bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy Cytology of Argyrophilic Carcinoma (Carcinoid Tumor) of the Breast
Authors: Morgan Michael B. , Nicosia Santo V. , Shabaik Ahmed , Mela Nancy , Cox Charles
Published: September 2018

Argyrophilic carcinoma of the breast, previously referred to as carcinoid tumor, is a rare form of ductal carcinoma that can be diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy. This tumor is characterized by widespread cytoplasmic granules with affinity for reduced silver stains or argyrophilia. The tumor tends to occur in older women and behaves in a fashion similar to classic ductal carcinoma. The argyrophilia may reflect stored neurosecretory granules or, less frequently, mucinous or lactational changes. Carcinoid or other neuroendocrine syndromes are not observed.
Predictive Factors for Functional Outcomes After Intravenous Thrombolytic Therapy in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Çetiner Mustafa , Aydin Hasan Emre , Güler Merve , Canbaz Kabay Sibel , Zorlu Yaşar
Published: September 2018

The objective of our study is to detect the patient group that will most benefit from intravenous (IV) thrombolytic therapy by showing predictive factors of good functional outcomes. The present study covers 88 patients who were admitted to our clinic within the first 4.5 hours from the onset of stroke symptoms, diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke and who received IV thrombolytic therapy between May 2014 and June 2017 as a result of a retrospective analysis of a database prospectively collected. The patients with a score of ≤2 on modified Rankin scale within 3 months were accepted as good functional outcome and those with a score of >2 were accepted as poor functional outcome. As a result, within the period of 3 months posttreatment, good functional outcomes were obtained in 45 (51.1%) patients and poor functional outcomes were obtained in 43 (48.9%) patients. In comparisons, cardioembolic stroke group was statistically significantly higher in the good functional outcome group ( P = .03). Pretreatment National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores ( P < .001), presence of proximal hyperintense middle cerebral artery sign in noncontrast computed brain tomography ( P = .03), and being aged ≥80 and older ( P = .04) were markedly higher in the group with poor functional outcomes. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that cardioembolic strokes may have an impact on good functional outcomes and being aged 80 and older, presence of proximal HMCAS in computed brain tomography, and pretreatment NIHSS scores may have an impact on poor functional outcomes.
Time in the Therapeutic Range for Assessing Anticoagulation Quality in Patients Receiving Continuous Unfractionated Heparin
Authors: Ting Clara , Sylvester Katelyn W. , Schurr James W.
Published: September 2018

Due to variable pharmacokinetic properties, therapeutic anticoagulation with continuous unfractionated heparin (UFH) requires ongoing laboratory monitoring, generally with activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). In the ambulatory setting, clinicians who manage warfarin therapy often use time in the therapeutic range (TTR) to estimate a percentage of time the international normalized ratio is therapeutic. We applied the TTR concept to aPTT monitoring for therapeutic UFH and used 2 methodologies for estimation: percentage of aPTT values in range (%aIR) and a modification of the Rosendaal method (mod-Rosendaal). This study included adult inpatients admitted between September 30, 2015, and September 30, 2016, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. For each patient, all available aPTT values were extracted to calculate 2 individual TTRs according to each methodology. Comparison between methods was performed using Student t test, and correlation was assessed with simple linear regression. A total of 255 patients were included in this study. The major outcome of TTR estimation was significantly higher using mod-Rosendaal (43.7% [26.5%]) versus %aIR (37.7% [25.7%], P = .012) by a mean difference of 6% points (95% confidence interval: 1.3-10.7). Time in the therapeutic range estimated by mod-Rosendaal significantly correlated with those estimated by %aIR ( r = 0.84, P < .001). Further studies should evaluate the correlation between TTR and clinical outcomes and establish a benchmark for quality therapeutic anticoagulation with continuous UFH.
Health-Related Quality of Life and Work Productivity of Adults With ADHD: A U.K. Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Joseph Alain , Kosmas Charlotte E. , Patel Chloe , Doll Helen , Asherson Philip
Published: September 2018

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adult ADHD. Method: U.K. residents aged 18 to 55 years with ADHD and no major mental health comorbidities completed an online survey of disorder history, the EuroQoL 5-Dimensions 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L), and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: General Health (WPAI:GH). ADHD Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS-IV) score was assessed by telephone. Results: In total, 233 participants completed the study (mean age 32.6 years; 65.2% women). Mean ( SD) ADHD-RS-IV total score, EQ-5D utility, and visual analog scale (VAS) scores were 43.5 (7.88), 0.74 (.21), and 69.8 (17.76), respectively. Mean ( SD) WPAI:GH scores indicated that health problems caused 45.7% (29.9) overall work impairment and 45.8% (28.9) impairment in regular daily activities. Greater work and activity impairment were both significantly independently associated with lower utility after adjusting for age, gender, and somatic comorbidities. Conclusion: Adult ADHD impairs HRQoL, work productivity, and regular daily activities.
Guardians of the Living Water: Using a Health Literacy Framework to Evaluate a Child as Change Agent Intervention
Authors: Simonds Vanessa W. , Kim Frances L. , LaVeaux Deborah , Pickett Velma , Milakovich Jessica , Cummins Jason
Published: September 2018

Background. American Indian communities in the United States experience considerable health inequities, including increased exposure to environmental contaminants. Consequently, community members of the Apsáalooke (Crow) Nation identified the lack of water-related environmental knowledge among children as an area of concern. Aim. The purpose of this study was to provide a feasibility evaluation of an increasingly sophisticated environmental health literacy program for children. Method. A community–academic partnership developed and piloted the Guardians of the Living Water program to increase environmental health literacy among children and their families on the Crow reservation. Nutbeam’s framework for health literacy, a schema based on functional, interactive, and critical literacy, shaped the program evaluation. We used a within-subjects, quasi-experimental design without a control group. Interviews with children and parents were used to assess the feasibility of the program, while pre-/posttests assessed changes in knowledge, skills, and behavior. Results. Compared with preintervention responses, those from postintervention indicated significant increases for selected knowledge and attitude components. Based on qualitative interviews with children and caregivers, the camp was a valuable experience and increased knowledge of water quality science and reinforced cultural knowledge. Discussion. This success of our program stems from the trust initially built between partners and then expanded throughout the community. The program and the evaluation benefited from both the health literacy framework and from our integration of Apsáalooke values. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that a community-based intervention designed to increase environmental health literacy among youth and their social networks is feasible and acceptable to this American Indian community.
Comparison between methadone and buprenorphine within the QUAD protocol for perioperative analgesia in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy
Authors: Shah Meera , Yates David , Hunt James , Murrell Jo
Published: September 2018

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic efficacy of methadone vs buprenorphine within the QUAD protocol for anaesthesia in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

Methods

One hundred and twenty cats were recruited to an assessor-blinded, randomised clinical trial. Cats received either methadone (5  mg/m2) or buprenorphine (180 µg/m2) combined with ketamine, midazolam and medetomidine intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. Atipamezole was administered at extubation. Pain was assessed using the feline Composite Measure Pain Scale (CMPS-F), a dynamic interactive visual analogue scale (DIVAS) and mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT). Sedation, pain, heart rate and respiratory rate were measured prior to QUAD administration, before intubation, and 2, 4, 6 and 8 h post-QUAD administration. If indicated by the CMPS-F, rescue analgesia was provided with 0.5 mg/kg of methadone administered intramuscularly. Meloxicam was administered after the last assessment. Differences in pain scores between groups were compared using a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA and requirement for rescue analgesia was compared using a χ2 test.

Results

Cats administered methadone had lower CMPS-F scores over time ( P = 0.04). Eighteen of 60 cats required rescue analgesia in the methadone group vs 29/60 in the buprenorphine group ( P = 0.028). All cats that received rescue analgesia required it within 6 h post-QUAD administration. There were no differences between groups in MNT or pain measured using the DIVAS.

Conclusions and relevance

Methadone produced clinically superior postoperative analgesia for the first 8 h after neutering than buprenorphine when used within the QUAD protocol.
Flame-retardant agent and fire-retardant fabrics reinforced the polyurethane foam: Combustion resistance and mechanical properties
Authors: Chuang Yu-Chun , Bao Limin , Lou Ching-Wen , Lin Jia-Horng
Published: September 2018

In this study, three differently composed polyurethane (PU) composites are developed and then compared with the pure PU foam in terms of combustion resistance and mechanical properties using the compression test, the drop-weight impact test, the horizontal burning test, and the sound absorption test. Flame-retardant fabric (FRF)-PU is composed of PU foam that is enclosed with two cover sheets of FRFs. FR-PU10 is composed of PU foam that contains 10 wt% of flame-retardant agents. FRF-PU10 is composed of PU foam containing 10 wt% of flame-retardant agents and enclosed by two covers sheets of FRFs. Based on the test results, both FR-PU10 and FRF-PU10 are structurally stabilized and have good combustion resistance. The sample using FRFs as cover sheet had the same combustion resistance property and better compression resistance as the sample using flame-retardant agent. The carbonized layer extinguishes the alighted samples and stops the fire spread right after they are out of the source of fire, suggesting the FRF-PU10 is flame retardant. In addition, FRF-PU10 is easier to process and healthier because of the low use of flame retardants. Therefore, in this study, we proposed PU foam composites have good mechanical and flame-retardant properties and are a suitable candidate for productions of vehicles, plants, construction, and staple merchandises.
Tribological properties of polyol-ester-based lubricants and their influence on oxidation stability
Authors: Li Weimin , Jiang Cheng , Xu Nan , Ma Rui , Wang Xiaobo
Published: September 2018

Unlike oxidative degradation of lubricants, tribology-induced degradation is rarely studied. In this work, the tribological performance and oxidative stability of ester-based lubricants were evaluated before and after tribological testing. Results showed that the tribological performances of base oils are highly dependent on the lubricant formulation and test conditions. Tribological processes could cause detrimental effects on oxidative stability even under moderate conditions. The addition of antiwear additives seems to effectively inhibit the chemically breakdown of esters by forming a protective film. Mechanical shearing, high temperature in contact zones, catalytic effect of nascent surface, wear debris, as well as self- catalysis are the major reasons that are responsible for the oxidative deterioration of the lubricant after tribological testing.
Impact of mild traumatic brain injury understanding on intended help-seeking behaviour
Authors: Feary Natalie , McKinlay Audrey
Published: September 2018

Children do not always receive adequate medical attention following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), despite the necessity of this treatment. Adult mTBI knowledge may be one factor that affects if a child receives medical attention, but little is known about association between mTBI knowledge and help-seeking behaviour. Participants were 212 females and 58 males, including 84 parents, with a mean age of 35.57 years (standard deviation = 10.96). A questionnaire evaluated participants’ understanding of mTBI and vignettes to evaluate behavioural intentions regarding help-seeking behaviour after an mTBI. Only 40.0% of participants were able to recall an adequate number of mTBI symptoms (5+). Surprisingly, mTBI history was not associated with better mTBI knowledge, t(df, 268) = 1.29, p = .20. Similarly, knowing a close friend or family member with mTBI was not associated with higher mTBI knowledge, t(df = 268) = .81, p = .4. Further, neither mTBI symptom knowledge nor vignette child age (young = 5 years, older = 15 years) significantly predicted participants’ cited intentions to perform help-seeking behaviour. Consistent with the existing research, the current study demonstrates a continued lack of mTBI knowledge in the general population. However, this may not be a factor that influences an adult’s decision to take a child to hospital following mTBI. Future research should investigate the association between help-seeking intentions and actual behaviour in relation to paediatric mTBI.
Initiatives to achieve energy efficiency for residential buildings in India: A review
Authors: Garg Neeti , Kumar Ashwani , Pipralia Satish , Garg Praveen
Published: September 2018

In view of the climate change threat, India has recently committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 35% by 2030 relative to 2005 levels. Energy efficiency in buildings offers the greatest potential for saving energy at the lowest cost. This paper reviews current energy consumption trends in the residential building sector of India and traces various initiatives by the government to reduce dependence on fossil fuels in terms of regulatory framework, green building rating systems, fiscal incentives and institutional mechanisms affecting energy demand management. Further, the paper provides an overview of various barriers and challenges in implementing energy efficiency programmes in housing along with suggestions to strengthen the institutional framework and create awareness to accelerate energy efficiency programmes for reducing CO2 emissions.
Glitch architecture
Authors: Schnabel Marc Aurel , Haslop Blaire
Published: September 2018

Architectural designs are visualised on computer screens through arrays of pixels and vectors. These representations differ from the reality of buildings, which over time will unavoidably age and decay. How, then, do digital designs age over time? Do we interpret glitching as a sudden malfunction or fault in the computation of the design’s underlying data, or as digital decay resulting not from the wear and tear of tangible materials but from the decomposition of the binary code, or from system changes that cannot appropriately interpret the data? By exploring a series of experimental design practices for deployments and understandings that are the consequence of malfunctions during computational processing, glitches are reinterpreted. Advancing from two-dimensional glitch art techniques into three-dimensional interpretations, the research employs a methodology of systematic iterative processes to explore design emergence based on glitches. The study presents digital architectural form existing solely in the digital realm, as an architectural interpretation of computational glitches through both its design process and aesthetic outcome. Thus, this research intends to bring a level of authenticity to the field through three-dimensional interpretations of glitch in an architectural form.
Revisiting Romer: Digging Deeper Into Influences on NFL Managerial Decisions
Authors: Goff Brian , Locke Stephen L.
Published: September 2018

Using Romer’s framework as the starting point, we examine the decisions by National Football League (NFL) coaches to “go for it” on fourth down with an expanded sample drawn from 12 years (2002-2013) of NFL play-by-play data. Our expanded results generally confirm Romer’s finding of divergence from expected point maximization or win maximization. However, unlike Romer, by estimating forecast errors for points and wins and related risk premia along with logistic regression estimates of the influences on fourth down decisions, we find strong indications that risk aversion rather than incorrect information processing likely accounts for a substantial part of the divergence.
Response surface methodology optimization of electrospinning process parameters to fabricate aligned polyvinyl butyral nanofibers for interlaminar toughening of phenolic-based composite laminates
Authors: Kheirkhah Barzoki Parvaneh , Latifi Masoud , Rezadoust Amir Masoud
Published: September 2018

In this study and for the first time, aligned nanofibers were produced from low molecular weight polyvinyl butyral. Using response surface methodology, the preparation condition of aligned nanofiber was optimized in terms of nanofiber diameter and its structural stability. Central composite design as a response surface methodology was employed and the effects of process variables and their influence on nanofiber diameter were investigated. Based on a statistical analysis, the use of a model, which was used to determine the nanofiber diameter, proved to be successful because of its low probability value (0.0073) and high correlation coefficient (0.9619). A high-speed cylinder collector was used to fabricate aligned polyvinyl butyral nanofibers. The optimum conditions of 17.5 kV voltage, 10 cm collector distance, 13% solution concentration, and 2100 r/min rotational speed were obtained from experiments. The least diameter of 158.6 nm along with a stable structure was determined for polyvinyl butyral nanofiber prepared under the optimum conditions. An aligned polyvinyl butyral nanoweb was applied on the mid-layer of glass-phenolic laminated composites as an interlaminar reinforcement. The fracture behavior of the laminates was determined by end-notched flexure tests. Excellent toughening property which was observed for the aligned polyvinyl butyral nanofibers caused the mode-II fracture toughness and its maximum force to increase by 25.2 and 40.8%, respectively.
A Virtual Reality–Based Psychological Treatment in Long-Term Hospitalization: A Case Study
Authors: Gómez Inmaculada , Flujas-Contreras Juan M. , Ruiz-Castañeda Dyanne , Castilla Diana
Published: September 2018

The aim of this article is to provide preliminary efficacy of a psychological intervention for children and young patients to help them to improve resilience, coping strategies for pain, anxiety, and general emotional discomfort in long-term hospitalization using a virtual reality videogame and telepsychology. A case study illustration in an adolescent was 15-year-old Spanish boy hospitalized in the pediatric ward and prescribed dialysis is presented to provide some clinical evidence of the treatment’s strategic feasibility and efficacy for this population. Patient was pre, post, and follow-up assessed anxiety, affective, resilience, and avoidance. Space Academy is a virtual reality–based treatment with positive psychology and third-wave therapy components that consist in understanding the basic aspects of their disease, to promote emotional perception and regulation and promote and develop resilience. Results show good acceptability and feasibility, improved state and trait anxiety, resilience, and emotional competence in controlling behavior. The case illustration shows improvements in anxiety resilience and acceptance. The use of information and communication technologies in psychology is an advance in clinical and health care psychology.
Acute Ketamine Infusion in Rat Does Not Affect In Vivo [11C]ABP688 Binding to Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Subtype 5
Authors: Kosten Lauren , Verhaeghe Jeroen , wyffels Leonie , Stroobants Sigrid , Staelens Steven
Published: September 2018

Detecting changes in metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) availability through molecular imaging with the positron emission tomography (PET) tracer [11C]ABP688 is valuable for studying dysfunctional glutamate transmission associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. Using an infusion protocol in rats, we visualized the acute effect of subanesthetic doses of ketamine on mGluR5 in rat brain. Ketamine is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist known to increase glutamate release. Imaging was performed with a high-affinity PET ligand [11C]ABP688, a negative allosteric modulator of mGluR5. Binding did not change significantly from baseline to ketamine in any region, thereby confirming previous literature with other NMDA receptor antagonists in rodents. Hence, in rats, we could not reproduce the findings in a human setup showing significant decreases in the [11C]ABP688 binding after a ketamine bolus followed by ketamine infusion. Species differences may have contributed to the different findings in the present study of rats. In conclusion, we could not confirm in rats that endogenous glutamate increases by ketamine infusion are reflected in [11C]ABP688 binding decreases as was previously shown for humans.
The Binding of BF-227-Like Benzoxazoles to Human α-Synuclein and Amyloid β Peptide Fibrils
Authors: Josephson Lee , Stratman Nancy , Liu YuTing , Qian Fang , Liang Steven H. , Vasdev Neil , Patel Shil
Published: September 2018

Development of an α-synuclein (α-Syn) positron emission tomography agent for the diagnosis and evaluation of Parkinson disease therapy is a key goal of neurodegenerative disease research. BF-227 has been described as an α-Syn binder and hence was employed as a lead to generate a library of α-Syn-binding compounds. [3H]BF-227 bound to α-Syn and amyloid β peptide (Aβ) fibrils with affinities (KD) of 46.0 nM and 15.7 nM, respectively. Affinities of BF-227-like compounds (expressed as Ki) for α-Syn and Aβ fibrils were determined, along with 5 reference compounds (flutafuranol, flutemetamol, florbetapir, BF-227, and PiB). Selectivity for α-Syn binding, defined as the Ki(Aβ)/Ki(α-Syn) ratio, was 0.23 for BF-227. A similar or lower ratio was measured for analogues decorated with alkyl or oxyethylene chains attached to the oxygen at the 6 position of BF-227, suggesting a lack of involvement of the side chain in fibril binding. BF-227-like iodobenzoxazoles had lower affinities and poor α-Syn selectivity. However, BF-227-like fluorobenzoxazoles had improved α-Syn selectively having Ki(Aβ)/Ki(α-Syn) ranging from 2.2 to 5.1 with appreciable fibril affinity, although not sufficient to warrant further investigation. Compounds based on fluorobenzoxazoles might offer an approach to obtaining an α-Syn imaging agent with an appropriate affinity and selectivity.
Nonmonotonic Dose–Response Curves Occur in Dose Ranges That Are Relevant to Regulatory Decision-Making
Authors: Hill Corinne E. , Myers J. P. , Vandenberg Laura N.
Published: September 2018

Non-monotonic dose response curves (NMDRCs) occur in cells, tissues, animals and human populations in response to nutrients, vitamins, pharmacological compounds, hormones and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Yet, regulatory agencies have argued that NMDRCs are not common, are not found for adverse outcomes, and are not relevant for regulation of EDCs. Under the linear dose response model, high dose testing is used to extrapolate to lower doses that are anticipated to be ‘safe’ for human exposures. NMDRCs that occur below the toxicological no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) would falsify a fundamental assumption, that high dose hazards can be used to predict low dose safety. In this commentary, we provide examples of NMDRCs and discuss how their presence in different portions of the dose response curve might affect regulatory decisions. We provide evidence that NMDRCs do occur below the NOAEL dose, and even below the ‘safe’ reference dose, for chemicals such as resveratrol, permethrin, chlorothalonil, and phthalates such as DEHP. We also briefly discuss the recent CLARITY-BPA study, which reported mammary adenocarcinomas only in rats exposed to the lowest BPA dose. We conclude our commentary with suggestions for how NMDRCs should be acknowledged and utilized to improve regulatory toxicity testing and in the calculation of reference doses that are public health protective.
Countering the Norm, (Re)authoring Our Lives
Authors: Wagaman M. Alex , Obejero Rae Caballero , Gregory James S.
Published: September 2018

Counterstorytelling, a methodology that is rooted in critical race theory, is undergirded by principles that are beneficial to understanding the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer-identified (LGBTQ) young people from an intersectional perspective. Counterstorytelling holds promise as a method that creates opportunities for individual transformation and resistance to dominant narratives among young people facing systemic oppression. This article outlines the design and implementation of a counterstorytelling study with LGBTQ youth and reflects on the value and associated challenges of counterstorytelling as a participatory research method.
Introduction and investigation of magnetic location system for steam-assisted gravity drainage dual-horizontal heavy oil wells
Authors: Chen Yong , Yi Hao , He Chuan
Published: September 2018

Steam-assisted gravity drainage has been proven to be an effective oil recovery method, and the technology of magnetic location is the key to steam-assisted gravity drainage. In view of the rapid development of this technology in China, a new magnetic location system with intellectual property rights was developed in this article, including mechanical parts and circuit section of detection system. Specific structure, operating principle, and technical parameters of magnetic source generator and detection system were designed and analyzed. The ground test results show that the source generator is powered by an alternating current of 4–7 A, the detection system can probe the magnetic field signal 25 m away from the magnetic source generator, and the measurement error is less than 3% by comparison of measured with actual spacing distance. The steam-assisted gravity drainage dual-horizontal well group in Zhong 37 Well block in Fengcheng Oilfield is chosen for further experiment with the developed magnetic location technology. The results of field experiment show the trajectories of Wells I (injection well) and P (production well) are basically matched in the horizontal projection, and the measurement error is within the allowable range. The magnetic location system developed in this article can meet the operational requirement in steam-assisted gravity drainage dual-horizontal wells.
What the doctor doesn’t know: Discarded patient knowledge of older adults with multimorbidity
Authors: Joensson Alexandra B Ryborg , Guassora Ann Dorrit , Freil Morten , Reventlow Susanne
Published: September 2018

Objectives

Adherence to treatment has proven to require the involvement of patients in treatment and care planning. This process involves incorporating patient knowledge, or knowledge about the patients’ everyday life, into the clinical encounter. This article explores the disclosure practices of such knowledge from older adults with multimorbidity.

Methods

This was an 18-month qualitative study among 14 older adults with multimorbidity living in Denmark. A thematic analysis was applied, focusing on perceptions of patient knowledge and disclosure practices among the participating patients.

Results

Older adults with multimorbidity have various reasons for not disclosing personal knowledge. The results present three different domains of what we termed discarded patient knowledge: (1) knowledge that had no direct biomedical relevance from participants’ perspective; (2) knowledge considered too private; and (3) knowledge assumed to position one as inferior.

Discussion

The participants made judgments on what they believed was welcome in the clinical encounter, framing their knowledge within the purview of biomedicine. Participants’ disclosure practices showed that personal knowledge is sometimes not recognized as important for health and care by participants themselves. Knowledge that could have influenced practitioners’ understanding of the problem and provided different solutions, is argued to be discarded patient knowledge.
The Curious Neglect of High Functioning After Psychopathology: The Case of Depression
Authors: Rottenberg Jonathan , Devendorf Andrew R. , Kashdan Todd B. , Disabato David J.
Published: September 2018

We address a key issue at the intersection of emotion, psychopathology, and public health—the startling lack of attention to people who experience benign outcomes, and even flourish, after recovering from depression. A rereading of the epidemiological literature suggests that the orthodox view of depression as chronic, recurrent, and lifelong is overstated. A significant subset of people recover and thrive after depression, yet research on such individuals has been rare. To facilitate work on this topic, we present a generative research framework. This framework includes (a) a proposed definition of healthy end-state functioning that goes beyond a reduction in clinical symptoms, (b) recommendations for specific measures to assess high functioning, and (c) a road map for a research agenda aimed at discovering how and why people flourish after emotional disturbance. Given that depression remains the most burdensome health condition worldwide, focus on what makes these excellent outcomes possible has enormous significance for the public health.
The noise handling properties of the Talbot algorithm for numerically inverting the Laplace transform
Authors: Defreitas Colin L , Kane Steve J
Published: September 2018

This paper examines the noise handling properties of three of the most widely used algorithms for numerically inverting the Laplace transform. After examining the genesis of the algorithms, their error handling properties are evaluated through a series of standard test functions in which noise is added to the inverse transform. Comparisons are then made with the exact data. Our main finding is that the for “noisy data”, the Talbot inversion algorithm performs with greater accuracy when compared to the Fourier series and Stehfest numerical inversion schemes as they are outlined in this paper.
Spatial Data Are Key to Sustainability Standards Increasing and Demonstrating Their Impact
Authors: Tayleur C. , Phalan B. T.
Published: September 2018

Spatial data are increasingly ubiquitous and accessible. Understanding precisely where certified farms are located in relation to other variables can help uncover their potential to influence biodiversity, forest cover, and local livelihoods. Spatial mapping opens up many opportunities for sustainability standards organizations to test, understand, and demonstrate their impact. However, the potential of spatial data remains largely unrecognized and underdeveloped. For our recent analysis, we mapped certified farms for tropical commodity crops in unprecedented detail. We review ways in which spatial data are being used to enhance the positive impacts of certification on rural development and biodiversity conservation and suggest four steps by which standards organizations could build on this work to make the most of spatial data.
An Insight Into the Diet and Prey Preference of Tigers in Bardia National Park, Nepal
Authors: Upadhyaya Subodh K. , Musters C. J. M. , Lamichhane Babu Ram , de Snoo Geert R. , Thapa Panna , Dhakal Maheshwar , Karmacharya Dibesh , Shrestha Purna Man , de Iongh Hans H.
Published: September 2018

We studied the diet and prey preferences of tigers ( Panthera tigris tigris Linnaeus, 1758) in Bardia National Park, Nepal using DNA-based techniques from their scat samples. Remains of prey species in scats were identified through microscopic hair morphology analysis. Of 101 scats, DNA was extracted from 84 samples and 75 were assigned to tigers (34 males and 41 females). We found seven and six prey species in the diet of male tiger and female tiger, respectively. The diet of male and female tigers did not differ significantly, with chital ( Axis axis Erxleben, 1777) as the most abundant prey species. The Jacobs index suggested a preference of male tigers for sambar deer ( Cervus unicolor Kerr, 1792) and wild pig ( Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758) and of the female tigers for wild pig and chital. Bardia National Park has the highest density of tiger prey species (92.6 animals/km2) among the national parks of Nepal. Still, the density of larger prey species is relatively low. Increasing the density of larger prey like sambar and the reintroduction of larger prey species like gaur ( Bos gaurus Smith, 1827) can further enhance the tiger population in the park. Our study demonstrates that tigers mostly preyed on wild species, indicating a low level of tiger–livestock interaction. Hence, this park seems to be a prospective area for tiger conservation in a long run.
Clinical Decision-Making for Thrombolysis of Acute Minor Stroke Using Adaptive Conjoint Analysis
Authors: Liberman Ava L. , Pinto Daniel , Rostanski Sara K. , Labovitz Daniel L. , Naidech Andrew M. , Prabhakaran Shyam
Published: September 2018

Introduction:

There is practice variability in the treatment of patients with minor ischemic stroke with thrombolysis. We sought to determine which clinical factors physicians prioritize in thrombolysis decision-making for minor stroke using adaptive conjoint analysis.

Methods:

We conducted our conjoint analysis using the Potentially All Pairwise RanKings of all possible Alternatives methodology via the 1000Minds platform to design an online preference survey and circulated it to US physicians involved in stroke care. We evaluated 6 clinical attributes: language/speech deficits, motor deficits, other neurological deficits, history suggestive of increased risk of complication from thrombolysis, age, and premorbid disability. Survey participants were asked to choose between pairs of treatment scenarios with various clinical attributes; scenarios automatically adapted based on participants’ prior responses. Preference weights representing the relative importance of each attribute were compared using unadjusted paired t tests. Statistical significance was set at α = .05.

Results:

Fifty-four participants completed the survey; 61% were vascular neurologists and 93% worked in academic centers. All neurological deficits were ranked higher than age, premorbid status, or potential contraindications to thrombolysis. Differences between each successive mean preference weight were significant: motor (31.7%, standard deviation [SD]: 9.5), language/speech (24.1%, SD: 9.6), other neurological deficits (16.6%, SD: 6.4), premorbid status (12.9%, SD: 6.6), age (10.1%, SD: 6.3), and potential thrombolysis contraindication (4.7%, SD: 4.4).

Conclusion:

In a conjoint analysis, surveyed US physicians in academic practice assigned greater weight to motor and speech/language deficits than other neurological deficits, patient age, relative contraindications to thrombolysis, and premorbid disability when deciding to thrombolyse patients with minor stroke.
Tackling phone searches in Italy and the United States
Authors: Lasagni Giulia
Published: September 2018

With the advent of digital technologies, most people are constantly carrying in their pockets or personal belongings an increasing amount of information stored on mobile electronic devices (like smartphones or smartwatches, just to mention a few). Most of these ‘multifunctional computers that just happen to have telephone capabilities’ can store tens of gigabytes of private information, a circumstance simply unthinkable only a few decades ago. The consequences of this situation heavily affect criminal investigations and appear especially evident in search incident to arrest. Indeed, while in a predigital era, searching a person meant searching of a physical body and potentially, of carried physical items, applying the same rules to smartphones or other equivalent devices changes rather drastically the impact of this investigative technique and confers to law enforcement and/or prosecutors access to an incredible amount of personal data. Search incident to arrest, however, represents only a tip of the iceberg of the revolution brought to criminal justice systems by digital technology, to which most legal frameworks remains utterly unprepared. Against this background, this article compares the state of play on procedural safeguards concerning search of digital devices like smartphones in the United States, after the notorious decision Riley v. California, with the Italian legal system. From this specific circumstance, general considerations will be drawn upon the need of rethinking the foundational basis of fundamental rights and freedoms established by the European Convention on Human Rights and by the Charter of the Fundamental Rights of the European Union in light of the advent of digital technology, trying to delineate some guidelines from which to extrapolate procedural rules able to guarantee an adequate level of safeguard in the digital era.
Relationship of Depth Adaptation Between Disparity-Specified Plaids and Their Components
Authors: He Shufang , Shigemasu Hiroaki
Published: September 2018

In the luminance domain, studies show that perceived contrasts of plaids are a nonlinear summation of their components. In the disparity domain, perceived depth has been studied by using a depth adaptation paradigm with simple surfaces; however, the relationship between depth adaptation between plaids and their components has not been investigated. To clarify this, combinations of disparity-defined horizontal corrugation (marked as horizontal) and disparity-defined plaids as adaptor-probe pairs were used. Three experiments were performed: The first two compared the aftereffects between horizontal-horizontal and plaid-horizontal pairs (Comparison 1) and between horizontal-plaid and plaid-plaid pairs (Comparison 2). Experiments 1 and 2 controlled the plaids to have the same and doubled peak-to-trough amplitudes as the horizontal corrugation, respectively. In Comparison 1, the horizontal or horizontally oriented component of the plaids was adapted. In Comparison 2, the plaid adaptor or horizontally oriented component of the plaid test stimuli was adapted. Thus, depth adaptation may be linked to cyclopean-oriented depth-from-disparity bandpass filters. The depth adaptation degree was determined by the adaptation of amplitudes of the similar oriented channels between the adaptation and test stimuli. Experiment 3 compared the aftereffects between noise-horizontal and horizontal-horizontal pairs. Since the noise adaptor contained multispatial frequency channels, only the channels with similar spatial frequencies as the horizontal corrugation were adapted, thus causing smaller depth aftereffects.
The Semiotics of Authenticity: Indexicality in Donald Trump’s Tweets
Authors: Shane Tommy
Published: September 2018

How do you produce an authentic self on social media? This question is increasingly critical for the modern politician. Many voters prize authenticity as more important than policies, and social media is playing an ever-greater role in electoral politics. Further critical attention is required to understand how politicians are using social media to present an authentic self as a strategy to win votes. Whereas previous research has focused on how the content of politicians’ messages affects their authenticity, this article explores how authenticity is produced through formal aspects of self-presentational cues. To do so, the article analyzes the authenticity cues in Donald Trump’s tweets during the 2016 United States election. In what was widely dubbed as “the authenticity election,” Trump was able to present an authentic self on Twitter using little more than 140 alphanumeric characters. What cues were at play, and why did they work? By analyzing how news media narrated Trump’s authenticity, and applying a semiotic analysis based on the theory of Charles Sanders Peirce, this article uncovers the key authenticity cues in Trump’s tweets, and examines the semiotic mechanisms behind them. I show that Trump’s authenticity depended upon the deployment of indexes, signs that bear a causal link to the object they refer to. Trump’s indexes of the self—the typographic texture, the tweets’ timestamps, and the operating system tags—combined to produce an authentic form for Trump’s tweets to inhabit. I then close with observations of indexical authenticity being leveraged by other politicians.
“Working Class Music” in the Discourse of Early Soviet Sociology of Art
Authors: Gavrilyuk Tatiana
Published: September 2018

This research has a survey-analytical nature and uses the theoretical method of comparative historical analysis of texts. Through the selection and analysis of key works and archival documents, the conceptual basis for the sociology of music of the USSR during the 1920s is determined to form an academic project, developed in the frame of the record of state cultural policy. The transformation of the institutionalized academic domain music in a decade is described. The tasks involved in the sociology of music with the aim of state order for the formation of a proletarian music culture are reconstructed. It has been established that music was delegated the function of structuring daily occurrences, motivating labor activity, promoting cultural education, and supporting an aspiration to solidary, collective action based on the emotional acceptance of the ideological postulates of the time. The research also focuses on the transformation of the crucial characteristics of the central ideologists of the “proletarian culture” from the utopian romanticism directed toward the achievement of class solidarity to the distortion of basic humanistic ideals in favor of fixing the developed hierarchies of power.
Change Leadership: The Role of Emotional Intelligence
Authors: Issah Mohammed
Published: September 2018

This article presents the role of emotional intelligence in leading change in an organization. Specifically, the article highlights the different perspectives of emotional intelligence, and the related five components—self-awareness, self-regulation, self-motivation, empathy, and social skill—are discussed. In furtherance, I propose how emotional intelligence contributes to change leadership focusing on building a team to affect change, and overcoming resistance to change.
Patient Perceptions of Surgeon Reimbursement for Rotator Cuff Repair
Authors: Southam Brendan R. , Crawford Zachary , Grawe Brian M.
Published: September 2018

Background:

Previous studies in the arthroplasty, spine, and shoulder and elbow literature have shown that patients perceive Medicare reimbursement to surgeons to be much higher than current reimbursement schedules.

Purpose:

To evaluate patient perceptions of surgeon reimbursement for various rotator cuff repair (RCR) procedures.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Methods:

We surveyed 153 patients who presented to a single surgeon’s orthopaedic sports medicine clinic between October 2016 and March 2017. Patients with a new complaint of hip or knee pain, those with a new complaint of shoulder pain, or those who had undergone shoulder surgery 1 year or more prior to their current visit were included. Patients were asked how much they thought surgeons should be reimbursed for RCR procedures, including arthroscopic repair of a simple tear and a massive tear as well as open repair of an acute tear and a chronic tear. They were also asked to estimate how much they thought surgeons were reimbursed by Medicare for these procedures. They were then given actual Medicare reimbursement rates for these procedures and asked whether they believed surgeons should be reimbursed that amount.

Results:

For arthroscopic repair of a rotator cuff tear, patients believed that surgeons should receive a mean (±SEM) reimbursement of US$5645 ± $442. This was significantly more than their estimate of what surgeons were actually reimbursed by Medicare ($3644 ± $408; P = .001). Patients also believed that surgeons should be reimbursed more than their estimate of what surgeons were actually reimbursed for arthroscopic repair of a massive tear ($8066 ± $708 vs $4694 ± $476; P = .0001), open repair of an acute tear ($8428 ± $768 vs $4549 ± $396; P = .00001), and open repair of a chronic tear ($8902 ± $844 vs $4639 ± $438; P = .00001). Both types of patient perceptions were higher than the actual state Medicare reimbursement data for all procedures surveyed ( P < .001).

Conclusion:

Consistent with previous literature, patients perceive Medicare reimbursement for RCR to be higher than what surgeons are actually reimbursed. As the United States health care system enters a bundled care environment, price transparency is increasingly important. This study indicates a need for patient education on how their health care costs are allocated.
Elementary Education in India in the Era of Universalization of Education: Instrument of Access or the Perpetuation of Inequality
Authors: Kumar Manik , Naincy Nicky , Ranjan Rahul
Published: September 2018

Sixty years of policymaking in the arena of elementary educational reforms in India and global focus through the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have seen progress along with persisting inequality in access to education especially for socioeconomic and marginalized sections across the regions. This article focuses on analysis of two goals of MDGs which is related to universalization of education and reducing gender inequality in access to elementary education after introduction of policy interventions such as Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Right to Education (RTE) Act in India through Gender Equity Index (GEI) and Disparity Index (DI) in Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER). Results are still consistent with the fact that even after incentives such as SSA and RTE, the scenario of elementary education has not changed much for the deprived sections, even it has shown a declining trend after 2009 for Scheduled Tribes (ST) children. The social reproduction of inequality is being manifested now in the quality of elementary education in India.
How social acceleration affects the work practices of academics: A study in Brazil
Authors: Rotenberg Lucia , Soares Lima Carlos Renata
Published: September 2018

Applying industrial and market-driven logic has brought radical change to universities in the past few decades. Knowledge production and transmission as well as academics’ subjectivity have been substantially altered by neoliberal policies. This article introduces a social acceleration perspective and explores what happens to university teachers’ work practices in the face of increasing demands. The article draws on a study into the effect of social acceleration on a group of 15 professors in Brazil. Consequences include (a) producing ‘guilty subjects’ due to lack of time, (b) burnout from the feeling of ‘running uphill just to stay in place’, (c) an impact on work–life balance and retirement, (d) devaluing experience and expertise and (e) lack of identification with the work and workplace. The academics reported impossible demands on them, or even retiring. Reconciling their work practices with professional expectations generated a conflict of values: they no longer recognized themselves as good teachers, dedicated supervisors or innovative researchers. The article argues that the role of education is compromised by the accelerated university, which is transforming universities and academics into entrepreneurs in search of production.