bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Collection of Gas-Tight Water Samples from the Bottom of the Challenger Deep
Authors: Wu Shi-Jun , Wang Shuo , Yang Can-Jun
Published: February 2018

A new gas-tight pair sampler was designed for the collection of gas-tight fluid samples from the hadal zone. The sampler uses two titanium bottles and one sampling valve to collect two samples at once. The sampler can be deployed in the deepest trenches in the ocean as a result of its ability to resist ultrahigh pressure and its good bidirectional sealing performance. It can be used on manned submersibles, remotely operated vehicles, and deep-sea landers. Three sets of this new sampler were constructed and field tested in the Mariana Trench during the cruise TS-03 from 15 January to 23 March 2017, during which 3 L of water samples were successfully obtained from the bottom of the Challenger Deep.
Challenges in Sex- and Gender-Centered Prevention and Management of Cardiovascular Disease: Implications of Genetic, Metabolic, and Environmental Paths
Authors: Kouvari Matina , Yannakoulia Mary , Souliotis Kyriakos , Panagiotakos Demosthenes B.
Published: February 2018

The recognition of cardiovascular disease (CVD) as a “male” privilege has been a commonly held concept. However, emerging data describe another reality. Heterogeneities have been convincingly demonstrated regarding CVD manifestations, risk factor burden, and prognosis between males and females. The aim of the present narrative review was to highlight sex- and gender-related discrepancies in primary and secondary CVD prevention, underscoring plausible underlying mechanisms. Manifestation of CVD in women is characterized by atypical symptoms/signs and inadequately studied pathophysiology features challenging accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Regarding CVD risk assessment, the burden and effect size of conventional, novel, and female-specific risk factors needs better clarification. Hitherto outcomes are nonconsistent, while most importantly, the interpretation of the attendant metabolic paths remains a challenge; the interactions among genetic, metabolic, and environmental factors are of high complexity regulated by genomic and nongenomic sex hormones effects. To deal with these key points, the National Institutes of Health currently calls upon investigators to provide a sex- and gender-specific reporting in all health research hypotheses. The implementation of high-quality studies addressing these issues is an imperative need to maximize cost-effectiveness in prevention and management strategies.
#LOLNothingMatters
Authors: Sagers Chris
Published: February 2018

Institutions matter in antitrust, at least as much as ideas. Most antitrust arguments, and especially the contretemps currently enjoying some attention in the popular press, imagine that antitrust problems are short- or medium-term matters, and that they can be corrected with local doctrinal steps. I suggest there is a deeper problem, a phenomenon more deeply inherent in the nature of competition itself. The problem will cyclically recur, so long as institutional brakes are unavailable to keep it at bay. Specifically, it seems that competitive markets are difficult to preserve without some prospective, no-fault rule to control concentration for its own sake. At least nominally, American antitrust has such a rule in its basic merger law, Clayton Act § 7, but the rest of it consists of retrospective, fault-based, law-enforcement rules that in their application are by nature somewhat piecemeal. A prospective concentration rule is needed because once markets become concentrated, situations are common in which neither disciplinary new entry nor retrospective conduct remedies can restore competition. The deeper problem inherent in competition policy, which demonstrates the significance of institutions as well as ideas, is that such a rule is also most difficult to enforce. That is so because markets in their ordinary operation are confusing and contradictory to watch, and the hardest interventions for government to defend to a skeptical public are those that are prospective. Finally, however, it so happens that one institutional correction currently on the legislative agenda could conceivably do some good in correcting for this problem—a specific plank in congressional Democrats’ “Better Deal” platform.
Should Antitrust Go Beyond “Antitrust”?
Authors: Brennan Timothy J.
Published: February 2018

Numerous observers, from all sides of the political spectrum, have proposed alternatives to economic efficiency as objectives for antitrust enforcement and decisions. A list includes fairness, inequality, labor share of income, jobs, effect on competition (apart from consumer welfare), consumer choice, promoting democracy, concentration of political power, globalization, domestic control over resources, media veracity, environmental protection, managerial competence, and mitigating consumer error. Three factors raise general doubts about the merits of doing so. One is that antitrust is sufficiently complex and that adding additional factors to balance may make it even less comprehensible to the general public (and even experts). A second is that other policies are available to pursue these alternatives that are both better designed to do so and are not subject to the vagary of whether a particular firm or sector might be involved in an antitrust violation. The third is that antitrust ought not be distracted from its economic efficiency mission, since there is no other economy wide tool for promoting economic efficiency. Those considerations and others are used to assess the potential effectiveness of incorporating each of these alternatives into antitrust enforcement and adjudication. Many of these alternatives may be a side benefit of antitrust enforcement, but not a factor that antitrust enforcers and courts can be expected to sensibly trade off against economic efficiency.
Antitrust and Inequality
Authors: Hsu Shi-Ling
Published: February 2018

Increasing concern about economic inequality has coincided with an unsettling ascendancy of some large, technologically integrated “super-firms,” which have grabbed large market shares in multiple markets, and cast doubt upon the future viability of a wide range of businesses, many of which have been important local and regional employers. It is thus unsurprising that these two trends have knocked together in public discourse, and that antitrust law been proposed as one way of helping to remedy economic inequality. This essay notes that antitrust law is generally a poor fit for reducing economic inequality, but one aspect is worthy of note: an apparent increase in the capital-labor ratio in many industries, especially in technological industries, where super-firms are predominant. An increase in the capital-labor ratio, which is putatively efficient but which may have the effect of suppressing wages, coincides with an increase in industrial concentration, suggesting that the overlap between antitrust law and economic inequality is not the null set. This essay builds on the work of many antitrust scholars in calling for a broader range of considerations in adjudicating antitrust cases. The possibility that antitrust law is playing a role in increasing the capital-labor ratio and changing the structure of economies is dangerous enough that some change in antitrust law is warranted to address foreseeable effects.
The Death of the Tunney Act at the Hands of an Activist D.C. Circuit
Authors: Bush Darren
Published: February 2018

The Tunney Act and its 2004 Amendment have sought to eliminate judicial rubber-stamping of antitrust consent decrees. Congress sought to assure meaningful judicial review of consent decrees to assure they were in the public interest. The caselaw in the D.C. Circuit undermines the purpose, intent, and plain meaning of the Tunney Act by arguing that such review would present separation of powers issues, an argument at best disingenuous in light of other settlements readily rejected within the Circuit. The Article commences with a review of the legislative history of the original Tunney Act. The article next examines the D.C. Circuit cases against that the drafters of the Amendment to the Tunney Act are rebelling. This legislative history is highlighted and extended in the legislative history of the 2004 TunneyAct Amendment. The article next describes how D.C. district courts uniformly ignore and dismiss the Congressional intent behind the 2004 Amendment under the auspices of prosecutorial discretion. Finally, the Article tackles the (false) problem of separation of powers the D.C. Circuit case law presents and proposes a solution to this deadlock that is true to the original intent of the Tunney Act.
Stakeholder Views on Extended Producer Responsibility and the Circular Economy
Authors: Kunz Nathan , Mayers Kieren , Van Wassenhove Luk N.
Published: February 2018

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations require that producers organize and pay for treatment and recycling of waste arising from their products at end of life. EPR has been effective in implementing some aspects of circular economy. In Europe, 35% of e-waste and 65% of packaging waste have already been recycled (or reused in some cases). This article analyzes the challenges of implementing EPR and provides useful insights for what has worked well and what challenges remain. Identifying and addressing these challenges will be crucial for framing legislation that will move industry and society toward a more circular economy.
The sustainability of institutions: an unstable condition
Authors: Santoro Patrizia
Published: February 2018

This article uses the concept of institutional sustainability to examine how institutions survive in a context, such as the current one, in which a problematic economy (a decrease of resources), politics (e.g. a crisis of parties and decline in voter participation) and social environment (corruption, wastefulness and administrative malpractice) weaken their legitimacy. Specifically, the purpose of this article is to suggest a conceptual model of institutional sustainability different from the one generally used in the literature on sustainable development to analyse the capacity of institutions to strengthen their roles, tasks and functions with the limited (quantitative and qualitative) resources (e.g. human, economic and instrumental) that they may already have or are given. To this end, the article attempts to ‘operationalize’ the concept of institutional sustainability, starting with the technical-managerial and political nature of administrative action, and to suggest analytical factors that fall within the sphere of functional autonomy and legitimacy.

Points for practitioners

This article aims to make the concept of institutional sustainability smoother and more precise by focusing on the intrinsic value of a sustainable way of life for institutions. The specific focus is public administration, now increasingly burdened by the need to combine the political reorganization of public debt with development planning and the provision of services. I suggest some necessary requirements (functional autonomy and legitimacy) to guarantee and/or increase sustainability.
The anxiety of being Australian: Modernity, consumerism, and identity politics in Michelle de Kretser’s The Lost Dog
Authors: Mirza Maryam
Published: February 2018

Tom Loxley, the Anglo-Indian protagonist of Michelle de Kretser’s 2007 novel The Lost Dog, has a difficult relationship with his adopted country Australia, one that is riven with anxiety as well as a profound sense of loss. This portrayal echoes, in many respects, the not uncommon representation in postcolonial fiction of the feelings of alienation and exclusion experienced by immigrants of colour in advanced capitalist countries. But in The Lost Dog, De Kretser’s nuanced portrayal of Tom’s tense ties with Australia and with other human beings also firmly situates immigrant experiences in the context of global capitalist modernity in general, and consumerism in particular. This article demonstrates that, without neglecting the implications of his racialized identity and without underestimating the trauma of physical displacement, De Kretser’s depiction of Tom’s identity crisis reveals the complex ways in which the notions of inclusion and exclusion, loss and belonging in contemporary Australia are inextricably tied in with the workings of global consumer capitalism.
Dynamics of internal resettlement during civil war
Authors: Balcells Laia
Published: February 2018

This article explores the dynamics of internal resettlement in times of civil war by using a novel dataset of all municipalities of Catalonia during the Spanish Civil War (1936–39), which includes information on the total number of internally displaced from other parts of Spain that sought refuge in Catalan localities during the civil war. The dataset, which also incorporates information on relevant covariates, is built with a combination of primary (i.e. archival) and secondary sources. The results of the multivariate analyses indicate that political identities have a significant impact on resettlement: people tend to relocate to places where they can find others who share their political and/or ethnic identity; we see this reflected in political and ethnic alignments at the municipal level. In addition, the article uncovers a relevant dynamic in the diffusion of violence at the local level: the arrival of internal refugees in a new locality may have the unintended effect of increasing levels of direct violence due to its role in disseminating credible news of atrocities committed by the other side. The implications of this study go beyond the Spanish case and make a contribution to unpacking dynamics of violence and internal displacement in civil wars. The article also sheds light on some of the mechanisms by which refugee flows can play a role in the diffusion of violence throughout a given country.
[11C](R)-Rolipram positron emission tomography detects DISC1 inhibition of phosphodiesterase type 4 in live Disc1 locus-impaired mice
Authors: Ooms Maarten , Tsujikawa Tetsuya , Lohith Talakad G , Mabins Sanché N , Zoghbi Sami S , Sumitomo Akiko , Jaaro-Peled Hanna , Kimura Yasuyuki , Telu Sanjay , Pike Victor W , Tomoda Toshifumi , Innis Robert B , Sawa Akira , Fujita Masahiro
Published: February 2018

Although still a matter of controversy, disrupted in schizophrenia protein 1 (DISC1) was suggested as a potential inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4). We used Disc1 locus impairment (LI) mice to investigate the interaction between PDE4 and DISC 1 in vivo and in vitro. [11C]( R)-Rolipram binding was measured by PET in LI ( n = 11) and C57BL/6 wild-type (WT, n = 9) mice. [11C]( R)-Rolipram total distribution volumes ( VT) were calculated and corrected for plasma-free fraction ( fP) measured in a separate group of LI ( n = 6) and WT ( n = 7) mice. PDE4 enzyme activity was measured using in vitro samples of cerebral cortices from groups of LI ( n = 4), heterozygote ( n = 4), and WT ( n = 4) mice. Disc1 LI mice showed a 41% increase in VT (18 ± 6 vs. 13±4 mL/cm3, P = 0.04) compared to WT mice. VT/ fP showed a 73% significant increase (90 ± 31 vs. 52 ± 15 mL/cm3, P = 0.004) in Disc1 LI compared to WT mice. PDE4 enzymatic activity assay confirmed in vivo findings showing significant group differences ( p < 0.0001). In conclusion, PDE4 activity was increased in the absence of critical DISC1 protein isoforms both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, [11C]( R)-Rolipram PET was sensitive enough to assess altered PDE4 activity caused by PDE4–DISC1 interaction.
Effects of manipulating the tempo of popular songs on behavioral and physiological responses
Authors: Kim Jongwan , Strohbach Carly A. , Wedell Douglas H.
Published: February 2018

This study examined behavioral and physiological responses to manipulations of the tempo of popular music. Four familiar pop songs were manipulated at nine levels of tempo (four slower and four faster) to induce affective changes reflected in liking ratings and physiological responses. As hypothesized, there was a significant quadratic relationship between liking ratings and tempo manipulation, with liking decreasing with greater slowing or speeding up from the original tempo. A corresponding relationship between electromyography responses and tempo for the corrugator supercilii was observed and interpreted as reflecting valence differences. A quadratic relationship between cardiac inter-beat interval and tempo indicated increased attention to deviations of tempo from the norm. A positive linear relationship between skin conductance and tempo was interpreted as reflecting increased arousal with tempo. Behavioral and physiological individual difference measures were also collected. Resting-state heart rate variability (HRV) was positively correlated with variability of cardiac activity during the task, suggesting that high HRV groups may be more adaptive to their environment. Individual differences in the Affect Intensity Measure (AIM) correlated with some aspects of the behavioral ratings. This is the first study to demonstrate how changes in attitudes toward the music associated with tempo manipulations are reflected in physiological measures.
Self-Efficacy and Collective Efficacy as Moderators of the Psychological Consequences of Exposure of Palestinian Parents in Israel to Community Violence
Authors: Ali-Saleh Darawshy Neveen , Haj-Yahia Muhammad M.
Published: February 2018

This study examined the rates of exposure to community violence (ECV; that is, witnessing and directly experiencing violence) as well as the detrimental consequences of such exposure as reflected in posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and a decline in psychological well-being (PWB) among parents. In addition, the study examined whether self-efficacy and collective efficacy moderate these consequences. A self-administered questionnaire was filled out by a systematic random sample of 760 Palestinian parents in Israel. The findings indicate that most of them had witnessed such violence, and almost half of them had directly experienced such violence in their lifetime. The rates of ECV were higher for the fathers than the mothers. ECV was found to predict high levels of PTSS and low levels of PWB among parents. In addition, collective efficacy was found only to moderate the relationship between witnessing community violence and PTSS. There is a need to identify adults who are exposed to community violence, as well as to develop culturally adapted and sociopolitically sensitive therapeutic and preventive interventions and projects for provision of assistance following exposure to such violence.
Situationism and the recuperation of an ideology in the era of Trump, fake news and post-truth politics
Authors: Bleakley Paul
Published: February 2018

As a variant ideology based on libertarian Marxism, the philosophy of situationism failed to achieve widespread popularity beyond a relatively brief time frame between the late 1950s and early 1970s. Despite this short-lived period of ascendency, the impact of Situationist concepts such as psychogeography, recuperation and the Spectacle have continued to play a role in the ongoing study of how reality is constructed in a system of advanced capitalism. Situationism’s concern with the perception of reality as shaped by the mass media is of particular significance in the context of contemporary politics that has been dubbed the ‘post-truth era’. The disavowal of the mass media by US President Donald Trump may give the impression of a Situationist approach that rejects the impact of such reality-shaping tools, yet a closer inspection of his actions suggests that Trump himself is responsible for the construction of a neo-Spectacle in which the recuperation of anti-establishment sentiment provides the basis for the reconsolidation of the position held by the capitalist elite within American society.
Everybody needs a group: A qualitative study looking at therapists’ views of the role of psychotherapy groups in working with older people with dementia and complex needs
Authors: Perren Sara , Richardson Tracy
Published: February 2018

Our objective was to evaluate clinicians’ views of the impact of conducting inpatient psychotherapy groups for older adults with enduring mental health issues and/or cognitive impairment.

We conducted a literature review. A focus group was held with four group facilitators using a semi-structured format and open questioning. The transcript was analysed by the interviewer using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Using guidelines provided by Smith and Osborn, themes were identified, clustered and a final set of themes developed. On completion, the researcher reported the findings back to one participant to increase the validity and trustworthiness of the analysis.

Facilitators described impacts that were intra-personal, inter-personal and extra-personal. The capacity and desire to communicate and belong demonstrated by group members challenged their own views (and ageism) and that of staff members.

The facilitators’ experience was of the beneficial and normalising effects of these groups in enabling and enhancing communication, emphasising common humanity, facilitating the expression of emotion and combating isolation by promoting a sense of belonging. Research is needed into the views of the group members. Thought is given to the challenges inherent in this.
A Profile of the Assisted Living Direct Care Workforce in the United States
Authors: Kelly Christopher , Craft Morgan Jennifer , Kemp Candace L. , Deichert Jerome
Published: February 2018

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this article was to develop a profile of direct care workers (DCWs) in assisted living (AL). Research Design and Methods: We used data from 2014 American Community Survey (ACS) to identify the demographic and employment characteristics of AL DCWs. We collected state training requirements for AL DCWs from the administrative rules of state agencies and interviews with state officials. Results: AL DCWs were more likely than other DCWs to be younger, male, White, English speaking, U.S.-born, never married, and to have attended college. Two Affordable Care Act (ACA)–designated training topics (self-care and the role of the personal care aide) were not required in any state. Discussion and Implications: AL has tapped a unique pool of workers (i.e., younger, male as well as female, and with some college education) but needs to address its workforce needs via training, improvements to overall job quality, and the development of career opportunities.
Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence: Findings From Interviews With South Asian Women in the United States
Authors: Ahmad-Stout Farah , Nath Sanjay R. , Khoury Nayla M. , Huang Hsiang
Published: February 2018

Eleven South Asian women were recruited from three domestic violence agencies in the United States and interviewed to examine their experiences with intimate partner violence (IPV). The interviews were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Themes included detailed barriers and facilitators to disclosure of the abuse and leaving the abusive relationship. Findings suggest that families of origin and in-laws play a significant role in the process of leaving the relationship. Children are often cited as a source of strength for the women. The process of healing and recovery after leaving a relationship with IPV was also discussed by women enrolled in this study. Pragmatic approaches to addressing IPV among South Asian women in health care settings are also considered.
Preventing Sexual Violence in Adolescence: Comparison of a Scientist-Practitioner Program and a Practitioner Program Using a Cluster-Randomized Design
Authors: Muck Christoph , Schiller Eva-Maria , Zimmermann Maria , Kärtner Joscha
Published: February 2018

Numerous school-based prevention programs have been developed by scientists and practitioners to address sexual violence in adolescence. However, such programs struggle with two major challenges. First, the effectiveness of many well-established practitioner programs has not been rigorously evaluated. Second, effective scientific programs may be hard to implement into everyday school practice. Combining the knowledge of scientists and practitioners in a scientist-practitioner program could be a helpful compromise. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of a scientist-practitioner program and a practitioner program using a cluster-randomized experimental design. Twenty-seven school classes were randomly assigned to either one of two programs or a control group. Outcome variables (knowledge, attitudes, behavior, and iatrogenic effects) were assessed at pretest, posttest, and a 6-month follow-up for 453 adolescents (55% female, Mage = 14.18). Short-term effects were found in both programs regarding general knowledge, knowledge of professional help, and victim-blaming attitudes. Long-term effects were found in both programs regarding general knowledge and knowledge of professional help and, in the practitioner program, in a reduction of victimization. No other effects were found on attitudes and behavior. No iatrogenic effects in the form of increased anxiety were found. Both the scientist-practitioner and the practitioner program show promise for the prevention of sexual violence in adolescence; in particular, the practitioner program may be a more cost-effective method.
Functional Design and Evaluation of Structural Firefighter Turnout Suits for Improved Thermal Comfort
Authors: McQuerry Meredith , Barker Roger , DenHartog Emiel
Published: February 2018

Structural firefighter prototype designs incorporating ventilation, stretch, and modularity were developed following Watkins’ functional design process. Prototypes were designed and manufactured, including single-layer, vented, stretch, and combination prototypes. Prototype garments were evaluated for improved thermal comfort and heat loss using sweating thermal manikin assessments in two conditions: static (standing still with no wind) and dynamic (walking with wind). Raw thermal and evaporative resistance data from the manikin testing were input into a thermal modeling software system (RadTherm®) and physiological responses (core temperature, skin temperature, and sweat rate) were predicted for each prototype. A significant improvement in heat loss was measured when ventilation openings and modularity were added to the design of the clothing system. The single-layer, vented, and combination prototypes also had significantly lower increases in predicted physiological responses.
Head, Heart, and Feet in Exercise and Weight Management
Authors: Terry Paul E.
Published: February 2018

It has been argued that the willpower of our citizenry hasn’t measurably changed during the decades in which our nation’s waistlines have measurably expanded. I agree, and I’d also submit that a weakening of political willpower and a lack of moral courage among those of us called to leadership is the more disturbing culprit. A case needs to be made that what we know and believe as a profession is most readily measured by what we permit to happen. As you review the sum of the research in this special issue on activity, weight, and diabetes, I anticipate you will share my observation that the current action in health promotion is less about dieting, exercise prescriptions, and chronic condition management and more about the right mix of head, heart, and feet. That is, we are testing the interaction effects of education and attitudes against culture and environment and assessing how the interacting effects of these variables influence motivation and action. This special journal issue shows how great results are occurring in health promotion every day via education and culture change, and it will also bolster your courage to carry on with morality and heart.
Trajectory control of aggressive maneuver by agile autonomous helicopter
Authors: Geranmehr Behdad , Khanmirza Esmaeel , Kazemi Shahab
Published: February 2018

In this paper, a new state-dependent coefficient parameterization of an agile helicopter dynamics is derived to deal effectively with the optimal trajectory control of aggressive maneuver such as the infinity maneuver with agility. The angular velocity of the main rotor and engine throttle as state and input, respectively, are involved in the dynamic model to improve the maneuvering capability of helicopter. Since the presented six degrees-of-freedom helicopter model is highly nonlinear and nonaffine, particularly nonlinear in actuator, the state-dependent Riccati equation is implemented in the presence of saturation bounds for actuators to achieve precision trajectory control and conquer the challenge of aggressive maneuver tracking control. In addition, new helicopter dynamic representation results in the conventional state-dependent Riccati equation to be applied without prevalent simplifications within dynamic and actuators and also certain augmentations on controllers such as trim or feedforward compensators. Indeed, the proposed controller structure is verified by simulations for both regulation and trajectory tracking problem.
Exploring Becoming, Doing, and Relating within the information professions
Authors: Campbell-Meier Jennifer , Hussey Lisa
Published: February 2018

Professional identity in Library and Information Sciences (LIS) in the United States and Canada is often defined by education, particularly the Masters in Library and Information Science(s) or its equivalent (MLIS). However, education is not the only attribute expected of an information professional. Anteby et al. (2016) developed three lenses for examining professions: Becoming, Doing and Relating. Each of these lenses provides a different view of how professional status is achieved and maintained and reflects the evolution of professional identification over the past century. Given the lack of any recognized definition within LIS, applying the lenses to “information professions” in general provides a framework to discuss professional identity. In order to understand how the LIS community defines information professional an exploratory survey was developed for information professions in the United States and Canada that included an open-ended question about professional identity. The survey was taken by more than 700 information professionals 2014–2015, and includes responses from MLIS students, information professionals with and without an MLIS (or an equivalent degree), LIS educators, retired professionals, and professionals with an MLIS working outside the field, but still active within the community. The responses uncovered a wide range of definitions, which reflected the concepts of lenses of professional status as presented by Anteby et al. However, not all of the definitions were easily assigned to a single lens. The findings do identify other important questions to consider. Why is there such a range of how we define LIS professional? What does this mean about how we interact with society in our professional roles? What impact might this have on how we are viewed by the larger society?
Characteristics of systemic lupus erythematosus in a sample of the Egyptian population: a retrospective cohort of 1109 patients from a single center
Authors: El Hadidi K T , Medhat B M , Abdel Baki N M , Abdel Kafy H , Abdelrahaman W , Yousri A Y , Attia D H , Eissa M , El Dessouki D , Elgazzar I , Elgengehy F T , El Ghobashy N , El Hadary H , El Mardenly G , El Naggar H , El Nahas A M , El Refai R M , El Rwiny H Allah , Elsman R M , Galal M , Ghoniem S , Maged L A , Sally S M , Naji H , Saad S , Shaaban M , Sharaf M , Sobhy N , Soliman R M , El Hadidi T S
Published: February 2018

Introduction

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease that can vary among different ethnic and racial groups.

Objective

The objective of this paper is to study the prevalence of various manifestations of SLE in a sample of the Egyptian population.

Patients and methods

Information in this study was derived from the medical records of SLE patients who sought medical advice at a private clinic in Cairo from January 1980 to June 2016.

Results

This study included 1109 SLE patients, of whom 114 (10.3%) were males and 995 were females (89.7%). Mean age of onset was 25.89 ± 10.81 years, while the median of disease duration from the onset of the disease till the last recorded visit was 26 months. The most common cumulative manifestations were arthritis (76.7%), malar rash (48.5%), leukopenia (45.7%), and photosensitivity (45.6%). A total of 33.1% of the patients had nephritis, and neuropsychiatric lupus was present in 6.4% of the patients. Secondary antiphospholipid syndrome was present in 11.5% of the patients. Antinuclear antibody and anti-double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid were present in 1060/1094 (96.9%) and 842/1062 (79.3%) of the patients, respectively. Antiphospholipid antibodies were present in 266/636 (41.8%) of the patients, anti-Smith in 54/240 (22.5%), anti-SSA/Ro in 61/229 (20.4%), and anti-SSB/La in 32/277 (11.6%) of the patients. Male patients had a statistically higher prevalence of nephritis ( p = 0.01), whereas arthritis and alopecia were statistically higher in females ( p = 0.012 and p = 0.006, respectively). Patients with juvenile onset had a statistically higher prevalence of nephritis and seizures ( p < 0.001 and p = 0.012, respectively).

Conclusions

Arthritis and malar rash represented the most common clinical manifestations. Male and juvenile-onset patients had a predilection toward a more severe disease. These results are in agreement with many studies conducted in the Middle East and worldwide. On the other hand, major organ involvement was exceptionally low, which is contradictory to several reports from the Middle East and across the globe.
Passion Inspires: Motivations of Creative Entrepreneurs in Creative Business Centres in the Netherlands
Authors: Bhansing Pawan V. , Hitters Erik , Wijngaarden Yosha
Published: February 2018

This study focused on the context in which entrepreneurship in the cultural and creative industries (CCI) takes place. We investigated entrepreneurs’ inspiration, which refers to a specific type of motivation that allows the transformation of creative ideas into creative products. To explain this, we operationalised ‘passion for work’, which measures how passionately engaged entrepreneurs are with their work, as well as ‘localised passion’, which measures the passion others in one’s proximity have for their work. Ten locations throughout the Netherlands composed of creative entrepreneurs made up the setting of this study. Our results show that localised passion has two components (passion atmosphere and passion in others), which have a positive effect on inspiration. Moreover, there is a mediating role of passion for work in this relationship.
Examining Entrepreneurial Intention in Higher Education: An Exploratory Study of College Students in India
Authors: Pandit Deepak , Joshi Maheshkumar P. , Tiwari Shalini Rahul
Published: February 2018

The field of entrepreneurship is gaining acceptability among the youth of India. While the initiation, funding and success and failure of a start-up have been studied extensively, the entrepreneurial ecosystem that support, nurture and prepare entrepreneurs requires further examination. One such component of this ecosystem is the institutes of higher education that play a crucial role in preparing the future entrepreneurs of India. Though there seems to be a need for education programmes specifically designed to expand students’ skills in entrepreneurship, there is limited research on the entrepreneurial intention (EI) of students in India. In this article, we discuss the impact of implicit and explicit ways through which the entrepreneurship education in the institutes of higher education can influence EI among students in India. On the basis of the extant literature, the focus of this article is anchored in the four different aspects of EI among students: (a) Ability to have a grand vision (GVS); (b) Intentions to exploit opportunities (OEX); (c) Perseverance and operational focus (POF) and (d) Willingness to take risk (RST). In general, it is observed that the presence of EI is greater among students pursuing major in studies on entrepreneurship, whereas business students are mostly trained towards exploring the risk-taking component of EI.
US Equity Crowdfunding: A Review of Current Legislation and A Conceptual Model of the Implications for Equity Funding
Authors: de la Viña Lynda Y. , Black Stephanie Lee
Published: February 2018

Recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) guidelines provide a regulatory framework for Title II of the Jumpstart Our Business Start-ups (JOBS) Act of 2012, that legalised interstate equity crowdfunding (ECF) in the USA. Concurrently, 18 states have passed legislation or regulations to allow intrastate ECF. Yet, the literature has not fully addressed what this nascent funding mechanism will offer to investors and those seeking funding for entrepreneurial projects in the USA. This article reviews current US legislation and the federal and state laws as they pertain to ECF. It also discusses the anticipated implications of ECF, provides a conceptual model that demonstrates how crowdfunding can change the traditional equity-financing continuum and discusses externalities that may emanate from implementation of this relatively new means of raising capital.
Book Review: Heather Douglas and Suzanne Grant (Eds), Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprise: Concepts in Context
Authors: Ensign Prescott C.
Published: February 2018

Heather Douglas and Suzanne Grant (Eds), Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprise: Concepts in Context, Melbourne, Australia: Tilde University Press, 2014, 394 pp.
Book Review: Chris (Kaspar) de Ploeg, Ukraine in the Crossfire
Authors: Raghavan P.S.
Published: February 2018

Chris (Kaspar) de Ploeg, Ukraine in the Crossfire. Atlanta, GA: Clarity Press, Inc., 2017, pp. 269, US $23.95, ISBN: 978-0997287080, paperback.
Book Review: Lukin, Alexander, Pivot to Asia: Russia’s Foreign Policy Enters the 21st Century
Authors: Joshi Nirmala
Published: February 2018

Lukin, Alexander, Pivot to Asia: Russia’s Foreign Policy Enters the 21st Century. New Delhi: Vij Books India Pvt ltd, 2017, pp. 430, ₹1495.
The association between abnormal vital sign groups and undesirable patient outcomes
Authors: Lee Marina , Taylor David McD , Ugoni Antony
Published: February 2018

Introduction:

To determine the association between both abnormal individual vital signs and abnormal vital sign groups in the emergency department, and undesirable patient outcomes: hospital admission, medical emergency team calls and death.

Method:

We undertook a prospective cohort study in a tertiary referral emergency department (February–May 2015). Vital signs were collected prospectively in the emergency department and undesirable outcomes from the medical records. The primary outcomes were undesirable outcomes for individual vital signs (multivariate logistic regression) and vital sign groups (univariate analyses).

Results:

Data from 1438 patients were analysed. Admission was associated with tachycardia, tachypnoea, fever, ≥1 abnormal vital sign on admission to the emergency department, ≥1 abnormal vital sign at any time in the emergency department, a persistently abnormal vital sign, and vital signs consistent with both sepsis (tachycardia/hypotension/abnormal temperature) and pneumonia (tachypnoea/fever) (p < 0.05). Medical emergency team calls were associated with tachycardia, tachypnoea, ≥1 abnormal vital sign on admission (odds ratio: 2.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.4–3.8), ≥2 abnormal vital signs at any time (odds ratio: 2.4, 95% confidence interval: 1.2–4.7), and a persistently abnormal vital sign (odds ratio: 2.7, 95% confidence interval: 1.6–4.6). Death was associated with Glasgow Coma Score ≤13 (odds ratio: 6.3, 95% confidence interval: 2.5–16.0), ≥1 abnormal vital sign on admission (odds ratio: 2.6, 95% confidence interval: 1.2–5.6), ≥2 abnormal vital signs at any time (odds ratio: 6.4, 95% confidence interval: 1.4–29.5), a persistently abnormal vital sign (odds ratio: 4.3, 95% confidence interval: 2.0–9.0), and vital signs consistent with pneumonia (odds ratio: 5.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.9–14.8).

Conclusion:

Abnormal vital sign groups are generally superior to individual vital signs in predicting undesirable outcomes. They could inform best practice management, emergency department disposition, and communication with the patient and family.
Evaluation of serum neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin as a novel biomarker of cardiorenal syndrome in dogs
Authors: Jung Han-Byeol , Kang Min-Hee , Park Hee-Myung
Published: February 2018

Worsening renal function and azotemia in patients with heart failure (HF) are strongly associated with disease severity and poor prognosis. Increasing interest in this correlation led to the description and classification of cardiorenal syndrome (CRS). We evaluated the role of neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin (NGAL) in the early detection of CRS in dogs with HF. Ten healthy dogs and 31 dogs admitted with HF were included in our study. NGAL and troponin-I were measured on samples collected on the day of admission; creatinine was measured on admission and again on day 7. The CRS group was defined as subsequently developing renal azotemia. Of 31 dogs with HF, 20 were included in the HF group, and 11 were included in the CRS group. The admission NGAL concentrations of the CRS group were significantly higher than those of other groups ( p < 0.001). The severity of HF evaluation based on the modified New York Heart Association classification showed significant correlation with NGAL ( p < 0.001) and troponin-I ( p = 0.009) concentration. However, only serum NGAL concentration at admission was significantly associated with the development of CRS in dogs with HF ( p = 0.021). The admission serum NGAL ≥ 16.0 ng/mL (optimal cutoff value) had a sensitivity of 90.9% and specificity of 90.0% in predicting the development of CRS.
Multiple Blockholder Structures and Family Firm Performance
Authors: Fattoum-Guedri Asma , Guedri Zied , Delmar Frédéric
Published: February 2018

This study examines how multiple blockholder structures affect family firm performance. Building on arguments from both principal–principal agency and familiness perspectives, we suggest that asymmetrical distribution of voting power among family and nonfamily blockholders hurts firm performance. Further, we suggest that the larger the number of blockholder types, the stronger the negative effect of voting-power asymmetry among family and nonfamily blockholders on firm performance. We provide empirical support for our hypotheses using a longitudinal sample of 413 French family firms over the 1992–2012 period.
Commentary: Blockholder Structures and Power Mechanisms in Family Firms
Authors: Cacciotti Gabriella , Ucbasaran Deniz
Published: February 2018

We extend the work of Fattoum-Guedri, Guedri, and Delmar (2018) by suggesting that the number of family blockholders moderates the relationship between the distribution of voting power between family and nonfamily blockholders and firm performance. Building on power and negotiation theories, we argue that the participation of multiple generations of family members in the firm’s ownership leads to greater diversity of perspectives that generates potential conflict over the distribution of resources. We highlight four power mechanisms—potential power, perceived power, power games, and realized power—to explain why family blockholders’ conflicting and/or misaligned preferences, objectives, and visions for the family firm might influence the nature of the negotiation between the family and the nonfamily blockholder and impact family firm performance. We offer directions for future research.
Commentary: Family Member Well-Being in the Kinship Enterprise: A Self-Determination Perspective
Authors: Cooper Danielle , Peake Whitney O.
Published: February 2018

Nordstrom and Jennings (2017) provide an in-depth view of the Hutterite Brethren community to theorize family business practices and their association with familial well-being. Drawing from self-determination theory, we extend their model to provide additional theoretical development regarding the role of task and enterprise practices in satisfying basic needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness), promoting motivation, and fostering family member well-being. Although the Hutterite community’s practices likely facilitate high levels of competence and relatedness, there is potential for autonomy need deficits. As such, we address areas for future research regarding need fulfillment and well-being in family businesses.
Variable-stiffness decoupling of redundant planar rotational parallel mechanisms with crossed legs
Authors: Kangkang Li , Hongzhou Jiang , Jingfeng He , Hui Zhang
Published: February 2018

For redundant planar rotational parallel mechanisms (RPRPM), stiffness consists of active stiffness resulting from internal forces and passive stiffness caused by compliances of flexible elements, and the active stiffness is coupled with the passive stiffness. The stiffness variations with stretching internal force and compressing internal force of flexible elements are analyzed. By combining the leg-crossed RPRPM and leg-uncrossed RPRPM of different leg arrangements, the active stiffness is decoupled from the passive stiffness. The stiffness is modulated by changing the internal force and hence the spring stretching length independently to avoid being influenced by the passive stiffness. The stiffness variation multiple with given spring stretching length is maximized by decoupling the active stiffness from the passive stiffness. The variation of natural frequency of RPRPM is maximized by maximizing the stiffness variation, and the RPRPM can employ vibration of resonance to improve the working performance in a large range of driving frequency.
Clinicopathological features and comorbidities of cats with mild, moderate or severe hyperthyroidism: a radioiodine referral population
Authors: Watson Natalie , Murray Jane K , Fonfara Sonja , Hibbert Angie
Published: February 2018

Objectives

This study sought to explore the clinicopathological features and comorbidities of cats with mild, moderate and severe hyperthyroidism in a radioiodine referral population.

Methods

Medical records were reviewed, along with results of serum biochemistry, urinalysis, systolic blood pressure and diagnostic imaging performed at the time of radioiodine referral. Cats were grouped by total thyroxine (TT4) levels as mildly (TT4 60.1–124.9 nmol/l), moderately (TT4 125–250 nmol/l) or severely (TT4 >250 nmol/l) hyperthyroid at the time of diagnosis and referral.

Results

Thirty percent (42/140) of the cats were <10 years old at diagnosis. In 24.3% (34/140), hyperthyroidism was diagnosed incidentally. The time between diagnosis and referral for radioiodine was significantly longer in cats with severe hyperthyroidism at the time of referral ( P = 0.004). An increase in severity group between the time of diagnosis and referral occurred in 38.6% (54/140) of cats. At referral, 54.3% (25/46) of cats with mild, 66.7% (42/63) with moderate and 80.6% (25/31) with severe hyperthyroidism were unstable despite ongoing medical or dietary management. The prevalence of cardiac abnormalities was significantly increased in cats with severe hyperthyroidism ( P = 0.014) compared with those with mild or moderate hyperthyroidism. There was no significant difference in the likelihood of renal disease ( P = 0.708) or hypertension ( P = 0.328) between the groups.

Conclusions and relevance

Incidental diagnosis of hyperthyroidism occurs commonly, potentially owing to increased disease screening. Cats with severe hyperthyroidism at referral were more likely to be chronically hyperthyroid with a history of poor stabilisation. This subset of patients was significantly more likely to have cardiac abnormalities. Thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy may ultimately affect patient suitability for curative treatments (radioiodine or thyroidectomy) owing to higher anaesthetic risks and potential for decompensation into congestive heart failure with the stress of travel and hospitalisation. Curative therapy should be considered before the development of severe hyperthyroidism.