bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tweeting to save the furniture: the 2013 Australian election campaign on Twitter
Authors: Bruns Axel
Published: September 2016

Past years have seen continuing experimentation in the use of social media for political campaigning. By the time of the 2013 Australian federal election, social media of various forms had become comparatively mainstream in Australia and were widely used by members and candidates: more than 350 candidates operated Twitter accounts during the campaign, for instance. This article explores the key patterns both in how politicians and their parties campaigned on Twitter during the 2013 federal election campaign and in how the public responded to and engaged with these campaigns. It documents significant, systematic differences between the major party blocs and interprets these as reflecting the Coalition’s ‘small target’ strategy and Labor’s last-ditch attempts to ‘save the furniture’, respectively.
Undocumented migrant mothers and health cuts in Madrid: A gendered process of exclusion
Authors: Caballe-Climent Laura
Published: September 2016

In 2012 the Spanish government implemented the Royal Decree Law 16/2012 by which undocumented migrants are denied free access to the Spanish healthcare system. In the midst of unemployment, poverty and cuts in social protection, undocumented migrant women are facing multidimensional exclusions whereby austerity measures are having different consequences for women, especially for those who bear the greater brunt of caring roles in the form of mothering. Drawing upon qualitative research in the form of semi-structured interviews in Madrid, this article examines the structural vulnerabilities of undocumented migrant mothers and analyses the gendered processes that provoke them. At a time in which the borders of Europe are reinforced and internal political and economic tensions question this fortress, migrants become shock absorbers for national anxieties. The article argues that the Royal Decree Law, following neoliberal discourses of citizenship and social rights and saturated by patriarchal normative understandings of women’s place in society and care, turns undocumented migrant mothers into disposable and invisible reproductive bodies deprived of rights.
Diagnosing disruptive mood dysregulation disorder: Integrating semi-structured and unstructured interviews
Authors: McTate Emily A , Leffler Jarrod M
Published: September 2016

The newest iteration of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual–fifth edition (DSM-5), is the first to include the diagnosis of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD). The assessment and diagnosis of psychopathology in children are complicated, particularly for mood disorders. Practice can be guided by the use of well-validated instruments. However, as this is a new diagnosis existing instruments have not yet been evaluated for the diagnosis of DMDD. This study seeks to provide a method for using existing structured interview instruments to assess for this contemporary diagnosis. The Children’s Interview for Psychiatric Syndromes (ChIPS) and the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents (MINI-KID) are reviewed and existing items consistent with a diagnosis of DMDD are identified. Finally, a case is presented using both measures and applying the theoretical items identified to illustrate how one might use these measures to assess DMDD. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
A mixed-methods study of smoking attitudes and behaviors among dual-smoker stroke survivor–caregiver dyads
Authors: McCarthy Michael J , Craddock Wendi S , Acquavita Shauna P , Black Kalyn
Published: September 2016

Although cigarette smoking is a major contributor to continued health problems after stroke, the majority of stroke survivors do not quit smoking. This may be due in part to the high rate of smoking among committed partners of stroke survivors. This study investigated the experiences of 11 dual-smoker stroke survivor–caregiver dyads, identifying themes which may be useful for understanding this entrenched population: managing the addiction as a dyad; conflicting feelings about whether smoking is an individual versus mutual concern; and dyad-level barriers and facilitators of quitting. We also present specific cessation strategies that dual-smoker dyads participating in the study described.
The concept of a living tradition
Authors: Beckstein Martin
Published: September 2016

Starting with Popper, social theorists across the board have acknowledged that traditions serve socially valuable functions. However, while traditions are usually understood as ‘living’ entities that come in overlapping varieties and evolve over time, the socially valuable functions attributed to tradition tend to presuppose invariability in ways of thinking and acting. Addressing this tension, this article provides a detailed analysis of the concept of tradition, and directs special attention to conceivable criteria for the authentic continuation of a tradition. It is argued that the ways of thinking and acting that constitute the material of a tradition must – among faithful members of that tradition – stand in a relation of equivalence – not identity or similarity. The implications of this account concern our ability to decide (normatively) conflicts over authenticity among rival tradition branches as well as the role that traditions play in policy-making.
On the reflexivity of crises
Authors: Cordero Rodrigo , Mascareño Aldo , Chernilo Daniel
Published: September 2016

The main aim of this article is to offer a sociological concept of crisis that, defined as the expected yet non-lineal outcome of the internal dynamics of modern societies, builds on the synergies between critical theory and systems theory. It contends that, notwithstanding important differences, both traditions concur in addressing crises as a form of self-reproduction of social systems as much as a form of engagement with the complexities and effects of such processes of reproduction. In order to make our comparison exhaustive, this article explores critical and systems theories’ notions of crisis at three levels: (1) their conceptual delimitation of crises; (2) their methodological proposals to empirically observe crises; and (3) their normative attempts to contribute to their resolution. As crises remain a distinctive structural feature of the social world and a rich source of knowledge about it, reflexivity must be seen as a crucial form of engagement with the negative expressions of social life itself.
Barriers for recruitment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to a controlled telemedicine trial
Authors: Broendum Eva , Ulrik Charlotte Suppli , Gregersen Thorbjorn , Hansen Ejvind Frausing , Green Allan , Ringbaek Thomas
Published: September 2016

The aim of this analysis is to investigate reasons why patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease decline to participate in a controlled trial of telemedicine. Patients with previous chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations were invited to participate in a 6-month randomized telemedicine trial. For eligible patients, reasons for refusal were registered. Of 560 eligible patients, 279 (50%) declined to participate in the trial, 257 (92%) reported a reason: 53 (20.6%) technical concerns, 164 (63.8%) personal reasons, 17 (6.6%) preferred outpatient clinic visits, and 23 (8.9%) did not want to participate in clinical research. Compared to consenting patients, subjects declining participation were significantly older, more often female, had higher lung function (%predicted), lower body mass index, higher admission-rate for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the previous year, and were more often diagnosed with osteoporosis. Many eligible patients decline participating in a controlled tele-healthcare trial and, furthermore, a tailored approach for recruiting females and elderly patients appears appropriate.
Progenitor cell secretory products exert additive renoprotective effects when combined with ace inhibitors in experimental CKD
Authors: Kepecs David M , Yuen Darren A , Zhang Yanling , Thai Kerri , Connelly Kim A , Gilbert Richard E
Published: September 2016

Hypothesis/introduction:

Renal fibrovascular injury often persists in chronic kidney disease patients treated with renin-angiotensin system blockers. Intriguingly, early outgrowth cell-derived factor infusion also inhibits chronic renal injury. We sought to determine whether early outgrowth cell-derived factor administration provides further renoprotection when added to renin-angiotensin system blockade.

Materials and methods:

Conditioned medium was generated by incubating rat early outgrowth cells with serum-free endothelial basal medium-2 to collect their secreted factors. Subtotal nephrectomy rats received enalapril 0.5 mg/L in drinking water or placebo, beginning 8 weeks post-surgery. Four weeks later, enalapril-treated rats received intravenous injections of either conditioned medium or control endothelial basal medium-2 for 2 weeks. Glomerular filtration rate, urinary protein excretion and renal structure were assessed 4 weeks later at 16 weeks post-surgery.

Results:

Enalapril-treated subtotal nephrectomy rats receiving control endothelial basal medium-2 injections experienced only partial renoprotection when compared to vehicle-treated subtotal nephrectomy rats. In contrast, conditioned medium infusion, when administered in addition to enalapril, attenuated the progression of renal dysfunction in subtotal nephrectomy rats, improving glomerular filtration rate and reducing proteinuria without affecting blood pressure.

Conclusions:

Early outgrowth cell-derived factors exert additive renoprotective effects on top of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy in experimental chronic kidney disease, providing the rationale for clinical trials of early outgrowth cell-based therapies for chronic kidney disease.
Overexpression of angiotensinogen downregulates aquaporin 1 expression via modulation of Nrf2–HO-1 pathway in renal proximal tubular cells of transgenic mice
Authors: Chang Shiao-Ying , Lo Chao-Sheng , Zhao Xin-Ping , Liao Min-Chun , Chenier Isabelle , Bouley Richard , Ingelfinger Julie R , Chan John SD , Zhang Shao-Ling
Published: September 2016

Introduction:

We aimed to examine the regulation of aquaporin 1 expression in an angiotensinogen transgenic mouse model, focusing on underlying mechanisms.

Methods:

Male transgenic mice overexpressing rat angiotensinogen in their renal proximal tubular cells (RPTCs) and rat immortalised RPTCs stably transfected with rat angiotensinogen cDNA were used.

Results:

Angiotensinogen-transgenic mice developed hypertension and nephropathy, changes that were either partially or completely attenuated by treatment with losartan or dual renin–angiotensin system blockade (losartan and perindopril), respectively, while hydralazine prevented hypertension but not nephropathy. Decreased expression of aquaporin 1 and heme oxygenase-1 and increased expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and sodium–hydrogen exchanger 3 were observed in RPTCs of angiotensinogen-transgenic mice and in angiotensinogen-transfected immortalised RPTCs. These parameters were normalised by dual renin–angiotensin system blockade. Both in vivo and in vitro studies identified a novel mechanism in which angiotensinogen overexpression in RPTCs enhances the cytosolic accumulation of Nrf2 via the phosphorylation of pGSK3β Y216. Consequently, lower intranuclear Nrf2 levels are less efficient to trigger heme oxygenase-1 expression as a defence mechanism, which subsequently diminishes aquaporin 1 expression in RPTCs.

Conclusions:

Angiotensinogen-mediated downregulation of aquaporin 1 and Nrf2 signalling may play an important role in intrarenal renin–angiotensin system-induced hypertension and kidney injury.
Redefining ‘tradition’ in political thought
Authors: Iqtidar Humeira
Published: September 2016

Debates about preserving, modifying and applying sharia (Islamic normative guidelines) through principles of taqlid (to follow) or ijtihad (to carry out independent interpretation) are immensely useful in thinking through a sharper definition of tradition for political theorists and historians of political thought more generally. Political theorists and historians of political thought have tended to use tradition in a range of ways without specifying key elements of the concept. Building on debates in Islamic thought related to taqlid and its relationship to ijtihad, and through a focus on the ideas of a contemporary thinker, Javed Ahmed Ghamidi, this paper proposes that tradition in political thought can be defined as a framework for knowledge production and consumption constituted of two key elements: method and sensibility. Further, the paper suggests that this definition allows us a better understanding of vibrancy in a tradition: vehement debate, contradictions and internal contestation are not signs of decay but of vitality within a tradition. It is the severe delinking of the two elements of a tradition, method and sensibility, which has greater potential to reduce its vibrancy.
Searching far away from the lamp-post: An agent-based model
Authors: Vuculescu Oana
Published: September 2016

This article presents insights from a laboratory experiment on human problem solving in a combinatorial task. I rely on a hierarchical rugged landscape to explore how human problem-solvers are able to detect and exploit patterns in their search for an optimal solution. Empirical findings suggest that solvers do not engage only in local and random distant search, but as they accumulate information about the problem structure, solvers make ‘model-based’ moves, a type of cognitive search. I then calibrate an agent-based model of search to analyse and interpret the findings from the experimental setup and discuss implications for organizational search. Simulation results show that, for non-trivial problems, performance can be increased by a low level of persistence, that is, an increased likelihood to quickly abandon unsuccessful paths.
Colour preference, naturalness, vividness and colour quality metrics, Part 3: Experiments with makeup products and analysis of the complete warm white dataset
Authors: Khanh TQ , Bodrogi P
Published: September 2016

Light source colour quality is a complex phenomenon with several visual and cognitive components. Subjective colour preference, naturalness and vividness assessments of reddish cosmetic products in a viewing booth lit by light sources with a correlated colour temperature of 3200 K and to 550 lx were analysed and modelled by a new combined colour quality formula – a linear combination of a colour fidelity index and a measure of chroma change. Results of the warm white light sources described in all three parts of this work were merged. They were modelled by optimising the parameters of the same formula. The formula supports multi-LED light sources with moderately accentuated local spectral maxima to enhance object chroma over a moderate range.
The mechanical properties of the multi-axial warp-knit/resin matrix composite containing powder waste
Authors: Nie Xiaolin , Boakye Andrews , Jia Zhihong , Ma Pibo
Published: September 2016

Extensive use of composite materials leads to an increase in waste materials. Therefore, it is necessary to find a proper way to recycle the composites. In this research, the powder waste of carbon-epoxy resin composites collected from the cutting and grinding process have been added into glass fiber reinforced phenolic resin composite during the preparation process in order to enhance some mechanical characteristics. Thermal behavior, tensile and flexural properties of adding powder composites have been analyzed. Results show that adding powder waste in a certain proportional range can improve the performance of the new composites.
Design and development of winter over coat using Jute and hollow conjugated polyester non-woven flexible composite
Authors: Zakriya G Mohamed , Ramakrishnan GR G , Abinaya D , Devi S Brundha , Kumar A Senthil , Kumar S Theyva
Published: September 2016

Jute and hollow conjugated polyester fibres were blended to produce non-woven composite by using a compressive hot pressing method having a weight of 328 g/m2. Its blending ratios: 50/50, 60/40 and 70/30% are considered as one factor. Needling density of non-woven fabric: 300, 150 and 75 punches/cm2 is fixed as another factor. Thermal and mechanical properties of developed non-woven composite material such as thermal conductivity and thermal resistance, breaking force and elongation were tested. Among the developed 15 samples, optimal responses are shown on 50/50% of Jute/hollow conjugated polyester fibre proportion and 150 punches/cm2 needling density. To produce three-layered winter over coat, 50% Jute/50% hollow conjugated polyester is selected as middle layer, polyurethane coated nylon and polyester fabric is used as outer and inner layer fabric, respectively. This designed over coat shows the least thermal conductivity value of 0.0195 W/m K.
Robust topology construction method with radio interface constraint for multi-radio multi-channel wireless mesh network using directional antennas
Authors: Bao Xuecai , Han Longzhe , Deng Chengzhi , Zhang Hai , Tan Wenqun
Published: September 2016

Multi-radio and multi-channel wireless mesh networks using directional antenna (MR-MC DWMN) greatly improve the spatial reuse of wireless channels and increase network capacity. However, the number of directional radio interfaces in MR-MC DWMN affects topology reliability and survivability. This article focuses on the construction of robust topology with radio interface constraints in MR-MC DWMN. Because of the limitation of the number of directional radio interfaces, we first formulate this topology optimization problem with directional radio interface constraints to be equivalent to establish k-connected topology with node degree constraints and then propose a robust topology construction algorithm with directional radio interface constraint. We define the link weight based on node degree and then use graph theory to construct the robust topology with node degree constraints. The proposed constructing robust topology with directional radio interface constraint can not only establish k-connected topology but also minimize the maximum node degree and meet the requirement of radio interface constraints. Simulation shows that constructing robust topology with directional radio interface constraint obtains less maximum node degree and average path length than existing k-connected topology control algorithms under the limitation of directional radio interfaces. Moreover, the constructing robust topology with directional radio interface constraint achieves better network performance than other algorithms.
Unserious
Authors: Simon Bart
Published: September 2016

This article initiates a provocation for a collective discussion of what we might call an unserious epistemology for the study and design of games. How can we find ways of taking the unseriousness of games seriously? Starting with the idea that most players take their games much less seriously than game studies scholars, I reflect on the importance of the idea of unseriousness for the theorization of gameplay as a sociocultural activity of last resort in a contemporary world defined by the grave seriousness of life.
“Doing Trust”
Authors: Guillemin Marilys , Gillam Lynn , Barnard Emma , Stewart Paul , Walker Hannah , Rosenthal Doreen
Published: September 2016

Trust in research is important but not well understood. We examine the ways that researchers understand and practice trust in research. Using a qualitative research design, we interviewed 19 researchers, including eight researchers involved in Australian Indigenous research. The project design focused on sensitive research including research involving vulnerable participants and sensitive research topics. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. We found that researchers’ understanding of trust integrates both the conceptual and concrete; researchers understand trust in terms of how it relates to other similar concepts and how they practice trust in research. This provides a sound basis to better understand trust in research, as well as identifying mechanisms to regain trust when it is lost in research.
Money Matters: Dissecting the Relationship Between Gender Equality and Female Homicide Victimization Rates in the European Union
Authors: Stamatel Janet P.
Published: September 2016

This study utilized a fairly new measure of gender equality from the European Union to dissect the relationship between gender-specific homicide victimization rates and different forms of gender equality across a sample of European countries. Results showed support for a curvilinear relationship between financial equality and female and male homicide victimization, providing support for amelioration and backlash theories, but no support for absolute economic marginalization. While there were some similarities between the female and male models, there were enough differences to warrant further investigations of gendered theories of violent victimization.
Predictors of Recurrence After Corticosteroid Injection for Trigger Digits
Authors: Grandizio Louis C. , Speeckaert Amy , Brothers Justin , Graham Jove , Klena Joel C.
Published: September 2016

Background: We aimed to identify risk factors for recurrence of trigger digit following corticosteroid injection. Methods: A retrospective review identified patients 18 years and older who presented to a single fellowship-trained hand surgeon with a symptomatic trigger digit during a 1-year period. Baseline demographic data were recorded. Patients with persistent trigger digit after a single injection were offered a second injection. Patients refusing a second injection were excluded from our analysis. Patients with persistent symptoms after 2 injections were offered surgery. For patients with diabetes mellitus, additional information regarding method of disease control and hemoglobin A1c level was recorded. Results: The overall success of corticosteroid injection was 84% with 16% of patients requiring surgical release. Of the 240 patients successfully treated with injection, 99 (41%) required a second injection. Injections resulted in persistent triggering in 15% of patients with diabetes and 17% of patients without diabetes. A multivariate regression analysis revealed that the 2 strongest risk factors for requiring surgical release were patient age and patients whose fourth digit of the right hand was injected. Diabetes was not a risk factor for persistent triggering after corticosteroid injection. Conclusions: Our findings can be used to counsel patients prior to their initial injection and suggest that patients with diabetes can be managed with corticosteroid injection with equal efficacy compared with patients without diabetes.
Preoperative Epoxy Embolization Facilitates the Safe and Effective Resection of Venous Malformations in the Hand and Forearm
Authors: Holly Brian P. , Patel Yuval A. , Park James , Fayad Laura M. , Deune E.Gene , Mitchell Sally E. , Weiss Clifford R.
Published: September 2016

Background: The standard of care for treatment of low-flow venous malformations (VMs) is percutaneous sclerotherapy. These lesions are seldom surgically resected, especially if the malformation is in an anatomically difficult location. Percutaneous sclerotherapy is safe and effective. However, the drawbacks to sclerotherapy are the need for repeated treatments and risks of skin ulceration, deep venous thrombosis, scarring/contractures, and nerve damage. Surgical resection can be difficult because of intraoperative bleeding, intraoperative lesional decompression, and difficulty in localization. Methods: We describe our initial experience with 11 patients who underwent surgical resection of VMs located in the hand and forearm after preembolization of 27 total sites using n-butyl-cyanoacrylate or ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer. Results: Of the 11 patients treated, 5 had focal VMs, 3 had multifocal VMs, and 3 had diffuse VMs throughout the affected extremity. Four of the 5 patients with focal VMs were followed for at least 1 year, and no further treatment was required. All 3 of the patients with diffuse VMs have required ongoing treatment. No major functional impairments were reported, and there were no major procedure-related complications. Conclusions: Overall, embolization of the malformation before surgical resection facilitated localization, demarcation, and removal of the lesion.
Endoscopic Fascia Release for Forearm Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome: Case Report and Surgical Technique
Authors: Miller Elizabeth A. , Cobb Anna L. , Cobb Tyson K.
Published: September 2016

Background: Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) of the forearm is traditionally treated with open compartment release requiring large incisions that can result in less than optimal esthetic results. The purpose of this study is to describe a case report of 2 professional motocross patients with forearm CECS treated endoscopically using a minimally invasive technique. Methods: Two professional motocross racers presented with a history of chronic proximal volar forearm pain when motocross riding. Other symptoms included paresthesia and weakness, which, at times, led to an inability to continue riding. Both failed conservative management. Compartment pressure measurements were performed before and after provocative exercises to confirm diagnosis of CECS. Release of both the volar and dorsal compartments was performed endoscopically through a single incision. Results: Symptoms resolved after surgery. The first patient resumed riding at 1 week, competing at 3 weeks, and continues to ride competitively without symptoms at 3 years postoperative. The second patient began riding at 1 week and won second place in the National Supercross finals 5 weeks after simultaneous bilateral release. Conclusions: This technique is simple and effective. The cannula used protects the superficial nerves while allowing release through a small, cosmetically pleasing incision.
‘I just wanna see someone get knocked the fuck out’: Spectating affray on Facebook fight pages
Authors: Wood Mark A.
Published: September 2016

Spurred by the advent of the Internet and the camera phone, in the early 21st century street fighting met the information superhighway. Today, one of the key vehicles accelerating this turn are Facebook fight pages: user-generated content aggregation pages that publicly host footage of street fights, and other forms of bare-knuckle violence on the popular social networking site. Drawing on observational data collected from five popular fight pages, and survey data from 205 fight page users, this article explores the different forms of bare-knuckle violence hosted on these online domains and their users’ motivations for viewing it. Through doing so, it examines eleven distinct modes of spectating bare-knuckle violence on fight pages: entertainment, consumptive deviance, righteous justice, amusement, self-affirmation, nostalgia, boredom alleviation, intrigue, self-defence training and risk awareness. Additionally, I argue that to understand these modes of spectating bare-knuckle violence, we have to address the codes of masculinity that underlie not only much of the violence hosted on fight pages, but also spectators’ readings of these events.
‘I’m a copper not a welfare officer’
Authors: Lamb Ben
Published: September 2016

This article uses what was a very popular programme, Hunters Walk, to challenge dominant understandings of the British police series in the 1970s. Studies of British television drama often characterize this genre as being epitomized by The Sweeney throughout this decade; remembered for its use of film cameras on location to regularly depict action sequences in a somewhat escapist fashion. This article complicates such a dominant critical opinion by drawing attention to a popular series shot in the studio with video cameras and analysing its engagement with feminist concerns and representations of gender, a trait usually attributed to soap operas at that time.
Parathyroid adenoma masquerading as oncocytic thyroid follicular neoplasm
Authors: Wong Shing Lih , Chan Norman Hok Ling
Published: September 2016

Differentiation of thyroid follicular lesions from parathyroid lesions on fine needle aspiration cytology can be very challenging, both being endocrine lesions with overlap in cytomorphologic features. In some cases, it may be impossible to differentiate thyroid neoplasms from parathyroid neoplasms based on cytologic grounds alone. Clinical information, including laboratory and radiologic findings, is crucial in these difficult cases. Immunocytochemistry is a useful diagnostic tool in differentiating thyroid from parathyroid neoplasms. In this case report, we detail the challenges faced in differentiating a parathyroid lesion from a thyroid follicular lesion based on cytomorphology, and how clinical information and immunocytochemistry were applied towards making a correct diagnosis.
Detection of Sound Image Movement During Horizontal Head Rotation
Authors: Honda Akio , Ohba Kagesho , Iwaya Yukio , Suzuki Yôiti
Published: September 2016

Movement detection for a virtual sound source was measured during the listener’s horizontal head rotation. Listeners were instructed to do head rotation at a given speed. A trial consisted of two intervals. During an interval, a virtual sound source was presented 60° to the right or left of the listener, who was instructed to rotate the head to face the sound image position. Then in one of a pair of intervals, the sound position was moved slightly in the middle of the rotation. Listeners were asked to judge the interval in a trial during which the sound stimuli moved. Results suggest that detection thresholds are higher when listeners do head rotation. Moreover, this effect was found to be independent of the rotation velocity.
Ultrasound-guided alcohol neurolysis of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve for intractable meralgia paresthetica: a case series
Authors: Ahmed Arif , Arora Divesh , Kochhar Amit Kumar
Published: September 2016

Meralgia paresthetica is a rare sensory entrapment neuropathy which leads to burning, tingling and numbness in the antero-lateral aspect of thigh. Mostly it runs a benign course, and responds to conservative measures. We present a case series of six patients with intractable meralgia paresthetica with severe pain over antero-lateral thigh along the distribution of lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh which was further confirmed by nerve conduction study. These patients did not respond to the oral anti-neuropathic medications. The two successive diagnostic lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block not only had confirmed the diagnosis but also provided pain relief for a few days. Then the ultrasound-guided lateral femoral cutaneous nerve neurolysis was done using 50% alcohol. In all the patients, there were more than 50% decrease in pain intensity and improvement in quality of life after the procedure, and the relief and improvement were maintained for up to 12 weeks. This case series shows ultrasound-guided lateral femoral cutaneous nerve neurolysis is a safe and effective treatment for intractable meralgia paresthetica and also provides prolonged pain relief and is a good option in avoiding the surgery.

Summary points

The literature on neurolysis is rare, with only few case reports. This is the first case series on this topic, and it will greatly improve the evidence that ultrasound-guided neurolysis can also be used for intractable meralgia paresthetica patients who do not respond to conservative measures before proceeding to surgery.
Development of research priorities in paediatric pain and palliative care
Authors: Liossi Christina , Anderson Anna-Karenia , Howard Richard F ,   On behalf of NIHR CRN-C CSG in Pain and Palliative Care
Published: September 2016

Priority setting for healthcare research is as important as conducting the research itself because rigorous and systematic processes of priority setting can make an important contribution to the quality of research. This project aimed to prioritise clinical therapeutic uncertainties in paediatric pain and palliative care in order to encourage and inform the future research agenda and raise the profile of paediatric pain and palliative care in the United Kingdom. Clinical therapeutic uncertainties were identified and transformed into patient, intervention, comparison and outcome (PICO) format and prioritised using a modified Nominal Group Technique. Members of the Clinical Studies Group in Pain and Palliative Care within National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN)-Children took part in the prioritisation exercise. There were 11 clinically active professionals spanning across a wide range of paediatric disciplines and one parent representative. The top three research priorities related to establishing the safety and efficacy of (1) gabapentin in the management of chronic pain with neuropathic characteristics, (2) intravenous non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the management of post-operative pain in pre-schoolers and (3) different opioid formulations in the management of acute pain in children while at home. Questions about the long-term effect of psychological interventions in the management of chronic pain and various pharmacological interventions to improve pain and symptom management in palliative care were among the ‘top 10’ priorities. The results of prioritisation were included in the UK Database of Uncertainties about the Effects of Treatments (DUETS) database. Increased awareness of priorities and priority-setting processes should encourage clinicians and other stakeholders to engage in such exercises in the future.
Being a Creative and an Immigrant in Montreal
Authors: Tremblay Diane-Gabrielle , Dehesa Ana Dalia Huesca
Published: September 2016

Work on creative careers has focused on the main national populations, while little research has addressed the situation of artists and creators of immigrant origin or different ethnic groups to determine whether they have the same access to work and employment rights. To respond for a call for research on different ethnic groups in the cultural sector, or the ethnic consequences of the individualization of careers, we therefore undertook research on the creative careers of immigrants in Montreal. We were interested in how they emerged as an artist, how they developed their careers, the access and rights they have in terms of support to their career, as McRobbie seems to indicate that ethnicity adds its “own weight to the life chances of those who are attempting to make a living in these fields. We found that these immigrant artists consider their main difficulties to be the lack of social networks, access to various forms of support to compensate for financial risks and difficulties in finding a job. We conclude with a few suggestions: measures to facilitate networking for immigrants, more training and information on government programs, mentoring support, as well as the support from community organizations, associations, and programs.
The Pitfalls of Embracing Minority Unionism
Authors: Walchuk Brad
Published: September 2016

In a series of recent cases involving the right to bargain collectively, the Supreme Court of Canada asserted that Wagner Act model, or a model of unionism which is both exclusive and majoritarian, need not be the only model available to workers in Canada (as is currently the case). Although the possible move away from Wagner Act unionism toward some form of minority unionism has received some support, this article argues that there are far too many dangers associated with minority unionism, namely, that it will be a corollary for right-to-work laws, will cause infighting between unions, and will divide and fragment workers’ sense of solidarity, and that the supposed benefits that may be attained through constitutionally protected minority unionism can, and should, be attained without it.
Model for the Adoption of Telemedicine in Sri Lanka
Authors: Jayasinghe Dayani , Crowder Richard M. , Wills Gary
Published: September 2016

We report the results of the study that explored the factors characterizing the introduction of telemedicine to the rural areas of Sri Lanka. A model was developed from the analysis of the literature, expert review, and a field study conducted in three districts of Sri Lanka, which involved clinicians, hospital staff, and the general public from both rural and urban areas. Health ministry officials, medical directors, and consultants from urban areas were also consulted. Quantitative data from the questionnaires, and qualitative data from the interviews, were analyzed to investigate the impact on culture, technology, and infrastructure when adopting a telemedicine system in rural areas of Sri Lanka. The TeleMedicine in Sri Lanka (TMSL) model is presented, which expresses the factors that hinder the acceptance of telemedicine in Sri Lanka. The key findings are that an understanding of the culture of Sri Lanka and additional computing skills are essential when implementing a telemedicine system in the rural areas of the country.
Neural Correlates of Reward Processing in Typical and Atypical Development
Authors: Duerden Emma G. , Lee Minha , Chow Stephanie , Sato Julie , Mak-Fan Kathleen , Taylor Margot J.
Published: September 2016

Atypically developing children including those born preterm or who have autism spectrum disorder can display difficulties with evaluating rewarding stimuli, which may result from impaired maturation of reward and cognitive control brain regions. During functional magnetic resonance imaging, 58 typically and atypically developing children (6-12 years) participated in a set-shifting task that included the presentation of monetary reward stimuli. In typically developing children, reward stimuli were associated with age-related increases in activation in cognitive control centers, with weaker changes in reward regions. In atypically developing children, no age-related changes were evident. Maturational disturbances in the frontostriatal regions during atypical development may underlie task-based differences in activation.
Are Annual Report Graphs Being Used for Making Performance Attributions?
Authors: Laidroo Laivi
Published: September 2016

Previous literature on performance attributions has focused exclusively on annual report narratives. The objective of this article is to determine whether graphs in annual reports could be used for making performance attributions. The analysis focuses on annual reports of 33 commercial banks from 7 Central and Eastern European countries during 2006 to 2013. In line with expectations and results of previous research, there is strong support for the presence of negative performance attributions and attributional enhancements. A decrease in a bank’s profitability is associated with an increase in the use of external indicator graphs. If a bank’s profitability increases simultaneously with deterioration in a graphed external indicator, the use of such external indicator graphs increases compared with when profitability increase occurs simultaneously with an improvement in a graphed external indicator. There also exist signs that negative performance attributions are intentional and potentially driven by impression management motives.
nbCNV: a multi-constrained optimization model for discovering copy number variants in single-cell sequencing data
Authors: Zhang Changsheng , Cai Hongmin , Huang Jingying , Song Yan
Published: September 2016

Background

Variations in DNA copy number have an important contribution to the development of several diseases, including autism, schizophrenia and cancer. Single-cell sequencing technology allows the dissection of genomic heterogeneity at the single-cell level, thereby providing important evolutionary information about cancer cells. In contrast to traditional bulk sequencing, single-cell sequencing requires the amplification of the whole genome of a single cell to accumulate enough samples for sequencing. However, the amplification process inevitably introduces amplification bias, resulting in an over-dispersing portion of the sequencing data. Recent study has manifested that the over-dispersed portion of the single-cell sequencing data could be well modelled by negative binomial distributions.

Results

We developed a read-depth based method, nbCNV to detect the copy number variants (CNVs). The nbCNV method uses two constraints-sparsity and smoothness to fit the CNV patterns under the assumption that the read signals are negatively binomially distributed. The problem of CNV detection was formulated as a quadratic optimization problem, and was solved by an efficient numerical solution based on the classical alternating direction minimization method.

Conclusions

Extensive experiments to compare nbCNV with existing benchmark models were conducted on both simulated data and empirical single-cell sequencing data. The results of those experiments demonstrate that nbCNV achieves superior performance and high robustness for the detection of CNVs in single-cell sequencing data.
Genome sequence of Candidatus Arsenophonus lipopteni, the exclusive symbiont of a blood sucking fly Lipoptena cervi (Diptera: Hippoboscidae)
Authors: Nováková Eva , Hypša Václav , Nguyen Petr , Husník Filip , Darby Alistair C.
Published: September 2016

Candidatus Arsenophonus lipopteni (Enterobacteriaceae, Gammaproteobacteria) is an obligate intracellular symbiont of the blood feeding deer ked, Lipoptena cervi (Diptera: Hippoboscidae). The bacteria reside in specialized cells derived from host gut epithelia (bacteriocytes) forming a compact symbiotic organ (bacteriome). Compared to the closely related complex symbiotic system in the sheep ked, involving four bacterial species, Lipoptena cervi appears to maintain its symbiosis exclusively with Ca. Arsenophonus lipopteni. The genome of 836,724 bp and 24.8 % GC content codes for 667 predicted functional genes and bears the common characteristics of sequence economization coupled with obligate host-dependent lifestyle, e.g. reduced number of RNA genes along with the rRNA operon split, and strongly reduced metabolic capacity. Particularly, biosynthetic capacity for B vitamins possibly supplementing the host diet is highly compromised in Ca. Arsenophonus lipopteni. The gene sets are complete only for riboflavin (B2), pyridoxine (B6) and biotin (B7) implying the content of some B vitamins, e.g. thiamin, in the deer blood might be sufficient for the insect metabolic needs. The phylogenetic position within the spectrum of known Arsenophonus genomes and fundamental genomic features of Ca. Arsenophonus lipopteni indicate the obligate character of this symbiosis and its independent origin within Hippoboscidae.
Does Propofol Anesthesia Lead to Less Postoperative Pain Compared With Inhalational Anesthesia?: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Peng Ke , Liu Hua-Yue , Wu Shao-Ru , Liu Hong , Zhang Zhao-Cai , Ji Fu-Hai
Published: September 2016

BACKGROUND:

Many studies have compared propofol-based anesthesia with inhalational anesthesia. Results from several studies have shown improved postoperative analgesia after propofol anesthesia, but other studies showed contradictory results. There are no large prospective studies that compare postoperative pain after propofol versus inhalational anesthesia. This meta-analysis was designed to focus on this question.

METHODS:

A systematic literature search for randomized controlled trials that compared propofol-based anesthesia with volatile agents-based anesthesia in adults undergoing surgery was conducted. Published data were pooled for the meta-analysis with Review Manager (ie, RevMan). The main outcomes included postoperative pain intensity, opioid consumption, need for rescue analgesics, and time to first analgesia.

RESULTS:

Thirty-nine clinical trials with a combined subject population of 4520 patients came within the purview of this meta-analysis. The investigated volatile agents included isoflurane, sevoflurane, and desflurane. Compared with inhalational anesthetics, the propofol use was associated with a reduced postoperative pain intensity at rest at 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 12 hours (mean difference in pain scores, 30 minutes, −0.48 [visual analog scale, 0–10]; 99% confidence interval [CI], −1.07 to 0.12, P = 0.04) and reduced morphine-equivalent consumption 0 to 24 hours postoperatively (mean difference in morphine-equivalent consumption, −2.68 mg; 99% CI, −6.17 to 0.82; P = 0.05). Fewer patients required postoperative rescue analgesics during 0 to 24 hours after surgery under propofol anesthesia (risk ratio, 0.87; 99% CI, 0.74–1.03; P = 0.04). In addition, patients anesthetized with propofol required administration of postoperative analgesia later than those anesthetized with volatiles (mean difference in time to first analgesic administration, 6.12 minutes; 99% CI, 0.02–12.21; P = 0.01). Considering that Z statistic in RevMan 5.3 does not perform optimally in highly heterogeneous samples among groups or many combinations of groups with small sample sizes, a P value of <.01 was considered statistically significant. On the basis of this threshold, none of the aforementioned results are statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS:

The current results are affected by substantial heterogeneity, which makes it difficult to predict significant differences in postoperative pain control between propofol anesthesia and inhalational anesthesia. Further large, randomized controlled trials are needed to corroborate these results and to detect differences (if any) between propofol and inhalational anesthesia on postoperative pain.
Targeted Coagulation Management in Severe Trauma: The Controversies and the Evidence
Authors: Winearls James , Reade Michael , Miles Helen , Bulmer Andrew , Campbell Don , Görlinger Klaus , Fraser John F.
Published: September 2016

Hemorrhage in the setting of severe trauma is a leading cause of death worldwide. The pathophysiology of hemorrhage and coagulopathy in severe trauma is complex and remains poorly understood. Most clinicians currently treating trauma patients acknowledge the presence of a coagulopathy unique to trauma patients—trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC)—independently associated with increased mortality. The complexity and incomplete understanding of TIC has resulted in significant controversy regarding optimum management. Although the majority of trauma centers utilize fixed-ratio massive transfusion protocols in severe traumatic hemorrhage, a widely accepted “ideal” transfusion ratio of blood to blood products remains elusive. The recent use of viscoelastic hemostatic assays (VHAs) to guide blood product replacement has further provoked debate as to the optimum transfusion strategy. The use of VHA to quantify the functional contributions of individual components of the coagulation system may permit targeted treatment of TIC but remains controversial and is unlikely to demonstrate a mortality benefit in light of the heterogeneity of the trauma population. Thus, VHA-guided algorithms as an alternative to fixed product ratios in trauma are not universally accepted, and a hybrid strategy starting with fixed-ratio transfusion and incorporating VHA data as they become available is favored by some institutions. We review the current evidence for the management of coagulopathy in trauma, the rationale behind the use of targeted and fixed-ratio approaches and explore future directions.