bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toward a Pluripolar Global Financial Architecture? The Bretton Woods Institutions and the New Landscape of Developmental Finance
Authors: Grabel Ilene
Published: June 2018

I advance three claims in the paper. First, the Asian and especially the global financial crisis occasioned discontinuities and continuities that are imparting incoherence to the global financial governance architecture and developmental finance. Second, the emergent incoherence is productive of development rather than debilitating. Third, productive incoherence can be understood most fully within a “Hirschmanian mindset,” that is, an understanding of social and regime change informed by Albert O. Hirschman’s key theoretical and epistemic commitments.
Implementing a Standardized Transition Care Plan in Skilled Nursing Facilities
Authors: Toles Mark , Leeman Jennifer , Colón-Emeric Cathleen , Hanson Laura C.
Published: June 2018

Prior studies have not described strategies for implementing transitional care in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). As part of the Connect-Home study, we pilot tested the Transition Plan of Care (TPOC) template, an implementation tool that SNF staff used to deliver transitional care. A retrospective chart review was used to describe the impact of the TPOC template on three implementation outcomes: reach to patients, staff adoption of the template, and staff fidelity to the intervention protocol for transition care planning. The template reached 100% of eligible patients ( N = 68). Adoption was high, with documentation by four disciplines in 90.6% of patient records ( N = 61). Fidelity to the intervention protocol was moderately high, with 73% of documentation that was concordant with the protocol. Our findings suggest an electronic medical record (EMR)-based implementation tool may increase the ability of staff to prepare older adults and their caregivers for self-care at home. Further research is needed to test the efficacy of the protocol on patient outcomes after transitions from SNF to home.
Musicians’ Natural Frequencies of Performance Display Optimal Temporal Stability
Authors: Zamm Anna , Wang Youyi , Palmer Caroline
Published: June 2018

Many human action sequences, such as speaking and performing music, are inherently rhythmic: Sequence events are produced at quasi-regular temporal intervals. A wide range of interindividual variation has been noted in spontaneous production rates of these rhythmic action sequences. Dynamical theories of motor coordination suggest that individuals spontaneously produce rhythmic sequences at a natural frequency characterized by minimal energy expenditure and maximal temporal stability, relative to other frequencies. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the temporal variability with which musicians performed rhythmic melodies at their natural spontaneous rate with variability in their performances at faster and slower rates. Musicians’ temporal variability was lowest during performances at their spontaneous rate; in addition, performers’ tempo drift during trials at other rates showed bias toward their spontaneous rate. This study provides the first direct evidence that spontaneous rates of motor coordination represent optimally stable natural frequencies of endogenous rhythms.
Outcome of Isolated Absent Septum Pellucidum Diagnosed by Fetal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan
Authors: Vawter-Lee Marissa M. , Wasserman Halley , Thomas Cameron W. , Nichols Beatrice , Nagaraj Usha D. , Schapiro Mark , Venkatesan Charu
Published: June 2018

Improved fetal imaging has resulted in increased diagnosis of isolated absent septum pellucidum without other intracranial abnormalities. There is little literature regarding outcomes for these fetuses. This study hypothesized the majority of infants diagnosed by fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with isolated absent septum pellucidum would retain this diagnosis postnatally. Specifically, in the absence of postnatal endocrine or ophthalmologic abnormalities, postnatal imaging would find no additional related findings, and fetuses would be at low risk for developmental delay. Two of 8 subjects met postnatal criteria for septo-optic dysplasia; remaining subjects had normal postnatal endocrine and ophthalmologic evaluations and no significant related findings on postnatal MRI. One subject without septo-optic dysplasia had delays on developmental screening; all others had normal screening (range of follow-up 8-72 months). Our study questions the necessity of postnatal imaging for prenatally diagnosed isolated absent septum pellucidum. Majority of fetuses with isolated absent septum pellucidum retained this diagnosis postnatally.
Schiff base-containing dextran nanogel as pH-sensitive drug delivery system of doxorubicin: Synthesis and characterization
Authors: Su Hongying , Zhang Wen , Wu Yayun , Han Xiaodong , Liu Gang , Jia Qingming , Shan Shaoyun
Published: June 2018

Stimuli-responsive hydrogels have been widely researched as carrier systems, due to their excellent biocompatibility and responsiveness to external physiologic environment factors. In this study, dextran-based nanogel with covalently conjugated doxorubicin (DOX) was developed via Schiff base formation using the inverse microemulsion technique. Since the Schiff base linkages are acid-sensitive, drug release profile of the DOX-loaded nanogel would be pH-dependent. In vitro drug release studies confirmed that DOX was released much faster under acidic condition (pH 2.0, 5.0) than that at pH 7.4. Approximately 66, 28, and 9% of drug was released in 72 h at pH 2.0, 5.0, and 7.4, respectively. Cell uptake by the human breast cancer cell (MCF-7) demonstrated that the DOX-loaded dextran nanogel could be internalized through endocytosis and distributed in endocytic compartments inside tumor cells. These results indicated that the Schiff base-containing nanogel can serve as a pH-sensitive drug delivery system. And the presence of multiple aldehyde groups on the nanogel are available for further conjugations of targeting ligands or imaging probes.
Fabrication of polyimide and covalent organic frameworks mixed matrix membranes by in situ polymerization for preliminary exploration of CO2/CH4 separation
Authors: Liu Jiyang , Liu Miaoqing , Lu Jianjun
Published: June 2018

More and more polyimide (PI) mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) have been reported for gas separation. In this study, a novel PI MMM, named as PI/SNW-1 and composed of PI and Schiff base network (SNW) type covalent organic frameworks (COFs) SNW-1, was used for gas permeation measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). The prepared PI/SNW-1 was investigated by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the field emission scanning electron microscopy, and the thermal gravimetric analysis. The results indicated that PI/SNW-1 had maintained a high thermal stability and uniform distribution of filler. Compared with the pure PI membrane, MMMs showed an increment of 48.7% in ideal selectivity of CO2/CH4 and an enhancement of 106.4% in CO2 permeability at 5 wt% SNW-1. The enhancement of permeability and selectivity was mainly attributed to the high porosity of SNW-1, the specific sorption affinity for CO2, and the close interface interaction with the PI matrix. It can be seen that PI/SNW-1 has a great potential for actual gas separation.
Transmission pathways of China’s historical climate change impacts based on a food security framework
Authors: Su Yun , He Jia , Fang Xiuqi , Teng Jingchao
Published: June 2018

There are still many uncertainties about how climate change affects the development of human society. The impact of climate change is likely to be weakened or amplified by the response and adaptation of the reciprocal feedback process after entering the socio-economical subsystem. The study of the climate change impact processes is the basis for understanding the mechanisms of climate change impacts. Furthermore, long-term research of climate change impacts can provide historical similarity and experience for current or future adaptation of climate change. Ancient China was traditionally an agricultural country. Its food production safety, food supply safety, and food consumption safety reflect the impacts of climate change being transferred from a production subsystem to a population subsystem to an economic subsystem. Based on a conceptual framework of food security, we selected 10-year resolution sequences of grain harvest grades, famine indices, and economic levels in China over the past 2000 years (206 BC–AD 1911) to quantify and recognize the main transmission pathways of climate change impacts during cold and warm units of climate change. Our results were as follows: (1) according to the transmission relationship climate change → grain harvests → famines → economic levels, there are 16 main transmission pathways, including 10 pathways starting from cold units and 6 pathways starting from warm units. (2) The main pathway is dominated by natural factors and socio-economic factors, with each factor set accounting for approximately 50%. However, the probability of the main pathways with socio-economic influence leading toward negative developments was 60% for cold units, and the probability of the main pathways with socio-economic influence leading toward positive developments was 66.7% for warm units. According to the main pathway led by natural factors, of all transmission pathways in cold units (100%), 14.7% of the depressed economy may be more directly related to climate change. However, 32.3% of the prosperous economy may have a more direct relationship with climate change in warm units (100%). (3) Famine is the most important link in the climate change influence on transmission chains regulated by socio-economic factors. Famine reflects both poor harvests due to the natural production subsystem and a lack of grain allocation by the socio-economic subsystem or the government’s ability to eliminate famine. Thus, there may be another pathway of transmission, such as climate change → agricultural yield/grain production → economic prosperity → famine relief (social vulnerability).
Causal inference for long-term survival in randomised trials with treatment switching: Should re-censoring be applied when estimating counterfactual survival times?
Authors: Latimer NR , White IR , Abrams KR , Siebert U
Published: June 2018

Treatment switching often has a crucial impact on estimates of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of new oncology treatments. Rank preserving structural failure time models (RPSFTM) and two-stage estimation (TSE) methods estimate ‘counterfactual’ (i.e. had there been no switching) survival times and incorporate re-censoring to guard against informative censoring in the counterfactual dataset. However, re-censoring causes a loss of longer term survival information which is problematic when estimates of long-term survival effects are required, as is often the case for health technology assessment decision making. We present a simulation study designed to investigate applications of the RPSFTM and TSE with and without re-censoring, to determine whether re-censoring should always be recommended within adjustment analyses. We investigate a context where switching is from the control group onto the experimental treatment in scenarios with varying switch proportions, treatment effect sizes, treatment effect changes over time, survival function shapes, disease severity and switcher prognosis. Methods were assessed according to their estimation of control group restricted mean survival that would be observed in the absence of switching, up to the end of trial follow-up. We found that analyses which re-censored usually produced negative bias (i.e. underestimating control group restricted mean survival and overestimating the treatment effect), whereas analyses that did not re-censor consistently produced positive bias which was often smaller in magnitude than the bias associated with re-censored analyses, particularly when the treatment effect was high and the switching proportion was low. The RPSFTM with re-censoring generally resulted in increased bias compared to the other methods. We believe that analyses should be conducted with and without re-censoring, as this may provide decision-makers with useful information on where the true treatment effect is likely to lie. Incorporating re-censoring should not always represent the default approach when the objective is to estimate long-term survival times and treatment effects.
A data-driven near infrared calibration process including near infrared spectral thumbprints
Authors: Nielsen Sharon , Russell Kenneth G , Kelly Alison , Fox Glen
Published: June 2018

Near infrared spectra are highly correlated, complex and noisy, and potentially have many more predictor variables than are required to estimate a parsimonious calibration equation. It is difficult to appreciate the implication of pre-processing choices that are made during calibration, especially in connection with the relationship between the transformed data and the reference values. Graphical methods can be used to understand these relationships better and decisions made during the calibration process can be based on the data alone. In this paper, new graphical tools are introduced to help the researcher better understand these complex relationships in the data. When combined with the proposed algorithm to explore spectra in relation to calibration, these tools enable a parsimonious calibration model to be formed. The results from two different (diesel and wheat) near infrared spectra show that it is possible to form successful calibration equations based on the proposed algorithm, which includes the two new graphical tools. There is a high level of correlation between the results of the different transformations considered, suggesting that in terms of parsimony, developing a calibration using the raw spectra could provide the most judicious outcome.
Tata as a Sustainable Enterprise: The Causal Role of Spirituality
Authors: Mohapatra Siddharth , Verma Pratima
Published: June 2018

The year 2018 is the 150 anniversary of the Tata group. This article is an attempt to examine the role of spiritual family values in shaping Tata as a sustainable business. Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, the founder of Tata, was a trained Parsi priest, who was greatly influenced by Humata or good thoughts, Hukhta or good words, and Hvarshta or good deeds toward others. Since its founding in 1868, the Tata leadership legacy has persistently followed those watchwords of the Zoroastrian faith. The extant workplace spirituality literature posits that the role of spiritual and religious values is vital for organizations and individuals to prosper. Employing historical data and biographical method, we trace the history of Tata to examine the causal mechanism between spirituality and sustainable business, under the influence of stakeholder concept, sustainability and family values-based leadership. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
A Framework of Online Customer Experience: An Indian Perspective
Authors: Bhattacharya Arijit , Srivastava Manjari
Published: June 2018

With the rapid adoption of online retailing in India, retailer focus has undergone a paradigm shift. From service and relationship focus, online retailers now focus on customer experience as a strategic differentiator for sustainable competitive advantage. In this context, the aim of this article is to conceptualize and empirically test an integrated model of online customer experience (OCE) with antecedents, components and outcome variables along with the role of the moderating role of gender using structural equation modelling. Overall, results support the proposed model and confirm the relationships drawn from the literature. The study contributes to knowledge creation in the OCE domain. Implications for both research and practice are discussed along with limitations and future research directions.
Health and Economic Growth Nexus: Evidence from Selected Sub-Saharan African (SSA) Countries
Authors: Sarpong Bernard , Nketiah-Amponsah Edward , Owoo Nkechi S.
Published: June 2018

This article examines the effect of health on long-run economic growth in 35 selected sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries using panel data covering the period 1997–2016. Data were analysed using panel co-integration tests, panel Granger causality tests and the dynamic OLS estimator. The results show that health human capital is a significant determinant of long-run economic growth in SSA. In particular, a percentage increase in health human capital proxied by per capita health expenditure increases growth by 0.207 per cent. The prime contribution of this article to the literature lies in the results of the novel interaction between health human capital and institutional quality. More precisely, by using the dynamic panel least square estimation technique, we found that the effect of institutional quality on economic growth is positive and robust only when it is interacted with the required health human capital. It is further revealed that the causal link between economic growth and health is bidirectional.
Does Training, Job Autonomy and Career Planning Predict Employees’ Adaptive Performance?
Authors: Tabiu Abubakar , Pangil Faizuniah , Othman Siti Zubaidah
Published: June 2018

Despite the importance of adaptive performance towards enhancing organizational effectiveness, the role of organizational human resource management (HRM) practices as predictors of adaptive performance remains unexplored. This study examined the predictive influence of training, career planning and job autonomy on employees’ adaptive performance. The study employed a survey method coupled with stratified sampling technique among 265 local government employees in Nigeria. The partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was performed. The study revealed that training, career planning and job autonomy significantly influence employees’ adaptive performance. The results suggested that greater the attention given to employees’ training, career planning and job autonomy in the organization, higher will be their adaptive performance. It was identified that HRM practices are important predictors of employees’ adaptive performance that managers and practitioners need to consider in promoting higher adaptive behaviours in the organization. Implications of the study and future research on HRM practices and adaptive performance are discussed in this article.
Examining the New Dimensions of Career Advancement of Women Employees
Authors: Verma Sugandha
Published: June 2018

Growth of career is becoming more important to an employee of the modern age. The assessment of career advancement (CA) provides such valuable information. It is quite relevant to mention that men and women employees follow different career paths. To a man his job is always important. However, a woman keeps her family on first priority and her employment on second priority. The review of available literature reveals that some studies have highlighted CA of women employees. Most of them are conceptual in nature and pursue the concept of the glass ceiling. Consequently, the research gap emerges as there is a lack of empirical work in this regard. Total absence about the measurement of CA of women employees in the Indian context amplifies this existing knowledge gap. Thus, this study tries to identify the new dimensions of CA and finally proposes a model for practical adoption. With the sample of 182 female bank employees from Uttarakhand state, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) ultimately discovers three dimensions of CA, namely future aspirations (FA), present satisfaction and career orientation (CO). Cronbach’s alpha values report high reliabilities for these dimensions and the CA instrument as a whole. In the end, conclusion, limitations and future research agenda have also been discussed.
Inferior Outcomes: Learning in Low-cost English-medium Private Schools—A Survey in Delhi and National Capital Region
Authors: Endow Tanuka
Published: June 2018

The number of English-medium low-cost private schools (LCPS) is increasing in India. Such schools are typically attended by children from economically disadvantaged families. This study, based on primary surveys in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR), finds low learning achievement for the English subject at the primary level of children attending such schools. Learning deficit in English remains hidden during students’ progress through the primary level. Further, low learning achievement for English has negative implications for other non-language subjects too, since the medium of instruction, language for textbooks and the medium of answering examinations for these subjects is English. Children’s ability to comprehend what they read and their ability to communicate in English get little attention in the teaching process. This also has an adverse impact on social equity with poor parents spending considerable money to access an education for their children, the outcome of which is poor.
Corporate financialization in South Africa: From investment strike to housing bubble
Authors: Karwowski Ewa
Published: June 2018

This article reveals the processes of financialization in the South African economy by tracing the sources and destinations of non-financial corporations’ liquidity. The paper argues that rather than the volume of non-financial corporations’ financial investment, the composition of financial assets is crucial to assess corporate financialization in the country. Non-financial businesses in South Africa fundamentally transformed their investment behaviour during the 1990s, shifting from more productive uses such as trade credit towards highly liquid and potentially innovative (and therefore risky) financial investment. Following the direction of financial flows the article shows that companies’ financial operations – fuelled by foreign capital inflows – are linked to the price inflation in South African property markets.
Therapist–Patient Demographic Profile Matching: A Movement Toward Performance-Based Practice
Authors: Patterson Silver Wolf (Adelv Unegv Waya) David A. , Dulmus Catherine N. , Maguin Eugene , Linn Braden K. , Hales Travis W.
Published: June 2018

Purpose:

Patients of substance use disorder (SUD), who successfully complete the treatment programs recommended by their therapists, have better health outcomes than the vast majority who drop out in the middle. We investigated the contribution of race and gender of both patients and therapists to address the cause of treatment noncompletion and gaps in knowledge.

Method:

Data collected from 11 SUD treatment outpatient programs, comprising 2,230 patients and 69 therapists, were analyzed to understand the effect of therapist–patient profile matching on treatment completion success rate.

Results:

Of the overall completion rate of 23%, White-male therapists had the highest rate (ranging from 20.4% to 50.0%) followed by White-female therapists (13.9% and 31.2%) dependent on patients’ race or gender. Non-White female and male therapists alike had varied but lesser completion rate.

Discussion:

Our studies recommend research and practice implementing performance-based practice measures with appropriate patient–therapist matching for better SUD-treatment outcomes.
Are Upfront Levels for Colon “Polyps” Necessary? A Pragmatic Review
Authors: Khararjian Armen , Mannan Rifat , Byrnes Kathleen , Barker Norman , Voltaggio Lysandra
Published: June 2018

Introduction. Colon biopsies are among the most frequently examined specimens by pathologists. Many pathology practices, ours included, review upfront levels on all gastrointestinal biopsies. In our experience, when a lesion is present on specimens labeled “colon polyp,” it is readily identified on the first level. To test our hypothesis, we re-reviewed 500 cases in which a lesion was identified histologically and determined if the diagnosis could be made on the first level. Furthermore, we examined 50 additional cases of high-grade dysplasia/carcinoma to determine if the higher-grade component was also present on the first level. Materials and Methods. Cases were retrieved for lesions that could account for a colon polyp clinically, and the first level was examined to determine if lesional tissue was present on the first level. Fifty additional cases of higher-grade lesions were included to ensure higher-grade lesions were present on the first level. Results. Overall, 497/500 (99.4%) of the non–high-grade lesions were present on the first level, whereas 3/500 (0.6%) required the additional level for diagnosis. All 50 high-grade lesions were present on the first level examined. Discussion. Many pathology practices routinely order upfront levels on all gastrointestinal biopsies, often generating 2 or 3 slides. Additional slides increase costs, increase the likelihood of laboratory-generated errors, and can waste limited tissue on small biopsies for which ancillary studies may be necessary. Our study showed that a single level is sufficient in the overwhelming majority of cases in which a lesion is identified histologically.
The Privatization of Public Hospitals: Its Impact on Financial Performance
Authors: Ramamonjiarivelo Zo , Weech-Maldonado Robert , Hearld Larry , Pradhan Rohit , Davlyatov Ganisher K.
Published: June 2018

This study examined the effects of public hospitals’ privatization on financial performance. We used a sample of nonfederal acute care public hospitals from 1997 to 2013, averaging 434 hospitals per year. Privatization was defined as conversion from public status to either private not-for-profit (NFP) or private for-profit (FP) status. Financial performance was measured by operating margin (OM) and total margin (TM). We used hospital level and year fixed effects linear panel regressions with nonlagged independent and control variables (Model 1), lagged by 1 year (Model 2), and lagged by 2 years (Model 3). Privatization to FP was associated with 17% higher OM (Model 2) and 9% higher OM (Model 3), compared with 3%, 4%, and 6% higher OM for privatization to NFP for all three Models, respectively. Privatization to FP was associated with 7% higher TM (Model 2) and privatization to NFP was associated with 2% higher TM (Model 3).
“That Was What I Had to Use”: Social and Cultural Capital in the Careers of Women Broadcasters
Authors: Lucht Tracy , Batschelet Kelsey
Published: June 2018

This study uses in-depth, biographical interviews to understand a range of historical experiences in the careers of individual women broadcasters in the Midwest, a region of the United States that has received relatively little attention from media scholars. The findings demonstrate the barriers these women faced as well as the social and cultural capital available to them as they pursued diverse roles in an industry that did not welcome their full participation. The study contributes to scholars’ understanding of women’s participation in the public sphere during the 1950s to 1970s.
Recurrent episodes of feline lower urinary tract disease with different causes: possible clinical implications
Authors: Lund Heidi S , Eggertsdóttir Anna V
Published: June 2018

Case series summary

While descriptions of cats with recurrent episodes of feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) exist, little is published on cats with recurrent episodes of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) where the cat is diagnosed with different causes of FLUTD at separate episodes. In the present paper, six cats, originally part of larger studies of FLUTD among Norwegian cats, are described. In the project period (2003–2009), these cats had several episodes of FLUTD. At each episode, the cats had a complete physical examination, abdominal imaging, blood work, urinalysis and urine culture performed. Two of the cats initially presented with urolithiasis and subsequently with episodes of non-obstructed FIC. Four of the cats presented with non-obstructed FIC at one or more episodes, but were later diagnosed with urolithiasis or bacterial cystitis without prior catheterisation or other known predisposing factors.

Relevance and novel information

Cats with recurrent episodes of FLUTD may present with different causes at different times. The need to thoroughly work-up cats with recurrent episodes of FLUTD at each presentation is emphasised. FIC may be considered as a predisposing factor in cats developing urolithiasis or bacterial cystitis; alternatively, interrelated FLUTD disease mechanisms exists. Thus, applying multimodal environmental enrichment and modification (MEMO) to cats with signs of FLUTD independent of diagnosis should be considered.
Influence of visual aspects and other features on the soundscape assessment of a university external area
Authors: D’Alessandro Francesco , Evangelisti Luca , Guattari Claudia , Grazieschi Gianluca , Orsini Federico
Published: June 2018

EU Environmental Noise Directive recognized the importance of identifying and preserving “quiet areas.” Even if the majority of EU member states have not yet defined what is a quiet area, many researchers have started to investigate the topic using the so-called “soundscape” approach. Designing or preserving a “quiet area” in urban settings can be a challenging task. Schools and universities located in urban areas are often surrounded by areas with high traffic and noise pollution that affect the overall and sonic quality of the external spaces, which should represent pleasant areas where students can relax or study. In this study, the assessment of the soundscape and of the overall environment of the external area of the Literature Department of Roma TRE University (Italy) was investigated and discussed by analysing the acoustic, psychoacoustic and perceptual data collected. The results obtained by a summer measurement campaign were compared with the previous winter outcomes. Moreover, it was investigated how natural features, visual aspects and thermal conditions can affect the users’ judgment about the overall and the sonic environment; in particular, the Tranquility Rating Prediction Tool was evaluated, both in winter and summer. The measurements campaign revealed that the obtained values are comparable under winter and summer conditions. Due to this, the differences observed in the perception of the sonic and overall environment are ascribable to higher human voice component, more pleasant visual aspects and climate conditions during the summer. This trend was confirmed by tranquility rating values.
Socio-ecological determinants of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use behavior of adolescents in Kilifi County at the Kenyan coast
Authors: Ssewanyana Derrick , Mwangala Patrick N , Marsh Vicki , Jao Irene , van Baar Anneloes , Newton Charles R , Abubakar Amina
Published: June 2018

Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use form a risk factor for health and social problems during adolescence. From a socio-ecological model, perceptions of 85 young people and 10 stakeholders on the types of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs used and the predisposing and protective factors were explored; among adolescents at the Kenyan Coast in the Kilifi County. We found that the consumption of home-brewed alcohol, tobacco and marijuana smoking, and khat chewing was common and requires multi-component and community-centered intervention. Countering alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use needs enforcement of strong measures to regulate access to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs for minors; addressing social and cultural norms; strategies for poverty alleviation; and community empowerment.
Exploring the Feasibility of Mail Surveys in Urban China
Authors: Zhang Chan , Lepkowski James M. , He Lirui
Published: June 2018

While mail surveys are common in many developed countries, it is still a new method in other, often less-developed countries. This study explores the feasibility of mail surveys in urban China. We conducted an experiment manipulating delivery method (regular mail vs. courier delivery service) and incentive payment (prepaid vs. no incentive) using an area-probability sample of 2,400 households in Shanghai. Concerns about the effectiveness of prepaid incentives in China arise given the prevalence of scams. Courier delivery is generally faster and more reliable than regular mail, but there was uncertainty whether courier could outperform regular delivery when recipients’ name and contact information are unavailable. Findings show that mail surveys delivered using regular postal service with a prepaid incentive achieved the most cost-effective return per completed interview in Shanghai.
A Multimodal Skin Cancer Prevention Program for Heart Transplant Patients
Authors: Sorensen Anna , Norsen Lisa , Chen Leway , Palermo Elizabeth , Martens John
Published: June 2018

Background:

Immunosuppressant medications are essential for long-term survival following transplantation but increase the risk of developing skin cancer. Prevention and early detection of skin cancer requires screening and sun protection behaviors that can be achieved with patient education.

Problem Statement:

Our method for educating post heart transplant patients regarding skin cancer was inconsistent and was not effective. The aim of this project was to develop and integrate a multimodal skin cancer education program to increase knowledge and protective behaviors for heart transplant recipients.

Methods:

Twenty-five post heart transplant patients who were scheduled to be seen for routine posttransplant care at a single-center transplant center between October 26, 2016, and November 15, 2016, took part in a multimodal skin cancer education program.

Results:

There was a significant increase in knowledge between pretest and posttest 1 ( P <.01) and pretest and posttest 2 ( P <.01). A significant increase in sun protective behavior was noted. The project noted that knowledge and behavior was retained, knowledge score posttest 1 to posttest 2 ( P = .085), all had seen a dermatologist or had an appointment scheduled, and self skin exam retention was noted between posttest 1 and posttest 2 ( P = .25).

Process Addressed:

The feasibility of and findings from this intervention have led the clinic team to implement this protocol as part of the standard care for all patients.

Conclusions:

These data suggests that a multimodal intensive skin cancer education program may be effective at increasing knowledge and protective behavior with heart transplant recipients.
The Correlation Between TNF-α Promoter Gene Polymorphism and Genetic Susceptibility to Cervical Cancer
Authors: Li Xiuyun , Yin Geping , Li Juan , Wu Aifang , Yuan Zheng , Liang Jing , Sun Qinghua
Published: June 2018

To investigate the association between the susceptibility to cervical cancer and the single nucleotide polymorphisms of 5 tumor necrosis factor-α promoter genes (rs361525, rs1800629, rs1800750, rs1799964, and rs673) in Chinese women. A total of 946 peripheral blood samples were collected from women of Han Ethnicity in Shandong province. Of them, 452 were diagnosed with cervical squamous cell carcinomas. The study also included a control group of 494 healthy women. The targeted single nucleotide polymorphisms were analyzed by TaqMan probe method. (1) The rate of high-risk subtype human papillomavirus infection in exfoliated cervical epithelial cells was significantly higher in patients with cervical cancer than the control group (91.4% vs 10.3%, P < .01). The rate of human papillomavirus infection was lower in patients with carcinoma in situ than those with invasive carcinoma (77.9% vs 95.4%, P < .01). (2) There was a significant difference for rs361525 genotype (CC/CT/TT) between the control, carcinoma in situ, and invasive carcinoma groups ( P < .001). Both rs1800629 and rs1799964 genotypes (both GG/GA/AA) were also different between these groups ( P < .001 and P < .001). (3) The allele frequencies of rs361525, rs1800629, and rs1799964 were significantly correlated with the diagnosis of cervical cancer. The frequency of T allele in rs361525 was significantly higher for cervical cancer group (10.8%) than control group (3.8%; odds ratio = 3.04, 95% confidence interval = 1.76-5.25, P < .01). The frequency of A allele in rs1800629 was significantly higher for cervical cancer (29.9%) than control group (14.2%; odds ratio = 2.58, 95% confidence interval = 1.87-3.56, P < .01). The frequency of A allele in rs1799964 was also higher for cervical cancer group (38.3%) than control group (16.4%; odds ratio = 1.43, 95% confidence interval = 1.07-1.91, P < .05). The rs361525, rs1800629, and rs17999645 were significantly correlated with the diagnosis of cervical cancer.
Splenic Artery Aneurysm Treated With Endovascular Stent Grafting: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Ouchi Takafumi , Kato Noriyuki , Nakajima Ken , Higashigawa Takatoshi , Hashimoto Takashi , Chino Shuji , Sakuma Hajime
Published: June 2018

Introduction:

Although endovascular therapy is becoming an alternative to open surgical repair of splenic artery aneurysms (SAAs), reports on the use of stent grafts for SAA repair are limited. We present our experience of endovascular therapy using a stent graft for the treatment of an SAA that had ruptured into the gastric lumen. We also reviewed 18 cases of stent graft repair for SAAs, including the present case.

Case Report:

A 43-year-old man was admitted due to hematemesis. Endoscopic examination and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed a dissecting SAA that had ruptured into the stomach. Two 10 × 100 mm Viabahn (W.L. Gore, Flagstaff, Arizona) stent grafts were used to exclude the aneurysm. No complications occurred during the procedure. Although postoperative CT showed complete exclusion of the aneurysm, endoscopic examination showed a discharge of purulent matter from the aneurysm. Therefore, surgical debridement and omental implantation were added to avoid stent graft infection. Follow-up CT obtained 1 year later showed the residual aneurysm almost disappeared without any evidence of infection.

Literature Review:

A literature search in the PubMed database returned 17 cases with sufficient data. Review of these cases, together with the present case, revealed a 100% technical success rate, 11% splenic infarction rate, 94% graft patency rate, and 0% reintervention rate.

Conclusion:

Endovascular repair of SAAs using stent grafts appears to be safe and effective. In terms of preserving the blood flow and avoiding splenic infarction, it may be superior to coil embolization. Even in a case with aneurysm infection, stent graft repair may be an acceptable method to minimize invasion of concomitant surgical intervention.
Predicting Clinical Gains and Side Effects of Stimulant Medication in Pediatric Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder by Combining Measures From qEEG and ERPs in a Cued GO/NOGO Task
Authors: Ogrim Geir , Kropotov Juri D.
Published: June 2018

Objectives. The study aim was to develop 2 scales: predicting clinical gains and risk of acute side effects of stimulant medication in pediatric attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), combining measures from EEG spectra, event-related potentials (ERPs), and a cued visual GO/NOGO task. Methods. Based on 4-week systematic medication trials, 87 ADHD patients aged 8 to 17 years were classified as responders (REs, n = 62) or non-REs (n = 25), and belonging to the side effects (SEs, n = 42) or no-SEs (n = 45) groups. Before starting the trial, a 19-channel EEG was registered twice: Test 1 (T1) without medication and T2 on a single dose of stimulant medication a few days before the trial. EEG was registered T1 and T2: 3 minutes eyes-closed, 3 minutes eyes-open, and 20 minutes cued GO/NOGO. EEG spectra, ERPs, omissions, commissions, reaction time (RT), and RT variability were computed. Groups were compared at T1 and T2 on quantitative EEG (qEEG), ERPs and behavioral parameters; effect sizes ( d) were estimated. Variables with d > 0.5 were converted to quartiles, multiplied by corresponding d, and summed to obtain 2 global scales. Results. Six variables differed significantly between REs and non-REs (T1: theta/alpha ratio, P3NOGO amplitude. Differences T2-T1: Omissions, RT variability, P3NOGO, contingent negative variation [CNV]). The global scale d was 1.86. Accuracy (receiver operating characteristic) was 0.92. SEs and no-SEs differed significantly on 4 variables. (T1: RT, T2: novelty component and alpha peak frequency, and RT changes. Global scale d = 1.08 and accuracy = 0.78. Conclusion. Gains and side effects of stimulants in pediatric ADHD can be predicted with high accuracy by combining EEG spectra, ERPs, and behavior from baseline and single-dose tests. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02695355.
Serial Interviews
Authors: Read Benjamin L.
Published: June 2018

Many qualitative social scientists conduct single-session interviews with large numbers of individuals so as to maximize the sample size and obtain a wide range of study participants. Yet in some circumstances, one-shot interviews cannot produce information of adequate quality, quantity, and validity. This article explains the several conditions that call for an alternative approach, serial interviewing, that entails interviewing participants on multiple occasions. This method is appropriate when studying complex or ill-defined issues, when interviews are subject to time constraints, when exploring change or variation over time, when participants are reluctant to share valid information, and when working with critical informants. A further benefit is the opportunity it provides for verifying and cross-checking information. This article delineates the general features of this technique. Through a series of encounters, the researcher builds familiarity and trust, probes a range of key topics from multiple angles, explores different facets of participants’ experiences, and learns from events that happen to take place during the interviews. This helps overcome biases associated with one-off interviews, including a tendency toward safe, simple answers in which participants flatten complexity, downplay sociopolitical conflict, and put themselves in a flattering light. This article illustrates the utility of this approach through examples drawn from published work and through a running illustration based on the author’s research on elected neighborhood leaders in Taipei. Serial interviewing helped produce relatively accurate and nuanced data concerning the power these leaders wield and their multiple roles as intermediaries between state and society.
A rapidly exploring random tree optimization algorithm for space robotic manipulators guided by obstacle avoidance independent potential field
Authors: Gao Xin , Wu Haoxin , Zhai Lin , Sun Hanxu , Jia Qingxuan , Wang Yifan , Wu Likai
Published: June 2018

The crucial problem of obstacle avoidance path planning is to realize both reducing the operational cost and improving its efficiency. A rapidly exploring random tree optimization algorithm for space robotic manipulators guided by obstacle avoidance independent potential field is proposed in this article. Firstly, some responding layer factors related to operational cost are used as optimization objective to improve the operational reliability. On this basis, a potential field whose gradient is calculated off-line is established to guide expansion of rapidly exploring random tree. The potential field mainly considers indexes about manipulator itself, such as the minimum singular value of Jacobian matrix, manipulability, condition number, and joint limits of manipulator. Thus, it can stay the same for different obstacle avoidance path planning tasks. In addition, a K-nearest neighbor–based collision detection strategy is integrated for accelerating the algorithm. The strategy use the distance between manipulator and obstacles instead of the collision state of manipulator to estimate the distance between new sample configuration and obstacle. Finally, the proposed algorithm is verified by an 8-degree of freedom manipulator. The comparison between the proposed algorithm and a heuristic exploring–based rapidly exploring random tree indicates that the algorithm can improve the efficiency of path planning and shows better kinematic performance in the task of obstacle avoidance.
Cardiovascular disease among United States military veterans: Evidence of a waning healthy soldier effect using the National Health Interview Survey
Authors: Hinojosa Ramon
Published: June 2018

Objectives

Cardiovascular disease is the most common chronic health condition affecting Americans. One important group of Americans that health researchers have noted as key to understanding general population health and wellbeing are veterans of the US military. The healthy soldier effect has been used to explain the health benefits of military service during and for a period of time after service. The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in a national sample of veterans and non-veterans with specific attention paid to reported cardiovascular disease across ages.

Methods

A total of 150,067 veteran and non-veteran respondents from the National Health Interview Survey were examined for the likelihood of reporting the type and number of cardiovascular conditions.

Results

Veterans report higher rates of certain cardiovascular disease conditions and report a higher number of cardiovascular disease conditions compared to non-veterans. Veterans also reported higher numbers of cardiovascular disease conditions at younger ages (ages 25–65) compared to non-veteran counterparts. At older ages (ages 66 to 85+), non-veterans reported higher numbers of cardiovascular disease conditions compared to veterans.

Discussion

Our findings are consistent with research that indicates a waning healthy soldier effect for young veterans.
Picking an apple from a tree: Response-selection demands, inhibition requirements, and the functionality of the Quiet Eye in a far-aiming task
Authors: Klostermann André
Published: June 2018

In the study of the mutual coupling between perception and action, the performance-enhancing effect of the last fixation before movement initiation, the Quiet Eye (QE), has been repeatedly shown. To the explanation of this phenomenon, among others, an inhibition hypothesis was formulated which suggests that the parametrisation of the optimal task solution is shielded against non-optimal task solutions. In this study, a prediction of this hypothesis was tested by manipulating response-selection demands over movement preparation in a targeting task which required to throw balls as accurate as possible at virtual target discs. Participants in the group with high response-selection demands always had to select one out of four targets, whereas the selection for the participants in the group with low response-selection demands was yoked to the selection of the other group. The results showed the predicted longer QE durations for the high response-selection demands group that, particularly, emanated from earlier QE onsets. Because of similar throwing demands, these differences cannot merely be explained by differences in the fine-tuning of the motor response but provide evidence for the suggested inhibition function. Particularly, with high response-selection demands, the parametrisation of the non-selected targets over movement preparation had to be inhibited. Descriptively, differences in the QE offset suggest that these shielding requirements persisted over movement control. This study extends earlier work on the theoretical foundation of the QE phenomenon and provides fruitful insights into its underlying mechanisms.
Hair extensions need to be considered during preoperative assessment
Authors: Manton RN , Molina A , Gavin N , Hazari A
Published: June 2018

Hair extensions are an increasingly common hairstyling practice. Others have demonstrated these devices can lead to hair and scalp injuries. We describe a recent case where such an injury was narrowly avoided in a patient undergoing a long surgical procedure. We suggest that preoperative assessment procedures need to be aware of such devices and provide advice to patients accordingly.