bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Impact of a Focused Deterrence Strategy to Combat Intimate Partner Domestic Violence
Authors: Sechrist Stacy M. , Weil John D.
Published: February 2017

The Offender Focused Domestic Violence Initiative (OFDVI) represents for the first time anywhere the application of the evidence-based focused deterrence policing approach to combat intimate partner domestic violence (IPDV). Through holding offenders accountable, the strategy has resulted in 20% reductions each in IPDV-related calls for police service and arrests. Victim injuries have been significantly reduced and the 1-year IPDV offender recidivism rate is about 16-17%. The backbone of the OFDVI strategy is the multidisciplinary collaboration of law enforcement and community partners which has resulted in identification and resolving system issues which have historically allowed offenders to repeat IPDV without consequence.
The diverse economies of online pornography: From paranoid readings to post-capitalist futures
Authors: Wilkinson Eleanor
Published: February 2017

Anti-pornography campaigners have frequently claimed that porn studies need to take the economics of pornography seriously, yet often this amounts to little more than the idea that pornography is a capitalist product. This article brings together J.K Gibson-Graham’s work on post-capitalism and Eve Sedgwick’s notion of ‘paranoid’ and ‘reparative’ reading in order to think about the performative effects of the narratives we use to talk about the pornography industry. It proposes a move away from a capitalocentric understanding of online pornography towards a ‘diverse economies’ approach: one that demonstrates the multitude of ways in which pornography exists outside of the rubric of capitalism. This helps to avoid the affective state of paranoia and helplessness that narratives of the all-powerful global porn industry so often create, whilst also allowing for a more nuanced understanding of the legal regulation of pornography. The article concludes with some thoughts as to how a diverse economies approach might better enable us to assess recent attempts to regulate online pornography within Britain, noting attempts at regulation may have an adverse effect on not-for-profit, amateur, or peer-to-peer pornography, whilst benefiting mainstream corporate pornography producers.
Femininity, Sexual Positions and Choice
Authors: Fiaveh Daniel Y , Okyerefo Michael PK
Published: February 2017

While women present themselves and their sexuality through dress and their deportment, there are areas of their sexual lives that are not so public and are less easy to research, such as intimate sexual relations. In this study, the authors report findings from interviews with men and women about a topic not often reported on – choice of sexual positions. The focus on sexual positions raises questions about sexual agency – who chooses, what do they choose, and why? It also raises issues of gender power and inequality between consenting (heterosexual) adults. In this study from urban Ghana, the authors show that women exercise sexual agency in the ‘bedroom’ but do so in ways that reflect emotional and relational security and, in turn, reflect men’s power. However, the article’s argument is not just about the power of men to seek and obtain pleasure. Women seek and obtain pleasure too.
Lines of flight in sex education: Adolescents’ strategies of resistance to adult stereotypes of teen sexuality
Authors: Frieh Emma C , Smith Sarah H
Published: February 2017

Can school-based sex education (SBSE) that reproduces structural inequalities simultaneously hold possibilities for meaningful and transformative experiences? In this article, we situate students’ perspectives on stereotypes encountered in their school-based sexual education classes in the context of Deleuze and Guattari’s work . The analysis is based on 63 interviews with high school students at two schools in the same district in the USA, one high-poverty/low-ranked, and the other, low-poverty/high-ranked. Our analysis reveals how adolescents attempt to resist stereotypes in SBSE while simultaneously creating meaning in their encounters. Deleuze and Guattari’s concepts ‘lines of flight’ and ‘deterritorialization and reterritorialization’ allow us to examine resistance in a way Foucault’s interpretation of power and discourse does not. We expand on these concepts and how they are significant in explaining adolescents’ resistances in our analysis.
An exploratory study of exclusively heterosexual, primarily heterosexual, and mostly heterosexual young men
Authors: Savin-Williams Ritch C
Published: February 2017

Kinsey argued that sexuality exists along a continuum from exclusive attraction to one sex or the other, with degrees of gradations of nonexclusivity in-between. Other than bisexuality and, recently, mostly heterosexuality, possibilities within the nonexclusive spectrum are seldom investigated, especially among men. In two studies presented here, an additional point, primarily heterosexual, in-between exclusively heterosexual and mostly heterosexual, is proposed. The three were distinguished among 92 young men based on self-reports of three sexual indicators (attraction, fantasy, genital contact); two romantic indicators (infatuation, romantic relationship); and sexual identity. Exclusively heterosexuals differed from the other two in having lower levels of pupil dilation to same-sex (but not other-sex) pornographic stimuli and of gender nonconformity, a proxy for sexual orientation. Primarily and mostly heterosexuals did not differ from each other on either measure but did differ in the extent to which mostly heterosexuals were considerably more likely to endorse same-sex sexuality. Results supported the uniqueness of mostly heterosexual men and, descriptively, primarily heterosexual men. The second longitudinal study found the exclusively heterosexual point was the most stable. Across the three, there was greater movement toward same-sex than other-sex sexuality. This is interpreted in light of the increasing acceptance of same-sex sexuality within the millennial generation.
‘Helpin’ a buddy out’: Perceptions of identity and behaviour among rural straight men that have sex with each other
Authors: Silva Tony J
Published: February 2017

I conducted semi-structured interviews with ten American rural, white, straight-identified men who have sex with men to understand how they perceive their sexual identity and sexual behaviour. All ten tell other people that they identify as straight, and eight actually identify as straight. I detail three main themes: changes to sexual attractions, reasons for identifying as straight, and the meanings attached to sexual behaviour with other men. Half of the participants reported experiencing major changes to their sexual attractions, challenging the assumption that male sexuality is static. They described several reasons for identifying as straight, demonstrating that attractions and behaviour are not the only bases for sexual identity. The participants also explained that they experience sex with men in a variety of ways, many of which reinforce their straight identity. The results indicate that heterosexuality is a performance, rather than a natural expression of sexuality, and that interpretations – not just attractions and behaviour – are central to being straight.
Physical attractiveness, voter heuristics and electoral systems: The role of candidate attractiveness under different institutional designs
Authors: Stockemer Daniel , Praino Rodrigo
Published: February 2017

While existing studies have shown that more attractive candidates running for office have an electoral advantage, very little has been written on how this advantage relates to different institutions. We theorise that formal institutions mediate the positive effect from which attractive candidates benefit. More in detail, we focus on the type of electoral system, hypothesising that physical attractiveness plays a more important role in majoritarian, first-past-the-post systems than in list proportional systems. We test this stipulation using the German federal elections’ two-tier electoral system, together with data collected in Australia on the physical attractiveness of German federal election candidates in 2013. A series of bivariate and multivariate statistics show that physical attractiveness is a significant factor explaining a candidate’s likelihood to win in the FPTP tier, but not in the list proportional representation (PR) tier.
Music in advertising and consumer identity
Authors: Abolhasani Morteza , Oakes Steve , Oakes Helen
Published: February 2017

This study discusses netnographic findings involving 472 YouTube postings categorized to identify themes regarding consumers’ experience of music in advertisements. Key themes relate to musical taste, musical indexicality, musical repetition and musical authenticity. Postings reveal how music conveys individual taste and is linked to personal memories and Heidegger’s coincidental time where moments of authenticity may be triggered in a melee of emotions, memories and projections. Identity protection is enabled as consumers frequently resist advertisers’ attempts to use musical repetition to impose normative identity. Critiques of repetition in the music produce Heideggerian anxiety leading to critically reflective resistance. Similarly, where advertising devalues the authenticity of iconic pieces of music, consumers often resist such authenticity transgressions as a threat to their own identity. The Heideggerian search for meaning in life emphasizes the significance of philosophically driven ideological authenticity in consumers’ responses to music in advertisements.
Invisible higher education: Higher education institutions from Central and Eastern Europe in global rankings
Authors: Boyadjieva Pepka
Published: February 2017

The starting point of this study is the argument that not only rankings of higher education institutions (HEIs) are inescapable, but so is the constant criticism to which they are subjected. Against this background, the paper discusses how HEIs from Central and Eastern Europe countries (CEECs) are (non)represented in the main global university rankings. The analysis adopts two perspectives: 1) From the point of view of higher education in CEECs – what are the specificity, basic problems and perspectives of higher education in CEECs as seen through the prism of the global ranking systems? 2) From the point of view of the ranking systems – what strengths and weaknesses of the global ranking systems can be identified through the prism of higher education in CEECs? The study shows that most of the HEIs from CEECs remain invisible in the international and European academic world and tries to identify the main reasons for their (non)appearance in global rankings. It is argued that although global rankings are an important instrument for measuring and comparing the achievements of HEIs by certain indicators, they are only one of the mechanisms – and not a perfect one – for assessing the quality of higher education.
Knowledge and attitudes of medical and nursing practitioners regarding non-beneficial futile care in the intensive care units of Trinidad and Tobago
Authors: Polakala Sridhar , Hariharan Seetharaman , Chen Deryk
Published: February 2017

Objective

To determine the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare personnel regarding the provision of non-beneficial futile care in the intensive care units at the major public hospitals in Trinidad and Tobago.

Method

Prospective data collection was done using a questionnaire administered to the medical and nursing staff of the intensive care units. The questionnaire was designed to capture the opinions regarding the futile care offered to terminally ill patients at the intensive care units. The responses were based on a five-point Likert scale. The influence of factors such as age, gender, duration of work experience, religious belief, ethnicity, occupational category and educational status on the responses were analysed.

Results

A total of 274 completed responses (86% response rate) were obtained from doctors and nurses. The frequency with which the respondents encountered ethical or legal problems in the intensive care unit varied widely from ‘daily’ to ‘yearly’. The majority felt that knowledge of ethics is important, and only 32% knew the legal issues pertaining to their work. Eighty percent of doctors and nurses had no knowledge of an existing Hospital Ethics Committee and its role in ethical dilemmas. Although 62% said their decisions regarding futile care will be influenced by their scientific knowledge, only 32% agreed to withdraw care. Eighty percent said that the government should pass appropriate laws regarding withdrawal of futile care.

Conclusions

Most healthcare providers in intensive care unit are not knowledgeable in the ethical and legal issues of non-beneficial futile care. There is a need to devise means to bring awareness and educate intensive care unit healthcare providers in this subject.
International workshop: Health care provision for migrants: Comparing approaches to ethical challenges in Germany and the United Kingdom
Authors: West-Oram Peter GN , Gottlieb Nora
Published: February 2017

Between the 14 and 18 March 2016, the Institute for Ethics, History and Theory of Medicine, in cooperation with the Institute for Sociology at Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, hosted an interdisciplinary workshop on migrant and refugee health in Germany and the UK. Fifteen participants from four countries met to discuss ethical issues surrounding the health of migrants and refugees in Europe, with particular emphasis on a comparison of the different approaches taken by Germany and the UK. This report provides an overview of the structure and purpose of the workshop, an outline of the topics discussed, its outcomes, and its objectives moving forward.
Characteristics of aloe vera incorporated poly(ε-caprolactone)/gum tragacanth nanofibers as dressings for wound care
Authors: Ranjbar-Mohammadi Marziyeh
Published: February 2017

Recently, production of nanostructured scaffolds along with the therapeutic properties of aloe vera such as high ability of wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties could attract great attention. In this article, gum tragacanth, poly(ɛ-caprolactone), and aloe vera (5% wt) were electrospun for fabricating poly(ɛ-caprolactone)/aloe vera and poly(ɛ-caprolactone)/gum tragacanth/aloe vera scaffolds. Scanning electron microscope results showed that increasing aloe vera to nanofibers composition, decreased average diameter from 1118 ± 53 to 501 ± 69 nm for poly(ɛ-caprolactone), and 184 ± 34 to 123 ± 22 nm for poly(ɛ-caprolactone)/gum tragacanth mats. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry analyses revealed that aloe vera has been loaded in nanofibers structure properly. By addition aloe vera, the tensile strength and tensile strain of poly(ɛ-caprolactone)/gum tragacanth nanofibers increased from 0.21 to 0.75 and 25 to 32%, respectively. Aloe vera loaded nanofibers exhibited satisfactory degradation and wettability too. Moreover, MTT assay demonstrated more fibroblast cell proliferation for poly(ɛ-caprolactone)/aloe vera and poly(ɛ-caprolactone)/gum tragacanth/aloe vera nanofibers compared to poly(ɛ-caprolactone) and poly(ɛ-caprolactone)/gum tragacanth nanofibers. However, cells had favorable attachment and proliferation on aloe vera loaded nanofibers.
Improving Prospective Memory in Persons With Parkinson Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Foster Erin R. , McDaniel Mark A. , Rendell Peter G.
Published: February 2017

Background. Prospective memory (PM) is essential for productive and independent living and necessary for compliance with prescribed health behaviors. Parkinson disease (PD) can cause PM deficits that are associated with activity limitations and reduced quality of life. Forming implementation intentions (IIs) is an encoding strategy that may improve PM in this population. Objective. To determine the effect of IIs on PM performance in PD. Methods. This was a laboratory-based randomized controlled trial. Participants with mild to moderate PD without dementia (n = 62) performed a computerized PM test (Virtual Week) under standard instructions. One week later they were randomly allocated to perform it again while using either IIs or a rehearsal (RR) encoding strategy. Results. PM performance was better with the use of both strategies relative to standard instructions. This effect was larger for tasks with event-based compared with time-based cues. In addition, IIs resulted in a larger effect than RR for the nonrepeated tasks. Conclusions. Strategies that support full encoding of PM cues and actions can improve PM performance among people with PD, particularly for tasks with cues that are readily available in the environment. IIs may be more effective than RR for nonrepeated tasks, but this finding warrants verification. Future work should address transfer of strategy use from the laboratory to everyday life. Targeted strategies to manage PM impairment could improve function and quality of life and significantly affect clinical care for people with PD.
Two-hop distance estimation in wireless sensor networks
Authors: Kim Sunyong , Park Sun Young , Kwon Daehoon , Ham Jaehyun , Ko Young-Bae , Lim Hyuk
Published: February 2017

In wireless sensor networks, the accurate estimation of distances between sensor nodes is essential. In addition to the distance information available for immediate neighbors within a sensing range, the distance estimation of two-hop neighbors can be exploited in various wireless sensor network applications such as sensor localization, robust data transfer against hidden terminals, and geographic greedy routing. In this article, we propose a two-hop distance estimation method, which first obtains the region in which the two-hop neighbor nodes possibly exist and then takes the average of the distances to the points in that region. The improvement in the estimation accuracy achieved by the proposed method is analyzed in comparison with a simple summation method that adds two single-hop distances as an estimate of a two-hop distance. Numerical simulation results show that in comparison with other existing distance estimation methods, the proposed method significantly reduces the distance estimation error over a wide range of node densities.
Digital Technology: A Double-Edged Sword for a School Principal in Rural Pennsylvania
Authors: Kotok Stephen , Kryst Erica L.
Published: February 2017

This case study was inspired by visits to several different rural high schools in Pennsylvania. The case illuminates the challenges faced by rural principals and superintendents who want to integrate digital technology into their curriculum, but who lack certain financial and human capital resources. Although this case occurred in a remote, rural area, school leaders in various settings deal with similar dilemmas. The following case is designed for principal preparation courses such as instructional leadership, organizational leadership, and school budgeting. In addition, this case could be utilized in educational policy courses examining school choice policies and how traditional public school districts respond to competition from online charter schools.
The Role of Pharmacy Through Collaborative Practice in an Ambulatory Care Clinic
Authors: Jun Jeany Kim
Published: February 2017

Pharmacists have been practicing in ambulatory care environments managing patients with chronic illnesses since the 1970s. The US Surgeon General and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention support pharmacists working in collaboration with physicians to optimize medication outcomes, improve patient satisfaction, and lower health care costs. Through collaborative practice agreements, pharmacists are able to work as part of a health care team with access to electronic health records, and they assist busy physicians manage patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes. This article will review the different types of ambulatory care practice settings, what is included in a collaborative practice agreement, the credentialing and privileging of pharmacists working in such environments, the qualifications of pharmacists, the scope of practice, and some challenges for reimbursement.
A hybrid imperialist competitive algorithm for solving economic lot and delivery scheduling problem in a four-stage supply chain
Authors: Kia Hamidreza , Ghodsypour Seyed Hassan , Davoudpour Hamid
Published: February 2017

In this article, we study the economic lot and delivery scheduling problem for a four-stage supply chain that includes suppliers, fabricators, assemblers, and retailers. All of the parameters such as demand rate are deterministic and production setup times are sequence-dependent. The common cycle time and integer multipliers policies are adapted as replenishment policies for synchronization throughout the supply chain. A new mixed integer nonlinear programming model is developed for both policies, the objective of which is the minimization of inventory, transportation, and production setup costs. We propose a new hybrid algorithm including a modified imperialist competitive algorithm which is purposed to the assimilation policy of imperialist competitive algorithm and teaching learning–based optimization which is added to improve local search. A hybrid modified imperialist competitive algorithm and teaching learning–based optimization is applied to find a near-optimum solution of mixed integer nonlinear programming in large-sized problems. The results denoted that our proposed algorithm can solve different size of problem in reasonable time. This procedure showed its efficiency in medium- and large-sized problems as compared to imperialist competitive algorithm, modified imperialist competitive algorithm, and other methods reported in the literature.
Strain and damage self-sensing properties of carbon nanofibers/carbon fiber–reinforced polymer laminates
Authors: Wang Yanlei , Chang Ruijuan , Chen Guipeng
Published: February 2017

Unidirectional fiber-reinforced composites of “plain” carbon fiber–reinforced polymer laminates and carbon nanofibers modified carbon fiber–reinforced polymer laminates were prepared based on the manufacture of the epoxy resin modified with various contents of carbon nanofibers. The carbon nanofibers–modified epoxy matrix and carbon fiber–reinforced polymer laminates specimens were subject to constant amplitude cyclic tensile loading, quasi-static tension loading, and incremental cyclic tension loading while the values of their electrical resistance were monitored through electrical resistance technique. Resistance-change curves of carbon nanofibers/carbon fiber–reinforced polymer laminates indicated the changes in conductive percolation networks formed by carbon fibers or carbon nanofibers. These changes can identify the complex damage modes and the loss of mechanical integrity in laminates. The changes in resistance of specimens showed a nearly linear correlation with the strain, so the damage process of the carbon fiber–reinforced polymer laminates can be self-sensed according to the resistance-change curves. In addition, uniformly dispersed carbon nanofibers formed a network that spans the whole insulation area, which improved their self-sensing property of strain sensitivity without compromising the mechanical properties of the carbon fiber–reinforced polymer laminates. This technology can achieve the quantitative strain and damage self-sensing properties of nano-reinforced composites without any additional sensor, and it is bound to be a promising method for in situ health monitoring.
Experimental investigation on combustion, performance, and emissions characteristics of butanol as an oxygenate in a spark ignition engine
Authors: Li Yu , Gong Jinke , Yuan Wenhua , Fu Jun , Zhang Bin , Li Yuqiang
Published: February 2017

Ethanol is known as the most widely used alternative fuel for spark-ignition engines. Compared to it, butanol has proved to be a very promising renewable fuel in recent years for desirable properties. The conjoint analysis on combustion, performance, and emissions characteristics of a port fuel injection spark-ignition engine fueled with butanol–gasoline blends was carried out. In comparison with butanol–gasoline blends with various butanol ratio (0–60 vol% referred as G100~B60) and conventional alcohol alternative fuels (methanol, ethanol, and butanol)–gasoline blends, it shows that B30 performs well in engine performance and emissions, including brake thermal efficiency, brake-specific fuel consumption, carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides. Then, B30 was compared with G100 under various equivalence ratios ( Φ = 0.83–1.25) and engine loads (3 and 5-bar brake mean effective pressure). In summary, B30 presents an advanced combustion phasing, which leads to a 0.3%–2.8% lower brake thermal efficiency than G100 as the engine was running at the spark timing of gasoline’s maximum brake torque (MBT). Therefore, the sparking timing should be postponed when fueled with butanol–gasoline blends. For emissions, the lower carbon monoxide (2.3%–8.7%), unburned hydrocarbons (12.4%–27.5%), and nitrogen oxides (2.8%–19.6%) were shown for B30 compared with G100. Therefore, butanol could be a good alternative fuel to gasoline for its potential to improve combustion efficiency and reduce pollutant emissions.
A time-domain finite volume method for the prediction of water muffler transmission loss considering elastic walls
Authors: Xuan Ling-Kuan , Liu Yan , Gong Jing-Feng , Ming Ping-Jian , Ruan Zhu-Qing
Published: February 2017

This work extends the application of the finite volume method to predict the acoustic performance of the water muffler with the consideration of elastic walls. The three-dimensional time-domain finite volume method and the improved time-domain impulse method are employed to predict the acoustic attenuation characteristics of mufflers. The present results agree well with analytical solutions and numerical results obtained by finite element method with commercial codes. The effects of different thicknesses of elastic end cavity wall, elastic tube, and cavity walls on acoustic characteristics of a water-filled Helmholtz resonator are investigated. An attempt to simplify the present method with the effective sound speed has been implemented and discussed.
Stress and damage in concrete induced by pipe cooling at mesoscopic scale
Authors: Qiu Yongrong , Zhang Guoxin
Published: February 2017

Pipe cooling is one of the most important measures of mass concrete temperature control, but pipe cooling has its advantages and disadvantages. Inappropriate pipe-cooling water temperature may result in excessive stress and crack. Considering the fact that concrete is a type of three-phase composite material and the sizes of cooling pipe and aggregate are basically on the same scale, the mesoscopic heterogeneity of concrete may have a great effect on the stress field surrounding the pipe. This article computes the pipe cooling–induced stress and damage and analyzes the differences between the homogeneous model and heterogeneous model based on mesoscopic mechanics. In this study, both linear elastic analysis and nonlinear damage analysis are performed; elastic modulus and creep are used as a function of concrete age; and several factors such as temperature difference, multistep cooling mode, and earlier cooling are also studied. The research results show that due to the mesoscopic heterogeneity characteristics of concrete, there is a great deal of difference between homogeneous model and heterogeneous model; pipe cooling can lead to large residual stress around the aggregate and produce a large range of damage, and previous homogeneous model indeed underestimates the effect of cooling-induced stress; using multistep cooling and early cooling mode can reduce this damage; the cooling-induced damage has significant influence on the anti-crack performance of concrete. In the final, based on the research results, the temperature difference between the concrete and pipe water of the second-phase cooling was recommended to be controlled at approximately 5°C.
Fractal characteristics of urban surface transit and road networks: Case study of Strasbourg, France
Authors: Wang Hao , Luo Sida , Luo Tianming
Published: February 2017

The fractal characteristics of urban forms and road networks can provide extremely useful information for urban planning. Previous research, however, has hardly acknowledged the fractal nature of transit networks, although this topic is of vital importance given the significance of public transit to city operations. In this study, the fractal characteristics of urban surface transit and road networks were analyzed based on the case study of Strasbourg, France. Two fractal dimensions that are most widely used, the length dimension and branch dimension, were calculated and analyzed using regression and correlation analysis. The results show that surface transit networks are fractal in seven sub-districts of Strasbourg. Furthermore, a relationship was found between the length dimension and branch dimension of road network. The branch dimension of transit network was related not only to the length dimension of transit network but also to the branch dimension of road network. Based on the fractal information, the results suggest possible methods for designing good road and surface transit networks that are well-coupled in urban traffic planning. The implications for urban development are that some potential problems with regard to traffic network structure may exist if current situations are not coincident with some findings in this article.
Preferred view and transducer in lumbar ultrasound in overweight and obese patients
Authors: Farahmand Shervin , Safavi Somayeh , Shahriarian Shahriar , Arbab Mona , Basirghafoori Hamed , Bagheri-Hariri Shahram
Published: February 2017

Background

Ultrasound can be used to facilitate lumbar puncture, especially in obese patients.

Methods

In this study, midline and paramedian approaches with curved and linear transducers were compared in patients with Body Mass Index (BMI) above 25 kg/m2 for the identification of spinal landmarks. In each view, six major landmarks, including spinous process, ligamentum flavum, laminae, epidural space, subarachnoid space and posterior longitudinal ligament, were detected by emergency medicine residents and were then reviewed by radiologists.

Results

Sixty patients with a mean BMI of 29.18 enrolled in the study. This study showed that a curved transducer detected major landmarks more accurately compared to a linear transducer. There was also a poor kappa correlation between these transducers in the midline and paramedian approaches.

Conclusion

This study showed that ultrasound can detect lumbar landmarks in overweight and obese patients, with the paramedian approach and a curved transducer being superior to the midline approach and a linear transducer in detecting these landmarks.
Evaluation of the EssenCES in a neurodevelopmental inpatient service for adolescents
Authors: Glennon Ciara , Sher Marilyn A
Published: February 2017

Ward climate is a key element within psychiatric settings, associated with positive clinical outcomes. The Essen Climate Evaluation Schema (EssenCES) is a ward climate measure, which is validated for use within UK forensic settings. It has been studied within neurodevelopmental psychiatric inpatient settings with mixed findings on its appropriateness, and there is a dearth of EssenCES research which has been conducted within an adolescent psychiatric inpatient setting. The present study piloted the EssenCES within an inpatient psychiatric neurodevelopmental setting for adolescents in the East of England, in order to explore its usefulness within this setting and to provide preliminary normative data for a child and adolescent mental health services inpatient learning disability population. Staff and service users from a locked ward ( N = 28) and low secure ward ( N = 31) participated in the pilot. Results are discussed in relation to the body of the literature on ward climate, including consideration of discrepancies in the results between wards and discrepancies between staff and service.
Archival Legerdemain: Robert-Houdin, Houdini and the Book
Authors: Roberson Jessica
Published: February 2017

In the introduction to his Memoirs of Robert-Houdin, Ambassador, Author, and Conjurer (1858), the French magician Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin reinscribes his stage performance as text: ‘Could I not, each evening when the clock strikes eight, continue my performances under another form? My public shall be the reader, and my stage a book’. The high time of stage magic coincided with the explosion of publishing and print media in the nineteenth century; the magicians formed by this emergent media culture represented themselves readers and writers as well as a performers. A half century later, Robert-Houdin’s most famous reader, escapist Harry Houdini, turned on the namesake he had only known through the medium of that memoir. Houdini’s The Unmasking of Robert-Houdin (1908), is an unflattering ‘exposé’ of his idol’s claims to invention and originality that leans heavily on Houdini’s large library of magical texts and print ephemera. Pitting narrative and archival historicism against one another, Houdini’s efforts to re-write his namesake’s legacy mark a cultural desire to transform and escape expressed not only through the performed manipulation of his body, but his manipulation of the book and the archive as well.
Analyzing the war–media nexus in the conflict-ridden, semi-democratic milieu of Pakistan
Authors: Hussain Shabir
Published: February 2017

This study combined the key findings of a dozen empirical studies with an original qualitative investigation aimed at understanding the dynamics of conflict journalism in Pakistan. The author devised an original contextual model and tested its applicability in five different conflicts of varying intensity. The study found that conflict journalism is dependent on the interaction between two key factors: the journalistic assessment of a conflict in terms of its seriousness of threat to national security and the resultant flak that stems from various sources that significantly influence professional reporting. The article concludes that journalists working in the semi-democratic, conflict-marred settings of Pakistan adopt a more vigilant and independent stance if they perceive a conflict to be posing an enormous threat to national security, for example the Taliban conflict, and that their critical stance erodes to a more compromising position in the case of a medium-level threat in conflicts such as the one in Balochistan and the ethno-political conflict in Karachi; their reporting further diminishes to a more sensational stance in the case of a low-level threat conflict due to the preponderance of the commercial interests of media industries.
Challenging the power invested in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Why determining ‘English’ preparedness needs to be undertaken within the subject context
Authors: Pilcher Nick , Richards Kendall
Published: February 2017

Higher education institutions worldwide base international student recruitment on the assumption that their preparedness in ‘English’ is assured if they reach a certain level in tests such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). This assumes an abstract, objectivist view of language that sees the ‘English’ as removable for testing in any context. However, in an individual, subjectivist view of language, ‘English’ is inextricably linked with context – that is, subject content which symbiotically connects thought and meaning. In this article, the authors outline these views of language and consider the ‘English’ of IELTS. They then detail interviews and focus groups which they conducted with lecturers in the subject areas of Design, Nursing, Engineering, Business, Computing and Psychology. These researched the ‘English’ required in subjects and the thinking underpinning it. The authors go on to present and discuss results around three themes of ‘How “English” is specific to the content of subjects’, ‘How the “English” of subjects is underpinned by unique ideological and psychological elements’ and ‘How the non-textual elements of different subjects are intertwined with their “English”’. The results illustrate why it is necessary to challenge the power invested in IELTS, and why determining English preparedness needs to be undertaken within the subject context.
Clinical effectiveness and toxicity of second-line irinotecan in advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: a single-center observational study
Authors: Ochenduszko Sebastian , Puskulluoglu Mirosława , Konopka Kamil , Fijorek Kamil , Slowik Agnieszka Julia , Pędziwiatr Michał , Budzyński Andrzej
Published: February 2017

Background:

Randomized clinical trials showed improved overall survival (OS) of advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA) patients treated with second-line taxane or irinotecan. However, most data on irinotecan efficacy in this setting come from large Asian trials. We retrospectively analyzed clinical effectiveness and toxicity of irinotecan in a cohort of patients with advanced GEA treated in our department.

Methods:

Advanced GEA patients who received at least one cycle of second-line irinotecan were eligible for inclusion. Irinotecan was administered every 3 weeks at an initial dose of 250 mg/m2 of body surface area with subsequent gradual (every 50 mg/m2) dose escalation up to 350 mg/m2, in the case of good treatment tolerance. OS was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. A multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to examine the association between clinical and laboratory parameters and survival.

Results:

A total of 48 patients were identified. Median OS was 6.2 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.9–7.6]. In multivariate analysis, age < 65 years, baseline total lymphocyte count (TLC) < 1500/µl and presence of peritoneal metastases were associated with shorter OS. Most adverse events were grade 1–2 and included: anemia (52.3%), leukocytopenia (40.9%), neutropenia (59.1%), nausea (25.0%), vomiting (31.8%), diarrhea (31.8%), anorexia (29.5%) and fatigue (43.2%). Febrile neutropenia occurred in three patients (6.8%). Nine patients (20.5%) experienced a toxicity grade 3–4 of any kind.

Conclusions:

This retrospective analysis confirms clinical effectiveness and manageable toxicity of second-line irinotecan in an unselected cohort of advanced GEA patients. Age < 65 years, baseline TLC < 1500/µl and presence of peritoneal metastases were independent prognostic factors associated with shorter OS.
Double Plating of Distal Fibula Fractures
Authors: Vance Danica D. , Vosseller J. Turner
Published: February 2017

Introduction. Distal fibula fractures are common orthopaedic injuries that often require open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) to anatomically reduce the fracture and minimize the risk of posttraumatic arthritis. In certain clinical situations, stouter fixation may be advantageous to decrease the risk of fixation failure. In this study, the authors report on 12 patients who underwent distal fibula ORIF with 2 one-third tubular plates. Materials and Methods. Twelve consecutive patients who underwent distal fibula ORIF with 2 one-third tubular plates were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and radiographic outcomes were reviewed, and functional outcomes were obtained using the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS). Institutional review board approval was obtained. Results. All 12 fractures healed clinically and radiographically. One patient was lost to follow-up after healing of the fracture. One patient had removal of fibular hardware at 15 months after surgery. Ten patients had no hardware related pain and good ankle function. FAOS scores were obtained at a mean of 25.6 months after surgery and were as follows: pain (87.6, SD = 9.5), activities of daily living (90.4, SD = 14.5), symptoms (93.3, SD = 9.5), sports (89.5, SD = 18.1), and quality of life (57.4, SD = 21.3). Conclusions. Double plating of distal fibula fractures is a viable technique for problem fractures that potentially provides a readily accessible, low-cost alternative to other means of enhancing fixation.

Levels of Evidence: Level IV
Growing Pains
Authors: Lehman Patrick J. , Carl Rebecca L.
Published: February 2017

Context:

The term growing pains describes a common, benign syndrome of recurrent discomfort that occurs in young children. First described in the 1800s, the etiology of this condition remains unclear. The peak incidence does not correspond to a time of rapid growth. Children typically report bilateral pain in the lower extremities that occurs late in the day or at night.

Evidence Acquisition:

The PubMed database was searched using the keywords growing pains, benign nocturnal limb pains of childhood, recurrent limb pain of childhood, and limb pain in childhood. Articles were also found by reviewing references from the initial PubMed search. Only English-language articles published from 1900 through 2016 were included in the review.

Study Design:

Clinical review.

Level of Evidence:

Level 3.

Results:

When a patient’s history is classic for growing pains and physical examination is normal, laboratory and radiographic evaluation are not needed to make the diagnosis. Findings typical for growing pains include bilateral lower extremity pain usually experienced in the early evening or at night. The pain is not caused by activity and will not cause a limp.

Conclusion:

Additional workup is warranted for children with an atypical history, systemic symptoms, or for those individuals with physical examination abnormalities such as allodynia, focal tenderness, joint swelling, or decreased joint range of motion. Management of growing pains generally consists of symptomatic care with massage and over-the-counter analgesics, as well as reassurance to children and parents about the benign, self-limited nature of this condition. This review article summarizes data on the epidemiology, etiology, and management of growing pains and provides a framework for distinguishing this entity from other causes of extremity pain.
The Importance of the Baby Boom Cohort and the Great Recession in Understanding Age, Period, and Cohort Patterns in Happiness
Authors: Bardo Anthony R. , Lynch Scott M. , Land Kenneth C.
Published: February 2017

Twenge, Sherman, and Lyubomirsky (TSL) claim that long-term cultural changes have increased young adults’ happiness while reducing mature adults’ happiness. To establish their conclusion, TSL use trend analyses, as well as more sophisticated mixed-effects models, but their analyses are problematic. In particular, TSL’s trend analyses ignore a crucial cohort effect: well-known lower happiness among baby boomers. Furthermore, their data aggregation obscures the ephemerality of a recent period effect: the Great Recession. Finally, TSL overlook a key finding of their mixed-effects models that both pre- and post-Boomer cohorts became happier as they aged from young to mature adults. Our reanalyses of the data establish that the Baby Boomer cohort, the short-lived Great Recession, and unfortunate data aggregation account for TSL’s results. The well-established, long-term relationship between age and happiness remains as it has been for decades despite any cultural shifts that may have occurred disfavoring mature adults.
Skin advanced glycation end-products evaluation in infants according to the type of feeding and mother’s smoking habits
Authors: Federico Giovanni , Gori Martina , Randazzo Emioli , Vierucci Francesco
Published: February 2017

Objectives:

This study was conducted to assess whether formula-fed infants had increased skin advanced glycation end-products compared with breastfed ones. We also evaluated the effect of maternal smoke during pregnancy and lactation on infant skin advanced glycation end-products accumulation.

Methods:

Advanced glycation end-product–linked skin autofluorescence was measured in 101 infants.

Results:

In infants born from non-smoking mothers, advanced glycation end-products were higher in formula-fed subjects than in breastfed subjects (0.80 (0.65–0.90) vs 1.00 (0.85–1.05), p < 0.001). Advanced glycation end-products in breastfed infants from smoking mothers were higher than in those from non-smoking mothers (0.80 (0.65–0.90) vs 1.00 (0.90–1.17), p = 0.009).

Conclusion:

Formula-fed infants had increased amounts of advanced glycation end-products compared with the breastfed ones, confirming that breast milk represents the best food for infants. Breastfed infants from mothers smoking during pregnancy and lactation had increased skin advanced glycation end-products, suggesting that smoke-related advanced glycation end-products transfer throughout breast milk. Moreover, advanced glycation end-products may already increase during gestation, possibly affecting fetal development. Thus, we reinforced that smoking must be stopped during pregnancy and lactation.
Where are we with improving outcome guidance? An update on pelvic urological services in the NHS
Authors: Jallad Samer , Hounsome Luke , Verne Julia , Mayer Erik
Published: February 2017

Background:

The volume–outcome relationship in surgery has been a focus of interest for over a decade. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published their improving outcome guidance in 2002, which encouraged a regionalised multidisciplinary approach in managing urological cancer cases and recommended centralisation of urological pelvic surgery. The current study offers an updated view on the urological pelvic services in England with regard to radical cystectomy (RC) and radical prostatectomy (RP) and adherence to improving outcome guidance guidelines and patterns of services provision since its introduction in 2002.

Methods:

The data for inpatient elective RC and RP were taken from hospital episodes statistics for 2003–2013. The RC and RP cases were calculated separately per year for every trust to calculate the annual rates and then combined for every trust. The catchment areas for RC and RP were calculated using the proportionate-flow method.

Results:

The number of trusts performing RC and RP reduced significantly over the 10 years, while in the same period, the numbers of RC and RP performed increased significantly ( P<0.05). There has been a steady increase in the cases referred to another trust for their RC or RP surgery ( P<0.05). Overall, there has been a significant increase in the number of trusts achieving the improving outcome guidance recommended minimal case volume of 50 or more (RC + RP combined) over the 10-year analysis ( P=0.0006).

Conclusion:

There has been a shift in urological pelvic surgery provision in England since the publication of improving outcome guidance by NICE in 2002, with over 95% of cases being performed in improving outcome guidance compliant centres achieving 50 cases or more per year. Simultaneously, a significant reduction in postoperative mortality and the hospital length of stay has been seen over this period.