and power-laden dilemmas we have encountered in this work and offer, with humility, provisional solutions for advancing activist-scholarship linked in struggle with communities under siege.
The Significance of Self-Fulfilling Science
Authors: Lowe Charles
Published: April 2018

Once lively debates concerning the philosophical significance of self-fulfilling science, or the causal contribution of science to bringing about the states of affairs it depicts, lapsed in the 1970s. Recent claims concerning the influence of economic theory on the behavior it predicts or explains seem poised to revitalize discussion, yet lack of clarity abounds concerning the key features of such cases and the philosophical issues to which they might be relevant. In this paper, I examine a paradigmatic case of self-fulfilling science, clarify its key features, and critically discuss two existing approaches to understanding such phenomena. Ultimately, I suggest a novel approach more well-suited to analyzing such cases and exploring their philosophical significance.
In the Bowels of the Information Machine: Population Registration and the Impact of Computers on Personal Privacy and Public Administration
Authors: Frohman Larry
Published: April 2018

The German population registration system was the core of the population identification, information, and control system constructed across the 20th century. However, the functioning of the system also raised questions about how personal information was to be gathered, integrated with other bodies of personal information, and then used for population surveillance. This article examines the hopes associated with the late-1960s proposal to automate the local population registries and link them to create a national population information system and analyzes contemporary accounts of the impact of such integrated systems on the information flowing through them and the structure of complex organizations.
Effect of some operational parameters on desulphurization of high sulphur Indian coal by KOH leaching
Authors: Ken Bhupendra S , Nandi Barun K
Published: April 2018

This paper presents an experimental study on the effect of potassium hydroxide concentration and reaction time on coal properties during desulphurization of high sulphur Indian coal. Experimental results showed that maximum of 36.79% of total sulphur can be removed from coal by potassium hydroxide leaching with 20% potassium hydroxide concentration and 24 h contact time at atmospheric condition. Total sulphur reduction was contributed by 45.03–49.01% pyritic sulphur, 24.10–33.73% sulphate sulphur and 20.93–30.62% organic sulphur depending on potassium hydroxide concentration of 5–20% and reaction time of 6–24 h. Experimental result shows that ash% of coal increased from 8.33 to 14.09% due to accumulation of insoluble potassium aluminosilicate in the coal. Gross calorific value of coal decreased from 6854 to 6084 kcal/kg due to increase of ash content of coal and loss of some combustible matter in leaching process. Physico-chemical characterizations of raw and treated coal samples were carried out by using field emission scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared, petrographic analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermogravimetry to appraise the product quality. Field emission scanning electron microscope and coal petrographic image infer the occurrence of pitting and cavitation in the coal structure due to removal of pyrite sulphur (1.51–1.21%) from coal which causes escalation of vitrinite (67.65–70.43%) and few amounts of inertinite (18.03–18.86%) and liptinite (1.24–1.27%) as macerals. Thermogravimetric analysis–differential thermogravimetry analysis infers the improvement in combustion characteristics of treated coal by reduction in peak combustion temperature.
Disclosure Conflicts
Authors: Kinchy Abby , Schaffer Guy
Published: April 2018

Many governments and corporations have embraced information disclosure as an alternative to conventional environmental and public health regulation. Public policy research on transparency has examined the effects of particular disclosure policies, but there is limited research on how the construction of disclosure policies relates to social movements, or how transparency and ignorance are related. As a first step toward filling this theoretical gap, this study seeks to conceptualize disclosure conflicts, the social processes through which secrecy is challenged, defended, and mobilized in public technoscientific controversies. In the case of shale oil and gas development (“fracking”) in the United States, activists and policy makers have demanded information about the contents of fluids used in the extraction process and the routes of oil shipments by rail. Drilling and railroad companies have resisted both demands. Studies of such disputes reveal the dynamic and conflictual nature of information disclosure. In both cases, disclosure conflicts unfold dynamically over time, reflecting power disparities between industry groups and their challengers and requiring coalitions of activists to pursue multiple tactics. When a disclosure policy is established, it does not resolve social conflict but shifts the focus of struggle to the design of information systems, the quality of disclosed data, and the knowledge gaps that are now illuminated.
Deactivation of mitochondrial complex I after hypoxia–ischemia in the immature brain
Authors: Stepanova Anna , Konrad Csaba , Guerrero-Castillo Sergio , Manfredi Giovanni , Vannucci Susan , Arnold Susanne , Galkin Alexander
Published: April 2018

Mortality from perinatal hypoxic–ischemic (HI) brain injury reached 1.15 million worldwide in 2010 and is also a major factor for neurological disability in infants. HI directly influences the oxidative phosphorylation enzyme complexes in mitochondria, but the exact mechanism of HI-reoxygenation response in brain remains largely unresolved. After induction of HI-reoxygenation in postnatal day 10 rats, activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes were analysed and complexome profiling was performed. The effect of conformational state (active/deactive (A/D) transition) of mitochondrial complex I on H2O2 release was measured simultaneously with mitochondrial oxygen consumption. In contrast to cytochrome c oxidase and succinate dehydrogenase, HI-reoxygenation resulted in inhibition of mitochondrial complex I at 4 h after reoxygenation. Immediately after HI, we observed a robust increase in the content of deactive (D) form of complex I. The D-form is less active in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production via reversed electron transfer, indicating the key role of the deactivation of complex I in ischemia/reoxygenation. We describe a novel mechanism of mitochondrial response to ischemia in the immature brain. HI induced a deactivation of complex I in order to reduce ROS production following reoxygenation. Delayed activation of complex I represents a novel mitochondrial target for pathological-activated therapy.
Questions of agency: Capacity, subjectivity, spatiality and temporality
Authors: Holloway Sarah L. , Holt Louise , Mills Sarah
Published: April 2018

Geographies of Children, Youth and Families is flourishing, but its founding conceptions require critical reflection. This paper considers one key conceptual orthodoxy: the notion that children are competent social actors. In a field founded upon liberal notions of agency, we identify a conceptual elision between the benefits of studying agency and the beneficial nature of agency. Embracing post-structuralist feminist challenges, we propose a politically-progressive conceptual framework centred on embodied human agency which emerges within power. We contend this can be achieved though intensive/extensive analyses of space, and a focus on ‘biosocial beings and becomings' within dynamic notions of individual/intergenerational time.
Open access repositories of Bangladesh
Authors: Elahi Md. Hasinul , Mezbah-ul-Islam Muhammad
Published: April 2018

This study examines the present status of open access repositories in Bangladesh. The main aim of the study is to find out the characteristics of open access repositories, their development scenario and ranking in web repositories as well as to recommend some suggestions for the development of open access repositories in Bangladesh. The methodology includes a quantitative approach. The data were collected from OpenDOAR from 20 to 29 August 2017. The scope of the study is confined to Bangladeshi repositories indexed in the OpenDOAR database. The findings of the study show that the Bangladeshi repositories are embodied in the Ranking of Web Repositories. The study also clearly indicates the very slow progress of open access repositories in Bangladesh. The repositories in Bangladesh listed in OpenDOAR are mostly institutional in nature. The study also reveals that a maximum number of repositories are small in terms of collection. It can be easily summarized that there is a need for public awareness regarding the concept of open access repositories in Bangladesh to support research and development. This paper is the first attempt in Bangladesh to discuss and analyze the overall scenario of open access repositories. It also suggests some recommendations for developing the open access repository system in Bangladesh which will surely add value to the future research of open access in Bangladesh.
Patterns in Outcomes Reporting of Operatively Managed Pediatric Patellofemoral Instability: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Gao Burke , Dwivedi Shashank , Fabricant Peter D. , Cruz Aristides I.
Published: April 2018

Background:

Traumatic patellofemoral dislocation is a common injury in pediatric patients, and surgical treatment is often recommended. Increasingly, it has been recognized that clinical studies need to report age-appropriate treatment outcomes. However, the variability and appropriateness of outcomes reporting in the youth patellar instability literature are unknown.

Purpose:

To analyze the patterns of outcomes reporting in studies published in high-impact orthopaedic journals after operative management of pediatric patellar instability.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Six high-impact orthopaedic journals were searched using PubMed and EMBASE to identify studies reporting outcomes of operative management of pediatric patellar instability. Studies containing adults were excluded. Clinical and radiographic outcomes were recorded from included articles. Descriptive statistics were calculated for overall instability recurrence rates, return-to-activity rates, and changes in Kujala and Tegner scores.

Results:

Of 545 identified articles, 8 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies encompassed 213 patients and 230 knees (mean age, 13.2 years; range, 4.5-18.3 years). Seven of 8 studies reported patients’ physeal status, but only 4 studies limited their outcomes reporting to patients with open physes. Two studies reported postoperative radiographic measures, and 5 studies reported preoperative radiographic findings. Six studies reported patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Seven unique PROMs were reported. All but one study reported complication rates and types of complications. The mean postoperative change in Tegner scores was −0.07 (range, −0.6 to 1.0). Among studies examining medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction with adequate data, the mean return-to-activity rate was 86% (range, 81%-92%), the instability recurrence rate was 3% ± 20%, and the mean improvement in Kujala scores postoperatively was 22.1 (range, 19.9-26).

Conclusion:

There is a need for more pediatric-specific outcomes studies regarding operatively managed traumatic patellofemoral instability. Of the outcomes reported, both radiographic outcomes and PROMs should be standardized. Among radiographic outcomes, there is a need for more studies that report tibial tubercle–trochlear groove distances and use Caton-Deschamps and/or Blackburne-Peel indices to assess patellar height. Among PROMs, there is a need for studies that use PROMs validated in pediatric populations, such as the International Knee Documentation Committee Pediatric Form or the Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale.
Understanding Gendered Negotiations in the Academic Dual-career Hiring Process
Authors: Morton Sarah
Published: April 2018

The current literature on gender and negotiations consists primarily of experimental studies, finding that women are less likely to initiate negotiations than men. Although these studies have been fruitful in building our understanding of gender and negotiations, they fail to examine negotiations in real-world, gendered contexts. This study uses survey data from the 2014 Multi-university Policy Study and binomial logistic regression to examine the hiring negotiation decisions of 232 heterosexual men and women who were in a dual-career couple at their time of hire. I find that women are less likely than men to initiate negotiations regarding their dual-career status. However, considering one’s career as primary or equal to their partner’s career eliminates the gender differences in initiating these negotiations. These findings suggest that contextual factors can diminish gender differences in the choice to negotiate. I discuss the implications of these findings and study limitations.
Clinical Outcomes of Weight-Based Norepinephrine Dosing in Underweight and Morbidly Obese Patients: A Propensity-Matched Analysis
Authors: Kotecha Aditya A. , Vallabhajosyula Saraschandra , Apala Dinesh R. , Frazee Erin , Iyer Vivek N.
Published: April 2018

Background:

Weight-based dosing strategy for norepinephrine in septic shock patients with extremes of body mass index has been lesser studied.

Methods:

This historical study of adult septic shock patients was conducted from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2015, at all intensive care units (ICUs) in Mayo Clinic, Rochester. Patients with documented body mass index were classified into underweight (body mass index <18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), and morbidly obese (≥40 kg/m2) patients. Patients with repeat ICU admissions, ICU stay <1 day, and body mass index 25 to 39.9 kg/m2 were excluded. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes included cumulative norepinephrine exposure acute kidney injury, cardiac arrhythmias, and 1-year mortality. Two-tailed P < .05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

From 2010 to 2015, 2016 patients met inclusion—145, 1406, and 466 patients, respectively, in underweight, normal weight, and morbidly obese cohorts. Underweight patients used the highest peak dose and absolute exposure was greatest for morbidly obese patients. In-hospital mortality decreased with increasing log10 body mass index: 41.4% (underweight), 28.4% (normal weight), and 24.7% (morbidly obese), respectively ( P < .001); however, this relationship was not noted at 1 year. Unadjusted log10 norepinephrine cumulative exposure (mg) was associated with higher in-hospital mortality, acute kidney injury, cardiac arrhythmias, and 1-year mortality. After adjustment for demographics, body mass index, comorbidity, and illness severity, log10 norepinephrine exposure was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 2.4 [95% confidence interval, 2.0-2.8]; P < .001) and 1-year mortality (odds ratio 1.7 [95% confidence interval, 1.5-2.0]; P < .001). In a propensity-matched analysis of 1140 patients, log10 norepinephrine was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 2.2 [95% confidence interval, 1.8-2.6]; P < .001).

Conclusions:

Morbidly obese patients had lower in-hospital mortality but had higher 1-year mortality compared to normal weight and underweight patients. Cumulative norepinephrine exposure was highest in morbidly obese patients. Total norepinephrine exposure was an independent mortality predictor in septic shock.
Men Selling Sex to Men in Sweden: Balancing Safety and Risk
Authors: Kuosmanen Jari , de Cabo Annelie
Published: April 2018

The purpose of this study is to examine how men who sell sex to men perceive the risks in this activity and what experiences they have of actual denigration, threats, and violence in their relations with customers. We also discuss the self-defense strategies they have used to protect themselves. The study is based on an Internet survey on Swedish websites. Statistical analyses have been carried out, and in interpreting the results, Finkelhor and Asdigian’s revised routine activities theory has been used. The results show that the vulnerability of sellers of sex is greatest during the time when the sexual act is being performed, and that this is primarily linked to the customer’s antagonism and seeking gratification by overstepping agreed boundaries, particularly with regard to sexual services including BDSM. Their vulnerability was also connected to the seller’s diminished capacity for self-protection due to personal and external pressures. A smaller proportion of the men described risk prevention activities. These involved refusing a customer after an initial contact, protecting themselves from infection, being on their guard during the whole process, selecting the place, and deciding not to carry out certain sexual acts. An important implication concerns the occupational health and safety that men who sell sex to men can develop for themselves, while remaining within the law. International studies have demonstrated that selling sex in collective, indoor forms provides the greatest security. For decades, Swedish prostitution policy has had the ambition of reducing prostitution through targeting those who purchase sex, and those who promote prostitution in criminal legislation. This effectively prevents more systematic and collective attempts to create safer conditions for selling sex. In conclusion, it can be stated that while it is legal to sell sex in Sweden, this is done at the seller’s own risk.
Juror Decision Making in Acquaintance and Marital Rape: The Influence of Clothing, Alcohol, and Preexisting Stereotypical Attitudes
Authors: Osborn Kirsty , Davis Josh P. , Button Susan , Foster John
Published: April 2018

Stereotypical biases about women’s roles in intimate relationships including their marital status and lifestyle choices such as clothing and alcohol use influence juror attributions of rape case defendant guilt, potentially reducing access to justice for victims. Across two mock-juror decision-making experiments, participants read identical fictitious sexual assault vignettes varying in intoxicated defendant–complainant relationship (married vs. acquaintance), accompanied by photographs of complainant clothing at the crime (body revealing vs. plain) and in court (smart vs. casual). Experiment 2 additionally described the defendant’s alcohol consumption as either under or over the drink drive limit. Most participants delivered guilty verdicts (Experiment 1: 86.7%; Experiment 2: 75.5%), recommending mean prison sentences of 5.04 years in Experiment 1 ( n = 218 students) and 4.33 years in Experiment 2 ( n = 1,086 members of public). In Experiment 1, guilty verdict rates and sentences were significantly higher when the married—but not the acquaintance—complainant dressed smartly rather than casually in court. In Experiment 2, significantly more guilty verdicts were delivered by females (80.3%) than males (66.9%), while sentence lengths were longer in acquaintance ( M = 4.52 years) than married conditions ( M = 4.10). Significant interactions between defendant alcohol use and clothing choice of the married—but not the acquaintance complainant—at the crime also influenced sentencing decisions. Higher scores on additionally administered scales measuring rape myth acceptance and sexist attitudes, but not alcohol expectancies, predicted lenient sentencing decisions in both experiments. These findings highlight how “rape myths” concerning marriages drive juror decisions. Prosecuting lawyers should use these results to better challenge these attitudes in court. Internationally, rape is often unreported to the police, and married victims may be more willing to come forward if they believe unbiased access to justice is likely.
Spatial extreme learning machines: An application on prediction of disease counts
Authors: Prates Marcos O
Published: April 2018

Extreme learning machines have gained a lot of attention by the machine learning community because of its interesting properties and computational advantages. With the increase in collection of information nowadays, many sources of data have missing information making statistical analysis harder or unfeasible. In this paper, we present a new model, coined spatial extreme learning machine, that combine spatial modeling with extreme learning machines keeping the nice properties of both methodologies and making it very flexible and robust. As explained throughout the text, the spatial extreme learning machines have many advantages in comparison with the traditional extreme learning machines. By a simulation study and a real data analysis we present how the spatial extreme learning machine can be used to improve imputation of missing data and uncertainty prediction estimation.
Moral competence among nurses in Malawi: A concept analysis approach
Authors: Maluwa Veronica Mary , Gwaza Elizabeth , Sakala Betty , Kapito Esnath , Mwale Ruth , Haruzivishe Clara , Chirwa Ellen
Published: April 2018

Background:

Nurses are expected to provide comprehensive, holistic and ethically accepted care according to their code of ethics and practice. However, in Malawi, this is not always the case. This article analyses moral competence concept using the Walker and Avant's strategy of concept analysis.

Objective:

The aim of this article is to analyse moral competence concept in relation to nursing practice and determine defining attributes, antecedents and consequences of moral competence in nursing practice.

Method:

Analysis of moral competence concept was done using Walker and Avant's strategy of concept analysis.

Results:

Deductive analysis was used to find the defining attributes of moral competence, which were kindness, compassion, caring, critical thinking, ethical decision making ability, problem solving, responsibility, discipline, accountability, communication, solidarity, honesty, and respect for human values, dignity and rights. The identified antecedents were personal, cultural and religious values; nursing ethics training, environment and guidance. The consequences of moral competence are team work spirit, effective communication, improved performance and positive attitudes in providing nursing care.

Conclusion:

Moral competence can therefore be used as a tool to improve care in nursing practice to meet patients' problems and needs and consequently increase public's satisfaction in Malawi.