bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Civil Society Organizations in Reinforcing Rural–Urban Linkages in North-Eastern India
Authors: Sharma Padmini
Published: April 2018

Against a backdrop of economic restructuring and declining role of the state in infrastructural development and social protection, this paper seeks to address the growing significance of rural-urban linkages in the economy. In retrospect to the concept of rural-urban linkages avant la lettre, this paper depicts the need for promoting such linkages through enhanced integration among the civil society organizations and state actors. Hence, it seeks to assess the role of civil society organizations in maintaining and reinforcing rural-urban linkages in North-East India. Such institutional support serves as a vital strategy for regional development at macro level and rural livelihood at micro level. The thematic findings emphasize the direct and indirect contributions of these organizations towards linkages in the region. It highlights the mutual dependency among rural and urban areas, necessity of institutional support in the transforming labour market and the nature of complementary development among rural and urban market.
Alzheimer’s disease: clinical update on epidemiology, pathophysiology and diagnosis
Authors: Eratne Dhamidhu , Loi Samantha M , Farrand Sarah , Kelso Wendy , Velakoulis Dennis , Looi Jeffrey CL
Published: April 2018

Objectives:

To provide a clinical update for general psychiatrists on the assessment and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), highlighting current issues regarding epidemiology, risk factors and pathophysiology from recent relevant research findings.

Conclusions:

Psychiatrists can apply their skills and training in the diagnosis of AD, which is based upon a comprehensive assessment comprising history, investigations, and cognitive and functional assessment, guided by accepted diagnostic criteria.
Social Capital Considerations in Transition for Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities
Authors: Yeager Kristopher Hawk
Published: April 2018

Students with emotional and behavioral disabilities (EBD) continue to have poor transition outcomes despite the continued advancement of evidence-based transition planning practices. Strategies tailored to the specific needs of students with EBD must be researched and disseminated to practitioners. A social capital approach to transition planning for students with EBD is one way to target this population. Social capital, or the power of relationships and networks to provide resources and support, has been linked to improved academic, employment, and independent living outcomes. This article (a) defines social capital as it relates to relationships, networks, and social skills, (b) presents steps for a social capital approach to transition, and (c) discusses a graphic organizer to assist students and transition teams to track social capital over time.
Avelumab: A Review of Its Application in Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Joseph Jocelyn , Zobniw Chrystia , Davis Jennifer , Anderson Jaime , Trinh Van Anh
Published: April 2018

Objective: To summarize the clinical development of avelumab and its clinical relevance in metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Data Sources: An English-language literature search using PubMed was performed using the terms avelumab, anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, and MCC from January of 1950 to March 2018. Data were also obtained from package inserts, meeting abstracts, and clinical registries. Study Selection/Data Extraction: All relevant published articles of avelumab were reviewed. Clinical trial registries and meeting abstracts were used for information about ongoing trials. Data Synthesis: Avelumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits programmed death ligand-1, which reverses T-cell exhaustion and induces antitumor responses. Avelumab is safe and effective in previously treated metastatic MCC based on a phase II trial of previously treated patients with objective response rates in 28 of 88 patients, including 10 complete responses and 19 partial responses. Median overall survival (OS) was 12.9 months, and 1-year progression-free survival and OS were 30% and 52%, respectively. Grade 3 treatment-related side effects included lymphopenia (2 patients), serum creatine phosphokinase increase (1 patient), aminotransferase elevation (1 patient), and serum cholesterol increase (1 patient). Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: This review outlines the pharmacology and clinical trial data for avelumab in metastatic MCC and guides clinicians on avelumab’s place in therapy. Conclusions: Avelumab is the first Food and Drug Administration–approved medication for metastatic MCC and provides an advantage of durable responses and possibly improved tolerability compared with traditional platinum-based chemotherapy. Clinical trials are under way to expand its utility into the adjuvant and frontline settings.
Malignant Solitary Fibrous Tumor Metastatic to Widely Invasive Hurthle Cell Thyroid Carcinoma: A Distinct Tumor-to-Tumor Metastasis
Authors: Kolson Kokohaare Eva , Riva Francesco M. G. , Bernstein Jonathan M. , Miah Aisha B. , Thway Khin
Published: April 2018

We illustrate a case of synchronous malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the thoracic cavity, and widely invasive thyroid Hurthle cell carcinoma. The Hurthle cell carcinoma was found to harbor distinct areas of malignant solitary fibrous tumor. This is a unique case of tumor-to-tumor metastasis that, to the best of our knowledge, has not been previously reported.
Lateralizing Calcaneal Osteotomies and Their Effect on Calcaneal Alignment: A Three-Dimensional Digital Model Analysis
Authors: Cody Elizabeth A. , Kraszewski Andrew P. , Conti Matthew S. , Ellis Scott J.
Published: April 2018

Background:

Few authors have directly compared multiple types of lateralizing calcaneal osteotomies (LCOs) in terms of their ability to achieve deformity correction. The aim of this research was to use a digital model of a varus hindfoot to compare 4 different LCOs in terms of deformity correction and amount of tuberosity lateralization required. The authors hypothesis was that osteotomies involving a wedge resection would achieve greater correction with less lateralization.

Methods:

A weightbearing computed tomographic scan of a patient with a varus hindfoot deformity was used to construct a 3-dimensional digital model of the hindfoot, preserving weightbearing alignment. Four different LCOs were modeled: a standard oblique osteotomy, a Dwyer osteotomy, a modified Dwyer osteotomy involving lateralization in addition to wedge resection, and a Malerba Z-type osteotomy with wedge resection and lateralization. Incremental corrections were performed with each osteotomy type, and amount of correction was assessed with a vertical hindfoot angle and measurement of the lateral translation of the most inferior aspect of the calcaneus. Calcaneal length and osteotomy contact surface area were also measured.

Results:

The modified Dwyer osteotomy led to the greatest improvements in the vertical hindfoot angle and lateral translation, followed by the Malerba osteotomy. The standard and Malerba osteotomies allowed the most preservation of calcaneal length; the Malerba and Dwyer osteotomies had the greatest contact surface area.

Conclusion:

LCOs that involve wedge resection as well as lateralization were able to achieve the greatest correction of hindfoot varus.

Clinical Relevance:

For the surgical treatment of cavovarus foot deformities, osteotomies with wedge resection in addition to lateralization enable more powerful correction.
Computation of elastic equilibria of complete Möbius bands and their stability
Authors: Moore Alexander , Healey Timothy
Published: April 2018

Determining the equilibrium configuration of an elastic Möbius band is a challenging problem. In recent years numerical results have been obtained by other investigators, employing first the Kirchhoff theory of rods and later the developable, ruled-surface model of Sadowsky–Wunderlich. In particular, one such strategy used does not deliver an equilibrium configuration for the complete unsupported strip. Here we present our own systematic approach to the same problem for each of these models, with the ultimate goal of assessing the stability of flip-symmetric configurations. The presence of point-wise constraints considerably complicates the latter step. We obtain the first stability results for the problem, numerically demonstrating that such equilibria render the total potential energy a local minimum. Along the way we introduce a novel regularization for the singular Wunderlich model that delivers equilibria for complete strips having sufficiently narrow widths, which can then be tested for stability.
Effects of microwave heating on the gelation properties of heat-induced Alaska Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) surimi
Authors: Liu Xiangyu , Feng Dandan , Ji Lei , Zhang Tao , Xue Yong , Xue Changhu
Published: April 2018

In the present study, we examined the properties of Alaska Pollock ( Theragra chalcogramma) surimi gels in response microwave heating at different powers (300, 400, or 500 W) and time (10, 20, or 30 min). The surimi gels heated by a microwave at 300 W for 10 min showed the highest gel strength and water-holding capacity. Increasing the power and time resulted in decreases in both the gel strength and water-holding capacity. The gel formation rate of microwave-heated gels was significantly higher than that produced by water bath heating. In addition, differential scanning calorimetry indicated that microwave heating caused less damage to the native structures of myosin and actin than water bath heating. Microstructure studies revealed that microwave heating contributed to the formation of a denser and stronger frame of the surimi gels. Raman spectroscopy indicated that the degree of the secondary structure denaturation caused by microwave heating was less than that induced by water bath heating. Thus, the results demonstrated that microwave heating is a promising method to enhance the gelation properties of surimi.
Perspectives of Fear as a Barrier to Self-Management in Non-Hispanic Black Men With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Sherman Ledric D. , Williams Joni S.
Published: April 2018

Background. Self-managing type 2 diabetes (T2D) is critical but often challenging for non-Hispanic Black (NHB) men. Fears may contribute to poor self-management; however, the evidence is sparse. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between fear and diabetes self-management in NHB men from the southern United States. Methods. Nineteen NHB men with T2D were recruited from barbershops and churches. Interviews were conducted using a semistructured interview guide. Transcripts were analyzed using a phenomenological approach and focused on identifying common themes describing the perceptions of fear as a barrier to self-managing T2D in the study participants. Results. More than 68% of the sample was >55 years of age, where 42% reported an annual income of ≥$100,000, 74% were married, and 26% had a college degree. Fifty-three percent expressed fear with diabetes management, while 47% reported no fears with diabetes management. Direct fears associated with self-management included the use of needles and syringes for self-monitoring and medication adherence, respectively. Indirect fears were associated with the development of adverse complications resulting in poor mental and physical quality of life. No fears were reported secondary to diabetes knowledge, perceived control, and social support. Conclusions. In this sample of NHB men, fear was perceived by many as a direct barrier to self-management and an indirect barrier to optimal quality of life. These findings suggest the need to address the fears of NHB men when guiding treatment and developing research interventions to improve self-management skills.
Haemodialysis access thrombosis: Outcomes after surgical thrombectomy versus catheter-directed thrombolytic infusion
Authors: Koraen-Smith Linn , Krasun Matteus , Bottai Matteo , Hedin Ulf , Wahlgren Carl M , Gillgren Peter
Published: April 2018

Introduction:

Thrombosis is one of the most common complications of dialysis vascular access and is a significant source of morbidity and healthcare-associated costs. In this retrospective study, outcomes for surgical thrombectomy and thrombolysis after access thrombosis in patients with arteriovenous fistulas or prosthetic grafts (arteriovenous grafts) were analysed.

Methods:

All patients with a primary episode of dialysis access thrombosis between 2005 and 2013 were included which yielded 131 patients with 149 episodes of access thrombosis (108 arteriovenous grafts; 41 arteriovenous fistulas). In all, 18 patients had two separate accesses during the study. Patient demographics, access anatomy, surgical and radiological procedural data were recorded. Kaplan–Meier estimates and Poisson regression were used for statistical analysis of access patency.

Results:

In total, 107 underwent surgical thrombectomy and 42 were treated with catheter-directed thrombolytic infusion. Technical success was 60% for surgical thrombectomy and 73% for thrombolysis (p = 0.18). There were no major complications and no deaths within 30 days of the procedure. More patients had adjunctive procedures in the thrombolysis group (65/107 vs 37/42; p = 0.002). There was an increasing risk of rethrombosis or a further access-related event for both arteriovenous fistulas and arteriovenous grafts after open thrombectomy compared with catheter-directed thrombolytic infusion, and arteriovenous fistulas exhibited a lower risk than arteriovenous grafts with an average increase in risk of 23.9% (95% confidence interval: 3.1–49) between each treatment group.

Conclusion:

Thrombolysis for thrombosis of native and prosthetic dialysis accesses appears to yield better assisted primary patency compared to surgical thrombectomy. Our results suggest that thrombolysis may be considered the first-choice method for treating the thrombosed dialysis access.
Media rhetoric of post-heroic leadership: Julia Gillard, Barack Obama and Press Gallery journalists, 2010–2013©
Authors: Coatney Caryn
Published: April 2018

Scholars have recognised the Canberra Press Gallery’s capacity to contribute to an inclusive, collective style of political leadership in the context of declining nostalgia for heroes of military conflict. While political leaders have signified supporting journalists in a ‘cooperative search for truth’ about a conflict, the Gallery has influenced these relations as ‘the courageous teller of a truth’. This article examines the media rhetoric and Press Gallery relations of Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her identification with US President Barack Obama during the conflict in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013. Gillard connected to Obama’s agenda by arguing, like him, that military sacrifices had been justified because of the need to support marginalised groups, including Afghan women and girls. This article argues that as time went by, Press Gallery journalists increasingly queried and investigated Gillard’s rationale for the conflict. The journalists portrayed their role as public defenders of the ‘truth’ about Australia’s military engagement by including Afghanistan sources countering heroic military narratives.
Attitudes of intensive care and emergency physicians in Australia with regard to the organ donation process: A qualitative analysis
Authors: Macvean Emily , Yuen Eva YN , Tooley Gregory , Gardiner Heather M , Knight Tess
Published: April 2018

Specialized hospital physicians have direct capacity to impact Australia’s sub-optimal organ donation rates because of their responsibility to identify and facilitate donation opportunities. Australian physicians’ attitudes toward this responsibility are examined. A total of 12 intensive care unit and three emergency department physicians were interviewed using a constructionist grounded theory and situational analysis approach. A major theme emerged, related to physicians’ conflicts of interest in maintaining patients’/next-of-kin’s best interests and a sense of duty-of-care in this context. Two sub-themes related to this main theme were identified as follows: (1) discussions about organ donation and who is best to carry these out and (2) determining whether organ donation is part of end-of-life care; including the avoidance of non-therapeutic ventilation; and some reluctance to follow clinical triggers in the emergency department. Overall, participants indicated strong support for organ donation but would not consider it part of end-of-life care, representing a major obstacle to the support of potential donation opportunities. Findings have implications for physician education and training. Continued efforts are needed to integrate the potential for organ donation into end-of-life care within intensive care units and emergency departments.
Understanding the pros and cons of organ donation decision-making: Decisional balance and expressing donation intentions among African Americans
Authors: Flemming Shauna St. Clair , Redmond Nakeva , Williamson Dana HZ , Thompson Nancy J , Perryman Jennie P , Patzer Rachel E , Arriola Kimberly Jacob
Published: April 2018

Increasing public commitment to organ donation is critical to improving donor kidney availability for end-stage renal disease patients desiring transplant. This study surveyed ( N = 1339) African Americans, measuring perceived pros relative to cons of organ donation, to evaluate an existing Transtheoretical Model decisional balance scale and associations between decisional balance and expressing donation intentions. Findings supported the existing scale structure. More positive decisional balance ratios were associated with 1.76 times the odds of expressing intentions (95% confidence interval = 1.52–2.04). Pros were more strongly linked to donation intentions than cons. Greater understanding of organ donation decision-making is valuable for informing interventions that encourage donation.
Ageing and the presentation of self: Women’s perspectives on negotiating age, identity and femininity through dress
Authors: Thorpe Rachel
Published: April 2018

Scholars have anticipated that women who grew up during the 1960s may resist cultural pressures to achieve a feminine appearance into old age. Drawing on data from semi-structured interviews and personal journals from Australian women aged between 55 and 72, I argue that older women’s choices of dress and appearance are disciplined by their application of cultural norms regarding age-appropriateness, femininity and, increasingly, active ageing. Utilising the Foucauldian concept of self-surveillance in the operation of disciplinary power, this article explores the interaction of prevailing ideas about old age in the context of broader discourses on generational change and the emphases upon individual responsibility for the body. It focuses on the degree to which older women feel able to craft their own embodied old age within these competing discourses in order to explore tensions between shifting meanings of old age and structural constraints on choice.
Presentism in the newsroom: How uncertainty redefines journalists’ career expectations
Authors: Goyanes Manuel , Rodríguez-Gómez Eduardo Fco
Published: April 2018

In this article, we investigate the effects of uncertainty on job expectations in a news organization ( El Mundo) facing fierce financial turmoil and several redundancy plans. Drawing on in-depth material (27 interviews and non-participant observation), we show how the declining news and media landscape is hampering the configuration of good employment prospects. In order to manage this harsh reality, we argue that journalists draw upon emotional resources (specifically what we conceptualize as presentism, a form of limiting and defusing concern for prospects by focusing on the present) and social ones (in particular, support from their colleagues). By implementing these responses, journalists can navigate the turbulent waters of uncertainty and be focused on the development of their craft. Our findings address how the negation of future employment expectations, associated with the uncertain media environment, makes journalists naturalize their current professional conditions and, therefore, assume that their professional future should maintain the status quo (continuous orientation). That makes them reflect on the privilege of plying their trade in a prestigious newspaper and getting paid to do so despite the severe crisis in the industry (relativistic orientation).
An investigation for reducing combustion instability under cold-start condition of a direct injection gasoline engine
Authors: Kimura Koshiro , Mori Sachio , Kawauchi Masato , Shimizu Rio
Published: April 2018

In order to meet recent stringent emission regulations, the exhaust catalyst should be heated as early as possible to activate the purifying reactions. In a direct injection spark-ignition engine, a combination of late fuel injection during the compression stroke and late ignition in the expansion stroke is a common strategy to quickly raise exhaust gas temperature for subsequent rapid activation of exhaust catalysts. However, this approach under cold start-up of an engine often results in incomplete and unstable combustion. In this study, to explore the conditions of stable ignition and combustion, the effect of injection timing on indicated mean effective pressure and early combustion duration (MBD0.5) are first investigated by an analysis of the pressure indicator diagram. As this analysis shows a strong correlation between indicated mean effective pressure and MBD0.5, the mechanism of initial flame propagation is investigated intensively using optical diagnostics. Namely, mean equivalence ratio of mixtures in the propagating flame front is measured by focusing on the ratio of C2* to CH* emission intensities. The flow velocity and turbulence intensity around the spark electrode are measured by the back-scattering laser Doppler anemometry. Two major conclusions are derived from this study: First, when the injection timing is retarded, the mean equivalence ratio increases as the time for the injected fuel to travel and diffuse is shortened. The most preferable mean equivalence ratio for fast initial combustion is found to lie in a range from 1.2 to 1.4. Second, when the second injection timing is retarded further, the mean equivalence ratio increases exceeding 1.4, and this results in slower and more fluctuated initial flame propagation. But, if the turbulent intensity is increased by means of the spray induced air motion, the slowed initial combustion can be recovered.
Increasing Opportunities for Health in a Southeast Michigan Community Through Local Policy Change
Authors: Kelly R. Patrick , Burke Jodi , Waddell Sandra , Lachance Laurie
Published: April 2018

Disparities in health outcomes are closely linked with social, economic, and environmental conditions. The burden of these disparities are most often experienced by racial and ethnic individuals of color, those with low income, and those who live in vulnerable communities. Local policy and systems change efforts provide a means to address health inequities and create sustainable change at the community level. The Inkster Partnership for a Healthier Community was formed in 2010 to create sustainable opportunities for health, with a special focus on diabetes prevention and management. Policy and infrastructure change efforts were documented and tracked over time and qualitative data were collected to create deeper understanding of the change efforts. Eleven policy outcomes have created sustainable change around access to health resources and services, access to healthy foods, opportunities for physical activity, diabetes prevention and management education, and increased capacity for ongoing community change.
Parental Consent and Access to Oral Health Care for Adolescents
Authors: Calderon Susana J. , Mallory Caroline , Malin Michelle
Published: April 2018

While most states allow minors 12 years and older to consent to services for contraception, prenatal care, or sexually transmitted infections, the same adolescents are required to have parental consent for even preventive oral health care. Many adolescents are denied access to preventive oral health care because of the challenge of securing parental consent for care when parents are unwilling, unable, or unavailable to consent. Our purpose is to examine the barriers to preventive oral health care for U.S. adolescents related to parental consent laws, explore the issues surrounding these laws, and recommend policy changes. We explain the current range and status of consent laws across the country and arguments for parental consent law as it now stands. We discuss the difficulty of applying general medical consent law to preventive oral health care, neuroscience research on cognitive capacity among adolescents, and the distinction between parental consent and adolescent assent. We recommend replacing required “opt-in” consent with simpler “opt-out” consent; developing a tool for assessing adolescent decision-making capacity; advocating for consent laws that apply specifically to preventive oral health care; and empowering school nurses to lead local, state, and nationwide policy and legislation efforts.
Microsystem and Macrosystem Predictors of Latinx College Students’ Depression and Anxiety
Authors: Badiee Manijeh , Andrade Edson
Published: April 2018

Latinx college students experience depression and anxiety similarly to other groups. Systemic factors (e.g., discrimination, family support) may exacerbate or protect from symptoms. We incorporated an ecological framework to assess family cohesion, social networks, acculturative stress, perceived discrimination, and foreigner objectification as predictors of depression and anxiety for Latinx students at a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Only discrimination predicted depression and anxiety after controlling for age, gender, and birthplace. Educational and counseling implications are addressed.
“Here the Professors Are Your Guide, Tus Guías”: Latina/o Student Validating Experiences With Faculty at a Hispanic-Serving Community College
Authors: Alcantar Cynthia M. , Hernandez Edwin
Published: April 2018

Through interviews with nine Latina/o students enrolled in a 2-year Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), this study examined their interactions with faculty utilizing validation theory as a guiding framework. Findings demonstrate the critical role faculty serve as validating agents and the importance of supporting 2-year HSIs faculty to practice validating experiences. Validating faculty interactions have the potential to increase Latina/o community college student’s sense of belonging, persistence, and academic self-concept.
“Why are the Gifted Classes So White?” Making Space for Gifted Latino Students
Authors: Hurt June Williams
Published: April 2018

Bryson Valley Elementary School’s population is changing, formerly consisting of students, 72% of whom identified as White, but now only 53% of students do so; 26% of its 800 students identify as Latinx,1 the largest minority group in the school. The school’s new Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) teacher, Judith Hunter, notices a disparity in ethnic representation in the AIG program and hopes to change that situation. Two challenges that Judith faces are resistance from teachers who tend to hold deficit orientations toward some groups of students, as well as a fairly apathetic principal who is nearing retirement. When viewed through the lens of Critical Race Theory, the implicit racism in the school’s gifted identification procedures becomes more obvious.
Authentic leadership in sport: Its relationship with athletes’ enjoyment and commitment and the mediating role of autonomy and trust
Authors: Bandura Comille T , Kavussanu Maria
Published: April 2018

Consequences of leadership styles have become a noteworthy area of research for sport psychology researchers. However, there is scant research on the concept of authentic leadership. To date, research in sport has demonstrated that authentic leadership is associated with positive outcomes for athletes such as satisfaction, commitment, trust and perceptions of choice. In this study, we examined whether athletes’ perceptions of coach authentic leadership were associated with their commitment and enjoyment and whether trust in coach and perceived autonomy mediated these relationships. Participants were 435 athletes (female = 211) from team (e.g. football, hockey; n = 338) and individual sports (e.g. boxing, swimming; n = 97) who completed questionnaires about perceived authentic leadership of their coach, perceived autonomy and trust in their coach and their enjoyment and commitment. Structural equation modelling revealed that athletes’ perceptions of their coach authentic leadership were positively related to their enjoyment and commitment and these relationships were mediated by perceived autonomy and trust. The findings suggest that authentic leadership in coaches may facilitate enjoyment and commitment in athletes, and this may occur via autonomy and trust.
Storage allocation in a warehouse based on the forklifts fleet availability
Authors: Ghalehkhondabi Iman , Masel Dale T
Published: April 2018

Product allocation is one of the most important duties in warehousing operations. Based on the time and the number of products to put away and retrieve, storage allocation can directly affect the efficiency of a warehouse in terms of both response and operation time. Traditionally, the product storage allocation is done based on the less distance of shipment but focusing on distance may decrease the efficiency of a warehouse in terms of efficient utilization of resources such as warehouse inbound shipping fleet. This paper proposes a storage space allocation model that considers the availability of forklift fleet in a warehouse instead of product shipping distance. The numerical example shows that storing the products based on the proposed model can reduce the volume of forklift fleet idle hours on days with fewer volume of receiving and shipping outs. The proposed model also reduces the overtime working hours on days with higher volume of receiving and shipping out products.
Deceptively dodging questions: A theoretical note on issues of perception and detection
Authors: Clementson David E
Published: April 2018

Dodging questions pervades human interaction, including interpersonal interactions, relational conversations, media interviews and political debates. Variously referred to as equivocation, evasion, obfuscation, strategic ambiguity and topic avoidance, among other terms, the concept has a rich history in the communication literature. Covertly dodging questions presents serious social and political problems. This essay focuses on theoretical issues of dodging, specifically the ability for a person to change the subject with an irrelevant answer. Discussion primarily draws upon Grice’s theory of conversational implicature and deception research inspired by Grice. Theoretical impediments to detecting dodges are discussed, as well as barriers to accuracy from the perspective of discourse analysts and societal perceptions.
Cardiac troponin T is associated with mortality in patients admitted to critical care in a UK major trauma centre: a retrospective database analysis
Authors: Crewdson Kate , Thompson Julian , Thomas Matt
Published: April 2018

Background

Elevated levels of cardiac troponin T are associated with poor outcome in critically ill patients and have been proposed as a prognostic marker in major trauma. This study investigated the relationship between cardiac troponin T levels on admission to intensive care unit (ICU) and all-cause mortality in major trauma patients.

Methods

A retrospective database analysis of cardiac troponin T levels on admission to the ICU in major trauma patients between 1 August 2015 and 31 December 2016 at a UK Major Trauma Centre was performed.

Results

Of the 243 patients, 69 (28.4%) died. Cardiac troponin T levels were significantly higher in patients who died compared to survivors: 42 vs. 13 ng/L, respectively ( p < 0.0001); the odds of all-cause mortality increased significantly as troponin increased, independent of age or Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score.

Discussion

This confirms cardiac troponin T at ICU admission as a marker of mortality in major trauma. Elevated cardiac troponin T may be seen in patients without evidence of direct cardiac trauma.
Battle of Wits
Authors: Holbrook Colin , López-Rodríguez Lucía , Gómez Ángel
Published: April 2018

Political conservatism and threat salience have been consistently associated with intergroup bias. However, prior research has not examined potential effects of conservatism and/or threat on the attribution of relative in-group/out-group intelligence. In a cross-cultural study conducted in Spain and the United Kingdom, priming violent conflict with ISIS led participants to view an in-group ally as relatively more intelligent than an out-group adversary, in an effect mediated by feelings of anger (but not fear or general arousal). Conservatism similarly predicted biased perception of the ally’s relative intellect, a tendency that was driven by militaristic (not social/fiscal) political attitudes but was not explained by associated increases in state anger following conflict cues. This overall pattern indicates that conflict cues and militaristic political orientation heighten assessments of relative intergroup intellect during warfare via distinct affective and attitudinal pathways.
“Terrorist” or “Mentally Ill”: Motivated Biases Rooted in Partisanship Shape Attributions About Violent Actors
Authors: Noor Masi , Kteily Nour , Siem Birte , Mazziotta Agostino
Published: April 2018

We investigated whether motivated reasoning rooted in partisanship affects the attributions individuals make about violent attackers’ underlying motives and group memberships. Study 1 demonstrated that on the day of the Brexit referendum pro-leavers (vs. pro-remainers) attributed an exculpatory (i.e., mental health) versus condemnatory (i.e., terrorism) motive to the killing of a pro-remain politician. Study 2 demonstrated that pro-immigration (vs. anti-immigration) perceivers in Germany ascribed a mental health (vs. terrorism) motive to a suicide attack by a Syrian refugee, predicting lower endorsement of punitiveness against his group (i.e., refugees) as a whole. Study 3 experimentally manipulated target motives, showing that Americans distanced a politically motivated (vs. mentally ill) violent individual from their in-group and assigned him harsher punishment—patterns most pronounced among high-group identifiers.
Haloperidol decanoate long-acting injection (HDLAI): Results of a 1-year mirror-image study
Authors: Mace Shubhra , Dzahini Olubanke , O’Hagan Maria , Taylor David
Published: April 2018

Background:

We sought to determine clinical outcomes of the prescribing of haloperidol decanoate long-acting injection (HDLAI) at 1 year.

Method:

A 1-year mirror-image study of 84 inpatients initiated on HDLAI. Admissions and bed days in the year preceding HDLAI were compared with the year after initiation. Predictors for discontinuation were evaluated.

Results:

At 1 year, 33% of patients remained on treatment. Patients starting HDLAI because of nonadherence were more likely to stop treatment [relative risk (RR) 1.72; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01, 2.91; p = 0.044] whilst patients with a longer duration of illness were more likely to remain on treatment (RR 0.88; 95% CI 0.78, 1.00; p = 0.050). In the bed days cohort overall, ( n = 65), there was a significant reduction in mean hospital admissions (1.4/patient/year to 0.6/patient/year; p = 0.0001) but not bed days (55.6/patient to 45.0/patient; p = 0.07) in the year following HDLAI initiation compared with the year before. Continuers had a significant reduction in mean bed days (53.1 to 4.0; p = 0.0002) and hospital admissions (1.5 to 0.2; p = 0.0001). Discontinuers demonstrated a significant reduction in hospital admissions (1.5 to 0.8; p = 0.0001) but not bed days (56.7 to 64.5; p = 0.83).

Conclusion:

HDLAI was associated with a high treatment discontinuation rate. Hospital admissions fell in the year after HDLAI but there was no change in bed days. Our study suggests that patients with a longer duration of illness and patients initiated on HDLAI for reasons other than poor adherence may benefit from HDLAI initiation.
Clinical efficacy of 12-h metronidazole dosing regimens in patients with anaerobic or mixed anaerobic infections
Authors: Soule Ashley F. , Green Sarah B. , Blanchette Lisa M.
Published: April 2018

Traditional metronidazole dosing regimens utilize an every 8 h dosing strategy to treat anaerobic and mixed anaerobic infections. However, pharmacokinetic data demonstrate that the half-life of metronidazole is 8–12 h and blood levels at 12 h exceed the in vitro minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for most anaerobic infections. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of clinical cure among patients who received metronidazole every 12 h compared with those who received an every 8 h frequency. Secondary endpoints included duration of antibiotics, hospital length of stay, escalation of antibiotic therapy, microbiologic cure, and mortality.

Methods:

This retrospective, single-center, pre–post intervention study of 200 patients between June 2014 to July 2016.

Results:

No significant differences in clinical cure for every 12 h versus every 8 h metronidazole dosing regimens (85% for both groups, p = 1.00) were found. There were no differences in any of the secondary endpoints, with a mean duration of antibiotic therapy being 5.9 versus 5.8 days and a hospital length of stay averaging 8.1 versus 6.7 days for the 12- and 8-h dosing groups, respectively ( p > 0.05).

Discussion:

Findings validate pharmacokinetic data suggesting that an extended metronidazole dosing interval effectively treats anaerobic infections.
Willingness to trade-off: An intermediate factor in patient decision-making regarding escalating care
Authors: Seng Elizabeth K , Grinberg Amy S , Fraenkel Liana
Published: April 2018

This study aimed to evaluate treatment necessity, treatment concern, and willingness to engage in decisional trade-offs in the context of treatment escalation decision-making. Participants ( n = 147) recruited online were randomized to read a vignette about escalating care in psoriasis in a 2 (high treatment concern vs moderate treatment concern) × 2 (high perceived treatment necessity vs moderate perceived treatment necessity) design. High treatment concern was associated with choosing to defer treatment escalation and being unwilling to engage in decisional trade-offs if disease risk changed. Results highlight the importance of treatment concern and willingness trade-off in treatment escalation decision-making.
The Tale of Two Communities: Residents’ Perceptions of the Built Environment and Neighborhood Social Capital
Authors: Oidjarv Helo
Published: April 2018

Recent decades have seen a growing number of studies on the benefits and environmental determinants of community social capital. This study explored the relationship between neighborhood residents’ perceptions of their built environment and social capital by comparing two neighborhoods, Bucktown, an example of traditional neighborhood design, and Schaumburg, exemplifying suburban sprawl. Furthermore, the study sought to develop suggestions for further research about the variables contributing to neighborhood variations in social capital. Results of two cross-sectional phone surveys with 197 residents indicated that Bucktown respondents reported more close neighborhood ties, and believed they were more involved in mutual aid and community problem solving, but viewed their neighbors as less supportive than participants from Schaumburg. It may be hypothesized that aspects of residents’ perceptions of the built environment, particularly perceived safety and walkability, may be partly responsible for the neighborhood differences found. Further research is needed to understand the pathways of how elements of perceived built environment may affect social capital formation and development.
Politics of Municipal Consolidation: The Case of Denizli
Authors: Yologlu Ali Cenap
Published: April 2018

Municipal consolidation is one of the policies employed to overcome the problems resulting from fragmented political structure in metropolitan regions. Although this policy has technical roots in theory, such as increasing efficiency and effectiveness, it has a political background in practice because boundary changes redefine the distribution of political sources. Consequently, local political actors, in relation with national political actors especially in such countries as Turkey, where there is a strong political connection between national and local political structure due to its unitary system, attempt to shape this redefinition process to maximize their self-interest. The consolidation process, thus, becomes a power struggle between politicians. In addition, local governments are the most obvious performance arena for central governments; therefore, they are indispensable. The primary aim of this study is to show how local political actors attempt to shape this redefinition process to take full advantage of new boundaries. Local political actors attempt to join the winning side, or at least to not to be on the losing side, by taking different positions in the debate. In these matters, losing or winning covers all types of capital, including economic, political, and social. This perception of losing and winning includes not only facts but also expectations. Accordingly, all local actors attempt to redefine or strengthen their positions in the political arena.
Impact of Navon-Induced Global and Local Processing Biases on the Acquisition of Spatial Knowledge
Authors: Wen Wen , Kawabata Hideaki
Published: April 2018

We examined the effect of local or global processing bias (in the Navon task) on the acquisition of spatial knowledge from maps and route videos. Before spatial learning, participants completed a 5-min Navon task (biased toward global or local stimuli). After participants studied a map or route video, route knowledge was measured using a route distance estimation task, and survey knowledge was measured using a straight-line distance estimation task and map-sketching task. We found that participants in the global group performed better in the straight-line distance estimation task, and their sketch maps were more accurate in both overall configuration and interlandmark relationships compared with those of participants in the local group, regardless of learning materials. We conclude that Navon-induced biases influenced both the encoding and the visuospatial transformation of spatial knowledge.
Unlocking Pakistan’s Revenue Potential
Authors: Cevik Serhan
Published: April 2018

Pakistan’s tax revenue remains low relative to comparator countries and the tax effort expected for the country’s level of development. This creates significant challenges in providing the much-desired fiscal space to expand growth-enhancing expenditure on infrastructure, education, health care and targeted social assistance. This article estimates both short-run and long-run elasticities of tax revenue in Pakistan over the period 1960–2015 to better understand the evolution of tax revenue in the context of changing economic activity, using a novel identification strategy based on the instrumental variable (IV) approach and an error correction model (ECM) to address concerns about the potential endogeneity of tax revenue and economic growth. The empirical results indicate that both short-run and long-run elasticities of tax revenue are slightly above 1 over the sample period. There is, however, significant variation in short-run and long-run elasticities across subcategories of tax revenue. These findings underscore the need for a concerted agenda of comprehensive reforms at federal and provincial levels aimed at broadening tax bases, strengthening revenue administration and taxpayer compliance, eliminating distortionary and overgenerous tax concessions and exemptions, and rationalizing tax policy in an efficient and equitable manner.

JEL: C23, C32, E62, H2, H62, H68
Antecedents and Consequences of Sustainable Human Resource Management: Empirical Evidence from India
Authors: Vihari Nitin Simha , Rao M. K.
Published: April 2018

Over the past two decades, technological developments, globalization, and several other competitive challenges have caused dramatic changes within and across organizations in their decision-making. These concerns have resulted in a lasting impact on human resource management, both at functional and strategic standpoints. The present study considers “corporate sustainability perceptions” and “ethical leadership” as contextual antecedents and “voice behavior,” “employer attractiveness,” and “reduced turnover intentions” as consequences. Further, the intervening effects of “person organization fit,” “trust in management and moral identity” are analyzed. Out of total 498 respondents to whom the questionnaire is circulated to, the authors received 312 completely filled responses, reflecting a response rate of 62.65 percent. The study adopts casual research design with convenience sampling technique. Our findings shed light on the statistical and practical implications by providing suggestive measures for the organizations, to implement sustainable human resource management practices.
Urinary Bladder Stone Passing Using a Persian Herbal Recipe
Authors: Hosseinkhani Ayda , Tabatabaei Fatemeh , Mosaffa-Jahromi Maryam , Pasalar Mehdi
Published: April 2018

Objective.

The intrauterine device (IUD) is a popular contraceptive instrument with reported complications. IUD migration to the urinary bladder, a rare genitourinary tricky situation, may cause stone formation and result in urinary system sequels such as a stone formation and a recurrent infection.

Case Report.

This is a case report of IUD migration to the urinary bladder, mineralization, and subsequent complications. We report the case of a 35-year-old woman with a copper IUD nidus stone in her urinary bladder. She received a Persian medicine formulation including goat’s head, cornflower, silk corn, field horsetail, cumin, black Spanish radish, and common dandelion. She passed an oxalate stone 3 days later.

Conclusion.

Inexpensive common traditional recommendations might be helpful in current obstetrics and gynecology practice in our region.