bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corporate Political Activity and Regulatory Capture: How Some Companies Blunt the Knife of Socially Oriented Investor Activism
Authors: Hadani Michael , Doh Jonathan P. , Schneider Marguerite A.
Published: April 2016

Socially oriented shareholder activism is an increasingly important mechanism through which social movement organizations seek to influence the private sector by exerting pressure on corporate activities in areas such as human rights, environmental protection, and labor policies. This activism challenges the status quo of targeted firms and potentially their institutional field, disrupting “business as usual” and often drawing negative attention to the firms. We theorize that some firms might use corporate political activity (CPA) as an indirect, nonmarket strategy aimed at regulatory capture to reduce the impact of such disruptions. We focus on one popular avenue of shareholder activism—the proxy proposal mechanism—and the role the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) plays in allowing omission of socially oriented shareholder proposals from the proxy ballot. Using two distinct data sources, we find evidence that for S&P 500 firms, the SEC allows for the omission of the proposals from proxy ballots more frequently for those firms more active in CPA. These findings inform the growing scholarship on socially oriented activism as well as suggest the indirect influence of CPA on government agency decision making.
Agglomeration Economies or Selection? An Analysis of Taiwanese Science Parks
Authors: Hasan Syed , Faggian Alessandra , Klaiber H. Allen , Sheldon Ian
Published: April 2016

Agglomeration spillovers are a major driver of policy creating science parks across the world. However, agglomeration benefits may be offset by competition arising out of spatial proximity of firms. Analysis of Taiwanese firms’ total factor productivity distribution shows that, depending on location choice, the impact of agglomeration and selection is heterogeneous across firm types. Spatial analysis is applied to evaluate the regional innovation policy of establishing science parks. A sectoral analysis of productivity distributions reveals that there is a positive relationship between technology intensity of the production process and firm productivity levels when firms are located in science parks.
Toxic Lunch in Bhopal and Chemical Publics
Authors: Mukherjee Rahul
Published: April 2016

On November 28, 2009, as part of events marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the disaster at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, gas survivors protested the contents of the report prepared by government scientists that mocked their complaints about contamination. The survivors shifted from the scientific document to a mediated lunch invitation performance, purporting to serve the same chemicals as food that the report had categorized as having no toxic effects. I argue that the lunch spread, consisting of soil and water from the pesticide plant, explicitly front-staged and highlighted the survivor’s forced intimate relationship with such chemicals, in order to reshape public perception of risks from toxins. Chemical matter like sevin tar and naphthol tar bound politicians, scientists, corporations, affected communities, and activists together, as these stakeholders debated the potential effects of toxic substances. This gave rise to an issue-based “chemical public.” Borrowing from such theoretical concepts as “ontologically heterogeneous publics” and “agential realism,” I track the existing and emerging publics related to the disaster and the campaigns led by the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal advocacy group.
Nurses’ Perceptions of Implementing Fall Prevention Interventions to Mitigate Patient-Specific Fall Risk Factors
Authors: Wilson Deleise S. , Montie Mary , Conlon Paul , Reynolds Margaret , Ripley Robert , Titler Marita G.
Published: April 2016

Evidence-based (EB) fall prevention interventions to mitigate patient-specific fall risk factors are readily available but not routinely used in practice. Few studies have examined nurses’ perceptions about both the use of these EB interventions and implementation strategies designed to promote their adoption. This article reports qualitative findings of nurses’ perceptions about use of EB fall prevention interventions to mitigate patient-specific fall risks, and implementation strategies to promote use of these interventions. The findings revealed five major themes: before-study fall prevention practices, use of EB fall prevention interventions tailored to patient-specific fall risk factors, beneficial implementation strategies, overall impact on approach to fall prevention, and challenges. These findings are useful to guide nurses’ engagement and use of EB fall prevention practices tailored to patient-specific fall risk factors.
Narrative meaning making, attachment, and psychological growth and stress
Authors: Graci Matthew E. , Fivush Robyn
Published: April 2016

Understanding how people turn episodes in time into subjectively meaningful narratives can shed light on adaptive meaning-making processes. Bridging attachment theory and narrative meaning making may elucidate how individuals distinctively narrate highly stressful and traumatic memories and whether such expression matters for psychological health. Single trauma narratives from 224 college participants were coded along dimensions of attachment theory, exploration and support seeking. Attachment style, stress-related growth, and event-related stress were also measured. Narrative exploration and support seeking were predictors of growth and stress, respectively, after controlling for personality traits and attachment. Importantly, we showed attachment moderates the relationship between narrative meaning making and psychological growth and stress. The relation between higher narrative exploration and increased growth levels was weaker for more avoidantly attached individuals, while the relation between lower narrative support seeking and increased stress levels was stronger for more anxiously attached individuals. Our findings indicate narrative processes matter for psychological health and may be utilized to different degrees depending on the narrator’s attachment style.
Chronic social exclusion and evidence for the resignation stage
Authors: Riva Paolo , Montali Lorenzo , Wirth James H. , Curioni Simona , Williams Kipling D.
Published: April 2016

Experiences of social exclusion, including ostracism and rejection, can last anywhere from a few seconds to many years. Most research focused on short-term social exclusion, whereas virtually no empirical work has investigated the experiences of long-term social exclusion. Williams theorized that prolonged experiences of social exclusion (i.e., ostracism) would cause individuals to pass from the reflexive and reflective stages to the resignation stage characterized by the inability to recover threatened psychological needs and feelings of alienation, unworthiness, helplessness, and depression. Across two studies, we explored this prediction—and, in light of pain overlap theories, considered the possibility that chronic exclusion and chronic pain induce common psychological responses. Study 1 consisted of a quasi-experimental study involving five groups of participants: (1) those with chronic experiences of social exclusion ( n = 82), (2) those with chronic physical pain ( n = 82), (3) those with chronic hypertension ( n = 69), (4) those with chronic kidney disease ( n = 60), and (5) a group of healthy people ( n = 83). Participants filled out a questionnaire including measures of need threat, negative emotions, and the four key outcomes linked to the resignation stage (i.e., alienation, unworthiness, helplessness, and depression). Although our data showed little evidence to support the psychological overlap between chronic exclusion and chronic physical pain, the results suggested that chronic experiences of social exclusion were associated with higher levels of negative emotions and resignation stage outcomes compared to participants in all the other groups. Furthermore, we found that threatened psychological needs mediated the effect of social exclusion on the resignation stage outcomes. Study 2 tested, but found no support for, the possibility that acute experiences of social exclusion could increase the resignation stage outcomes. Overall, our research indicates that when people are exposed to short-term exclusion, they recover their threatened psychological needs. However, when enduring chronic social exclusion, they do not, and enter the resignation stage.
The Early Intervention Readiness Program (EIRP)
Authors: Tolmie Rhiannon S. , Bruck Susan , Kerslake Rachel
Published: April 2016

A child’s diagnosis with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be an extremely stressful time for families. Researchers suggest that the period immediately following ASD diagnosis is a key time for professionals to guide families by providing appropriate information about support options. This article describes a family support program, developed by Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect). The Early Intervention Readiness Program (EIRP) is delivered during the challenging post-diagnosis period. During program involvement, families are provided with information and management strategies related to ASD-associated behaviors, and support options are identified. The EIRP aims to strengthen family confidence and facilitate a smooth transition into appropriate early intervention services. Preliminary program evaluation outcomes indicate that following program involvement, participants perceive a significant increase in their confidence in their understanding of ASD and capacity to independently make decisions about related supports. Participant post-program evaluations also verify the EIRP to be a useful post-ASD diagnosis support.
Optogenetic induction of cortical spreading depression in anesthetized and freely behaving mice
Authors: Houben Thijs , Loonen Inge CM , Baca Serapio M , Schenke Maarten , Meijer Johanna H , Ferrari Michel D , Terwindt Gisela M , Voskuyl Rob A , Charles Andrew , van den Maagdenberg Arn MJM , Tolner Else A
Published: April 2016

Cortical spreading depression, which plays an important role in multiple neurological disorders, has been studied primarily with experimental models that use highly invasive methods. We developed a relatively non-invasive optogenetic model to induce cortical spreading depression by transcranial stimulation of channelrhodopsin-2 ion channels expressed in cortical layer 5 neurons. Light-evoked cortical spreading depression in anesthetized and freely behaving mice was studied with intracortical DC-potentials, multi-unit activity and/or non-invasive laser Doppler flowmetry, and optical intrinsic signal imaging. In anesthetized mice, cortical spreading depression induction thresholds and propagation rates were similar for invasive (DC-potential) and non-invasive (laser Doppler flowmetry) recording paradigms. Cortical spreading depression-related vascular and parenchymal optical intrinsic signal changes were similar to those evoked with KCl. In freely behaving mice, DC-potential and multi-unit activity recordings combined with laser Doppler flowmetry revealed cortical spreading depression characteristics comparable to those under anesthesia, except for a shorter cortical spreading depression duration. Cortical spreading depression resulted in a short increase followed by prolonged reduction of spontaneous active behavior. Motor function, as assessed by wire grip tests, was transiently and unilaterally suppressed following a cortical spreading depression. Optogenetic cortical spreading depression induction has significant advantages over current models in that multiple cortical spreading depression events can be elicited in a non-invasive and cell type-selective fashion.
PSD-95 uncoupling from NMDA receptors by Tat-N-dimer ameliorates neuronal depolarization in cortical spreading depression
Authors: Kucharz Krzysztof , Søndergaard Rasmussen Ida , Bach Anders , Strømgaard Kristian , Lauritzen Martin
Published: April 2016

Cortical spreading depression is associated with activation of NMDA receptors, which interact with the postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) that binds to nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Here, we tested whether inhibition of the nNOS/PSD-95/NMDA receptor complex formation by anti-ischemic compound, UCCB01-144 (Tat- N-dimer) ameliorates the persistent effects of cortical spreading depression on cortical function. Using in vivo two-photon microscopy in somatosensory cortex in mice, we show that fluorescently labelled Tat- N-dimer readily crosses blood-brain barrier and accumulates in nerve cells during the first hour after i.v. injection. The Tat- N-dimer suppressed stimulation-evoked synaptic activity by 2–20%, while cortical blood flow and cerebral oxygen metabolic (CMRO2) responses were preserved. During cortical spreading depression, the Tat- N-dimer reduced the average amplitude of the negative shift in direct current potential by 33% (4.1 mV). Furthermore, the compound diminished the average depression of spontaneous electrocorticographic activity by 11% during first 40 min of post-cortical spreading depression recovery, but did not mitigate the suppressing effect of cortical spreading depression on cortical blood flow and CMRO2. We suggest that uncoupling of PSD-95 from NMDA receptors reduces overall neuronal excitability and the amplitude of the spreading depolarization wave. These findings may be of interest for understanding the neuroprotective effects of the nNOS/PSD-95 uncoupling in stroke.
Coronavirus Infection in Ferrets
Authors: Doria-Torra G. , Vidaña B. , Ramis A. , Amarilla S. P. , Martínez J.
Published: April 2016

Multisystemic granulomatous lesions are the most common finding in ferrets infected by ferret systemic coronavirus (FRSCV). To characterize the inflammatory response developed against this virus, lesions from 4 naturally infected ferrets were examined. Lesions were classified into the 4 known types of granulomas (granulomas without necrosis [G], granulomas with necrosis [G-N], granulomas with neutrophils [G-NL], and diffuse granulomatous inflammation [DG]). The cellular composition of the lesions was characterized on the basis of cellular morphology and immunohistochemistry using markers for T and B-lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages, and neutrophils. The extent and distribution of viral antigen expression was also assessed. In G lesions, macrophages were mainly located in the center of the granuloma, with a moderate number of T-lymphocytes scattered among the macrophages, plasma cells, and B-lymphocytes. G-N lesions exhibited a necrotic center surrounded by abundant macrophages, some T-lymphocytes, plasma cells, and a few B-lymphocytes. In G-NL lesions, there was a central area dominated by neutrophils with low numbers of macrophages, plasma cells, and lymphocytes. DG presented similar cell proportions, but distributed evenly throughout the lesions. FRSCV was expressed in G, G-NL, G-N, and DG, with decreasing numbers of immunoreactive cells. This study reveals the important role of macrophages in the inflammatory response of ferrets against the virus and the variable proportions of leukocytes among different types of lesions, indicating their variable age. The results also confirm the similarities of the disease in ferrets to feline infectious peritonitis.
Thermal Injuries in Veterinary Forensic Pathology
Authors: Wohlsein P. , Peters M. , Schulze C. , Baumgärtner W.
Published: April 2016

Localized thermal injuries in animals may be caused by exposure to fire and radiant heat, contact with hot items including hot liquids or steam, inhalation of hot air, and exposure to cold temperatures. In addition, animal fire victims may have intoxications caused by smoke gas. This article reviews the causes, pathogenetic aspects, morphological findings, additional investigations, differential diagnoses, and causes of death in various forms of thermal injuries. Since these cases do not occur frequently in diagnostic pathology, they represent a challenging task in general but also with respect to forensic or criminal aspects, such as whether a lesion represents an accidental or nonaccidental effect. Besides detailed information about the circumstances at the location, thermal injuries in animals require a thorough morphological evaluation, including additional investigations in conjunction with a profound knowledge about the possible lesion spectrum and suitable additional investigations.
Understanding IEC standard wind turbine models using SimPowerSystems
Authors: Das Kaushik , Hansen Anca D , Sørensen Poul E
Published: April 2016

This article describes and exemplifies the IEC 61400-27 generic wind turbine models through an interactive multimedia learning environment - Matlab SimPowerSystems. The article aims help engineers with different backgrounds to get a better understanding of wind turbine dynamics and control by easily conducting different study simulations in the SimPowerSystems platform.
Visual motion processing in migraine: Enhanced motion after-effects are related to display contrast, visual symptoms, visual triggers and attack frequency
Authors: Shepherd Alex J , Joly-Mascheroni Ramiro M
Published: April 2016

Background

Visual after-effects are illusions that occur after prolonged viewing of visual displays. The motion after-effect (MAE), for example, is an illusory impression of motion after viewing moving displays: subsequently, stationary displays appear to drift in the opposite direction. After-effects have been used extensively in basic vision research and in clinical settings, and are enhanced in migraine.

Objective

The objective of this article is to assess associations between ( 1 ) MAE duration and visual symptoms experienced during/between migraine/headache attacks, and ( 2 ) visual stimuli reported as migraine/headache triggers.

Methods

The MAE was elicited after viewing motion for 45 seconds. MAE duration was tested for three test contrast displays (high, medium, low). Participants also completed a headache questionnaire that included migraine/headache triggers.

Results

For each test contrast, the MAE was prolonged in migraine. MAE duration was associated with photophobia; visual triggers (flicker, striped patterns); and migraine or headache frequency.

Conclusions

Group differences on various visual tasks have been attributed to abnormal cortical processing in migraine, such as hyperexcitability, heightened responsiveness and/or a lack of intra-cortical inhibition. The results are not consistent with hyperexcitability simply from a general lack of inhibition. Alternative multi-stage models are discussed and suggestions for further research are recommended, including visual tests in clinical assessments/clinical trials.
The Contribution of Different Femur Segments to Overall Femoral Torsion
Authors: Seitlinger Gerd , Moroder Philipp , Scheurecker Georg , Hofmann Siegfried , Grelsamer Ronald P.
Published: April 2016

Background:

Femoral torsion is a critical parameter in hip and knee disorders. The unproven assumption is that the femoral neck exclusively contributes to the overall torsion of the femur.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The aim of this study was to measure femoral torsion at different levels in patients with abnormally high or low femoral torsion and to compare the results with healthy volunteers. Our hypothesis was that the pattern of torsion distribution among the different femoral levels varies between patients with abnormal torsion and healthy volunteers.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Magnetic resonance images of patients with a history of patellar instability and torsion of the femur ≥25° (11 patients, 16 femurs) and ≤0° (14 patients, 22 femurs) were analyzed. Our controls were 30 healthy volunteers (60 femurs). To assess femoral torsion, 4 lines were drawn: a first line through the center of the femoral head and neck, a second line through the center of the femur at the top of the lesser trochanter, a third line tangent to the posterior aspect of the distal femur just above the attachment of the gastrocnemius, and a fourth line tangent to the posterior condyles. Three investigators performed the measurements; 1 performed the measurements twice.

Results:

All femur segments showed significantly different torsion among the high-torsion, low-torsion, and control groups. Regarding the pattern of torsion distribution, on average, all levels contributed to the torsion. The ratio between the average neck and shaft torsion shifted toward a higher value in the high-torsion group, mostly because of a lack of external torsion in the shaft, and toward a lower value in the low-torsion group, owing to both a lack of internal torsion of the neck and increased external torsion in the shaft.

Conclusion:

We established a difference between neck, mid, and distal femoral torsion with reproducible measurements. Our data suggest that all 3 levels of the femur contribute to the total femoral torsion, with a different pattern among patients with high torsion and patellar instability.
Increased Medial Meniscal Slope Is Associated With Greater Risk of Ramp Lesion in Noncontact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
Authors: Song Guan-yang , Liu Xin , Zhang Hui , Wang Qian-qian , Zhang Jin , Li Yue , Feng Hua
Published: April 2016

Background:

A special type of meniscal lesion involving the peripheral attachment of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus (PHMM), termed ramp lesion, is commonly associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. However, no study has investigated its anatomic risk factors. Recently, increased meniscal slope has been identified as an independent anatomic risk factor for noncontact ACL injury.

Hypothesis:

Increased medial meniscal slope (MMS) as measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will correlate with greater risk of concomitant ramp lesion in noncontact ACL injury.

Study Design:

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

From January 2011 to December 2013, a total of 1012 consecutive patients were diagnosed as having noncontact ACL injuries and underwent primary ACL reconstructions. Among them, 160 patients were arthroscopically verified to have concomitant ramp lesions. Study exclusion criteria included partial ACL rupture, multiligamentous injury, associated medial/lateral meniscal lesions other than ramp lesion, skeletal immaturity, general joint laxity, severe malalignment of the lower extremity, history of knee surgery, lack of available preoperative MRI, and history of trauma to the proximal tibia. This left 53 patients in the study group (ACL + ramp group), who were matched in a 1:1 fashion to 53 control participants (isolated ACL group) who were arthroscopically verified to have isolated complete ACL injury during the same study period. Patients were matched by age, sex, and time from injury to surgery (TFI). Patients from the matched control group were selected by applying the same exclusion criteria as mentioned above. The MMS and medial posterior tibial slope (MPTS) were measured on the preoperative MRI in a blinded fashion. Predictors of ramp lesion, including MMS, MPTS, body mass index, pivot-shift test grade, and KT-1000 arthrometer side-to-side difference, were assessed by multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis.

Results:

The mean MMS in the study group was 3.5°, which was significantly larger than that in the control group (2.0°; P < .001). In addition, increased MMS was significantly (odds ratio [OR], 5.180; 95% CI, 1.814-32.957; P < .001) associated with concomitant ramp lesion in noncontact ACL injury, especially for those with a TFI of ≥6 months (OR, 13.819; 95% CI, 2.251-49.585; P < .001). However, no significant association was identified between MPTS and concomitant ramp lesion.

Conclusion:

Increased MMS was identified to be an independent anatomic risk factor of concomitant ramp lesions in noncontact ACL injuries, particularly for those with a TFI ≥6 months. This may provide additional information for counseling patients who have increased MMS on the greater risk of secondary PHMM lesions if their ACL-deficient knee joints are not well stabilized initially.
Outcomes After Shoulder and Elbow Injury in Baseball Players: Are We Reporting What Matters?
Authors: Makhni Eric C. , Saltzman Bryan M. , Meyer Maximilian A. , Moutzouros Vasilios , Cole Brian J. , Romeo Anthony A. , Verma Nikhil N.
Published: April 2016

Background:

Return to play, as well as time to return to play, are the most important metrics considered by athletes when attempting to make treatment decisions after injury. However, the consistency of reporting of these metrics in the scientific literature is unknown.

Purpose:

To investigate patterns of outcomes reporting in the medical literature of shoulder and elbow injuries in active baseball players.

Study Design:

Systematic review.

Methods:

A systematic review of literature published within the past 10 years was performed to identify all recent clinical studies focusing on shoulder and elbow injuries in baseball players across all levels. Review articles, case reports, and laboratory/biomechanical studies were all excluded.

Results:

A total of 49 studies were included for review. The majority of studies were either level 3 or level 4 evidence (96%). In total, 71% of studies reported on rates of return to preinjury level of play, whereas 31% of studies reported on time to return to preinjury level of play. Only 47% of studies reported on both rate and time of return to preinjury level of play. A minority of studies (8%) reported patient satisfaction rates. Finally, 27 different subjective and patient-reported outcomes were reported, and none of these appeared in more than 14% of all studies.

Conclusion:

Time to return to preinjury level of play is inadequately reported in studies of shoulder and elbow injury in baseball players. Similarly, satisfaction rates and scores are underreported. Finally, the significant variability of subjective and patient-reported outcomes utilized may undermine the ability of clinicians to accurately compare results from different studies.
Epidemiology of Acromioclavicular Joint Sprains in 25 National Collegiate Athletic Association Sports
Authors: Hibberd Elizabeth E. , Kerr Zachary Y. , Roos Karen G. , Djoko Aristarque , Dompier Thomas P.
Published: April 2016

Background:

No previous studies have described the incidence of acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries in a large sample of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes. Such data are needed to understand the injury prevalence, mechanisms of injury, and recovery patterns in NCAA student-athletes.

Purpose:

To describe the epidemiology of AC joint sprain injuries in 25 NCAA championship sports.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

AC joint sprains were analyzed from the NCAA Injury Surveillance Program during the 2009-2010 to 2014-2015 academic years. AC joint sprain injury rates, rate ratios, and injury proportion ratios (IPRs) were reported with 95% CIs.

Results:

In the 25 NCAA sports examined during the 2009-2010 to 2014-2015 academic years, a total of 844 AC joint sprains were reported, for a rate of 1.72 per 10,000 athlete-exposures (AEs). The majority of AC joint sprains were reported in football (50.4%, n = 425). Most AC joint sprains occurred in competitions (66.0%, n = 557), and the competition rate was 8.58 times the practice rate (95% CI, 7.44-9.89). In sex-comparable sports (ie, soccer, basketball, ice hockey, lacrosse, baseball/softball, indoor track, outdoor track, cross-country, tennis, and swimming and diving), the AC joint sprain rate in men was 4.67 times that of women (95% CI, 3.56-6.14). Most AC joint sprains were caused by player contact (54.7%, n = 462), followed by surface contact (29.0%, n = 245). Of all AC joint sprains, 47.5% resulted in a time loss of <24 hours, and 5.9% were severe. In addition, 9.7% were recurrent, and only 1.0% required surgery. In sex-comparable sports, male athletes had a larger proportion of injuries due to player contact than did female athletes (IPR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.06-2.13); female athletes had a larger proportion of injuries due to surface contact than male athletes (IPR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.01-2.38). Also, compared with women, men had a larger proportion of AC joint sprains that were recurrent (IPR, 10.29; 95% CI, 1.45-72.90).

Conclusion:

The highest rates of AC joint sprains occurred in men’s football, ice hockey, and wrestling as well as women’s ice hockey. Most AC joint sprains across all sports occurred because of a contact mechanism, particularly from player-player contact. Further research into the specific activities and exposures at the time of injury may lend a better understanding of the causation of these injuries and lead to appropriate interventions to decrease their incidence and severity.
Innovative approach for the in vitro research on biomedical scaffolds designed and customized with CAD-CAM technology
Authors: Marrelli Massimo , Pujia Antonella , Palmieri Francesca , Gatto Roberto , Falisi Giovanni , Gargari Marco , Caruso Silvia , Apicella Davide , Rastelli Claudio , Nardi Gianna Maria , Paduano Francesco , Tatullo Marco
Published: April 2016

Introduction:

Studies on biomaterials involve assays aimed to assess the interactions between the biomaterial and the cells seeded on its surface. However, the morphology of biomaterials is heterogeneous and it could be tricky to standardize the results among different biomaterials and the classic plastic plates. In this light, we decided to create, by means of computer-aided design (CAD) technology, a standardized sample model, with equal shape and sizes, able to fit into a classic shape of a 96-wells tissue culture plate (TCP).

Methods:

The design of this sample consists of a hole in the top in order to allow the injected cells to settle without them being able to slip from the sides of the sample to the bottom of the TCP wells. This CAD project is made using the software Pro-Engineer. The sample will totally fill the wells of the 96-well TCP. Dental pulp stem cells have been used to assess the ability of the different sample to support and promote the cell proliferation.

Results:

Twelve titanium, 12 gold–palladium, and 12 zirconium oxide customized samples were designed by means of the software cam powermill, by importing the .stl file created in Pro-Engineer software. The proliferation rate of the tested scaffolds showed to be similar to the control in the group with the customized shape.

Conclusion:

We think that our method can be useful to test different types of scaffolds when a greater accuracy of the measurements is desirable in order to verify the cell behavior of these scaffolds. Our innovative method can improve the standardization process in the evaluation of cell behavior on different biomaterials to open the way to more reliable tests on biomatrices functionalized with drugs or growth factors applied to the future regenerative medicine.
Design Recommendations for Recreational Systems Involving Older Adults Living With Dementia
Authors: Lazar Amanda , Thompson Hilaire J. , Demiris George
Published: April 2016

As the population ages, an increasing number of people will be diagnosed with dementia. Studies have found that insufficient activities are offered in memory care units to people with dementia, even though people benefit tremendously from participating in recreational activities. Information and communication technologies (ICT) can potentially facilitate activities in this setting, yet there is little guidance for designers to develop systems that can support people with dementia in engaging in recreational activities. To fill this gap, recommendations were generated through fieldwork and refined in two rounds of expert feedback. Areas covered include hardware, content, applications, and navigation. Systems should be usable by people with dementia, in addition to staff, to counter disempowerment by not enabling people to use their full abilities. In addition, a diversity of materials is needed to appeal to individuals with dementia who have widely varying backgrounds, abilities, interests, and preferences.
Developing a Non-Pharmacological Intervention for Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Rodakowski Juleen , Reynolds Charles F. , Lopez Oscar L. , Butters Meryl A. , Dew Mary Amanda , Skidmore Elizabeth R.
Published: April 2016

The purpose of this study is to describe one potential intervention model that is designed to slow decline to disability for individuals at-risk for dementia due to Mild Cognitive Impairment. Strategy training is a treatment model that focuses on behavioral activation through addressing barriers to daily activities. Strategy training encourages development of goals and plans to address self-identified impaired processes, and it maintains or improves individuals’ ability to perform desired activities. Progression to dementia may be slowed due to the link between engagement in daily activities and production of biological factors associated with neurocognitive health. We demonstrated that an older adult with mild cognitive impairment is able to develop goals, establish effective plans, and engage in daily activities through the strategy training intervention model.
Maltreated Children’s Ability to Make Temporal Judgments Using a Recurring Landmark Event
Authors: McWilliams Kelly , Lyon Thomas D. , Quas Jodi A.
Published: April 2016

This study examined whether maltreated children are capable of judging the location and order of significant events with respect to a recurring landmark event. One hundred sixty-seven 6- to 10-year-old maltreated children were asked whether the current day, their last court visit, and their last change in placement were “near” their birthday and “before or after” their birthday. Children showed some understanding that the target event was “near” and “before” their birthday when their birthday was less than 3 months hence, but were relatively insensitive to preceding birthdays. Therefore, children exhibited a prospective bias, preferentially answering with reference to a forthcoming birthday rather than a past birthday. The results demonstrate that the recurring nature of some landmark events makes questions about them referentially ambiguous and children’s answers subject to misinterpretation.
Beliefs about Supporting Mothers to Exclusively Breastfeed for 6 Months
Authors: Nyawade Susan A. , Middlestadt Susan E. , Peng Chao-Ying Joanne
Published: April 2016

Background:

Exclusive breastfeeding rates remain low in Kenya and determinants influencing mothers’ practice are documented. Little is known about factors underlying health professionals’ intention to support mothers to continue exclusive breastfeeding. Effective behavior modification requires designing interventions at multiple levels of influence, informed by theory-based research to identify relevant determinants.

Objectives:

To identify salient beliefs held by health professionals about support of mothers to exclusively breastfeed for 6 months and to explore definitions of the term support.

Methods:

This qualitative study was conducted in 6 public health facilities in Nairobi, Kenya. We used open-ended questions based on the reasoned action approach to elicit salient consequences, referents, and circumstances perceived by 15 health professionals about support for mothers to exclusively breastfeed for 6 months.

Results:

The most frequently mentioned consequences were healthier babies (87%) and reduced childhood ailments (67%). The main disadvantage was human immunodeficiency virus transmission through breast milk (33%). Colleagues (80%) and managers (67%) were perceived as approving referents, whereas some mothers/couples (40%) and the breast milk substitute industry (20%) were perceived as disapproving. Facilitating circumstances included lighter workload, better training, and more time. Definitions of support were varied and included giving information and demonstrating positioning and attachment techniques.

Conclusions:

Overall, health professionals perceived positive consequences toward supporting exclusive breastfeeding continuation and identified a number of approving referents. However, they reported challenging circumstances in the work environment, which managers need to address to help health professionals provide the support needed by Kenyan mothers to continue exclusive breastfeeding.
Spiritual Care Intervention and Spiritual Well-Being
Authors: Musa Ahmad S.
Published: April 2016

This study explored the frequency of providing aspects of spiritual care intervention and its association with nurses’ own spiritual well-being in a convenience sample of 355 Jordanian Arab Muslim nurses. The nurses were recruited from different hospitals, representing both public and private health care sectors in northern and central Jordan. A cross-sectional descriptive and correlational design was used. Results indicated that Jordanian Muslim nurses provided religious aspects of spiritual care intervention to their Muslim patients infrequently and that their own spiritual well-being was positively associated with the frequency of provision of spiritual care interventions. The study concluded that Jordanian Muslim nurses most frequently provided spiritual care interventions that were existential, not overtly religious, were commonly used, were more traditional, and did not require direct nurse involvement. Moreover, the findings revealed that spiritual well-being was important to those nurses, which has implications for improving the provision of spiritual care intervention. The study provides information that enables nurses, nursing managers, and nursing educators to evaluate the nurses’ provision of various aspects of spiritual care to their Muslim patients, and to identify aspects of spiritual care intervention where nurses might receive training to become competent in providing this care.
Factors Associated With Injurious Falls in Residential Care Facilities
Authors: Towne Samuel D. , Cho Jinmyoung , Smith Matthew Lee , Ory Marcia G.
Published: April 2016

Objective: Despite a growing literature on the epidemiology of falls, little is known about injurious falls in residential care facilities (RCFs). Addressing this gap, this study examined demographic, interpersonal, institutional, and community factors associated with injurious falls in RCFs. Method: We conducted analyses using a nationally representative sample ( n = 733,309) of RCF residents (2010) examining whether or not a resident experienced a fall that resulted in any injury (past year). Results: Overall, 15% of RCF residents experienced an injurious fall. Residents needing assistance with activities of daily living were more likely to experience injurious falls (adjusted-OR = 1.85), whereas males (adjusted-OR = 0.74) and those residing in smaller facilities (adjusted-OR = 0.68) were less likely. Other resident sociodemographic characteristics, payment status, social connectedness, and rurality were not significant independent predictors. Discussion: Research further exploring multifactorial fall prevention screening and treatment programs in RCFs is recommended for reducing injurious falls in this understudied setting.
Feelings of Usefulness to Others Predict Active Coping With Osteoarthritis Knee Pain
Authors: Pierpaoli Christina M. , Parmelee Patricia A.
Published: April 2016

Objective: To investigate associations of perceived usefulness to other people with active versus passive coping strategies among adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Additional aims explored contributions of personality variables to this dynamic. Method: 199 persons (70.3 years ± 10.4) with knee OA reported personality, coping, and psychosocial data using the Big Five Inventory, subscales from the Social Provisions Scale, and the Coping With Illness measure. Regression analyses identified predictors of perceived usefulness and its independent and interactive associations with active versus passive coping and personality variables. Results: Better subjective health predicted perceived usefulness. Older adults with higher reported perceived usefulness employed more active than passive pain coping strategies. Passive coping was associated with neuroticism and greater functional disability. Discussion: Usefulness predicted active OA pain coping, suggesting that it may promote well-being among persons with chronic pain. Further study investigating perceived usefulness in promoting positive health behaviors is needed.
From Familiar Faces to Family: Staff and Resident Relationships in Long-Term Care
Authors: Canham Sarah L. , Battersby Lupin , Fang Mei Lan , Sixsmith Judith , Woolrych Ryan , Sixsmith Andrew
Published: April 2016

Objective: Long-term care (LTC) facilities are increasingly intent on creating a “homelike” atmosphere for residents. Although residential staff are integral to the construction of a home within LTC settings, their perceptions have been relatively absent from the literature. Method: Thirty-two LTC staff participants were interviewed about their experiences and perceptions of the physical environment and conceptualizations of home, and thematic analyses were conducted. Results: An overarching category—interpersonal relationships—emerged from our analyses emphasizing the importance of relationships in creating a homelike environment within institutional settings. Sub-themes that inform our understanding include the following: (a) Staff members’ perceptions of home; (b) “Their second home”: Adjustment to and familiarity in LTC; and (c) “We become family”: Relationality makes a home. Discussion: The study provides evidence to inform current policies and practices in LTC. Specifically, enough time and space should be given to residents and staff to create and maintain personal relationships to make residential care homelike.
Method for assessing combat survivability for aircraft with wing damage
Authors: Pei Yang , Chen ZhiWei , Wei YuHao , Cheng Tao
Published: April 2016

In the combat environment, wing damage is of particular concern since the wing is the main component to generate lift which affects survivability or safety. Previous research has been mainly concentrated on the aerodynamic behavior of the aircraft with wing damage. However, the military analysts are more concerned about the specific value of survivability (measured by survival probability) so as to correctly plan combat operations. This paper proposes a method for quantitatively describing the relationship of aircraft survivability and damage holes with different sizes and different locations on the wing. Examples show that the survivability decreases with increasing hole size; the magnitude of survivability decrement reduces when moving the damage backwards or moving the damage toward the wing tip; when the effect of damage on the vulnerability is considered for different hole sizes, the survivability is reduced more significantly compared with the cases where the vulnerability is kept constant for all scenarios.
Motion analysis study on sensitivity of finite element model of the cervical spine to geometry
Authors: Zafarparandeh Iman , Erbulut Deniz U , Ozer Ali F
Published: April 2016

Numerous finite element models of the cervical spine have been proposed, with exact geometry or with symmetric approximation in the geometry. However, few researches have investigated the sensitivity of predicted motion responses to the geometry of the cervical spine. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of symmetric assumption on the predicted motion by finite element model of the cervical spine. We developed two finite element models of the cervical spine C2–C7. One model was based on the exact geometry of the cervical spine (asymmetric model), whereas the other was symmetric (symmetric model) about the mid-sagittal plane. The predicted range of motion of both models—main and coupled motions—was compared with published experimental data for all motion planes under a full range of loads. The maximum differences between the asymmetric model and symmetric model predictions for the principal motion were 31%, 78%, and 126% for flexion–extension, right–left lateral bending, and right–left axial rotation, respectively. For flexion–extension and lateral bending, the minimum difference was 0%, whereas it was 2% for axial rotation. The maximum coupled motions predicted by the symmetric model were 1.5° axial rotation and 3.6° lateral bending, under applied lateral bending and axial rotation, respectively. Those coupled motions predicted by the asymmetric model were 1.6° axial rotation and 4° lateral bending, under applied lateral bending and axial rotation, respectively. In general, the predicted motion response of the cervical spine by the symmetric model was in the acceptable range and nonlinearity of the moment–rotation curve for the cervical spine was properly predicted.
Scolecobasidium granulomatous pneumonia and abscess – an emerging opportunistic fungal pathogen: a case report
Authors: Pundhir P , Tuda C , Vincentelli C , Morlote D , Rivera C
Published: April 2016

Scolecobasidium sp. are commensal soil and water thermophilic dematiaceous fungi. They are commonly isolated as contaminants from respiratory secretions due to their abundant presence in water supplies, but they are also rare yet emerging culprits producing severe opportunistic infections in immunocompromised individuals. The most consistent presentations reported in literature are life-threatening pulmonary and cerebral granulomatous lesions.
Urethrocutaneous fistula: a rare presentation of penile tuberculosis
Authors: Bhari Neetu , Jangid Banwari L , Singh Sanjay , Mittal Setu , Ali Firdaus , Yadav Savita
Published: April 2016

A man in his 50s presented with two urethrocutaneous fistulae with intermittent dribbling of urine from the opening of fistula on the surface of glans penis. A skin biopsy from indurated margin of fistula was suggestive of fibrosing granulomatous reaction. Anti-tubercular therapy was given with a diagnosis of penile tuberculosis and there was 50% improvement within two months of treatment.
Optimal integral sliding mode guidance law based on generalized model predictive control
Authors: Wang Jiang , He Shaoming
Published: April 2016

This article investigates the problem of designing robust guidance laws for intercepting maneuvering targets with desired terminal line-of-sight angle constraint. Based on generalized model predictive control for the nominal system, the discontinuous and continuous integral sliding mode control laws are, respectively, developed. Stability analysis shows that the proposed guidance law can ensure the optimal tracking characteristic of generalized model predictive control algorithm and the line-of-sight angle tracking error as well as the line-of-sight angular rate can converge to zero asymptotically. The effectiveness of the proposed guidance law is validated by applying it to a surface-to-air missile for intercepting a head-on maneuvering target under different scenarios.