bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Public Participation in, and Awareness about, Medical Research Opportunities in the Era of Clinical and Translational Research
Authors: Davis Matthew M. , Clark Sarah J. , Butchart Amy T. , Singer Dianne C. , Shanley Thomas P. , Gipson Debbie S.
Published: January 2013

Context

In the United States, levels of public participation in medical research in the era of Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs) are unknown.

Methods

In 2011, a household survey was administered to a sample of U.S. adults, asking whether they (and children <18 years old) had participated, or were aware of opportunities to participate, in medical research. Respondents living within 100 miles of CTSA sites were identified. Regression analyses of participation and awareness (PA) were performed, applying sampling weights to permit nationally representative inferences.

Results

Overall, 2,150 individuals responded (completion rate = 60%); 65% of adults and 63% of families with children resided within 100 miles of ≥1 CTSA location. Research participation rates were 11% among adults and 5% among children. Among nonparticipants, awareness rates were 64% among adults and 12% among parents of children. PA among adults was associated with higher income and education, older age, presence of chronic conditions, and living within 100 miles of four specific CTSA locations. For children, PA was associated with higher household income and parents’ chronic health conditions.

Conclusions

PA of medical research opportunities is substantially higher for adults than children. Higher PA levels near specific CTSAs merit investigation to identify their successful approaches.
Nurse Engagement and Contributions to the Clinical and Translational Science Awards Initiative
Authors: Sampselle Carolyn M. , Knafl Kathleen A. , Jacob Jacqueline Dunbar , McCloskey Donna Jo
Published: January 2013

CTSAs are mandated to follow a multidisciplinary model. Requests for applications direct responsive applications to “integrate clinical and translational science across multiple departments, schools,” listing disciplines in addition to medicine such as engineering, nursing, and public health. This inventory of nurse engagement in CTSAs describes the extent of nursing's CTSA engagement from the perspective of participating nurse scientists within individual CTSAs, including institutional/national contributions and best practices that foster a multidisciplinary model. Of the 50 CTSAs affiliated with a nursing school, 44 responded (88% response rate). Of the ten CTSAs not affiliated with a nursing school, four responded (40% response rate). Overall funding success rates of nurse applicants are: TL1 fellowships 81%, KL2 fellowships 54%, and nurse‐led pilots 58%. At most CTSAs nursing is contributing to the accomplishment of the CTSA mandate. The strongest categories of contribution are community engagement, implementation science, and training. Best practices to enhance multidisciplinary collaboration are: (1) inclusion of multiple disciplines on key committees who meet regularly to guide individual core and overall CTSA strategic planning and implementation; (2) required multidisciplinary co‐mentors (ideally from different schools within the CTSA) on training grants and as co‐investigators on pilot projects; and (3) documentation of multidisciplinary activity in annual reports.
Environmental Mis‐Assessment, Development and Mining in Orissa, India
Authors: Bedi Heather P.
Published: January 2013

Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are the pre‐project standard for outlining potential environmental and social risks related to large‐scale mining. Incomplete or disingenuous EIAs mask the potential social, environmental and economic impacts of large projects. To examine the possible misrepresentation of project risks, this article analyses a set of EIAs for the proposed Niyamgiri mine and related Lanjigarh refinery and refinery expansion in Orissa, India. In contrast to their promises of development benefits, it is argued that the project assessments fail to acknowledge the substantial social impacts for project‐affected persons as some face displacement, livelihood change, marginalization and a loss of natural resources. The issues raised here are not unique to these cases, but are representative of a flawed system in which environmental clearance is granted for projects with misleading or mis‐assessed EIAs. This article questions the validation of ‘development’ projects via EIAs which do not thoroughly estimate the social risks and costs of projects.
Enclosing Ethnic Minorities and Forests in the Golden Economic Quadrangle
Authors: Sturgeon Janet C. , Menzies Nicholas K. , Fujita Lagerqvist Yayoi , Thomas David , Ekasingh Benchaphun , Lebel Louis , Phanvilay Khamla , Thongmanivong Sithong
Published: January 2013

Ethnic minority farmers in the infamous Golden Triangle were first incorporated into the nation states of China, Laos and Thailand, and later into the economic region called the Golden Economic Quadrangle. This article traces policies in each country for minorities, development and the environment, followed by an analysis of agrarian transitions under economic regionalization. Using the framework of powers of exclusion and racialization, our findings show the changes for ethnic minorities who, with the exception of those in the lowlands, face environmental enclosures that dispossess them from lands on which livelihoods are based. Ideological legacies from the Golden Triangle, including ‘backward’ minorities, the fight against drugs, and threats to national security, continue to inform policies and development projects. While some farmers have become entrepreneurs planting cash crops, most face increasing marginalization under deepening regional capitalism.
Attitudes towards the use of mouth and face guards in Swedish ice hockey: part 2. Results
Authors: Glendor Ulf
Published: January 2013

Background/Aim

The yearly cost of sports injuries, which affects Swedish society, is estimated to 3 billion SEK (460 million USD). Injuries in ice hockey represent at least 270 million SEK (42 million USD). Despite the high number of injuries, mouth and face guards are rarely used in Swedish ice hockey. The major aim of this study was to examine the attitudes of mouth and face guards in two ice hockey clubs in Sweden (one elite and one division 3 club). A second purpose was to determine why some players use mouth and face guards, while others do not. A third goal was to present a material that ice hockey clubs could use for further discussions.

Materials and method

A phenomenographic analysis of focus groups interviews.

Results

The phenomenographic analysis of the data resulted in 12 categories. Within each category, issues, activities and engagement of the participants were described. Further, similarities and differences in the discussions between the elite club and the division 3 club were described. The following categories were found to engage the participants the most: ‘Ice hockey is a high‐velocity collision sport in which injuries are expected’, ‘Attitudes towards personal protection guards’ and ‘Suggested measures’.

Conclusions

The participants were aware of the risk of playing ice hockey, but they know little about the consequences of a dental injury. Although ice hockey players wish to protect themselves, they refuse to accept just any mouth or face guard. Through the discussions about reducing dental and jaw injuries by routine use of protection devices, many reform proposals were presented that could be useful in future discussions.
N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptors, learning and memory: chronic intraventricular infusion of the NMDA receptor antagonist d‐AP5 interacts directly with the neural mechanisms of spatial learning
Authors: Morris R. G. M. , Steele R. J. , Bell J. E. , Martin S. J.
Published: January 2013

Three experiments were conducted to contrast the hypothesis that hippocampal N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors participate directly in the mechanisms of hippocampus‐dependent learning with an alternative view that apparent impairments of learning induced by NMDA receptor antagonists arise because of drug‐induced neuropathological and/or sensorimotor disturbances. In Experiment 1, rats given a chronic i.c.v. infusion of d‐AP5 (30 mm) at 0.5 μL/h were selectively impaired, relative to aCSF‐infused animals, in place but not cued navigation learning when they were trained during the 14‐day drug infusion period, but were unimpaired on both tasks if trained 11 days after the minipumps were exhausted. d‐AP5 caused sensorimotor disturbances in the spatial task, but these gradually worsened as the animals failed to learn. Histological assessment of potential neuropathological changes revealed no abnormalities in d‐AP5‐treated rats whether killed during or after chronic drug infusion. In Experiment 2, a deficit in spatial learning was also apparent in d‐AP5‐treated rats trained on a spatial reference memory task involving two identical but visible platforms, a task chosen and shown to minimise sensorimotor disturbances. HPLC was used to identify the presence of d‐AP5 in selected brain areas. In Experiment 3, rats treated with d‐AP5 showed a delay‐dependent deficit in spatial memory in the delayed matching‐to‐place protocol for the water maze. These data are discussed with respect to the learning mechanism and sensorimotor accounts of the impact of NMDA receptor antagonists on brain function. We argue that NMDA receptor mechanisms participate directly in spatial learning.
The Relationships between Behavioural Categories and Social Influences in the Gregarious Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus)
Authors: Kilgour R. Julia , Brigham R. Mark
Published: January 2013

Behavioural plasticity is a critical component of natural selection leading to evolution. However, a surge of studies in the last two decades has discovered a distinct limit to behavioural plasticity, commonly referred to as behaviour types and behavioural syndromes. We set out to understand the relationships across behavioural categories in wild‐caught adult, female big brown bats and how they compare between social and solitary behaviours. Using bats sampled from four different maternity colonies, we ran a series of behavioural assays to create a behavioural profile for each individual. The behavioural profile encompassed exploratory, learning, competitive and aggressive categories. We found that Big brown bats exhibit a mean profile relatively unique to other well‐documented species, where aggression was linked to increased competitive ability but not to boldness. Our results indicate that the solitary and socially directed behaviours of individuals are not necessarily related and that behaviours pertaining to social interactions are linked most closely to learning abilities. Furthermore, we found evidence that poor body condition may be a predictor of increased social interactions and that behaviours exhibited in the presence of conspecifics are unrelated to those exhibited in solitude. These findings indicate importance of social affiliations on individual behaviours in this species and their uniqueness relative to other well‐studied taxa.
The Outcome of a Previous Social Interaction with a Same‐sex Conspecific Affects the Behavior of Meadow Voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus
Authors: Vlautin Christian T. , Ferkin Michael H.
Published: January 2013

In species where conspecifics compete for resources such as territories, remembering where a neighbor was previously encountered and the outcome of that interaction may give individuals advantages over nearby conspecifics. We used a two‐phase experiment to test the hypothesis that female meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, who during the breeding season are territorial and agonistic toward one another, can use details of an encounter with another female in one location to later navigate nearby areas. During the encounter phase, pairs of females interacted for two minutes in one isolated section of a Y‐maze; control females were placed in alone. Females were scored as either winners or losers. Winners displayed twice as many agonistic acts against their opponent. The test phase took place after a retention interval of one hour, 1 d, or 1 wk. Single females were returned to a clean and empty Y‐maze and allowed to explore the entire apparatus for 15 min. We recorded the amount of time spent in each section of the maze. After retention intervals of one hour and 7 d winners, losers, and controls spent similar amounts of time in each section. However, after 24 h, winners spent more time in the encounter section; losers and control females spent similar amounts of time in each section. The results suggest that meadow voles' memory of the details of a single encounter is influenced by the emotional valence attached to that event. The duration of memory may be associated with the establishment of territories by female meadow voles.
Impact of recipient age and preoperative fasting blood glucose level as the risk factors of living donor liver transplantation in cirrhotic patients in the recent comprehensive era with knowledge of indications: Recent status in a Japanese single center
Authors: Ishigami Masatoshi , Onishi Yasuharu , Kamei Hideya , Kiuchi Tetsuya , Katano Yoshiaki , Itoh Akihiro , Hirooka Yoshiki , Goto Hidemi
Published: January 2013

Aim

Recently, knowledge for indications of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has been robustly accumulated in. For further improvement, risks should be reexamined in recent cases. In this study, we investigated preoperative risk factors in cirrhotic patients who underwent LDLT in recent era.

Methods

Seventy‐four cirrhotic patients who underwent LDLT at our institution between 2003 and 2011 were included. Recipient and donor age and sex, existence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), preoperative Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease score, fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglyceride, total cholesterol, serum creatinine, hemoglobin A1c, graft : recipient weight ratio, ABO compatibility and choice of calcineurin inhibitor were analyzed. A proportional hazard model was applied and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

In multivariate analysis, recipient age (hazard ratio = 1.188, P = 0.011) and FBG (hazard ratio = 1.009, P = 0.016) showed as significant independent factors. Theoretical mortalities were 9.2%, 21.9% and 51.7% in patients with normal FBG at 55, 60 and 65 years old, respectively, and 34.3% and 53.6% in patients with FBG of 150 and 200 mg/dL, respectively, at 60 years old.

Conclusion

Recipient age and FBG remain important risk factors for LDLT in cirrhotic patients even in the recent era. These factors should be considered for selecting liver transplant candidates in cirrhotic patients.
Effects of US citizenship on wages of Asian immigrant women
Authors: Zhou Huiquan , Lee Sungkyu
Published: January 2013

The article presents a cross‐sectional study on the effects of US citizenship on wages of Asian immigrant women. The findings show that US citizenship positively moderated the relationship between sample characteristics and wages. Higher education (university and graduate school) significantly boosts the wage level of Asian immigrant women who have US citizenship. However, such positive influence does not exist for Asian immigrant women without US citizenship. This finding suggests that Asian immigrant women without US citizenship still face a glass ceiling.

Key Practitioner Message: ● Educate immigrants about the importance of and potential benefits associated with citizenship.
Robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy compared with open and laparoscopic approaches: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Moran Patrick S , O'Neill Michelle , Teljeur Conor , Flattery Martin , Murphy Linda A , Smyth Gordon , Ryan Máirín
Published: January 2013

Medline and Embase were searched for studies comparing robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy with open prostatectomy and conventional laparoscopic prostatectomy. Random effects meta‐analysis was used to calculate a pooled estimate of effect. The 95% prediction intervals are also reported. One randomized study and 50 observational studies were identified. The results show that compared with open surgery, robot‐assisted surgery is associated with fewer positive surgical margins for pT2 tumors (relative risk 0.63, 95% confidence interval 0.49–0.81, P < 0.001) and improved outcomes for sexual function at 12 months (relative risk 1.60, 95% confidence interval 1.33–1.93, P = <0.001), and, to a lesser extent, urinary function at 12 months (relative risk 1.06, 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.11, P < 0.01). Compared with conventional laparoscopic prostatectomy, robot‐assisted surgery is associated with a slight increase in urinary function at 12 months (relative risk 1.09, 95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.17, P = 0.013). The overall methodological quality of the included studies was low, with high levels of heterogeneity. The use of prediction intervals as an aid to decision making in regard to the introduction of this technology is examined. Clinically significant improvements in positive surgical margins rates for pT2 tumors and sexual function at 12 months associated with robot‐assisted surgery in comparison with open surgery should be interpreted with caution given the limitations of the evidence. Differences between robot‐assisted and conventional laparoscopic surgery are minimal.
Channel belt architecture formed by a meandering river
Authors: van de Lageweg Wietse I. , van Dijk Wout M. , Kleinhans Maarten G.
Published: January 2013

Stratification in channel belts is the key to reconstructing formative channel dimensions and palaeoflow conditions; this requires an understanding of the relation between river morphodynamics and set thickness. So far, theories for reconstruction of the original morphology from preserved stratification have not been tested for meandering river channels due to the lack of detailed bathymetry. This paper reports the results of an experiment that reproduced a dynamic meandering gravel‐bed river with the objectives to: (i) test the prediction of set thickness as a function of the morphology formed by a meandering river channel; and (ii) explore and explain spatial and temporal set thickness variations in the resulting channel belt. High‐resolution measurements of time‐dependent surface elevation were used to quantitatively relate the preserved stratification to the meandering river morphology. Mean set thickness agrees well with the theoretical prediction from channel morphology. The mean preserved set thickness was 30% of the mean channel depth. Due to the absence of aggradation during the experiment, this provides a lower limit for the preserved mean set thickness which is also to be expected for aggrading systems, because reworking is some orders of magnitude faster than aggradation. Furthermore, the time required to mature a channel belt and its set thickness distribution was about the same as the time required to develop and propagate bends that fill the channel belt surface. Finally, there was much systematic spatial variation in set thickness related to repetitive point bar growth and chute cut‐off. Undisturbed and thick sets occurred close to channel belt margins and more irregular stratification with stacked thinner sets was observed in the centre of the channel belt.
Assessing the Replacement of Electrical Home Appliances for the Environment
Authors: Tasaki Tomohiro , Motoshita Masaharu , Uchida Hiroyuki , Suzuki Yasufumi
Published: January 2013

To evaluate whether replacing an existing product with a new, more energy‐efficient product is environmentally preferable, we used an assessment approach based on life cycle assessment. With this approach, consumers can assess various replacement products, including products of different sizes or environmental performance in addition to consideration of various conditions of product use. The approach utilizes a diagram in which replacement conditions of products are compared with iso‐environmental‐load lines to determine the appropriateness of replacement. The approach also allows the assessment of energy and resource consumption and environmental impacts not only during the use stage, but also at other product stages. Iso‐environmental‐load lines to assess delayed replacement were also examined and derived. We then applied the approach in a case study of energy consumption by replacing three types of electric home appliances in Japan: TVs, air conditioners, and refrigerators. The results of assessment showed that replacing refrigerators after 8–10 years of use was preferable even if the replacement product was larger. The appropriateness of replacing TVs and air conditioners based on energy consumption depended on the replacement product and on the duration of daily use, and in several cases, delayed replacement was preferable. Replacement of air conditioners after 8–10 years of use was not preferable if the consumer already owned the most energy‐efficient product at the time of the purchase. The necessity of accounting for a variety of available replacement products was confirmed.
mHealth for Midwives: A Call to Action
Authors: Speciale Anna Maria , Freytsis Maria
Published: January 2013

The use of mobile phones has grown exponentially in the last decade including in some of the most remote and low‐resource regions of the world. With the geographic expansion of mobile phone use, information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) was born, and innovative uses for mobile technologies in various fields including health care have emerged. This use of mobile technology in health care is known as mHealth. mHealth interventions are being used internationally to improve maternal and child health. Be it the use of a mobile phone to call for emergency transport, remote consultation, or large‐scale short message service (SMS)‐based community education programs, mHealth is demonstrating its utility in reproductive health programs throughout the world. This article describes the evolution and challenges of mHealth, discusses the role of mHealth in achieving Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5, and addresses the potential impact of mHealth for midwives. mHealth represents a new area of global health that warrants the attention of midwifery advocates. Midwifery leadership in the field of mHealth at this early stage of its development will ensure future health programming that is relevant to the needs of women and the midwives who care for them.
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Postpartum Care Practices of Nurse‐Midwives
Authors: Ko Jean Y. , Dietz Patricia M. , Conrey Elizabeth J. , Rodgers Loren , Shellhaas Cynthia , Farr Sherry L. , Robbins Cheryl L.
Published: January 2013

Introduction: Postpartum screening for glucose intolerance among women with recent histories of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is important for identifying women with continued glucose intolerance after birth, yet screening rates are suboptimal. In a thorough review of the literature, we found no studies of screening practices among certified nurse‐midwives (CNMs). The objectives of our study were to estimate the prevalence of postpartum screening for abnormal glucose tolerance and related care by CNMs for women with recent histories of GDM and to identify strategies for improvement.

Methods: From October through December 2010, the Ohio Department of Health sent a survey by mail and Internet to all licensed CNMs practicing in Ohio. We calculated prevalence estimates for knowledge, attitudes, clinical practices, and behaviors related to postpartum diabetes screening. Chi‐square statistics were used to assess differences in self‐reported clinical behaviors by frequency of postpartum screening.

Results: Of the 146 CNMs who provided postpartum care and responded to the survey (62.2% response rate), 50.4% reported screening women with GDM‐affected pregnancies for abnormal glucose tolerance at the postpartum visit. Of CNMs who screened postpartum, only 48.4% used fasting blood sugar or the 2‐hour oral glucose tolerance test. Although 86.2% of all responding CNMs reported that they inform women with recent histories of GDM of their increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus, only 63.1% counseled these women to exercise regularly and 23.3% reported referring overweight/obese women to a diet support group or other nutrition counseling. CNMs reported that identification of community resources for lifestyle interventions and additional training in postpartum screening guidelines may help to improve postpartum care.

Discussion: CNMs in Ohio reported suboptimal levels of postpartum diabetes testing and use of a recommended postpartum test. Providing CNMs with additional training and identifying community resources to support needed lifestyle behavior change may improve care for women with recent GDM‐affected pregnancies.
Correlation between Frequency of Microembolic Signals and Efficacy of Antiplatelet Therapy in Symptomatic Carotid Disease
Authors: Kerasnoudis Antonios , Meves Saskia H. , Gold Ralf , Krogias Christos
Published: January 2013

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The detection of microembolic signals in transcranial‐Doppler monitoring is associated with a higher stroke risk. We investigated the correlation between the frequency of microembolic signals and the efficacy of the antiplatelet therapy in patients with a recent symptomatic carotid‐artery stenosis.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Thirty‐two patients (mean age: 70 years, 22 men) with a recent symptomatic carotid‐artery stenosis underwent 30‐minute TCD‐monitoring. Twenty‐three patients received acetylsalicylic‐acid and 9 patients clopidogrel as antiplatelet‐therapy. At the same day, the antiplatelet effect was measured with multiple‐electrode‐impedance aggregometry.

RESULTS

In 20 cases, the qualifying event was a stroke and in 12 cases, a TIA. Twenty‐six of the patients had a >50% degree of stenosis. More than one microembolic signals were detected in 13 (40.6%) of the subjects, while multiple‐electrode‐impedance aggregometry revealed eight low responders (6 acetylsalicylic‐acid, 2 clopidogrel). More than one microembolic signals were detected in 6 of the 8 (75.0%) patients with low response, but in only 7 of the 24 subjects (29.2%) with an effective antiplatelet treatment (sensitivity 75%, specificity 70.8%; Fisher's exact test: P = .038).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that in patients with recent symptomatic carotid‐artery stenosis the detection of more than one microembolic signals might serve as a useful marker for the effectiveness of the antiplatelet treatment.
Dynamic Contrast‐Enhanced MRA at 1.5 T for Detection of Arteriovenous Shunting Before and After Onyx Embolization of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations
Authors: Nogueira Raul G. , Bayrlee Ahmad , Hirsch Joshua A. , Yoo Albert J. , Copen William A.
Published: January 2013

BACKGROUND

Conventional non‐invasive angiographic techniques for evaluating cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations (cAVMs) after embolization treatment are limited by their inability to acquire time‐resolved images. We describe the use of dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in the evaluation of residual arteriovenous shunting in cAVMs following Onyx embolization.

METHODS

Six subjects who underwent multimodal MR imaging including dynamic MRA after different stages of endovascular treatment with Onyx were included. Each MRA was assessed for the presence of residual arteriovenous shunting. The results were compared with digital subtraction angiography (DSA).

RESULTS

Mean age was 41 years (range, 25–63) and the mean maximum AVM diameter was 5.3 cm (range, 4.7–6.0). Fourteen dynamic MRA were performed using a 1.5 T scanner. Arteriovenous shunting was detected in thirteen of fourteen patients by both dynamic MRA and DSA, with complete agreement between the two techniques. The only MRA without detectable residual arteriovenous shunting was for a subject who had complete treatment with no residual cAVM as confirmed by the DSA images.

CONCLUSIONS

Dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRA is a promising non‐invasive modality in identifying residual arteriovenous shunting after different stages of AVM embolization, achieving 100% agreement in this small study. Embolization with Onyx caused no significant image artifact.
Dolichoectasia Diagnostic Methods in a Multi‐Ethnic, Stroke‐Free Cohort: Results from the Northern Manhattan Study
Authors: Gutierrez Jose , Bagci Ahmet , Gardener Hannah , Rundek Tatjana , Ekind Mitchell S. V. , Alperin Noam , Sacco Ralph L. , Wright Clinton B.
Published: January 2013

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Dolichoectasia (DE) is a vasculopathy that consists of abnormal elongation and dilatation of arteries. The objective of this study is to evaluate the frequency of DE in an unselected population and assess different diagnostic methods.

METHODS

The Northern Manhattan Study is a multiethnic population based cohort of stroke‐free participants. The definition proposed for DE was total cranial volume (TCV)‐adjusted arterial diameter ≥2 SD. Other methods studied included visual assessment, unadjusted arterial diameters cutoff, Smoker's criteria and basilar artery (BA) volume.

RESULTS

A total of 718 subjects were included in the analysis (mean age 71.6 ± 8.0 years, 40% men, 61% Hispanic). Using the TCV‐adjusted DE definition, 19% of the sample had at least one dolichoectatic artery. In 7% of the subjects, two or more arteries were affected. The BA was the most common dolichoectatic artery. Reproducibility for arterial diameter measurements was good to excellent (.70–.95), while for visual assessment ranged from fair to good (.49–.79).

CONCLUSIONS

A TCV‐adjusted intracranial arterial diameter ≥2 SD is proposed as a useful DE definition. The variability in the prevalence of DE depending on the methods used underscores the need to agree on a reliable, universal definition of DE.
Endovascular Embolization by Parent Artery Reconstruction of a Symptomatic Fusiform Posterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm Using Onyx HD‐500: A Neurointerventional Report
Authors: Bogason Einar T , Patel Akshal S , Cockroft Kevin M
Published: January 2013

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Posterior cerebral artery aneurysms are treatment challenge for the neurosurgeon. Parent artery occlusion, trapping and bypass have been the classic treatment options for aneurysms in this location. With the introduction of newer embolic agents such as Onyx®, endovascular intervention is now a viable therapy for these aneurysms.

CASE SUMMARY

We report the case of a 60‐year‐old man who presented with a symptomatic, though unruptured, fusiform left posterior cerebral artery aneurysm. Given the distal location of this dominant sided aneurysm, post‐operative visual deficits and aphasia were a concern if parent vessel occlusion were to be performed. Therefore, an endovascular reconstruction using Onyx HD‐500 and two closed‐cell stents was performed.

CONCLUSIONS

This report illustrates the ability of a high‐density liquid embolic agent to provide immediate reconstruction of a fusiform aneurysm in a distal location.
Characteristics of the Residential Neighborhood Environment Differentiate Intimate Partner Femicide in Urban Versus Rural Settings
Authors: Beyer Kirsten M. M. , Layde Peter M. , Hamberger L. Kevin , Laud Purushottam W.
Published: January 2013

Purpose

A growing body of work examines the association between neighborhood environment and intimate partner violence (IPV). As in the larger literature examining the influence of place context on health, rural settings are understudied and urban and rural residential environments are rarely compared. In addition, despite increased attention to the linkages between neighborhood environment and IPV, few studies have examined the influence of neighborhood context on intimate partner femicide (IPF). In this paper, we examine the role for neighborhood‐level factors in differentiating urban and rural IPFs in Wisconsin, USA.

Methods

We use a combination of Wisconsin Violent Death Reporting System (WVDRS) data and Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WCADV) reports from 2004 to 2008, in concert with neighborhood‐level information from the US Census Bureau and US Department of Agriculture, to compare urban and rural IPFs.

Findings

Rates of IPF vary based on degree of rurality, and bivariate analyses show differences between urban and rural victims in race/ethnicity, marital status, country of birth, and neighborhood characteristics. After controlling for individual characteristics, the nature of the residential neighborhood environment significantly differentiates urban and rural IPFs.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest a different role for neighborhood context in affecting intimate violence risk in rural settings, and that different measures may be needed to capture the qualities of rural environments that affect intimate violence risk. Our findings reinforce the argument that multilevel strategies are required to understand and reduce the burden of intimate violence, and that interventions may need to be crafted for specific geographical contexts.
Rural Native Veterans in the Veterans Health Administration: Characteristics and Service Utilization Patterns
Authors: Kaufman Carol E. , Brooks Elizabeth , Kaufmann L. Jeanne , Noe Timothy , Nagamoto Herbert T. , Dailey Nancy , Bair Byron , Shore Jay
Published: January 2013

Purpose

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Indian Health Service (IHS) signed a Memo of Understanding in 2010 to strengthen their partnership in improving health care services for Native veterans, who are disproportionately rural. This paper describes the demographic and service use profile of rural Native veterans who access VA health care.

Methods

Data were abstracted from the 2008 Veteran Health Administration (VHA) medical dataset, and the characteristics of rural Native veterans were compared to rural non‐Native veterans.

Findings

Rural Native veterans were more rural (41% vs 35%) and more highly rural (8% vs 2%) compared to non‐Native veterans. Rural Native veterans were younger, more likely to be female, and earned about the same median income compared to rural non‐Native veterans. Although rural Native veterans had fewer diagnoses on average, they were more likely to have served in combat areas and to have higher levels of service‐connected disability compared to other rural veterans.

Conclusions

Demographic and service‐related characteristics of rural Native veterans who accessed VA care differ from those of rural non‐Native veterans. Identifying specific health care and service use characteristics will assist in the development of appropriate policy and programs to serve rural Native veterans.
Type 2 diabetes in South Asians: similarities and differences with white Caucasian and other populations
Authors: Gujral Unjali P. , Pradeepa R. , Weber Mary Beth , Narayan K.M. Venkat , Mohan V.
Published: January 2013

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. While all ethnic groups are affected, the prevalence of T2DM in South Asians, both in their home countries and abroad, is extremely high and is continuing to rise rapidly. Innate biological susceptibilities coupled with rapid changes in physical activity, diet, and other lifestyle behaviors are contributing factors propelling the increased burden of disease in this population. The large scope of this problem calls for investigations into the cause of increased susceptibility and preventative efforts at both the individual and population level that are aggressive, culturally sensitive, and start early. In this review, we outline the biological and environmental factors that place South Asians at elevated risk for T2DM, compared with Caucasian and other ethnic groups.
A revision of Ptychopyxis (Euphorbiaceae) in southeast Asia
Authors: Stoops Emma , van Welzen Peter C.
Published: January 2013

Ptychopyxis is a genus comprised of 11 species. Nine are found in southeast Asia mainland and west Malesia and two species are endemic to New Guinea. One of the endemic New Guinean species is newly described here, viz. P. esdras Stoops sp. nov.
Resilience: New Utopia or New Tyranny? Reflection about the Potentials and Limits of the Concept of Resilience in Relation to Vulnerability Reduction Programmes
Authors: Béné Christophe , Wood Rachel Godfrey , Newsham Andrew , Davies Mark
Published: January 2013

Resilience is becoming influential in development and vulnerability reduction sectors such as social protection, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. Policy makers, donors and international development agencies are now increasingly referring to the term. In that context, the objective of this paper was to assess in a critical manner the advantages and limits of resilience. While the review highlights some positive elements –in particular the ability of the term to foster integrated approach across sectors– it also shows that resilience has important limitations. In particular it is not a pro‐poor concept, and the objective of poverty reduction cannot simply be substituted by resilience building.
The Evolving Composition of Poverty in Middle‐Income Countries: The Case of Indonesia, 1991–2007
Authors: Sumner Andy
Published: January 2013

This paper discusses the evolution of education and health poverty in middle‐income countries using the case of Indonesia. The paper reviews the long‐run empirical research on poverty in Indonesia published over the last decade since the Asian financial crisis. The paper then provides new, long‐run estimates of the evolution of primary education and infant mortality using the Demographic and Health Survey for Indonesia for 1991, 1994, 1997, 2002/3 and 2007, in order to elicit the evolution of the composition of education and health poverty.

The intended value‐added of the paper is two‐fold. First, the paper has a longitudinal element: such a comparative study using repeated DHS cross‐sections has not previously been undertaken in published independent scholarly studies for Indonesia with a view to analysing the evolving level and composition of education and health poverty and disparities over the period across these five datasets. Second, the paper contributes to ongoing discussions on non‐income poverty trends in middle‐income countries and Indonesia in particular and debates on non‐income poverty disparities by spatial and social characteristics of the household head.

The study of education and health poverty in Indonesia, as a middle‐income country, can provide insights into the evolution of poverty by education and health during economic development in newly middle‐income countries.

The Indonesian case suggests that poverty – by the measures used in this paper – may urbanise but remains largely rural in nature, and may increasingly be concentrated in the poorest wealth quintile over time. However, at the same time poverty remains concentrated among those in households with heads with no or incomplete primary education and in households with heads not in work or self‐employed in agriculture.
Who Drives Economic Reform in Vietnam's Provinces?
Authors: Schmitz Hubert , Tuan Dau Anh , Hang Pham Thi Thu , McCulloch Neil
Published: January 2013

Vietnam keeps surprising the world with the speed and depth of its economic transformation. This research report suggests that the decentralisation of certain economic powers from central to provincial government has contributed to this success. Allowing provinces to find their own way forward was central to Vietnam's progress in institutional and economic development. Decentralisation brought about a number of inefficiencies, but these are outweighed by the gains resulting from policy experimentation at the provincial level.

The main question of the report is who drives the economic reform process in the provinces, exploring the role of business and government and alliances between the two. This is a difficult undertaking because it involves dipping into sensitive issues of state‐business relations and because there are enormous variations between provinces and over time. Key to the feasibility of this project was the collaboration of IDS with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). VCCI is an influential organisation with strong connections to business, government and the Communist Party. These connections are essential for access to political and business leaders and for understanding the economic reform process from private and public perspectives.

Provincial government is by necessity involved in the economic reform process, but who is actually driving it? The research shows that in those provinces which are making most progress in economic reform, the private sector played an important role. Not against government but with government. There was no formal public‐private coalition but the dynamic was one of proactive government seeking the input from the private sector, and the latter lobbying for and contributing to responsive and effective government. Both national and foreign enterprises played a role but small enterprises tended to be marginalised from the process. Some of the best insights come from comparing provinces and observing how different alignments of interest influenced the reform process.
Osteocalcin is associated with testosterone in the general population and selected patients with bone disorders
Authors: Hannemann A. , Breer S. , Wallaschofski H. , Nauck M. , Baumeister S. E. , Barvencik F. , Amling M. , Schinke T. , Haring R. , Keller J.
Published: January 2013

Research in the last decade has revealed that bone is not only a target tissue for numerous circulating hormones but functions as an endocrine organ itself. As a recent study demonstrated a stimulatory effect of the osteoblast‐derived hormone osteocalcin (OCN) on testosterone production in mice, we investigated whether such an association can be replicated in humans. We used data from 1338 men (25–86 years) in the population‐based epidemiological Study of Health in Pomerania and from 110 male outpatients with bone disorders (18–85 years) for the study. We analysed cross‐sectional associations between OCN and total testosterone serum concentrations (TT), as well as associations between further markers of bone turnover [bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), serum C‐terminal telopeptides of Type I collagen (CTX), urinary deoxypyridinoline] and TT using ordinary least square (OLS) regression models. Multivariable OLS models revealed a positive association between OCN and TT in the population‐based (β coefficients for a one standard deviation increase, 0.590; standard error (SE), 0.175; p‐value, <0.01) and patient‐based (β coefficient, 0.575; SE, 0.132; p‐value, <0.01) samples even after adjustment for age and body mass index (both samples), and time of blood sampling (population‐based sample only). Furthermore, we observed positive associations between BAP and TT (β coefficient, 0.403; SE, 0.170; p‐value, 0.02) as well as between CTX and TT (β coefficient, 0.733; SE, 0.172; p‐value, <0.01) in men from the general population. The present investigation shows that OCN is associated with TT in the general population and in patients with bone disorders, and may thus indicate general male health status. Additional longitudinal observational studies are warranted to confirm our findings and future experimental research is necessary to elucidate potential mechanisms underlying the observed associations.
Genome‐wide identification of Sox8‐, and Sox9‐dependent genes during early post‐natal testis development in the mouse
Authors: Chalmel F. , Lardenois A. , Georg I. , Barrionuevo F. , Demougin P. , Jégou B. , Scherer G. , Primig M.
Published: January 2013

The SOX8 and SOX9 transcription factors are involved in, among others, sex differentiation, male gonad development and adult maintenance of spermatogenesis. Sox8−/− mice lacking Sox9 in Sertoli cells fail to form testis cords and cannot establish spermatogenesis. Although genetic and histological data show an important role for these transcription factors in regulating spermatogenesis, it is not clear which genes depend upon them at a genome‐wide level. To identify transcripts that respond to the absence of Sox8 in all cells and Sox9 in Sertoli cells we measured mRNA concentrations in testicular samples from mice at 0, 6 and 18 days post‐partum. In total, 621 and 629 transcripts were found at decreased or increased levels, respectively, at different time points in the mutant as compared to the control samples. These mRNAs were categorized as preferentially expressed in Sertoli cells or germ cells using data obtained with male and female gonad samples and enriched testicular cell populations. Five candidate genes were validated at the protein level. Furthermore, we identified putative direct SOX8 and SOX9 target genes by integrating predicted SOX‐binding sites present in potential regulatory regions upstream of the transcription start site. Finally, we used protein network data to gain insight into the effects on regulatory interactions that occur when Sox8 and Sox9 are absent in developing Sertoli cells. The integration of testicular samples with enriched Sertoli cells, germ cells and female gonads enabled us to broadly distinguish transcripts directly affected in Sertoli cells from others that respond to secondary events in testicular cell types. Thus, combined RNA profiling signals, motif predictions and network data identified putative SOX8/SOX9 target genes in Sertoli cells and yielded insight into regulatory interactions that depend upon these transcription factors. In addition, our results will facilitate the interpretation of genome‐wide in vivo SOX8 and SOX9 DNA binding data.
Implementing the 4D cycle of appreciative inquiry in health care: a methodological review
Authors: Trajkovski Suza , Schmied Virginia , Vickers Margaret , Jackson Debra
Published: January 2013

Aim

To examine and critique how the phases of the 4D cycle (Discovery, Dream, Design, and Destiny) of appreciative inquiry are implemented in a healthcare context.

Background

Appreciative inquiry is a theoretical research perspective, an emerging research methodology and a world view that builds on action research, organizational learning, and organizational change. Increasing numbers of articles published provide insights and learning into its theoretical and philosophical underpinnings. Many articles describe appreciative inquiry and the outcomes of their studies; however, there is a gap in the literature examining the approaches commonly used to implement the 4D cycle in a healthcare context.

Design

A methodological review following systematic principles.

Data sources

A methodological review was conducted including articles from the inception of appreciative inquiry in 1986 to the time of writing this review in November, 2011. Key database searches included CINAHL, Emerald, MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus.

Review methods

A methodological review following systematic principles was undertaken. Studies were included if they described in detail the methods used to implement the 4D cycle of appreciative inquiry in a healthcare context.

Results

Nine qualitative studies met the inclusion criteria. Results highlighted that appreciative inquiry application is unique and varied between studies. The 4D phases were not rigid steps and were adapted to the setting and participants.

Conclusion

Overall, participant enthusiasm and commitment were highlighted suggesting appreciative inquiry was mostly positively perceived by participants. Appreciative inquiry provides a positive way forward shifting from problems to solutions offering a new way of practicing in health care and health research.