bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanical Forces Exacerbate Periodontal Defects in Bsp-null Mice
Authors: Soenjaya Y. , Foster B.L. , Nociti F.H. , Ao M. , Holdsworth D.W. , Hunter G.K. , Somerman M.J. , Goldberg H.A.
Published: July 2015

Bone sialoprotein (BSP) is an acidic phosphoprotein with collagen-binding, cell attachment, and hydroxyapatite-nucleating properties. BSP expression in mineralized tissues is upregulated at onset of mineralization. Bsp-null ( Bsp-/-) mice exhibit reductions in bone mineral density, bone turnover, osteoclast activation, and impaired bone healing. Furthermore, Bsp-/- mice have marked periodontal tissue breakdown, with a lack of acellular cementum leading to periodontal ligament detachment, extensive alveolar bone and tooth root resorption, and incisor malocclusion. We hypothesized that altered mechanical stress from mastication contributes to periodontal destruction observed in Bsp-/- mice. This hypothesis was tested by comparing Bsp-/- and wild-type mice fed with standard hard pellet diet or soft powder diet. Dentoalveolar tissues were analyzed using histology and micro–computed tomography. By 8 wk of age, Bsp-/- mice exhibited molar and incisor malocclusion regardless of diet. Bsp-/- mice with hard pellet diet exhibited high incidence (30%) of severe incisor malocclusion, 10% lower body weight, 3% reduced femur length, and 30% elevated serum alkaline phosphatase activity compared to wild type. Soft powder diet reduced severe incisor malocclusion incidence to 3% in Bsp-/- mice, supporting the hypothesis that occlusal loading contributed to the malocclusion phenotype. Furthermore, Bsp-/- mice in the soft powder diet group featured normal body weight, long bone length, and serum alkaline phosphatase activity, suggesting that tooth dysfunction and malnutrition contribute to growth and skeletal defects reported in Bsp-/- mice. Bsp-/- incisors also erupt at a slower rate, which likely leads to the observed thickened dentin and enhanced mineralization of dentin and enamel toward the apical end. We propose that the decrease in eruption rate is due to a lack of acellular cementum and associated defective periodontal attachment. These data demonstrate the importance of BSP in maintaining proper periodontal function and alveolar bone remodeling and point to dental dysfunction as causative factor of skeletal defects observed in Bsp-/- mice.
Bortezomib Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis and Porphyromonas gingivalis Lipopolysaccharide-induced Alveolar Bone Resorption
Authors: Kim Y.-G. , Kang J.H. , Kim H.J. , Kim H.J. , Kim H.-H. , Kim J.-Y. , Lee Y.
Published: July 2015

Healthy bone is maintained by the coordinated activities of osteoblast-mediated bone formation and osteoclast-dependent bone resorption. Pathologic conditions such as hormonal imbalance and inflammation cause increased osteoclastogenesis resulting in osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and periodontitis. Bortezomib is novel antimyeloma agent that has a direct beneficial effect on bone formation. However, the role of bortezomib in osteoclastogenesis and underlying mechanisms remains to be fully comprehended. In the present study, we show that bortezomib directly inhibited the receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL)– and lipopolysaccharide-dependent osteoclast differentiation. Interestingly, the bortezomib-mediated inhibition of osteoclastogenesis was transient, since the removal of bortezomib from culture completely restored osteoclast differentiation. Bortezomib impeded the induction and nuclear localization of nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic 1 and reduced both macrophage colony-stimulating factor– and RANKL-induced extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation. In a mouse model of periodontitis, bortezomib prevented alveolar bone erosion induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide. These data not only suggest a previously unappreciated mechanism by which bortezomib regulates bone resorption but also propose novel applications of bortezomib beyond its use as an antimyeloma agent.
External Dentin Stimulation Induces ATP Release in Human Teeth
Authors: Liu X. , Wang C. , Fujita T. , Malmstrom H.S. , Nedergaard M. , Ren Y.F. , Dirksen R.T.
Published: July 2015

ATP is involved in neurosensory processing, including nociceptive transduction. Thus, ATP signaling may participate in dentin hypersensitivity and dental pain. In this study, we investigated whether pannexins, which can form mechanosensitive ATP-permeable channels, are present in human dental pulp. We also assessed the existence and functional activity of ecto-ATPase for extracellular ATP degradation. We further tested if ATP is released from dental pulp upon dentin mechanical or thermal stimulation that induces dentin hypersensitivity and dental pain and if pannexin or pannexin/gap junction channel blockers reduce stimulation-dependent ATP release. Using immunofluorescence staining, we demonstrated immunoreactivity of pannexin 1 and 2 in odontoblasts and their processes extending into the dentin tubules. Using enzymatic histochemistry staining, we also demonstrated functional ecto-ATPase activity within the odontoblast layer, subodontoblast layer, dental pulp nerve bundles, and blood vessels. Using an ATP bioluminescence assay, we found that mechanical or cold stimulation to the exposed dentin induced ATP release in an in vitro human tooth perfusion model. We further demonstrated that blocking pannexin/gap junction channels with probenecid or carbenoxolone significantly reduced external dentin stimulation–induced ATP release. Our results provide evidence for the existence of functional machinery required for ATP release and degradation in human dental pulp and that pannexin channels are involved in external dentin stimulation–induced ATP release. These findings support a plausible role for ATP signaling in dentin hypersensitivity and dental pain.
Orthodontic Force Induces Systemic Inflammatory Monocyte Responses
Authors: Zeng M. , Kou X. , Yang R. , Liu D. , Wang X. , Song Y. , Zhang J. , Yan Y. , Liu F. , He D. , Gan Y. , Zhou Y.
Published: July 2015

Periodontal inflammation and alveolar bone remodeling during orthodontic tooth movement are considered regional reactions. However, how systemic immune responses are involved in this regional reaction remains unclear. In this study, we explored the systemic effects of orthodontic force by focusing on the mononuclear phagocyte system. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the percentage of inflammatory monocytes, in peripheral blood and in the monocyte reservoir spleen, decreased on days 1 and 3 and then recovered on day 7 after force application. Along with the systemic decrease of inflammatory monocyte percentage, the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase–positive osteoclasts increased in the compression side of the periodontal tissue during orthodontic tooth movement. Systemic transfusion of enhanced green fluorescent protein–labeled inflammatory monocytes showed recruitment of these monocytes to the orthodontic force compression side of periodontal tissues. These monocytes were colocalized with tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase–positive osteoclasts. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that orthodontic force could upregulate the expression of pivotal monocyte chemokine monocyte chemotactic protein 1 in periodontal tissues or cultured periodontal ligament cells, which may contribute to monocyte recruitment to regional sites. These data suggest that orthodontic force induces systemic immune responses related to inflammatory monocytes and that systemic inflammatory monocytes can be recruited to periodontal tissues by orthodontic force stimulus.
Soft Tissue Alterations in Esthetic Postextraction Sites
Authors: Chappuis V. , Engel O. , Shahim K. , Reyes M. , Katsaros C. , Buser D.
Published: July 2015

Dimensional alterations of the facial soft and bone tissues following tooth extraction in the esthetic zone play an essential role to achieve successful outcomes in implant therapy. This prospective study is the first to investigate the interplay between the soft tissue dimensions and the underlying bone anatomy during an 8-wk healing period. The analysis is based on sequential 3-dimensional digital surface model superimpositions of the soft and bone tissues using digital impressions and cone beam computed tomography during an 8-wk healing period. Soft tissue thickness in thin and thick bone phenotypes at extraction was similar, averaging 0.7 mm and 0.8 mm, respectively. Interestingly, thin bone phenotypes revealed a 7-fold increase in soft tissue thickness after an 8-wk healing period, whereas in thick bone phenotypes, the soft tissue dimensions remained unchanged. The observed spontaneous soft tissue thickening in thin bone phenotypes resulted in a vertical soft tissue loss of only 1.6 mm, which concealed the underlying vertical bone resorption of 7.5 mm. Because of spontaneous soft tissue thickening, no significant differences were detected in the total tissue loss between thin and thick bone phenotypes at 2, 4, 6, and 8 wk. More than 51% of these dimensional alterations occurred within 2 wk of healing. Even though the observed spontaneous soft tissue thickening in thin bone phenotypes following tooth extraction conceals the pronounced underlying bone resorption pattern by masking the true bone deficiency, spontaneous soft tissue thickening offers advantages for subsequent bone regeneration and implant therapies in sites with high esthetic demand (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02403700).
Oral Health Inequalities
Authors: Gupta E. , Robinson P.G. , Marya C.M. , Baker S.R.
Published: July 2015

Recent research has emphasized the relationships between environmental and individual factors that may influence population oral health and lead to health inequalities. However, little is known about the effect of interactions between environmental and individual factors on inequalities in clinical (e.g., decayed teeth) and subjective oral health outcomes (e.g., oral health–related quality of life [OHQoL]). This cohort study aimed to explore the direct and mediated longitudinal interrelationships between key environmental and individual factors on clinical and subjective oral health outcomes in adults. Self-reported measures of OHQoL and individual (sense of coherence [SOC], social support, stress, oral health beliefs, dental behaviors, and subjective socioeconomic status [SES]) and environmental factors (SES and social network) were collected at baseline and 3-mo follow-up, together with a baseline clinical examination of 495 adult employees of an automobile parts manufacturer in India. Lagged structural equation modeling was guided by the adapted Wilson and Cleary/Brunner and Marmot model linking clinical, individual, and environmental variables to quality of life. The study provides tentative evidence that SES may influence levels of resources such as social support and SOC, which mediate stress and in turn may influence subjective oral health outcomes. Accordingly, the present findings and the adapted Wilson and Cleary/Brunner and Marmot model on which they are predicted provide support for the psychosocial pathway being key in the SES–oral health relationship. The pathways through which environmental factors interact with individual factors to impact subjective oral health outcomes identified here may bring opportunities for more targeted oral health promotion strategies.
The embalming of John of Lancaster, first Duke of Bedford (1435 AD): A forensic analysis
Authors: Charlier P , Poupon J , Jeannel GF , Favier D , Popescu SM , Augias A , Huynh-Charlier I , Laquay L , Boudouma O , Dorion-Peyronnet C
Published: July 2015

During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, embalming the cadaver of the elite was common practice, being a highly technical treatment mixing vegetal and mineral substances. To assess the exact kind of embalming reserved for the dead body (with the practical necessities of desiccation and good odour), we performed a full biomedical analysis of the mummified remains of John Plantagenet of Lancaster, first Duke of Bedford, regent of France for his nephew, the English King Henri VI (died 1435 AD). Here, we show, among other aspects, that the body was embalmed using substances whose origins were in apothecary and botany: mercury, myrtle, mint, frankincense, lime and, possibly, cinnamon and copper.
Argument-Counterargument Structure in Indonesian EFL Learners’ English Argumentative Essays: A Dialogic Concept of Writing
Authors: Rusfandi
Published: July 2015

This study investigates the potential use of the argument-counterargument structure in English L2 essays written by Indonesian EFL learners. It examines whether L2 proficiency affects the use of opposing views in their essays, and measures whether there is a correlation between the use of the rhetorical structure and the participants’ overall essay quality. In order to achieve this purpose, the study asks participants to write an English argumentative essay and measures their English L2 proficiency. The researcher also requests that the participants write in Indonesian (L1) and uses the data to measure whether there is consistency in terms of the use of the argument-counterargument structure in their L1 and L2 essays. The results show that the majority of the students developed a one-sided model of argumentation in their L1 and L2 essays by focusing only on how to state their main claim and providing relevant justification for it. The students’ relatively low L2 proficiency was found to be one of the possible factors behind their inability to include other-side views in their essays. In addition, the participants’ use of rhetorical features affected the overall quality of their essays. Pedagogical implications of these findings will be discussed.
Embodying Deficiency Through ‘Affective Practice’: Shame, Relationality, and the Lived Experience of Social Class and Gender in Higher Education
Authors: Loveday Vik
Published: July 2015

Based on empirical research with participants from working-class backgrounds studying and working in higher education in England, this article examines the lived experience of shame. Building on a feminist Bourdieusian approach to social class analysis, the article contends that ‘struggles for value’ within the field of higher education precipitate classed judgements, which have the potential to generate shame. Through an examination of the ‘affective practice’ of judgement, the article explores the contingencies that precipitate shame and the embodiment of deficiency. The article links the classed and gendered dimensions of shame with valuation, arguing that the fundamental relationality of social class and gender is not only generative of shame, but that shame helps in turn to structure both working-class experience and a view of the working classes as ‘deficient’.
A Unified Approach to Measurement Error and Missing Data: Overview and Applications
Authors: Blackwell Matthew , Honaker James , King Gary
Published: July 2015

Although social scientists devote considerable effort to mitigating measurement error during data collection, they often ignore the issue during data analysis. And although many statistical methods have been proposed for reducing measurement error-induced biases, few have been widely used because of implausible assumptions, high levels of model dependence, difficult computation, or inapplicability with multiple mismeasured variables. We develop an easy-to-use alternative without these problems; it generalizes the popular multiple imputation (MI) framework by treating missing data problems as a limiting special case of extreme measurement error and corrects for both. Like MI, the proposed framework is a simple two-step procedure, so that in the second step researchers can use whatever statistical method they would have if there had been no problem in the first place. We also offer empirical illustrations, open source software that implements all the methods described herein, and a companion article with technical details and extensions.
First Equals Most Important? Order Effects in Vignette-Based Measurement
Authors: Auspurg Katrin , Jäckle Annette
Published: July 2015

To measure what determines people’s attitudes, definitions, or decisions, surveys increasingly ask respondents to judge vignettes. A vignette typically describes a hypothetical situation or object as having various attributes (dimensions). In factorial surveys, the values (levels) of dimensions are experimentally varied, so that their impact on respondents’ judgments can be estimated. Drawing on the literature in cognitive psychology and survey methodology, we examine two research questions: Does the order in which dimensions are presented impact the vignette evaluations and change substantive conclusions? Under which conditions are order effects mostly likely to occur? Using data from a web survey of 300 students, we analyze several possible moderators: features of the vignette design, characteristics of respondents, and interactions between these features. Results show that strong order effects can occur, but only when the vignettes are of a minimum complexity or respondents show a low attitude certainty.
Strategic Human Capital Management in Municipal Government
Authors: Jacobson Willow S. , Sowa Jessica E.
Published: July 2015

Growing empirical evidence supports the fact that human resource management (HRM) practices have a direct impact on organizational performance. However, recognition that the HRM function can impact the strategic direction and performance of public organizations has been a more recent shift. Local government represents a robust area to examine the capacity of government organizations to leverage their human resources (HR) to improve performance. Using data from a 2012 survey in Colorado and North Carolina, this article examines the degree to which municipal governments have implemented strategic human capital management (SHCM) practices. Results indicate that while progress had been made, there is still significant variation on the extent to which municipalities are implementing SHCM. For jurisdictions that have seen greater adoption of SHCM practices, a number of factors appear related, including the role HR plays in broader municipal strategic decision making and the perceived importance of the HR function for the municipality.
Use of a specialty clinic to teach a standardized approach to mood disorders in a family medicine residency
Authors: Kane Michelle , Manning J Sloan
Published: July 2015

The Mood Disorder Clinic was started at the Cone Family Medicine Residency in 2004 with the threefold purpose of providing a patient care service to a largely uninsured or underinsured population; teaching Family Medicine resident physicians how to more accurately identify, diagnose, and treat mood disorders in their patients; and modeling a team-based approach to addressing mental stress, distress, and dysfunction in the primary care setting. The authors present the logistics of the clinic and the standard approach to mood issues that is taught to resident physicians. Formal feedback suggests that the resident physicians find the experience useful in developing psychiatric knowledge and skills.
Designing and implementing a resiliency program for family medicine residents
Authors: Brennan Julie , McGrady Angele
Published: July 2015

Family medicine residents are at risk for burnout due to extended work hours, lack of control over their work schedule, and challenging work situations and environments. Building resiliency can prevent burnout and may improve a resident’s quality of life and health behavior. This report describes a program designed to build resiliency, the ability to bounce back from stress, in family medicine residents in a medium sized U.S. residency training program. Interactive sessions emphasized building self-awareness, coping skills, strengths and meaning in work, time management, self-care, and connections in and outside of medicine to support resident well-being. System changes which fostered wellness were also implemented. These changes included increasing the availability of fresh fruits in the conference and call room, purchasing an elliptical exercise machine for the on call room, and offering a few minutes of mindfulness meditation daily to the inpatient residents. Results to date show excellent acceptance of the program by trainees, increased consumption of nutritious foods, more personal exercise, and self-reported decreased overreactions to stress. Resiliency programs can effectively serve to meet accreditation requirements while fostering residents’ abilities to balance personal and professional demands.
Value Devolution in Social Enterprises
Authors: Valentinov Vladislav
Published: July 2015

Agafonow’s article locates the role of social enterprises in devolving value through output maximizing behavior. This short paper embeds Agafonow’s argument in the societal and institutional context by building upon Luhmann’s social systems theory. According to Luhmann, the functional system of the economy exhibits “imperatives” that cause social ills. The institutional form of social enterprises is shown to weaken these imperatives in several ways. One of these ways, discussed by Agafonow, is the substitution of profit maximization by output maximization. Other ways are the substitution of high-powered incentives by low-powered ones as elaborated in the work of Williamson and Hansmann.
The African American Student Network
Authors: Grier-Reed Tabitha , Wilson Robert J.
Published: July 2015

African American Student Network participants have shown higher rates of retention and graduation than their counterparts even after taking into account academic factors. To understand other ways these students might differ from Black students on campus, we used social network analysis to explore whether there were significant differences in demographic composition and frequency of contact with alters/connections in the ego networks of 32 African American Student Network participants and 193 other Black students at the same university. Results indicated that African American Student Network participants had more alters/connections overall and higher percentages of same race, same gender, and same university connections than their counterparts. These students also listed more females in their networks. There was no difference in ratio of family members or males in ego networks and no difference in frequency of contact with alters/connections in ego networks across groups. These results have implications for the importance of same race and same gender connections as protective factors that may facilitate social integration and educational outcomes for African American students, particularly at predominantly White institutions.
A nearly optimal control for spacecraft rendezvous with constrained controls
Authors: Liao Fei , Ji Haibo , Xie Yongchun
Published: July 2015

A neural network Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman (HJB) approach is introduced to deal with the spacecraft rendezvous problem with target spacecraft in arbitrary elliptical orbit. The Lawden equations are utilized to describe the relative motion of two spacecrafts. A generalized non-quadratic functional is introduced to describe constrained control. An approximate solution to the value function of the HJB equation corresponding to constrained controls is obtained by solving for a sequence of cost functions satisfying a sequence of Lyapunov equations. An inverse optimal controller is introduced to design the initial stabilizing admissible control for successive approximation. Furthermore, an optimal control law is obtained to stabilize the closed-loop system under constrained controls, and the spacecraft rendezvous mission can be accomplished with the nearly optimal controller. In comparison with the existing quadratic-regulation-based approaches used to deal with the rendezvous problem, which requires the value function of the nonlinear differential equations, the optimization factor and constrained control are taken into consideration simultaneously, and an approximate optimal constrained state feedback controller has been tuned a priori off-line. Stability analysis as well as simulation results are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the presented approach.
Stabilizing a camera mount using MEMS gyroscope and accelerometer
Authors: Sofla Mohammad Sheikh , Parsa Mohsen , Golshanian Hanita
Published: July 2015

This research attempts to develop a control approach for stabilizing a platform mounted on a base plate whose orientation can be arbitrarily modified. The end goal is to stabilize a camera for earth observation purposes. MEMS (micro-electromechanical system)-based gyroscopes and accelerometers are utilized as inertia references and are placed on the camera platform. The undesired drift of MEMS gyro data is eliminated by data confusion using a complementary filter. To design a stabilizing controller, first a mathematical model for the platform is developed and system uncertainties raised from the unmeasured states are shown to be bounded. Then this fact is utilized to propose an integral-based sliding mode control strategy to stabilize the platform in the inertia coordinate system under a wide variety of external angular rates and accelerations. Finally, the encouraging control performance is demonstrated experimentally.
Leader-following consensus for discrete-time descriptor multi-agent systems with observer-based protocols
Authors: Gao Lixin , Cui Yulong , Chen Wenhai , Chen Wenxiu
Published: July 2015

In this paper, the leader-following consensus problem of discrete-time descriptor multi-agent systems is considered. Each agent’s dynamics is modelled by a discrete-time linear descriptor system, and the interaction topology among the agents is assumed to be directed. To solve the multi-agent consensus problem, three different architectures of connecting observers and controllers are used to construct the consensus protocols. A kind of modified generalized algebraic Riccati equation is provided to design the protocol’s gain matrices. Based on graph theory, matrix theory and the Lyapunov method, some sufficient convergence conditions are established to guarantee the descriptor multi-agent system achieves consensus. Finally, a simulation example is provided to illustrate the obtained results.
Simultaneous structure and parameter identification of multivariate systems by matrix decomposition
Authors: Jiang Benben , Yang Fan , Huang Dexian
Published: July 2015

Structure determination and parameter identification of multivariate systems are crucial but rather difficult issues in system identification. Due to the explosive growth of process data along with the scale increase of industrial processes, directional links between variables of such complex processes are often undistinguishable, which is indispensable to model structure determination but is often assumed to be known beforehand in most identification methods. In this article, a new modelling approach is developed to simultaneously estimate the model parameters and structures (including model orders as well as the directional links between different process variables) of multivariate systems. A vector auto-regressive (VAR) form is utilized as the model formulation in this algorithm. The key technique lies in constructing an interleaved information matrix with respect to a multiple model structure formulated for the VAR representation. Then by utilizing the upper diagonal factorization, all the parameter estimates of all path models with orders from zero to m, as well as the corresponding cost function values, can be obtained simultaneously. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated via a numerical example and a distillation column system.
Co-operative control coordination of a team of underwater vehicles with communication constraints
Authors: Das Bikramaditya , Subudhi Bidyadhar , Pati Bibhuti Bhusan
Published: July 2015

Co-operative control architectures for implementation of motion plan and coordination strategies for a team of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) using different optimization techniques are presented in this paper. The paper addresses the leader–follower formation control of multiple non-holonomic AUVs where one AUV is designated as Leader and the other participating AUVs are treated as the followers. In this scenario, the leader operates according to its optimized path, while each follower is required to follow the leader accurately maintaining desired separations and orientation with respect to the leader. A communication strategy is also designed so that the AUVs can exchange information to obtain the designated waypoints that are sent from the leader following the area coverage problem. Optimization is necessary to determine the optimal path as functions of sensor nodes for control coordination of a team of AUVs satisfying the time minimization. Various optimization algorithms have been employed for control coordination and search strategies of co-operative motion control of a group of AUVs without incorporating learning and memory to evaluate the objective function. The CLONAL selection algorithm is found to be one of the best approaches to plan the formation leader motion utilizing the triangular sensor-based grid coverage technique. The efficacy of the proposed optimization approach to solve the co-operation motion of a group of AUVs is verified through MATLAB simulation studies and the results confirmed the robustness and efficiency of the proposed technique over existing search methodologies, such as Coordinate, Multi-directional, Simplex and Simultaneous Perturbation Stochastic Approximation.
To Feel or Not to Feel When My Group Harms Others? The Regulation of Collective Guilt as Motivated Reasoning
Authors: Sharvit Keren , Brambilla Marco , Babush Maxim , Colucci Francesco Paolo
Published: July 2015

Four studies tested the proposition that regulation of collective guilt in the face of harmful ingroup behavior involves motivated reasoning. Cognitive energetics theory suggests that motivated reasoning is a function of goal importance, mental resource availability, and task demands. Accordingly, three studies conducted in the United States and Israel demonstrated that high importance of avoiding collective guilt, represented by group identification (Studies 1 and 3) and conservative ideological orientation (Study 2), is negatively related to collective guilt, but only when mental resources are not depleted by cognitive load. The fourth study, conducted in Italy, demonstrated that when justifications for the ingroup’s harmful behavior are immediately available, the task of regulating collective guilt and shame becomes less demanding and less susceptible to resource depletion. By combining knowledge from the domains of motivated cognition, emotion regulation, and intergroup relations, these cross-cultural studies offer novel insights regarding factors underlying the regulation of collective guilt.
Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling With Cross-Loadings and Residual Covariances
Authors: Asparouhov Tihomir , Muthén Bengt , Morin Alexandre J. S.
Published: July 2015

A recent article in the Journal of Management gives a critique of a Bayesian approach to factor analysis proposed in Psychological Methods. This commentary responds to the authors’ critique by clarifying key issues, especially the use of priors for residual covariances. A discussion is also presented of cross-loadings and model selection tools. Simulated data are used to illustrate the ideas. A reanalysis of the example used by the authors reveals a superior model overlooked by the authors.
Measuring Self-Care in Persons With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Lu Yan , Xu Jiayun , Zhao Weigang , Han Hae-Ra
Published: July 2015

This systematic review examines the characteristics and psychometric properties of the instruments used to assess self-care behaviors among persons with type 2 diabetes. Electronic databases were searched for relevant studies published in English within the past 20 years. Thirty different instruments were identified in 75 articles: 18 original instruments on type 2 diabetes mellitus self-care, 8 translated or revised version, and 4 not specific but relevant to diabetes. Twenty-one instruments were multidimensional and addressed multiple dimensions of self-care behavior. Nine were unidimensional: three focusing exclusively on medication taking, three on diet, one on physical activity, one on self-monitoring of blood glucose, and one on oral care. Most instruments (22 of 30) were developed during the last decade. Only 10 were repeated more than once. Nineteen of the 30 instruments reported both reliability and validity information but with varying degrees of rigor. In conclusion, most instruments used to measure self-care were relatively new and had been applied to only a limited number of studies with incomplete psychometric profiles. Rigorous psychometric testing, operational definition of self-care, and sufficient explanation of scoring need to be considered for further instrument development.
Media, pluralism and democracy: what’s in a name?
Authors: Raeijmaekers Danielle , Maeseele Pieter
Published: July 2015

Media pluralism has become a buzzword in public, political, and academic discourses. However, it is generally unclear what is meant by referring to pluralistic media content or how pluralistic media should operate within democratic societies. The goal of this article is to distinguish between different conceptual and normative assumptions about media, pluralism, and democracy that demarcate the limits of analysis on media pluralism. Based on a discussion of three different schools of democracy with their corresponding media roles (the liberal, deliberative, and agonistic democracy schools), we derive two fault lines which allow us to distinguish four approaches to media pluralism. These approaches imply a different interpretation of its meaning and the standards by which it should be researched.
The exercise of symbolic power by women’s magazines from the 1960s to the present: the discursive construction of fields, positions and resources in alcohol-related texts
Authors: Törrönen Jukka , Simonen Jenni
Published: July 2015

This study analyses alcohol-related articles appearing in Finnish women’s magazines from the 1960s to the present day. Women’s magazines are approached as institutions constituting feminine publicities that address issues of interest as well as problems and contradictions in women’s everyday life. Influenced by Pierre Bourdieu’s concepts of field, habitus and capital, data analysis focuses around three main questions: (1) in what kinds of fields do the texts locate drinking; (2) what kinds of drinking-related subject positions do the texts offer their readers; and (3) what kinds of economic, social, cultural, physical, emotional and symbolic resources do they discursively construct and attach to these subject positions? The analysis shows that throughout the study period, women’s magazines’ alcohol-related texts position women readers into the realm of home and family and construct capitals that reinforce a ‘caring ethics’. On the other hand, from the 1990s onwards, alcohol-related texts in women’s magazines also begin to assign women to consumer positions of hedonistic consumer, rational consumer, status-oriented consumer, expert consumer and the consumer who is keen to break away from formality and construct capitals for these positions as well as wage through them a symbolic struggle over which lifestyles are ‘in’ and which are ‘out’.
Pro-anorexia/bulimia censorship and public service announcements: the price of controlling women
Authors: Schott Nicole Danielle , Langan Debra
Published: July 2015

Individuals, particularly women, are fixated on weight loss, driven by the goal of achieving a ‘skinny’ female physique that is desirable in western/ized cultures. There are online forums where individuals refer to themselves or their eating disorders as ‘pro-ana’ and ‘pro-mia’; their posts on these sites both align with, and challenge, what medical and mental health professionals define as serious mental health problems. In February 2012, the social media website Tumblr announced a policy to censor these online communities and use public service announcements (PSAs) to address ‘the problem’. Embracing contemporary ethnographic sensibilities, we present analyses that are attentive to nuanced meanings, and provide a critical feminist, sociological analysis of online comments from those who responded to the censorship and PSA policy. We argue that censorship extends the patriarchal control of women and that PSAs further the vested interests of corporate entities who profit from the marketing of services.
Patterns of Vulnerabilities and Resources in U.S. Military Families
Authors: Trail Thomas E. , Meadows Sarah O. , Miles Jeremy N. , Karney Benjamin R.
Published: July 2015

The appropriate format for services supporting military families depends on how vulnerabilities and resources are distributed across and within those families. If different types of vulnerabilities cluster together, then programs supporting families should combine multiple services rather than targeting specific concerns. Yet scant data exist about how vulnerabilities and resources covary within military families. The current study addressed this issue through a latent class analysis of data on a wide range of domains obtained from a stratified random sample of 1,981 deployable, active component, married servicemembers and their spouses. Within married deployable servicemembers, results indicated that vulnerabilities and resources cluster together within individuals; servicemembers at high risk in one domain are likely to be high risk in multiple domains. This is less the case for spouses. One or both spouses are vulnerable in 39% of couples. These results support programs that provide vulnerable military families with more comprehensive services.
Effect of Preferred Music on Agitation After Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Park Soohyun , Williams Reg Arthur , Lee Donghyun
Published: July 2015

Agitation is a common behavioral problem after traumatic brain injury (TBI), which threatens the safety of patients and caregivers and disrupts the rehabilitation process. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a preferred music intervention on the reduction of agitation in TBI patients and to compare the effects of preferred music with those of classical “relaxation” music. A single group, within-subjects, randomized crossover trial design was formed, consisting of 14 agitated patients with cognitive impairment after severe TBI. Patients listened to preferred music and classical “relaxation” music, with a wash-out period in between. Patients listening to the preferred music reported a significantly greater reduction in agitation compared with the effect seen during the classical “relaxation” music intervention ( p = .046). These findings provide preliminary evidence that the preferred music intervention may be effective as an environmental therapeutic approach for reducing agitation after TBI.
A Comparison of Bipolar Electrocautery and Chemical Cautery for Control of Pediatric Recurrent Anterior Epistaxis
Authors: Johnson Nathan , Faria John , Behar Philomena
Published: July 2015

Objective

To compare the outcome of children with anterior epistaxis treated intraoperatively with either bipolar electrocautery or silver nitrate chemical cautery.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Tertiary‐care pediatric otolaryngology practice.

Subjects

Children aged 2 to 18 years treated with either intraoperative bipolar electrocautery or silver nitrate chemical cautery of the anterior nasal septum for recurrent anterior epistaxis.

Methods

Any reported bleeding event after surgery was recorded. The mean time from surgery to recurrent epistaxis was compared between groups.

Results

Fifty patients underwent bipolar electrocautery, while 60 patients underwent silver nitrate chemical cautery. Within 2 years, 1 (2%) patient in the bipolar electrocautery group and 13 (22%) patients in the silver nitrate chemical cautery group had recurrent epistaxis (P =. 003). Two years after treatment, there was no difference between treatment groups. Overall, 4 patients (8%) had recurrent epistaxis postoperatively in the bipolar electrocautery group at a mean of 4.34 years after treatment, while 17 (28.3%) patients recurred after a mean of 1.53 years of treatment in the silver nitrate chemical cautery group (P =. 01).

Conclusion

Compared to those treated with chemical cautery, those treated with bipolar electrocautery had a longer nosebleed‐free period and a lower incidence of recurrent epistaxis within 2 years of treatment. Beyond 2 years, the treatment methods are equivocal. Bipolar electrocautery may be a superior treatment in children who will not tolerate in‐office chemical cautery, in those with a risk of severe bleeding, or when it can be combined with other operative procedures.
The Changing Landscape of Vestibular Schwannoma Management in the United States—A Shift Toward Conservatism
Authors: Carlson Matthew L. , Habermann Elizabeth B. , Wagie Amy E. , Driscoll Colin L. , Van Gompel Jamie J. , Jacob Jeffrey T. , Link Michael J.
Published: July 2015

Objective

To characterize the evolving management of vestibular schwannoma (VS) in the United States.

Study Design

Retrospective analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

Setting

SEER database.

Subjects and Methods

All patients with a diagnosis of VS were analyzed. Data were described and compared using trend analyses and univariate and multivariable logistic regression.

Results

A total of 8330 patients (average age 54.7 years, 51.9% female) were analyzed. The mean incidence was approximately 1.1 per 100,000 per year and did not vary significantly across time; however, from 2004 to 2011, there was a statistically significant decrease in tumor size category at time of diagnosis (P <. 01). Overall, 3982 patients (48%) received primary microsurgery, 1978 (24%) radiation therapy alone, and 2370 (29%) observation. Within the microsurgical cohort, 732 (18%) underwent subtotal resection, and of those, 98 (13.4%) received postoperative radiation therapy. Multivariable regression revealed that surgical treatment was more common in younger patients and larger tumor size categories (P <. 05). Management trend analysis revealed that microsurgery was used less frequently over time (P <. 0001), observation was used more frequently (P <. 0001), and the pattern of radiation therapy remained unchanged. Linear regression was used to create an equation that was applied to predict future management practices. These data predict that by 2026, half of all cases of VS will be managed initially with observation.

Conclusion

While the incidence of VS has remained steady, tumor size at time of diagnosis has decreased over time. Within the United States there has been a clear, recent evolution in management toward observation.
Occult Temporal Bone Facial Nerve Involvement by Parotid Malignancies with Perineural Spread
Authors: Carlson Matthew L. , Patel Neil S. , Modest Mara C. , Moore Eric J. , Janus Jeffrey R. , Olsen Kerry D.
Published: July 2015

Objective

To characterize disease presentation and outcomes following surgical treatment of parotid malignancies with occult temporal bone facial nerve (FN) involvement.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Tertiary academic referral center.

Subjects and Methods

Thirty consecutive patients (mean age 58 years; 77% men) who underwent surgery for parotid malignancies with occult perineural involvement of the intratemporal FN were included. Primary outcome measures included margin status and recurrence.

Results

The mean duration of clinical follow‐up was 49 months, and the most common presenting symptom was FN paresis (n = 23; 77%) followed by pain (n = 15; 50%). To obtain a proximal FN margin, 27 patients (90%) underwent mastoidectomy, and 3 patients (10%) had lateral temporal bone resection. The intratemporal FN margin was cleared in 26 patients (87%), most commonly in the mastoid segment (60%). Adjuvant therapy was given in 25 patients (83%). Ten patients (33%) experienced locoregional (4; 13%) and/or distant (8; 27%) recurrence at a median of 19 months (mean 26, 2–54 months) following surgery. Locoregional failure was significantly more common in cases with a positive intratemporal FN margin (66% vs 8%; P =. 045). Overall 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year disease‐specific survival rates were 83%, 79%, and 72%, respectively.

Conclusions

Perineural invasion of the intratemporal FN by parotid malignancy is uncommon. Normal preoperative FN function does not preclude histopathologic involvement. Temporal bone FN exploration should be considered when a positive margin is encountered at the stylomastoid foramen, as failure to do so is associated with an increased rate of locoregional recurrence.
Supporting language in schools: Evaluating an intervention for children with delayed language in the early school years
Authors: Lee Wendy , Pring Tim
Published: July 2015

Extensive evidence exists that many children who experience early socio-economic disadvantage have delayed language development. These delays have been shown to exist when children start school and appear to persist through their education. Interventions that can help these children are desirable to ease the difficulties they have in school and to address the loss in human capital which these children represent. We evaluated an intervention (Talk Boost) to treat children’s receptive and expressive language in the early school years. A between-schools design was used. Eighteen schools in socially deprived areas were randomly assigned to receive the intervention or to act as waiting controls. Children in reception classes and in Years 1 and 2 attended language groups. The evaluation used the standard procedure for the intervention. Teachers were given guidance on selecting appropriate children, and the intervention was carried out by teaching assistants; 180 children participated. Those with English as their first language and those learning it as an additional language increased their scores significantly more than did controls. Most of the children selected had significant delays, which did not diminish as they advanced in school. Despite their improvement the treated children remained behind the expected level for their age after the intervention. These findings add to previous evidence that intervention can help children who start school with delayed language. There appears to be insufficient awareness of the communication needs of these children and of their likely inability to access other areas of the curriculum as a result.
Critical success factors for enterprise search
Authors: White Martin
Published: July 2015

Enterprise search is now an essential tool for employees. In this article, I introduce 12 factors critical to the successful implementation and sustainability of quality search applications. Ranging from content quality, the position of search in an integrated information management strategy and adequate support for users, perhaps the most important is recognizing that the process of ensuring that search is meeting user requirements never comes to an end. That few organizations have made a considered commitment to ensuring that employees can find the information they need when they need it is highlighted by large-scale surveys of the state of enterprise search. The result is confusion and inefficiency whilst ideally users want to find information that they can trust to make decisions that count. This can be removed if the introduction of a search tool is planned within an organizational information management strategy and with a clear understanding of user needs.