bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Participant and Program Characteristics: Correlates of Substance Abuse Treatment Participation and Prison Misconducts
Authors: Taylor Liana R. , Lee JoAnn , Taxman Faye S.
Published: December 2018

Despite the prevalence of substance dependence in incarcerated populations and the correlation between substance use and crime, only 11% receive substance abuse treatment, even as treatment participation may help reduce institutional misbehavior and postrelease recidivism. The current research examined the influence of individual and program factors on substance abuse treatment participation and prison misconducts in a state prison system. Based on analyses of administrative data from 2012 to 2015 and program data, the findings support previous research documenting participant characteristics as predictors of misconducts. In addition, program training requirements significantly predicted misconducts. Implications and research recommendations are discussed.
I-Planner: Intention-aware motion planning using learning-based human motion prediction
Authors: Park Jae Sung , Park Chonhyon , Manocha Dinesh
Published: December 2018

We present a motion planning algorithm to compute collision-free and smooth trajectories for high-degree-of-freedom (high-DOF) robots interacting with humans in a shared workspace. Our approach uses offline learning of human actions along with temporal coherence to predict the human actions. Our intention-aware online planning algorithm uses the learned database to compute a reliable trajectory based on the predicted actions. We represent the predicted human motion using a Gaussian distribution and compute tight upper bounds on collision probabilities for safe motion planning. We also describe novel techniques to account for noise in human motion prediction. We highlight the performance of our planning algorithm in complex simulated scenarios and real-world benchmarks with 7-DOF robot arms operating in a workspace with a human performing complex tasks. We demonstrate the benefits of our intention-aware planner in terms of computing safe trajectories in such uncertain environments.
Psychological Empowerment: Antecedents From Goal Orientation and Consequences in Public Sector Employees
Authors: García-Juan Beatriz , Escrig-Tena Ana B. , Roca-Puig Vicente
Published: December 2018

Recent research has encouraged the study of psychological empowerment in public organizations owing to its benefits for optimum service delivery and performance improvement in the public context. This study analyzes how learning goal orientation, prove-performance goal orientation, and avoid-performance goal orientation are related to psychological empowerment and how such empowerment influences well-being outcomes within the context of public employees. Analyses of data from 553 public-sector employees showed that only learning goal orientation strongly and positively influences psychological empowerment. Furthermore, the results support the positive and significant relationship between psychological empowerment and both job satisfaction and affective commitment and the negative link with job anxiety levels. Theoretical and practical implications, as well as future directions for the psychological empowerment issue, are discussed.
Widespread use of herbal medicines by people living with human immunodeficiency virus and contamination of herbal medicines with antiretrovirals in Nigeria
Authors: Gini J , Amara A , Penchala Sujan D , Back David J , Else L , Egan D , Chiong J , Harri Bala I , Kabilis Elkanah D , Pama Paul P , Stephen M , Khoo Saye H
Published: December 2018

Herbal medication use amongst people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) is widespread and understudied. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of herbal medicine use amongst PLWH and possible contamination with antiretrovirals (ARVs). Countrywide collection of herbal samples sold by street vendors in Nigeria for the following indications: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome, fever and general weakness. Samples were screened using a validated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry method for the presence of the following ARVs: efavirenz, nevirapine, lopinavir, darunavir, ritonavir, atazanavir, emtricitabine, tenofovir and lamivudine. A survey was conducted among 742 PLWH attending four HIV clinics in Nigeria. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using IBM SPSS statistics version 22.0 (IBM Corp., 2013, Armond, NY). Of the 138 herbal medicines sampled, three (2%) contained detectable levels of tenofovir, emtricitabine and/or lamivudine. Additionally, of the 742 PLWH surveyed, 310 (41.8%) reported herbal medicine use. Among the users, 191 (61.6%) started taking herbals after commencing HIV therapy while herbal medicine use preceded ARVs treatment in 119 (38.4%) PLWH. We found herbal use to be widespread among PLWH in Nigeria, with increasing use after commencing ARV. Three herbal preparations were also found to contain detectable levels of ARVs. This is a concern and should be studied widely across the region and countries where herbal medicine use is prevalent and poorly regulated.
Facebook Adoption in Indian Banks: An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Swami Onkar Shivraj , Nethaji B. , Sharma Jyoti Prakash
Published: December 2018

In this article, we try to identify the determinants of adoption of social media, in particular Facebook, among the Indian scheduled commercial banks. We have employed the survival analysis technique that studies the conditional probability of adoption of social media over time. The Kaplan–Meier nonparametric survival technique is used to study the nature of social media adoption by the Indian banks. Employing Cox’s proportional hazard (CPH) regression model, we have tried to assess the effect of explanatory variables on the adoption hazard rate, that is, joining Facebook. It appears that private sector banks are keen to join Facebook than public sector banks. The empirical analysis suggests that banks with higher non-interest income, intermediation cost and return on assets are inclined to adopt the technological innovations rapidly. The bank with greater ATM coverage is more likely to join Facebook. Medium/small-sized banks tend to be faster in joining Facebook. Banks with higher non-performing assets (NPAs) are yet to join Facebook. However, the number of branches is not associated with joining Facebook.
Book Review: M. Darmell and K. Rampal, Connected or Disconnected: The Art of Operating in a Connected World
Authors: Acharya Ira
Published: December 2018

M. Darmell and K. Rampal, Connected or Disconnected: The Art of Operating in a Connected World, 2017, New Delhi: SAGE Publications, 158 pp., ₹395. ISBN: 978-93-866-0277-0.
Cointegration and Causality among Dollar, Oil, Gold and Sensex across Global Financial Crisis
Authors: Singh Narinder Pal , Sharma Sugandha
Published: December 2018

Over the globe, the various financial markets are becoming integrated and the linkages among variables Gold prices, Crude Oil prices, US Dollar rate and Stock market (GODS) invite a special attention of various financial analysts and investors. For an import-dependent country like India, the interplay among these variables is vital. Thus in this study, we investigate the cointegration and causality relationship among gold, crude oil, us dollar and stock market (Sensex) across the global financial crisis of 2008. We use Johansen's cointegration technique, Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), Vector Auto Regression (VAR), VEC Granger Causality/Block Exogeneity Wald Test and Granger Causality, and Variance Decomposition to study cointegration and strength & direction of causality for three sub-periods. Johansen's cointegration test results indicate that there is long-run equilibrium relationship among the variables in the pre-crisis and the crisis periods but not in post-crisis period. VECM results report that none of four models of the variables show long-run causality in the pre-crisis period at 5% level of significance. During the crisis period, both crude oil and Sensex models show long run causality. However, in some cases short-run causality is indicated in results. Granger causality test results show that there is one-way causality from USD and Sensex to crude oil, and from gold and Sensex to USD. Thus, we conclude that the relationship among GODS is dynamic and has been affected by global financial crisis of 2008.
Pemetrexed-induced severe rhabdomyolysis in lung cancer: A case report
Authors: Sullivan Kevin , Lee Chung-Shien
Published: December 2018

Pemetrexed is an antifolate metabolite used to treat non-small cell lung cancer in the adjuvant and advanced setting. It is commonly known to cause rash, diarrhea, fatigue, mucositis, and myelosuppression. We report a case of a patient receiving adjuvant cisplatin and pemetrexed for non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma and experienced severe rhabdomyolysis.
Why We Do Not Evolve Software? Analysis of Evolutionary Algorithms
Authors: Yampolskiy Roman V
Published: December 2018

In this article, we review the state-of-the-art results in evolutionary computation and observe that we do not evolve nontrivial software from scratch and with no human intervention. A number of possible explanations are considered, but we conclude that computational complexity of the problem prevents it from being solved as currently attempted. A detailed analysis of necessary and available computational resources is provided to support our findings.
Cash transfers and the social determinants of health: Towards an initial realist program theory
Authors: Owusu-Addo Ebenezer , Renzaho Andre M. N. , Smith Ben J.
Published: December 2018

Cash transfers are a widely adopted social policy initiative for addressing poverty and vulnerability. Cash transfers’ exponential growth in low- and middle-income countries provides a unique opportunity to advance our understanding of how they work to impact the social determinants of health. This article reports on a realist qualitative approach to developing an initial program theory about the role of cash transfers in tackling the social determinants of health. A set of 12 initial hypotheses regarding how cash transfers might work to address the social determinants of health were developed from the data. Cash transfer key mechanisms of change found in the study included political will and leadership and news media framing at the macro level, collaboration and intersectoral working at the meso level, and household motivation, empowerment, choice making, awareness raising and risk-taking behaviour at the micro level. This study has developed initial hypotheses that can be tested and refined in future studies using a realist approach.
From Cookery in Colour to The Great British Bake Off: Shifting gendered accounts of home-baking and domesticity
Authors: Casey Emma
Published: December 2018

This article offers a feminist reading of home-baking. It explores the shifting ways in which baking has variously been bound up with a variety of normative values, such as familial ‘togetherness’, care, patriotism, thrift and display. This article draws on a range of historical examples, from the patriotic virtues of home-baking extolled via British war-time propaganda, and the ‘wholesome, simple and economical’ post-war Bero baking recipes, through to the renewed emphasis on display and baking as interwoven with new consumer cultures in the bestselling 1960s recipe book Cooking in Colour. This article goes on to explore contemporary representations of baking as ‘fun’ rather than as work. Drawing on the popular British television baking show The Great British Bake Off, this article considers how historical associations of baking with thrift, competition and ‘betterment’ are repackaged as cosy and nostalgic via a hyper-real reflection of the past. In keeping with neoliberal assumptions about the meritocratic and ‘life-changing’ potential of reality TV, this article argues that The Great British Bake Off offers viewers a ‘high-consuming ideal’. This article examines how, via the medium of home-baking, the show reinforces both neoliberal myths of individuals as agents of their own successes and also normative assumptions of self-transformation via consumption and commercialization. This article concludes by arguing that The Great British Bake Off offers a version of baking that is both ‘hyper-domestic’ and a type of ‘post-feminist homemaking’, whereby feminist discourses of choice and equality are entangled with highly conventional modes of domesticity.
Too much or too little? Investigating the usability of high and low data displays of the same electronic medical record
Authors: Al Ghalayini Maher , Antoun Jumana , Moacdieh Nadine Marie
Published: December 2018

The high data density on electronic medical record screens is touted as a major usability issue. However, it may not be a problem if the data is relevant and well-organized. Our objective was to test this assumption using a comprehensive set of measures that assess the three pillars of usability: efficiency (both physical and cognitive), effectiveness, and satisfaction. Physicians were asked to go through a series of tasks using two versions of the same electronic medical record: one where all the display items were separated into tabs (the original display), and one where important display items were grouped logically in one tab (the redesigned display). Results supported the hypothesis that combining relevant data in organized fashion into a smaller location would improve usability. The findings highlight the role of good display organization to mitigate the effects of high data density, as well as the importance of assessing cognitive load as part of usability studies.
Developing Resilient K-12 STEM Teachers
Authors: Wright Diane S. , Balgopal Meena M. , Sample McMeeking Laura B. , Weinberg Andrea E.
Published: December 2018

The Problem

The US is currently experiencing a shortage of K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers, especially in high-poverty communities. The shortage can be explained by both low teacher recruitment and high teacher turnover; however, the reasons why teachers leave the profession are complex.

The Solution

We argue that teacher professional development programs are often focused on how teachers can meet the needs of their students but ignore how teachers can build their own professional resilience. We draw from research in both teacher self-efficacy and ecological adaptive capacity to propose a revised Teacher-Centered Systemic Reform Model that identifies adaptive capacity as an outcome goal for individuals and school systems. School environments are dynamic (e.g., new policies, student needs, and changing administrators), and as a result, teachers need skills to adapt, enabling them to be resilient while still meeting students’ needs.

The Stakeholders

Professional development, teacher educators, human resource development (HRD) practitioners, K-12 STEM teachers.
ADVANCING Women Academic Faculty in STEM Careers: The Role of Critical HRD in Supporting Diversity and Inclusion
Authors: Hutchins Holly M. , Kovach Jamison V.
Published: December 2018

The Problem

The low representation of women and women of color (WoC) faculty in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) academic disciplines represents a critical talent development issue by constraining universities from being truly diverse and inclusive therefore limiting the development and advancement of women scientists.

The Solution

We describe the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) ADVANCE program as a mechanism for increasing STEM women and WoC faculty career development, inclusion, and advancement. We situate this program as a critical human resource development (CHRD) project and analyze the interventions of ADVANCE Centers at five institutions using a coding scheme based on Acker’s theory of organizational gendering. We identify how key interventions address gendered processes and how these efforts align with human resource development (HRD) disciplinary expertise.

The Stakeholders

This article will benefit HRD scholars and professionals by identifying how HRD disciplinary expertise can be used to support institutional change efforts focused on faculty diversity and inclusion.
Impact of acetylsalicylic acid on primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases: A meta-analysis of randomized trials
Authors: Upadhaya Sunil , Madala Seetharamprasad , Baniya Ramkaji , Saginala Kalyan , Khan Jahangir
Published: December 2018

Numerous studies have investigated use of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) for prevention of cardiovascular deaths. The vast majority of the work in this area has focused on secondary prevention. However, underuse of ASA still remains a major issue. Fewer studies have investigated the impact of ASA on primary prevention of cardiovascular death. A meta-analysis of individual participant data from six randomized studies, published in 2009, showed decrease in serious vascular events but at the cost of causing increased bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke. Recent studies have raised a number of key questions regarding the benefits and risks of using ASA for primary prevention.
Updated diagnostic criteria for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: Similar outcomes of previously separate cohorts
Authors: McCreary M , Mealy MA , Wingerchuk DM , Levy M , DeSena A , Greenberg BM
Published: December 2018

Background

The specificity of the aquaporin-4 antibody to predict recurrent inflammatory central nervous system disease has led to the design of the 2015 neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder criteria which capture all aquaporin-4 antibody seropositive patients.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to compare treatment outcomes in aquaporin-4 antibody seropositive patients who met the previous 2006 clinical criteria for neuromyelitis optica with patients who meet the 2015 neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder criteria.

Methods

The study involved a three-center retrospective chart review of clinical outcomes among aquaporin-4 patients diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Results

Hazard ratios of relapse during immunosuppressive therapy, relative to pre-therapy, were not significantly different for patients who met the 2006 criteria of neuromyelitis optica versus the 2015 neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder criteria among those treated with azathioprine (  p = 0.24), mycophenolate mofetil (  p = 0.63), or rituximab (  p = 0.97).

Conclusion

Reductions in the hazard of relapse during treatment with immunosuppressive therapies, relative to average pre-treatment, were not different for aquaporin-4 antibody seropositive patients categorized using the 2006 criteria of neuromyelitis optica and the 2015 neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder criteria. These therapeutic findings support the design of the 2015 neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder criteria which capture all aquaporin-4 antibody seropositive patients.
Personal and In-store Factors Influencing Impulse Buying Behavior among Generation Y Consumers of Small Cities
Authors: Husnain Mudassir , Rehman Bushra , Syed Fauzia , Akhtar Muhammad Waheed
Published: December 2018

For decades, impulse buying is considered to be one of the significant factors to increase sales volume in the retail sector. Past studies have investigated the impulsive buying behavior of generation Y consumers in retail settings of somewhat medium- and large-sized cities. Therefore, how certain situational or in-store factors can propagate impulse buying in the retail settings of small cities has been widely ignored. This article explores the influence of situational variables categorized as personal factors (time availability, family influence, money availability) and in-store factors (store environment, sales promotions, and friendly store employees) on generation Y impulse buying behavior in the Pakistani context in general and the country’s small cities in particular. A self-administered survey was used to elicit information from 422 purposively selected respondents (living in various cities of Punjab, Pakistan). Data have been analyzed by using Statistical Package For Social Science (SPSS) and Analysis of Moment Structure (AMOS) for structural equation modeling (SEM). Results revealed that personal factors, that is, time availability and family influence has significant and positive impact on the impulse buying behavior of generation Y consumers in Pakistan, also in-store factors except money availability has significant impact on impulse buying behavior. Recommendations for retail management have been given at the end of the article.
Minimally invasive thoracic surgery for empyema
Authors: Subotic Dragan , Lardinois Didier , Hojski Aljaz
Published: December 2018

The widely accepted and still increasing use of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in pleuro-pulmonary pathology imposes the need to deal with two major pitfalls: the first is to avoid its unselective use, while the second relates to inappropriate rejection of VATS on the basis of “insufficient radicality”. Unlike a quite established role of VATS in lung cancer patients, in patients with pleural empyema, the role of VATS is less clearly defined. The current evidence about VATS in patients with pleural empyema could be summarised as follows: VATS is accepted as a useful treatment option for fibrinopurulent empyema, but the treatment failure rate increases with the increasing proportion of stage III empyema, necessitating further surgical options like thoracotomy and decortication. As both pulmonologists and surgeons deal with diagnosis and treatment of pleural empyema, this article is an attempt to highlight the existing evidence in a more user-friendly way in order to help practising physicians to optimise the use of VATS in these patients. In other words, in the absence of randomised studies comparing VATS and thoracotomy, the key question to be answered is: are there any pre-operative findings that can be used to select patients for initial VATSversusproceeding directly to a thoracotomy?
Controversies and emerging topics in lung transplantation
Authors: Abelson David , Glanville Allan R.
Published: December 2018

Lung transplantation provides a realistic hope of improved survival and enhanced quality of life. However, outcomes can be disappointing, meaning many decisions are highly controversial. Practice is largely based on expert opinion and there is a dearth of high-level evidence. Not surprisingly, this leads to centre-specific practices that may vary considerably in controversial areas. The aim of this review, therefore, is to explore some of those domains and present the available evidence. As the science of lung transplantation approaches its fifth decade, we are only now reaching a critical mass of clinicians and scientific researchers to enable adequately powered studies to assist in informing our approach to some of these controversies.

Key points

Lung transplantation remains an art, combining experience with evidence.

Clinicians need evidence to guide them on a myriad of questions, from candidate selection and listing, to organ donor acceptance, immunosuppression and chronic allograft dysfunction.

Chronic lung allograft dysfunction pathogenesis deserves further detailed study.

Educational aims

To illustrate the spectrum of controversial areas in lung transplantation including whom to list, which organs can be used and for whom, immune suppression and infection prophylaxis, and causes and phenotypes of chronic lung allograft dysfunction.

To inspire clinicians to always ask questions and help collect the evidence we need to inform decision making.
Ryanodine Receptor to Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Pathway Plays an Important Role in Chronic Human Immunodeficiency Virus gp120MN-Induced Neuropathic Pain in Rats
Authors: Godai Kohei , Takahashi Keiya , Kashiwagi Yuta , Liu Ching-Hang , Yi Hyun , Liu Shue , Dong Chuanhui , Lubarsky David A. , Hao Shuanglin
Published: December 2018

BACKGROUND:

Chronic pain is one of the most common complaints in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–associated sensory neuropathy. Ryanodine receptor (RyR) and mitochondrial oxidative stress are involved in neuropathic pain induced by nerve injury. Here, we investigated the role of RyR and mitochondrial superoxide in neuropathic pain induced by repeated intrathecal HIV glycoprotein 120 (gp120) injection.

METHODS:

Recombinant HIV glycoprotein gp120MN was intrathecally administered to induce neuropathic pain. Mechanical threshold was tested using von Frey filaments. Peripheral nerve fiber was assessed by the quantification of the intraepidermal nerve fiber density in the skin of the hindpaw. The expression of spinal RyR was examined using Western blots. Colocalization of RyR with neuronal nuclei (NeuN; neuron marker), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP; astrocyte marker), or ionizing calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1; microglia marker) in the spinal cord was examined using immunohistochemistry. MitoSox-positive profiles (a mitochondrial-targeted fluorescent superoxide indicator) were examined. The antiallodynic effects of intrathecal administration of RyR antagonist, dantrolene (a clinical drug for malignant hyperthermia management), or selective mitochondrial superoxide scavenger, Mito-Tempol, were evaluated in the model.

RESULTS:

We found that repeated but not single intrathecal injection of recombinant protein gp120 induced persistent mechanical allodynia. Intraepidermal nerve fibers in repeated gp120 group was lower than that in sham at 2 weeks, and the difference in means (95% confidence interval) was 8.495 (4.79–12.20), P = .0014. Repeated gp120 increased expression of RyR, and the difference in means (95% confidence interval) was 1.50 (0.504–2.495), P = .007. Repeated gp120 also increased mitochondrial superoxide cell number in the spinal cord, and the difference in means (95% confidence interval) was 6.99 (5.99–8.00), P < .0001. Inhibition of spinal RyR or selective mitochondrial superoxide scavenger dose dependently reduced mechanical allodynia induced by repeated gp120 injection. RyR and mitochondrial superoxide were colocalized in the neuron, but not glia. Intrathecal injection of RyR inhibitor lowered mitochondrial superoxide in the spinal cord dorsal horn in the gp120 neuropathic pain model.

CONCLUSIONS:

These data suggest that repeated intrathecal HIV gp120 injection induced an acute to chronic pain translation in rats, and that neuronal RyR and mitochondrial superoxide in the spinal cord dorsal horn played an important role in the HIV neuropathic pain model. The current results provide evidence for a novel approach to understanding the molecular mechanisms of HIV chronic pain and treating chronic pain in patients with HIV.
Impact of Anesthetics on Human Neutrophil Function
Authors: Meier Angela , Nizet Victor
Published: December 2018

Anesthetics are widely used drugs administered in a multitude of clinical settings. Their impacts on various functions of the immune system have been studied but are still not fully understood. Neutrophil granulocytes are a critical first-line host defense mechanism against infections and contribute to the inflammatory phase of wound healing, but dysregulated neutrophil activation can also precipitate perioperative organ injury. A better understanding of the interactions between common anesthetics and neutrophils may reveal considerations toward optimizing treatment of our most vulnerable patients in the intensive care unit and in the perioperative setting.
Development and Validation of an Electronic Postoperative Morbidity Score
Authors: Stubbs Daniel J. , Bowen Jessica L. , Furness Rachel C. , Gilder Fay J. , Romero-Ortuno Roman , Biram Richard , Menon David K. , Ercole Ari
Published: December 2018

BACKGROUND:

Electronic health records are being adopted due to numerous potential benefits. This requires the development of objective metrics to characterize morbidity, comparable to studies performed in centers without an electronic health record. We outline the development of an electronic version of the postoperative morbidity score for integration into our electronic health record.

METHODS:

Twohundred and three frail patients who underwent elective surgery were reviewed. We retrospectively defined postoperative morbidity score on postoperative day 3. We also recorded potential electronic surrogates for morbidities that could not be easily extracted in an objective format. We compared discriminative capability (area under the receiver operator curve) for patients having prolonged length of stay or complex discharge requirements.

RESULTS:

One hundred thirty-nine patients (68%) had morbidity in ≥1 postoperative morbidity score domain. Initial electronic surrogates were overly sensitive, identifying 173 patients (84%) as having morbidity. We refined our definitions using backward logistic regression against “gold-standard” postoperative morbidity score. The final electronic postoperative morbidity score differed from the initial version in its definition of cardiac and neurological morbidity. There was no significant difference in the discriminative capability between electronic postoperative morbidity score and postoperative morbidity score for either outcome (area under the receiver operator curve: 0.66 vs 0.66 for complex discharge requirement, area under the receiver operator curve: 0.66 vs 0.67 for a prolonged length of stay; P> .05 for both). Patients with postoperative morbidity score or electronic postoperative morbidity score–defined morbidity on day 3 had increased risk of prolonged length of stay (P < .001 for both).

CONCLUSIONS:

We present a variant of postoperative morbidity score based on objective electronic metrics. Discriminative performance appeared comparable to gold-standard definitions for discharge outcomes. Electronic postoperative morbidity score may allow characterization of morbidity within our electronic health record, but further study is required to assess external validity.
The Demise of Community Responsibility: Unintended Consequences of Coverage Expansions on California Public Hospitals
Authors: Haeder Simon F.
Published: December 2018

Long before the establishment of Medicaid or the passage of the Affordable Care Act, California counties provided their poorest residents with access to comprehensive medical care. This article analyzes the creation and closure of public hospitals in the state of California. It combines both qualitative historical research and event history analysis to assess what led first to the creation of the nation's most comprehensive public health network and then to its gradual demise. Strong evidence is presented that the implementation of Medicaid in California significantly altered the calculus of local governments with regard to the operation of public hospitals. In particular, Medicaid shifted county hospitals from the realm of allocational politics to that of redistributive politics. Subsequently, reforms at the state and federal levels further encouraged this development. Because of this shift, many counties decided to close their hospitals. Moreover, as expected for redistributive policies, the continued operation of public hospitals was driven not by need but instead merely by fiscal capacity: more affluent counties continue to maintain them while poorer, needier counties close their doors.
Impossible Politics? PCORI and the Search for Publicly Funded Comparative Effectiveness Research in the United States
Authors: Keller Ann C. , Flagg Robin , Keller Justin , Ravi Suhasini
Published: December 2018

Congress created the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to fund comparative effectiveness research without encroaching on health care decision making in the private sector. This study asked if the organization's design is sufficient to insulate it from the hostile political environment that accompanied past comparative effectiveness research efforts. Data for the study came from key informant interviews, stakeholder interviews, content analysis of public comments, congressional hearings, and media and Internet content about PCORI. Drawing on theoretical frameworks of interest group behavior, the study assessed current and potential future stakeholder activity directed toward PCORI. The study found that PCORI's leadership has successfully mobilized patients and researchers in support of its mission. However, patient groups tend to mobilize within rather than across disease categories, limiting the collective impact these groups might have. Moreover, PCORI's success in including the patient voice in every stage of the research process has created only diffuse support for the organization. A lack of “practice-changing” findings—likely the result of the organization's interest group environment—leaves PCORI open to the criticism of ineffectiveness.
Russian students: life priorities and social sustainability
Authors: Резник Семен , Reznik Semen , Черниковская Марина , Chernikovskaya Marina
Published: December 2018

The article presents the results of the study of life priorities and social stability of Russian students, the theoretical approaches to the assessment of the current state of students in Russia and the strategic guidelines of its changes.
Special attention is paid to the analysis of the readiness of students to study at the University, the specifics of the adaptation processes of first-year students, the economic independence of students and their readiness for future professional activities, the use of self-organization technologies in their studies, professional practice and personal life.
The factors affecting the competitiveness of University graduates, the culture of behavior in society, health and performance of the student, as well as the readiness of modern youth to create a family and housekeeping. Special educational technologies to improve students ' social stability are proposed.
The book is recommended for students and teachers of Russian universities, for the management of institutions of higher education, as well as for scientists who study the problems of formation and development of students.
Clinical Effect of Expedited Pathogen Identification and Susceptibility Testing for Gram-Negative Bacteremia and Candidemia by Use of the Accelerate PhenoTM System
Authors: Burnham Jason P , Wallace Meghan A , Fuller Brian M , Shupe Angela , Burnham Carey-Ann D , Kollef Marin H
Published: December 2018

Background

Fast diagnostic tests providing earlier identification (ID) of pathogens, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) may reduce time to appropriate antimicrobial therapy (AAT), decrease mortality, and facilitate antimicrobial deescalation (ADE). Our objective was to determine the theoretical reduction in time to AAT and opportunities for ADE with Accelerate PhenoTM System (AXDX).

Methods

The prospective cohort (April 14, 2016 through June 1, 2017) was from the Barnes-Jewish Hospital, a 1250-bed academic center. Emergency department (ED) or intensive care unit (ICU) blood cultures Gram-stain positive for gram-negative bacilli (GNB) or yeast. AXDX was used in parallel with standard-of-care (SOC) diagnostics to determine differences in time to pathogen ID and AST. Theoretical opportunities for ADE from AXDX results were determined.

Results

In total, 429 blood cultures were screened, 153 meeting inclusion criteria: 110 on-panel GNB, 10 Candida glabrata, and 5 Candida albicans. For GNB SOC, median time from blood culture positivity to ID and AST were 28.2 and 52.1 h. Median time to ID and AST after AXDX initiation was 1.37 and 6.7 h for on-panel organisms. For on-panel Candida, time to ID was approximately 21 h faster with AXDX. ADE or AAT was theoretically possible with AXDX in 48.4%. Of on-panel organisms, 24.0% did not receive initial AAT. In-hospital mortality was 46.7% without initial AAT, and 11.6% with AAT. Coverage of AXDX was 75.3%, specificity 99.7%, positive predictive value (PPV) 96.0%, and negative predictive value (NPV) 97.6%. On-panel sensitivity was 91.5%, specificity 99.6%, PPV 96.0%, and NPV 99.0%.

Conclusions

AXDX provides more rapid ID and AST for GNB and ID for yeast than SOC. AXDX could potentially reduce time to AAT and facilitate ADE.
O Cuidado Integral como uma Missão da Enfermagem: Uma Revisão Integrativa da Literatura
Authors: Bezerra Sobrinho Aline , Vasconcelos Anny Karinny Amaral de , Leite-Salgueiro Claudia Daniele Barros
Published: December 2018

O cuidar da enfermagem significa dedicação, zelo, atenção, se colocar no lugar do outro, seja em situações diversas, seja no contexto da vida, em coletividade, ou não. Também, quando da tentativa de diminuir a dor ou no desenvolvimento de uma prática humanizada e de qualidade, promovendo a saúde do ser. O cuidado integral é um elemento fundamental para a prática de enfermagem de qualidade, possibilitando a formação de profissionais imbuídos de práticas cuidadoras em saúde. Objetivo: Identificar o cuidado integral como missão da enfermagem. Método: Trata-se de um estudo de revisão integrativa que reúne, de forma sistemática e ordenada, os resultados de pesquisas sobre cuidados em enfermagem. A amostra final é composta por 10 artigos. Resultados e Discussão: Observou- se que a maioria dos estudos enfatizam a importância do cuidar de forma integral, enquanto outros se antecipam enquanto à forma de conhecer cientificamente o cuidar. Conclusão: As melhores formas de desenvolver/prestar o cuidado é de forma holística e, percebendo a real necessidade do paciente/cliente.
First trimester thyroid function in pregnant women residing in Saint Petersburg (Russia): reference values and risk of gestational diabetes
Authors: Popova Polina V. , Shilova Ekaterina S. , Tkachuk Alexandra S. , Dronova Alexandra V. , Anopova Anna D. , Nikolaeva Alla E. , Grineva Elena N.
Published: December 2018

Background. Subclinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is known to be associated with maternal and child morbidity. The concept of subclinical dysfunction of the thyroid gland in pregnant women depends on the population-specific and trimester-specific reference values so fixed universal cutoff concentrations for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) that were recommended earlier now are put under the question. Population-specific and trimester-specific reference values have not been defined for pregnant women residing in Saint Petersburg. The data concerning the association of maternal thyroid status with GDM development are controversial.
Aims. The aim of the study was to determine the reference values of TSH and free thyroxin (fT4) in the first trimester of pregnancy in women living in St. Petersburg, and to assess the relationship between thyroid status and the risk of subsequent development of GDM.
Materials and methods. The levels of TSH, fT4 and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab) were analyzed in 503 pregnant women before the 14th week of gestation. The women underwent oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 2428 weeks to find out those with GDM. The association between thyroid function, thyroid autoimmunity and the risk of GDM we estimated.
Results. The reference values for TSH were 0.07 4.40 mU /L, and for fT4 11.7 20.3 pmol/L. The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in the 503 pregnant women was 16.9% according to the diagnostic criteria of TSH 2.5 mIU / L and 3.8% using our calculated reference interval. Hypothyroxinemia was registered in 5,3% using reference values recommended by diagnostic tests manufacturer and in 2,8% according to our calculated reference interval for fT4. GDM was diagnosed in 23% of women. Logistic regression analysis showed associations of hypothyroxinemia and TPO-Ab-positivity with the increased risk of GDM that remained significant after adjustments on age and body mass index (BMI) [adjusted OR (95% CI) = 7.39 (1.2742.93) for hypothyroxinemia, p=0.026; and adjusted OR (95% CI) = 2.02 (1.014.04) for TPO-Ab-positivity, p=0.047).
Conclusions. Reference intervals for first trimester TSH and fT4 have been established for pregnant women living in St. Petersburg. Hypothyroxinemia and TPO-Ab-positivity were associated with the increased risk of GDM.
Intrusi Air Laut di Pesisir Tugu Kota Semarang Berdasarkan Resistiviti dan Hidrokimia
Authors: Widada Sugeng , Rochaddi Baskoro , Suryono Chrisna Adhi , Irwani Irwani
Published: December 2018

Sea Water Intrusion in Tugu Coastal Area of Semarang City Based on Resistivity and Hydrochemical Tugu Coastal Area is one of the coastal areas in Semarang City, Central Java Province that continues to grow. Although the clean water network from the  Local Water Supply Utility is available, groundwater is still used to meet the water needs of the community.  Some of the groundwater in the area is brackish to salty conditions as the result of sea water intrusion process. The research aims to determine configuration of aquifers which have been intruded with sea water in Tugu Coastal Area, Semarang City, so that groundwater exploitation from the aquifer can be avoided. The method used in this study was descriptive analysis, in which the condition of aquifers was based on interpretation of resistivity data. Simple hydrochemical facies analysis using the Trilinier Piper Diagram method is carried out to detect sea water intrusion. The results of the study indicated that aquifers in the Coastal area consisted of several layers. Aquifer which has been intruded with seawater is located on the north side of the Semarang - Kendal highway, both for confined and unconfined aquifers. The depth of confined aquifer which is intruded by sea water reaches 50 - 75 m below the local land surface. While the unconfined aquifer depth is up to a depth of 6 m below the local land surface. Wilayah Pesisir Tugu, Kota Semarang, Provinsi Jawa Tengah merupakan salah satu daerah pesisir di Kota Semarang yang terus berkembang. Meskipun jaringan air bersih dari Perusahaan Daerah Air Minum telah tersedia, namun pemanfaatan air tanah masih digunakan untuk memenuhi kebutuhan air bagi masyarakat. Sebagian air tanah di daerah tersebut dalam kondisi payau hingga asin yang diduga akibat proses intrusi air laut.. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui konfigurasi akuifer yang telah terintrusi air laut Wilayah Pesisir Tugu, Kota Semarang, sehingga dapat dihindari pengambilan air tanah dari akuifer tersebut. Metode penelitian yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah diskriptis analisis untuk menggambarkan kondisi akuifer berdasarkan hasil interpretasi data geolistrik resistiviti.  Analisa fasies hidrokimia secara sederhana dengan metode Diagram Triliner Piper dilakukan untuk mendeteksi adanya intrusi air laut. Hasil penelitian menujukan bahwa akuifer di daerah Pesisir Tugu terdiri dari beberapa lapisan. Akuifer yang telah terintrusi air laut adalah yang berada di sebelah utara jalan raya Semarang – Kendal, baik untuk akuier bebas maupun akuifer tertekan. Kedalaman akuifer tertekan yang terintrusi adalah hingga mencapai 50 sampai dengan 75 m di bawah muka tanah setempat. Sedangkan kedalaman akuifer bebasnya berada hingga kedalaman 6 m di bawah muka tanah setempat
Kebutuhan Model Valuasi Lingkungan Bagi Kegiatan Transportasi
Authors: Handajani Mudjiastuti
Published: December 2018

Apart from supporting to human life which is a part of positive impacts, transporation also contains negative impacts which does not only lead to local geographic scale of mainland, but also to the largesr one, including water and air environment, even atmosphere. When the negative impact comes to larger scale, macro decisions such policies supported by political issues should be intervented to minimize negative impacts and to develop a better transportation or a sustainable transportation in the future. It is an irony that most of professionals, technocrats, and scientiests related transportation in developing countries are still interested and focused in local issues of transportation phenomenon, model development for transportation planning and technical issues related to operational management analysis. Only a small group of them are interested in transportation impact studies for both local and larger area. It will be a rational justification to construct models to support decision making process in order to have a policy within line with sustainable environment which is not only useful for both local scale, but also larger scale (national and the earth).
The use of framing of affect or reason in communications in a services failure recovery scenario in education
Authors: Bizarrias Flavio Santino , Silva Jussara Goulart da , Ferreira Marlette Cassia Oliveira
Published: December 2018

The study of decision-making of people has its origins in economic theory, with a more rational approach. However, several studies have shown that decision-making follows also an emotional model. In great part, decisions are influenced by information we receive through communication framing. In education, students decisions are largely affected by the information they receive through communication issued by the service provider. In a scenario of service failure recovery the influence of emotional or rational messages is little studied. The motivation of this study is the absence of works relating attitudes to services when failure recovery occurs in higher education services, particularly when the framing of the communication signals some position to students, aiming to persuade them. The results showed that rational communication was more effective than emotional ones. It was also found that interpersonal influences tends to reduce positive responses from students to HEI communication strategy, though a moderation process.
Successful performance in socially oriented ventures stemming from international accelerator programs: A comparative study between OECD and developing countries.
Authors: Canfield Carlos Eduardo , Anzola Elvira Carlina
Published: December 2018

The mobilization of social resources for addressing urgent societal needs under market assumptions is a major component of the strategy for development.  Social enterprises as an alternative source of public goods and services attract the attention of academics, practitioners and policy-makers to the efficient use of entrepreneurial resources. Initially this study aims to provide a more systematic understanding about the factors that affect the probabilities of success of socially oriented undertakings and contributes to the literature by answering the call for more empirical research about such effects over their performance. Using a logistic regression model on data from a sample of socially oriented ventures in 148 countries participating in the 2013-2016 Entrepreneurship Database Program at Emory University, the positive effects of such factors were first validated. At a later stage, this quest attempted to find differential behaviors of these effects by comparing operations in OECD and developing countries. No conclusive evidence for dissimilarities between groups was found. This result could be partially attributed to the accelerator´s selection processes favoring companies with a proven record. Important global policy implications are drawn in support of harmonized social-entrepreneurship promotion programs and the adoption of standardized impact measurement criteria. This argument raises ample academic and practical possibilities for investigating the impact of socio-economic and cultural influences on the efficacy of social enterprise´s interventions. After controlling for the efficient use of entrepreneurial resources, teams made-up of civil society organizations, businesses and government institutions can allocate their attention to those country-specific situations affecting the efficacy of development programs such as the problems to be solved, the particularity of the eco-systems and the adequacy of the organizational arrays adopted.