bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Occupational pensions in Europe: Trojan horse of financialization?
Authors: Natali David
Published: February 2018

The aim of this article is to shed light on the nexus between occupational pensions (OPs) and the financialization of pensions in Europe. In particular, we address the following questions: Has the recent evolution of OPs contributed to the financialization of pension policy? Is the nexus between OPs and financialization the result of the increased influence of financial markets in the pension field? Or of a more complex interaction of state, market, and social actors?

By comparing Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, we show financialization is a broad process that affects the three countries, but it has followed three different paths. In Italy, financialization is spreading through individual pension schemes rather than OPs. The Dutch collective OPs are still a central part of the pension systems, but are increasingly influenced by the financial markets. In the United Kingdom, employer‐led OPs are in the hands of the financial services industry.

This proves that financialization is a powerful trend, but has to deal with domestic socioeconomic institutions (a country's political economies and pensions institutions) that shape actors' strategies and reforms. Financial actors have an increased role in pension politics, but are involved in complex interactions with the state, employers, and trade unions.
Non‐invasive evaluation of human mucosal structures by multiphoton laser scanning tomography in vitro
Authors: Springer S. , Zieger M. , Hipler U. C. , König K. , Lademann J. , Kaatz M. , Koehler M. J.
Published: February 2018

Background

Mucous membranes may be affected by various diseases and the diagnostic accessibility is limited. Multiphoton laser tomography (MPT) is a useful tool for in vivo evaluation of superficial skin structures and might also be useful for the imaging of mucosa.

Objectives

In order to investigate the suitability ofMPTfor the evaluation of mucous membranes, tissue samples of different donors and anatomical localizations have been imaged.

Methods

Human mucosa samples from the urinary bladder, palatine tonsil and ocular conjunctiva were investigated byMPTand subsequently compared with conventional histology.

Results

Horizontal images of the epithelium and the underlying connective tissue were obtained using the autofluorescence and second harmonics generation signals byMPT. The stratification of multilayered epithelium was consistently reproduced. Also inflammatory changes like lymphocytic infiltrates and widened intercellular spaces were imaged in some cases.

Conclusion

Mucous tissue samples were obtained andMPTimaging was successfully performed. In the direct comparison with histology of the same tissue samples, the characteristic morphology of the epithelia was found. Further studies are necessary in order to compare images of healthy and diseased mucosal epithelium and the use ofMPTfor its evaluation in vivo.
Temporal weighting functions for interaural time and level differences. V. Modulated noise carriers
Authors: Stecker G. Christopher
Published: February 2018

Sound onsets dominate spatial judgments of many types of periodic sound. Conversely, ongoing cues often dominate in spatial judgments of aperiodic noise. This study quantified onset dominance as a function of both the bandwidth and the temporal regularity of stimuli by measuring temporal weighting functions (TWF) from Stecker, Ostreicher, and Brown [(2013) J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 134, 1242–1252] for lateralization of periodic and aperiodic noise-burst trains. Stimuli consisted of 16 noise bursts (1 ms each) repeating at an interval of 2 or 5 ms. TWFs were calculated by multiple regression of lateralization judgments onto interaural time and level differences, which varied independently (±100 μs, ±2 dB) across bursts. Noise tokens were either refreshed on each burst (aperiodic) or repeated across sets of 2, 4, 8, or 16 bursts. TWFs revealed strong onset dominance for periodic noise-burst trains (16 repeats per token), which was markedly reduced in aperiodic trains. A second experiment measured TWFs for periodic but sinusoidally amplitude-modulated noise burst trains, revealing greater weight on the earliest and least intense bursts of the rising envelope slope. The results support the view that envelope fluctuations drive access to binaural information in both periodic and aperiodic sounds.
Timbral Shepard-illusion reveals ambiguity and context sensitivity of brightness perception
Authors: Siedenburg Kai
Published: February 2018

Recent research has described strong effects of prior context on the perception of ambiguous pitch shifts of Shepard tones [Chambers, Akram, Adam, Pelofi, Sahani, Shamma, and Pressnitzer (2017). Nat. Commun. 8, 15027]. Here, similar effects are demonstrated for brightness shift judgments of harmonic complexes with cyclic spectral envelope components and fixed fundamental frequency. It is shown that frequency shifts of the envelopes are perceived as systematic shifts of brightness. Analogous to the work of Chambers et al., the perceptual ambiguity of half-octave shifts resolves with the presentation of prior context tones. These results constitute a context effect for the perceptual processing of spectral envelope shifts and indicate so-far unknown commonalities between pitch and timbre perception.
Impact of 21st Century Cures Act on Breakpoints and Commercial Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test Systems: Progress and Pitfalls
Authors: Humphries Romney M. , Ferraro Mary Jane , Hindler Janet A.
Published: February 2018

Antimicrobial resistance is the most pressing medical challenge of the past decade. At the front line are clinical laboratories, which are responsible for accurately reporting antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) results to clinicians and public health authorities. The ability of the laboratory to detect resistance has been hampered by several factors. In 2016, the 21st Century Cures Act was signed into law, marking an important step toward resolving many regulatory dilemmas that hampered development and updates to commercial AST systems (cASTs). We describe the pathway and history of U.S. regulation of cASTs and outline both the rewards and unmet needs possible from the 21st Century Cures Act.
Fungemia Surveillance in Denmark Demonstrates Emergence of Non-albicans Candida Species and Higher Antifungal Usage and Resistance Rates than in Other Nations
Authors: Castanheira Mariana
Published: February 2018

Recent changes in the occurrence of fungal species and the difficulties in performing reference antifungal susceptibility testing highlight the importance of surveillance of fungal organisms and antifungal resistance rates. K. M. T. Astvad et al. report results from recent (2012 to 2015) fungemia surveillance in Denmark and compare the results to previous data (2004 to 2011), showing a decrease in
Candida albicans
infections accompanied by an increase in
C. glabrata
and
C. dubliniensis
infections (J Clin Microbiol 56:e01564-17, 2018,
https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.01564-17
). Azole resistance among
C. tropicalis
and
C. parapsilosis
isolates and echinocandin resistance in
C. krusei
isolates were higher in Denmark than in other regions. Interestingly, the usage of antifungals is higher in Denmark than in other Nordic countries.
A Polyamide Inhibits Replication of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus by Targeting RNA in the Nucleocapsid
Authors: Gumpper Ryan H. , Li Weike , Castañeda Carlos H. , Scuderi M. José , Bashkin James K. , Luo Ming
Published: February 2018

Polyamides have been shown to bind double-stranded DNA by complementing the curvature of the minor groove and forming various hydrogen bonds with DNA. Several polyamide molecules have been found to have potent antiviral activities against papillomavirus, a double-stranded DNA virus. By analogy, we reason that polyamides may also interact with the structured RNA bound in the nucleocapsid of a negative-strand RNA virus. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) was selected as a prototype virus to test this possibility since its genomic RNA encapsidated in the nucleocapsid forms a structure resembling one strand of an A-form RNA duplex. One polyamide molecule, UMSL1011, was found to inhibit infection of VSV. To confirm that the polyamide targeted the nucleocapsid, a nucleocapsid-like particle (NLP) was incubated with UMSL1011. The encapsidated RNA in the polyamide-treated NLP was protected from thermo-release and digestion by RNase A. UMSL1011 also inhibits viral RNA synthesis in the intracellular activity assay for the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The crystal structure revealed that UMSL1011 binds the structured RNA in the nucleocapsid. The conclusion of our studies is that the RNA in the nucleocapsid is a viable antiviral target of polyamides. Since the RNA structure in the nucleocapsid is similar in all negative-strand RNA viruses, polyamides may be optimized to target the specific RNA genome of a negative-strand RNA virus, such as respiratory syncytial virus and Ebola virus.

IMPORTANCE
Negative-strand RNA viruses (NSVs) include several life-threatening pathogens, such as rabies virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and Ebola virus. There are no effective antiviral drugs against these viruses. Polyamides offer an exceptional opportunity because they may be optimized to target each NSV. Our studies on vesicular stomatitis virus, an NSV, demonstrated that a polyamide molecule could specifically target the viral RNA in the nucleocapsid and inhibit viral growth. The target specificity of the polyamide molecule was proved by its inhibition of thermo-release and RNA nuclease digestion of the RNA bound in a model nucleocapsid, and a crystal structure of the polyamide inside the nucleocapsid. This encouraging observation provided the proof-of-concept rationale for designing polyamides as antiviral drugs against NSVs.
Genomewide Identification of Essential Genes and Fitness Determinants of Streptococcus mutans UA159
Authors: Shields Robert C. , Zeng Lin , Culp David J. , Burne Robert A.
Published: February 2018

Tooth decay (dental caries) is a common cause of pain, impaired quality of life, and tooth loss in children and adults. It begins because of a compositional change in the microorganisms that colonize the tooth surface driven by repeated and sustained carbohydrate intake. Although several bacterial species are associated with tooth decay,
Streptococcus mutans
is the most common cause. Therefore, it is important to identify biological processes that contribute to the survival of
S. mutans
in the human mouth, with the aim of disrupting the processes with antimicrobial agents. We successfully applied Tn-seq to
S. mutans
, discovering genes that are required for survival, growth, and persistence, both in laboratory environments and in a mouse model of tooth decay. This work highlights new avenues for the control of an important human pathogen.
Superficial Ulnar Artery Crossing Over the Palmaris Longus Tendon at the Wrist in a Cadaver: A Case Report
Authors: Sato Kotaro , Murakami Kenya , Mimata Yoshikuni , Kikuchi Yuki , Oikawa Ryunosuke , Doita Minoru
Published: February 2018

Superficial ulnar artery (SUA) is defined as arterial variation of an ulnar artery of high origin that lies superficially in the forearm. Because an SUA may be mistaken for a superficial vein, there is a risk of arterial damage. During routine dissection of the cadaver, we incidentally detected a case of unilateral SUA in the left arm. SUA arose from the axillary artery and descended superficial to the axillary artery and median nerve. At the wrist, the SUA crossed over palmaris longus (PL) tendon from the radial side to the ulnar side. In this cadaver, the PL tendon was located on the ulnar side and was thicker than the flexor carpi radialis tendon. Clinicians should check for the presence of SUA before any technical procedure, because lack of awareness of its presence can have serious consequences.
Quantifying Privacy Leakage in Multi-Agent Planning
Authors: Štolba Michal , Tožička Jan , Komenda Antonín
Published: February 2018

Multi-agent planning using MA-STRIPS–related models is often motivated by the preservation of private information. Such a motivation is not only natural for multi-agent systems but also is one of the main reasons multi-agent planning problems cannot be solved with a centralized approach. Although the motivation is common in the literature, the formal treatment of privacy is often missing. In this article, we expand on a privacy measure based on information leakage introduced in previous work, where the leaked information is measured in terms of transition systems represented by the public part of the problem with regard to the information obtained during the planning process. Moreover, we present a general approach to computing privacy leakage of search-based multi-agent planners by utilizing search-tree reconstruction and classification of leaked superfluous information about the applicability of actions. Finally, we present an analysis of the privacy leakage of two well-known algorithms—multi-agent forward search (MAFS) and Secure-MAFS—both in general and on a particular example. The results of the analysis show that Secure-MAFS leaks less information than MAFS.
Utility-Based Decision Making for Migrating Cloud-Based Applications
Authors: Sáez Santiago Gómez , Andrikopoulos Vasilios , Bitsaki Marina , Leymann Frank , van Hoorn André
Published: February 2018

Nowadays, cloud providers offer a broad catalog of services for migrating and distributing applications in the cloud. However, the existence of a wide spectrum of cloud services has become a challenge for deciding where to host applications, as these vary in performance and cost. This work addresses such a challenge, and provides a utility-based decision support model and method that evaluates and ranks during design time potential application distributions spanned among heterogeneous cloud services. The utility model is evaluated using the MediaWiki (Wikipedia) application, and shows an improved efficiency for selecting cloud services in comparison to other decision making approaches.
Effect of Adalimumab on Refractory Arthritis in Juvenile Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy with Anti-MDA5 Autoantibody
Authors: Miyamae Takako , Hara Takuma , Hanaya Aki , Tani Yumi , Kishi Takayuki , Yamanaka Hisashi
Published: February 2018

A 10-year-old girl manifested persistent fever, skin rash, leg pain, fatigue, and joint pain. Based on muscle weakness, elevated muscle-derived enzymes, magnetic resonance imaging, and skin biopsy results, the diagnosis was juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (JIIM). Chest CT was normal; the anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein-5 (anti-MDA5) autoantibody was positive. Initial manifestations subsided after prednisolone (PSL) and methotrexate treatment. After the PSL dosage was decreased, the patient presented with metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint pain and swelling in both index fingers, synovial fluid, and signals on power Doppler ultrasound. The arthritis was refractory to cyclosporine and tacrolimus. Radiography showed progressive MCP joint space narrowing and joint erosion. Adalimumab was initiated 14 months after disease onset. There was a mildly increased matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3) level, an erythrocyte sedimentation ratio (ESR), and a normal CRP level. Adalimumab resulted in decreased MCP joint pain and swelling. PSL was discontinued 10 months after adalimumab initiation; after 9 more months of adalimumab, there were no significant ultrasonography findings. MMP3 and ESR levels normalized during treatment. Radiography after 2 years of adalimumab showed further progressive MCP joint space narrowing restricting dorsiflexion. This report clarified that anti-MDA5-positive JIIM joint manifestations were due to active synovitis and that adalimumab is required for severe cases. Further experience is needed to determine the pathology, severity, and prognosis of this type of arthritis.
Perioperative Chemotherapie bei Magenkarzinom: FLOT ist der Therapiestandard
Authors: Stahl Michael
Published: February 2018

Objectives: This phase II trial was aimed at assessing the safety and activity of capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (COI regimen) as a preoperative treatment for resectable gastric cancer (GC) or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer. Methods: Patients affected by T3-T4/N0-N+/M0 GC/GEJ cancer were treated with the COI regimen for 4 cycles followed by restaging and gastroresection with D2 lymphadenectomy. Four postoperative cycles were scheduled. The primary endpoint was pathological response rate according to Becker et al. [Cancer 2003;98:1521-1530]. The potential role of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) as a predictive biomarker of pathological tumor response was assessed in a subgroup of 19 evaluable patients. Results: Between January 2011 and October 2015, a total of 40 patients were enrolled. After the preoperative phase, 36 out of 40 patients (90%) were considered eligible for surgery: 12 patients (30%) achieved a pathological response. The most frequent grade 3/4 adverse events were diarrhea (27%), nausea (25%), and fatigue (17%). Grade 3 neutropenia occurred in 7.5% of patients. A lower standard uptake value at baseline FDG-PET/CT was associated with pathological response. Conclusion: COI combination is active with a manageable toxicity profile in patients with resectable GC or GEJ cancer. FDG-PET/CT imaging as a surrogate biomarker of pathological response in this setting appears fascinating but should be further investigated.
Kosteneffektivität durch antiemetische Therapie?
Authors: Link Hartmut
Published: February 2018

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and cost benefits of the administration of aprepitant for the prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) during highdose chemotherapy (HDCT). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients who received HDCT at our institution between January 2009 and December 2013. Costeffectiveness was analyzed using direct medical costs. Results: We identified a total of 38 patients (27 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and 11 with multiple myeloma). Thirteen patients received aprepitant and granisetron (aprepitant group) for CINV prophylaxis, whereas 25 patients received granisetron only (non-aprepitant group). The incidence of severe nausea (≥ grade 3) was significantly lower in the aprepitant group than in the non-aprepitant group (p = 0.039). The total mean cost per patient during hospitalization, excluding the cost of HDCT and transplantation, was USD 10,941.8 in the aprepitant group and USD 14,577.2 in the non-aprepitant group (p = 0.041). This cost benefit reflected reductions in the costs of hospitalization, transfusion, and infection treatment. Conclusions: Our data indicated that the addition of aprepitant for CINV prophylaxis during HDCT reduced the incidence of severe nausea and might also provide economic benefit in the overall management of HDCT prior to autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.
High Expression of Human Cathepsin S by Recombinant Pichia pastoris with Cod Skin as an Organic Co-Nitrogen Source
Authors: Li Guiying Y. , Fu Man , Qin Mei , Xue Liming M.
Published: February 2018

Human cathepsin S production by recombinant Pichia pastoris using cod skin as the co-nitrogen source was investigated in this study. The addition of carbon sources of glycerol in the fed-batch phase and of methanol in the induction stage was also investigated. A new approach to the highly expression of human cathepsin S was developed using 90 g/L of cod skin (wet weight). After 24 h of the initial fermentation, 4% glycerol (v/v, glycerol/culture) was added once to enhance the cell density (OD600) in the cultivation. Then, adding and maintaining methanol at 0.5% (v/v, methanol/cultivation) after about 48 h of fermentation achieved a high expression of human cathepsin S in a 5-L bioreactor. The results demonstrate that the maximum activity of human cathepsin S in the fermentation supernatant reached 7,152 U/L after 96 h of methanol induction. The methylotrophic yeast P. pastoris grown in the medium containing cod skin (90 g/L) as the co-nitrogen source provided a 21% higher cell density (OD600) and 18.3% higher human cathepsin S yield than P. pastoris grown in BMGY medium. For the first time, human cathepsin S was successfully expressed by P. pastoris with cod skin as the co-nitrogen source. The glycerol fed-batch controlling strategy and method of maintaining methanol at a constant concentration of 0.5% (v/v, methanol/cultivation) in the induction stage was efficient for P. pastoris growth and the expression of human cathepsin S.
Ligand-Activated Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor δ Attenuates Vascular Oxidative Stress by Inhibiting Thrombospondin-1 Expression
Authors: Ahn Min Young , Ham Sun Ah , Yoo Taesik , Lee Won Jin , Hwang Jung Seok , Paek Kyung Shin , Lim Dae-Seog , Han Sung Gu , Lee Chi-Ho , Seo Han Geuk
Published: February 2018

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is implicated in vascular diseases associated with oxidative stress, such as abdominal aortic aneurysms, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and atherosclerosis. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying TSP-1 expression are not fully elucidated. In this study, we found that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) inhibited oxidative stress-induced TSP-1 expression and migration in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Activation of PPARδ by GW501516, a specific ligand for PPARδ, significantly attenuated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced expression of TSP-1 in VSMCs. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of PPARδ and treatment with GSK0660, a selective PPARδ antagonist, reversed the effect of GW501516 on H2O2-induced expression of TSP-1, suggesting that PPARδ is associated with GW501516 activity. Furthermore, JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase), but not p38 and ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase), mediated PPARδ-dependent inhibition of TSP-1 expression in VSMCs exposed to H2O2. GW501516- activated PPARδ also reduced the H2O2-induced generation of reactive oxygen species, concomitant with inhibition of VSMC migration. In particular, TSP-1 contributed to the action of PPARδ in the regulation of H2O2-induced interleukin-1β expression. These results suggest that PPARδ-modulated downregulation of TSP-1 is associated with reduced cellular oxidative stress, thereby inhibiting H2O2-induced pheno­typic changes in vascular cells.
African Easterly Wave Forecast Verification and Its Relation to Convective Errors within the ECMWF Ensemble Prediction System
Authors: Elless Travis J. , Torn Ryan D.
Published: February 2018

African easterly waves (AEWs) are the primary synoptic-scale weather feature found in sub-Saharan Africa during boreal summer, yet there have been few studies documenting the performance of operational ensemble prediction systems (EPSs) for these phenomena. Here, AEW forecasts in the 51-member ECMWF EPS are validated against an average of four operational analyses during two periods of enhanced AEW activity (July–September 2007–09 and 2011–13). During 2007–09, AEW position forecasts were mainly underdispersive and characterized by a slow bias, while intensity forecasts were characterized by an overintensification bias, yet the ensemble-mean errors generally matched the forecast uncertainty. Although 2011–13 position forecasts were still underdispersive with a slow bias, the ensemble-mean error is smaller than for 2007–09. In addition, the 2011–13 intensity forecasts were overdispersive and had a negligible intensity bias. Forecasts from 2007 to 2009 were characterized by higher precipitation in the AEW trough center and high correlations between divergence errors and intensity errors, suggesting the intensity bias is associated with errors in convection. By contrast, forecasts from 2011 to 2013 have smaller precipitation biases than those from 2007 to 2009 and exhibit a weaker correlation between divergence errors and intensity errors, suggesting a weaker connection between AEW forecast errors and convective errors.
HIV Positivity per se Does Not Affect Tympanoplasty Outcomes
Authors: Bedri Es-Hak , Bitew Asnake , Redleaf Miriam
Published: February 2018

Background:

The English language literature finds no clear protocols for otologic surgery for HIV+ patients.

Objective:

To demonstrate that simple tympanoplasty and type III tympanoplasty in HIV+ patients with CD4 >400 cells/cc results in tympanic membrane closures and hearing improvements equivalent to the same procedures in controls.

Materials and Methods:

This retrospective review documents the otologic conditions and operative results of 32 HIV+ patients and 32 controls. The controls were healthy and had no opportunistic infections or other medications.

Results:

Genders, ages, sizes of tympanic membrane perforations, severity of air bone gaps, and type of operation were equivalent between the HIV+ and the control groups. Thirty of 32 patients in each group had closure of their perforations after 1 operation. Air bone gaps improved significantly for each group ( P = .001): 22 dB (SD = 11 dB) in the HIV+ group and 26 dB (SD = 10 dB) in the control group. And there was no statistically significant difference in change in hearing between the 2 groups. There were no complications of infection, wound dehiscence, worsened sensorineural levels, dizziness, or facial weakness in either group.

Conclusion:

HIV+ patients whose CD4 counts are above 400 cells/cc can undergo simple tympanoplasty or type III tympanoplasty with acceptable outcomes.
The Meaning and Predictive Value of Self-rated Mental Health among Persons with a Mental Health Problem
Authors: McAlpine Donna D. , McCreedy Ellen , Alang Sirry
Published: February 2018

Self-rated health is a valid measure of health that predicts quality of life, morbidity, and mortality. Its predictive value reflects a conceptualization of health that goes beyond a traditional medical model. However, less is known about self-rated mental health (SRMH). Using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey ( N = 2,547), we examine how rating your mental health as good—despite meeting criteria for a mental health problem—predicts outcomes. We found that 62% of people with a mental health problem rated their mental health positively. Persons who rated their mental health as good (compared to poor) had 30% lower odds of having a mental health problem at follow-up. Even without treatment, persons with a mental health problem did better if they perceived their mental health positively. SRMH might comprise information beyond the experience of symptoms. Understanding the unobserved information individuals incorporate into SRMH will help us improve screening and treatment interventions.
The Moderating Effect of Mental Toughness: Perception of Risk and Belief in the Paranormal
Authors: Drinkwater Kenneth , Dagnall Neil , Denovan Andrew , Parker Andrew
Published: February 2018

This research demonstrates that higher levels of mental toughness provide cognitive-perceptual processing advantages when evaluating risk. No previous research, however, has examined mental toughness in relation to perception of risk and paranormal belief (a variable associated with distorted perception of causality and elevated levels of perceived risk). Accordingly, the present paper investigated relationships between these factors. A sample of 174 participants completed self-report measures assessing mental toughness, general perception of risk, and paranormal belief. Responses were analyzed via correlations and moderation analyses. Results revealed that mental toughness correlated negatively with perception of risk and paranormal belief, whereas paranormal belief correlated positively with perception of risk. For the moderation effects, simple slopes analyses indicated that high levels of MT and subfactors of commitment and confidence reduced the strength of association between paranormal belief and perceived risk. Therefore, MT potentially acts as a protective factor among individuals who believe in the paranormal, reducing the tendency to perceive elevated levels of risk.
Relationship social comparisons: Comparison interpretations and attributions as predictors of relationship quality
Authors: Morry Marian M. , Chee Kenny C. , Penniston Trinda L. , Sucharyna Tamara A.
Published: February 2018

How individuals interpret a relationship social comparison is important to their relationship quality. We asked whether relationship social comparison interpretations (RSCIs) differ from relationship attributions. Individuals were randomly assigned to compare their dating relationship to a friend’s relationship that was doing better (upward comparison) or worse (downward comparison) than their own. Individuals then completed measures for the RSCI and attributions for their own relationship success/failure (Study 1) and attributions for their friend’s relationship success/failure (Study 2). Correlations indicated that the RSCI and attributions were not isomorphic. Simultaneous regressions indicated that the RSCI was a more consistent predictor of relationship quality than were attributions. How individuals interpret social comparisons not just the comparison direction should be studied.
Preoperative KOOS and SF-36 Scores Are Associated With the Development of Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis at 7 Years After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Ware J. Kristopher , Owens Brett D. , Akelman Matthew R. , Karamchedu Naga Padmini , Fadale Paul D. , Hulstyn Michael J. , Shalvoy Robert M. , Badger Gary J. , Fleming Braden C.
Published: February 2018

Background:

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are associated with the development of knee osteoarthritis despite ACL reconstruction surgery. However, little evidence is available to determine which patients will develop symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.

Purpose:

To determine if preoperative outcome measures—KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) and SF-36 (36-item Short Form Health Survey)—were associated with the development of a symptomatic knee 7 years after ACL reconstruction. A secondary goal was to examine the relationship between imaging evidence of knee osteoarthritis and development of knee pain.

Study Design:

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Prospectively collected data from 72 patients were reviewed with 7-year follow-up after unilateral ACL reconstruction. Patients were divided into symptomatic and asymptomatic groups based on the previously defined KOOS pain ≤72. Demographic variables and preoperative KOOS and SF-36 scores were compared between groups. Radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging data were used to evaluate differences in joint space width, Osteoarthritis Research Society International radiographic score, and the Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score between groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify potential predictors of pain at 7-year follow-up. Wilcoxon sum rank and t tests were used to compare imaging findings between the symptomatic and asymptomatic patients at 7 years.

Results:

According to KOOS pain, 7 of the 72 patients available at 7-year follow-up formed the symptomatic group. No differences were found between groups in regard to demographic variables or intraoperative findings. In multivariate analysis, lower preoperative scores for KOOS sports/recreation ( P = .005) and SF-36 mental health ( P = .025) were associated with a painful knee at 7 years, with increased odds of 82% and 68% per 10-unit decrease, respectively. The Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score at 7 years showed evidence of osteoarthritic changes in the symptomatic group as compared with the asymptomatic group ( P = .047). However, there were no significant differences in the Osteoarthritis Research Society International radiographic score ( P = .051) or joint space width ( P = .488) between groups.

Conclusion:

Lower preoperative KOOS and SF-36 scores were associated with those patients who developed symptomatic knee osteoarthritis 7 years after ACL reconstruction.
A Deterioration in Hearing Is Associated With Functional and Cognitive Impairments, Difficulty With Communication, and Greater Health Instability
Authors: Williams Nicole , Guthrie Dawn M. , Davidson Jacob G. S. , Fisher Kathryn , Griffith Lauren E.
Published: February 2018

Objectives: To examine the relationship between hearing deterioration and several health-related outcomes among home care clients in Ontario. Design: Longitudinal analysis was completed for clients with at least two comprehensive assessments. Hearing status, based on a single item, ranged from zero (no impairment) to three (highly impaired). Hearing deterioration was defined as at least a 1-point decline between subsequent assessments. Results: Seven percent experienced a 1-point deterioration in hearing and roughly 1% had a 2/3-point decline. After adjusting for other covariates, increasing age (odds ratio = 1.94; 95% confidence intervals [CIs] = [1.45, 2.61]) and a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (1.37; CI = [1.04, 1.80]) and other dementias (1.32; CI = [1.07, 1.63]) increased the risk of a 2/3-point deterioration. Conclusion: These findings can assist home care professionals and policy makers in creating and refining interventions to meet the needs of older adults with hearing difficulties.
Punitiveness: A Philosophical Perspective
Authors: Jacobs Jonathan
Published: February 2018

In what respects can philosophical consideration of punitiveness as a sentiment, an attitude, and a motive illuminate whether there is a proper role for it, especially in regard to the context of criminal justice? Clearly, there are ways in which punitiveness can be excessive and needlessly harming. Are there also ways in which it can be felt and expressed in proper measure, or respects in which it is merited? Some of the distinctive harms of punitiveness are explicated, but it is shown that it is not always, or necessarily, morally problematic or objectionable. In fact, it can have an important role in preserving the civility of society.
Synthesis of a phosphorus–nitrogen-containing flame retardant and its application in epoxy resin
Authors: Yang Shuang , Hu Yefa , Zhang Qiaoxin
Published: February 2018

In this article, a phosphorus–nitrogen-containing flame retardant (DOPO-T) was successfully synthesized by nucleophilic substitution reaction between 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) and cyanuric chloride. The chemical structure of DOPO-T was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and phosphorous-31 NMR, and elemental analysis. DOPO-T was then blended with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A to prepare flame-retardant epoxy resins. Thermal properties, flame retardancy, and combustion behavior of the cured epoxy resins were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, limited oxygen index (LOI) measurement, UL94 vertical burning test, and cone calorimeter test. The results indicated that the glass transition temperature ( Tg) and temperature at 5% weight loss of epoxy resin (EP)/DOPO-T thermosets were gradually decreased with the increasing content of DOPO-T. DOPO-T catalyzed the decomposition of EP matrix in advance. The flame-retardant performance of EP thermosets was significantly enhanced with the addition of DOPO-T. EP/DOPO-T-0.9 sample had an LOI value of 36.2% and achieved UL94 V-1 rating. In addition, the average of heat release rate, peak of heat release rate, average of effective heat of combustion, and total heat release (THR) of EP/DOPO-T-0.9 sample were decreased by 32%, 48%, 23%, and 31%, respectively, compared with the neat EP sample. Impressively, EP/DOPO-T thermosets acquired excellent flame retardancy under low loading of flame retardant.
Urinary bisphenol A levels in Turkish girls with premature thelarche
Authors: Durmaz E , Asci A , Erkekoglu P , Balcı A , Bircan I , Koçer-Gumusel B
Published: February 2018

There is a growing concern over the timing of pubertal breast development and its possible association with exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is abundantly used to harden plastics. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between premature thelarche (PT) and BPA by comparing the urinary BPA levels of PT girls with those of healthy subjects. Twenty-five newly diagnosed nonobese PT subjects (aged 4–8 years) who were admitted to the Pediatric Endocrinology Department at Akdeniz University were recruited. The control group composed of 25 age-matched girls without PT and other endocrine disorders. Urinary BPA levels were measured by high pressure liquid chromatography. The median urinary concentrations of BPA were found to be significantly higher in the PT group compared to the healthy control group (3.2 vs. 1.62 μg/g creatinine, p < 0.05). We observed a weak positive correlation between uterus volume and urinary BPA levels. There was a weak correlation between estradiol and urinary BPA levels ( r = 0.166; p = 0.37); and luteinizing hormone and urinary BPA levels ( r = 0.291; p = 0.08) of PT girls. Our results suggest that exposure to BPA might be one of the underlying factors of early breast development in prepubertal girls and EDCs may be considered as one of the etiological factors in the development of PT.
The legacy of Douglas Guthrie (1885–1975), surgeon and medical historian
Authors: Macintyre Iain
Published: February 2018

After graduating in medicine Douglas Guthrie embarked on a career as an ENT surgeon. When his Edinburgh hospital appointment ended in 1936 he began to write History of Medicine, which, thanks to a favourable review by George Bernard Shaw, became a worldwide best seller when first published in 1945. This marked the start of Guthrie’s second career as a lecturer in history of medicine at the University of Edinburgh where his prime responsibility was delivering systematic lectures on medical history to medical undergraduates. At a time when history of medicine was virtually the exclusive preserve of medical doctors, Guthrie promoted to them the historiography techniques of the academic historian. His vision that social historians should become involved in the field and that history of medicine should be taught in arts and humanities faculties began to be adopted in British universities a decade or so after Guthrie made the recommendation. His legacy includes the Scottish Society of the History of Medicine and the British Society for the History of Medicine, both of which he helped to found. His name is commemorated in various charitable trusts which he established to promote the study of history of medicine.
Could stool collection devices help increase uptake in bowel cancer screening programmes?
Authors: Morling JR , Barke AN , Chapman CJ , Logan RF
Published: February 2018

Objective

To understand the usage and acceptability of a faecal collection device amongst participants in the National Health Service Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, with the aim of influencing future uptake.

Setting

Participants completing faecal occult blood test retests as part of the routine Bowel Cancer Screening Programme in Eastern England.

Methods

A faecal collection device and questionnaire were sent to all potential retest participants during a one-month period to collect information on prior stool collection methods and ease of use and usefulness of the enclosed faecal collection device.

Results

Out of 1087 participants invited, 679 (62.5%) returned their questionnaire. Of these, 429 (63.2%) trialled the faecal collection device at least once, 163 (38.4%) found the device made collecting their sample easier than previously, 189 (44.6%) found it made collection more difficult and 72 (17.0%) said it made no difference. Similar numbers reported finding that the faecal collection device made collecting the sample more pleasant (130, 31.5%), less pleasant (103, 25.0%) and no different (179, 43.4%) compared with previous collection without a faecal collection device.

Conclusion

Although a small proportion of participants found the faecal collection device helpful, a considerable majority did not or did not use it at all. Offering faecal collection devices is unlikely to produce a substantial increase in bowel cancer screening uptake.
Shifting the Blame
Authors: Pallas Florian , Bolton Lisa E. , Lobschat Lara
Published: February 2018

The proliferation of surcharges in service pricing raises theoretical and pragmatic questions regarding their impact on consumers. This research investigates how surcharges influence consumer responses to a service price increase. We propose that various kinds of surcharge information act in concert to drive blame attributions for a price increase: Internal (vs. external) surcharges increase blame attributions and minimize the influence of other drivers captured in surcharge information such as temporal stability, surcharge benefit, and more than one kind of surcharge. In comparison to all-inclusive pricing, we find that (i) surcharge pricing is detrimental to service firms when surcharges cue internal locus of causality, regardless of the temporal stability or surcharge benefit, whereas (ii) surcharge pricing is beneficial when surcharges cue external locus of causality, particularly when the surcharges are permanent and high benefit; (iii) consumers are more sensitive to increases in the magnitude of internal (vs. external) surcharges; and (iv) in the case of mixed surcharges, internal surcharges are more prominent and minimize the buffering effect of adding external surcharges. Based on our findings, we make recommendations to managers on the optimal design of surcharge pricing to mitigate negative blame reactions when communicating service price increases to consumers.
Comparative study of the in-plane uniaxial and biaxial crushing of hexagonal, re-entrant, and mixed honeycombs
Authors: Li Zhen , Gao Qiang , Yang Sen , Wang Liangmo , Tang Jun
Published: February 2018

The in-plane uniaxial and biaxial crushing characteristics of three honeycombs were studied through explicit dynamic finite element analysis in this paper. Crushing models were created, with all square specimens (hexagonal, reentrant and mixed honeycombs) deliberately built in the same scale. The in-plane uniaxial compressive performances of cellular structures in terms of the deformation mode, plateau stress, energy absorption as well as the impact response were compared and discussed, respectively. In the same loading condition, these honeycombs exhibited distinct characteristics. After that, in-plane orthogonal biaxial crushing simulations were carried out. Deformation processes of honeycombs were analyzed and compared. Results illustrated that some deformation behaviors in the uniaxial crushing case still exist in the biaxial crushing analysis. Their deformation modes were drawn into deformation maps. Energy absorption research illustrated that the transverse shrinking property in the uniaxial crushing case was detrimental to the energy dissipation capacity of honeycomb in the biaxial crushing case. In addition, comparing with the hexagonal honeycomb, reentrant honeycomb with slightly thicker cell walls expressed weaker ability in specific energy dissipation.
Rasch analysis and ordinal-to-interval conversion tables for the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale
Authors: Medvedev Oleg N , Krägeloh Christian U , Titkova Elena A , Siegert Richard J
Published: February 2018

This study conducted Rasch analysis of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale using responses of 400 participants to produce ordinal-to-interval conversion algorithms not available to date. Minor modifications such as removing the non-fitting item 5 and combining subscales items into super-items were necessary to achieve the best model fit ( χ2(15) = 20.28, p = 0.16). The results support internal validity of the modified 20-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale and include ordinal-to-interval conversion tables for use with non-clinical populations that improve reliability and precision of the measure.
Conceptualizing depression in Vietnam: Primary health care providers’ explanatory models of depression
Authors: Murphy Jill , Goldner* Elliot , Corbett Kitty K. , Morrow Marina , Nguyen Vu Cong , Linh Dang Thuy , Oanh Pham Thi
Published: February 2018

The purpose of this qualitative study was to elicit the explanatory models (EMs) of primary healthcare providers (PHPs) in Vietnam in order to (a) understand if and how the concept of depression is understood in Vietnam from the perspective of nonspecialist providers and community members, and (b) to inform the process of introducing services for depression in primary care in Vietnam. We conducted semistructured interviews with 30 PHPs in one rural and one urban district of Hanoi, Vietnam in 2014. We found that although PHPs possess low levels of formal knowledge about depression, they provide consistent accounts of its symptoms and aetiology among their patient population, suggesting that depression is a relevant concept in Vietnam. PHPs describe a predominantly psychosocial understanding of depression, with little mention of either affective symptoms or neurological aetiology. This implies that, with enhanced training, psychosocial approaches to depression care would be appropriate and acceptable in this context. Distinctions were identified between rural and urban populations in both understandings of depression and help-seeking, suggesting that enhanced services should account for the diversity of the Vietnamese context. Alcohol misuse among men emerged as a considerable concern, both in relation to depression and as stand-alone issue facing Vietnamese communities, indicating the need for further research in this area. Low help-seeking for depression in primary care implies the need for enhanced community outreach. The results of this study demonstrate the value of eliciting EMs to inform planning for enhanced mental health service delivery in a global context.
A zonal approach for estimating pressure ratio at compressor extreme off-design conditions
Authors: Galindo José , Navarro Roberto , García-Cuevas Luis Miguel , Tarí Daniel , Tartoussi Hadi , Guilain Stephane
Published: February 2018

Zero-dimensional/one-dimensional computational fluid dynamics codes are used to simulate the performance of complete internal combustion engines. In such codes, the operation of a turbocharger compressor is usually addressed employing its performance map. However, simulation of engine transients may drive the compressor to work at operating conditions outside the region provided by the manufacturer map. Therefore, a method is required to extrapolate the performance map to extended off-design conditions. This work examines several extrapolating methods at the different off-design regions, namely, low-pressure ratio zone, low-speed zone and high-speed zone. The accuracy of the methods is assessed with the aid of compressor extreme off-design measurements. In this way, the best method is selected for each region and the manufacturer map is used in design conditions, resulting in a zonal extrapolating approach aiming to preserve accuracy. The transitions between extrapolated zones are corrected, avoiding discontinuities and instabilities.