bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Department of Labor’s Final Rule on Fiduciary Responsibility
Authors: Kilgour John G.
Published: November 2016

On April 18, 2016, the Department of Labor issued its Final Rule on fiduciary responsibility replacing its inadequate 1975 regulations. The retirement income environment had change drastically over the previous 40 years. Private sector traditional defined benefit pension plans had all but disappeared, replaced with defined contribution (mainly 401(k)) plans that almost always resulted in a lump sum distribution at termination or retirement, which was was typically rolled over into an IRA (individual retirement arrangement). The new regulations addressed the new situation by greatly expanding the definition of “fiduciary” to include those proffering investment advice to 401(k) plans and IRAs and reworking the prohibited transaction rules and their exemptions. This has afforded important protections for retirement investors and has created a challenging new new world for the financial services industry. This article examines the development, content and consequences of the Final Rule.
Electricity subsidy reform in China
Authors: Wang Xiaolei , Lin Boqiang
Published: November 2016

China’s rapid economic growth significantly drives the country’s electricity demand. Electricity tariff in China is regulated by the government and is generally priced at a low level, leading to substantial electricity subsidy. With increasing coal price in recent years, the Chinese government’s low electricity tariff policy has led to huge financial losses for power companies, which directly results in electricity shortage. Therefore, the reform of electricity subsidy is the most important aspect of energy price reform in China. The reform is very difficult, as it is closely associated with people’s daily consumption and production activities. This article adopts a price-gap approach to estimate the scale of electricity subsidy with or without external costs in China. The results indicate that the current subsidy is substantial. In 2010, electricity subsidy with external costs in China amounted to 520.249 billion CNY, accounting for 1.3% of the year’s GDP. Despite the substantial electricity subsidy, low-income households did not benefit much. Therefore, there is need to design a sound electricity tariff subsidy and initiate subsidy-reducing strategies to improve efficiency and equality.
Changes in glacial meltwater alter algal communities in lakes of Scoresby Sund, Renland, East Greenland throughout the Holocene: Abrupt reorganizations began 1000 years before present
Authors: Slemmons Krista EH , Medford Aaron , Hall Brenda L , Stone Jeffery R , McGowan Suzanne , Lowell Thomas , Kelly Meredith , Saros Jasmine E
Published: November 2016

We investigated the response of lake algal communities to changes in glacial meltwater from the Renland Ice Cap (Greenland) through the Holocene to assess whether influxes always elicit consistent responses or novel responses. We measured sedimentary algal pigments in two proximal lakes, snow-fed Raven and glacier- and snow-fed Bunny Lake, and diatom community structure and turnover in Bunny Lake. Diatom data were not available in Raven Lake. We also modeled lake-level change in Bunny Lake to identify how glacial meltwater may have altered diatom habitat availability through time. Through a series of glacier advances and retreats over the Holocene, the algal response in Bunny Lake was relatively constant until approximately 1015 yr BP, after which there were major changes in sedimentary algal remains. Algal pigment concentrations sharply declined, and diatom species richness increased. Diatom community structure underwent three reorganizations. Until 1015 yr BP, assemblages were dominated by Pinnularia braunii and Aulacoseira pffaffiana. However, approximately 1015–480 yr BP, these species declined and Tabellaria flocculosa and Hannaea arcus became a significant component of the assemblage. Approximately 440 yr BP, A. pfaffiana increased along with species indicating elevated nitrogen. In contrast, the algal pigment records from nearby snow-fed Raven Lake showed different and minimal change through time. Our results suggest that changes in the magnitude and composition of meltwater in our two study lakes were unique over the last 1000 yr BP and elicited a non-linear threshold response absent during other periods of glacier advance and retreat. Deciphering the degree to which glaciers structure algal communities over time has strong implications for lakes as glaciers continue to recede.
Could vitamin C and zinc chloride protect the germ cells against sodium arsenite?
Authors: Altoé LS , Reis IB , Gomes MLM , Dolder H , Pirovani JC Monteiro
Published: November 2016

Arsenic (As) is commonly associated with natural and human processes such as volcanic emissions, mining and herbicides production, being an important pollutant. Several studies have associated As intake with male fertility reduction, thus the aim of the present study was to evaluate whether vitamin C and/or zinc would counteract As side effects within the testicles. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into six experimental groups: control, sodium arsenite (5 mg/kg/day), vitamin C (100 mg/kg/day), zinc chloride (ZnCl2; 20 mg/kg/day), sodium arsenite + vitamin C and sodium arsenite + ZnCl2. Testicles and epididymis were harvested and either frozen or routinely processed to be embedded in glycol methacrylate resin. As reduced the seminiferous epithelium and tubules diameter due to germ cell loss. In addition, both the round spermatids population and the daily sperm production were reduced. However, ZnCl2 and vitamin C showed to be effective against such side effects, mainly regarding to sperm morphology. Long-term As intake increased the proportions of abnormal sperm, whereas the concomitant intake of As with zinc or vitamin C enhanced the proportions of normal sperm, showing that such compounds could be used to protect this cell type against morphological defects.
Addressing Climate Change in Southern Africa: Any Role for South Africa in the Post-Paris Agreement?
Authors: Amusan Lere , Olutola Oluwole
Published: November 2016

Climate change is a global challenge. Its ramifying effects on both natural and human systems cut across different regions of the world. While Africa as a whole is being confirmed to be more affected by climate change due in part to a relatively low(er) mitigation and adaptive capacity, coupled with a situation where majority of its population depends mainly on natural resources, Southern Africa is singled out as a potentially vulnerable subregion for other additional factors. Representing a milestone in the trajectory of the global climate change process, the 21st session of the Conference of Parties (COP-21) resolved with a consensual climate change deal known as the Paris Agreement. The Agreement, through the instrumentality of a ratchet up mechanism, otherwise described as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), seeks significant cuts in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions effectively from 2020. In essence, it calls for a novel though gradual shift from carbon-emission approach to low emission development strategy. This, no doubt, is indispensable to sustainable development at all levels. Beyond national commitments as obligatory for parties, there is a need for regional cooperative efforts which should bring about shared appropriate policy responses that promote green energy as well as seize opportunities inherent in it for national and deterritorialised gains. Adopting neoliberal and green theories, the institutional framework of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) where South Africa is expected to take a lead is examined in this article.
The dynamics of pedestrians’ evacuation during emergency situations
Authors: Yehua Chen , Jing Bai
Published: November 2016

Emergencies like natural disasters and terrorist attacks, which are characterized by sudden onset situations, have always been part of the world’s reality. In these situations, collective human behavior such as crowd stampedes may be triggered. Sometimes stampedes lead to fatalities, as people are crushed or trampled. In this paper, a dynamic model for the evacuation of pedestrians during emergency situations is proposed with the consideration of information transmission in the crowd. In this model, based on a complex adaptive system, it is assumed that the information, part of which is psychology and behavior, has an influence on the interactions of pedestrians. We investigated two factors: (1) the systematic condition of information transmission and (2) the intensity of beneficial information that affects the interaction. Parameters of the factors are discussed to capture the dynamic features of the pedestrian crowd through proved theorems, and the critical values for effective evacuation are obtained. Finally, a numerical example for the evacuation of pedestrians is designed to validate the practicality of this model and mathematical demonstration.
The Effect of Smartphone-Delivered Emergency Preparedness Education on Coping Knowledge Among Fifth- and Sixth-Grade Elementary Schoolchildren in South Korea
Authors: Kim Shin-Jeong , Cho Haeryun
Published: November 2016

This study examined the effect of an intervention on coping knowledge among fifth- and sixth-grade elementary schoolchildren who received smartphone-delivered emergency preparedness education. This was a quasi-experimental study using a pre-/posttest design. Eighty-six children were recruited to participate. The children in the experimental group ( n = 44) received smartphone-delivered emergency preparedness education while those in the control group ( n = 42) received traditional lecture-centered education. Data were analyzed using a repeated-measured analysis of variance. Subsequently, the experimental group scored significantly higher than the control group on coping knowledge ( F = 7.96, f = .31, p = .010). The use of technology such as smartphone-delivered emergency preparedness education may be effective to improve their coping knowledge of fifth- and sixth-grade elementary schoolchildren.
Alemtuzumab improves quality-of-life outcomes compared with subcutaneous interferon beta-1a in patients with active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
Authors: Arroyo González Rafael , Kita Mariko , Crayton Heidi , Havrdova Eva , Margolin David H , Lake Stephen L , Giovannoni Gavin ,   on behalf of the CARE-MS I and II Investigators
Published: November 2016

Background:

Alemtuzumab was superior on clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes versus subcutaneous interferon beta-1a in phase 3 trials in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Objective:

To examine quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes in the alemtuzumab phase 3 trials.

Methods:

Patients who were treatment naive (Comparison of Alemtuzumab and Rebif® Efficacy in Multiple Sclerosis I [CARE-MS I]) or had an inadequate response to prior therapy (CARE-MS II) received annual courses of alemtuzumab 12 mg/day at baseline (5 days) and Month 12 (3 days) or subcutaneous interferon beta-1a 44 µg three times/week. QoL was measured every 6 or 12 months using Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis (FAMS), European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) and its visual analog scale (EQ-VAS), and 36-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36).

Results:

Statistically significant improvements from baseline with alemtuzumab were observed on all three QoL instruments at the earliest post-baseline assessment and sustained through Year 2. Statistically significant greater QoL improvements over subcutaneous interferon beta-1a were seen at all time points in CARE-MS II with FAMS, EQ-VAS and SF-36 physical component summary, and in CARE-MS I with FAMS.

Conclusion:

Patients treated with alemtuzumab had improvements in physical, mental, and emotional QoL regardless of treatment history. Improvements were significantly greater with alemtuzumab versus subcutaneous interferon beta-1a on both disease-specific and general measures of QoL.
Closing the gap: Longitudinal changes in employment for Australians with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Van Dijk Pieter A , Kirk-Brown Andrea K , Taylor Bruce , van der Mei Ingrid
Published: November 2016

Background and objectives:

Previous studies have documented far lower employment participation rates for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) compared to the general population. In a large national sample of PwMS, we examined employment status, longitudinal changes in employment and the provision of modifications to work role/environment from 2010 to 2013.

Methods:

Employment data were collected through the Australian MS Longitudinal Study from 2010 to 2013, with 1260 people responding to all four surveys. Employment rates were compared with the Australian general population. The survey included questions on the provision of modifications to employees’ work role and work environment.

Results:

Employment (full- and part-time) increased from 48.8% in 2010 to 57.8% in 2013, mainly due to increases in male full-time employment. The employment gap between PwMS and the general population fell from 14.3% in 2010 to 3.5% in 2013. Male employment rates, however, remain significantly lower than the general population. The majority of PwMS who required adjustments to either their work role or environment received them.

Conclusion:

The gap in employment between PwMS and the general population has substantially reduced from 2010 to 2013, with organisations responding positively to requests for work role/environment adjustments.
The ‘how’ of election manifestos in the British Labour Party
Authors: Pettitt Robin T
Published: November 2016

The organizational history of the British Labour Party is to a significant degree the story of an ongoing struggle over the ‘how’ of election manifestos, a struggle, partly driven by a broad-based agreement over the ‘why’ of manifestos. This is a struggle between a ‘parliamentary independence’ wing and a ‘grass-roots control’ wing. Because the manifesto is seen as a programme for government action, this also means that the answer to the how takes on huge importance, because controlling the how means controlling government action. This article will show the nature and extent of the disagreement between the two wings and argue that it has repeatedly damaged the Labour Party’s ability to operate effectively. In this struggle, the two opposing sides have at various times scored temporary ‘victories’. However, whichever argument ‘won’ at any given time, the long-term result was damage to the party’s ability to function properly. The article will also argue that after multiple generations of struggle, this issue is essentially still unresolved.
Party manifestos in newer party systems
Authors: España-Nájera Annabella
Published: November 2016

This research note analyses the role that party manifestos play in El Salvador and Guatemala, two newer democracies. In recent elections, the importance of manifestos has increased in both systems. This study examines this development. It explores the ‘ why’s’ (purpose) and ‘ how’s’ (the method of production) of party manifestos to learn more about the internal workings of parties and their relationship with society. The findings from this study suggest that in new democracies, international party assistance programmes can play a crucial role in making manifestos relevant. Whether manifestos enhance democracy in the long term, however, depends on party system institutionalization. These results point to an opportunity for research in new and younger party systems.
The role of basic psychological need satisfaction, sleep, and mindfulness in the health-related quality of life of people living with HIV
Authors: Campbell Rachel , Vansteenkiste Maarten , Delesie Liesbeth , Soenens Bart , Tobback Els , Vogelaers Dirk , Mariman An
Published: November 2016

Research has not yet examined the relationship between psychological need satisfaction, sleep, mindfulness, and health-related quality of life in people living with HIV. This cross-sectional study ( N = 101; 84% male; mean age = 45.48, SD = 12.75) found need satisfaction to relate positively to physical and mental health. Sleep quality fully mediated the association with physical health and partially mediated the association with mental health. Furthermore, mindfulness related to higher sleep quality through higher need satisfaction. Findings underscore the role of need satisfaction in determining health-related quality of life and sleep quality in people living with HIV and suggest that mindfulness may facilitate need satisfaction.
The notion of expatriation in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Haak-Saheem Washika
Published: November 2016

Expatriation in emerging Arab Gulf States, specifically in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is unlike expatriation elsewhere. In most of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the workforce mainly consists of expatriates, with the local population forming a small minority. Given its previous role and expectations of a continuing need in the future, expatriation and migration have become a key topic in many political and socio-economic agendas in the GCC. In this respect, decision makers are grappling with often virulently controversial aspects in an effort to establish a balance between localization and expatriation. To date, research has not been successful in fully capturing the factors influencing this peculiar phenomenon and its consequences for expatriates living and working in UAE. Hence, this study suggests an additional approach and proposes a conceptual model to advance the understanding of the various forms and dynamics of expatriation, influenced and shaped by the national culture, institutional factors and localization policies within the UAE. This study has implications for cross-cultural management scholarship on expatriation in a region that has largely been ignored, in providing a more thorough appraisal of the cultural and institution context. It also provides a framework for contextualizing expatriation within cross-cultural management studies, which should be useful for scholars working in other regions.
Cross-cultural adjustment of expatriates
Authors: Okpara John O
Published: November 2016

Globalization and quests for global presence have led multinational corporations (MNCs) to expand into newer markets with high returns. This expansion has increased competition for talented workers and driven the employment of an increasing number of expatriates to manage business operations overseas. Review of the literature shows that poor job performance can be related to poor cultural adjustment in new foreign locations. It is therefore critical to ensure that corporations are sending capable candidates for these roles overseas so that employing expatriates remain a good investment for MNCs. Due to improvements in political and economic situations in Africa, more international corporations are viewing the continent as a new market and are sending expatriates to manage business operations. A great deal of research on expatriate adjustment has been conducted in the last two decades. However, these studies have been predominately conducted in the west, with very little of this research having been conducted in Africa in general, or in Nigeria in particular, despite knowledge of the overwhelming adjustment challenges the continent poses to expatriates. The purpose of this study is to examine factors influencing expatriates’ adjustment in Nigeria. A survey method was used to gather data from expatriates who work in different organizations in Nigeria. The results of this study show that age, gender, previous experience, cross-cultural training (CCT), socialization, and job satisfaction were predictors of expatriates’ adjustment in Nigeria. This research is important because it may assist human resource professionals in planning and implementing an appropriate CCT program for employees relocating to Nigeria. It may help to bridge the gap in the literature on this topic with regards to Nigeria, Africa, and other emerging nations. It could also contribute to a better understanding.
Exploring family stigma among caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease: The experiences of Israeli-Arab caregivers
Authors: Abojabel Hanan , Werner Perla
Published: November 2016

Providing care to persons with Alzheimer's disease poses challenges for spouses and adult children, including experiencing stigmatic beliefs towards themselves—i.e., family stigma. Drawing on the frameworks of ethnicity and stigma and ethnicity and dementia, the current study explored stigmatic experiences among Israeli Arab family caregivers of a person with Alzheimer's disease. Three focus groups with 20 caregivers (adult children and spouses) of persons with Alzheimer's disease were conducted. Data were analyzed using theory-led thematic analysis. Caregivers reported experiencing family stigma in two dimensions: public and affiliate stigma, in both the existence of an attribution process in which cognitive stereotypes elicit negative and positive emotions which in turn provoke behavioral attributions, was evident. Family stigma was found to be a discernible feature of everyday reality among Israeli Arab caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease and stress the importance of developing management strategies that are tailored to the socio-cultural characteristics of the caregivers.
Increasing Our Advocacy Capacity Through HIV Community Mobilization
Authors: Ovalle Irene , Loza Oralia , Peralta-Torres David , Martinez Jacob , Hernandez Kristen , Mata Holly
Published: November 2016

In this commentary, six public health practitioners and researchers discuss how their participation in the El Paso HIV Community Mobilization effort has contributed to their professional development and increased their collective capacity to advocate for practice and policy improvements that contribute to health equity in general and within the context of HIV prevention. Like previous commentaries in this department that have highlighted the value of the Certified Health Education Specialist credential ( http://www.nchec.org/health-education-credentialing ) and the importance of gaining experience in policy advocacy, this article is relevant for public health professionals in diverse work settings. The authors hope that their experience will encourage others to participate in community mobilization efforts, and they welcome communication and collaboration with anyone interested in learning more about the HIV Community Mobilization efforts discussed in this commentary.
Recombinant Staphylococcal Enterotoxin Type A Stimulate Antitumoral Cytokines
Authors: Agheli Reza , Emkanian Bijan , Halabian Raheleh , Fallah Mehrabadi Jalil , Imani Fooladi Abbas Ali
Published: November 2016

Background:

About 20 different types of staphylococcal enterotoxins are produced by Staphylococcus aureus, in which type A is more common in food poisoning syndrome. Also staphylococcal enterotoxin A superantigen is a potent inducer of cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity and cytokine production and could stimulate T cells containing T-cell receptor beta chain domains when binding to major histocompatibility complex class II molecules. Hence, it is an important reagent in cancer immunotherapy.

Methods:

For the construction of pET-21a/ entA cassette, the staphylococcal enterotoxin type A gene was isolated from S aureus strain HN2, cloned into pET-21a, and introduced into Escherichia coli strain BL-21(DE3). Consequently, Western blot analysis showed pET-21a/ entA cassette expression inserted entA gene successfully. It is the first prompt using a pET-21a as a cloning vector for entA gene and expression of construct in BL-21(DE3). In addition, this study examined the ability of standard staphylococcal enterotoxin A and cloned staphylococcal enterotoxin A to activate T cells in vitro. Lymphocyte cells derived from lymph node BALB/c mice were exposed to standard staphylococcal enterotoxin A and cloned staphylococcal enterotoxin (1.10, 102,103, and 104 ng/µL) in order to evaluate the magnitude of proliferation, activation, and apoptosis of lymphocyte cells based on MTT and apoptosis assays, respectively.

Results:

Our investigation showed that the function of cloned staphylococcal enterotoxin A was same as standard staphylococcal enterotoxin A, and the optimal concentration for the activation of lymphocyte cells and induction of apoptosis was 100 ng/µL and 1000 ng/µL ( P < .05), respectively. Quantification of cytokines clearly showed that lymphocyte cells exposed to standard staphylococcal enterotoxin A and cloned staphylococcal enterotoxin A significantly secreted higher interferon γ and tumor necrosis factor α compared to control.

Conclusion:

According to our results, the biological activity of standard staphylococcal enterotoxin A and cloned staphylococcal enterotoxin A is identical; therefore, these procedures may be approved as an efficient method to express and purify this protein in a large scale.
A Rehabilitation-Internet-of-Things in the Home to Augment Motor Skills and Exercise Training
Authors: Dobkin Bruce H.
Published: November 2016

Although motor learning theory has led to evidence-based practices, few trials have revealed the superiority of one theory-based therapy over another after stroke. Nor have improvements in skills been as clinically robust as one might hope. We review some possible explanations, then potential technology-enabled solutions. Over the Internet, the type, quantity, and quality of practice and exercise in the home and community can be monitored remotely and feedback provided to optimize training frequency, intensity, and progression at home. A theory-driven foundation of synergistic interventions for walking, reaching and grasping, strengthening, and fitness could be provided by a bundle of home-based Rehabilitation Internet-of-Things (RIoT) devices. A RIoT might include wearable, activity-recognition sensors and instrumented rehabilitation devices with radio transmission to a smartphone or tablet to continuously measure repetitions, speed, accuracy, forces, and temporal spatial features of movement. Using telerehabilitation resources, a therapist would interpret the data and provide behavioral training for self-management via goal setting and instruction to increase compliance and long-term carryover. On top of this user-friendly, safe, and conceptually sound foundation to support more opportunity for practice, experimental interventions could be tested or additions and replacements made, perhaps drawing from virtual reality and gaming programs or robots. RIoT devices continuously measure the actual amount of quality practice; improvements and plateaus over time in strength, fitness, and skills; and activity and participation in home and community settings. Investigators may gain more control over some of the confounders of their trials and patients will have access to inexpensive therapies.
Trajectories of Postpartum Depression in Italian First-Time Fathers
Authors: Molgora Sara , Fenaroli Valentina , Malgaroli Matteo , Saita Emanuela
Published: November 2016

Paternal postpartum depression (PPD) has received little attention compared with maternal prenatal and postpartum depression, despite research reporting that paternal PPD concerns a substantial number of fathers. History of depression and antenatal depression have been identified as important PPD’s risk factors, underlining the continuity of depressive symptoms during the transition to parenthood. However, only few studies have focused on the evolution of depressive symptoms with longitudinal research design. The present study aims at analyzing the longitudinal trajectories of depressive symptoms from the third trimester of pregnancy to 1 year after childbirth. One hundred and twenty-six first-time fathers completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at four time points (7-8 months of pregnancy, 40 days, 5-6 months, and 12 months after childbirth). Data were analyzed throughout latent growth mixture modeling. Latent growth mixture modeling analysis indicated a three-class model as the optimal solution. The three-class solution included a trajectory of low, stable depressive symptoms across the four time points ( resilient, 52%); a trajectory of moderate, relatively stable depressive symptomatology ( distress, 37%); and a trajectory of emergent clinical depression following a pattern of high depressive symptoms ( emergent depression, 11%). This study allowed to identify different subpopulation within the sample, distinguishing among mental well-being, emotional distress, and high-risk conditions when—1 year after childbirth—fathers report the highest scores to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. These results underline the importance to analyze fathers’ well-being over the time during the transition to fatherhood.
Men’s Educational Group Appointments in Rural Nicaragua
Authors: Campbell Bruce B. , Gonzalez Hugo , Campbell McKenzie , Campbell Kent
Published: November 2016

Men’s preventive health and wellness is largely neglected in rural Nicaragua, where a machismo culture prevents men from seeking health care. To address this issue, a men’s educational group appointment model was initiated at a rural health post to increase awareness about hypertension, and to train community health leaders to measure blood pressure. Men’s hypertension workshops were conducted with patient knowledge pretesting, didactic teaching, and posttesting. Pretesting and posttesting performances were recorded, blood pressures were screened, and community leaders were trained to perform sphygmomanometry. An increase in hypertension-related knowledge was observed after every workshop and community health leaders demonstrated proficiency in sphygmomanometry. In addition, several at-risk patients were identified and follow-up care arranged. Men’s educational group appointments, shown to be effective in the United States in increasing patient knowledge and satisfaction, appear to function similarly in a resource-constrained environment and may be an effective mechanism for reaching underserved men in Nicaragua.
“You Can’t Just Walk Down the Street and Meet Someone”: The Intersection of Social–Sexual Networking Technology, Stigma, and Health Among Gay and Bisexual Men in the Small City
Authors: White Hughto Jaclyn M. , Pachankis John E. , Eldahan Adam I. , Keene Danya E.
Published: November 2016

Social–sexual networking technologies have been reported to yield both psychosocial benefits and sexual risks for gay and bisexual men, yet little research has explored how technology interacts with the social–geographical environment to shape the health of gay and bisexual men in the relatively understudied environment of small cities. This article draws on 29 semistructured interviews examining the use of social–sexual networking technologies among racially diverse gay and bisexual men in two small cities. Questions probed participants’ use of technology to meet sexual partners, engagement in the gay community, and the role of virtual and nonvirtual spaces in relation to health. Findings suggest that social networking technologies can help men navigate the challenges of small cities, including small and insular gay communities, lack of dedicated gay spaces, and sexual minority stigma. However, participants also describe declines in gay community visibility and cohesion, which they attribute to technology use. The article concludes by discussing the intersections of virtual and physical space in small cities as sites for the production of health and illness.
Structural fatigue assessment of a fixed mono-pile platform
Authors: Wang Shuqing , Song Xiancang , Ding Weichen , Du Junfeng
Published: November 2016

Fatigue assessment of fixed offshore platforms is essentially important to ensure their structural safety. Because of the small-scale leg diameter, these structures are often drag dominated, and linearized wave force is often utilized for the fatigue estimation. To evaluate the influence of nonlinear effect on fatigue damage, the nonlinear drag force is directly incorporated into the computation of the wave force spectrum based on autocorrelation function. The features and the contributions of nonlinear wave force are first investigated in the frequency domain. Then, structural fatigue damage associated with the linear and nonlinear wave forces is compared using a time-domain fatigue assessment method. Investigation indicates that the influence of nonlinear drag force is closely related to the characteristic diameter of the structure. The nonlinear drag force can contribute up to 10% of the total wave force and lead to about 10% structural fatigue life reduction when the characteristic diameter is small.
Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair thrombosis
Authors: Victory Jesse , Rizvi Syed Ali , Ascher Enrico , Hingorani Anil
Published: November 2016

Background

Complete thrombosis of an aortic endograft after an endovascular aortic aneurysm repair is a rare complication. The majority of thrombotic events occur in the iliac limbs.

Case presentation

We present the case of a patient who presented with acute limb ischemia as the result of a thrombosed infra-renal aortic endograft. After restoration of blood flow to the lower extremities with an axillary to bi-femoral artery bypass, the patient was lost to follow-up. The patient returned two years later with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm due to a type 1A endoleak.

Discussion

We propose that all patients after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair, including those with a thrombosed aortic endograft, continue to undergo regular graft surveillance. This case report highlights the importance of continued surveillance of the aortic sac, even after total thrombosis of the endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.
Contextual leadership practices
Authors: Noman Mohammad , Awang Hashim Rosna , Shaik Abdullah Sarimah
Published: November 2016

The study of context-based leadership practices has gained currency during the last decade. This study aims to complement the recent efforts of researchers in identifying the context-based leadership practices of successful school leaders, and deliberating how these practices are enacted within their own unique contexts. An in-depth case study was conducted in a successful school in northern Malaysia using a combination of case study methods and grounded theory. Case study methods were used for data collection from multiple sources, employing a semi-structured interview protocol derived from the one used in several studies conducted under the International Successful School Principalship Project. The findings of the case study reveal that strong interpersonal skills, people-centered leadership, clear communication of vision and goal, focus on academic achievement, co-curricular activities, developing people and creating a positive work environment are all vital constituents of successful leadership. The findings will attempt to add to the scant literature on context-based leadership practices from Malaysia. Implications for practice can be drawn for policymakers, who must resist overreliance on borrowed leadership models, while practitioners need to prioritize their practices based upon the contextual requirements to succeed.
Diet modification challenges faced by marginalized and nonmarginalized adults with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis
Authors: Vanstone Meredith , Rewegan Alex , Brundisini Francesca , Giacomini Mita , Kandasamy Sujane , DeJean Deirdre
Published: November 2016

Objectives

Diet modification is an important part of the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes, but sustained dietary change remains elusive for many individuals. This paper describes and interprets the barriers to diet modification from the perspective of people with type 2 diabetes, paying particular attention to the experiences of people who experience social marginalization.

Methods

A systematic review of primary, empirical qualitative research was performed, capturing 120 relevant studies published between 2002 and 2015. Qualitative meta-synthesis was used to provide an integrative analysis of this knowledge.

Results

Due to the central role of food in social life, dietary change affects all aspects of a person’s life, and barriers related to self-discipline, emotions, family and social support, social significance of food, and knowledge were identified. These barriers are inter-linked and overlapping. Social marginalization magnifies barriers; people who face social marginalization are trying to make the same changes as other people with diabetes with fewer socio-material resources in the face of greater challenges.

Discussion

A social-ecological model of behavior supports our findings of challenges at all levels, and highlights the need for interventions and counseling strategies that address the social and environmental factors that shape and sustain dietary change.
Setting up a Neuroscience Stroke and Rehabilitation Centre in Brunei Darussalam by a transcontinental on-site and telemedical cooperation
Authors: Meyding-Lamadé U , Bassa B , Craemer E , Jacobi C , Chan C , Hacke W , Kress B
Published: November 2016

Due to the world-wide aging population, there is a need for specialist neurological knowledge, treatment and care. Stroke treatment is effective in reducing mortality and disability, but it is still not available in many areas of the world. We describe the set-up process of a specialized Neuroscience, Stroke and Rehabilitation Centre in Brunei Darussalam (BNSRC) in cooperation with a German hospital. This study details the setup of a stroke-, neurological intensive care- and neurorehabilitation unit, laboratories and a telemedical network to perform all evidence-based stroke treatments. All neurological on-site services and the telemedical network were successfully established within a short time. After setup, 1386 inpatients and 1803 outpatients with stroke and stroke mimics were treated. All evidence-based stroke treatments including thrombolysis and hemicraniectomy could be performed. It is possible to establish evidence-based modern stroke treatment within a short time period by a transcontinental on-site and telemedical cooperation.
Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans innate immune response to Coxiella burnetii
Authors: Battisti James M , Watson Lance A , Naung Myo T , Drobish Adam M , Voronina Ekaterina , Minnick Michael F
Published: November 2016

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is well established as a system for characterization and discovery of molecular mechanisms mediating microbe-specific inducible innate immune responses to human pathogens. Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular bacterium that causes a flu-like syndrome in humans (Q fever), as well as abortions in domesticated livestock, worldwide. Initially, when wild type C. elegans (N2 strain) was exposed to mCherry-expressing C. burnetii (CCB) a number of overt pathological manifestations resulted, including intestinal distension, deformed anal region and a decreased lifespan. However, nematodes fed autoclave-killed CCB did not exhibit these symptoms. Although vertebrates detect C. burnetii via TLRs, pathologies in tol-1(–) mutant nematodes were indistinguishable from N2, and indicate nematodes do not employ this orthologue for detection of C. burnetii. sek-1(–) MAP kinase mutant nematodes succumbed to infection faster, suggesting that this signaling pathway plays a role in immune activation, as previously shown for orthologues in vertebrates during a C. burnetii infection. C. elegans daf-2(–) mutants are hyper-immune and exhibited significantly reduced pathological consequences during challenge. Collectively, these results demonstrate the utility of C. elegans for studying the innate immune response against C. burnetii and could lead to discovery of novel methods for prevention and treatment of disease in humans and livestock.
The real-time measurement of football aerodynamic loads under spinning conditions
Authors: Passmore Martin A , Tuplin Simon , Stawski Aleksander
Published: November 2016

Aerodynamic effects play an important part in any sport where the ball experiences significant periods of free flight. This article investigates the aerodynamic forces generated when a football is spinning quickly to generate swerve and more slowly to generate more erratic flight. The work reports on the application of an experimental method that measures the aerodynamic loads on a non-spinning, slowly spinning and fast spinning football, using a phase-locked technique so that orientation-dependent and steady ‘Magnus’ forces can both be determined. The results demonstrate that the orientation-dependent aerodynamic loads, widely seen in non-spinning data in the literature, surprisingly persist up to the highest spin rates reported. When predicting ball flight, it is generally assumed that at low spin rates a quasi-static assumption is acceptable, whereby forces measured on a non-spinning ball, as a function of ball orientation, apply for the spinning case. Above an arbitrary spin rate, the quasi-static assumption is replaced with the assumption of a steady ‘Magnus’ force that is a function of spin rate and ball speed. Using a flight model, the quasi-static assumption is shown to be only applicable for the lowest spin rates tested and the assumption of a steady ‘Magnus’ force is only applicable at the highest spin rates. In the intermediate spin rates (20–40 r/min), the persistence of the orientation effects is shown to have sufficient effect on the flight to be an important additional consideration.
Giant Cell Tumor of Talus: T-Construct Method of Bone Grafting
Authors: Kadam Abhijeet B. , Dhamangaonkar Anoop C.
Published: November 2016

Giant cell tumor (GCT) or osteoclastoma is a benign, locally aggressive tumor with a tendency to recur. Giant cell tumors typically occur in the epiphysis of long bones, including the distal femur and proximal tibia. They are uncommonly found in the small bones of the foot or ankle, and involvement of talus is rare. The authors present a case of GCT of the talar body in a 21-year-old man, which was diagnosed radiologically by the presence of a well-defined osteolytic lesion involving more than half of the talar body with thinning of the cortices. An intralesional curettage and chemical cauterization with phenol was done using a medial approach following an osteotomy of the medial malleolus for adequate exposure. Intraoperative frozen section of curetted tissue was sent and was reported as benign GCT. The residual cavity was packed with autologous corticocancellous bone grafts fashioned in a T-construct like manner. A protective cast was applied for a period of 2 months and patient was subsequently gradually mobilized to full weightbearing status. At 2-year follow-up, there was no clinical or radiologically evident signs of recurrence. There was good consolidation of the bone graft in the talus with no signs of collapse of the weightbearing articular surface.

Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level IV: Case Study
Technique Tip: Single-Incision Endoscopic Plantar Fasciotomy
Authors: Thomas Zachary M. , Thomas Kristin J.
Published: November 2016

Two-incision endoscopic plantar fasciotomy (EPF) is an accepted surgical technique in the treatment of recalcitrant plantar fasciitis. Single-incision plantar fasciotomy is a relatively new technique in the surgeons’ armamentarium; however, it is not without pitfalls, specifically poor visualization. This article aims to help the foot and ankle surgeon make a smooth transition from 2-incision EPF to single-incision EPF while maintaining optimum visualization.

Levels of Evidence: Level V: Expert opinion
Ezetimibe: an update on its clinical usefulness in specific patient groups
Authors: Hammersley Daniel , Signy Mark
Published: November 2016

The aim of pharmacological lipid modification is to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) as a means of either secondary or primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Statins are the first-line therapy for pharmacological lipid modification. Ezetimibe is a drug which reduces LDL-C by selectively inhibiting intestinal cholesterol absorption. This provides an alternative pharmacological approach to that of statin therapy to reduce LDL-C. Ezetimibe has been shown to significantly reduce levels of LDL-C and recently, as demonstrated in the IMPROVE-IT trial, to reduce the rate of cardiovascular events in high-risk patients. Ezetimibe therefore has an important role in pharmacological lipid modification. In this paper, we examine the body of research behind ezetimibe and assess its current clinical applications in different patient subgroups.
The “virtual team player”
Authors: Schulze Julian , Krumm Stefan
Published: November 2016

In spite of the increasing demand for virtual cooperation, still relatively little is known about the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) individuals need for virtual teamwork. Thus, the current paper aims at synthesizing the existing literature into a comprehensive model of virtual teamwork KSAOs. To this end, we review (a) existing frameworks of KSAO requirements for virtual teamwork, (b) challenges posed by different facets of virtuality, and (c) KSAOs particularly relevant for meeting the identified challenges. The results of this review are integrated into a holistic model of virtual teamwork KSAOs with distal characteristics (personality, experience) and more proximal qualities (knowledge, skills, and motivation). Research gaps as well as avenues for future research will be outlined and applications for virtual team staffing and training will be discussed.
Pokémon GO: Entering the Ludic Society
Authors: Mäyrä Frans
Published: November 2016

Even while digital games are played by millions, game cultures have remained in the margins of public life, to a certain degree. Pokémon GO is part of a new wave of phenomena that are about to change that situation. As a location-based game, it encourages people to play digital games out in the open, visiting public places. The ludic mindset and playful practices first developed while interacting with Pokémon GO may provide a basis for more complex skill sets and cultural practices that will be needed in broader cultural ludification developments, and for the next steps of entering the Ludic Society. The phenomenal success of Pokémon GO also highlights the importance of the meaningfully implemented links between technology, gaming content, and culture.