bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An outbreak of thyroid hyperplasia (goiter) with high mortality in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus)
Authors: Loukopoulos Panayiotis , Bautista Adrienne C. , Puschner Birgit , Murphy Brian , Crossley Beate M. , Holser Ian , Gomes Lucy , Shivaprasad H. L. , Uzal Francisco A.
Published: November 2014

An outbreak of goiter with high morbidity and mortality in a flock of budgerigars ( Melopsittacus undulatus) in California is described. Forty-five out of 400 adult birds exhibited signs of illness, weight loss, and enlargement in the crop area; 15 of the 45 birds died over a 2–3-month period. Diet consisted of a commercial mixture with the addition of broccoli, whole oats, and carrots, but no minerals or supplements. Six budgerigars were subjected to necropsy; all 6 birds had severely enlarged thyroid glands. Thyroid follicular hyperplasia was histologically observed in all birds examined, while granulomatous thyroiditis and microfollicular adenoma were observed in 2 birds, respectively. Virological, bacteriological, parasitological, and heavy metal analyses were negative or within normal limits. The total iodine in the thyroid glands of affected birds was measured by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. Following iodine supplementation and removal of broccoli from the diet, the owner reported weight gain and a reduced death rate among clinically affected birds; no additional birds became sick. The presence of broccoli with its iodine-binding ability and the complete lack of added minerals in the diet of these animals were thought to be the predisposing factors for the outbreak in the present study. Outbreaks of goiter accompanied by high mortality are rare in any species and, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, have not been described previously in any avian species. Recognition of this condition may help improve medical, welfare, and trade standards concerning this species.
Enteric disease in postweaned beef calves associated with Bovine coronavirus clade 2
Authors: Fulton Robert W. , Herd Heather R. , Sorensen Nicholas J. , Confer Anthony W. , Ritchey Jerry W. , Ridpath Julia F. , Burge Lurinda J.
Published: November 2014

Bovine coronavirus (BoCV; Betacoronavirus 1) infections are associated with varied clinical presentations including neonatal diarrhea, winter dysentery in dairy cattle, and respiratory disease in various ages of cattle. The current report presents information on BoCV infections associated with enteric disease of postweaned beef cattle in Oklahoma. In 3 separate accessions from a single herd, 1 in 2012 and 2 in 2013, calves were observed with bloody diarrhea. One calf in 2012 died and was necropsied, and 2 calves from this herd died in 2013 and were necropsied. A third calf from another herd died and was necropsied. The gross and histologic diagnosis was acute, hemorrhagic colitis in all 4 cattle. Colonic tissues from all 4 animals were positive by fluorescent antibody testing and/or immunohistochemical staining for BoCV antigen. Bovine coronavirus was isolated in human rectal tumor cells from swabs of colon surfaces of all animals. The genomic information from a region of the S envelope region revealed BoCV clade 2. Detection of BoCV clade 2 in beef cattle in Oklahoma is consistent with recovery of BoCV clade 2 from the respiratory tract of postweaned beef calves that had respiratory disease signs or were healthy. Further investigations on the ecology of BoCV in cattle are important, as BoCV may be an emerging disease beyond the initial descriptions. Challenge studies are needed to determine pathogenicity of these strains, and to determine if current BoCV vaccines are efficacious against the BoCV clade 2 strains.
A design methodology for linear ultrasonic motors under contact-based operating conditions
Authors: Le Adam Y , Mills James K , Benhabib Beno
Published: November 2014

In this article, a novel design methodology is proposed to optimize actuator configuration for linear ultrasonic motors with respect to a set of performance-based objectives and constraints. The novelty of the methodology lies in the consideration of the dynamic behavior of the stator in its operating environment, where it interacts mechanically with the moving stage and other peripheral components. With the proposed methodology, the actuator output performance parameters are accurately evaluated enabling their use in an objective function for design optimization. The methodology is illustrated via the design of a bimodal linear ultrasonic motor, which is simulated using a finite element model.
Electromagnet design for magneto-rheological devices
Authors: Farjoud Alireza , Bagherpour Esmaeel A
Published: November 2014

Electromagnet design is an important step in design of magneto-rheological devices. Magneto-rheological fluid flow is affected by a magnetic field created by an electromagnet. Electromagnet design affects both fluid flow and magnetic performance of any magneto-rheological device. This article presents a comprehensive process for electromagnet design. Currently, most design procedures only consider steady-state static operations. Magneto-rheological devices, however, rarely operate under steady-state conditions. Therefore, transient operation of electromagnets is as important as steady-state operations, if not more. In this article, both steady-state and transient design are presented in a systematic manner. The design process starts with the simplest one-dimensional linear static magnet analysis techniques and progresses toward nonlinear transient magnet design. Various examples are presented on magneto-rheological engine mount magnets. It is expected that the presented procedure facilitates design of magneto-rheological magnets and helps achieving an optimum design in a shorter time.
Therapeutic Jurisprudence in Health Research
Authors: Ferrazzi Priscilla , Krupa Terry
Published: November 2014

Studies that seek to understand and improve health care systems benefit from qualitative methods that employ theory to add depth, complexity, and context to analysis. Theories used in health research typically emerge from social science, but these can be inadequate for studying complex health systems. Mental health rehabilitation programs for criminal courts are complicated by their integration within the criminal justice system and by their dual health-and-justice objectives. In a qualitative multiple case study exploring the potential for these mental health court programs in Arctic communities, we assess whether a legal theory, known as therapeutic jurisprudence, functions as a useful methodological theory. Therapeutic jurisprudence, recruited across discipline boundaries, succeeds in guiding our qualitative inquiry at the complex intersection of mental health care and criminal law by providing a framework foundation for directing the study’s research questions and the related propositions that focus our analysis.
The Effect of Comprehensive Care Program for Ovarian Cancer Survivors
Authors: Hwang Kyung-Hye , Cho Ok-Hee , Yoo Yang-Sook
Published: November 2014

This study was done to investigate the effects of comprehensive care program on cardiopulmonary function, muscle strength, immune response, and quality of life in ovarian cancer survivors. Participants were 40 ovarian cancer survivors, 20 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group, at C university hospital gynecological cancer center from May 2009, to December 2010. The treatment was a comprehensive care program for 8 weeks consisting of group education and self-help group support, home-based exercise, and relaxation. Data were analyzed by t test and repeated-measures ANOVA. Cardiopulmonary function, measured by 12-min walk distance; muscle strength, measured by the chair-stand test; and quality of life were more increased in the experimental group. But immune response was not statistically significant. These results indicate that the comprehensive care program is an effective nursing intervention to improve cardiopulmonary function, muscle strength, and quality of life in ovarian cancer survivors.
Application of the method of the specific forces in the mechanics of a viscoelastic collision between a solid body and a semi-space
Authors: Goloshchapov Nikolay
Published: November 2014

The Mechanics of a viscoelastic collision between a solid body and a semi-space at impact at an arbitrary angle of attack have been examined in this paper. The radius of the contact area has been determined, using a geometry of mutual approach between two spherical bodies. It was proposed that the forces of viscosity and the forces of elasticity can be found by integration of the specific forces acting inside an elementary volume of the contact zone, and on this basis the principally new method of defining the viscoelastic forces has been developed. In this method, the volume of deformation is considered as a system comprising an infinitely large number of infinitesimal discrete elements connected to each other in a definite way. It is shown here that this method allows finding the viscoelastic forces for any theoretical or experimental dependencies between the distance of mutual approach of two solid bodies and the diameter of the contact area. Also the differential equations of the displacement (the movement) of the centre of mass of the body have been obtained. Equations for the calculation of work and energy in the compression and in the restitution phases, and also in the rolling shear phase have been derived. Approximate solutions for the differential equations of movement (displacement) by using the method of equivalent work have been derived. Equations for the normal contact stresses have been obtained. Also, equations for kinematic and dynamic parameters of the viscoelastic collision have been derived in this article. Examples of the comparison of theoretical results and conclusions have been given in the paper.
Calcium Channel Blocker–Clarithromycin Drug Interaction Did Not Increase the Risk of Nonvertebral Fracture
Authors: Fraser Lisa-Ann , Shariff Salimah Z. , McArthur Eric , Naylor Kyla L. , Garg Amit X.
Published: November 2014

Background: Calcium channel blocker (CCB) use in elderly patients lowers blood pressure and can increase the risk of falls and fractures. These drugs are metabolized by the cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzyme, and blood concentrations of these drugs may rise to harmful levels when CYP3A4 activity is inhibited. Clarithromycin is an inhibitor of CYP3A4, whereas azithromycin is not. Objective: In older patients taking a CCB, we investigated whether coprescription of clarithromycin, compared with azithromycin, was associated with a higher risk of fracture. Methods: This was a population-level retrospective cohort study in Ontario, Canada, from 2003 to 2012 of older adults (mean age = 76 years) newly prescribed clarithromycin (n = 96 226) or azithromycin (n = 94 083) while taking a CCB (amlodipine, nifedipine, felodipine, verapamil, diltiazem). The outcome assessed within 30 days of a new coprescription was a nonvertebral fracture. Results: There were no differences in measured baseline characteristics between the clarithromycin and azithromycin groups. Amlodipine was the most commonly prescribed CCB (more than 50% of patients). Coprescribing clarithromycin, versus azithromycin, was not associated with a higher 30-day risk of nonvertebral fracture (124 patients of 96 226 taking clarithromycin [0.13%] vs 98 patients of 94 083 taking azithromycin [0.10%]; odds ratio = 1.23 [95% CI = 0.94-1.60]; P = 0.134). Conclusions: Among older adults taking a CCB, concurrent use of clarithromycin, compared with azithromycin, was not associated with a statistically significantly greater 30-day risk of nonvertebral fracture.
Toward development of a testbed for sustainable manufacturing
Authors: Lee Ju Yeon , Shin Seung-Jun , Lee Y Tina , Libes Donald
Published: November 2014

A growing number of manufacturing companies are treating sustainability as a strategic objective that will increase both their global competitiveness and their market share. To implement this objective, these companies must first assess, and then evaluate, their current sustainability performance. Assessments and evaluations are carried out by choosing among a variety of existing sustainability metrics, assessment tools, and related standards. To help companies make the best choice, the National Institute of Standards and Technology is establishing a Smart Manufacturing Testbed, with an initial emphasis on sustainable manufacturing. The sustainable manufacturing testbed will provide (1) the infrastructure to demonstrate, test, and validate assessment methods and tools; (2) the ability to test conformance to current and future assessment-related standards; (3) the capability needed by the manufacturing industries to perform sustainability assessments; and (4) a repository for storing sustainability data related to products, resources, and processes from case studies describing real manufacturing scenarios. This article summarizes testbed requirements and functions, proposes an architecture that meets those requirements and implements those functions, and introduces a prototype system that enables companies to use the testbed.
Image compression and encryption scheme via satellite
Authors: Hussain Azkar
Published: November 2014

Satellite communication systems are now designed according to an outdated Shannon information theory where all data is transmitted in meaningless bit streams. In this article, a novel noise free digital image communication via satellite has been developed. The proposed scheme is based on fractional compression and a new block cipher cryptosystem based on S8 substitution boxes transformation. The fractal compression technique is selected to compress the aerial images due to its high compression capability. The fractal image compression of the input aerial image is the first stage in the encoding phase. The fractal compression technique divides the original image into two different block sizes called range and domain blocks. The best match between the range and domain blocks is known as the transformation mapping. All the transformation mappings are recorded as the output-compressed file of the input aerial image.
Arithmetic solution for the axial vibration of drill string coupling with a down-the-hole hammer in rock drilling
Authors: Bu Changgen , Li Xiaofeng , Sun Long , Xia Boru
Published: November 2014

Down-the-hole hammer (DTH) drilling is an air hammer drilling technique designed for drilling through bedrock and features a typical drill string length of 200 m or shorter due to its technical specifications. During DTH drilling of granite-like hard rocks, the impacts of the piston-bit-rock system cause the drill string to generate severe vibration and noise pollution. In addition, the rapid wear of the button bit and drill string significantly decreases the drilling efficiency. Based on a distributed parameter drill string model of a DTH, this paper studies the phenomenon of the drill string’s axial forced vibration with a periodic impacting force under DTH drilling in an innovative manner. With the focus of study on the DTH button bit, the transient impact force on the button bit during the drilling of the piston-bit-rock system is determined, and the impact force is converted to a periodic excitation force function using polynomial fitting. Then, the periodic impulse is transformed into a harmonic series using Fourier transforms, and finally, the drill string vibration response under the harmonic excitation force series is determined. The results reveal that a periodic impulse can mainly be determined by the nature of the DTH drill string and rock and the impact frequency during drilling. Further evidence demonstrates that at least one frequency component of the impulse harmonic series will be equal to the modal frequencies of the drill string insofar as the condition [Formula: see text] is met; the coupling of the short drill string with the DTH may cause resonance at a specific hole depth, whose resonance regions are adjacent to but not continuous with the extension of the drill string. This work should serve as an important theoretical guide for designers in the dynamic design, modification, and use of a DTH drilling system.
Dynamic modeling and control for a five-dimensional hybrid vibration isolator based on a position/orientation decoupled parallel mechanism
Authors: Li Bing , Zhao Wei , Wang Shuai , Huang Hailin
Published: November 2014

In this study, a novel five-dimensional hybrid manipulator applied to multi-dimensional (MD) vibration isolation is proposed, a semi-active fuzzy optimal control model is established and the performance of the isolator is validated by the MD vibration isolation experiments. In the hybrid manipulator, the translations and rotations of the manipulator are decoupled and each actuator is replaced by a subsystem combining a magnetorheological (MR) damper with a spring to realize the spatial MD vibration isolation. The primary structure of this MD vibration isolation system (VIS) or multi-dimensional vibration isolation system (MDVIS) is described and the relating isolation principle is explained. Consequently, the closed dynamic model is established so that a fuzzy control model is built to implement vibration control. In the control model, the optimal damping force is obtained from an [Formula: see text] state feedback control strategy, and the actual output force of the MR damper is determined with a kinematics parameters in every limb according to the work principle of the MR damper. In addition, a Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy model is obtained by a genetic algorithm to obtain the input current of the MR damper. To validate the VIS performance, an MD vibration isolation platform (VIP) or multi-dimensional vibration isolation platform (MDVIP) prototype is developed to study the vibration isolation performance. Finally, vibration experiments with sinusoidal and random excitations in translational direction are conducted. Ultimately, the measurement results of vibration acceleration validate the effectiveness of the hybrid vibration isolator and its control strategy.
Families With Special Needs Children
Authors: Caicedo Carmen
Published: November 2014

There are 11.2 million children with special health care needs in the United States or one in five households caring for a special needs child. A small group of children who need continuous medical, nursing, therapeutic services that enable them to survive is growing in numbers. This study examined physical health (physical functioning), mental health (emotional, social, and cognitive functioning; communication; and worry), family functioning (daily activities, family relationships), and care burden (caregiver employment, caregiving time, travel time, health-related out-of-pocket expenditures) of parent caregivers for medically complex, medical technology–dependent children. Data were collected once a month for 5 months on 84 parents recruited in South Florida using the Pediatric Quality of Life Family Impact Module. Physically, parents were tired when they woke up: too tired to do the things they liked to do and with little energy for chores or social activities. Mentally, they were frustrated, anxious, and angry; felt helpless and hopeless; had cognitive problems remembering and focusing on tasks; were worried about the child’s medications, treatments, side effects; and were anxious about child’s future and effect of the child’s condition on other family members. Socially, they felt isolated and that people did not understand their family situation; they found it hard to talk with others including physicians and nurses. Average weekly hours of direct care was 33.0 ( SD = 30.4 hours); average monthly out-of-pocket expenditures was $348.78 ( SD = $623.34). It is essential to assess parents’ physical and mental health and functioning and to provide interventions to improve health and functioning for both the parents and the children for whom they are caring.
A quasistatic frictional contact problem with damage involving viscoelastic materials with short memory
Authors: Li Yunxiang , Migórski Stanisław , Han Jiangfeng
Published: November 2014

We consider a mathematical model which describes the frictional contact between a deformable body and a foundation. The process is assumed to be quasistatic and the material behaviour is described by a viscoelastic constitutive law with damage. The friction and contact are modeled with subdifferential boundary conditions. We derive the variational formulation of the problem which is a coupled system of a hemivariational inequality for the velocity and a parabolic variational inequality for the damage field. Then we prove the existence of a unique weak solution to the model. The proof is based on arguments of time-dependent stationary inclusions and a fixed point theorem.
Coproduction of Transformative Services as a Pathway to Improved Consumer Well-Being
Authors: Mende Martin , van Doorn Jenny
Published: November 2014

Although many consumers turn to financial counseling to improve their financial well-being, the effectiveness of these counseling services remains nebulous and the exact mechanisms through which they improve consumer well-being require further research. This longitudinal research demonstrates that consumers’ coproduction of financial counseling services is pivotal for increasing their credit scores and for decreasing their financial stress. Drawing on self-determination theory, this study also shows that financial literacy, consumer involvement, and attachment styles are important drivers of coproduction. Involvement plays a moderating role, such that higher involvement substitutes for lower levels of financial literacy and mitigates the negative effects of attachment avoidance on coproduction. These findings help both counseling agencies and public policy makers improve the effectiveness of financial counseling. Financial counselors should track their customers’ objective and subjective financial literacy, involvement, and attachment styles, then segment customers, and, finally, tailor the service provision accordingly, to leverage coproduction as the pathway to consumers’ financial well-being. From a public policy perspective, the findings suggest that efforts to improve consumer financial literacy are important but should be supplemented with programs designed to increase consumer involvement in financial counseling; this combination promises to foster coproduction and improve consumers’ financial well-being.
The Nature and Implications of Consumers’ Experiential Framings of Failure in High-Risk Service Contexts
Authors: Zayer Linda Tuncay , Otnes Cele C. , Fischer Eileen M.
Published: November 2014

Many services, particularly those related to health care, can be considered high-risk in that despite service providers’ best efforts, consumers may not attain the outcomes they hope to achieve. Recent research highlights how cultural models regarding service providers influence the ways consumers experience and respond to failure. What bears investigating is how these cultural models and consumers’ related framings of failure shape consumer experience in high-risk contexts. Analyzing data from informants engaged with various types of infertility services, we develop a typology of four consumer experiential framings of failure that explore their experiences across three dimensions. These are as follows: the implicit cultural model that shapes relationships with service providers, the implicit cultural model regarding goal pursuit, and consumers’ tacit understandings regarding their appropriate courses of action in response to failure. We link each distinct type of experiential framing to consumers’ distinct set of expectations related to service recovery. And we offer insights for service providers on how to manage their relationships with consumers and (in the tradition of transformative services research) how to enhance consumer well-being.
A ‘necessary evil’ even during hard times? Public support for political parties in Portugal before and after the bailout (2008 and 2012)
Authors: Teixeira Conceição Pequito , Tsatsanis Emmanouil , Belchior Ana Maria
Published: November 2014

Notwithstanding the prolific research on the crisis of democracy since the 1980s, the attention that has been given to political parties has not been enough to fully understand the (increasing lack of) citizen support for them. Additionally, there is too little research on how the economic context can contribute to changes in support for political parties. Focusing on the Portuguese case, this article has three main goals: to assess citizen support for parties before and after the economic crisis; to explore the contribution of the crisis to changes in the explanatory models of support; and finally, to identify the consequences of support for parties, with regard to electoral turnout. Findings reveal the economic crisis has affected support for parties in Portugal, specifically regarding diffuse-institutional support and party legitimacy. Changes in public support for parties between 2008 and 2012 have had consequences on voter turnout.
Defining the limits of discrimination law in the United Kingdom
Authors: O’Cinneide Colm , Liu Kimberly
Published: November 2014

Even after the codification of anti-discrimination legislation in the Equality Act 2010, UK anti-discrimination law is caught in an embedded tension between principle and pragmatism. It is designed to give effect to the principles of equal treatment, non-discrimination and respect for human dignity. However, its scope and substance has often been limited by reference to pragmatic concerns, such as the need to minimize regulatory burdens and to maximize business efficiency, which sit uncomfortably with these principled underpinnings. This tension between principle and pragmatism tends to play out in particular with regard to debates about what exceptions should be carved out of the general prohibition on discrimination set out in the UK legislation. UK legislatures and courts have often been quick to adopt a ‘pragmatic orientation’ in this context. However, this approach can be difficult to reconcile with the more purposive, rights-protective, principled orientation of the European Union law and, to a lesser extent, the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Physicians’ perceptions of mobile technology for enhancing asthma care for youth
Authors: Schneider Tali , Panzera Anthony Dominic , Martinasek Mary , McDermott Robert , Couluris Marisa , Lindenberger James , Bryant Carol
Published: November 2014

This study assessed physicians’ receptivity to using mobile technology as a strategy in patient care for adolescents with asthma. Understanding physicians’ perceived barriers and benefits of integrating mobile technology in adolescents’ asthma care and self-management is an initial step in enhancing overall patient and disease outcomes. We conducted in-depth interviews with second- and third-year pediatric residents and attending physicians who oversee pediatric residents in training ( N = 27) at an academic medical center in the southeastern United States. We identified both benefits from and barriers to broader use of mobile technologies for improving asthma outcomes in adolescents. Resident physicians demonstrated greater readiness for integrating these technologies than did attending physicians. Prior to adoption of mobile technologies in the care of adolescent asthma patients, barriers to implementation should be understood. Prior to widespread adoption, such systems will need to be evaluated against traditional care for demonstration of patient outcomes that improve on the current situation.
Ukrainian Euromaidan: The exclusion of otherness in the name of progress
Authors: Baysha Olga
Published: November 2014

Although criticism of Enlightenment ideas has become widespread within academic circles, the basic Enlightenment narrative – an inexorable movement to a progressive condition – remains a dominant assumption within the discourses of modernization and democratization. This article analyzes how the ‘progressive’ imagination of Euromaidan protesters in Ukraine discursively produced the internal ‘other’ as a singular monolithic subject whose ‘underdeveloped’ intellectual condition was judged against an imagined scale of human progression. The argument is explicated through the discourse analysis of popular blogs on Ukrainian Pravda – a political web site that played a crucial role in organizing Maidan protests. The article analyzes 189 postings of Ukrainian Pravda bloggers starting from 26 November 2013 – the day when the bloggers’ group ‘Maidan’ was formed – until 21 January 2014, which denoted the beginning of a murderous stage of the Maidan protest.
An examination of facility management, customer satisfaction and service relationship in the Bangkok healthcare system
Authors: Pitt Michael , Chotipanich Sarich , Issarasak Sittiporn , Mulholland Kieran , Panupattanapong Pitchthida
Published: November 2014

The main objective of this research paper is to primarily examine customer satisfaction towards facilities and service quality in two private hospitals in Bangkok. The relationship between healthcare services and physical facilities and the resultant effect on the level of patient satisfaction was explored. The samples of this research were based on the feedbacks of 400 in and out patients from two private hospitals in the east of Bangkok, Thailand, supported by a one-day survey for collecting data on patient satisfaction. Statistical analysis including frequencies, percentages and relationship was applied within the methodology including consideration to the limitations of this research. The research results were able to highlight what particular services affected the satisfaction level of patients most, which proved to be important when aiming to reduce dissatisfaction rates. The research mainly examined B-class graded healthcare businesses in Bangkok and patient perception of its facilities and service quality, highlighting several key relationships that showed high level of relationship between the feedbacks received; such relationships between core and non-core facilities/services could therefore be improved to directly affect patient satisfaction.
Subacute volar dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint without fracture: A case report and literature review
Authors: Kohyama Sho , Hara Yuki , Fukai Ryosuke , Yamazaki Masashi
Published: November 2014

This is the first report describing subacute volar dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint treated by open reduction and stabilization of the distal radioulnar joint by means of a suture anchor. Acute volar dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint successfully treated by closed or open reduction has previously been reported. In our case, surgery was performed five weeks after the initial injury. Good stabilization was obtained by reattaching the triangular fibrocartilage complex to the ulnar fovea with a suture anchor. It is important not to misdiagnose distal radioulnar joint dislocation, and the suture anchor technique is an effective treatment option.
The construction of a ‘historical moment’: Queen Elizabeth’s 2011 visit to Ireland in British and Irish newspapers
Authors: Dekavalla Marina , Rafter Kevin
Published: November 2014

Queen Elizabeth’s visit to the Irish Republic in May 2011 was seen by many as a significant moment in the long process of normalisation in Anglo-Irish relations, facilitated by the peace process in Northern Ireland. For journalists, it was a newsworthy story because it captured the values of this process of peace-making in a concrete, organised media event, involving high-profile heads of state, official speeches and photo opportunities. This article examines the representation of this state visit in British and in Irish daily newspapers, and finds similar coverage across a number of shared themes. Journalists in both countries supported the conciliatory message embedded in the media event, with very little questioning, and marginalised voices of opposition. This approach contributed to an ideological consensus that the conflict between the two countries was in the past, with conciliation and collaboration the only future.
Sharing ties and preferences: Stakeholders’ position alignments in the European Commission’s open consultations
Authors: Bunea Adriana
Published: November 2014

What explains interest groups’ position alignments in the European Commission’s open consultations? The article argues that formal membership ties facilitate organisational coordination and the creation of lobbying coalitions among interest groups, which in turn affects their position alignments. This argument is supported by empirical evidence from five environmental consultations. Sharing a formal membership tie within an over-arching organisational structure has a stronger effect on position alignment than the fact of representing the same type of interest or having the same organisational form. Coordinated, coalition-based lobbying accounts to a significant extent for stakeholders’ position alignments in the EU open consultations. The ‘social’ embeddedness of lobbying has a direct effect on the advocacy strategies interest groups decide to employ during the early stages of EU policymaking.
Bayesian bivariate quantile regression
Authors: Waldmann Elisabeth , Kneib Thomas
Published: November 2014

Quantile regression (QR) has become a widely used tool to study the impact of covariates on quantiles of a response distribution. QR provides a detailed description of the conditional response when considering a dense set of quantiles, without assuming a closed form for its distribution. The Bayesian version of QR, which can be implemented by considering the asymmetric Laplace distribution (ALD) as an auxiliary error distribution, is an attractive alternative to other methods because it returns knowledge on the whole parameter distribution instead of solely point estimations. While for the univariate case there has been a lot of development in the last few years, multivariate responses have only been treated to a little extent in the literature, especially in the Bayesian case. By using a multivariate version of the location scale mixture representation for the ALD, we are able to apply inference techniques developed for multivariate Gaussian models on multivariate quantile regression and make thus the impact of covariates on the quantiles of more than one dependent variable feasible. The model structure also facilitates the determination of conditional correlations between bivariate responses on different quantile levels after adjusting for covariate effects.
Longitudinal mixed-effects models for latent cognitive function
Authors: Hout Ardo van den , Fox Jean-Paul , Muniz-Terrera Graciela
Published: November 2014

A mixed-effects regression model with a bent-cable change-point predictor is formulated to describe potential decline of cognitive function over time in the older population. For the individual trajectories, cognitive function is considered to be a latent variable measured through an item response theory model given longitudinal test data. Individual-specific parameters are defined for both cognitive function and the rate of change over time, using the change-point predictor for non-linear trends. Bayesian inference is used, where the Deviance Information Criterion and the L-criterion are investigated for model comparison. Special attention is given to the identifiability of the item response parameters. Item response theory makes it possible to use dichotomous and polytomous test items, and to take into account missing data and survey-design change during follow-up. This will be illustrated in an application where data stem from the Cambridge City over-75s Cohort Study.
Development and effectiveness of an integrated inpatient and community service for challenging behaviour in late life: From Confused and Disturbed Elderly to Transitional Behavioural Assessment and Intervention Service
Authors: Anderson Katrina , Bird Michael , Blair Annaliese , MacPherson Sarah
Published: November 2014

A common method of managing challenging behaviour associated with dementia is long-stay special care units, though models are very diverse. In New South Wales, Australia, the five remaining state-run long-stay special care units for this population were funded to adopt a shorter-term model which had been trialled by one of the units. Transitional Behavioural Assessment and Intervention Service Units, incorporating an integrated outreach team, were to provide multi-disciplinary assessments, develop individualised bio-psychosocial management plans for, and appropriately discharge people with significant levels of Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia. The current study assessed both the effects of the change and the clinical effectiveness of the model.

Method

A repeated measures design, supplemented by multiple one-time measures. A range of standard instruments were administered, patient data from other types of inpatient units were obtained, interviews conducted, and medical records examined.

Results

Transitional Behaviour Assessment and Intervention Service units were admitting patients with dementia and a variety of significant challenging behaviours. Length of stay was shortened in all units, patients turnover greatly increased, and there was a low re-admission rate. The model was substantially cheaper than psychiatric care in two units where it was fully implemented; one unit cost the same as psychiatric care, and two units were not cost-effective because of low occupancy – related to not fully implementing the model. Referring facilities reported that in the absence of the units, their main strategy would have been to increase sedation. In the Transitional Behavioural Assessment and Intervention Service units, behavioural incidents were primarily managed through psychosocial means. It is not known whether behaviour is reduced over time, staff become better at managing the behaviour when it occurs, or both.

Conclusion

The evaluation showed that the model can be transferred to other units and is a cost-effective way of assessing, managing, and successfully discharging people with complex challenging behaviours, though only when fully implemented.
Football and dementia: A qualitative investigation of a community based sports group for men with early onset dementia
Authors: Carone Laura , Tischler Victoria , Dening Tom
Published: November 2014

This study investigates the impact of a weekly group providing sport and physical activities for men with early onset dementia established by Notts County Football in the Community (NCFC). There were three aims: to investigate the effect of early onset dementia on individuals with the condition and their carers; to examine the perceptions of current levels of service provision for people with early onset dementia; and to analyse the impact of the group. Men with dementia ( n = 5) attending the sessions, their carers ( n = 5), NCFC coaching staff ( n = 5) and people organizing/facilitating the sessions ( n = 5) were interviewed. Semi-structured interviews explored the participants’ experiences of dementia, their opinions on current service provisions and on the sessions. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Four main themes were found: loss related to the condition of dementia and its impact on relationships (‘Loss’); lack of age-appropriate services for people with early onset dementia (‘Lack of Resources’); enjoyment and positive anticipation related to the group for all involved (‘Enjoyment and Anticipation’); and ‘the Notts County Effect’ which attributed the success of the sessions to the strong brand of the football club, and to personalized service in a “dementia-free” environment. The NCFC sessions provided a safe low-cost intervention with positive effects upon quality of life for both people with early onset dementia, their carers and the staff involved. This suggests that the service may be valuable to a wider range of people living in different areas.
Whatever happened to democracy? A comment on Bischoff and Shores
Authors: Schrag Francis
Published: November 2014

The paradigm for formulating educational policy adopted by Bischoff and Shores, which appears to be the prevailing one, appears to offer no role to the citizen, rendering the paradigm suspect. The authors’ honest admission of the limitations of social science knowledge undercuts the argument for the usefulness of research in this area.
Shared Resilience in a Traumatic Reality
Authors: Nuttman-Shwartz Orit
Published: November 2014

This article proposes a new concept, shared resilience in a traumatic reality (SRTR), which refers to trauma workers in shared reality situations. Based on the literature that emphasizes the positive effects of exposure to traumatic events for workers in this field, this article expands the perception of shared traumatic situations and examines the ability of trauma workers to cope, to show resilience, and to grow as a result of the mutual relationship with their clients. The literature review presents a variety of terms referring to the positive effects of working with trauma survivors on therapists as a basis for the new concept proposed here. These terms highlight the importance of empathic mutual aid relationships, which are a basic component for promoting resilience in a shared traumatic reality. The relative nature of shared resilience is discussed, bearing in mind that resilience can be manifested as emotions, behaviors, and conceptions. Various findings relating to shared resilience in traumatic situations are reviewed, and recommendations for research, practice, and policy are offered.
Motivational Factors for Participation in Biomedical Research
Authors: Mfutso-Bengo Joseph , Manda-Taylor Lucinda , Masiye Francis
Published: November 2014

Obtaining effective informed consent from research participants is a prerequisite to the conduct of an ethically sound research. Yet it is believed that obtaining quality informed consent is generally difficult in settings with low socioeconomic status. This is so because of the alleged undue inducements and therapeutic misconception among participants. However, there is a dearth of data on factors that motivate research participants to take part in research. Hence, this study was aimed at filling this gap in the Malawian context. We conducted 18 focus group discussions with community members in urban and rural communities of Blantyre in Malawi. Most participants reported that they accepted the invitation to participate in research because of better quality treatment during study also known as ancillary care, monetary and material incentives given to participants, and thorough medical diagnosis.
Postpartum Women’s Perspectives on the Donation of Placentas for Scientific Research in Campinas, Brazil
Authors: Yoshizawa Rebecca Scott , Osis Maria José Duarte , Nascimento Simony Lira , Bento Silvana Ferreira , Godoy Ana Carolina , Coelho Suelene , Cecatti José Guilherme
Published: November 2014

Little is known about public perspectives of scientific and therapeutic uses of placentas. Gaps in knowledge potentiate ethical and clinical problems regarding collection and applications. As such, this study sought to assess the perspectives of placenta donation of a sample of women. Postpartum women’s perspectives on placental donation were assessed at the State University of Campinas in the Centro de Atençäo Integral a Saúde da Mulher (CAISM) maternity hospital using a cross-sectional survey ( n = 384) and semi-structured interviews ( n = 12). Surveys were analyzed quantitatively and interviews were analyzed qualitatively using grounded coding; results were compared. The average age of respondents was 27. Fifty-six percent had more than one child, 45% were Caucasian, 38% were mixed-race, 74% identified with a Christian faith, 52% had high school education or higher, 13% regarded the placenta as spiritually important, 72% felt that knowing what happens to the placenta after birth was somewhat or very important, 78% supported the use of the placenta in research and medicine, 59% reported that consent to collect the placenta was very or somewhat important, 78% preferred their doctor to invite donation, and only 7% preferred the researcher to invite donation. Interviews suggested women appreciate being part of research and that receiving information about studies was important to them. Informed by these results, we argue that women support scientific and therapeutic uses of placentas, want to be included in decision making, and desire information about the placenta. Placentas should not be viewed as “throwaway” organs that are poised for collection without the involvement and permission of women. Women want to be meaningfully included in research processes.
Complexity of persistent type II endoleak associated with sac expansion after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
Authors: Spanos Konstantinos , Rountas Christos , Giannoukas Athanasios D
Published: November 2014

Type II endoleak after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair still remains the Achilles’ heel of the treatment, the source of which regularly is difficult to identify and treat. We present a patient with a persistent type II endoleak associated with a continuous aneurysm sac expansion after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair for which many diagnostic modalities were used during his follow-up such as duplex scan, computed tomography angiography and magnetic resonance angiography. Attempts were undertaken to treat the source of endoleak including coil micro-embolisation of lumbar arteries and subsequent open ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery, but they failed to eliminate the endoleak. Finally, a middle sacral artery was identified as the source of the endoleak. At that time, the patient was subjected to surgery for sigmoid carcinoma, and simultaneously, a ligation of the sacral artery was undertaken which eventually eliminated the endoleak completely. This case highlights that type II endoleak may be evoked by various sources and there can be a great difficulty to identify these feeding vessels; thus, careful planning for its management is mandatory.
Inpatient group therapeutic interventions for patients with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Reddy Vilash
Published: November 2014

Group therapy can be an effective mode of therapy, used on an inpatient unit, as it can allow patients to become allies in their journey to understand and overcome their mental health needs. The therapeutic principles discussed by Dr Irvin Yalom illustrate the significance and importance of group therapy, which was strongly incorporated into interactive behavior therapy (IBT) developed by Dr Daniel J Tomasulo. IBT is a type of group therapy, more action oriented, created to allow patients with intellectual disabilities (IDs) to better comprehend discussed topics, by designing and tailoring activities to meet their cognitive and linguistic capabilities. Additional details found in this article will illustrate the methods by which IBT is capable of meeting the needs of patients with ID. Such adjustments include shorter duration of activities to maximize concentration, proactive role-playing involving the synergistic effort of all members of the group, and limiting the authoritative role of the therapist in a group environment
A home for loss: Doris Salcedo’s melancholic archives
Authors: Lauzon Claudette
Published: November 2014

This article considers the art practice of Bogotá-based sculptor Doris Salcedo, whose work has primarily involved transforming testimonies of political violence in Colombia into abstracted assemblages that bear witness to suffering and loss. Melancholic archives that cling to their capacity to accommodate what remains of loss but also recognise their own structural provisionality, Salcedo’s sculptures and installations represent a process of excavation and archivisation that, by failing to coalesce into sites of closure or redemption, disclose art’s capacity to unsettle our collective access to the past while insisting nevertheless on bearing witness to the suffering of others. Radically reconsidering the archive’s putative status as a ‘home’ for memory, Salcedo’s practice at the same time figures home as an (impossible) archive for memories of loss, terror and displacement.