bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal trends in the dispensing of psychotropic medications in Australia from 2009–2012: Focus on children, adolescents and prescriber specialty
Authors: Karanges Emily A , Stephenson Chris P , McGregor Iain S
Published: June 2014

Objective:

Longitudinal trends in the dispensing of antidepressant, antipsychotic and ADHD medications from 2009–2012 were examined according to age and gender of patient and prescriber speciality. Of particular interest were changing trends in the prescription of psychotropic medications to children, adolescents and young adults.

Method:

Dispensing data for government-subsidised antidepressant, antipsychotic and ADHD medications were obtained from the database maintained by the Department of Human Services. Results were expressed in terms of number of prescriptions dispensed.

Results:

Over the four- year study period, the dispensing of antidepressants, antipsychotics and ADHD medications showed overall increases of 16.1%, 22.7% and 26.1% respectively. The most rapid percentage increases in antidepressant and antipsychotic dispensing occurred in children aged 10–14 (35.5% and 49.1% respectively), while ADHD medication dispensing rose most rapidly in those aged 20–24 (70.9%). Dispensing to males was more common during childhood for all investigated classes while two-thirds of adult antidepressant prescribing was to female patients. The most commonly prescribed antidepressants varied by age and were as follows: fluoxetine (3–19 year olds), desvenlafaxine (20–24 years) and venlafaxine (>25 years). Risperidone was the most common antipsychotic dispensed to children under 15, quetiapine to adolescents and young adults (15–24 years), and olanzapine to adults. Methylphenidate was the most common ADHD medication in those aged under 25, and dexamphetamine the most common in adults. Most antidepressants and antipsychotics were prescribed by GPs (89.9% and 70.6% respectively), while the majority of ADHD medications were prescribed by paediatricians (59.1%).

Conclusions:

Dispensing of psychotropic medications increased markedly from 2009 to 2012, with notable age-specific trends. General adherence to treatment guidelines is apparent, yet concerns exist regarding rapid increases in serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressant prescribing, the likely overmedication of persons with mild psychological distress, and the increasing use of powerful psychotropic medications in younger populations despite uncertain risk–benefit profiles.
The recovery model and anorexia nervosa
Authors: Dawson Lisa , Rhodes Paul , Touyz Stephen
Published: June 2014

Objective:

Treatments in anorexia nervosa (AN) have not been wholly effective and, accordingly, practices need to be reviewed. The recovery model is an approach to treatment that has become a guiding principle for mental health policy worldwide that might provide promise for AN treatment. The model has received much attention in recent years; however, there is a dearth of literature exploring how useful this model is for AN. The aim of the current article was to consider the relevance of this model in AN.

Methods:

This article provides a summary of the recovery model and reviews the literature to establish whether it is compatible with AN. The possible utility of the approach in AN is explored and suggestions are made as to how the model might be implemented in treatment.

Results:

Qualitative studies examining the patient’s perspective of AN support the recovery model. Many evidenced-based treatments currently used in AN have elements that are consistent with a recovery model approach. Treatments that are most consistent with recovery approaches have been effective for those with chronic AN.

Conclusion:

It is proposed that the model might offer a way in which to add to current practice and might have particular relevance for those with chronic AN. Future research is required to better understand how the model can best be utilised in AN.
Sexual Media Exposure, Sexual Behavior, and Sexual Violence Victimization in Adolescence
Authors: Ybarra Michele L. , Strasburger Victor C. , Mitchell Kimberly J.
Published: June 2014

Background. Emerging research suggests sexual media affects sexual behavior, but most studies are based on regional samples and few include measures of newer mediums. Furthermore, little is known about how sexual media relates to sexual violence victimization. Methods. Data are from 1058 youth 14 to 21 years of age in the national, online Growing up with Media study. Results. Forty-seven percent reported that many or almost all/all of at least one type of media they consumed depicted sexual situations. Exposure to sexual media in television and movies, and music was greater than online and in games. All other things equal, more frequent exposure to sexual media was related to ever having had sex, coercive sex victimization, and attempted/completed rape but not risky sexual behavior. Conclusions. Longer standing mediums such as television and movies appear to be associated with greater amounts of sexual media consumption than newer ones, such as the Internet. A nuanced view of how sexual media content may and may not be affecting today’s youth is needed.
Civil Society and Policy Making in Developing Countries: Assessing the Impact of Think Tanks on Policy Outcomes in Ghana
Authors: Ohemeng Frank Louis Kwaku
Published: June 2014

Not long ago, the number of think tanks in Ghana began to increase steadily. These organizations have now carved out a niche as repositories of ideas for government to tap when formulating and implementing good policies for development. Unfortunately, while their role in the policy making process is well accepted, whether they actually have a substantial impact on policy outcomes is as yet undetermined. In this paper, we will examine the impact of think tanks on policy outcomes in Ghana by looking at two major policy areas where policies have been initiated either by these institutions or by government itself.
A computational model for the simulation of dynamic fracture in laminated composite plates
Authors: Ahmed A , Sluys LJ
Published: June 2014

A mesoscopic, time-dependent finite element model for the simulation of dynamic fracture in laminated composite plates is presented. The computational model allows for the simulation of mesh-objective multiple matrix cracking and delamination in laminated composite plates. The analyses are performed with an emphasis on the quantification of the effect of the loading rate on interacting damage mechanisms, i.e. matrix cracking and delamination. In particular, rate effects on damage initiation, propagation, and interaction between matrix cracking and delamination under low and high velocity impact are studied. Moreover, the paper addresses computational issues related to time continuity in stress/strain and velocity fields, during dynamic simulation, at the time of incorporation of new degrees of freedom in a mesh-objective crack modeling approach. Illustrative numerical examples are presented to show the performance of the model. The model is validated with a fast crack growth simulation in a unidirectional laminate. An impact test on a cross-ply laminated plate is performed in order to study the rate effects on structural response and damage mechanics.
Reactionary Dentinogenesis and Neuroimmune Response in Dental Caries
Authors: Couve E. , Osorio R. , Schmachtenberg O.
Published: June 2014

Reactionary dentin formation is an adaptive secretory response mediated by odontoblasts to moderate dentin injury. The implications of this process for neuroimmune interactions operating to contain pathogens have not been fully appreciated. The purpose of the present study was to describe the relationship between reactionary dentinogenesis, the neurogenic changes of dental pulp innervation, and dendritic cell recruitment to caries progression, using a comparative immunohistochemical approach in human teeth from young adult individuals. Reactionary dentin formation during dentin caries progression is associated with changes in the integrity of junctional complexes within the odontoblast layer. Diminished coexpression of Cx43 and zonula occludens 1 implies a reduced level of intercellular connectivity between odontoblasts. Dentin caries also causes overexpression of growth-associated protein 43, a modulator of neural plasticity that promotes extensive sprouting of nerve endings into the reactionary dentin matrix. At the same time, an elevated number of HLA-DR-positive dendritic cells infiltrate the odontoblast layer and subsequently invade reactionary dentin formed underneath the early caries-affected regions. Simultaneous odontoblast layer remodeling, nerve fiber sprouting, and activation of dendritic cells during caries progression suggest a coordinated neuroimmune response to fight caries pathogen invasion and to promote dentin-pulp healing. We propose that reactionary dentin formation hinders pathogen invasion and supports defensive neuroimmune interactions against infection. The eventual understanding of this complex scenario may contribute to the development of novel approaches to dental caries treatment.
Value struggles in the creative city: A People’s Republic of Stokes Croft?
Authors: Frenzel Fabian , Beverungen Armin
Published: June 2014

In this paper we explore the case of Stokes Croft, Bristol, UK, as a neighbourhood in a city which has appropriated the discourse of the creative industries from the bottom up in order to foster its regeneration against capital’s art of rent. We show how Stokes Croft’s self-branding as a cultural quarter has led to struggles over the creative and cultural commons thus produced, which we conceptualise as value struggles where localised value practices clash with capital’s imposition of value. Our case study including two vignettes points both to the productivity of such value struggles in producing new value practices understood as commoning, as well as the limits of reproducing a common life in the face of existing financial and property regimes. Stokes Croft therefore serves as a case in point of the tragedy of the urban commons and points to potential ways of overcoming it.
Reading between the lines: Gentrification tendencies and issues of urban fear in the midst of Athens’ crisis
Authors: Alexandri Georgia
Published: June 2014

In gentrifying places the middle classes come into conflict with the pre-existing spatial and social structures, as they challenge the existing order in order to impose their sense of betterment. In times of crisis, spatial contests are confronted with fears which are related to broader feelings of anxiety that turn against the unwanted ‘other’. This paper drives attention to the feelings of fear that arise in the gentrifiers’ perceptions of quotidian life in times of high liquidity in an Athenian inner city neighbourhood. The way gentrification dynamics enmesh with urban fears may provide us with more insights into the conquest of space by the middle classes, thus broadening the scope of gentrification in the context of the current crisis.
Leader-following consensus of a class of nonlinear multi-agent systems via dynamic output feedback control
Authors: Wang Chuanrui , Sheng Jie , Ji Haibo
Published: June 2014

This paper deals with the leader-following consensus problem for a class of multi-agent systems with nonlinear dynamics and directed communication topology. By introducing a novel distributed observer and employing the backstepping methodology, a distributed adaptive nonlinear control law is constructed using the relative output information between neighbouring agents. For any directed communication graph that contains a spanning tree with the root node being the leader agent, the proposed control law solves the leader-following consensus problem. Compared with the existing results, our proposed adaptive consensus protocol is in a distributed fashion and the nonlinear functions are not required to satisfy any globally Lipschitz growth or Lipschitz-like growth condition. A numerical example is given to illustrate the theoretical results.
Reliability and Validity of the Chinese Version of the LSI-R With Probationers
Authors: Zhang Jinwu , Liu Nian
Published: June 2014

The Level of Service Inventory–Revised (LSI-R) is an instrument used world-wide for offender risk/need assessment, and the predominant samples for the LSI-R literature were Caucasian participants. This study is the first attempt to examine the reliability and validity of a Chinese version of the LSI-R with 305 probationers (269 males, 36 females) in Guangzhou, China. Factor analysis was conducted using principal component analysis. The internal consistency was estimated by Cronbach’s alpha for the total and subscales. Under the cross-sectional design, technical violation (TV) was used as a dependent variable for bivariate correlations and binary logistic regression model to investigate the concurrent validity of the Chinese version of LSI-R, controlling the age. Results offered support to this instrument by sound internal consistency. Significant gender differences were apparent on the total scores, and subscales of Criminal History, Family/Marital, and Companions. Bivariate correlations and binary logistic regression analyses supported the concurrent validity of the LSI-R total score for technical violations, and the subscales of Criminal History and Education/Employment were significantly associated with technical violations, which are consistent with the LSI-R literature. Overall, the LSI-R, which has been translated into Chinese, is a reliable risk/need assessment instrument for technical violations for probationers in Guangzhou, China. Further studies with follow-up data for different offender groups are needed. Discussions about the results, implications, limitations, and further research were presented.
Meniscal Allograft Transplantation
Authors: Rosso Federica , Bisicchia Salvatore , Bonasia Davide Edoardo , Amendola Annunziato
Published: June 2014

Background:

Meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) was developed as a means of treating the symptoms of compartmental overload after meniscectomy. Despite more than 20 years of research in this field, many controversies still exist regarding meniscal transplantation.

Purpose:

The aims of this study were to assess (1) the quality of the published studies on MAT; (2) the indications for this type of surgery; (3) the methods used for preservation, sizing, and fixation of the allograft; and (4) the clinical and radiographic outcomes of this procedure and its role in preventing osteoarthritis.

Study Design:

Systematic review.

Methods:

Inclusion criteria for the articles were (1) English language, (2) peer-reviewed clinical studies with evidence levels 1 to 4, (3) reported clinical and/or radiological outcomes of MAT isolated or combined with other procedures, (4) minimum 12-month follow-up, (5) case series of at least 10 patients, and (6) a follow-up rate of at least 80% (no more than 20% of patients lost to follow-up).

Results:

A total of 55 studies matched the inclusion criteria (2 level 2, 7 level 3, and 46 level 4). The average Coleman methodology score was 49.73 ± 12.41 (range, 24-81). There was agreement in the literature regarding the indications for MAT: joint line pain and tenderness correlated with previous meniscectomy, young patients, without diffuse Outerbridge grade III and no grade IV cartilage damage, and a stable and well-aligned knee. Different graft types have been used: viable, fresh frozen, cryopreserved, and lyophilized. The most common method for graft sizing was plain radiography. Different fixation techniques have been described, with only a few studies comparing the clinical results of the different techniques and with no proven superiority of one method over the other. All the studies showed clinical improvement at last follow-up visit compared with preoperatively. The chondroprotective effect of MAT is still unclear.

Conclusion:

Meniscal allograft transplantation seems to provide good clinical results at short-term and midterm follow-up, with improvement in knee function as well as acceptable complication and failure rates. Higher quality studies are necessary to better assess the potential chondroprotective effect of MAT and to identify differences in terms of outcomes between different surgical techniques.
Numerical investigation into the buckling behavior of advanced grid stiffened composite cylindrical shell
Authors: Ren Mingfa , Li Tong , Huang Qizhong , Wang Bo
Published: June 2014

Advanced grid stiffened composite cylindrical shell is widely adopted in advanced structures due to its exceptional mechanical properties. Buckling is a main failure mode of advanced grid stiffened structures in engineering, which calls for increasing attention. In this paper, the buckling response of advanced grid stiffened structure is investigated by three different means including equivalent stiffness model, finite element model and a hybrid model (H-model) that combines equivalent stiffness model with finite element model. Buckling experiment is carried out on an advanced grid stiffened structure to validate the efficiency of different modeling methods. Based on the comparison, the characteristics of different methods are independently evaluated. It is arguable that, by considering the defects of material, finite element model is a suitable numerical tool for the buckling analysis of advanced grid stiffened structures.
Flexural performance of integrated 3D composite sandwich structures
Authors: Wu Zhihua , Zeng Jingcheng , Xiao Jiayu , Liu Jun
Published: June 2014

A new type of 3D composite sandwich structure with foam core reinforced by composite columns, which can be called an integrated 3D composite sandwich structure, was designed, fabricated, and studied. The integrated 3D composite sandwich structure inherited the advantages and improved the shortcomings of the traditional foam core composite sandwich structures. All types of the samples with different consisting materials and structural parameters were tested and analyzed under bending load. The results show that the flexural properties of the integrated 3D composite sandwich structures are obviously better than those of the traditional foam core composite sandwich structures and due to the fact that the composite columns strengthen and stiffen the foam core. Moreover, this effect is more obvious for the better mechanical properties foam. And the structural parameters have significant influence on the flexural properties, especially the thicknesses of face sheet and foam core. However, the variety of these parameters results in a corresponding change of the mass and then effect the specific flexural properties. Consequently, it is necessary to find a balance among these parameters in order to get the optimal properties.
Is It Feasible to Implement Enteral Nutrition in Patients With Enteroatmospheric Fistulae? A Single‐Center Experience
Authors: Yin Jianyi , Wang Jian , Yao Danhua , Zhang Shaoyi , Mao Qi , Kong Wencheng , Ren Lele , Li Yousheng , Li Jieshou
Published: June 2014

Background: Published experience in feeding patients with enteroatmospheric fistulae is scarce. This study aimed to determine if enteral nutrition (EN) could be safely delivered in the presence of enteroatmospheric fistula. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study from a major fistula treatment center in China. Medical records of patients who developed enteroatmospheric fistulae in the open abdomen after abdominal trauma were reviewed. The timing of initiation and achievement of full strength (25 kcal/kg/d) EN after enteroatmospheric fistula were noted, as well as the incidence of feeding‐associated complications and weaning of parenteral nutrition (PN). The outcomes of open abdomen and enteroatmospheric fistula were also noted. Results: Nine patients were included in this study. EN was successfully implemented in all patients. The median timing of initiation and achievement of full strength of EN after enteroatmospheric fistula was 9 (interquartile range [IQR], 3–22) and 27 (IQR, 22–43) days, respectively. Feeding‐associated complications developed in 1 (11.1%) patient. All patients were liberated from PN at hospital discharge. Split‐thickness skin grafting was performed in all patients, of whom 5 underwent successful delayed abdominal closure, and 4 were awaiting definitive closure. Repair or resection of enteroatmospheric fistula occurred in 8 (88.9%) patients. Conclusion: This study showed that EN could be safely implemented in patients with enteroatmospheric fistulae without complicating the treatment of open abdomen and enteroatmospheric fistula.
An Investigation of Preschool Teachers’ Recognition of Possible Child Abuse and Neglect in Izmir, Turkey
Authors: Karadag Sevinç Çırak , Sönmez Sibel , Dereobalı Nilay
Published: June 2014

Child abuse and neglect have a potentially deleterious impact on children’s physical, social, and psychological development. Preschool teachers may play a crucial role in the protection, early detection, and the intervention of child abuse and neglect, as they have the opportunity to establish a close contact with the families and to observe day-to-day changes in pupils’ behavior. The main purpose of this study is to investigate preschool teachers’ experiences and characteristics in relation to their awareness of possible child abuse and neglect signs. A questionnaire survey was designed and administered to 197 preschool teachers who work for the public preschools in the Izmir province of Turkey. In addition to the questionnaire items, a 34-item Likert-type scale measuring the level of familiarity with possible signs of child abuse and neglect was developed. This scale had an internal consistency of 0.94. The results revealed that 10.65% of preschool teachers had training regarding violence against children and 2.03% of them had training in child abuse and neglect. Overall, 35% of all teachers reported that they had prior experience with pupils who were exposed to child abuse and neglect. Moreover, statistical analyses indicated that being a parent and having training in child abuse and neglect, having experience with maltreated children, and having higher job status were significant factors in preschool teachers’ ability to recognize the possible signs of child abuse and neglect. Our results support that teacher training in child abuse and neglect can play an important role in preschool teachers’ awareness of the possible signs of child abuse and neglect.
The Relationship Between Hegemonic Norms of Masculinity and Men’s Conceptualization of Sexually Coercive Acts by Women in South Africa
Authors: Stern Erin , Cooper Diane , Greenbaum Bryant
Published: June 2014

While sexual abuse against women and girls in South Africa has generated much deserved attention, the awareness of men’s experiences of sexual coercion is limited, and often restricted to a homosexual context. This article illuminates men’s experiences of pressurized sex in a heterosexual context, which were revealed in a broader men’s sexual health study. Fifty sexual history narrative interviews were conducted with men purposively sampled from three age categories: (18-24, 25-54, and 55+), a wide range of cultural and racial backgrounds, and in urban and rural sites across five provinces in South Africa. Narrative interviews began with accounts of early knowledge of sex and sexual experimentation and explored the range of sexual relationships and experiences through adulthood. The narratives privileged the diversity of men’s conceptualizations of and the impact of reportedly sexually coercive experiences by women. Many men described feeling unready for their first sexual experiences but pressured to do so by their peers and female partners, who were often older. There were also some instances of sexual coercion by women against men, some of which would constitute a criminal offense in South Africa. Due to the pressure for men to always be responsive to women’s sexual desires, these experiences were often not framed as sexual coercion. Nevertheless, for many of these men, such experiences were uncomfortable and unrewarding. Men’s negative responses to such experiences appeared to be linked to the fact that they did not fit social stereotypes of masculine sexuality as being initiative and dominant. Such coercive experiences could influence men’s sexual risk-taking, including their use of sexual coercion against women. Research on sexual abuse should not be limited to male against male sexual abuse, but needs to explore the meanings and experiences associated with reported coercion against men by women to more comprehensively prevent and respond to sexual violence.
Branding resources: extractive communities, industrial brandscapes and themed environments
Authors: Scott Rebecca , Bennett Elizabeth
Published: June 2014

As the labour process is mechanized and Fordist social contracts between company and workers erode, extractive communities bear increased costs while receiving fewer benefits. The authors use two case studies to elucidate how processes that characterize post-industrial culture elsewhere are now transforming the working landscapes of rural mining and timbering communities. Companies draw on branding techniques familiar to other contexts to evoke markets where none exist, and to link production practices with particular forms of identity. These branding strategies at the site of production attempt to simulate the paternalistic culture of a company town, in a themed environment that identifies the company with both locale and nation. These techniques allowed both companies in this article to extend temporary legitimacy in their practices, creating a sense of continuity despite the radical rearrangement and intensification of mining and timbering practices.
Developments on electrochemical discharge machining: A review of experimental investigations on tool electrode process parameters
Authors: Gupta Pankaj Kumar , Dvivedi Akshay , Kumar Pradeep
Published: June 2014

The electrochemical discharge machining is a combination of electrochemical machining and electrical discharge machining. The machining is achieved by chemical etching effect and melting of workpiece material due to electrical discharges. This process is used for a variety of nonconductive materials (glass, quartz, ceramic, Pyrex and so on) for the purpose of micromachining and specially for micro electro mechanical system applications. This article presents a comprehensive review of recent developments on tool electrode process parameters, which have resulted in enhanced efficiency and accuracy of the machining process. The tool electrode process parameters are shape, size, roughness, insulation and motion of tool and so on. These process parameters affect the process performance in terms of material removal rate, surface quality and dimensional accuracy of micromachined products. For example, spherical tool geometry provides five times higher material removal rate as compared to cylindrical tool geometry. The impact of electrochemical discharge machining process parameters associated with tool electrode is also discussed. A summary of review and proposed research directions is presented in this article.
Designing a set of efficient regenerative braking strategies with a performance index tool
Authors: Mammosser Didier , Boisvert Maxime , Micheau Philippe
Published: June 2014

The goal of this study is to design efficient regenerative braking strategies for a recreational three-wheel rear-wheel-drive hybrid electric vehicle. Current studies provide several optimal regenerative braking strategies, but no tool to obtain a set of acceptable strategies. A performance index tool is thus proposed and used to evaluate the efficiency of a given strategy. With this tool it is then possible to define a set of efficient regenerative strategies. The performance index is based on knowledge of a global efficiency map defined as the ratio of the incoming battery power to the extracted kinetic power. Two simulators of the vehicle are implemented in MATLAB/Simulink: one with a rear-wheel slip model and the other without slip considerations. They also include the longitudinal dynamics of the vehicle and the efficiency of the electrical drive from the electric motor to the battery. They were validated with experimental measurements of several accelerations and decelerations on a dry asphalt road from 0 km/h to 60 km/h. The simulated global efficiency map was also experimentally validated by regenerative braking measurements on a dry asphalt road from 50 km/h to 0 km/h. The simulated global efficiency map is used to design the optimal strategy (with and without wheel slip considerations). The performance map deduced from the global efficiency map was used to define the boundaries for the optimal strategy deviations and hence to limit the regenerated energy drop. Simulations show that there is a wide range of acceptable strategies from 0 km/h to 50 km/h on a dry asphalt road and hence give the driver the possibility of modulating the regenerative braking within a good energy recapture level. Finally, the design methodology presented with a simulated global efficiency map is also applicable with an experimental efficiency map which can be updated online.
A mixed-lubrication model considering elastoplastic contact for a piston ring and application to a ring pack
Authors: Guo Yibin , Lu Xiqun , Li Wanyou , He Tao , Zou Dequan
Published: June 2014

A mixed-lubrication model considering the oil supply was developed. The elastoplastic model was applied in the asperity contact simulation. The oil-film thickness at the ring–cylinder liner interface was determined using a mass conservation algorithm. The modeling results were compared with experimental results for verification on a reciprocating wear tester. It is found that, under the fully flooded condition, the results of the Greenwood–Trip model and the current model in the middle of the stroke are in accordance with the experimental results, but the results of the current model at the ends of the stroke are closer to the experimental results than the Greenwood–Trip model results are. Under the starved-lubrication condition, the friction coefficient of the current method is closer to the experimental result than that of the Greenwood–Trip model in the entire stroke. Therefore, the model developed in this study is appropriate for mixed lubrication under the fully flooded condition and the starved-lubrication condition. Furthermore, the model was applied to the ring pack of a diesel engine to study the effect of the oil supply on the tribological performance. The results show that the frictional forces under the 1 μm oil supply condition are far larger than those under the sufficient oil supply condition in the middle of the stroke, and so the increase in the frictional force may be used to identify scuffing failure in future studies if the relationships between the frictional forces and the measured vibration signals of the engine are obtained.
Age-specific prevalence of diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus in Germany 2002 and projection to 2030
Authors: Brinks R , Fischer-Betz R , Sander O , Richter J G , Chehab G , Schneider M
Published: June 2014

Objective

The objective of this report is to estimate the prevalence and future number of cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Germany.

Methods

Data from a representative sample of all insurants from the statutory health insurance in Germany comprising more than 2.3 million individuals have been screened for SLE diagnoses. The gender- and age-specific prevalence of SLE is calculated. The case definition is based on at least one recorded diagnosis of SLE during 2002. The stratum-specific prevalence is applied to the current and the future population of Germany in order to estimate and predict the number of people with SLE until 2030.

Results

The overall prevalence of diagnosed SLE in 2002 was 15.4 (95% CI: 13.1–17.9) and 55.4 (51.4, 59.8) per 100,000 in the male and female German population. This corresponds to an estimated 30,000 and 31,000 people with diagnosed SLE in 2002 and 2010, respectively. This number will slightly increase until 2020 and decrease thereafter.

Conclusions

Compared with health insurance data from France, the prevalence in our data is similar. Under the assumption that the gender- and age-specific prevalence of SLE in Germany will not change considerably, the number of cases in the next two decades will change only slightly.
Unravelling emotional viewpoints on a bio-based economy using Q methodology
Authors: Sleenhoff Susanne , Cuppen Eefje , Osseweijer Patricia
Published: June 2014

A transition to a bio-based economy will affect society and requires collective action from a broad range of stakeholders. This includes the public, who are largely unaware of this transition. For meaningful public engagement people’s emotional viewpoints play an important role. However, what the public’s emotions about the transition are and how they can be taken into account is underexposed in public engagement literature and practice. This article aims to unravel the public’s emotional views of the bio-based economy as a starting point for public engagement. Using Q methodology with visual representations of a bio-based economy we found four emotional viewpoints: (1) compassionate environmentalist, (2) principled optimist, (3) hopeful motorist and (4) cynical environmentalist. These provide insight into the distinct and shared ways through which members of the public connect with the transition. Implications for public engagement are discussed.
Audience reach of science on television in 10 European countries: An analysis of people-meter data
Authors: Lehmkuhl Markus , Boyadjieva Pepka , Cunningham Yvonne , Karamanidou Christina , Mörä Tuomo ,   AVSA-Team
Published: June 2014

Beginning with a differentiation of science programmes into five different editorial concepts, this article explores the audience reach of science on television in 10 European countries with a special emphasis on young audiences aged between 14 and 29 years. In relation to the share of this age group in the entire population, science programmes in all countries reach a considerably smaller proportion of younger viewers. Specific preferences for science content on television do not seem to be relevant in explaining aggregated viewing behaviours especially of young audiences. Unlike all other segments, the young science viewer segment is almost intangible as an aggregated group, as a definable segment of a mass audience that can be targeted by science programme makers.
Enhancing Nurses’ Ability to Care Within the Culture of Incarceration
Authors: Christensen Stacy
Published: June 2014

Incarcerated women are a highly vulnerable population, most of whom have had extremely adverse life experiences. Nurses who work in corrections have significant challenges as they attempt to care in a setting that is focused on punishment. This article focuses on the unique culture of incarceration as it applies to women, along with the common challenges nurses face when caring for these women. Leininger’s Theory of Culture Care and the Sunrise Enabler are discussed as useful tools to assist nurses in providing culture care within the confines of the prison, as well as a means of understanding these women as cultural beings apart from the prison setting. Despite the many security restrictions that exist within the correctional environment, “care” can be provided regardless of the setting. A model case has been developed to show the enormous impact that culture care can have on the lives of many women who face incarceration.
Non-uniform deformation and curvature identification of ionic polymer metal composite actuators
Authors: Annabestani Mohsen , Naghavi Nadia
Published: June 2014

Modeling and identification of dynamic behavior of ionic polymer metal composites as a widely used smart material is an inevitable work. In this article, unlike other conventional methods that modeled the tip displacement or uniform deformation of the ionic polymer metal composite, we have modeled the nonuniform deformation of the ionic polymer metal composite actuator. Final target of this method is estimation and prediction of a multi-criteria dynamic mathematical model. This dynamic mathematical model has been defined in such a way that all geometrical characteristics, shape, and curvature of it are consistent with the ionic polymer metal composite characteristics in all the time. This model can be useful to extract and predict many geometrical and even physical characteristics of the ionic polymer metal composite such as torque due to the ionic polymer metal composite weight, curvature, and bending angle. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is capable to identify and predict the ionic polymer metal composite nonuniform deformation and curvature trajectory accurately even in a large deformation situation.
Palliative Oncology
Authors: Prommer Eric
Published: June 2014

Bone metastases cause devastating clinical complications leading patients to have pain, poor quality of life, loss of mobility, and autonomy. Complications from osseous metastases cause a big economic burden reflected by repeated admissions for uncontrolled symptoms. Management of symptoms associated with bone metastasis includes systemic analgesics, glucocorticoids, radiation (external beam radiation and radiopharmaceuticals), ablative techniques (radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation), chemotherapeutic agents, hormonal therapies, interventional techniques (eg, kyphoplasty), and surgical approaches. Bisphosphonates have become a standard therapy for bony metastasis. They bind to bone eventually inhibiting osteoclast action. Bisphosphonates decrease fractures when given routinely. Adverse effects of bisphosphonates include osteonecrosis of the jaw and renal insufficiency. Late last year, the Food and Drug Administration approved denosumab to prevent skeletal-related events (SREs) associated with metastatic solid tumors. This drug is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits the receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK)–RANK ligand interaction. Clinical trials have shown superiority over bisphosphonates for the prevention of SREs. This article reviews the mechanism of action, pharmacology, adverse effects, and clinical trial evidence for this new drug.
Time Course of Calcium Concentrations and Risk Factors for Hypocalcemia in Patients Receiving Denosumab for the Treatment of Bone Metastases From Cancer
Authors: Ikesue Hiroaki , Tsuji Toshikazu , Hata Koujiro , Watanabe Hiroyuki , Mishima Kazuto , Uchida Mayako , Egashira Nobuaki , Miyamoto Toshihiro , Baba Eishi , Akashi Koichi , Takayama Koichi , Nakanishi Yoichi , Tokunaga Eriko , Okamoto Tatsuro , Maehara Yoshihiko , Yokomizo Akira , Naito Seiji , Kubo Makoto , Tanaka Masao , Masuda Satohiro
Published: June 2014

Background: Severe hypocalcemia sometimes develops during denosumab treatment for bone metastases from cancer and is, therefore, an important issue. However, limited information is available on the risk factors for hypocalcemia and the appropriate interval for monitoring serum calcium concentration. Objective: The present study aimed to identify the risk factors for grade ≥2 hypocalcemia and to investigate the time course of serum calcium concentrations in patients receiving denosumab for bone metastases from cancer. Method: The medical records of 66 cancer patients treated with denosumab between April 2012 and August 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Result: Of the 66 enrolled patients, 11, 5, and 1 developed grade 1, 2, and 3 hypocalcemia, respectively. All 4 patients with a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <30 mL/min developed hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia occurred in only 20%, 24%, and 15% of patients with an eGFR of 30 to 59, 60 to 89, and ≥90 mL/min, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that lower eGFR values (odds ratio, 1.72 per 10 mL/min decrease, P = 0.02) were significantly associated with grade ≥2 hypocalcemia. In 11 patients who developed hypocalcemia during the first treatment course, the mean calcium concentrations decreased from 9.8 mg/dL at baseline to 8.4 mg/dL during the first week and reached a nadir of 8.1 mg/dL during the second week. Conclusion: Our results support more frequent monitoring of serum calcium concentrations at baseline and during the first 2 weeks of treatment in patients receiving denosumab, especially those with an eGFR <30 mL/min.
Association of Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT) With Missed Doses of Prophylactic Antithrombotic Medications in ICU Patients
Authors: Voils Stacy A. , Carlson Alexa
Published: June 2014

Background: Medications for prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) are routinely prescribed in critically ill patients. Objective: To identify any association between missed doses of VTE prophylaxis medications and acute, in-hospital deep-vein thrombosis (DVT). Methods: Case-control study in hospitalized adult patients at high risk for developing VTE, defined as an ICU length of stay (LOS) of at least 24 hours. Cases were defined as patients with acute DVT during hospitalization, and controls were patients with no documented DVT. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the odds of acute DVT in patients with any missed dose of prophylactic antithrombotic medication. Results: Of 920 patients, 59 (6.4%) experienced an acute, in-hospital DVT. Overall, 64% of patients missed at least 1 dose of VTE prophylaxis medication, and 33% missed more than 3 doses. In the univariate analysis, there was no significant association between any missed dose of prophylaxis medication and acute DVT (odds ratio [OR] = 0.96; CI = 0.56-1.7). Multivariate logistic regression modeling confirmed no association between missed doses of pharmacological VTE medications and acute DVT (OR = 0.69 [0.39-1.2]; P = 0.21). Prolonged hospital LOS was associated with increased odds of acute DVT (LOS = 4-6 days; OR = 0.75 [0.21-2.6]; LOS = 7-13 days; OR = 2.3 [0.9-5.9]; and LOS = ≥14 days; OR = 6.4 [2.6-15.9]). Conclusion: We found no evidence of a relationship between any missed dose of prophylactic antithrombotic medication and development of acute DVT. The odds of acute DVT increased in patients with prolonged hospital LOS.
A transversely isotropic visco-hyperelastic constitutive model for soft tissues
Authors: Kulkarni S G , Gao X-L , Horner S E , Mortlock R F , Zheng J Q
Published: June 2014

A transversely isotropic visco-hyperelastic constitutive model is provided for soft tissues, which accounts for large deformations, high strain rates, and short-term memory effects. In the first part, a constitutive model for quasi-static deformations of soft tissues is presented, in which a soft tissue is simulated as a transversely isotropic hyperelastic material composed of a matrix and reinforcing fibers. The strain energy density function for the soft tissue is additively decomposed into two terms: a neo-Hookean function for the base matrix, and a polyconvex polynomial function of four invariants for the fibers. A comparison with existing experimental data for porcine brain tissues and bovine pericardium shows that this new model can well represent the quasi-static mechanical behavior of soft tissues. In the second part, a viscous potential is proposed to describe the rate-dependent short-term memory effects, resulting in a visco-hyperelastic constitutive model. This model is tested for a range of strain rates from 0.1 /s to 90 /s and for multiple loading scenarios based on available experimental data for porcine and human brain tissues. The model can be applied to other soft tissues by using different values of material and fitting parameters.
Professional and Parental Attitudes Toward iPad Application Use in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Clark Megan L. E. , Austin David W. , Craike Melinda J.
Published: June 2014

This study explored the attitudes of parents and professionals who work with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) toward the utilization of iPads and use of iPad applications by children with ASD. A survey of parents ( n = 90) and professionals ( n = 31) assessed information and communication technology (ICT) anxiety and self-efficacy, attitude toward ICT and iPad applications, and iPad utilization. Both parents and professionals held positive attitudes toward ICT and iPad use for children with ASD. Parents reported high use of iPads by their children, and professionals reported some, albeit limited, utilization as part of their practice. These findings suggest that iPad applications are not being used by professionals to a degree that is consistent with their favorable attitudes toward them. iPad use has been enthusiastically adopted by many parents; however, there appears a need for training in their use and research to establish an evidence base.
Sticky Masculinity
Authors: Berggren Kalle
Published: June 2014

Despite the consolidation of “critical studies on men” or “masculinity studies” in recent years, critics have pointed to a kind of feminist theory deficit due to the relative lack of engagement with contemporary developments of feminist theory. By focusing on post-structuralist feminist and feminist phenomenological accounts of subjectivity, this article seeks to contribute to the emerging body of work that brings such theories into critical studies on men. I argue that making use of these perspectives is not only a matter of replacing dominant theories, but rather offers possibilities for creative rereading of earlier work on masculinity, which may not have been sufficiently appreciated from the viewpoint of dominant structural perspectives. My argument proceeds through a reading of John Stoltenberg as a post-structuralist feminist, and a reading of Victor Seidler as a feminist phenomenologist. I suggest that the study of masculinity can benefit from both traditions, and as an example I consider Jonathan Salisbury’s and David Jackson’s work on “boys’ work.” Drawing in particular on Sara Ahmed’s innovative combination of post-structuralism and phenomenology, I suggest an understanding of masculinity as “sticky.”
Management learning in business networks: The process and the effects
Authors: Liu Rebecca
Published: June 2014

This article studies the process of firm learning in business networks and its impact on new product development. It argues that prior work offers little insight into how learning actually takes place in network collaboration, and so poses the open question of whether learning through business networks does accelerate new product development. The article begins by clarifying important learning concepts. It then documents how these concepts evolve across organisational boundaries and projects and also over time. It also shows how companies apply the skills of dialogue, articulation and experience for knowledge transfer and how they engage in articulation and pollination for knowledge cross-transformation. However, despite being able to document these processes, this study is unable to unequivocally link knowledge transfer with new product development efficiency and conclude that the latter is enhanced by knowledge cross-transformation. This article contributes to a theoretical inter-organisational learning model in business networks and suggests improved ways for management learning.