bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of whole-body vibration on balance and mobility in institutionalized older adults: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Lam Freddy MH , Chan Philip FL , Liao LR , Woo Jean , Hui Elsie , Lai Charles WK , Kwok Timothy CY , Pang Marco YC
Published: October 2017

Objective:

To investigate whether a comprehensive exercise program was effective in improving physical function among institutionalized older adults and whether adding whole-body vibration to the program conferred additional therapeutic benefits.

Design:

A single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted.

Setting:

This study was carried out in residential care units.

Participants:

In total, 73 older adults (40 women, mean age: 82.3 ± 7.3 years) were enrolled into this study.

Interventions:

Participants were randomly allocated to one of the three groups: strength and balance program combined with whole-body vibration, strength and balance program without whole-body vibration, and social and recreational activities consisting of upper limb exercises only. All participants completed three training sessions per week for eight weeks.

Outcome measures:

Assessment of mobility, balance, lower limb strength, walking endurance, and self-perceived balance confidence were conducted at baseline and immediately after the eight-week intervention. Incidences of falls requiring medical attention were recorded for one year after the end of the training period.

Results:

A significant time × group interaction was found for lower limb strength (five-times-sit-to-stand test; P = 0.048), with the exercise-only group showing improvement (pretest: 35.8 ± 16.1 seconds; posttest: 29.0 ± 9.8 seconds), compared with a decline in strength among controls (pretest: 27.1 ± 10.4 seconds; posttest: 28.7 ± 12.3 seconds; P = 0.030). The exercise with whole-body vibration group had a significantly better outcome in balance confidence (pretest: 39.2 ± 29.0; posttest: 48.4 ± 30.6) than the exercise-only group (pretest: 35.9 ± 24.8; posttest: 38.2 ± 26.5; P = 0.033).

Conclusion:

The exercise program was effective in improving lower limb strength among institutionalized older adults but adding whole-body vibration did not enhance its effect. Whole-body vibration may improve balance confidence without enhancing actual balance performance.
Bystander Intervention in Bullying: Role of Social Skills and Gender
Authors: Jenkins Lyndsay N. , Nickerson Amanda B.
Published: October 2017

The Bystander Intervention Model proposed by social psychologists Latané and Darley has been used to examine the actions of peer bystanders in bullying. The five-stage model consists of notice the event, interpret event as an emergency, accept responsibility for intervening, know how to intervene, and implement intervention decisions. The current study examined associations among gender, social skills, and the bystander intervention model among 299 sixth- to eighth-grade students. Analyses revealed that girls reported significantly greater cooperation and empathy, and noticed bullying events, interpreted them as an emergency, and intervened more often than boys. The best fitting structural equation model included both empathy and cooperation, with significant positive path coefficients between empathy and bystander intervention. Students with greater empathy were more likely to engage with each step of the model, except noticing the event. Assertiveness was positively associated and cooperation was negatively associated with greater knowledge of how to intervene.
Emotional reactions to music in depressed individuals
Authors: Sakka Laura S. , Juslin Patrik N.
Published: October 2017

Music is often used to alleviate depression, an affective disorder. Yet, little is known about how listeners suffering from depression respond emotionally to music. The goal of this study was to investigate whether listeners show different patterns of emotional reactions to music depending on level of depression. In previous research, depression has been linked with negative biases in cognitive processes such as memory and attention. Here we indirectly investigated whether such biases may also influence psychological mechanisms involved in the arousal of emotions during musical experiences. Seventy-seven listeners (19–65 years old) took part in an experiment which compared depressed individuals with non-depressed controls. The participants listened to music stimuli designed to target specific induction mechanisms (brain stem reflex, contagion, episodic memory), and were asked to rate felt emotions. Based on previous studies on cognitive bias, we made predictions about how depression would affect reactions to each stimulus. The predictions received partial support: depressed listeners reported significantly lower levels of happiness in the memory condition and non-significantly higher levels of anxiety in the brain stem condition, than did controls. Conversely, no difference in reported sadness was found in the contagion condition. Observed differences were mainly attributable to the severely depressed listeners.
Jehuites, Ahabites, and Omrides: Blood Kinship and Bloodshed
Authors: Baruchi-Unna Amitai
Published: October 2017

Hypothesizing that Jehu was a scion of the royal family founded by Omri, as the inscriptions of Shalmaneser of Assyria suggest, this article aims at clarifying the way the ancient sources referring to Jehu's coup present the accompanying bloodshed as affecting ‘the House of Ahab’ alone. Jehu's identification as Ahab's kinsman clarifies the positions he held under the Ahabites—bodyguard and general—presupposing royal personal trust. Jehu's status as an Omride may explain his decision to leave Jezreel, the capital of the Ahabites, not to establish a new capital, but to rule from Samaria, the capital founded by Omri, who is suggested to have been their common forefather.
Battle of the Sexes: Gender and the City in the Song of Songs
Authors: James Elaine
Published: October 2017

This article considers the significance of the city in the Song of Songs as a landscape, that is, a cityscape. It explores how contemporary theorizations of the city, especially landscape urbanism, can illuminate patterns of poetic use in the Song. It argues that the Song's use of the motif of the city is highly ambivalent, evoking the twin themes of protection and vulnerability. The Song playfully casts the lovers in a battle of the sexes, in which the young woman is a threatened city, and her lover is the encroaching enemy. Ultimately, the Song imagines the city as a body–-dependent on and susceptible to its surrounding environment, gendered female according to the conventions of the ancient world, and evocative of desire.
Quality of Life for Late Life Patients: Mixed-Methods Evaluation of a Whole-Person Approach for Patients With Chronic Illnesses
Authors: Shippee Tetyana , Shippee Nathan , Fernstrom Karl , Mobley Patrick , Frazer Monica , Jou Judy , Britt Heather
Published: October 2017

Quality of life (QOL) for patients with serious illness in late life is important for patients and policy makers and has implications for improved care delivery. This mixed-methods evaluation examined the effectiveness of a new whole-person approach to late life care—the LifeCourse—which provides patients with ongoing, across-setting assistance from lay health care workers, supported by a clinical team. We investigated whether participation in LifeCourse improves QOL for intervention patients, compared with usual care controls. QOL was assessed using baseline and 6 months Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Palliative version tool ( n = 181 patients and 126 controls). LifeCourse had a significant positive effect on overall QOL for patients when compared with controls. Interview data revealed that participants adjusted expectations when assessing QOL and actively sought out ways to maintain QOL with meaningful activities and needed services. LifeCourse offers a promising model for improving QOL for late life patients.
Time to Occurrence Based on Risk Stratification of Hospital-Acquired Venous Thromboembolism: A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Tatara Alexandra W. , Ruegger Melanie , Adeola Mobolaji , Putney David
Published: October 2017

Background:

In-hospital venous thromboembolism (VTE) causes significant morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. The objective of our study is to determine the time to in-hospital VTE based on baseline risk stratification.

Methods:

All adult patients admitted to a 900-bed academic tertiary referral hospital who developed a VTE during hospital admission from September 1, 2011, to June 30, 2015, were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were excluded if they were younger than 18 years or if the VTE was present on admission.

Results:

The cohort included 400 patients, 224 (56%) males, median age 66 years. The median time to VTE was 8 days. Significant differences in time to VTE existed between the risk groups.

Conclusion:

Time to VTE in a broad hospitalized patient population differs based on admission risk group. This finding highlights the importance of performing risk assessment upon admission and subsequently with clinical changes to assess increases in risk scores.
Investigations on the Influence of Zidovudine in the Pharmacokinetics of Isoniazid and Its Hepatotoxic Metabolites in Rats
Authors: Ramanathan Raghu , Sivanesan Karthikeyan
Published: October 2017

The HIV-infected patients are co-infected with many bacterial infections in which tuberculosis is most common found worldwide. These patients are often administered with combined therapy of anti-retroviral and anti-tubercular drugs which leads to several complications including hepatotoxicity or adverse drug interactions. The drug-drug interactions between the anti-retroviral and anti-tubercular drugs are not clearly defined and hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions of Zidovudine (AZT) with Isoniazid (INH) and its hepatotoxic metabolites. Seventy two rats were randomly divided into two major groups with their sub-groups each comprising 6 animals. The Group I received INH alone at a dose of 25 mg/kg; b.w and Group II received AZT (50 mg/kg; b.w) along with INH orally. Pharmacokinetic studies of INH and its metabolites i.e., acetyl hydrazine (ACHY) and hydrazine (HYD) shows that INH and ACHY attains maximum plasma concentration ( Cmax) within 30 minutes and HYD attains Cmax at 1 hour after INH administration and all these analytes disappear from plasma within 4 hours. Pharmacokinetic studies also revealed that AZT treatment did not showed any drug-drug interactions and have no effect on the T1/2, plasma clearance, AUC, Cmax and Tmax of INH and its hepatotoxic metabolites.
Development of a Statewide Antibiogram to Assess Regional Trends in Antibiotic-Resistant ESKAPE Organisms
Authors: Guarascio Anthony J. , Brickett Laura M. , Porter Timothy J. , Lee Nancy D. , Gorse Erin E. , Covvey Jordan R.
Published: October 2017

Background:

Hospitals and other facilities utilize antibiograms as tools for optimal antibiotic selection. Currently, no measures compare broad trends on the regional level, despite interest for more comprehensive data, particularly for antibiotic-resistant ESKAPE organisms.

Objective:

To collect and compare regional health-care facility antibiogram data for ESKAPE organisms to form a cumulative antibiogram.

Methods:

Health-care facilities were identified using the publicly accessible Pennsylvania Department of Health web site. Facilities were contacted by phone from June 2015 to 2016 to ascertain participation/consent for the study. An electronic questionnaire ascertained baseline facility characteristics. Facilities provided quantitative antibiotic susceptibility data via antibiograms. Antibiogram data were synthesized as cumulative susceptibilities, stratified by urban/suburban versus rural location.

Results:

Forty-five facilities were included in the study (n = 18 urban/suburban, n = 27 rural). The overall prevalence of methicillin-resistant S aureus was 41.5%, stratified at 40.6% and 43.3% in urban/suburban and rural facilities, respectively ( P < .001). Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus prevalence was 18.8% overall, with 27.7% in urban/suburban and 14.0% in rural facilities ( P < .001). Generally, lower susceptibility rates were found for high-utilization beta-lactams across gram-negative organisms in urban/suburban facilities.

Conclusions:

Development of a regional cumulative antibiogram that targets key ESKAPE pathogens is feasible, while observed trends may help aid future antimicrobial stewardship efforts.
Bridging the Gaps in Employee Volunteering: Why the Third Sector Doesn’t Always Win
Authors: Cook Joanne , Burchell Jon
Published: October 2017

Employee Volunteering (EV) schemes represent a cornerstone of many company Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies, being identified as a classic “win-win” situation in which businesses contribute significant resources into local communities while gaining a more skilled and engaged workforce and increased reputational benefits. This article questions the “win-win” scenario of EV arguing that existing research has focused predominantly upon the business–employee dimension while largely ignoring the role of third sector organizations engaging in these relationships. By focusing more directly on third sector experiences, the article identifies four “gaps” which place considerable constraints on the reach and impact of EV. It demonstrates the importance of not simply presuming a “win” for the third sector and the added value that can be gained from redirecting EV research toward the “business/nonprofit interface.”
A time suboptimal method for real-time spacecraft attitude agile maneuvering with angular velocity constraint
Authors: Wu Yun-Hua , Hu Ya-Bo , Hua Bing , Chen Zhi-Ming , Ge Lin-Lin
Published: October 2017

A time suboptimal method for on-orbit rapid attitude maneuver control of agile spacecraft with attitude angular velocity constraint is proposed, which can generate suboptimal control torque command for real-time application. Spacecraft time-optimal slew maneuver has been studied by many researchers, and most of the interest is focused on formulating and resolving the optimization problem of spacecraft attitude maneuver in proper ways. Pseudospectral method, among most of the existing methods, is feasible to figure out the preferred solution satisfying the control precision, which possesses the values of practical application. However, pseudospectral method consumes much time for planning attitude trajectory making it impossible for on-orbit spacecraft real-time control, especially for observation mission with frequent maneuver. After thorough analysis of the time optimal attitude maneuvering results, several patterns with respect to the generation of attitude control command are summarized that result in an interpolation control method, which is time suboptimal and is capable of on-orbit real-time application for spacecraft with small products of inertia. Closed-loop control is implemented to cancel the final pointing error. Several simulations have been performed to validate the performance of the proposed strategy, and have demonstrated the potential application for small agile spacecraft with limited attitude control ability.
Trajectory control method of stratospheric airships based on model predictive control in wind field
Authors: Zhang Jiashi , Yang Xixiang , Deng Xiaolong , Lin Huijing
Published: October 2017

Trajectory control of the stratospheric airship is an important but challenging task due to the characteristics of large inertia, long time delay, and large disturbance with wind field. Based on six-degrees-of-freedom dynamic model and kinetic model, this paper proposes a model predictive control method for the trajectory control of stratospheric airship in wind field. The aerostatics, aerodynamics, and flight mechanics are incorporated into the model with consideration of wind interference. By linearization of the dynamics equations by small perturbations method, a trajectory controller is designed using model predictive control method. A simulation program is developed from the model and is applied to analyze the control response of the high altitude airship. Results show that the method has a fast response and high accuracy trajectory control in wind field. A simulation comparison of airship performance with model predictive control and traditional sliding mode control shows that model predictive control can give a higher tracking accuracy at initial stage.
Attitudes to evolution among Christians, Muslims and the Non-Religious in Britain: Differential effects of religious and educational factors
Authors: Unsworth Amy , Voas David
Published: October 2017

According to poll results and media reports, Britain has a significant and growing number of creationists. However, little scholarly research has been carried out to explore this phenomenon. We present results from a national survey of 6020 individuals to give a comprehensive picture of contemporary public attitudes to evolution in Britain. Furthermore, we explore the effects of religion and education on attitudes to evolution. Unique to this study, we analyse the effects of attending a religiously affiliated school (‘faith school’) on acceptance of evolutionary theory. We examine these effects in the general population, and additionally, across different Christian, Muslim and Non-Religious subpopulations. Results give strong evidence that the number of creationists has been overstated previously. We find the effect of education is complex and varies between different religious groups, but that faith school attendance is associated with more acceptance of evolution for people belonging to groups that tend to reject it.
Religious Communities and Human Flourishing
Authors: VanderWeele Tyler J.
Published: October 2017

Participation in religious services is associated with numerous aspects of human flourishing, including happiness and life satisfaction, mental and physical health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, and close social relationships. Evidence for the effects of religious communities on these flourishing outcomes now comes from rigorous longitudinal study designs with extensive confounding control. The associations with flourishing are much stronger for communal religious participation than for spiritual-religious identity or for private practices. While the social support is an important mechanism relating religion to health, this only explains a small portion of the associations. Numerous other mechanisms appear to be operative as well. It may be the confluence of the religious values and practices, reinforced by social ties and norms, that give religious communities their powerful effects on so many aspects of human flourishing.
Catastrophic Health Expenditure Among Colorectal Cancer Patients and Families: A Case of Malaysia
Authors: Azzani Meram , Yahya Abqariyah , Roslani April Camilla , Su Tin Tin
Published: October 2017

This study aimed to estimate the cost of colorectal cancer (CRC) management and to explore the prevalence and determinants of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) among CRC patients and their families arising from the costs of CRC management. Data were collected prospectively from 138 CRC patients. Patients were interviewed by using a structured questionnaire at the time of the diagnosis, then at 6 months and 12 months following diagnosis. Simple descriptive methods and multivariate binary logistic regression were used in the analysis. The mean cost of managing CRC was RM8306.9 (US$2595.9), and 47.8% of patients’ families experienced CHE. The main determinants of CHE were the economic status of the family and the likelihood of the patient undergoing surgery. The results of this study strongly suggest that stakeholders and policy makers should provide individuals with financial protection against the consequences of cancer, a costly illness that often requires prolonged treatment.
Brexpiprazole: a new leaf on the partial dopamine agonist branch
Authors: Hope Judy , Castle David , Keks Nicholas A
Published: October 2017

Objectives:

Brexpiprazole is a new dopamine partial agonist antipsychotic in the same class as aripiprazole. This paper will briefly review brexpiprazole and compare it with aripiprazole.

Conclusions:

Brexpiprazole and aripiprazole are both partial agonists at dopamine D2, and serotonin 5-HT1A and antagonists at serotonin 5-HT2A and noradrenergic α1B receptors. However, the two drugs are significantly different in potencies at various receptors; neurochemical profiles predict that brexpiprazole may be comparable with aripiprazole in its antipsychotic efficacy but may cause less akathisia, extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) and activation. In pivotal trials brexpiprazole demonstrated antipsychotic efficacy in short and long-term studies; it was also found to be an effective adjunct in patients with major depression resistant to antidepressants. Akathisia can occur early in treatment with brexpiprazole, as can minor weight gain and prolactin elevation. Indirect data extrapolations from pivotal studies suggest that brexpiprazole and aripiprazole have comparable efficacy but brexpiprazole may cause less akathisia. Like aripiprazole, brexpiprazole has been approved in the USA for use in schizophrenia and antidepressant-resistant depression. Although much more clinical experience is needed, brexpiprazole appears to be distinct from aripiprazole and a promising new ‘metabolically-friendly’ antipsychotic option for treatment of psychoses and mood disorders.
Disclosure and Fit Capability of the Filtering Facepiece Respirator
Authors: Lofgren Don J.
Published: October 2017

The filtering facepiece air-purifying respirator is annually purchased in the tens of millions and widely used for worker protection from harmful airborne particulates. The workplace consumers of this safety product, i.e., employers, workers, and safety and health professionals, have assurances of its effectiveness through the respirator certification and disclosure requirements of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. However, the certification of a critical performance requirement has been missing for the approved filtering facepiece respirator since 1995: fit capability. Without this certification, consumers continue to be at risk of purchasing a respirator model that may fit a small percentage of the intended users. This commentary updates and expands an earlier one by this author, addresses the consequences of poorly fitting certified models on the market and lack of disclosure, and calls for further action by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to meet the needs and expectations of the consumer.
A “Collective Effort to Make Yourself Feel Better”: The Group Process in Mindfulness-Based Interventions
Authors: Cormack Dulcie , Jones Fergal W. , Maltby Michael
Published: October 2017

There is growing interest in mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in the management of multiple physical and mental health issues. Although MBIs utilize a group format, research on how this format impacts teaching and learning mindfulness is lacking. This study aimed to develop a detailed theory of MBI group processes utilizing a grounded theory methodology. This article presents our subsequent model, developed from semistructured interviews conducted with MBI students, teachers, and trainers ( N = 12). A core category, the group as a vessel on a shared journey, and three higher-order categories emerged from the data. They illustrate how MBI group processes navigate a characteristic path. Teachers build and steer the group “vessel” in a way that fosters a specific culture and sense of safety. The group is facilitated to share communal experiences that augment learning and enrich mindfulness practice. Limitations and implications for clinicians and researchers are discussed.
Evaluations of Men in Domestic Roles in Canada, Norway, Poland, and India
Authors: Kosakowska-Berezecka Natasza , Safdar Saba , Jurek Paweł , Bhardwaj Gopa
Published: October 2017

When a man decides to take a parental leave and become a “stay-at-home dad,” by focusing on domestic duties and parenting, he may risk penalization of stereotype-disconfirming behaviors. However, the degree at which men are allowed to violate gender norms varies from country to country. Our study sought to analyze cross-country differences in perception of men who resign from their professional career and focus on domestic duties. Canadian ( N = 120), Norwegian ( N = 97), Polish ( N = 103), and Indian ( N = 109) students were asked to evaluate agency and communality of men and women in domestic roles. The obtained results indicate that in Canada and Norway, men and women in domestic roles were judged similarly, whereas Polish and Indian students favored women over men in domestic roles, thus implying that domestic roles are perceived through the lens of gender stereotypes in these two countries.
Occult Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Kwon Hee Jung , Song Phil Hyun , Gu Mi Jin
Published: October 2017

Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare disease that is characterized by a localized or systemic proliferation of Langerhans dendritic cells and a wide spectrum of clinical presentations. We experienced an unusual case of occult Langerhans cell histiocytosis associated with clear cell renal cell carcinoma. A 62-year-old man underwent a partial nephrectomy for left renal mass. Histologic examination showed nests of clear cells with surrounding thin-walled vessel that were suggestive of clear cell renal cell carcinoma. A well-defined nodule composed of atypical mononuclear cells and plentiful eosinophils presented within clear cell renal cell carcinoma. The mononuclear cells were Langerhans cell histiocytes with S-100 and CD1a immunoreactivity. On follow-up comprehensive physical, laboratory, and radiologic examination, there were no other lesions of Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
“Hello Central, Give Me Doctor Jazz”: Auto/Ethnographic Improvisation as Educational Event in Doctoral Supervision
Authors: Deterala Sophia , Owen Alex , Su Feng , Bamber Philip , Stronach Ian
Published: October 2017

Through exchanges within a doctoral supervision, the authors explore a range of dilemmas and challenges for reflexive inquiry. These include the problematic business of naming, the impossibility of objective separation of self from research, the merging of researcher subjectivities, and differences between performance and performativity. We note the educational potential in what can conventionally be considered “unprofessional” approaches to qualitative inquiry: neologisms, personal experience, stories, conversations, music, poetry, paintings, and film. We engage in reflexive interactions with each other and with such “data.” This was undertaken in the spirit of jazz improvisation—an unrehearsed performance—something that “happened,” an unplanned educational event but also an agency enabled by structure.
Pharmacokinetics of praziquantel and pyrantel pamoate combination following oral administration in cats
Authors: Arion Alexandra , Fernández-Varón Emilio , Cárceles Carlos M , Gagyi László , Ognean Laurent
Published: October 2017

Objectives

The pharmacokinetics of praziquantel and pyrantel pamoate has never been reported in cats. The present study was designed to establish the plasma concentration–time profile and to derive pharmacokinetic data for a combined formulation of praziquantel and pyrantel in cats, after a single, oral administration.

Methods

Twenty-two clinically healthy adult cats were used, each receiving a single oral dose of praziquantel (8.5 mg/kg) and pyrantel (100 mg/kg). Blood samples were collected at regular time points up to 48 h post-dosing. Plasma concentrations of praziquantel and pyrantel were measured using a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry–high-throughput screening method.

Results

Clinical examination of all cats did not reveal any side effects after oral administration of these medications. The terminal half-life for praziquantel and pyrantel was 1.07 and 1.36 h, respectively. Praziquantel peak concentration (Cmax) was 1140 μg/ml, reached at 1.22 h. The plasma concentrations of pyrantel after oral administration were low with a mean Cmax of 0.11 μg/ml, reached at a Tmax of 1.91 h. Pyrantel showed a very limited absorption as pamoate salt, suggesting permanence and efficacy inside the gastrointestinal tract, where the adult stages of most parasitic nematodes reside.

Conclusions and relevance

Pyrantel showed a very limited absorption as pamoate salt. Praziquantel was rapidly absorbed following oral administration and the concentrations achieved suggest that praziquantel could be an effective and safe medication in cats. Although some resistance problems are arising as a result of their long use, these anthelminthic products can still play a major role in parasitic control, especially in geographical areas where the high cost of newer treatments or necessity of parenteral administration could decrease the number of treated animals.
Shaking table tests on precast reinforced concrete and engineered cementitious composite/reinforced concrete composite frames
Authors: Xu Li , Pan Jinlong , Leung CKY , Yin Wanyun
Published: October 2017

Engineered cementitious composite is an advanced composite material with strain-hardening and multiple cracking behavior. Substituting conventional concrete with engineered cementitious composite can significantly improve the seismic performance of reinforced concrete structures. This article presents the seismic behavior of a precast engineered cementitious composite/reinforced concrete composite frame and a precast reinforced concrete frame. In the precast engineered cementitious composite/reinforced concrete composite frame, engineered cementitious composite is used to replace concrete in the beam-to-column joints and the bottom columns. The shaking table test results on the two scaled frames are presented. The frame failure characteristics and dynamic properties, including the fundamental frequency, story displacement, inter-story drift, and story acceleration, are comprehensively studied. The test results indicate that the connection method adopted in the tested frames is applicable and reliable. Both of the frames have good seismic performance and can withstand earthquakes at the design seismic intensity. Using engineered cementitious composite in precast frames can greatly reduce damage. The precast engineered cementitious composite/reinforced concrete composite frame has better deformation capacity, better energy dissipation ability, and slower stiffness deterioration than the precast reinforced concrete frame.
Influence of awareness and availability of medical alternatives on parents seeking paediatric emergency care
Authors: Ellbrant Julia A. , Åkeson S. Jonas , Karlsland Åkeson Pia M.
Published: October 2017

Aims: Direct seeking of care at paediatric emergency departments may result from an inadequate awareness or a short supply of medical alternatives. We therefore evaluated the care-seeking patterns, availability of medical options and initial medical assessments – with overall reference to socioeconomic status – of parents at an urban paediatric emergency department in a Scandinavian country providing free paediatric healthcare. Methods: The parents of children assessed by paediatric emergency department physicians at a Swedish university hospital over a 25-day winter period completed a questionnaire on recent medical contacts and their reasons for attendance. Additional information was obtained from ledgers, patient records and population demographics. Results: In total, 657 of 713 eligible patients (92%) were included. Seventy-nine per cent of their parents either failed to or managed to establish medical contact before the emergency department visit, whereas 21% sought care with no attempt at recent medical contact. Visits with a failed telephone or primary care contact (18%) were more common outside office hours ( p=0.014) and were scored as less urgent ( p=0.014). A perceived emergency was the main reason for no attempt at medical contact before the visit. Direct emergency department care-seeking was more common from the city district with the lowest socioeconomic status ( p=0.027). Conclusions: Although most parents in this Swedish study tried to seek medical advice before attending a paediatric emergency department, perceived emergency, a short supply of telephone health line or primary care facilities and lower socioeconomic status contributed to direct care-seeking by almost 40% of parents. Pre-hospital awareness and the availability of medical alternatives with an emphasis on major differences in socioeconomic status should therefore be considered to further optimize care-seeking in paediatric emergency departments.
How to feed The Ferret: Understanding subscribers in the search for a sustainable model of investigative journalism
Authors: Price John
Published: October 2017

The Ferret was founded in Scotland in 2015 as a co-operative. Drawing funding from a variety of sources – including grants, crowdfunding, training and events – the organisation relies heavily on subscriptions for its core business model. The Ferret is one of a number of recent digital start-ups seeking to explore new ways of funding and sustaining investigative journalism against a backdrop of declining levels of such journalism from the mainstream media. Despite this, to date there has been very little detailed, empirical work into subscription or membership models of funding journalism. This article begins to address this by presenting the results of an online survey of The Ferret’s subscribers. The findings are discussed in the context of recent work from international scholars about paying for online news and new business models for public interest journalism. The results suggest that subscribers tend to be middle aged or older, to the left of the political spectrum and motivated mainly by a desire to support the production of investigative journalism – rather than gain exclusive access to its content. The article concludes by arguing that recruiting such people offers a potentially sustainable membership model for investigative journalism platforms, whereby journalism for the benefit of society is funded by the few.
Revisiting Bedrock Values: The Stability and Predictive Power of the Society Works Best Index
Authors: Torres Michelle , Smith Steven S.
Published: October 2017

In their 2011 piece, Smith et al. argue that there is a set of fundamental or bedrock values that predict ideology and that are strongly influenced by genetics. These values are considered universal, stable, and less susceptible to environmental changes. Smith et al. propose a scale to measure such values: the Society Works Best Index (SWBI). This is an important contribution, but the SWBI requires further evaluation. Using novel panel data, we evaluate the measure, improve on the empirical application with a national panel, and suggest improvements in the scale. We find that the SWBI is no more stable than other measures of ideology and that the observed changes are attributed to measurement error and environmental factors. Furthermore, like many other political attitudes, its predictive power is mediated by levels of political interest.
Transesophageal Echocardiogram-Guided Stent Placement in Superior Vena Cava Syndrome Secondary to Granulomatous Lung Disease: A Case Series and Literature Review
Authors: Sun Kaiwen , Batra Rishi , Markin Nicholas W. , Suh Melissa , Pipinos Iraklis I. , Roberts Ellen K. , Mactaggart Jason N. , Baxter B. Timothy
Published: October 2017

Obstruction of the superior vena cava (SVC) is an uncommon, but potentially life-threatening condition due to likely development of edema in the head and neck and potential respiratory compromise. Less than half of those affected by SVC syndrome survive more than a year. Obstruction can be from neoplasms or secondary to benign disease. Treatment for most cases of symptomatic SVC syndrome involves placement of a stent to relieve the stenosis. Serious complications such as stent migration, pulmonary embolism, and cardiac tamponade can occur in 5% to 10% of cases, and inadequate imaging of the SVC–atrial junction by fluoroscopy contributes to these problems. The overlapping contrast in the atrium makes it difficult to precisely place the distal end of the stent, potentially allowing for embolization of the stent to occur. We present a case series of 3 patients wherein transesophageal echocardiography was used for guidance of stent placement in the SVC and significantly aided in placement.
Negotiating Gender Norms to Support Men in Psychological Distress
Authors: Keohane Aisling , Richardson Noel
Published: October 2017

Underpinning a general pattern of higher suicide rates in men is the assumption that men do not ask for help or utilize the health-care system during times of psychological distress. There has been a failure to grapple with the dynamic of when, how and from whom men might ask for help during times of psychological distress, and what key barriers or enabling factors are likely to influence potential help-givers’ capacity or willingness to offer help to men in psychological distress. The aim of this study was to investigate how masculine norms impact men’s help-seeking as well as care givers’ behaviors and willingness to support men in need of psychological help or perceived to be at risk of suicide. Focus groups ( n = 13) were used with “high-risk suicide” groups of men and community gatekeepers. The principles of grounded theory were used for data analysis. Three themes emerged: “negotiating ways to ask for, offer and accept help without compromising masculinity”; “making and sustaining contact with men in psychological distress”; and “navigating roles responsibilities and boundaries to support men in psychological distress.” Approaches to suicide prevention need to take account of how masculine norms shape men’s willingness to ask for and accept help during times of psychological distress as well as care givers willingness to offer help. The findings address a gap in the literature by looking beyond men’s help-seeking as a passive, one dimensional construct, to a more dynamic triad of help-seeking/giving/taking behaviors that are embedded in the sociocultural context of men’s lives.
Contraception for teenagers
Authors: Mathieson Liusaidh
Published: October 2017

The majority of the UK population becomes sexually active in their teenage years. At that point, many present anxiously to their GP for advice, contraception or with an unplanned pregnancy. This article considers our legal and ethical responsibilities, special considerations in history taking, a young person’s health concerns and the declining, but still significant, incidence of teenage unplanned pregnancy.
Correlation of hyperglycemia with mortality after acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Mi Donghua , Wang Pingli , Yang Bo , Pu Yuehua , Yang Zhonghua , Liu Liping
Published: October 2017

Background:

Hyperglycemia has been considered a predictor of stroke outcomes. In this article we study the correlation between blood glucose levels within the first 24 h after stroke onset and patients’ outcomes in mortality and hemorrhagic transformations.

Methods:

Ninety-one non-diabetic patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to a neurological intensive unit were recruited. Their blood glucose was measured twice within 6 h (baseline) and at every hour after stroke onset. Patients were collected into four groups as follows: those in which normoglycemia and no hyperglycemia were observed at either baseline or 24 h; those with baseline hyperglycemia and hyperglycemia only at baseline; those with 24 h hyperglycemia and hyperglycemia only at 24 h after stroke; and those with persistent hyperglycemia and hyperglycemia at both baseline and at 24 h. Endpoints were designated as the patient’s death within 30 days and/or hemorrhagic transformation under computerized tomography within the first 7 days after stroke onset.

Results:

Persistent hyperglycemia was correlated with an increased risk of mortality within 30 days (OR = 24.0; 95% CI = 2.8–199.3) and it was also correlated with hemorrhagic transformation (OR = 13.3; 95% CI = 2.7–66.1). Baseline or delayed hyperglycemia were not correlated with any outcome.

Conclusions:

Persistent hyperglycemia was correlated with mortality after acute ischemic stroke.
Overcoming the Dark Side of Closed Networks in Cultural Tourism Clusters: The Importance of Diverse Networks
Authors: Martínez-Pérez Ángela , Beauchesne Marie-Michele
Published: October 2017

Despite the recognized importance of tourism as an engine of economic growth in developed countries, research on the antecedents of innovation in this sector has been sparse, especially in the context of tourism clusters. Scholars have suggested that social capital is a key determinant of firm innovation in the context of tourism clusters, but empirical evidence has been lacking. The aim of this article is to empirically study the interplay between social capital and innovation in the context of tourism clusters at firm level. More specifically, we analyzed the effects of closed networks and diverse networks on firm innovation using a sample of 215 hospitality and tourism firms located in the World Heritage Cities of Spain. Results showed an inverted-U-shaped relationship between closed networks and firm innovation. Consistent with existing literature, these findings suggest that whereas a certain degree of strength and density helps to promote innovation, a critical point may exist beyond which innovation stabilizes or deteriorates when the information of the network becomes too redundant. In addition, we found that diverse networks positively moderated the relationship between closed networks and firm innovation. In other words, structural holes appear to mitigate the negative effects arising from excess strength and density and encourage the development of innovations beyond what a firm relying solely on closed networks could achieve. In practice, these results suggest firms in tourism clusters should not exclusively focus on typical closed networks but also create connections with diverse agents to maximize their potential for innovation.
Restaurant Tipping and Discrimination: Exploring the Implications of Automatic Gratuities
Authors: Hall Todd
Published: October 2017

Scholars have documented evidence of racial disparities in dining service quality and hypothesize that restaurant servers avoid or neglect minority patrons based on widespread perceptions that Black patrons tip less than their White counterparts. However, the precise causal mechanisms behind this discrimination remain unclear. If tipping expectations drive these racial disparities in service quality, automatic gratuities should mitigate discrimination. This survey experiment ( N = 349) randomly assigns servers to scenario-based surveys featuring either Black or White patrons and either discretionary or automatic gratuities to consider whether differences in four indicators of service quality persist when automatic gratuities hold tipping behavior constant across races. Survey respondents expected tips from Black parties that were about 11.3% lower than expected tips from White parties of eight ( p = .008). I find no significant differences in how respondents say they would treat their dining parties by race and gratuity type with one exception. Respondents to scenarios featuring voluntary tipping were more likely to say they would submit the order for their party of eight last when that party was White as opposed to Black. Meanwhile, there was no statistically significant difference for this service indicator by party race under automatic gratuities. The automatic gratuities reduced a disparity in service in an unexpected manner by inclining respondents to deprioritize the order for the Black party. Overall, future research that more robustly measures service quality is warranted to assess the role of automatic gratuities in mitigating discrimination in restaurant service.
Serum uric acid levels are associated with homeostasis model assessment in obese nondiabetic patients: HOMA and uric acid
Authors: Elizalde-Barrera Cesar I. , Estrada-García Teresa , Lozano-Nuevo Jose J. , Garro-Almendaro Ana K. , López-Saucedo Catalina , Rubio-Guerra Alberto F.
Published: October 2017

Background:

Hyperuricemia leads to insulin resistance, whereas insulin resistance decreases renal excretion of uric acid. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there is a correlation between serum uric acid levels with homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) 1 in nondiabetic patients.

Methods:

We evaluated 88 nondiabetic patients, in whom uric acid levels were measured, in all of them HOMA of β-cell function (HOMA 1B) and HOMA of insulin resistance (HOMA 1IR) scores were performed. Uric acid and the HOMA 1 values were correlated using the Pearson coefficient.

Results:

We did not find any correlation between uric acid levels with both HOMA 1B ( r = 0.102, p = 0.343), nor with HOMA 1IR ( r = 0.158, p = 0.117). When patients were analyzed by sex, we found a significant correlation with HOMA 1IR (0.278, p = 0.01), but not with HOMA 1B (0.138, p = 0.257) in women. We found a correlation with HOMA 1B in men ( r = 0.37, p = 0.044), but not with HOMA 1IR: 0.203, p = 0.283. The analysis performed based on body mass index did not show correlation in the patients with normal weight, (HOMA 1B r = 0.08, p = 0.5, HOMA 1IR = 0.034, p = 0.793), nor in the patients who were overweight (HOMA 1B: r = 0.05, p = 0.76, HOMA 1IR r = 0.145, p = 0.43). However, a significant correlation between uricemia with both HOMA 1B (0.559, p < 0.001), and HOMA 1IR (0.326, p < 0.05), was observed in obese patients.

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that serum uric acid levels seem to be associated with insulin resistance in women, and in obese patients, but not in nonobese men. Uric acid also modifies β-cell function in men and in obese patients.
From strongguanxito weakguanxi: Connectivity in Chinese micro-charity
Authors: Lin Xun , Huang Hua
Published: October 2017

Charity in China is deeply rooted in the guanxi tradition and mainly involves strong ties. In the wake of emerging social media, online charity (also known as micro-charity) has become increasingly popular over the past few years. People’s participation in micro-charity is afforded by the ubiquitous connectivity of social media. Their charitable behaviours are steered towards connecting, communicating, and eventually contributing to the formation of a powerful digital environment, which essentially diffuses the awareness of responsibility and commitment. Thus, the affordance of connectivity makes it possible for Chinese people to break from the traditional tightly-bounded close ties towards loosely-bounded networks in micro-charity. In addition, by drawing on some college students’ experiences, this article indicates that connectivity affords people’s active engagement with micro-charity, which in turn fosters their distinct subjectivity pertaining to a social life that is intertwined with new media technology.