bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Centeredness: Assessing the Impact of Feedback Following a Best Practices Workshop
Authors: Kowalski Christoph , Yeaton William H. , Kuhr Kathrin , Pfaff Holger
Published: November 2016

Regularly reported patient surveys are an important dimension of hospital quality management. This study investigates whether providing hospital staff with interim feedback on patient survey results following a best practices workshop can help hospitals improve patient centeredness. Standardized surveys with consecutive patient samples were administered in accredited breast cancer center (BCC) hospitals in one German state (18 million inhabitants), over a 6-month period, in 2012. Two studies were conducted by applying a combination of regression point displacement (RPD) and interrupted time series (ITS) designs. In Study 1, 2 of the 27 hospitals that had previously participated in a best practices workshop to discuss patient-centeredness issues were randomly chosen and were provided interim feedback of patient survey results and workshop minutes. In Study 2, 4 randomly chosen hospitals of 32 that had not participated in the workshop also received interim feedback but no workshop minutes. Control hospitals in both studies neither received feedback nor workshop minutes. The impact of interim feedback was evaluated by applying graphical assessments and multiple regression analyses. Both graphical assessments (locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOESS) lines, RPD plots) suggested an effect of interim feedback. Multiple regression results did not unambiguously support these findings. The suggested design approach may prove particularly useful to assess effects in pilot studies, when resources are not available to conduct a randomized study or when its conduct is contingent on initial, positive evidence.
Recognizing and Reducing Analytical Errors and Sources of Variation in Clinical Pathology Data in Safety Assessment Studies
Authors: Schultze A. E. , Irizarry A. R.
Published: November 2016

Veterinary clinical pathologists are well positioned via education and training to assist in investigations of unexpected results or increased variation in clinical pathology data. Errors in testing and unexpected variability in clinical pathology data are sometimes referred to as “laboratory errors.” These alterations may occur in the preanalytical, analytical, or postanalytical phases of studies. Most of the errors or variability in clinical pathology data occur in the preanalytical or postanalytical phases. True analytical errors occur within the laboratory and are usually the result of operator or instrument error. Analytical errors are often ≤10% of all errors in diagnostic testing, and the frequency of these types of errors has decreased in the last decade. Analytical errors and increased data variability may result from instrument malfunctions, inability to follow proper procedures, undetected failures in quality control, sample misidentification, and/or test interference. This article (1) illustrates several different types of analytical errors and situations within laboratories that may result in increased variability in data, (2) provides recommendations regarding prevention of testing errors and techniques to control variation, and (3) provides a list of references that describe and advise how to deal with increased data variability.
Middle Ear Obliteration with Blind‐Sac Closure of the External Auditory Canal for Spontaneous CSF Otorrhea
Authors: Stevens Shawn M. , Crane Ryan , Pensak Myles L. , Samy Ravi N.
Published: November 2016

Outcome Objectives

To (1) identify unique features of patients who underwent middle ear/mastoid obliteration with blind‐sac closure of the external auditory canal for spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea and (2) explore outcomes.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Tertiary care center.

Subjects and Methods

Adults treated for spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea from 2007 through 2015 were reviewed and stratified into 2 groups based on the surgery performed: (1) 11 patients underwent middle ear/mastoid obliteration with blind‐sac closure of the external auditory canal and (2) 26 patients underwent other procedures. Demographics, body mass index, revised cardiac risk index, Duke Activity Status Index scores, and anticoagulation use were documented. Audiologic data were gathered from pre‐ and postoperative visits. The primary outcome measure was leak recurrence. Complications were tabulated.

Results

Poor preoperative hearing was a relative indication for obliteration. Obliteration patients had higher body mass index (43.2 vs 34.9 kg/m2; P <. 05), incidence of super‐morbid obesity (45% vs 7.6%; P =. 015), anticoagulation usage (36% vs 0%; P =. 004), cardiac risk scores (1.2 vs 0.1 dB; P <. 0004), and Duke Activity Status Index scores. There was 1 leak recurrence (9%). Major and minor complication rates were 9% and 36%, respectively. Mean follow‐up was 30.8 ± 8.6 months.

Conclusion

Middle ear and mastoid obliteration with blind‐sac closure of the external auditory canal is effective for treating spontaneous CSF otorrhea. The small cohort reviewed did not experience any major perioperative morbidity. The technique may be best suited for patients with poor hearing, the infirm, and those in whom craniotomy is contraindicated.
Understanding curriculum based on the study of Chinese “Gu Qin”
Authors: Yi Xiaoming
Published: November 2016

This article initiates a dialogue between Chinese “ Gu Qin” art and curriculum theory. “ Gu Qin” is the ancient Chinese musical instrument which best embodies Chinese aesthetic notions. The ancient Chinese never regarded Gu Qin as only an instrument; they thought that performing on it was a process of experiencing life and self-cultivation. Therefore, the value of pursuing Gu Qin study is not only the skill that is mastered, but also the growth of the spirit. This orientation makes the teaching of Gu Qin a fight against instrumental rationalism and materialism. It highlights lived experience based on the unity of the subjective and the objective, and breaks the closed, predetermined teaching process to create openness and possibilities. All of these characteristics have much in common with the new perspectives on curriculum and can help us better understand what a curriculum and a music curriculum are.
Perceived in-group discrimination by first and second generation immigrants from different countries of origin in 27 EU member-states
Authors: André Stéfanie , Dronkers Jaap
Published: November 2016

This article analyses perceived in-group discrimination of 29,189 first and second generation immigrant respondents from 201 different countries of origin currently living in one of 27 EU countries. In addition to testing effects of individual factors, the article estimates the effects of macro-characteristics of both origin and destination countries and community variables. The migration history of these groups is relevant for perceived discrimination: immigrants with citizenship, who speak the majority language at home and have at least one native parent perceive less in-group discrimination, whereas religious respondents, especially from religions that differ more in comparison to the majority, perceive more in-group discrimination. Furthermore, macro-characteristics of the country of origin are most important in explaining differences between European countries. Immigrants from socio-economically more developed countries with higher living standards – and for that reason more comparable to the native population – are less likely to perceive in-group discrimination.
Sustaining people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment in employment: A systematic review of qualitative evidence
Authors: McCulloch Shona , Robertson David , Kirkpatrick Pamela
Published: November 2016

Introduction

The World Health Organization estimates that 10% of the 35.6 million people worldwide with dementia are aged under 65 years. In an ageing workforce this has implications for employers, employees, and statutory and third sector services. Limited research has been conducted into this emerging global issue.

Method

This systematic review, employing the methodology of the Joanna Briggs Institute, aimed to identify and synthesise the best available qualitative evidence regarding the needs, experiences and perspectives of people with early onset dementia or mild cognitive impairment who were either in employment or wished to gain employment.

Results

Of 69 studies identified, eight met the inclusion criteria. From these, four themes emerged: disease progression and recognition; the emotional impact of change; the employer’s management of the worker; and changes to the worker role.

Conclusion

There are health benefits to the individual with dementia or mild cognitive impairment of continuing to engage in meaningful occupation. Retirement policy changes have resulted in an ageing workforce with concurrent risk factors for dementia. A lack of understanding of reasonable adjustments and sheltered employment opportunities was evident from the literature. This review highlights the potential for occupational therapists to engage this client group in vocational rehabilitation.
Validation of the Perceived Sense of School Membership Scale: A South African Version
Authors: Cowden Richard G. , Govender Kaymarlin , Oppong Asante Kwaku , Reardon Candice , George Gavin
Published: November 2016

This study explored the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Perceived Sense of School Membership (PSSM-18) Scale in two samples of South African adolescents. Principal components analysis ( n = 1,052; males = 50.86%, Mage = 14.89, SD = 1.68) supported the retention of 15 items across a revised, three-factor structure of acceptance, belonging, and inclusion (PSSM–South African version [PSSM-SA]). Confirmatory factor analysis ( n = 1,418; males = 49.86%, Mage = 14.93, SD = 1.70) provided an acceptable level of fit for the PSSM-SA. The structure was found to be invariant across sex, age, and poverty quintile groupings. Follow-up group comparisons showed selected scales were able to discriminate between groups and predicted alcohol and substance use, and the mean inter-item correlations indicated each scale possessed an appropriate level of internal consistency. The findings suggest the PSSM-SA is a valid and reliable measure of school belonging among South African high school–age children.
Beyond Panic: Variation in the Legislative Activity for Sex Offender Registration and Notification Laws Across States Over Time
Authors: Lytle Robert
Published: November 2016

Nationwide moral panic has long served as a primary explanation for sex offense laws. These laws, however, remain primarily left to state legislatures, which implies potential variation in their content over time. Variation in legislative content, to the degree that it represents implementation, not only suggests differential consequences for registrants and communities, but also it would raise questions to the sufficiency of moral panic as a sole explanation for sex offense policy change. I build upon earlier work by exploring variation in the content and timing of sex offender registration and notification (SORN) reform in all 50 states over time. After documenting variation in these laws, I present the ways in which SORN legislative content has evolved differently across states. In addition, the timing of legislative reforms differed not only across states but also within states over time. These findings have implications for existing theoretical assertions regarding criminal justice policy.
Three Decades of Dengue Surveillance in Five Highly Endemic South East Asian Countries
Authors: Wartel T. A. , Prayitno A. , Hadinegoro S. R. S. , Capeding M. R. , Thisyakorn U. , Tran N. H. , Moureau A. , Bouckenooghe A. , Nealon J. , Taurel A.-F.
Published: November 2016

We described and quantified epidemiologic trends in dengue disease burden in 5 Asian countries (Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam) and identified and estimated outbreaks impact over the last 3 decades. Dengue surveillance data from 1980 to 2010 were retrieved from DengueNet and from World Health Organization sources. Trends in incidence, mortality, and case fatality rate (CFR) were systematically analyzed using annual average percent change (AAPC), and the contribution of epidemic years identified over the observation period was quantified. Over the 30-year period, incidence increased in all countries (AAPC 1980-2010: 6.7% in Thailand, 10.4% in Vietnam, 12.0% in Indonesia, 18.1% in Malaysia, 24.4% in Philippines). Mortality also increased in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines (AAPC: 6.8%, 7.0%, and 29.2%, respectively), but slightly decreased in Thailand and Vietnam (AAPC: −1.3% and −2.5%), and CFR decreased in all countries (AAPC: −4.2% to −8.3%). Epidemic years, despite representing less than a third of the observation period, contributed from 1 to 3 times more cases versus nonepidemic years. Implementation of more sensitive surveillance methods over the study period may have contributed to a reporting or ascertainment bias in some countries. Nonetheless, these data support the urgent need for novel, integrated, or otherwise effective dengue prevention and control tools and approaches.
PREP-T1 (Preteen Re-Education With Parents–Type 1 Diabetes) Feasibility Intervention Results
Authors: Sullivan-Bolyai Susan , Crawford Sybil , Johnson Kim , Ramchandani Neesha , Quinn Diane , D’Alesandro Bianca , Stern Kailyn , Lipman Terry , Melkus Gail , Streisand Randi
Published: November 2016

There has been a 2% to 3% increase in Type 1 diabetes (T1D) in children below 11 years old. Preteens (9-12 years old) with T1D are often overlooked regarding future diabetes self-management (DSM) expectations because parents are still in the “driver’s seat.” The study purpose was to explore feasibility/ability to recruit and conduct a two-arm trial on reeducation, collaboration, and social support. One component of DSM was reviewed (hypoglycemia) with preteens ( n = 22) and parents ( n = 22). The experimental preteens discussed hypoglycemia management with a teen mentor and nurse educator using a human patient simulator for practice, and working collaboratively with parents. Concurrently, mothers met with a parent mentor and psychologist to discuss growth and development, and collaborative shared management. Comparison dyads discussed hypoglycemia management with a nurse. Preteens slightly improved in diabetes knowledge; the experimental arm had higher problem-solving scores. Parents in the experimental arm had higher self-efficacy scores. Findings will inform future research.
Tribological performance of NiAl alloy containing graphene nanoplatelets under different velocities
Authors: Xue Bing , Zhu Huanli , Shi Xiaoliang
Published: November 2016

In this study, the friction and wear behavior of NiAl alloy containing graphene nanoplatelets (NG) under different sliding velocities were investigated. NG shows the better tribological performance, if compared to NiAl-based alloy without graphene nanoplatelets (NA). In the range of sliding velocities varying from 0.2 to 1.2 m/s, the formation of glaze layer in NG could be easily distinguished. The beneficial effect of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) for the formation of glaze layer of NG is obvious, if compared to NA, resulting in the reduction of friction and improvement of wear resistance of NG. Moreover, a suitable higher sliding velocity will be better for the formation of glaze layer, but the wear rate will gradually increase with the increase of sliding velocity. It can be concluded that GNPs hold great application prospect as an effective solid lubricant to improve the tribological performance of NiAl alloys.
Are some areas more equal than others? Socioeconomic inequality in potentially avoidable emergency hospital admissions within English local authority areas
Authors: Sheringham Jessica , Asaria Miqdad , Barratt Helen , Raine Rosalind , Cookson Richard
Published: November 2016

Objectives

Reducing health inequalities is an explicit goal of England’s health system. Our aim was to compare the performance of English local administrative areas in reducing socioeconomic inequality in emergency hospital admissions for ambulatory care sensitive chronic conditions.

Methods

We used local authority area as a stable proxy for health and long-term care administrative geography between 2004/5 and 2011/12. We linked inpatient hospital activity, deprivation, primary care, and population data to small area neighbourhoods (typical population 1500) within administrative areas (typical population 250,000). We measured absolute inequality gradients nationally and within each administrative area using neighbourhood-level linear models of the relationship between national deprivation and age–sex-adjusted emergency admission rates. We assessed local equity performance by comparing local inequality against national inequality to identify areas significantly more or less equal than expected; evaluated stability over time; and identified where equity performance was steadily improving or worsening. We then examined associations between change in socioeconomic inequalities and change in within-area deprivation (gentrification). Finally, we used administrative area-level random and fixed effects models to examine the contribution of primary care to inequalities in admissions.

Results

Data on 316 administrative areas were included in the analysis. Local inequalities were fairly stable between consecutive years, but 32 areas (10%) showed steadily improving or worsening equity. In the 21 improving areas, the gap between most and least deprived fell by 3.9 admissions per 1000 (six times the fall nationally) between 2004/5 and 2011/12, while in the 11 areas worsening, the gap widened by 2.4. There was no indication that measured improvements in local equity were an artefact of gentrification or that changes in primary care supply or quality contributed to changes in inequality.

Conclusions

Local equity performance in reducing inequality in emergency admissions varies both geographically and over time. Identifying this variation could provide insights into which local delivery strategies are most effective in reducing such inequalities.
Indoor pollution in high-altitude dwellings: An assessment of affecting factors across four Sherpa villages in the Khumbu region, Nepal
Authors: Duo Enrico , Bruno Rosa Maria , Basnyat Buddha , Neupane Maniraj , Pomidori Luca , Thapa Ghan Bahadur , Pratali Lorenza , Cogo Annalisa
Published: November 2016

Household air pollution (HAP) from biomass fuel smoke is a major health risk, especially in developing countries. The ventilation of buildings and the type of fume discharge could also affect HAP. The present study aims to investigate the impact of stove type and kitchen characteristics on levels of pollutants. In particular, we investigated the potential geometric ventilation of buildings using geometric ventilation index (GVI), the presence of chimneys, the type of fuel and the environmental carbon monoxide level (a marker of indoor pollution) in the households of four Sherpa villages located in a mountain region of Nepal at altitudes between 2500 and 3900 m. We analysed 114 buildings (76 private residences and 38 lodges that accommodate tourists). Lodges had a more effective discharge system and a higher GVI, which had an inverse, significant correlation with indoor CO levels (r = 0.52). The level of indoor CO was more than 50% higher in private residences than in lodges. In the univariate analysis, only the absence of a chimney was associated with higher indoor CO (OR 3.4 (CL95%, 1.2–10.0), p = 0.02). We conclude that the adoption of chimneys and sealed stoves with exhaust pipes should be the first measure taken to reduce pollutants inside the households of high mountain regions until a switch to clean fuels can be achieved.
Quantifying the power and consequences of social media protest
Authors: Freelon Deen , McIlwain Charlton , Clark Meredith
Published: November 2016

The exercise of power has been an implicit theme in research on the use of social media for political protest, but few studies have attempted to measure social media power and its consequences directly. This study develops and measures three theoretically grounded metrics of social media power—unity, numbers, and commitment—as wielded on Twitter by a social movement (Black Lives Matter [BLM]), a counter-movement (political conservatives), and an unaligned party (mainstream news outlets) over nearly 10 months. We find evidence of a model of social media efficacy in which BLM predicts mainstream news coverage of police brutality, which in turn is the strongest driver of attention to the issue from political elites. Critically, the metric that best predicts elite response across all parties is commitment.
In Vivo Quantification of the Deformations of the Femoropopliteal Segment
Authors: Gökgöl Can , Schumann Steffen , Diehm Nicolas , Zheng Guoyan , Büchler Philippe
Published: November 2016

Purpose: To quantify the deformations of the femoropopliteal (FP) segment in patients undergoing endovascular revascularization and to compare the posttreatment deformations caused by primary nitinol stent implantation to those produced by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). Methods: Thirty-five patients (mean age 69±10 years; 20 men) scheduled for endovascular therapy were recruited for the study. During endovascular interventions, angiographic images were acquired with the legs straight and with a hip/knee flexion of 20°/70°. Image acquisition was performed before PTA for all patients, after PTA in 17 patients receiving this treatment only, and after primary stent implantation in the remaining 18 patients. A semiautomatic approach was used to reconstruct the 3-dimensional patient-specific artery models from 2-dimensional radiographs. Axial shortening and curvature changes in the arteries in vivo were calculated for the calcified, dilated, and stented regions, as well as the regions that were distal and proximal to the diseased and treated segments. Results: Leg flexion resulted in shortening of the artery in all investigated FP segments. The dilated arteries exhibited greater shortening compared with their stented counterparts (post-PTA 7.6%±4.9%, poststent 3.2%±2.9%; p=0.004). Leg flexion also led to an increase in the curvatures of all the sections of the FP segment. While stented arteries had significantly higher curvature values than PTA within the regions proximal to the treated sections, the choice of the treatment method did not affect the curvature of the other segments. Despite this, 40% of the stented arteries exhibited kinking during leg flexion. Conclusion: The choice of the treatment method affects the postinterventional axial deformations of the FP segment but does not influence the curvature behavior. While PTA results in a more flexible artery, stents restrict the arteries’ shortening capabilities. Depending on the anatomical position of the stents, this axial stiffening of the arteries may lead to chronic kinking, which may cause occlusions and, consequently, affect the long-term success of the procedure.
Unplanned Reoperation After Trapeziometacarpal Arthroplasty: Rate, Reasons, and Risk Factors
Authors: Wilkens Suzanne C. , Xue Zichao , Mellema Jos J. , Ring David , Chen Neal
Published: November 2016

Background: Trapeziometacarpal (TMC) arthritis is an expected part of ageing to which most patients adapt well. Patients who do not adapt to TMC arthritis may be offered operative treatment. The factors associated with reoperation after TMC arthroplasty are incompletely understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of, the underlying reasons for, and the factors associated with unplanned reoperation after TMC arthroplasty. Methods: In this retrospective study, we included all adult patients who had TMC arthroplasty for TMC arthritis at 1 of 3 large urban area hospitals between January 2000 and December 2009. Variables were inserted into a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model to determine factors associated with unplanned reoperation, and the Kaplan-Meier curve was used to estimate and describe the probability of unplanned reoperation over time. Results: Among 458 TMC arthroplasties, 19 (4%) had an unplanned reoperation; 16 of 19 (84%) for persistent pain and two-thirds within the first year. The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that unplanned reoperation was independently associated with younger age, surgeon inexperience, and index procedure type. Conclusions: Surgeons should be aware as well as patients should be informed that as many as 4% are offered or request a second surgery, usually for persistent pain and often within the 1-year window when additional improvement is anticipated.
Geometric error detection of curve-face gear pairs
Authors: Lin Chao , Huang Chao , Cao Xi-Jun , Fan Yu
Published: November 2016

A new type of gear pair, the curve-face gear pair, composed of a curve-face gear and a non-circular gear with mutual engagement, was proposed to achieve variable ratio transmission of motion and power between the intersecting axes. Geometric error detection is required to evaluate the grade of the manufactured gears. Due to the complexity of the curve-face gear, direct detection has been conducted in a very limited way. In this article, a measurement method aimed at curve-face gear pair artifacts is presented based on the computer numerical control gear measuring center. By comparing the measured coordinate data of the surface points with the corresponding theoretical data, various errors such as tooth profile error and pitch deviation can be obtained, and accuracy grades are evaluated with reference to accuracy standards for cylindrical gear and bevel gear. The developed method is simple and robust without requiring a special measuring device; hence, it can be applied for the industrial practice as a means for measuring the tooth profile and pitch deviations which cannot be measured by conventional methods.
A novel two-stage optimization method for beam–plate structure design
Authors: Li Kai , Wang Yunlong , Lin Yan , Xu Wei , Liu Manting
Published: November 2016

In this article, a novel optimization method for beam–plate structure is proposed based on two optimization levels, including the topology optimization and the section optimization. First, the optimal topology of structure with fixed material and dimensions of design domain is obtained using bidirectional evolutionary structure optimization method, and then, the section optimization is made to produce final optimal solution based on response surface model. In order to deal with beam–plate structures, the traditional bidirectional evolutionary structure optimization method is improved using cubic box as the unit cell instead of solid unit to construct periodic lattice structure. To handle irregular structural element layout produced in bidirectional evolutionary structure optimization method, section conversion process is employed to smooth the edges of sections; in this way, the manufacturability of optimal solution will be significantly improved. To determine the section parameters, response surface method is used to perform the section optimization, and the structure mass is further reduced. One example of cantilever beam structure design is provided and discussed. The applied two-stage optimization procedure resulted in 86 iteration steps to obtain the optimal topology, and a further decrease in 2.65% mass on the basis of optimal topology, which shows that the proposed method has advantages on convergence rate and computational cost.
The Pantomime Repertoire of the Théâtre des Funambules
Authors: Nye Edward
Published: November 2016

Many aspects of the Théâtre des Funambules and its star performer, Deburau, suggest that they deserve significant critical attention by modern scholars: not only their contemporary notoriety, but also Deburau’s subsequent influence on the history of mime. Yet the subject suffers from two difficulties: the lack of documentary evidence and the excessive attention Deburau has received at the expense of the theatre in general. This article seeks to tackle both these matters, first by considering manuscript sources scarcely used by scholars, and second by making a theatrical study rather than a biographical one revolving around Deburau. The article considers a short period of four years spanning the July 1830 Revolution, because the rapidly changing political landscape made more obvious the theatrical practices and aspirations of the Théâtre des Funambules. The article centres on three synopses of pantomimes which are representative of three distinct eras in the theatre’s existence: a ‘pantomime-arlequinade’ from the mute era before March 1828, a partly spoken pantomime from the subsequent hybrid era and a spoken and sung production from the era of freedom after the July Revolution in which only Deburau mimed.
A sociologist learns to study religion
Authors: Martí Gerardo
Published: November 2016

It took a very long time before I encountered the systematic study of religious processes and dynamics as a distinctive and expansive area of scholarship. Using an autobiographical account, I trace the development of my scholarship in the social scientific study of religion. I have now experienced a great diversity of approaches to the study of religion. Driven by insatiable curiosity and knowing that no one can capture religion comprehensively, I now am committed to stimulating imaginative, rigorous, and wide-ranging developments in religious scholarship. We require new, inventive, and even incompatible approaches to our study of religion if we ever hope to try adequately grasping the richness of religion.
Care practices of older people with dementia in the surgical ward: A questionnaire survey
Authors: Hynninen Nina , Saarnio Reetta , Elo Satu
Published: November 2016

Objectives:

The objective of this study was to describe the care practices of nursing staff caring older people with dementia in a surgical ward.

Methods:

The data were collected from nursing staff (n = 191) working in surgical wards in one district area in Finland during October to November 2015. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed statistically. The instrument consists of a total number of 141 items and four dimensions. The dimensions were as follows: background information (12 of items), specific characteristics of older people with dementia in a surgical ward (24 of items), specific characteristics of their care in a surgical ward (66 of items) and use of physical restraints and alternative models for use of restraints for people with dementia (39 of items).

Results:

The questions which measure the nursing staff’s own assessment of care practices when caring for people with dementia in surgical wards were selected: counseling people with dementia, reaction when a surgical patient with dementia displays challenging behavior and use of alternative approach instead of physical restraints. Most commonly the nursing staff pay attention to patient’s state of alertness before counseling older people with dementia. Instead of using restraints, nursing staff gave painkillers for the patient and tried to draw patients’ attention elsewhere. The nursing staff with longer work experience estimate that they can handle the patients’ challenging behavior. They react by doing nothing more often than others. They pretend not to hear, see or notice anything.

Conclusion:

The findings of this study can be applied in nursing practice and in future studies focusing on the care practices among older people with dementia in acute care environment. The results can be used while developing patient treatments process in surgical ward to meet future needs.
CT findings in two cats with broncholithiasis
Authors: Byrne Patrick , Berman James S , Allan Graeme Sutcliffe , Chau Jennifer , Barrs Vanessa R
Published: November 2016

Case series summary

Chronic inflammatory airway disease with secondary broncholithiasis was diagnosed in two cats from CT and bronchoalveolar lavage cytological findings. In one cat with progressively worsening lower respiratory tract signs, more than 80 discrete, highly attenuating endobronchial opacities were detected on thoracic CT. The broncholiths were distributed throughout the right middle, and left and right caudal lung lobes, and the caudal part of the left cranial and accessory lobes. In the other cat broncholithiasis was an incidental finding on thoracic radiographs taken during diagnostic investigation of inappetence. On thoracic CT, 25 calcified endobronchial opacities were detected in the left caudal lung lobe in secondary and tertiary bronchi. CT features of chronic inflammatory airway disease were present in both cases, including bronchiectasis, atelectasis, flattening of the diaphragm and bronchial wall thickening.

Relevance and novel information

This is the first report to document CT features of broncholithiasis in cats. Feline broncholithiasis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in any case where calcified endobronchial material is evident on thoracic radiographs or CT.
Two-step feature selection for predicting survival time of patients with metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Shiga Motoki
Published: November 2016

Metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is the major cause of death in prostate cancer patients. Even though some options for treatment of mCRPC have been developed, the most effective therapies remain unclear. Thus finding key patient clinical variables related with mCRPC is an important issue for understanding the disease progression mechanism of mCRPC and clinical decision making for these patients. The Prostate Cancer DREAM Challenge is a crowd-based competition to tackle this essential challenge using new large clinical datasets. This paper proposes an effective procedure for predicting global risks and survival times of these patients, aimed at sub-challenge 1a and 1b of the Prostate Cancer DREAM challenge. The procedure implements a two-step feature selection procedure, which first implements sparse feature selection for numerical clinical variables and statistical hypothesis testing of differences between survival curves caused by categorical clinical variables, and then implements a forward feature selection to narrow the list of informative features. Using Cox’s proportional hazards model with these selected features, this method predicted global risk and survival time of patients using a linear model whose input is a median time computed from the hazard model. The challenge results demonstrated that the proposed procedure outperforms the state of the art model by correctly selecting more informative features on both the global risk prediction and the survival time prediction.
Using complex networks for refining survival prognosis in prostate cancer patient
Authors: Zanin Massimiliano
Published: November 2016

Complex network theory has been used, during the last decade, to understand the structures behind complex biological problems, yielding new knowledge in a large number of situations. Nevertheless, such knowledge has remained mostly qualitative. In this contribution, I show how information extracted from a network representation can be used in a quantitative way, to improve the score of a classification task. As a test bed, I consider a dataset corresponding to patients suffering from prostate cancer, and the task of successfully prognosing their survival. When information from a complex network representation is added on top of a simple classification model, the error is reduced from 27.9% to 23.8%. This confirms that network theory can be used to synthesize information that may not readily be accessible by standard data mining algorithms.
Predicting discontinuation of docetaxel treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) with random forest
Authors: Kristiyanto Daniel , Anderson Kevin E. , Hung Ling-Hong , Yeung Ka Yee
Published: November 2016

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in developed countries. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the standard treatment for prostate cancer. However, approximately one third of all patients with metastatic disease treated with ADT develop resistance to ADT. This condition is called metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Patients who do not respond to hormone therapy are often treated with a chemotherapy drug called docetaxel.

Sub-challenge 2 of the Prostate Cancer DREAM Challenge aims to improve the prediction of whether a patient with mCRPC would discontinue docetaxel treatment due to adverse effects.

Specifically, a dataset containing three distinct clinical studies of patients with mCRPC treated with docetaxel was provided. We  applied the k-nearest neighbor method for missing data imputation, the hill climbing algorithm and random forest importance for feature selection, and the random forest algorithm for classification. We also empirically studied the performance of many classification algorithms, including support vector machines and neural networks. Additionally, we found using random forest importance for feature selection provided slightly better results than the more computationally expensive method of hill climbing.
Survival prognosis and variable selection: A case study for metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer patients
Authors: Wengel Mogensen Søren , H. Petersen Anne , Buchardt Ann-Sophie , Hansen Niels Richard
Published: November 2016

Survival prognosis is challenging, and accurate prediction of individual survival times is often very difficult. Better statistical methodology and more data can help improve the prognostic models, but it is important that methods and data usages are evaluated properly. The Prostate Cancer DREAM Challenge offered a framework for training and blinded validation of prognostic models using a large and rich dataset on patients diagnosed with metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer. Using the Prostate Cancer DREAM Challenge data we investigated and compared an array of methods combining imputation techniques of missing values for prognostic variables with tree-based and lasso-based variable selection and model fitting methods. The benchmark metric used was integrated AUC (iAUC), and all methods were benchmarked using cross-validation on the training data as well as via the blinded validation. We found that survival forests without prior variable selection achieved the best overall performance (cv-iAUC = 0.70, validation-iACU = 0.78), while a generalized additive model was best among those methods that used explicit prior variable selection (cv-iAUC = 0.69, validation-iACU = 0.76). Our findings largely concurred with previous results in terms of the choice of important prognostic variables, though we did not find the level of prostate specific antigen to have prognostic value given the other variables included in the data.
The Basis for Organization of Universal Learning Activities Forming Process by Younger Schoolchildren
Authors: Виноградова  , Vinogradova Natalya
Published: November 2016

The article discusses the actual problem - the successful achievement by younger schoolchildren of metasubject results that meet the requirements

of the Federal state educational standard of primary education. Operational characteristics of universal learning activities are given, the

knowledge of which could be of great help to the teacher in the selection of the content of various kinds of universal learning activities.
Children’s Entertainment: Problem of Pedagogical Support in the Metropolis
Authors: Крулехт  , Krulekht Mariya
Published: November 2016

The article considers peculiarities of the organization of children’s family entertainment in a metropolis. The author shows the importance of

pedagogical support of children’s leisure, allowing minimizing the potential risks of loss of opportunities metropolitan educational space to enrich

the children’s socio-cultural experience.
“Follow the Dream!” or Not Fabulous Story about Boy Fedya
Authors: Романова  , Romanova M.
Published: November 2016

The article describes how you can use the story composed by the teacher about the life of a peer with the purpose of formation by younger

schoolchildren understanding of the need of learning for successful future life. A brief scenario of the lesson or class hour is given, in which the

basis for discussions with children on the theme of adult about the choice of target life priorities laid teacher’s told history.
Holism and Time Symmetry
Authors: Lewis Peter J.
Published: November 2016

Quantum mechanics is often taken to entail holism. I examine the arguments for this claim, and find that although there is no general argument from the structure of quantum mechanics to holism, there are specific arguments for holism available within the three main realist interpretations (Bohm, Ghirardi-Rimini-Weber and many-worlds). However, Evans, Price and Wharton's sideways Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-Bell example challenges the holistic conclusion. I show how the symmetry between the sideways and standard Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-Bell set-ups can be used to argue against holism. I evaluate the prospects for extending this insight to more general quantum systems, with a view to producing a genuinely time-symmetric hidden variable theory. I conclude that, although this extension undermines the analogy between the sideways and standard cases, quantum mechanics without holism remains a live possibility.

Quanta 2016; 5: 85–92.
Collaborative Consumption: Strategic and Economic Implications of Product Sharing
Authors: Jiang Baojun , Tian Lin
Published: November 2016

Recent technological advances in online and mobile communications have enabled collaborative consumption or product sharing among consumers on a massive scale. Collaborative consumption has emerged as a major trend as the global economic recession and social concerns about consumption sustainability lead consumers and society as a whole to explore more efficient use of resources and products. We develop an analytical framework to examine the strategic and economic impact of product sharing among consumers. A consumer who purchased a firm’s product can derive different usage values across different usage periods. In a period with low self-use value, the consumer may generate some income by renting out her purchased product through a third-party sharing platform as long as the rental fee net of transaction costs exceeds her own self-use value. Our analysis shows that transaction costs in the sharing market have a nonmonotonic effect on the firm’s profits, consumer surplus, and social welfare. We find that when the firm strategically chooses its retail price, consumers’ sharing of products with high marginal costs is a win-win situation for the firm and the consumers, whereas their sharing of products with low marginal costs can be a lose-lose situation. Furthermore, in the presence of the sharing market, the firm will find it optimal to strategically increase its quality, leading to higher profits but lower consumer surplus.

This paper was accepted by J. Miguel Villas-Boas, marketing.
Turning experience into learning
Authors: Bailey Beverley
Published: November 2016

How useful is experience in day-to-day health visiting safeguarding practice? Beverley Bailey reflects on the need for simple but comprehensive assessment that puts the child at the centre.
Pre-hospital risk stratification using a modified thrombolysis in myocardial infarction score: a retrospective medical record review
Authors: Reed Ashley , Rice Alan , Ooms Ann
Published: November 2016

Introduction:

Paramedics commonly convey patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) to emergency departments (EDs) where a risk stratification model (RSM) determines the risk of death or adverse cardiovascular events, and thus whether the patient should be transferred to a specialist heart attack centre (HAC) for an invasive procedure. If paramedics were to risk-stratify the patients in the pre-hospital environment using a modified thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (MTIMI) RSM, this could result in primary triage to an appropriate hospital.

Methods:

A retrospective medical record review was completed using patients from a metropolitan ambulance service, one ED and one HAC comparing the current method of identifying high risk NSTEACS with a new method; the MTIMI RSM. Positive predictive value, negative predictive value, logistic regression and receiver operating statistic area under the curve (c-statistic) were used to compare methods.

Results:

Notes of 108 patients were used in this study. Current practice produced a c-statistic (c) of 0.73 (95% CI 0.62 to 0.85) and the MTIMI RSM (c=0.72, CI 0.61 to 0.83). The best RSM overall was the abbreviated MTIMI RSM with only three variables identified through logistic regression (c=0.79, 0.68 to 0.89).

Conclusions:

Both methods of identifying high-risk NSTEACS were similar as they both used the ECG variable, which was approximately twelve times more prognostic than any other variable. The need to identify a pre-hospital RSM with a good prognostic power still exists; therefore, other RSMs should be explored in a prospective study.
Over the Moon
Authors: Hewson Claire
Published: November 2016

Create atmosphere and stimulate imaginations with these space themed activities linked to shape and number. Turn your role play area into a Moon base, with numbered tickets for rocket rides.
Muddy tracks
Authors: Clarke Jenni
Published: November 2016

Turn children into muddy track detectives and see if they can identify tyre tracks and animal footprints. They can also make their own tracks in the mud, exploring their shape and leaving them for others to follow.
Designed by hand
Authors: Hart Karen
Published: November 2016

Support children to use their hands to create collage and paintings unique to themselves. Exploration of dirty hands in creative activities can also underline the importance of hand washing.
Mid-day treats
Authors: Harries Judith
Published: November 2016

In this series focusing on times of the day, Judith Harries suggests fun ways to sustain learning through the mid-day break, and prompt children to articulate ideas about what they are having to eat.
Enhancing evidence-informed decision making: strategies for engagement between public health faculty and policymakers in Kenya
Authors: Jessani Nasreen , Kennedy Caitlin , Bennett Sara
Published: November 2016

This article examines the complex interactions and strategies for engagement – both existing as well as desired – between academic Knowledge Brokers (KBs) and national health policymakers in Kenya. Based on semi-structured interviews with academic KBs and university leaders from six Schools of Public Health (SPHs) as well as national policymakers, the authors found that a delicate balance between leveraging personal individual relationships and establishing more sustained institutional partnerships is important for engagement. The authors provide a list of recommended strategies for effective and tailored engagement, and highlight the important but under-appreciated dual role of academic KBs within Kenyan universities.
Political barriers to evidence-based tobacco control policy: Cronyism and cognitive dissonance, a Tasmanian case study
Authors: Barnsley Kathryn , Walters E Haydn , Wood-Baker Richard
Published: November 2016

Tasmania led in several areas of tobacco control legislation reform in the period 1997 to 2010. Despite this, Tasmania lagged in other crucial areas, particularly the allocation of resources for community education, mass media campaigns and cessation programmes. Key impediments were crony capitalism; the conservative ideology of ‘white male’ politicians; cognitive dissonance of smoking politicians; a lack of perception of priority regarding the scientific research evidence about smoking risk; and delays caused by the tobacco industry. This study analyses the political situation in Tasmania and argues that evidence-based progress on tobacco control resource allocation was not established until 2013.