bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What Drives Reticence? Reporting Bias from Monopolies and Distrustful Firm Managers
Authors: Malomo Fola
Published: May 2017

This article examines the determinants of underreporting (reticence) on randomized response questions. A simple model is created to describe the interview process and draw some conclusion as to why people might misreport their true status despite given the assurance of institutional and statistical confidentiality. By looking at the relationship between firm-specific reticence and other firm-specific and industry-location-specific variables, it is found that (mis)trust (proxied by the proportion of contracts arranged before delivery) is a significant predictor of reticence. Underreporting does not seem to be significantly related to a misunderstanding of the procedure, education, profit levels or guilt. This seems to suggest that firms which are more cautious in their business dealings are also more cautious with the randomized response (RR) technique. In such cases, weighted estimates of the prevalence of sensitive traits might be derived without the use of the RR technique but through the use of variables relating to the nature of firm-level contracts. Moreover, more accurate data on sensitive topics can be extracted from large homogeneous populations.

JEL: C81, C83, D81
Risk Factors and Time to Recurrent Ipsilateral and Contralateral Patellar Dislocations
Authors: Christensen Tyson C. , Sanders Thomas L. , Pareek Ayoosh , Mohan Rohith , Dahm Diane L. , Krych Aaron J.
Published: May 2017

Background:

Previous studies have reported variable rates of recurrent lateral patellar instability mainly because of limited cohort sizes. In addition, there is currently a lack of information on contralateral patellar instability.

Purpose:

To evaluate the rate of recurrent ipsilateral patellar dislocations and contralateral patellar dislocations after a first-time lateral patellar dislocation. Additionally, risk factors associated with recurrent dislocations (ipsilateral or contralateral) and time to recurrence were investigated.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

This population-based study included 584 patients with a first-time lateral patellar dislocation occurring between 1990 and 2010. A retrospective review was conducted to gather information about the injury, subsequent dislocations (ipsilateral or contralateral), and structural characteristics including trochlear dysplasia, patella alta, and tibial tubercle to trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance. Risk factors were assessed to delineate associations with subsequent dislocations and time to recurrence.

Results:

At a mean follow-up of 12.4 years, 173 patients had ipsilateral recurrence, and 25 patients had a subsequent contralateral dislocation. At 20 years, the cumulative incidence of ipsilateral recurrence was 36.0%, while the cumulative incidence of contralateral dislocations was 5.4%. Trochlear dysplasia (odds ratio [OR], 18.1), patella alta (OR, 10.4), age <18 years at the time of the first dislocation (OR, 2.4), elevated TT-TG distance (OR, 2.1), and female sex (OR, 1.5) were associated with recurrent ipsilateral dislocations. Time to recurrence was significantly decreased in patients with trochlear dysplasia (23.0 months earlier time to recurrence; P < .001), elevated TT-TG distance (18.5 months; P < .001), patella alta (16.4 months; P = .001), and age <18 years at the time of the first dislocation (15.4 months; P < .001). Risk factors for subsequent contralateral dislocations included patella alta and trochlear dysplasia.

Conclusion:

At 20 years after a first-time lateral patellar dislocation, the cumulative incidence of recurrent ipsilateral patellar dislocations was 36.0%, compared with 5.4% for contralateral dislocations. Trochlear dysplasia, elevated TT-TG distance, patella alta, age <18 years at the time of the first dislocation, and female sex were associated with ipsilateral recurrence. Trochlear dysplasia, elevated TT-TG distance, patella alta, and age <18 years at the time of the first dislocation were predictive of a statistically significant decrease in time to recurrence.
Assisting Frail Seniors With Toileting in a Home Bathroom: Approaches Used by Home Care Providers
Authors: King Emily C. , Boscart Veronique M. , Weiss Brett M. , Dutta Tilak , Callaghan Jack P. , Fernie Geoff R.
Published: May 2017

Home care providers experience high occupational injury rates. Improving safety is becoming increasingly urgent as this sector expands to support the aging population. Caregivers identify assisting with toileting as a particularly frequent and difficult activity. This mixed-methods observational study identified and analyzed the toileting subactivities that place care providers at the greatest risk of musculoskeletal injury. Eight personal support workers (home care aides) assisted a frail older adult (actor) in a simulated home bathroom. Overall technique and body postures were analyzed. Exposure to musculoskeletal injury risk factors (low back loads and time in extreme trunk postures) was greatest when removing/replacing clothing and providing posterior perineal care; high loads were also possible during transfers. Exposures can be reduced by lowering the pants only to knee level or squatting to raise them. A bidet seat or attachment can perform perineal cleaning, which accounted for 32% of time in severe trunk flexion.
Depolicing as Dissent Shirking
Authors: Chanin Joshua , Sheats Brittany
Published: May 2017

Theory suggests that bureaucratic actors express opposition to unfavorable organizational and policy changes by acting in ways inconsistent with established rules, norms, and community expectations . Empirical evidence from various professional contexts and geographic locations lends support to the notion that some public employees have indeed engaged in dissent shirking by refusing to perform at their best so as to express work-related dissatisfaction. This research relies on a quasi-experimental design to examine this phenomenon in the context of the police. The study’s analysis will be driven by a series of autoregressive integrated moving average models in order to examine the extent to which a form of dissent shirking—“depolicing”—has occurred in jurisdictions investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice under that agency’s pattern or practice authority. Despite qualitative support for depolicing under these conditions, this analysis shows no evidence that officers responded to external criticism and intensified oversight brought on by the pattern or practice reform process by policing less proactively. Findings are discussed in terms of both theory and policy.
When and How Much Did the Green Line LRT Increase Single-Family Housing Values in St. Paul, Minnesota?
Authors: Cao Xinyu (Jason) , Lou Shengnan
Published: May 2017

Studies quantifying value added of transit often cannot differentiate whether the premiums are transit effects or location effects. Limited studies have examined the timing of value added. Using before and after data, this study explores the impact of the Green Line LRT on housing sales prices. Compared to the studied period before its funding announcement, its announcement increased housing values by $9.2/sq ft and its commencement increased sales prices by $13.7/sq ft. Further analyses show that housing value appreciation actually occurred after the announcement but before the commencement. Thus, using the right timing of value added is critical for value capture programs and benefit–cost analysis.
A Dedicated Neurological Intensive Care Unit Offers Improved Outcomes for Patients With Brain and Spine Injuries
Authors: Jeong Jin-Heon , Bang JaeSeung , Jeong WonJoo , Yum KyuSun , Chang JunYoung , Hong Jeong-Ho , Lee Kiwon , Han Moon-Ku
Published: May 2017

Background:

Admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) specialized for brain and spine injury patients is associated with improved outcome. We investigated the effects of the first dedicated, combined neurological and neurosurgical ICU (NeuroICU) in Korea on patient outcomes.

Methods:

The first dedicated NeuroICU in Korea was established in March 2013. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and compared the outcomes between patients admitted to the ICU before and after NeuroICU establishment. The predicted mortality of NeuroICU patients was calculated using their Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores. Patients’ functional outcomes were evaluated using their modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores at 6 months after ICU admission, which were obtained from medical records or telephone interviews.

Results:

We included 2487 patients, 1572 and 915 of whom were admitted prior to and after NeuroICU establishment, respectively. The demographic characteristics, Glasgow Coma Scale scores, and disease proportions did not differ significantly between the groups. The length of ICU stay and the number of days on ventilation were significantly lower in NeuroICU patients than they were in general ICU patients ( P = .024, P = .001). Intensive care unit mortality was significantly lower in NeuroICU patients (7.3% vs 4.7%, P = .012). The predicted mortality was obtained from 473 NeuroICU patients. The mortality ratio (observed mortality/predicted mortality) was 0.34 (8.9%/26.1%), and 228 (48.1%) patients showed good functional recovery (mRS, 0-2).

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that admission to a dedicated NeuroICU significantly improves the neurological outcomes of patients with brain and spine injuries, including their postoperative care, in Korea.
Effects of inducer tip clearance on the performance and flow characteristics of a pump in a turbopump
Authors: Kim Changhyun , Kim Semi , Choi Chang-Ho , Baek Jehyun
Published: May 2017

A turbopump is used to pressurize propellants to gain high thrust in a projectile and consists of two pumps and a turbine. The pumps usually employ an inducer upstream to prevent performance deterioration by lowering net positive suction head required of the main impeller. However, several types of cavitation and instabilities take place in the flow field. Therefore, numerous experiments and CFD analysis for turbopumps have been conducted. Especially, there were some previous studies on inducer tip clearance, but they were limited to inducer regions due to the complexity of simulating the entire pump. In this study, the flow through an oxidizer pump in a turbopump was numerically investigated with four different sizes of inducer tip clearances. ANSYS CFX 13.0 with Rayleigh–Plesset equation was used to test flows in both non-cavitating and cavitating conditions. In the non-cavitating condition, the pump with the largest inducer tip clearance showed the worst head rise, efficiency and huge size of backflow arose near inducer casing. Also, the vortex was generated between the inducer blades in the case of large inducer tip clearance due to weak tip leakage flow. In the cavitating condition, the inducer with large tip clearance was found to be vulnerable to low suction pressure and floating cavity was observed between the inducer blades. However, the heads of the pumps with different inducer tip clearances were broken down at similar cavitation numbers due to the blade cavitation near the impeller throat. In addition, the transferred cavity from the inducer region also induced head breakdown of the pump.
Roles of Emerging HRM and Employee Commitment: Evidence from the Banking Industry of Bangladesh
Authors: Rubel Mohammad Rabiul Basher , Rimi Nadia Newaz , Walters Tim
Published: May 2017

This study examines the roles emerging human resource management (HRM) plays in enhancing employee commitment to the organization from the perspective of social exchange theory (SET). In this relationship, HRM roles represent the mechanisms through which managers’ actions, behaviours and HRM procedures affect employees’ commitment to the organization. A self-administered questionnaire survey was employed for data collection from a sample of 217 respondents drawn from front-line employees working in private commercial banking organizations in Bangladesh. Using structural equation analysis, the results indicated a significant and positive influence of the roles of emerging HRM, namely, procedural justice, organizational communication, empowerment, employee development and participation as determinants of employee commitment to the organization. In this study, the five-dimensional emerging HRM roles had a positive relationship with employee commitment to the organization. Thus, organizations and their top management should have interest in, and nourish, a supportive HRM environment, and must provide a strong priority to HRM through which they will demonstrate their commitment to open communication, empowerment, participation, investment in employee development and a just environment to get employee commitment in a long-lasting, high-quality commitment-focused relationship.
Inter-agency collaboration between mental health services and police in Queensland
Authors: Scott Russ , Meehan Tom
Published: May 2017

Objective:

The objective of this study was to consider the collaboration between mental health services and police in Queensland.

Conclusion:

Queensland has developed a number of initiatives for intervention and response to incidents involving police and persons with mental illness. Future research should focus on identifying interventions that promote effective resolution of incidents involving police.
Discrimination of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Mani Rinosh J. , Thachil Anil J. , Ramachandran Akhilesh
Published: May 2017

Accurate and timely identification of infectious etiologies is of great significance in veterinary microbiology, especially for critical diseases such as strangles, a highly contagious disease of horses caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. equi. We evaluated a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) platform for use in species- and subspecies-level identification of S. equi isolates from horses and compared it with an automated biochemical system. We used 25 clinical isolates each of S. equi subsp. equi and S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus. Using the MALDI-TOF MS platform, it was possible to correctly identify all 50 isolates to the species level. Unique mass peaks were identified in the bacterial peptide mass spectra generated by MALDI-TOF MS, which can be used for accurate subspecies-level identification of S. equi. Mass peaks (mass/charge, m/ z) 6,751.9 ± 1.4 (mean ± standard deviation) and 5,958.1 ± 1.3 were found to be unique to S. equi subsp. equi and S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus, respectively. The automated biochemical system correctly identified 47 of 50 of the isolates to the species level as S. equi, whereas at the subspecies level, 24 of 25 S. equi subsp. equi isolates and 22 of 25 S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus isolates were correctly identified. Our results indicate that MALDI-TOF MS can be used for accurate species- and subspecies-level identification of S. equi.
The Role of PAI-1 4G/5G Promoter Polymorphism and Its Levels in the Development of Ischemic Stroke in Young Indian Population
Authors: Akhter Mohammad Suhail , Biswas Arijit , Abdullah Saleh Mohammed , Behari Madhuri , Saxena Renu
Published: May 2017

The plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) gene has been found to be associated with the pathogenesis and progression of vascular diseases including stroke. A 4G/5G, PAI-1 gene polymorphism has been found to be associated with the plasma PAI-1 levels in different ethnic populations but results are still controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the potential association of 4G/5G polymorphism and plasma PAI-1 levels in the development of ischemic stroke (IS) in young Asian Indians. One hundred patients with IS and an equal number of age- and sex-matched controls were studied. The 4G/5G polymorphism was genotyped in the study population through allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. Plasma PAI-1 levels were evaluated using a commercial kit. The PAI-1 levels were significantly higher in patients when compared to the controls ( P = .03). The variant 4G allele for the PAI-I 4G/5G polymorphism showed both genotypic ( P = .0013, χ2 = 10.303; odds ratio [OR] = 3.75) as well as allelic association ( P = .0004, χ2 = 12.273; OR = 1.99) with IS. The homozygous variant 4G/4G also was found to be associated with the higher PAI-1 levels (0.005). The variant allele 4G of PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism and higher plasma PAI-1 levels were found to be significantly associated with IS in young Asian Indians.
Subchronic, Low-Level Intraperitoneal Injections of Manganese (IV) Oxide and Manganese (II) Chloride Affect Rat Brain Neurochemistry
Authors: Nielsen Brian S. , Larsen Erik H. , Ladefoged Ole , Lam Henrik R.
Published: May 2017

Manganese (Mn) is neurotoxic and can induce manganism, a Parkinson-like disease categorized as being a serious central nervous system irreversible neurodegenerative disease. An increased risk of developing symptoms of Parkinson disease has been linked to work-related exposure, for example, for workers in agriculture, horticulture, and people living near areas with frequent use of Mn-containing pesticides. In this study, the focus was placed on neurochemical effects of Mn. Rats were dosed intraperitoneally with 0.9% NaCl (control), 1.22 mg Mn (as MnO2)/kg bodyweight (bw)/day, or 2.5 mg Mn (as MnCl2)/kg bw/day for 7 d/wk for 8 or 12 weeks. This dosing regimen adds relevant new knowledge about Mn neurotoxicity as a consequence of low-dose subchronic Mn dosing. Manganese concentrations increased in the striatum, the rest of the brain, and in plasma, and regional brain neurotransmitter concentrations, including noradrenaline, dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytrytamine, glutamate, taurine, and γ-amino butyric acid, and the activity of acetylcholinesterase changed. Importantly, a target parameter for Parkinson disease and manganism, the striatal DA concentration, was reduced after 12 weeks of dosing with MnCl2. Plasma prolactin concentration was not significantly affected due to a potentially reduced dopaminergic inhibition of the prolactin release from the anterior hypophysis. No effects on the striatal α-synuclein and synaptophysin protein levels were detected.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR[BC]) on Levels of Inflammatory Biomarkers Among Recovering Breast Cancer Survivors
Authors: Reich Richard R. , Lengacher Cecile A. , Klein Thomas W. , Newton Cathy , Shivers Steve , Ramesar Sophia , Alinat Carissa B. , Paterson Carly , Le Alice , Park Jong Y. , Johnson-Mallard Versie , Elias Maya , Moscoso Manolete , Goodman Matthew , Kip Kevin E.
Published: May 2017

Purpose:

The purpose of this substudy of a large randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the efficacy of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (Breast Cancer) (MBSR[BC]) program compared to usual care (UC) in normalizing blood levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines among breast cancer survivors (BCS).

Method:

A total of 322 BCS were randomized to either a 6-week MBSR(BC) program or a UC. At baseline and 6 and 12 weeks, 10 ml of venous blood and demographic and clinical data were collected and/or updated. Plasma cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor [TNF] α, transforming growth factor [TGF] β1, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor [sTNFR] 1) were assayed. Linear mixed models were used to assess cytokine levels across three time points (baseline and 6 and 12 weeks) by group (MBSR[BC] vs. UC).

Results:

Of the six measured cytokines, three were nondetectable at rates greater than 50% (IL-10, IL-1β, TGF-β1) and, because of overall low prevalence, were not analyzed further. For the remaining cytokines (TNFα, IL-6, sTNFR1), results showed that TNFα and IL-6 increased during the follow-up period (between 6 and 12 weeks) rather than during the MBSR(BC) training period (between baseline and 6 weeks), while sTNFR1 levels did not change significantly across the 12-week period.

Conclusions:

Study results suggest that MBSR(BC) affects cytokine levels in BCS, mainly with increases in TNFα and IL-6. The data further suggest that B-cell modulation may be a part of immune recovery during breast cancer management and that increases in TNFα and IL-6 may be markers for MBSR(BC)-related recovery.
Meat and Nicotinamide: A Causal Role in Human Evolution, History, and Demographics
Authors: Williams Adrian C , Hill Lisa J
Published: May 2017

Hunting for meat was a critical step in all animal and human evolution. A key brain-trophic element in meat is vitamin B3 /nicotinamide. The supply of meat and nicotinamide steadily increased from the Cambrian origin of animal predators ratcheting ever larger brains. This culminated in the 3-million-year evolution of Homo sapiens and our overall demographic success. We view human evolution, recent history, and agricultural and demographic transitions in the light of meat and nicotinamide intake. A biochemical and immunological switch is highlighted that affects fertility in the ‘de novo’ tryptophan-to-kynurenine-nicotinamide ‘immune tolerance’ pathway. Longevity relates to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide consumer pathways. High meat intake correlates with moderate fertility, high intelligence, good health, and longevity with consequent population stability, whereas low meat/high cereal intake (short of starvation) correlates with high fertility, disease, and population booms and busts. Too high a meat intake and fertility falls below replacement levels. Reducing variances in meat consumption might help stabilise population growth and improve human capital.
Picking through history: ‘Mantiques’ and masculinity in artifactual entertainment
Authors: Esch Madeleine Shufeldt
Published: May 2017

Traveling the back roads of the United States, the stars of American Pickers hunt for antiques in rural junkyards, dilapidated barns and shuttered small town storefronts. The series is part of a branding and programming strategy that History Channel executives call ‘artifactual entertainment’, a category that is generically related to a recent spate of macho, blue-collar reality television hits. Rather than engaging in the feminine therapeutic discourses of makeover specialists, the stars of American Pickers style themselves as archeologists on the hunt for ‘mantiques’ – masculine antiques. This article explores how this masculinization is enacted in conjunction with the archaeological discourse surrounding the hunt for relics of America’s bygone industrial past. In doing so, I consider how the hit series negotiates anxieties about the feminization of work and paradoxically celebrates the postmodern neoliberal economy, even as it seems to lament the disappearance of more ‘authentic’ and independent ways of life.
Determination of critical angle of circumferential throughwall crack for structurally distorted 90° pipe bends under bending moment with and without internal pressure
Authors: Sumesh S , Veerappan AR , Shanmugam S
Published: May 2017

Throughwall circumferential cracks (TWC) in elbows can considerably minimize its collapse load when subjected to in-plane bending moment. The existing closed-form collapse moment equations do not adequately quantify critical crack angles for structurally distorted cracked pipe bends subjected to external loading. Therefore, the present study has been conducted to examine utilizing elastic-plastic finite element analysis, the influence of structural distortions on the variation of critical TWC of 90° pipe bends under in-plane closing bending moment without and with internal pressure. With a mean radius ( r) of 50 mm, cracked pipe bends were modeled for three different wall thickness, t (for pipe ratios of r/ t = 5,10,20), each with two different bend radius, R (for bend ratios of R/r = 2,3) and with varying degrees of ovality and thinning (0 to 20% with increments of 5%). Finite element analyses were performed for two loading cases namely pure in-plane closing moment and in-plane closing bending with internal pressure. Normalized internal pressures of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 were applied. Results indicate the modification in the critical crack angle due to the pronounced effect of ovality compared to thinning on the plastic loads of pipe bends. From the finite element results, improved closed-form equations are proposed to evaluate plastic collapse moment of throughwall circumferential cracked pipe bends under the two loading conditions.
More a marathon than a hurdle: towards children’s informed consent in a study on safety
Authors: Moore Tim P , McArthur Morag , Noble-Carr Debbie
Published: May 2017

Informed consent is critical in research with children. Although much has been written about the need to see consent as an ongoing process, less has considered how to do it in practice. This article reflects on the authors’ experiences of conducting a piece of research focusing on children’s experiences of safety from abuse within institutional contexts. It draws on feedback provided by participants and the guidance of three Children’s Reference Groups. The importance of presenting information in accessible and appropriate ways, of providing opportunities for participants to negotiate their participation and for in-the-moment challenges be dealt with collaboratively and reflexively are stressed. To illustrate our approach, we provide a number of consent tools and describe how they were utilised.
Communicative space and the emancipatory interests of action research
Authors: Kolenick Paul
Published: May 2017

The theory and practice of communicative space is explored through three select action research studies from a past edition of Action Research, that focus on the practice of “opening communicative space” in action research. In an examination of these studies, a story is told of how the emancipatory interests of the marginalized (i.e. African-American students in public schools, the Aged in healthcare, and the Roma people of northeastern Hungary) can be realized through the opening and emergence of communicative spaces throughout the action research process. This story is told through successive themes that include the expectations and interests of action researchers, the challenges that they encountered once the action research process was underway, and finally, their reflective observations upon new communicative spaces that had emerged. While theoretical perspectives on communicative space are considered, such as the social theory of Jürgen Habermas, this article looks especially to the practical framework of William Isaacs on “Fields of Conversation” to understand how the opening of communicative spaces contributes to the emancipatory interests of action research.
Comparison of Online 6 Degree-of-Freedom Image Registration of Varian TrueBeam Cone-Beam CT and BrainLab ExacTrac X-Ray for Intracranial Radiosurgery
Authors: Li Jun , Shi Wenyin , Andrews David , Werner-Wasik Maria , Lu Bo , Yu Yan , Dicker Adam , Liu Haisong
Published: May 2017

Purpose:

The study was aimed to compare online 6 degree-of-freedom image registrations of TrueBeam cone-beam computed tomography and BrainLab ExacTrac X-ray imaging systems for intracranial radiosurgery.

Methods:

Phantom and patient studies were performed on a Varian TrueBeam STx linear accelerator (version 2.5), which is integrated with a BrainLab ExacTrac imaging system (version 6.1.1). The phantom study was based on a Rando head phantom and was designed to evaluate isocenter location dependence of the image registrations. Ten isocenters at various locations representing clinical treatment sites were selected in the phantom. Cone-beam computed tomography and ExacTrac X-ray images were taken when the phantom was located at each isocenter. The patient study included 34 patients. Cone-beam computed tomography and ExacTrac X-ray images were taken at each patient’s treatment position. The 6 degree-of-freedom image registrations were performed on cone-beam computed tomography and ExacTrac, and residual errors calculated from cone-beam computed tomography and ExacTrac were compared.

Results:

In the phantom study, the average residual error differences (absolute values) between cone-beam computed tomography and ExacTrac image registrations were 0.17 ± 0.11 mm, 0.36 ± 0.20 mm, and 0.25 ± 0.11 mm in the vertical, longitudinal, and lateral directions, respectively. The average residual error differences in the rotation, roll, and pitch were 0.34° ± 0.08°, 0.13° ± 0.09°, and 0.12° ± 0.10°, respectively. In the patient study, the average residual error differences in the vertical, longitudinal, and lateral directions were 0.20 ± 0.16 mm, 0.30 ± 0.18 mm, 0.21 ± 0.18 mm, respectively. The average residual error differences in the rotation, roll, and pitch were 0.40°± 0.16°, 0.17° ± 0.13°, and 0.20° ± 0.14°, respectively. Overall, the average residual error differences were <0.4 mm in the translational directions and <0.5° in the rotational directions. ExacTrac X-ray image registration is comparable to TrueBeam cone-beam computed tomography image registration in intracranial treatments.
Brain and Brown Adipose Tissue Metabolism in Transgenic Tg2576 Mice Models of Alzheimer Disease Assessed Using 18F-FDG PET Imaging
Authors: Coleman Robert A. , Liang Christopher , Patel Rima , Ali Sarah , Mukherjee Jogeshwar
Published: May 2017

Objective:

Imaging animal models of Alzheimer disease (AD) is useful for the development of therapeutic drugs and understanding AD. Transgenic Swedish hAPPswe Tg2576 mice are a good model of β-amyloid plaques. We report 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of brain and intrascapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) in transgenic mice 2576 (Tg2576) and wild-type (WT) mice.

Methods:

Transgenic Tg2576 mice and WT mice, >18 months were injected intraperitonally with ≈ 25 to 30 MBq 18F-FDG while awake. After 60 minutes, they were anesthetized with isoflurane (2.5%) and imaged with Inveon MicroPET. Select mice were killed, imaged ex vivo, and 20 µm sections cut for autoradiography. 18F-FDG uptake in brain and IBAT PET and brain autoradiographs were analyzed.

Results:

Fasting blood glucose levels averaged 120 mg/dL for WT and 100 mg/dL for Tg2576. Compared to WT, Tg2576 mice exhibited a decrease in SUVglc in the various brain regions. Average reductions in the cerebrum regions were as high as −20%, while changes in cerebellum were −3%. Uptake of 18F-FDG in IBAT decreased by −60% in Tg2576 mice and was found to be significant. Intrascapular brown adipose tissue findings in Tg2576 mice are new and not previously reported. Use of blood glucose for PET data analysis and corpus callosum as reference region for autoradiographic analysis were important to detect change in Tg2576 mice.

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that 18F-FDG uptake in the Tg2576 mice brain show 18F-FDG deficits only when blood glucose is taken into consideration.
Keepin’ it Real in Central Europe: The DIY Rap Music Careers of Male Hip Hop Artists in Austria
Authors: Reitsamer Rosa , Prokop Rainer
Published: May 2017

This article sets out to broaden our understanding of the significance of authenticity, locality and language for the development of a do-it-yourself (DIY) rap music career by taking male rap artists in Austria as an example. Drawing on interviews carried out in 2014–2015 with two groups of rap artists from different social and cultural backgrounds who embarked on their rap music careers in the early 1990s and the early 2000s, we analyse their rap lyrics and the social and economic contexts in which these individuals became rappers. We examine how the artists articulate claims to authenticity by appropriating African-American rap styles, meanings and idioms and blending them with local languages and references to local cultures and national politics. We also examine the rappers’ relationship to the music industry and the use of informal channels for the production, performance and consumption of rap and hip hop in general. The article suggests that the DIY careers of these rap artists depend on both the rappers’ use of music to articulate claims to authenticity and their ability to form (trans-)local networks for sharing skills, knowledge and other resources, as well as on Austria’s cultural policy and the changes in the music industry that have taken place in recent years.
Vitamin D in pregnancy: current perspectives and future directions
Authors: Kiely Mairead , Hemmingway Andrea , O’Callaghan Karen M.
Published: May 2017

As neonatal vitamin D status is determined by circulating maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations, prevention of maternal vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is essential for the avoidance of neonatal deficiency. However, a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency has been extensively reported among gravidae and neonates from ethnic minorities and white populations resident at high latitude. Currently, regulatory authorities recommend vitamin D intakes for pregnant women that are similar to non-pregnant adults of the same age, at 10–15 µg/day (400–600 IU), to meet 25(OH)D thresholds of 25–50 nmol/liter. The lack of pregnancy-specific dietary recommendations is due to inadequate data indicating whether nutritional requirements for vitamin D during pregnancy differ from the non-pregnant state. In addition, there are few dose–response studies to determine the maternal 25(OH)D response to vitamin D intake throughout pregnancy at high latitude. These data are also required to determine vitamin D requirements during pregnancy for prevention of neonatal deficiency, an outcome which is likely to require a higher maternal 25(OH)D concentration than prevention of maternal deficiency only. With regard to the impact of vitamin D on perinatal health outcomes, which could guide pregnancy-specific 25(OH)D thresholds, dietary intervention studies to date have been inconsistent and recent systematic reviews have highlighted issues of low quality and a high risk of bias as drawbacks in the trial evidence to date. Many observational studies have been hampered by a reliance on retrospective data, unclear reporting, suboptimal clinical phenotyping and incomplete subject characterization. Current investigations of vitamin D metabolism during pregnancy have potentially exciting implications for clinical research. This paper provides an update of current dietary recommendations for vitamin D in pregnant women and a synopsis of the evidence relating vitamin D status with maternal and infant health.
Understanding value characteristics toward a robust IT governance application in private organizations using COBIT framework
Authors: Alkhaldi Firas M , Hammami Samir Marwan , Ahmar Uddin Mohammed
Published: May 2017

This research is an inquiry of Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies (COBIT) as a high-level governance and control framework which was proposed by ITGI by providing incite and statistical evidence investigating whether ITGI pillars can be accounted for the same IT governance dimension. The data were collected via a questionnaire distributed to 40 private organizations in the Middle East, comprising a sample size of 179 respondents of strategic- and tactical-level managers. To investigate the research questions, the researchers apply an exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses using EQS 6.3 and SPSS 21. The findings of the research indicate that there is an awareness of the nature of the relationship that IT governance has with its various factors as suggested by the COBIT framework: business/IT alignment, IT value delivery, IT resource management, IT risk management and IT performance. The findings also revealed that “IT risk management” is the leading indicator in explaining the IT governance application behavior. The validated model of ITGOV shows that “IT business alignment” has the least significant impact on the study sample. The overall results illustrate the needs and the imperatives of the model factors in achieving a better understanding of the characteristic value of the ITGOV applications using the COBIT framework as suggested by ITGI.
Diversity, Distribution, and Conservation Status of Peperomia (Piperaceae) in the State of Veracruz, Mexico
Authors: Vergara-Rodríguez Daniela , Mathieu Guido , Samain Marie-Stéphanie , Armenta-Montero Samaria , Krömer Thorsten
Published: May 2017

We present an overview of the diversity, distribution, and conservation status of all 60 species of the genus Peperomia (“radiator plants,” Piperaceae), which are currently known from the state of Veracruz in Mexico, including a taxonomically updated reference list that includes information about life form, overall distribution, endemism, and occurrence in Mexican states and municipalities of Veracruz. Specifically, for this latter state, we provide information on elevational range, habitat, and distinguishing characters useful for identification or uses. Moreover, we realize an assessment of conservation status considering International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List categories and criteria at regional level. About 45% of Peperomia species from Veracruz belong to a threatened category, mainly because of the continued loss and fragmentation of natural habitats.
Spatial Indicators for Human Activities May Explain the 2015 Fire Hotspot Distribution in Central Kalimantan Indonesia
Authors: Sumarga Elham
Published: May 2017

In recent years, fires regularly and extensively took place in Indonesian forest and peatland, inducing a wide range of environmental and economic impacts, particularly the very bad air quality due to smoke haze and the considerable increase of carbon emissions. The causal relationship between Indonesian fires and human intervention has been widely recognized; however, their spatial relationship is still insufficiently observed. This study examines how well the distribution of fire hotspot can be explained by variables indicating human activities, with a case study in Central Kalimantan Indonesia. This study involves five proxy variables for human activities (land uses, land status, distance to road, distance to settlement, and distance to river), in addition to elevation, slope, and one variable pertaining to the existence of peatland. This study hence provides a model for fire hotspot distribution that would be a valuable approach to identify fire risk distribution and subsequently to support fire control, which is currently the most crucial foundation for the success of peatland restoration program in Indonesia.
Factors associated with poor self-reported health within the UK military and comparisons with the general population: a cohort study
Authors: Jenkins Sarah C , Stevelink Sharon AM , Fear Nicola T
Published: May 2017

Objective

To investigate the self-rated health of the UK military and explore factors associated with poor self-rated health. Compare self-rated health of the military to the general population.

Design

A cohort study.

Participants

A total of 7626 serving and ex-serving UK military personnel, aged between 25 and 49; 19,452,300 civilians from England and Wales.

Setting

United Kingdom (military), England and Wales (civilians).

Main outcome measures

Self rated health for both populations. Additional data for the military sample included measures of symptoms of common mental disorder (General Health Questionnaire-12), probable post-traumatic stress disorder (post-traumatic stress disorder checklist Civilian Version), alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test), smoking behaviour, history of self-harm and body mass index.

Results

In the military sample, poor self-rated health was significantly associated with: common mental disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder symptomology, a history of self-harm, being obese, older age (ages 35–49) and current smoking status. However, the majority of military personnel report good health, with levels of poor self-rated health (13%) not significantly different to those reported by the general population (12.1%).

Conclusions

Self-rated health appears to relate to aspects of both physical and psychological health. The link between poor self-rated health and psychological ill-health emphasises the need for military support services to continue addressing mental health problems.
Zinc lozenges and the common cold: a meta-analysis comparing zinc acetate and zinc gluconate, and the role of zinc dosage
Authors: Hemilä Harri
Published: May 2017

Objective

To compare the efficacy of zinc acetate lozenges with zinc gluconate lozenges in common cold treatment and to examine the dose-dependency of the effect.

Design

Meta-analysis.

Setting

Placebo-controlled zinc lozenge trials, in which the zinc dose was > 75 mg/day. The pooled effect of zinc lozenges on common cold duration was calculated by using inverse-variance random-effects method.

Participants

Seven randomised trials with 575 participants with naturally acquired common colds.

Main outcome measure

Duration of the common cold.

Results

The mean common cold duration was 33% (95% CI 21% to 45%) shorter for the zinc groups of the seven included trials. Three trials that used lozenges composed of zinc acetate found that colds were shortened by 40% and four trials that used zinc gluconate by 28%. The difference between the two salts was not significant: 12 percentage points (95% CI: −12 to + 36). Five trials used zinc doses of 80–92 mg/day, common cold duration was reduced by 33%, and two trials used zinc doses of 192–207 mg/day and found an effect of 35%. The difference between the high-dose and low-dose zinc trials was not significant: 2 percentage points (95% CI: −29 to + 32).

Conclusions

Properly composed zinc gluconate lozenges may be as effective as zinc acetate lozenges. There is no evidence that zinc doses over 100 mg/day might lead to greater efficacy in the treatment of the common cold. Common cold patients may be encouraged to try zinc lozenges for treating their colds. The optimal lozenge composition and dosage scheme need to be investigated further.
Improving Speaking Fluency in a Task-Based Language Teaching Approach: The Case of EFL Learners at PUNIV-Cazenga
Authors: Albino Gabriel
Published: May 2017

This study was an attempt to assess how learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) improved their speaking fluency in a task-based language teaching (TBLT) approach used with ninth-grade learners at PUNIV-Cazenga, a high school in Luanda. In a case study design that used picture-description tasks, learners’ speeches were audio recorded before and after the teaching, in which recasts and prompts were utilized as feedback tools for 8 weeks. The findings indicated that learners improved in terms of their speaking fluency by maximizing their speed of speech production, increasing grammatical accuracy, elaborating on their utterances, and developing interactional language. Furthermore, learners’ opinions on being taught with the TBLT approach were sought, and the findings indicated that the learners felt encouraged to speak, believed in their potentials to use the target language, expanded their vocabulary, and recognized the relevance of the TBLT approach. The implications of the findings are discussed for teaching practice and future research.
Bleak Present, Bright Future: Online Episodic Future Thinking, Scarcity, Delay Discounting, and Food Demand
Authors: Sze Yan Yan , Stein Jeffrey S. , Bickel Warren K. , Paluch Rocco A. , Epstein Leonard H.
Published: May 2017

Obesity is associated with steep discounting of the future and increased food reinforcement. Episodic future thinking (EFT), a type of prospective thinking, has been observed to reduce delay discounting (DD) and improve dietary decision making. In contrast, negative income shock (i.e., abrupt transitions to poverty) has been shown to increase discounting and may worsen dietary decision making. Scalability of EFT training and protective effects of EFT against simulated negative income shock on DD and demand for food were assessed. In two experiments, we showed online-administered EFT reliably reduced DD. Furthermore, EFT reduced DD and demand for fast foods even when challenged by negative income shock. Our findings suggest EFT is a scalable intervention that has implications for improving public health by reducing discounting of the future and demand for high energy dense food.
Nutritional Status and Body Composition of Independently Living Older Adults in a Snowy Region of Japan
Authors: Shimoda Tomoko , Suzuki Teppei , Takahashi Noriko , Tsutsumi Kaori , Samukawa Mina , Yoshimachi Shoko , Goto Teruaki , Enomoto Hisashi , Kise Nobuyuki , Ogasawara Katsuhiko , Yoshimura Sadako
Published: May 2017

Lifestyle diseases, which are associated with nutrition, account for 30% of elderly requiring long-term care. To increase health expectancy among Japan’s rapidly aging population, we investigated the nutritional status and body composition of elderly adults living in a region subject to heavy snowfall, to identify pertinent health indicators. The dietary habits of 288 local residents aged ≥50 years were analyzed using body composition and a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire. Body mass index of all residents was normal. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) and muscle mass were reduced in the older group. Dietary habits did not differ with age among men, but older women had significantly higher dietary intake. BMR and muscle mass declined with age, even when dietary intake was sustained. Despite sufficient dietary intake, independently living older adults demonstrate less efficient use of food with age. Interventions to reduce excessive sodium and protein intake are required.
The Cardiac Sympathetic Nerve Activity in the Elderly Is Attenuated in the Right Lateral Decubitus Position
Authors: Sasaki Konosuke , Haga Mayu , Bao Sarina , Sato Haruka , Saiki Yoshikatsu , Maruyama Ryoko
Published: May 2017

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the supine, left lateral decubitus, and right lateral decubitus positions on autonomic nervous activity in elderly adults by using spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Method: Forty-five adults aged 73.6 ± 5.7 years were enrolled. After lying in the supine position, all participants moved to the lateral decubitus positions in a random order and maintained the positions for 10 min, while electrocardiographic data were recorded to measure HRV. Results: The lowest heart rate continued for 10 min when participants were in the left lateral decubitus position compared with the other two positions ( p < .001), while the HRV indexes remained unchanged. The low-frequency HRV to high-frequency HRV ratio (LF/HF) for the right lateral decubitus position was significantly lower than that for the other positions. Discussion: The right lateral decubitus position may attenuate sympathetic nerve activity in elderly adults.