bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mutual Needs and Wishes of Cancer Patients and Their family Caregivers During the Last Week of Life
Authors: Dobrina Raffaella , Vianello Camilla , Tenze Maja , Palese Alvisa
Published: April 2015

The last week of life represents an important time for people dying of cancer and their families. To explore the needs and wishes of patients and their caregivers during the last week of life at home, a descriptive phenomenological study was undertaken in a home care facility located in the northeast of Italy. A purposeful sample of participants affected by advanced cancer was included. For each included patient, a family member assuming the role of principal caregiver was also included. A total of 11 dyads (22 people) were selected and interviewed on a weekly basis. A series of qualitative, semistructured interviews was conducted. Each conversation was intended to provide researchers with an overview of the patient’s and family caregiver’s needs and wishes. The last interview conducted before the patient died was selected and considered for the analysis performed by researchers independently, who then worked closely together for theme triangulations. Needs and wishes in the last week of life were focused on four main themes: (a) Remaining attached to my life (“I wish I was doing things like I used to”); (b) Detaching myself from life, immediately (“I wish this Calvary were over”); (c) Dealing with the dying process (“Waiting in fear”); and (d) Starting to think of life without each other (“Unshared worries”). In order to improve personalized care in the last week of life, nurses are encouraged to assess both patient and caregiver needs and wishes, as well as their reciprocal influence and correspondence, to identify each patient–caregiver unit’s unique holistic care priorities.
The care worlds of migrant children – Exploring inter-generational dynamics of love, care and solidarity across home and school
Authors: McGovern Frieda , Devine Dympna
Published: April 2015

There is increasing interest in migrant children’s contribution to family processes of integration. Less explored are the role of affective bonds and the significance of children’s care worlds in managing the transition of the migrant family, especially between home and school. Drawing on a deep ethnographic study of 10 diverse migrant families (parent and child), this article highlights how inter-generational practices of love, care and solidarity – the creation of a ‘family feeling’ (Bourdieu, 1998) – are central to the negotiation of belonging in the settlement country. However, affective practices, it is argued, are interconnected with access to economic, social and cultural resources giving rise to substantive differences in how migrant children negotiate the transition between home and school.
The prediction of cutting force in end milling titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) with polycrystalline diamond tools
Authors: Pan Wencheng , Ding Songlin , Mo John
Published: April 2015

Cutting force coefficients were conventionally described as the power function of instantaneous uncut chip thickness. However, it was found that the changes in the three controllable machining parameters (cutting speed, feed and axial cutting depth) could significantly affect the values of cutting coefficients. An improved cutting force model was developed in this article based on the experimental investigation of end milling titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) with polycrystalline diamond tools. The relationships between machining parameters and cutting force are established based on the introduction of the new cutting coefficients. By integrating the effects of varying cutting parameters in the prediction model, cutting forces and the fluctuation of cutting force in each milling cycle were calculated. Validation experiments show that the predicted peak values of cutting forces highly match the experimental results; the accuracy of the model is up to 90% in predicting instantaneous cutting forces.
The effect of heterogeneous variance on efficiency and power of cluster randomized trials with a balanced 2 × 2 factorial design
Authors: Lemme Francesca , van Breukelen Gerard JP , Candel Math JJM , Berger Martijn PF
Published: April 2015

Sample size calculation for cluster randomized trials (CRTs) with a [Formula: see text] factorial design is complicated due to the combination of nesting (of individuals within clusters) with crossing (of two treatments). Typically, clusters and individuals are allocated across treatment conditions in a balanced fashion, which is optimal under homogeneity of variance. However, the variance is likely to be heterogeneous if there is a treatment effect. An unbalanced allocation is then more efficient, but impractical because the optimal allocation depends on the unknown variances. Focusing on CRTs with a [Formula: see text] design, this paper addresses two questions: How much efficiency is lost by having a balanced design when the outcome variance is heterogeneous? How large must the sample size be for a balanced allocation to have sufficient power under heterogeneity of variance? We consider different scenarios of heterogeneous variance. Within each scenario, we determine the relative efficiency of a balanced design, as a function of the level (cluster, individual, both) and amount of heterogeneity of the variance. We then provide a simple correction of the sample size for the loss of power due to heterogeneity of variance when a balanced allocation is used. The theory is illustrated with an example of a published [Formula: see text] CRT.
On Corporate Accountability
Authors: Shearer Christine
Published: April 2015

This paper examines the use of lawsuits against three industries that were eventually found to be selling products damaging to human heath and the environment: lead paint, asbestos, and fossil fuels. These industries are similar in that some companies tried to hide or distort information showing their products were harmful. Common law claims were eventually filed to hold the corporations accountable and compensate the injured. This paper considers the important role the lawsuits played in helping establish some accountability for the industries while also noting the limitations of the lawsuits. It will be argued that the lawsuits helped create pressure for government regulation of the industries’ products but were less successful at securing compensation for the injured. Thus, the common law claims strengthened and supported administrative regulation and the adoption of industry alternatives more than they provided a means of legal redress.
Tumor Budding Is Independently Predictive for Lymph Node Involvement in Early Gastric Cancer
Authors: Gulluoglu Mine , Yegen Gulcin , Ozluk Yasemin , Keskin Metin , Dogan Serap , Gundogdu Gökçen , Onder Semen , Balik Emre
Published: April 2015

Background. The most important prognostic factor for early gastric cancer (EGC) is the lymph node status. It is important to predict early lesions without lymph node metastasis (LNM) before proceeding to radical surgery in locally excised lesions. Tumor budding is a feature known to be related to aggressive tumor behavior in several solid tumors. We aimed to assess the predictive value of tumor budding for LNM in pT1a and pT1b gastric cancer. Methods. We retrospectively investigated radical gastrectomy specimens for of 126 EGC patients and assess the possible relation between the clinicopathologic features, including age, gender, tumor location, tumor size, macroscopic tumor type, histologic differentiation, depth and width of submucosal invasion, lymphovascular invasion, and tumor budding with lymph node involvement. Results. Among the 126 EGCs, 38 were stages as pT1a and 88 as pT1b. LNM rate in pT1a tumors was 13% whereas it was 33% in pT1b tumors. Tumor budding was the only factor significantly and independently related to LNM in pT1a patients. Female gender and tumor budding were found to be independent risk factors in pT1b group. Other clinicopathologic features were not related to LNM. Conclusion. Based on these results, we suggest that budding is a promising parameter to assess for prediction of LNM in EGC removed by endoscopic surgery, and to decide on the appropriate surgical approach.
Revisiting Lipomatous Meningioma
Authors: Gasparinho Maria Gabriela , Ferreira Marco , Lavrador José Pedro , Livraghi Sérgio
Published: April 2015

Lipomatous meningioma is a very rare subtype of metaplastic meningioma. It is defined by the presence of adipocytic-like cells, which are thought to result from lipid accumulation in meningothelial cells or true metaplastic change. We report a case of a lipomatous meningioma arising in a female patient complaining of recent seizures. Imaging studies revealed a 4-cm dural-based mass, with severe perilesional edema. Histologically, the tumor was composed of meningothelial whorls intermixed with adipocytic-like cells. No atypical criteria or brain invasion were found. The 2 components have differences in progesterone receptor expression and Ki-67 labeling, which may suggest that adipocytic-like cells may represent some quiescent form of meningothelial neoplastic cells, characterized by metabolic abnormalities, leading to lipid accumulation and very low proliferative activity. Lipomatous meningioma should also be kept in mind when considering the differential diagnosis of dural lesions with vasogenic edema in the absence of brain invasion.
Jejunal Metastasis Colliding With a Borderline Tumor in the Ovary
Authors: Piana Simonetta , Giunta Alessandro , Valli Riccardo
Published: April 2015

Metastatic adenocarcinomas to the ovary can show morphologically innocuous areas simulating primary benign lesions or borderline tumors. Ruling out a metastasis can be a difficult issue for pathologists, especially when facing with cystic tumors. Because of the important clinical implications of differentiating metastatic adenocarcinomas from primary ovarian tumors, the integration of clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemical features is warranted, primarily in case of mucinous adenocarcinomas. Vice versa, the synchronous presence of a metastasis and a primary in the same ovary is virtually excluded as a very unlikely eventuality. Here, we describe a case of metastatic adenocarcinoma from the jejunum colliding with a seromucinous borderline tumor in the same ovary, an unreported eventuality so far.
Radiographic Outcomes of a Mobile-Bearing Total Ankle Replacement
Authors: Haytmanek C. Thomas , Gross Christopher , Easley Mark E. , Nunley James A.
Published: April 2015

Background:

Contemporary total ankle prostheses embody design changes intended to address weaknesses in first-generation implants. Due to these changes, outcomes of the newer designs are of particular interest. We have previously published self-reported patient outcomes for the STAR (Scandinavian Total Ankle Replacement) prosthesis. The present study documents radiographic outcome measurements for the STAR prosthesis at intermediate to long-term follow-up.

Methods:

Of 89 consecutive ankle replacements performed between July 1998 and April 2007, 79 had a minimum follow-up of 2 years and were followed prospectively. Serial radiographs were measured by 2 of the authors, including varus, valgus, alpha, beta, and gamma angles, as well as point contact ratio. Inter- and intrarater reliability was calculated and reported. A “severe” subgroup of patients with preoperative coronal plane deformity exceeding 10 degrees was assessed separately. Preoperative and immediate postoperative measurements were compared and maintenance of correction evaluated on subsequent radiographs. Heterotopic ossification and pericomponent lucency were documented and followed, and subsequent procedures were recorded to follow survivorship. The mean follow-up was 8.0 years.

Results:

Of the 79 ankles, 25 underwent a secondary surgery (31.6%). Coronal correction averaged 5.1 degrees ( P < .001), and this was maintained to final follow-up. The severe subgroup (n = 21), with a mean preoperative coronal angulation of 16.1 degrees, was corrected to 4.6 degrees at final follow-up ( P < .001). The severe subgroup had a higher secondary surgery rate at 33.3%, with metallic component revision or failure occurring in 3 cases (14.3%) compared to 8 (10.1%) in the entire cohort. The heterotopic ossification rate was 100%, slightly higher than prior reports.

Conclusions:

STAR prosthesis survivorship was similar to that documented in prior studies of second-generation implants in European patient cohorts. Statistically significant correction in coronal alignment was achieved immediately after surgery and maintained until a final mean follow-up of 8 years, even in patients with preoperative deformity greater than 10 degrees.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective cohort study.
Annual Cost of U.S. Hospital Visits for Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma
Authors: Peterson Cora , Xu Likang , Florence Curtis , Parks Sharyn E.
Published: April 2015

We estimated the frequency and direct medical cost from the provider perspective of U.S. hospital visits for pediatric abusive head trauma (AHT). We identified treat-and-release hospital emergency department (ED) visits and admissions for AHT among patients aged 0–4 years in the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample and Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2006–2011. We applied cost-to-charge ratios and estimated professional fee ratios from Truven Health MarketScan® to estimate per-visit and total population costs of AHT ED visits and admissions. Regression models assessed cost differences associated with selected patient and hospital characteristics. AHT was diagnosed during 6,827 (95% confidence interval [CI] [6,072, 7,582]) ED visits and 12,533 (95% CI [10,395, 14,671]) admissions (28% originating in the same hospital’s ED) nationwide over the study period. The average medical cost per ED visit and admission were US$2,612 (error bound: 1,644–3,581) and US$31,901 (error bound: 29,266–34,536), respectively (2012 USD). The average total annual nationwide medical cost of AHT hospital visits was US$69.6 million (error bound: 56.9–82.3 million) over the study period. Factors associated with higher per-visit costs included patient age <1 year, males, coexisting chronic conditions, discharge to another facility, death, higher household income, public insurance payer, hospital trauma level, and teaching hospitals in urban locations. Study findings emphasize the importance of focused interventions to reduce this type of high-cost child abuse.
Serum Levels of Biomarkers of Immune Activation and Associations With Neurological Impairment in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients During Remission
Authors: Witkowska Anna M. , Socha Katarzyna , Kochanowicz Jan , Karpińska Elżbieta , Jakoniuk Marta , Zujko Małgorzata E. , Wilkiel Marianna , Borawska Maria H. , Mariak Zenon
Published: April 2015

Introduction:

Although much is known about cytokines and adhesion molecules during an active course of multiple sclerosis (MS), there is limited information about their serum levels during remission.

Objective:

This study aimed to (1) compare peripheral levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), soluble interleukin-2 receptor α (sIL-2Rα), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) in MS patients during clinical remission with those of healthy controls and (2) explore possible relationships between the levels of these cytokines and adhesion molecules and neurological impairment.

Methods:

Initially, 92 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who were in clinical remission and 30 healthy controls were recruited for this study. The severity of neurological impairment was assessed with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Serum concentrations of TNF-α, sIL-2Rα, sICAM-1, and sE-selectin were determined using the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) technique and compared between patients and controls. In a subset of RRMS patients ( n = 67), the levels of these cytokines and adhesion molecules were compared between subgroups of patients based on scores on the EDSS subscales, which measure disability level for specific neurological functions.

Results:

The MS patients’ TNF-α, sICAM-1, and sE-selectin levels were markedly lower than those of the controls, while their sIL-2Rα level was higher. The serum sICAM-1 concentration was positively associated with EDSS total score (ρ = .291, p = .017) as well as with the EDSS pyramidal (ρ = .267, p = .029) and cerebellar subscores (ρ = .303, p = .013). In the patients with cerebellar deficits and severe brain stem dysfunction, sICAM-1 levels were upregulated.

Conclusion:

Although a decreased sICAM-1 concentration was observed in RRMS patients in remission as compared to healthy controls, sICAM-1 seemed to reflect neurological impairment and clinical disability. These data suggest that increasing serum sICAM-1 levels may be associated with progression of cerebellar or brain stem perturbations. However, further studies are required to confirm these findings in a larger population of RRMS patients.
‘Raw talent in the making’
Authors: Cruz Edgar Gómez , Thornham Helen
Published: April 2015

In the digital age, it seems that participation has been conflated with literacy, content with engagement, novelty with innovation and ubiquity with meaning (e.g. see Thornham and McFarlane, 2014; Gillespie, 2010; Dean, 2008; Livingstone, 2009; van Dijck, 2013) and encapsulated in terms such as ‘digital native’, ‘digital divide’ or ‘born digital’. In turn, these conflations have done something to technology, which is constructed as malleable, a supportive facilitator, and the user, who is constructed as active agent. Neither of these account for mediations nor for – crucial for us – the notion of the imaginary, which emerges in our research as so central to expertise. Drawing on ethnographic work carried out in Studio12, a media production facility for young people with disadvantaged backgrounds in Leeds, United Kingdom, we propose that the concept of expertise emerges through a bigger array of social capital as well as traditional structures of power such as class, gender and race. Expertise is claimed, evidenced and generated. For us, however, expertise emerged not only as elusive but also because it was premised on a disjuncture between lived and everyday youth and the promises of becoming in a future orientated (technological, imaginary and creative) landscape.
‘Because even the placement of a comma might be important’
Authors: Mowlabocus Sharif , Harbottle Justin , Tooke Ben , Haslop Craig , Dasgupta Rohit K
Published: April 2015

The Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is a leading UK HIV and sexual health organization, and community outreach and support remain a key tenet of the charity’s philosophy. Outreach work includes campaign drives in bars, clubs and saunas, peer-led workshops, support groups, condom distribution in community venues and one-to-one intervention programmes to help raise HIV/AIDS awareness. But what happens to community activism and outreach when the community one seeks to engage moves online? In this article, we report on a study capturing the experiences of workers engaged in THT’s digital outreach service, Netreach. Using ethnographic and other qualitative methods, we identify the shifting nature of health promotion outreach work and the changes in expert–client relationship that occur when community outreach takes place on digital platforms. We identify how issues of (dis)embodiment, expertise and cultural capital play a role in determining the success – or failure – of online outreach work.
Hackers’ media practices
Authors: Kubitschko Sebastian
Published: April 2015

The increased level of technical abstractness poses a challenge for laypersons and politicians alike to notice the political impacts specific technical developments might bring. By presenting qualitative research on Europe’s oldest and one of the world’s largest hacker organizations – the Chaos Computer Club (CCC) – the article shows that the CCC acts as a civil society organization that brings together a wide range of knowledge, skills and experiences related to media technologies and infrastructures. By deconstructing the abstractness of a given technology, the CCC materializes its formerly unrecognized political quality. Yet, the political endeavour of closing the expert-public gap, in the interests of public democracy, is only brought to life once the outcomes of a particular hack are communicated in comprehensible manners to diverse publics and audiences. Overall the article points to the emergence of new modes and practices of expertise by conceptualizing the Club’s active demonstration of expertise through hacking and its articulation of expertise through media-related practices and interactions with institutional politics as interlocking arrangements. Today, hackers – and in particular hacker organizations – are best considered actors whose skills, knowledge and experiences are ever more relevant for political cultures and democracy at large.
Biopolitics and Capital
Authors: Kierans Ciara
Published: April 2015

Organ transplantation has been central to debates on medical technologies and their complex biopolitical consequences, new forms of medical governance and new opportunities for capital. Attending to transplantation has also opened up new ways of thinking about, acting on and living ‘in’ the body, raising important questions about what it means to be embodied under particular cultural conditions. The specific ways in which a technology like transplantation puts the body parts of some at the disposal of the bodies of others has served to (re)write bodily boundaries, commoditise body parts and reorganise the social relations of exchange, care and responsibility. The controversies that this family of technologies has given rise to are both readable and read as embedded in and expressive of wider forms of conflict and contestation. Putting these controversies and their entanglements centre-stage, this article focuses on the manner in which transplant technologies construct their publics in gendered and socially stratified terms, as they reconstruct the transplanted organ as a new site for the extraction of surplus value. Drawing on data from fieldwork in Mexico, I will examine the catastrophic consequences of transplant medicine for Mexico’s poor, particularly women who bear the burden of care for the country’s predominantly living transplant programme. In carrying the costs (moral, social and economic) their accounts of these processes offer us an important critical vantage point from which to assess the interplay between state, market and the ‘worn’ body in the context of transplantation.
An evaluation of the Parents Plus – Parenting When Separated programme
Authors: Keating Adele , Sharry John , Murphy Michelle , Rooney Brendan , Carr Alan
Published: April 2015

This study evaluated the Parents Plus – Parenting when Separated Programme, an intervention specifically designed to address the needs of separated parents in an Irish context. In a randomized control trial, 82 separated parents with young children were assigned to the Parents Plus – Parenting when Separated Programme treatment group and 79 to a waiting-list control group. They were assessed on measures of client goals, parenting satisfaction, child and parental adjustment and interparental conflict at baseline (Time 1) and 6 weeks later (Time 2), after the treatment group completed the Parents Plus – Parenting when Separated Programme. From Time 1 to 2, significant goal attainment, increases in parenting satisfaction and decreases in child behaviour problems, parental adjustment problems and interparental conflict occurred in the Parents Plus – Parenting when Separated Programme group, but not in the control group. These results supported the effectiveness of Parents Plus – Parenting when Separated Programme, which should be made more widely available to separated parents.
Students’ transition experience in the 10th year of schooling: Perceptions that contribute to improving the quality of schools
Authors: Torres Ana Cristina , Mouraz Ana
Published: April 2015

The study followed students in their 10th year of schooling that entered a new secondary education school in order to examine their perceptions of their previous schools’ work and of its relationship with the difficulties they experience when in the transition. The analysis of 155 completed questionnaires of previous students of nine basic education schools verified that students generally appreciated their former schools’ work in facilitating their transition experience, particularly in academic and procedural aspects. They also recognised the importance of their own skills, attitudes and previous experiences in their transition phase to the new secondary school. Nevertheless, results indicate that for quality improvement purposes, basic education schools should develop projects aimed at fostering their students’ study/work methods in order for them to be able to face increased volume and rigour in their future performances.
Cognitive fluidity and climate change
Authors: Strydom Piet
Published: April 2015

This article seeks to enrich the social-theoretical and sociological approach to climate change by arguing in favour of a weak naturalistic ontology beyond the usually presupposed methodological sociologism or culturalism. Accordingly, attention is drawn to the elementary social forms that mediate between nature and the sociocultural form of life and thus figure as the central object of a critical sociological explanation of impediments retarding or preventing a transition to a sustainable global society. The argument is illustrated by a comparison of the current situation of climate change to a similar situation some 10,000 years ago which conditioned the transition from hunting-gathering to farming. The crucial factor in the prehistoric transition had been the newly acquired cognitive fluidity, which not only became the defining feature of the modern human mind, but is also foundational of the corresponding social form of life. The cognitively fluid mind made possible new generative practices and the imagination of counterfactuals possessing an incursive force that is capable of transforming existing practices and social structures. The ultimate question, then, is twofold: whether there is enough potential left in the cognitively fluid mind for its societal significance to be activated to the benefit of a transformation of the current recalcitrant social formation; and whether we today are able and willing to recognize such potential and corresponding realizable possibilities upon which to act.
@THEVIEWER: Analyzing the offline and online impact of a dedicated conversation manager in the newsroom of a public broadcaster
Authors: D’heer Evelien , Verdegem Pieter
Published: April 2015

This study is built around the appointment of a dedicated “conversation manager” at the Flemish public broadcaster VRT. We focus on (1) the impact of the conversation manager on Twitter activity of the viewers and (2) the impact of the tweeting audience in the newsroom. Our framework combines journalistic as well as social media logics in Bourdieu’s field framework, for which we combine Twitter data and newsroom inquiry. The network analysis of Twitter activity shows the impact of the conversation manager, although his activities are primarily guided by traditional journalistic values. In turn, the tweeting audience impacts newsroom practices, predominantly as an indicator of audience appreciation. To conclude, social media data further complicate the definition and understanding of “the public.”
Why linking matters: A metajournalistic discourse analysis
Authors: De Maeyer Juliette , Holton Avery E
Published: April 2015

Journalists have incorporated hyperlinks (i.e. linking) into their professional practice since the early stages of digital news expansion. Media scholars and professionals have continually championed their use, yet little is known about the perceptions and uses of links in journalism practice on a broad journalistic scale. Drawing on an analysis of metajournalistic discourses, this study finds that links in news resonate with different aspects of newsmaking: the transparency of news production processes, the user experience, and the economic context. While journalists and other news media experts may indeed see value in linking, that optimism is tempered by levels of caution and worry, suggesting a need for media scholars, journalists, and news organization to re-evaluate the deployment of links within the news process.
Supporting choice: Support planning, older people and managed personal budgets
Authors: Rabiee Parvaneh , Baxter Kate , Glendinning Caroline
Published: April 2015

English policy emphasises personalised and flexible social care support using ‘Personal Budgets’ (PB) – preferably as cash direct payments. However, most older people opt for their council to manage personal budgets on their behalf. It is not clear what benefits of personalisation are available to this group of older people. This article reports research into the choices available to older people using managed personal budgets to fund home care services in three councils. It focuses on the roles of support planners, in councils and service provider agencies, who are central to supporting choice on the part of service users. Data were collected from three focus groups with 19 council support planning practitioners and interviews with 15 managers of home care agencies.

Findings

The study suggests that new commissioning and brokerage arrangements have the potential to give older people using managed personal budgets greater choice and control over their support. However, new communication barriers have also been introduced and some staff report receiving inadequate training for their new roles. Above all, resource constraints were reported to impede council support planners in encouraging users to plan creatively how to use personal budgets. Resource constraints also meant councils placed constraints on how flexibly home care agencies could respond to changing needs and preferences of older users.

Applications

The paper concludes by highlighting the implications of new arrangements for social work practice and some of the barriers that need to be addressed if the potential benefits of personalisation for older people holding managed personal budgets are to be achieved.
Falling in love outwards: Eco-social work and the sensuous event
Authors: Houston Stan , Gray Mel
Published: April 2015

Social work is a discipline that focuses on the person-in-the-environment. However, the social domains of influence have traditionally received more attention from the profession compared with the impact of the natural world on human well-being. With the development of ecological theories, and growing threats to the environment, this gap has been addressed and now the notion of eco-social work is attracting more interest. This article builds on this corpus of work by exploring, and augmenting, the thinking of the philosopher, David Abram, and his phenomenological investigation of perception, meaning, embodiment, language and Indigenous experience. The implications for eco-social work are then addressed.

Findings

The development of Abram's philosophical thesis is charted by reviewing his presentation of the ideas of the European phenomenologists, Edmund Husserl and Maurice Merleau-Ponty. It is argued that Abram uses phenomenology to explore the character of perception and the sensual foundations of language which, in Indigenous cultures, are connected with the natural world. A gap in Abram's thinking is then revealed showing the need to set human perception and language within an understanding of power. Overall, this re-worked thesis is underpinned by a meta-narrative in which ecology engages with philosophy, psychology and Indigenous experience.

Applications

By grounding such ideas in Slavoj Žižek's construct of the sensuous event, three applications within social work are evinced, namely: (i) reflecting on the sensuous event in social work education; (ii) rekindling the sensuous event with Indigenous Peoples; and (iii) instigating the sensuous event with non-Indigenous populations.
Cultural representations in Walt Disney films: Implications for social work education
Authors: van Wormer Katherine , Juby Cindy
Published: April 2015

This article investigates images of race, sex, ethnicity, and consumerism in contemporary Walt Disney productions. The purpose is to discuss the reinforcement of critical thinking skills in social work students through mutual examination of multicultural images presented in Disney movies. The films selected for close critical examination – The Lion King, Pocahontas, The Princess and the Frog – are those with multicultural themes and characters. In recognition of the fact that the one who controls the arts controls the message, this article is informed by bell hooks’ methods of critique of racialized and sexualized representations in children’s film.

Findings

The hidden messages in the popular Disney films should not be overlooked. The methods of critique applied to these earlier films also have resonance for the newer films, such as Frozen.

Applications

The case is made in this article that social work educators can enhance the critical thinking of students concerning culturally offensive, stereotypical images conveyed in the media.
Assessing the level of risk of families supported by Child and Family Protection Services: Practitioners and mothers as informants
Authors: Álvarez-Dardet Susana Menéndez , García M Victoria Hidalgo , Lara Bárbara Lorence , Padilla Javier Pérez
Published: April 2015

The evaluation of the specific level of family risk is a central topic to better understand the diversity of families assisted by Child and Family Protection Services, and also to design and address effective social interventions. Professionals of these services tend to have a great amount of knowledge and experience that has been rarely taken into account in research about at-risk families. In this study the level of family risk, according to data reported both by practitioners and mothers receiving family preservation intervention, is analyzed in a sample of 106 mothers assisted by state Child and Family Protection Services in Huelva, Spain.

Findings

A frequent profile of poor and multi-assisted families was found, but there was also an important level of heterogeneity in the level of risk, suggesting that these families are not a homogeneous group. The global valuation of family risk informed by professionals was significantly related to data reported by mothers using a standardized tool of family risk factors. Analyses presented also show significant relations with both the family socio-demographic profile and data of the case history involving protection services: higher levels of family risk were mainly associated with higher levels of economic, educational, and labor precariousness, and with more complex and complicated case indicators.

Applications

Implications of these results concerning both the importance of incorporating systematic evaluations of family risk by means standardized tools to practice and considering practitioners as a relevant source of information in family research are discussed.
Comparison of Effects Between Central and Peripheral Stage I Lung Cancer Using Image-Guided Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy via Helical Tomotherapy
Authors: He Jian , Huang Yan , Shi Shiming , Hu Yong , Zeng Zhaochong
Published: April 2015

Lung cancer is a common malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality. Here we compared the effects and outcome between central and peripheral stage I lung cancer using image-guided stereotactic body radiotherapy. From June 2011 to July 2013, a total of 33 patients with stage I lung cancer were enrolled. A total of 50 Gy in 10 fractions or 60 Gy in 10 fractions was delivered in the central arm (n = 18), while 50 Gy in 5 fractions in the peripheral arm (n = 15). Statistical analyses were performed using logistic regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier method. The mean follow-up time was 38.1 months. Three-month, 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall response rates were 66.7%, 83.3%, 61.1%, and 72.2% and 66.7%, 80%, 80%, and 80% in the central and peripheral arms, respectively. Three-year local control rates (94.4% vs 93.3%, P = .854), regional control rates (94.4% vs 86.7%, P = .412), and distant control rates (64.2% vs 61.7%, P = .509) had no differences between the central and the peripheral arms. Grade 2 radiation pneumonitis was observed in 6 of 18 patients in the central arm and in 1 of 15 patients in the peripheral arm ( P = .92). Grade 2 radiation esophagitis was 5.7% in the central arm, while none occurred in the peripheral arm ( P = .008). Five (15.1%) of all patients felt slight fatigue during radiotherapy. Other major complications were not observed. In conclusion, helical image-guided stereotactic body radiotherapy for central stage I lung cancer is safe and effective compared to peripheral stage I lung cancer.
Plasma soluble CD40 concentration in patients with delayed pressure urticaria
Authors: Jasinska T , Wyszynska-Chlap M , Kasperski J , Kasperska-Zajac A
Published: April 2015

Very little is known about the immune-inflammatory cascade in delayed pressure urticaria (DPU). It has been suggested that increased activation/expression of CD40 may result in enhanced release of soluble CD40 (sCD40) in chronic urticaria. To investigate release of sCD40 in the course of DPU, plasma sCD40 concentration was measured using ELISA method in 18 adult patients with DPU and 27 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Plasma sCD40 concentration did not differ significantly in the DPU group as compared to healthy subjects. The present study as well as the earlier contributions, suggest that distinct CD40-signalling activity manifested by sCD40 release may be identified in different types of urticaria. Delayed pressure urticaria is not associated with increased circulating sCD40 concentration, contrary to chronic spontaneous urticaria with positive response to autologous serum skin test.
The Effect of a Global, Subject, and Device-Specific Model on a Noninvasive Glucose Monitoring Multisensor System
Authors: Caduff Andreas , Zanon Mattia , Mueller Martin , Zakharov Pavel , Feldman Yuri , De Feo Oscar , Donath Marc , Stahel Werner A. , Talary Mark S.
Published: April 2015

Background:

We study here the influence of different patients and the influence of different devices with the same patients on the signals and modeling of data from measurements from a noninvasive Multisensor glucose monitoring system in patients with type 1 diabetes. The Multisensor includes several sensors for biophysical monitoring of skin and underlying tissue integrated on a single substrate.

Method:

Two Multisensors were worn simultaneously, 1 on the upper left and 1 on the upper right arm by 4 patients during 16 study visits. Glucose was administered orally to induce 2 consecutive hyperglycemic excursions. For the analysis, global (valid for a population of patients), personal (tailored to a specific patient), and device-specific multiple linear regression models were derived.

Results:

We find that adjustments of the model to the patients improves the performance of the glucose estimation with an MARD of 17.8% for personalized model versus a MARD of 21.1% for the global model. At the same time the effect of the measurement side is negligible. The device can equally well measure on the left or right arm. We also see that devices are equal in the linear modeling. Thus hardware calibration of the sensors is seen to be sufficient to eliminate interdevice differences in the measured signals.

Conclusions:

We demonstrate that the hardware of the 2 devices worn on the left and right arms are consistent yielding similar measured signals and thus glucose estimation results with a global model. The 2 devices also return similar values of glucose errors. These errors are mainly due to nonstationarities in the measured signals that are not solved by the linear model, thus suggesting for more sophisticated modeling approaches.
Synovial Chondromatosis Surrounding the First Metatarsophalangeal Joint
Authors: Ryan Jay D. , Garwood Caitlin , Lickiss Jessica
Published: April 2015

Synovial chondromatosis is a benign synovial tumor that rarely occurs in the foot. We present a case of a 36-year-old male who underwent surgical excision of primary synovial chondromatosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint. This report also presents a review of the literature related to synovial chondromatosis of the foot. Currently in the literature, this pathology has been described as occurring in multiple locations in the foot and ankle. Synovial chondromatosis can occur primarily or secondarily in diseased joints. Treatment is based on the phase of disease, with a goal to decrease pain and arthritis, and increase mobility. Surgical techniques used for foot and ankle synovial chondromatosis have been adapted from larger joints where the condition is more prevalent. Further case studies are needed to formulate a treatment protocol for foot and ankle synovial chondromatosis, but successful surgical excision was found in this case report.

Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level IV: Case study
High Prevalence of Obesity and Female Gender Among Patients With Concomitant Tibialis Posterior Tendonitis and Plantar Fasciitis
Authors: Reb Christopher W. , Schick Faith A. , Karanjia Homyar N. , Daniel Joseph N.
Published: April 2015

The link between increased body weight and hindfoot complaints is largely based on correlation to single foot pathology. We retrospectively reviewed 6879 patients with tibialis posterior tendonitis (TPT), plantar fasciitis (PF), or both. Among patients with either TPT or PF, 1 in 11 (9%) had both. We then compared age, gender, and body mass index among these groups. Patients with both diagnoses were neither statistically older nor more obese than patients with single diagnoses. However, they were statistically more female. Given the overall high prevalence of obesity in the study population, we feel these data support the link between obesity and multiple foot pathology.

Levels of Evidence: Prognostic, Level IV: Case series
The Biomechanical Evaluation of Revision First Metatarsophalangeal Arthrodesis
Authors: Aiyer Amiethab A. , Myerson Mark S. , Dall Graham , Price Jamey , Widmer Jason
Published: April 2015

Background. First metatarsophalangeal (MP) arthrodesis in the setting of bone loss is a difficult problem. Bone loss may compromise stability of implant fixation. Union rates may be adversely affected by these circumstances. The primary goals of this cadaveric, biomechanical study were to (1) investigate stiffness of a dual mini-plate construct versus a standard MP arthrodesis plate in the setting of severe bone loss and (2) evaluate arthrodesis interface motion when an interpositional graft is used. Methods. Twelve matched cadaveric samples were used in this study. In a given pair, both dual mini-plate fixation and standard MP arthrodesis plate were used. Interpositional graft was used in 6 of the specimen pairs. After implantation, soft tissues were dissected away and specimens were placed into a cantilever bending setup. A cantilever load was applied at a rate of 6 mm/min until catastrophic failure of the test construct or 5-mm plantar gapping of either bone block interface. Results. Based on load to failure data, there were no differences between the various constructs in terms of stiffness. There was a high degree of calculated plantar gapping with the placement of a bone block, irrespective of the fixation type. Conclusions: Although no construct differences were observed in terms of stiffness, the dual mini-plate is an alternative option for fixation when asymmetric bone loss is either seen on the phalangeal or metatarsal head side. The high degree of plantar gapping of the proximal interface with the placement of the bone block may have implications for healing potential across the arthrodesis site. Clinical Relevance: This is the first biomechanical study investigating the stiffness of multiple constructs for MP arthrodesis in the setting of severe bone loss. Furthermore, this is the first study to introduce a biomechanical rationale for difficulties in healing for this particular clinical scenario.

Levels of Evidence: Level V: Bench testing
The influence of individual noise sensitivity on mobile phone attitudes and behavior
Authors: Worthington Debra L. , Keaton Shaughan , Imhof Margarete , Välikoski Tuula-Riitta
Published: April 2015

Research in psychoacoustics and public health reveals that individuals respond differently to noise, with some being more sensitive to noise than others. Given the prevalence of mobile technology and that noise sensitivity appears to be a relatively stable individual difference, it is possible that noise sensitivity may distinguish individual mobile phone use. This study investigates the relationship between noise sensitivity and mobile phone attitudes and behaviors. Study results suggest that noise sensitive bystanders find mobile phone conversations more annoying, that they differ in their assessment of the distraction level of ambient noise when making and receiving calls, are more likely to report mobile phones as distracting, and are more likely to seek privacy from others when receiving a call.
The relationship between objective parameters of sleep and measures of fatigue, depression, and cognition in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Sater RA , Gudesblatt M , Kresa-Reahl K , Brandes DW , Sater PA
Published: April 2015

Background

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) often report poor sleep, fatigue, sleepiness, depression and cognitive dysfunction. Interrelationships between symptoms and sleep are poorly understood.

Objectives

To document objective parameters of sleep measured by polysomnography (PSG) and multi-sleep latency tests (MSLTs) in patients experiencing fatigue or sleepiness and to determine whether they correlate with symptoms.

Methods

Thirty-two MS patients, not on therapy, with fatigue or sleepiness completed the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Beck Depression Index and NeuroTrax cognitive tests and underwent PSG and MSLTs.

Results

Sleep efficiency (SE) averaged 75.1%. wake after sleep onset (WASO), sleep onset latency and multi-sleep latency were 66.2, 43.4 and 10.43 min, respectively. Stage N3 and rapid eye movement sleep were absent in 10 and four patients, respectively. Increased limb movements were observed in eight patients. Obstructive sleep apnea was observed in 12 patients. Neither SE nor WASO correlated with fatigue or sleepiness. SE correlated with the global cognitive score and with executive function and information processing subscales.

Conclusions

Overall, 30/32 MS patients reporting fatigue or sleepiness had evidence of one or more sleep disturbances. PSG should be considered in MS patients reporting fatigue or sleepiness in order to rule out treatable disturbances.