bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Open Innovation at Different Levels for Higher Climate Risk Resilience
Authors: Dey Anamika , Gupta Anil , Singh Gurdeep
Published: September 2017

With the increase in climate variability, creating knowledge networks becomes important for leveraging the embedded resilience in the communities through cross-pollination of ideas, resources and institutional linkages. Communities have developed knowledge systems around climate-mediated environmental changes since time immemorial. Some social groups have capacity to cope with stress better. They have homeostatic advantage due to either accumulated surplus (Burton, 2001, Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change in the drylands, United Nations Environment Programme) or access to institutions, technology and social networks (Adger, 2003, Social capital, collective action, and adaptation to climate change. Economic Geography, 79(4), 387–404). However, these knowledge systems often remain limited as isolated islands of expertise or small local networks resulting into asymmetries of knowledge at inter- or intra-community level. Intermediary organisations/platforms become important to bridge the gap that exists among communities within the informal sector and also between the formal and informal sectors. The platforms like the Honey Bee Network (henceforth, the Network) have been able to facilitate both horizontal exchanges, people-to-people learning and sharing, and vertical exchanges, connecting the informal actors with the formal system. The variation in different components of an Open Innovation System is studied in this article through their degree of openness in sharing, self-governance and self-regulation. We explore different activities and institutions of the Network to study the degree of openness and how they contribute to make the 26-year-old ecosystem more sustainable. We draw lessons for other institutions, organisations, communities who strive towards an autopoietic system, that is, a self-designed, self-organised and self-governed system with a feedback system from within and outside. This may make the whole innovation and knowledge ecosystem resilient in dealing with changing climatic conditions and fluctuating environment.
Dynamics of Social Enterprises—Shift from Social Innovation to Open Innovation
Authors: Yun Jinhyo Joseph , Park KyungBae , Im ChoongJae , Shin ChangHwan , Zhao Xiaofei
Published: September 2017

This article looks into dynamics of open social enterprises. We used several research methods—literature review, content analysis and case studies through intensive interviews via semi-structured questionnaire. First, we developed a research framework, expressed as the social open innovation dynamics model through literature reviews on social economy, sharing economy, collaborative innovation, open innovation and social enterprise. Second, we applied the model to ten Korean social enterprises and determined the success factors of social open innovation, as well as the concrete dynamics behind it. Main finding of this research are as follows. The success of social enterprises depends on the extent to which they strive to move towards open innovation. Adopting open innovation strategies seem to be a fruitful pathway for social enterprises to progress and grow in their operations.
The Effect of International Joint Research to the Research Performance: The Case of the Global Research Laboratory and the Basic Research Laboratory Programme
Authors: Kang Jinwon
Published: September 2017

Korea has been in a transition from catching-up to post-catching-up period. In this circumstance, the strengthening of basic research is one of the important strategies. This research investigates the main factors influencing research performance through the international joint research (IJR).

The literature about determinants of performance of R&D and the effect of IJR to the performance is reviewed. The research performance of IJR will be investigated in comparison with IJR programme and general R&D programme as a result of international and domestic research activities. The comparison about research performance will be performed using independent samples test on the modified impact factor of papers. The main factors influencing the performance are investigated in terms of research budget, capacity, number of researchers and international collaboration on the basis of previous researches.

The main finding is that the research capacity is basic requirement to increase the modified impact factor and the main factors influencing research performance through IJR are the network size and the number of contact in this research. Its recommendations, in accordance with this finding, are as follows. The government should support researcher to have more and easier contact with foreign researchers in terms of budget and programme structure and institutional improvement, including evaluation system. The additional budget on the existing programme and easy usage of research budget in the IJR are the good ways to promote the IJR activities through renovation of basic R&D programme structure. The additional credit to the research groups with bigger research networks should be considered in the selection process and ex-post evaluation process. Long-term and sustainable support for the research is the basic requirement to improve the capacity of researchers and obtain better research performance.
The crosstalk between p38 and Akt signaling pathways orchestrates EMT by regulating SATB2 expression in NSCLC cells
Authors: Kucuksayan Hakan , Akca Hakan
Published: September 2017

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition is a crucial event for metastasis and could be mediated by several pathways such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinases, as well as many epigenetic regulators. Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 is an epigenetic regulator involved in epithelial–mesenchymal transition and osteoblastic differentiation. It has been reported that the crosstalk between several pathways is responsible for the regulation of epithelial–mesenchymal transition in cancer cells. However, crosstalks between p38 and Akt pathways involved in epithelial–mesenchymal transition are still unknown. We recently reported that there is a crosstalk between p38 and Akt pathways in non-small-cell lung carcinoma cells, and this crosstalk is associated with E-cadherin and special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 expressions. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether this crosstalk has a mediator role in the regulation of epithelial–mesenchymal transition in non-small-cell lung carcinoma. Our results showed that inhibition of p38 leads to the disruption of this crosstalk via decreased expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and subsequently increased activation of Akt in non-small-cell lung carcinoma cells. Then, we found that p38 inhibition upregulated special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 expression and reversed epithelial–mesenchymal transition in non-small-cell lung carcinoma cells. Furthermore, special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 knockdown abolished the effect of p38 inhibition on epithelial–mesenchymal transition in non-small-cell lung carcinoma cells. In conclusion, our results strongly indicate that the crosstalk between p38 and Akt pathways can determine special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 expression and epithelial character of non-small-cell lung carcinoma cells, and special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 is a critical epigenetic regulator for epithelial–mesenchymal transition mediated by p38 pathway in non-small-cell lung carcinoma. Our findings will contribute to illuminate the molecular mechanisms of the epithelial–mesenchymal transition process that has a critical significance for lung cancer metastasis.
EGFR pathway subgroups in Chilean colorectal cancer patients, detected by mutational and expression profiles, associated to different clinicopathological features
Authors: Alvarez Karin , Orellana Paulina , Villarroel Cynthia , Contreras Luis , Kawachi Hiroshi , Kobayashi Maki , Wielandt Ana Maria , De la Fuente Marjorie , Triviño Juan Carlos , Kronberg Udo , Carvallo Pilar , López-Köstner Francisco
Published: September 2017

Colorectal cancer is a multistep process affecting several signaling pathways including EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor), a therapeutic target for metastatic disease. Our aim was to characterize the mutational and expression profiles of the EGFR pathway in colorectal tumors and to integrate these results according to five previously defined groups. We screened seven genes for mutations ( KRAS-BRAF-PIK3CA-PIK3R1-AKT1-MAP2K1-PTEN) and six proteins (EGFR-p110α-p85α-PTEN-phosphoAKT-phosphoMEK1) by immunohistochemistry, PTEN deletion, and MSI. At least one mutated gene was observed in 68% of tumors ( KRAS 45%, PIK3CA 21%, BRAF 14%, and PTEN 7%). PTEN deletion was observed in 10.7% of tumors and 19.6% were MSI-High. In all, 54% of tumors showed a high EGFR expression, 48% p110α, 4.4% phosphoAKT, and 22% phosphoMEK1; and 43% showed low PTEN expression and 22% p85α. In total, five groups of tumors were defined based on MSI, BRAF, and KRAS mutations. Three groups gather mainly early-stage tumors, whereas a fourth group is mostly conformed by advanced tumors. We described here that 71.4% of tumors from one group have a mutated PI3K/PTEN pathway, in comparison to other groups having 32%, 27%, and 25%. In addition, the five groups are differentiated by molecular features such as EGFR, p85α, p110α, and PTEN, showing variable expression among tumor groups. In conclusion, alterations on the EGFR pathway were found in a high percentage of colorectal cancer patients. Using the integration of diverse molecular markers, we ratified previous classification in an ethnic group having relevant genetic differences and living in a different environmental background, adding complementary molecular targets related to therapy.
Osteopontin-c isoform levels are associated with SR and hnRNP differential expression in ovarian cancer cell lines
Authors: Marques Durval Santos , Grativol Jessica , Alves da Silva Peres Rodrigo , da Rocha Matos Aline , Gimba Etel Rodrigues Pereira
Published: September 2017

Osteopontin-c splicing isoform activates ovarian cancer progression features. Imbalanced expression of splicing factors from serine/arginine -rich and heterogeneous ribonucleoproteins families has been correlated with the generation of oncogenic splicing isoforms. Our goal was to investigate whether there is any association between the transcriptional patterns of these splicing factors in ovarian cells and osteopontin-c expression levels. We also aimed to investigate the occurrence of these splicing factors binding sites inside osteopontin exon 4 and adjacent introns. To test associations between osteopontin-c and splicing factors expression patterns, we used an in vitro model in which OVCAR-3 cells overexpressing osteopontin-c (OVCAR-3/OPNc++) presented higher transcriptional levels of osteopontin-c than two other ovarian carcinoma cells (TOV-112D, SKOV-3) and ovarian non-tumoral cell lines (IOSE 364 and IOSE 385). The transcriptional levels of osteopontin-c, serine/arginine-rich, and hnRNP factors were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Human Splice Finder software was used to search for putative splicing factor binding sites in osteopontin genomic regions. OVCAR-3/OPNc++ cells presented higher transcriptional levels of hnRNP than serine/arginine-rich when compared to TOV-112D, SKOV-3, and IOSE cells. TOV-112D and SKOV-3 cells also overexpressed hnRNP in relation to serine/arginine-rich transcripts. Putative binding sites for these splicing factors have been predicted on osteopontin exon 4 and their upstream and downstream intronic regions. Our data showed that higher osteopontin-c expression levels are associated with a predominance of hnRNP in relation to serine/arginine-rich transcripts and that osteopontin exon 4 and adjacent intronic sequences contain predicted binding sites for some of these tested splicing factors. In conclusion, differential expression of these splicing factors in ovarian cancer cells could be one of the putative mechanisms leading to aberrant splicing of the osteopontin primary transcript. Future work, aiming to control ovarian cancer progression by downregulating osteopontin-c levels, could include strategies that also regulate heterogeneous ribonucleoproteins and serine/arginine-rich expression levels in order to modulate osteopontin splicing.
The Use of Passives and Impersonal Style in Civil Engineering Writing
Authors: Conrad Susan
Published: September 2017

Claims abound about passives and the impersonal style they create. Few studies, however, check the claims with a large, systematic analysis of texts from either academia or industry. Motivated by the need to teach effective workplace writing skills to undergraduate engineering students, this study investigates the use of passives and associated impersonal style features in 170 practitioner reports, journal articles, and student reports from civil engineering. Using multidimensional analysis (a technique from corpus linguistics) and interviews of practitioners, students, and faculty, the study found that, as expected, engineering texts, compared to nontechnical texts, have a frequent use of impersonal style features; however, they use passives for a wider range of functions than is typically described in technical writing literature. Furthermore, compared to the journal articles and student reports, the practitioner reports use significantly fewer features of impersonal style. The findings inform teaching materials that present a more realistically complex picture of the language structures and functions important for civil engineering practice.
GDP Per Capita and Protest Activity: A Quantitative Reanalysis
Authors: Korotayev Andrey , Bilyuga Stanislav , Shishkina Alisa
Published: September 2017

Our research suggests that the relation between GDP per capita and sociopolitical destabilization is not characterized by a straightforward negative correlation; it rather has an inverted U-shape. The highest risks are typical for the countries with intermediate values of GDP per capita, not the highest or lowest values. Thus, until a certain value of GDP per capita is reached, economic growth predicts an increase in the risks of sociopolitical destabilization. This positive correlation is particularly strong ( r = .94, R2= .88) and significant for the intensity of antigovernment demonstrations. This correlation can be observed in a very wide interval (up to 20,000 of international 2014 dollars at purchasing power parities [PPPs]). We suggest that it is partially accounted for by the following regularities: (a) GDP growth in authoritarian regimes strengthens the pro-democracy movements, and, consequently, intensifies antigovernment demonstrations; (b) in the GDP per capita interval from the minimum to $20,000, the growth of GDP per capita correlates quite strongly with a declining proportion of authoritarian regimes and a growing proportion of intermediate and democratic regimes; and, finally, (c) GDP growth in the given diapason increases the level of education of the population, which, in turn, leads to a higher intensity of antigovernment demonstrations.
Decolonizing the Academy: Lessons From the Graduate Certificate in Participatory Research at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Authors: Parker Patricia , Holland Dorothy , Dennison Jean , Smith Sara H. , Jackson Melvin
Published: September 2017

The Graduate Certificate in Participatory Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is intended for graduate and professional students who desire training in carrying out research in equitable partnership with, instead of on, communities. This article, written collaboratively by five of the participants in the development of the Certificate, highlights critical practices vital to efforts toward decolonizing academic research: (a) disrupting or circumventing gatekeeping mechanisms that maintain hierarchies of exclusion, (b) creating avenues for privileging a greater range of voices in knowledge production, and (c) providing training for research traditions that engage participants as coproducers of knowledge.
Engaging Uselessness: Philosophical Reading and Dwelling in the Excess
Authors: Van Cleave Jessica
Published: September 2017

In this article, I explore how to make space in the neoliberal academy for inquiry that welcomes what is yet to be thought, imagined, anticipated while also remaining responsible to institutional demands that privilege a certain type of academic subject. I draw upon Manning and Massumi’s notion of uselessness to position philosophy as a generative tool. Specifically, I explain how useless reading of philosophy positions becoming an academic subject as a continuous process of experimentation and learning instead of a reproduction of available descriptions enabled by neoliberalism. Philosophical reading exceeds the boundaries of what is already recognizable, and I dwell in that excess, shifting the focus away from complicity or resistance as the only possible responses to neoliberal mandates (either/or) and move instead toward rethinking ways of being, knowing, living, and responding to others in the world (both/and).
Topology-aware job mapping
Authors: Georgiou Yiannis , Jeannot Emmanuel , Mercier Guillaume , Villiermet Adèle
Published: September 2017

A Resource and Job Management System (RJMS) is a crucial system software part of the HPC stack. It is responsible for efficiently delivering computing power to applications in supercomputing environments. Its main intelligence relies on resource selection techniques to find the most adapted resources to schedule the users’ jobs. This article introduces a new method that takes into account the topology of the machine and the application characteristics to determine the best choice among the available nodes of the platform, based upon the network topology and taking into account the application communication pattern. To validate our approach, we integrate this algorithm as a plugin for Simple Linux Utility for Resource Management (SLURM), a well-known and widespread RJMS. We assess our plugin with different optimization schemes by comparing with the default topology-aware Slurm algorithm, using both emulation and simulation of a large-scale platform and by carrying out experiments in a real cluster. We show that transparently taking into account a job communication pattern and the topology allows for relevant performance gains.
Indigenizing social research methodologies: an analysis of the Diploma Program for Strengthening Indigenous Women’s Leadership (Intercultural Indigenous University and the Center for Research and Advanced Studies in Social Anthropology)
Authors: Figueroa Romero Dolores , Burguete Cal y Mayor Araceli
Published: September 2017

Based on a description of the learning processes and approaches to teaching research in the Diploma Program for Strengthening Indigenous Women’s Leadership, coordinated by the Indigenous Fund’s Intercultural Indigenous University and the Center for Research and Advanced Studies in Social Anthropology, we reflect on the “indigenization” of social research and the production of culturally and politically relevant knowledge for the indigenous women’s movement in Latin America. Methodologically, our reflexive comments and thinking about teaching dynamics and student–facilitator interactions are based on our involvement as coordinator and online teacher of the diploma program over a 4-year period (from 2010 to 2013). In particular, our analysis focuses on the context of dispute in which facilitators and leaders in the diploma program came up against the challenge of dismantling the coloniality of knowledge construction when adapting research methods. The students’ fieldwork experiences demonstrate their creativity in adapting and adopting methodologies that allow them to enhance the visibility of indigenous women’s political contributions to local indigenous activism. Mónica Michelena’s fieldwork research took place over a 6-month period in Uruguay in 2010. It was part of a project on the cultural revitalization of the social memory of the Charrúa people, located in the Salsipuedes valley—the scenario of a historical genocide in 1831.
Remotely supervised transcranial direct current stimulation for the treatment of fatigue in multiple sclerosis: Results from a randomized, sham-controlled trial
Authors: Charvet Leigh E , Dobbs Bryan , Shaw Michael T , Bikson Marom , Datta Abhishek , Krupp Lauren B
Published: September 2017

Background:

Fatigue is a common and debilitating feature of multiple sclerosis (MS) that remains without reliably effective treatment. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising option for fatigue reduction. We developed a telerehabilitation protocol that delivers tDCS to participants at home using specially designed equipment and real-time supervision (remotely supervised transcranial direct current stimulation (RS-tDCS)).

Objective:

To evaluate whether tDCS can reduce fatigue in individuals with MS.

Methods:

Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex left anodal tDCS was administered using a RS-tDCS protocol, paired with 20 minutes of cognitive training. Here, two studies are considered. Study 1 delivered 10 open-label tDCS treatments (1.5 mA; n = 15) compared to a cognitive training only condition ( n = 20). Study 2 was a randomized trial of active (2.0 mA, n = 15) or sham ( n = 12) delivered for 20 sessions. Fatigue was assessed using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)—Fatigue Short Form.

Results and conclusion:

In Study 1, there was modest fatigue reduction in the active group (−2.5 ± 7.4 vs −0.2 ± 5.3, p = 0.30, Cohen’s d = −0.35). However, in Study 2 there was statistically significant reduction for the active group (−5.6 ± 8.9 vs 0.9 ± 1.9, p = 0.02, Cohen’s d = −0.71). tDCS is a potential treatment for MS-related fatigue.
Effects of situational interest dimensions on students’ learning strategies in physical education
Authors: Roure Cédric , Kermarrec Gilles , Pasco Denis
Published: September 2017

Previous studies have shown that situational interest, as a primary motivator for students, affects student cognitive engagement. Considering this, the purpose of this study was to examine, within a situated perspective, the effects of situational interest dimensions on students’ learning strategies in physical education. A total of 148 tenth-grade students (mean age = 16.1, 15–17 years, standard deviation = 1.3, 40% boys) participated in a 30-minute body-conditioning learning task. Students’ situational interest and learning strategies were measured using validated self-reported questionnaires. Using correlations and regression analyses, the results showed that exploration intention positively predicts the learning strategies used by students. To motivate students and enhance their learning strategies, teachers could consider designing learning tasks that require higher-order cognitive processes demanding active exploration.
Technology use as a support tool by secondary students with autism
Authors: Hedges Susan H , Odom Samuel L , Hume Kara , Sam Ann
Published: September 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine how secondary students with autism spectrum disorder use technology in supportive ways. In this self-report survey study, 472 adolescents with autism spectrum disorder enrolled in high school described the forms of technology they use and purposes for which they use it. Students reported the benefits as well as barriers to technology use at school. They reported using technology in school and home settings in a variety of supportive ways such as increasing their independence, reducing their anxiety, and increasing their social opportunities. Findings suggest that practitioners may benefit from learning how to integrate technology as an instructional and support tool for their students with autism spectrum disorder. Recommendations for future research are provided.
“I could’ve had a better life”: Reflective life reviews told by late-middle-aged and older women and men with ongoing long-term alcohol problems
Authors: Bergström Magdalena
Published: September 2017

Aim:

This study accounts for how people aged 55-69 with ongoing long-term alcohol problems conceptualize past, present and future.

Methods:

A total of 19 interviews were performed, from which reflective life reviews were obtained and analyzed as narrative life accounts. Three structuring thematic traits were identified: resentment of life, acceptance of life and gratitude towards life.

Results:

The study shows how past, present and future intertwine into meaningful entities incorporating certain governing master narratives about recovery, familiar for example from expert discourse and the AA movement. When it comes to the theme of resentment, the participants articulated disappointment over what life had become and emphasized especially the missed work-related opportunities that the drinking had caused. In the theme of acceptance letting go of the past was viewed as important for creating a sober future. Within the dimension of gratitude the past was seen as a resource for self-development and future recovery.

Conclusions:

How long-term alcohol problems are conceptualized in the long view of a life narrative may have great implications for outlooks of a sober future. A closer look at the social and cultural material incorporated in the stories of this age group is an important task for future research.
Den aldrende LAR pasienten
Authors: Nyhagen Hege Tollefsen , Waal Helge
Published: September 2017

Background:

Opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) secures a low mortality in a vulnerable population and is often a lifelong treatment. One would therefore expect an increasing prevalence of OMT among the elderly. This article describes a study with three elements; a literature review, an investigation of occurrence and an exploration of elderly patients’ needs and experiences.

Material and methods:

PsycINFO, Ovid Medline and Embase were searched with reference words for opioid maintenance and age. Norway has a national cohort study of patients in OMT describing recruitment, retention in treatment, age and mortality. A prognosis of numbers in treatment older than 50 and 60 years were extrapolated based on probabilistic premises. Finally, a qualitative interview study of OMT patients in two municipalities near Oslo was performed. Five OMT patients aged between 58 and 64 years were interviewed with open questions on thoughts, needs and experiences.

Findings:

The review points to an increasing population with psychiatric and somatic comorbidities and diverse needs. Their opinions and experiences seem largely unexplored. The population estimates indicate that Norway by 2018 will have between 3084 and 3567 individuals older than 50 years and between 201 and 302 individuals older than 60 years in OMT. The qualitative study demonstrated that the elderly OMT patient typically attributes their being alive to OMT. It is a life with a high prevalence of ailments and diseases. Their somatic diseases are mostly adequately treated by their GP, but they feel left alone with a high level of mental problems and loneliness. They miss follow-up from the OMT and social services and are not met on existential thoughts and sorrow for their life. A wish to end OMT during their lifetime is noteworthy. This would necessitate a close collaboration with the OMT services and support from a social network.

Conclusions:

The study points to insufficient knowledge of and strategies to meet an increasing number of individuals with composite problems in OMT. The numbers will remain too small to warrant specially designed local projects, but large enough to necessitate awareness and competencies in the ordinary municipal health and social services.
How do family pressure, health and ambivalence factor into entering alcohol treatment? Experiences of people aged 60 and older with alcohol use disorder
Authors: Emiliussen Jakob , Andersen Kjeld , Nielsen Anette S.
Published: September 2017

Aim:

This qualitative study is concerned with the motivations that lead older adults to enter treatment for alcohol problems. There is a need to expand our understanding of the unique characteristics and problems of this population to be able to devise specialised and effective treatments and preventive measures.

Method:

We conducted an analysis of secondary findings from interview data collected in a qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study. Our participants were 12 elderly people aged 60 years or more who had experienced late-onset alcohol use disorder. Transcription, categorisation, collapsing and analysis were conducted rigorously in accordance with the IPA standards.

Findings:

Family can function as a pressure structure in terms of fostering motivation for treatment. Participants were to a certain extent ambivalent about treatment, which led them to devaluing treatment and its effects. Our results are on par with comparable results from other studies.

Conclusion:

Older adults who experience very-late-onset of alcohol use disorder experience familial pressure and health concerns which lead them to enter treatment. Our participants seemed ambivalent about treatment and its necessity, which seems to lead to a devaluation of therapy.
Patterns of polydrug use among pregnant substance abusers
Authors: Reitan Therese
Published: September 2017

Aim:

Studies of drug use during pregnancy have generally focused on individual substances or specific combinations of drugs. The aim of this article is to increase our knowledge about polydrug use and pregnancy in a Nordic context by describing the sociodemographic characteristics of a clinical population of pregnant women with severe substance use, examining the scope and type of polydrug use and analysing factors associated with concurrent use of many, as opposed to a few, drugs.

Method:

A cross-sectional study of pregnant women on admission to compulsory care for substance abuse in Sweden between 2000 and 2009 ( n = 119 women, representing 128 pregnancies). Data were retrieved from administrative registers and client records. Univariate links between demographic, social, obstetrical, treatment history variables and polydrug use were examined. Binary logistic regression was used to analyse the association between explanatory variables and polydrug use.

Results:

The average number of drugs being used concurrently was 2.65, and injection drug use was recorded in 73% of the pregnancies. Opiates and amphetamines were the most common primary drugs, followed by alcohol. The likelihood of polydrug use increased with first trimester pregnancy, planned (as opposed to emergency) committals, as well as the combination of partner substance abuse and injection drug use.

Conclusions:

Polydrug use was widespread among pregnant substance abusers. Policies, interventions and research often focus on individual drugs separately, but for clinical populations in particular there is a need to address drug use broadly, including a systematic recording of smoking habits. This also entails awarding more attention to those not eligible for established interventions, such as opiate maintenance treatment, and giving more consideration to a variety of life circumstances, such as partner drug use.
Alcohol screening in North Denmark Region hospitals: Frequency of screening and experiences of health professionals
Authors: Grønkjær Mette , Søndergaard Lise Nørregaard , Klit Mona Østergaard , Mariegaard Kerstin , Kusk Kathrine Hoffmann
Published: September 2017

Background:

Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for disease, disability and death. Approximately 20% of all hospital admissions are alcohol related. In Denmark, hospitalised patients undergo systematic health risk screenings to establish preventive initiatives if the screening detects a risk. The frequency and usability of alcohol screening and health professionals’ experiences of the screening is unknown.

Aim:

To examine the frequency and usability of alcohol screening at North Denmark Region hospitals, as well as health professionals’ experiences of screening for alcohol.

Methods:

This study consisted of an initial audit of 120 patient records from medical and surgical units at four hospitals assessing information on alcohol screening. This was followed by six focus-group interviews with health professionals ( n = 20) regarding their experiences of conducting alcohol screening.

Results:

Among overall health screenings, screening for alcohol and tobacco smoking was performed most frequently (81.8% and 85%). Alcohol screening scored the lowest percentage for usability (67.7%). Hospital-based alcohol screening was perceived ambiguously leading to a schism between standardised alcohol screening and the individual needs of the patient. Health professionals described different patient types, each with their perceived needs, and screening was associated with taboo and reluctance to engage in alcohol screening of some patient groups.

Conclusion:

This study revealed factors that influence health professionals working with hospital-based alcohol screening. The variation in and complexity of alcohol screening suggests that screening practice is an ambiguous task that needs continuous reflection and development to ensure that health professionals are prepared for the task.
Collaboration between community social services and healthcare institutions
Authors: Källmén Håkan , Hed Anders , Elgán Tobias H.
Published: September 2017

Background:

Well-functioning care of people with substance use and psychiatric disorders presumes collaboration between different parties such as psychiatric care and substance use treatment centres, as well as social services. According to Swedish law, a collaborative individual plan, i.e., a written action plan to support structured inter-organisational collaboration, should be established. However, there are indications that such action plans are not used to a satisfactory extent.

Aim:

To explore current inter-organisational collaboration and use of collaborative individual plans among healthcare units and social services in Stockholm County.

Design:

The study uses a cross-sectional design. Participants ( N = 797) in a course specifically aimed at improving the knowledge and use of collaborative individual plans were invited to take part in the study prior to attending the course. A total of 705 participants accepted. Data were collected through an electronic questionnaire sent to each participant’s workplace. Non-respondents were offered a paper version to fill out.

Results:

Respondents reported participating in one to two collaborative individual plans per month and about 70% reported using a particular template. Respondents perceived mainly positive consequences of establishing a collaborative individual plan, for instance that it clarifies what measures are to be performed and who is responsible.

Conclusions:

Although respondents were generally positive about establishing a collaborative individual plan and the consequences thereof, they reported low use of such action plans.
Assessment of alcohol and psychotropic drug use among old-age psychiatric patients in Norway: Experiences of health professionals
Authors: Johannessen Aud , Engedal Knut , Helvik Anne-Sofie
Published: September 2017

Background:

Increased awareness among health professionals regarding older people’s alcohol and prescribed psychotropic drug use may be beneficial for reducing their unhealthy consumption among elderly.

Aim:

This study explores how health professionals experienced their participation in a study in which they collected data on alcohol and psychotropic drug use among patients treated in old-age psychiatry departments and, subsequently, how they experienced their work day after the study ended.

Method:

Focus-group and individual interviews with 15 professionals in specialist psychiatric hospitals were performed in 2016. The data were analysed using content analysis.

Results:

Two themes emerged from the data: the informants’ “experiences with participation” and “consequences of participation”. These themes described how the informants had experienced their participation in the study and whether these experiences subsequently affected their work routines. The first theme included two subthemes: “approaching the topic” covered the challenges and “applying assessment scales” described the participants’ opinions about the scales. Two subthemes were included in the second theme: “increasing knowledge”, which covered their reflections on new knowledge; and “influencing work routines”, which described their new approach to the topic.

Conclusion:

Study participation positively affected the informants’ work routines regarding alcohol and psychotropic drug use. The results of this study may contribute to a better understanding, development, and organization of services for people with increased substance use and thus may more holistically promote the health of older people.
The slippery slope of flubromazolam: Experiences of a novel psychoactive benzodiazepine as discussed on a Swedish online forum
Authors: Andersson Martin , Kjellgren Anette
Published: September 2017

Aim:

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the effects experienced by users of a novel psychoactive substance, the benzodiazepine flubromazolam, by analysing users’ own accounts on the Swedish forum Flashback.org .

Method:

A thematic analysis of anonymous self-reports published on the forum was performed and generated five general themes describing effects and experiences by flubromazolam users.

Results:

The themes which emerged were: Onset and duration, Desired effects, Adverse effects and addiction, Loss of control, General estimations and evaluations. The main reported characteristics of flubromazolam were heavy hypnotic and sedative effects, long-lasting amnesiac effects and the rapid development of tolerance. Flubromazolam was also anxiolytic and acted as a muscle relaxant for many users. Some users experienced euphoria or intense wellbeing. Other prominent characteristics were loss of control (leading to poor choices and actions, with unpleasant consequences) and long-lasting, often severe withdrawals. There were also serious incidents where users had been admitted to hospital, acute psychiatric treatment or taken into custody by the police.

Conclusion:

Flubromazolam appears to be a highly addictive and precarious benzodiazepine with many, possibly severe, side effects. The substance is generally described as very potent and with long-lasting effects. Memory loss and loss of control are common adverse effects, and withdrawals appear to be severe for many users.
Patient satisfaction with treatments and outcomes in residential addiction institutions
Authors: Andersson Helle Wessel , Otterholt Eli , Gråwe Rolf W.
Published: September 2017

Aim:

The objective of the present study was to investigate associations between patients’ satisfaction with different domains of inpatient substance use treatment and their perceived treatment outcome. The primary purpose was to identify domains of treatment satisfaction most strongly associated with a positive treatment outcome.

Design:

Data were based on a survey among 188 patients with alcohol and/or illicit substance use disorders completing a three–six-month inpatient stay at one of two public clinics in Central Norway. The survey was carried out shortly before discharge. The 15-item questionnaire covered ratings of staff and programme factors, and services received for medical and mental problems and ancillary services. The outcome score was based on items measuring perceived substance use improvements and benefit of treatment.

Results:

A significant proportion of patients were dissatisfied with the support provided for housing, financial issues and employment. Confidence in staff competence was the domain of treatment satisfaction most strongly associated with the outcome score. Furthermore, patients were more likely to report a positive outcome when they were actively involved in the treatment, as indicated by satisfaction with opportunities to affect treatment plans.

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that patient-experienced improvements are connected to confidence in staff competence and user involvement. The findings may be interpreted as supporting a collaborative relationship between patients and counsellors.
Dwelling dynamics in consumption encampments
Authors: Bradford Tonya Williams , Sherry John F.
Published: September 2017

Tailgating is an institutionalized form of public revelry and emplacement of brand community that occurs within the context of a consumption encampment. In this ethnographic investigation of tailgating in an American collegiate football setting, we explore the dwelling practices of stakeholders involved in the event. In the duration of a tailgate, a city is raised, and ultimately razed. Over the course of a day, a nomadic brand community encampment arises, replete with ersatz homes, a grid of streets with ingenious address coordinates, playing fields, and channels of information exchange. By examining the process of dwelling, we unpack the mechanics of the space-to-place transformation that characterizes consumption encampments. We analyze the role of three architectonic pillars of tailgating—chorography, conviviality, and community—in the emplacement of brand community and theorize the spatial essence of the collegiate brand.
Experimental and numerical study of rotor aeroacoustics
Authors: Stepanov Robert , Pakhov Vladimir , Bozhenko Andrey , Batrakov Andrey , Garipova Lyaysan , Kusyumov Alexander , Mikhailov Sergey , Barakos George N
Published: September 2017

The work documents recent experiments at the Kazan National Research Technical University named after A.N. Tupolev (Kazan Aviation Institute), related to helicopter acoustics. The objective is to measure nar-field acoustics of rotors in hover and provide data suitable for computational fluid dynamics validation. The obtained set of data corresponds to a scaled rotor of known planform and the results are of high resolution. An advantage of the current dataset is that direct near-field acoustic data is made available and this allows for easy and direct comparisons with computational fluid dynamics predictions, without the need to use far-field aeroacoustic methods.
Frequency-domain method for multistage turbomachine tone noise calculation
Authors: Rossikhin Anton A
Published: September 2017

A method of frequency-domain calculation of the multistage turbomachinery tone noise is presented. The method is based on the kinematic relations featuring dependence of flow fields in a turbomachine on time and circumferential angle. It solves the flow in several blade passages inside each row and can be used in conjunction with nonlinear equations. The method is developed at Central Institute of Aviation Motor and implemented in the Three Dimensional Acoustics Solver in-house solver. The multi-passage method is verified on two numerical problems. One is the tone noise generation by a 2D two stage turbine. The other is the problem of nonlinear interaction of circumferential modes in a 2D cylindrical channel.
Clinical Outcomes After Endovascular Repair and Open Surgery to Treat Immunoglobulin G4–Related and Nonrelated Inflammatory Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Authors: Kasashima Satomi , Kasashima Fuminori , Kawashima Atsuhiro , Endo Masamitsu , Matsumoto Yasushi , Kawakami Kengo
Published: September 2017

Purpose: To compare the follow-up results of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) vs open surgery (OS) for inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysms (IAAAs) with regard to immunoglobulin G4–related diseases (IgG4-RD), which are fibrous inflammatory conditions characterized by elevated serum IgG4 concentrations and numerous infiltrations of IgG4+ plasmacytes. Methods: Between January 2005 and December 2015, 91 patients were treated with EVAR (begun in 2008) and 166 patients underwent OS for AAA. Forty of these 257 patients had IAAAs identified by a >2-mm thickness of periaortic fibrosis (PAF). Of these 40, 21 had pathologically confirmed IgG4-RD and/or serum IgG4 concentrations ≥135 mg/dL (classified IgG4+); 8 (mean age 76 years; 8 men) were treated with EVAR and 13 (mean age 71 years; 11 men) underwent OS. Of the 19 IgG4– patients with IAAA, 9 (mean age 71 years; 8 men) had EVAR and 10 (mean age 75 years; 9 men) had OS. The 4 subgroups were compared in terms of symptoms, complications, inflammation markers, PAF, and aneurysm diameter using the latest midterm follow-up data (12–24 months). Results: Preoperative aneurysm diameter, PAF, gender, median age, symptoms, and median follow-up period were similar in all groups. Preoperative serum IgG4 was equal in EVAR and OS IgG4+ groups. Compared with the OS IgG4+ group, EVAR IgG4+ patients more frequently had postoperative IgG4 increase (5/8; p=0.006) and PAF progression (5/8; p=0.027), higher postoperative serum IgG4 levels (median 141 mg/dL; p=0.034), a thicker postoperative PAF (median 5.1 mm; p=0.016), and persistent clinical symptoms (p=0.006). Compared with EVAR IgG4– patients, the EVAR IgG4+ patients showed significantly thicker postoperative PAF (p=0.024) and larger increases in postoperative sac diameter (median +13.1 mm; p=0.030). Postoperative PAF and sac diameter frequently and synchronously became worse in the EVAR IgG4+ subgroup with increased IgG4 during follow-up. The rate of change in IgG4 significantly positively correlated with the rates of change in PAF (R=0.555, p=0.03) and sac diameter (R=0.902, p=0.003). Conclusion: Though sample sizes were rather small, this pilot study suggested that EVAR-treated IgG4+ IAAA patients have a higher risk of persistent symptoms and increases in PAF, sac diameter, and IgG4 levels. Therefore, OS should be preferred for complete recovery. Frequent monitoring of the postoperative serum IgG4 is necessary following EVAR in IgG4+ patients to detect these complications.
Influence of Iliac Stenotic Lesions on Blood Flow Patterns Near a Covered Endovascular Reconstruction of the Aortic Bifurcation (CERAB) Stent Configuration
Authors: Groot Jebbink Erik , Engelhard Stefan , Lajoinie Guillaume , de Vries Jean-Paul P. M. , Versluis Michel , Reijnen Michel M. P.J.
Published: September 2017

Purpose: To investigate the effect of distal stenotic lesions on flow patterns near a covered endovascular reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation (CERAB) configuration used in the treatment of aortoiliac occlusive disease. Method: Laser particle image velocimetry measurements were performed using in vitro models of the aortic bifurcation with and without a CERAB configuration in place. A hemodynamically nonsignificant stenosis (ΔP: 9 mm Hg), a hemodynamically significant (ΔP: 26 mm Hg) stenosis, and a total occlusion were simulated in the left iliac arteries. Velocity fields and time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS) were calculated. Results: Hemodynamically significant distal lesions did not influence the inflow patterns or TAWSS (0.5–0.6 Pa) in either model. However, hemodynamically significant distal stenotic lesions caused a 2-fold decrease in peak outflow velocities (control: 106 vs 56 cm/s, CERAB: 96 vs 54 cm/s) and a 3-fold decrease in TAWSS (control: 1.34 vs 0.44 Pa, CERAB: 0.75 vs 0.21 Pa). There was a 2-fold decrease in wall shear stress in the CERAB outflow compared with the control, independent of lesion severity. Conclusion: In the CERAB technique, adequate distal runoff is identified as an important parameter to ensure patency. This in vitro study showed that distal stenotic lesions influence aortic bifurcation outflow patterns and TAWSS more extensively in the CERAB configuration. Distal stenotic lesions could therefore increase the risk of disease progression and loss of stent patency. In vivo studies are necessary to confirm these observations.