bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in access to and costs of overseas treatment after the introduction of universal health coverage in the Maldives: Findings from surveys and the analysis of claims data
Authors: Suzana Mariyam , Chongsuvivatwong Virasakdi
Published: October 2015

Background

Shortages in resources for health and health service delivery in small island states make it inevitable for islanders to seek medical treatment out of the country. This study aimed to assess the changes in access to treatment overseas and its disparities before and after universal health care was introduced in 2012 in the island state of Maldives.

Methods

Using primary and secondary data, two analyses were performed: 1. Analysis of beneficiary data on public subsidy for medical treatment overseas 2010–2013; 2. A comparative analysis of two independent cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2010 and 2013. Public subsidy, financial protection, usage, and costs of medical treatment overseas were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the concentration curve and index.

Results

Number of beneficiaries subsidized for treatment overseas has increased by 199% and the average expenditure per beneficiary has increased by 49.7% during 2010–2013. Average number of visits abroad in a year has slightly decreased from 1.6 in 2009 to 1.4 visits in 2013, but among travelers who made more than one trip abroad, average visits remained at 2.7 per year. Median medical costs have increased by 26.9% and the proportion of household spending on overseas treatment in annual household spending has remained around 20% over the years. The proportion of travelers belonging to average households (household spending below $650) has increased by 107%, and the concentration index decreased from 0.08 in 2009 to 0.04 in 2013 indicating a change towards a more uniform distribution of MTO use.

Conclusions

Despite the fact that the objectives of the two surveys differed which may have led to differences in measurements, it can be concluded that UHC has narrowed the gap between the rich and poor in utilizing medical treatment overseas. However, median out of pocket spending on MTO has increased over the years indicating the need to broaden the benefit package of the UHC program. Further research is needed on the most deprived populations who have not accessed care abroad despite the change in the health financing system in the country.
Machining chatter in continuous facing under a constant nominal cutting speed: Tool vibration with time-varying delay
Authors: Kountanya Raja , Kim Seung-Bum , Mantese Joseph
Published: October 2015

This article studies regenerative chatter in single-point face-machining at nominally constant speed under continuous conditions. A temporal model for rotational speed was developed and experimentally verified. The resulting rotational time-delay was cast into the classical force feedback mechanism for chatter. A chatter model was formulated to allow slight spindle speed variation about the temporal model. The modified method of steps was then employed to solve the tool vibration in time-domain allowing one (single-degree-of-freedom) or two (2-degree-of-freedom model) vibrational modes. Exploratory facing experiments using a grooving tool were conducted on a nickel alloy workpiece. It was found that the tool was more susceptible to chatter at larger diameters. It appeared that the single-degree-of-freedom model captured the most relevant of the observed phenomena while cutting without spindle speed variation, however, neither the 1-degree-of-freedom nor the 2-degree-of-freedom models could effectively capture the experimentally observed chatter evolution characteristics while cutting with spindle speed variation.
Process analysis of hydrodynamic deep drawing of cone cups assisted by radial pressure
Authors: Jalil Alireza , Hoseinpour Gollo Mohammad , Seyedkashi SM Hossein
Published: October 2015

Forming of flat sheets into shell conical parts is a complex manufacturing process. Hydrodynamic deep drawing process assisted by radial pressure is a new hydroforming technology in which fluid pressure is applied to the peripheral edge of the sheet in addition to the sheet surface. This technique results in higher drawing ratio and dimensional accuracy, better surface quality, and ability of forming more complex geometries. In this research, a new theoretical model is developed to predict the critical rupture pressure in production of cone cups. In this analysis, Barlat–Lian yield criterion is utilized and tensile instability is considered based on the maximum load applied on the sheet. The proposed model is then validated by a series of experiments. The theoretical predictions are in good agreement with the experimental results. The effects of geometrical parameters and material properties on critical rupture pressure are also studied. The critical pressure is increased with increase in the height ratio, strain hardening exponent, and anisotropy. Higher punch nose radius expands the safe zone. It is shown that the critical pressure decreases for drawing ratios higher than 4.
The tool following function-based identification approach for all geometric errors of rotary axes using ballbar
Authors: Fu Guoqiang , Fu Jianzhong , Shen Hongyao , Yao Xinhua
Published: October 2015

This paper proposes a tool following function-based identification approach (TFFIA) for geometric errors of two rotary axes for one five-axis machine tool. It is comprehensive to identify all geometric errors of rotary errors. Firstly, synthetic error formulas of ballbar originate from the geometric error model of machine tools in order to consider the influences of 21 errors of three translational axes. It makes the approach more reasonable and precise. Secondly, the structures of three measurement patterns of TFFIA are described. Thirdly, in each pattern, errors of rotary axes affecting the accuracy of the sensitive direction are identified. As the result, the identification equations of all 20 errors coincide with the geometric properties of errors. Moreover, the impacts of setup errors of ballbar are eliminated with least square method to improve the precise of TFFIA. According to the structures of three patterns, only three installation of workpiece ball of ballbar are needed in the whole identification of two rotary axes to obtain the required ballbar readings. It greatly shortens the measurement time. Twenty geometric errors of two rotary axes are calculated with identification equations and ballbar readings. Finally, TFFIA is applied to a SmartCNC500 five-axis vertical machining center. The corresponding comparisons are proposed to verify the effectiveness and accuracy of TFFIA.
Lubricant use and condom use during anal sex in men who have sex with men in Tanzania
Authors: Romijnders Kim AGJ , Nyoni Joyce E , Ross Michael W , McCurdy Sheryl A , Mbwambo Jessie , Kok Gerjo , Crutzen Rik
Published: October 2015

The lack of data on condom and lubricant use among African men who have sex with men (MSM) hinders prevention efforts. We describe use, knowledge, and access to lubricants in Dar es Salaam and Tanga, Tanzania. Data were collected in 2012 and 2013 from a cross-sectional survey of 200 MSM in Dar es Salaam and 100 MSM in Tanga, Tanzania. The most common reason for not using condoms was dislike of condoms. Two-thirds of the men reported always using a lubricant for anal sex. Results showed that: fewer men who have sex with both men and women (MSMW) know about lubricants; more MSM look for, have difficulty finding, and find lubricants to be expensive; and MSM use lubricants to facilitate penetration. MSMW commonly receive their lubricants from their sexual partner, while MSM got them from friends and pharmacies. HIV-negative MSM used lubricants to facilitate penetration and reduce pain. HIV-positive MSM are likely to get their lubricants from pharmacies or friends. MSMW use Vaseline® significantly more than MSM as a lubricant. Results suggest that HIV prevention knowledge among MSM is greater, so HIV prevention efforts should emphasise carrying water-based lubricant among MSMW. Consequently, there is an opportunity to co-market condoms and water-based lubricants.
Is Math Anxiety Always Bad for Math Learning? The Role of Math Motivation
Authors: Wang Zhe , Lukowski Sarah L. , Hart Sara A. , Lyons Ian M. , Thompson Lee A. , Kovas Yulia , Mazzocco Michèle M. M. , Plomin Robert , Petrill Stephen A.
Published: October 2015

The linear relations between math anxiety and math cognition have been frequently studied. However, the relations between anxiety and performance on complex cognitive tasks have been repeatedly demonstrated to follow a curvilinear fashion. In the current studies, we aimed to address the lack of attention given to the possibility of such complex interplay between emotion and cognition in the math-learning literature by exploring the relations among math anxiety, math motivation, and math cognition. In two samples—young adolescent twins and adult college students—results showed inverted-U relations between math anxiety and math performance in participants with high intrinsic math motivation and modest negative associations between math anxiety and math performance in participants with low intrinsic math motivation. However, this pattern was not observed in tasks assessing participants’ nonsymbolic and symbolic number-estimation ability. These findings may help advance the understanding of mathematics-learning processes and provide important insights for treatment programs that target improving mathematics-learning experiences and mathematical skills.
Vitamin D exposures reported to US poison centers 2000–2014
Authors: Spiller HA , Good TF , Spiller NE , Aleguas A
Published: October 2015

There has been an increased use of vitamin D both by prescription and by the public as a widely available supplement. We evaluated 15 years of single-substance vitamin D exposures to US poison centers.

Methods:

Retrospective analysis of data from the National Poison Data System (NPDS) to evaluate clinical effects, trends, and outcomes of exposures to vitamin D over the period January 1, 2000 through June 30, 2014. Cases were limited to exposures involving vitamin D as a single substance. Multiple vitamin products that may have included vitamin D were not included in this study.

Results:

From 2000 through June 30, 2014, there were 25,397 human exposures to vitamin D reported to NPDS. There was a mean of 196 cases per year from 2000 to 2005, followed by a 1600% increase in exposures between 2005 and 2011 to a new annual mean of 4535 exposures per year. The mean and median ages were 23.4 years and 10 years, respectively. There were no fatalities, but five (0.02%) major effect outcomes. Serious medical outcomes (major or moderate outcome) were infrequent, ranging from 2 patients/year to 22 patients/year. Clinical effects were primarily gastrointestinal (0.7–1.5%) and mild neurological effects (0.2–0.4%). There was a decline in the percentage of patients treated in a health care facility and of patients with serious medical outcome.

Conclusion:

Despite the enormous increase in number of exposures, there was not a significant increase in patients with a serious medical outcome. Rare severe outcomes may occur.
A mechanistic approach for modulation of chlorpyrifos-induced toxicity in human lymphocytes by melatonin, coenzyme Q10, and vinpocetine
Authors: Ghayomi F , Navaei-Nigjeh M , Baeeri M , Rezvanfar MA , Abdollahi M
Published: October 2015

Background:

Chlorpyrifos (CP) is an organophosphorus pesticide that induces oxidative stress through the production of free radicals and depletes intracellular antioxidant reserves. In this study, the efficacy of three antioxidants (melatonin, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and vinpocetine) on alleviation of toxic effects of CP was evaluated.

Materials and Methods:

Cytotoxicity of CP, in the presence or absence of effective doses of melatonin, CoQ10, and vinpocetine, was determined in human peripheral blood lymphocytes after 72-h exposure. The levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity along with tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), as inflammatory index, were measured. Further, the viability and oxidative stress markers including cellular mitochondrial activity, cell death modes (apoptosis vs. necrosis), total antioxidant power (TAP), total thiol molecules (TTM), lipid peroxidation (LPO), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were measured.

Results:

CoQ10 and also the combination of the three antioxidants were the most notable in opposing toxicity of CP and led to increasing TAP and TTM; improvement of AChE activity; and lowering LPO, MPO, TNF-α, and apoptosis compared to CP alone.

Conclusion:

CP toxicity overwhelms the intracellular antioxidant defense mechanisms. Exogenous supplementation with antioxidants, such as the ones we have investigated, seems to be effective in the prevention of cytotoxicity of CP.
Reduction in semen quality after mixed exposure to bisphenol A and isobutylparaben in utero and during lactation periods
Authors: Yang Yun-Jung , Hong Yeon-Pyo , Chae Soo Ahn
Published: October 2015

This study was performed to determine the effect of low-level exposure to a mixture of bisphenol A (BPA) and isobutylparaben (IBP) on male reproduction. Corn oil, BPA (0.05 mg/kg/day), IBP (2.5 mg/kg/day), and a BPA/IBP mixture (BPA 0.05 mg/kg/day and IBP 2.5 mg/kg/day) were administered once daily by oral gavage to female rats for 5 weeks from gestation day 6 to lactation day 21. Male pups were killed at postnatal day 70 and examined for developmental characteristics, body weight, testis and epididymis weight, steroid hormones, epididymal sperm count and motility, and histological changes in testis and epididymis. The BPA/IBP mixture produced a significant downregulation of epididymal sperm count and motility. BPA or IBP alone also reduced epididymal sperm count and motility compared to control. These results indicate that exposure to low-level BPA/IBP mixture, which showed no notable physiological response in early life stages, can decrease semen quality in adulthood.
A model of chlorpyrifos distribution and its biochemical effects on the liver and kidneys of rats
Authors: Tanvir EM , Afroz R , Chowdhury MAZ , Gan SH , Karim N , Islam MN , Khalil MI
Published: October 2015

This study investigated the main target sites of chlorpyrifos (CPF), its effect on biochemical indices, and the pathological changes observed in rat liver and kidney function using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Adult female Wistar rats ( n = 12) were randomly assigned into two groups (one control and one test group; n = 6 each). The test group received CPF via oral gavage for 21 days at 5 mg/kg daily. The distribution of CPF was determined in various organs (liver, brain, heart, lung, kidney, ovary, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle), urine and stool samples using GCMS. Approximately 6.18% of CPF was distributed in the body tissues, and the highest CPF concentration (3.80%) was found in adipose tissue. CPF also accumulated in the liver (0.29%), brain (0.22%), kidney (0.10%), and ovary (0.03%). Approximately 83.60% of CPF was detected in the urine. CPF exposure resulted in a significant increase in plasma transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin levels, a significant reduction in total protein levels and an altered lipid profile. Oxidative stress due to CPF administration was also evidenced by a significant increase in liver malondialdehyde levels. The detrimental effects of CPF on kidney function consisted of a significant increase in plasma urea and creatinine levels. Liver and kidney histology confirmed the observed biochemical changes. In conclusion, CPF bioaccumulates over time and exerts toxic effects on animals.
After the earth moved: Accounting and accountability for earthquake relief and recovery in early twentieth-century New Zealand
Authors: Vosslamber Rob
Published: October 2015

There has been little discussion of what archival accounting evidence can contribute to an understanding of a society’s response to a natural disaster. This article focuses on two severe earthquakes which struck New Zealand in 1929 and 1931 and makes two main contributions to accounting history. First, by discussing evidence from archival sources, it contributes to the literature on accounting in a disaster. This provides a basis for future theory building and for future comparative research related to the response to more recent natural disasters such as the 2010–11 Canterbury earthquakes. Secondly, it questions the conclusions of recently published research concerning the role of central and local government in this and recent earthquakes.
Communication Within Hospice Interdisciplinary Teams
Authors: Moore Angela R. , Bastian Randi Ginger , Apenteng Bettye A.
Published: October 2015

Hospice care is coordinated through an interdisciplinary team (IDT), which assures that a holistic care plan based on the patient’s wishes is implemented. The extent to which an IDT provides quality care may be associated with how effectively they communicate within the team as well as with patients, caregivers, and families. This review seeks to characterize communication strategies among hospice IDT members and to determine how such strategies impact patient care. Although the existing literature sheds some light on communication within hospice IDTs, further research is needed. Inquiry into the communicative process of IDTs in settings other than team meetings, such as during patient visits or informal settings, would provide a more comprehensive representation of how communication influences IDT dynamics and overall team functioning.
The Effect of Using an Electric Fan on Dyspnea in Chinese Patients With Terminal Cancer
Authors: Wong Sio Leng , Leong Sok Man , Chan Cheng Man , Kan Sut Peng , Cheng Hon Wai Benjamin
Published: October 2015

Background:

Fan therapy is often suggested for relieving the symptom of dyspnea in patients with advanced cancer, but relevant literature among Asians is limited.

Objective:

Phase 2 clinical trial to assess the clinical feasibility and outcome of using an electric fan to alleviate the symptom of dyspnea in Chinese patients with advanced cancer.

Methods:

Thirty patients with advanced cancer having unresolved breathlessness were recruited from Hospice and Palliative Care Centre of Kiang Wu Hospital in Macau. Participants were randomly and equally allocated to the experimental group and the control group, respectively. Outcome Measures: Verbal numerical rating scale (NRS) of breathlessness, respiratory rate (RR), and saturation of peripheral oxygen (SpO2) was collected before and after the intervention.

Results:

T test was used to analyze the data collected. There was a significant difference in the NRS scores of the experimental group ( P < .01), indicating a significant reduction in the patients’ sensation of breathlessness after fan therapy, whereas no significant difference was found in the objective statistic results of RR and SpO2. No significant difference ( P > .05) was found in the control group for all the 3 variables before and after routine treatment.

Conclusion:

The results of the study suggested that fan therapy could be effective in alleviating dyspnea in Chinese patients with advanced cancer. It should be considered as one of the nonpharmacological treatment option. Future large-scale phase 3 clinical trials are warranted.
A Systematic Approach to Educating the Emerging Adult Learner in Undergraduate Management Courses
Authors: Dachner Alison M. , Polin Beth
Published: October 2015

Management education research has provided educators with new instructional tools to improve course design and update the methods used in the classroom. In an effort to provide the typical undergraduate management student with the best possible learning experience and outcomes, it is important to recognize how and why these new activities benefit the student. To reach this goal, one must first understand that the traditional undergraduate management student, aged 18 to 25 years, is in a phase of life development referred to as emerging adulthood in which they are distinctly different from mature adults demographically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially. With this understanding, our research analyzes how each of the six assumptions of andragogy can be applied uniquely to the emerging adult undergraduate management student. We provide the management educator with a method for classifying the level of development of students along the focus areas of andragogy, general instructional design ideas for addressing those particular levels of development, and a number of specific activities identified in a review of Journal of Management Education articles with notes on the conditions under which activities will be most effective. Student learning experiences can be improved when course activities are designed more intentionally and meaningfully.
Digital Technology and Student Cognitive Development
Authors: Cavanaugh J. Michael , Giapponi Catherine C. , Golden Timothy D.
Published: October 2015

Digital technology has proven a beguiling, some even venture addictive, presence in the lives of our 21st century (millennial) students. And while screen technology may offer select cognitive benefits, there is mounting evidence in the cognitive neuroscience literature that digital technology is restructuring the way our students read and think, and not necessarily for the better. Rather, emerging research regarding intensive use of digital devices suggests something more closely resembling a Faustian quandary: Certain cognitive skills are gained while other “deep thinking” capabilities atrophy as a result of alterations in the neural circuitry of millennial brains. This has potentially profound implications for management teaching and practice. In response, some advocate that we “meet students where we find them.” We too acknowledge the need to address student needs, but with the proviso that the academy’s trademark commitment to penetrating, analytical thinking not be compromised given the unprecedented array of existential challenges awaiting this generation of students. These and rising faculty suspicions of a new “digital divide” cropping up in the management classroom represents a timely opportunity for management educators to reflect not only on how today’s students read and learn, but equally, on what and how we teach.
Pilot Evaluation of the Medication Integration Protocol for Adolescents With ADHD in Behavioral Care
Authors: Hogue Aaron , Lichvar Emily , Bobek Molly
Published: October 2015

Although attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is prevalent among adolescents in outpatient behavioral care, one of the few evidence-based treatment options, stimulant medication, is significantly underutilized. The Medication Integration Protocol (MIP) is a family-based intervention designed to help behavior therapists assume a lead role in educating clients about ADHD in adolescents, promoting family-centered decisions about medication initiation, and integrating medication management activities within behavioral treatment planning. This pilot study evaluated treatment fidelity and medication utilization for inner-city teens receiving MIP ( n = 14) compared with a matched Historical Control (HC) group ( n = 21) in a community clinic. Observational analyses revealed that in comparison with HC, MIP demonstrated basic protocol fidelity with regard to adherence to the MIP protocol, therapeutic alliance with the adolescent, and clinical focus on ADHD in session. MIP showed greater psychiatric evaluation completion and ADHD medication initiation than HC. Next steps in the ongoing development of MIP are outlined.
The First Case of Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis With Small Cell Lung Carcinoma
Authors: Hiraki Tsubasa , Goto Yuko , Kitazono Ikumi , Tasaki Takashi , Higashi Michiyo , Hatanaka Kazuhito , Tanimoto Akihide
Published: October 2015

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare pulmonary disease characterized by alveolar accumulation of surfactant lipids and proteins. It is usually autoimmune and secondary to hematologic malignancy or infection. To date, only 5 case reports of PAP associated with lung cancers, including 2 cases of squamous cell carcinoma and 3 cases of adenocarcinoma, have been published. To the best of our knowledge, no case of PAP with small cell lung carcinoma has been reported thus far. We herein report the first case of PAP associated with small cell lung carcinoma.
Quantitative and Qualitative Change of Collagen of Achilles Tendons in Rats With Systemic Administration of Glucocorticoids
Authors: Taguchi Tetsuya , Kubota Makoto , Saito Mitsuru , Hattori Hidekazu , Kimura Tadashi , Marumo Keishi
Published: October 2015

Background:

It is unclear whether glucocorticoid (GC) therapy is directly related to Achilles tendon rupture (ATR), because many of the reported patients were receiving long-term GC therapy for underlying diseases. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism by which systemic GC administration causes weakening of the Achilles tendon by biochemically, mechanically, and morphologically evaluating quantitative and qualitative changes in collagen.

Methods:

Male 8-week-old mice were subcutaneously treated with either prednisolone (10 mg/mL/kg; GC group) or saline (1 mL/kg; control group) for 8 weeks and then subjected to the following experiments: (1) a tensile strength test; (2) quantification of the gene expressions of type 1 collagen and lysyl oxidase; (3) quantification of collagen content, enzymatic crosslinks (immature + mature), and senescent crosslinks; and (4) measurement of collagen fiber diameter by electron microscopy.

Results:

The maximum tensile load and gene expressions of type 1 collagen and lysyl oxidase were decreased in the GC group. Collagen content was significantly decreased in the GC group compared with the control group. The content of enzymatic crosslinks was significantly lower in the GC group than in the control group. The corresponding amount of senescent crosslinks was not significantly different. The mean collagen fiber diameter was significantly smaller in the GC group than in the control group. Histogram analysis showed a decreased number of thick fibers and an increased number of thin fibers in the GC group.

Conclusion:

These observations suggest that systemic GC administration causes decreased strength of the Achilles tendon by decreasing its collagen content, hindering the formation of enzymatic crosslinks and thereby keeping collagen fibers in an immature state with smaller diameters.

Clinical Relevance:

This animal study showed that systemic GC administration directly prevents maturation of tendon collagen fibers and decreases tendon strength, regardless of the presence or absence of underlying disease.
A Central Role for Monocyte–Platelet Interactions in Heart Failure
Authors: Glezeva Nadezhda , Gilmer John F. , Watson Chris J. , Ledwidge Mark
Published: October 2015

Heart failure (HF) is an increasingly prevalent and costly multifactorial syndrome with high morbidity and mortality rates. The exact pathophysiological mechanisms leading to the development of HF are not completely understood. Several emerging paradigms implicate cardiometabolic risk factors, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, myocardial fibrosis, and myocyte dysfunction as key factors in the gradual progression from a healthy state to HF. Inflammation is now a recognized factor in disease progression in HF and a therapeutic target. Furthermore, the monocyte–platelet interaction has been highlighted as an important pathophysiological link between inflammation, thrombosis, endothelial activation, and myocardial malfunction. The contribution of monocytes and platelets to acute cardiovascular injury and acute HF is well established. However, their role and interaction in the pathogenesis of chronic HF are not well understood. In particular, the cross talk between monocytes and platelets in the peripheral circulation and in the vicinity of the vascular wall in the form of monocyte–platelet complexes (MPCs) may be a crucial element, which influences the pathophysiology and progression of chronic heart disease and HF. In this review, we discuss the role of monocytes and platelets as key mediators of cardiovascular inflammation in HF, the mechanisms of cell activation, and the importance of monocyte–platelet interaction and complexes in HF pathogenesis. Finally, we summarize recent information on pharmacological inhibition of inflammation and studies of antithrombotic strategies in the setting of HF that can inform opportunities for future work. We discuss recent data on monocyte–platelet interactions and the potential benefits of therapy directed at MPCs, particularly in the setting of HF with preserved ejection fraction.
PRescriptiOn PattERns of Oral Anticoagulants in Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation (PROPER study)
Authors: Basaran Ozcan , Filiz Basaran Nesrin , Cekic Edip Guvenc , Altun Ibrahim , Dogan Volkan , Mert Gurbet Ozge , Mert Kadir Ugur , Akin Fatih , Soylu Mustafa Ozcan , Memic Sancar Kadriye , Biteker Murat
Published: October 2015

Introduction:

Inappropriate use of oral anticoagulants (OACs) have not been well investigatedand, however, may be frequent in real-world practice in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This study was designed to evaluate the prescription patterns and appropriateness of OACs in patients with NVAF in real-world clinical settings.

Methods:

We performed a prospective, observational study (NCT02366338). A total of 148 patients with NVAF were screened for OAC prescription. Appropriateness of prescribing was evaluated using 9 criteria of the Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI): indication, choice, dosage, modalities and practicability of administration, drug–drug interactions, drug–disease interactions, duplication, and duration. For each criterion, the evaluator has to rate whether the medication is (A) appropriate, (B) inappropriate but with limited clinical importance, and (C) inappropriate.

Results:

Of 148 patients, 73 (50%) were on warfarin (group 1), 39 (26%) were on rivaroxaban (group 2), and 36 (24%) were on dabigatran therapy (group 3). The MAI showed that 83% of group 1, 28% of group 2, and 47% of group 3 patients had at least 1 inappropriate criterion. Moreover, according to the choice criterion, 37% of group 1, 8% of group 2 and 5% of group 3 were rated as inappropriate, and dosage was not appropriate in 77% of group 1, 23% of group 2, and 42% of group 3.

Conclusion:

Inappropriate drug use is frequent among patients with NVAF not only for warfarin but also for NOACs. Although there is an apparent improvement in thromboprophylaxis of NVAF, much more effort is needed for appropriate use of OACs.
Psychopathy Checklist–Revised Use and Reporting Practices in Sexually Violent Predator Evaluations
Authors: Boccaccini Marcus T. , Chevalier Caroline S. , Murrie Daniel C. , Varela Jorge G.
Published: October 2015

We surveyed evaluators who conduct sexually violent predator evaluations ( N = 95) regarding the frequency with which they use the Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL-R), their rationale for use, and scoring practices. Findings suggest that evaluators use the PCL-R in sexually violent predator cases because of its perceived versatility, providing information about both mental disorder and risk. Several findings suggested gaps between research and routine practice. For example, relatively few evaluators reported providing the factor and facet scores that may be the strongest predictors of future offending, and many assessed the combination of PCL-R scores and sexual deviance using deviance measures (e.g., paraphilia diagnoses) that have not been examined in available studies. There was evidence of adversarial allegiance in PCL-R score interpretation, as well as a “bias blind spot” in PCL-R and other risk measure (Static-99R) scoring; evaluators tended to acknowledge the possibility of bias in other evaluators but not in themselves. Findings suggest the need for evaluators to carefully consider the extent to which their practices are consistent with emerging research and to be attuned to the possibility that working in adversarial settings may influence their scoring and interpretation practices.
Use of mobile technology in a community mental health setting
Authors: Glick Gretl , Druss Benjamin , Pina Jamie , Lally Cathy , Conde Mark
Published: October 2015

Introduction

mHealth holds promise in transforming care for people with serious mental illness (SMI) and other disadvantaged populations. However, information about the rates of smartphone ownership and usage of mobile health apps among people with SMI is limited. The objective of this research is to examine the current ownership, usage patterns, and existing barriers to mobile health interventions for people with SMI treated in a public sector community mental health setting and to compare the findings with national usage patterns from the general population.

Methods

A survey was conducted to determine rates of ownership of smartphone devices among people with SMI. Surveys were administered to 100 patients with SMI at an outpatient psychiatric clinic. Results were compared with respondents to the 2012 Pew Survey of mobile phone usage.

Results

A total of 85% of participants reported that they owned a cell phone; of those, 37% reported that they owned a smartphone, as compared with 53% of respondents to the Pew Survey and 44% of socioeconomically disadvantaged respondents to the Pew Survey.

Discussion

While cell phone ownership is common among people with SMI, their adoption of smartphone technology lags behind that of the general population primarily due to cost barriers. Efforts to use mHealth in these populations need to recognize current mobile ownership patterns while planning for anticipated expansion of new technologies to poor populations as cost barriers are reduced in the coming years.
Emotion work and the management of stigma in female sex workers’ long-term intimate relationships
Authors: Murphy Hannah , Dunk-West Priscilla , Chonody Jill
Published: October 2015

Very little empirical work examines female sex workers’ experiences in sociological detail, particularly within an Australian context. Drawing from a small-scale sample of female sex workers in South Australia, our findings suggest that sex workers’ ongoing negotiations within private relationships represent ‘emotion work’, as described by Hochschild, which was understood as limiting the effect of stigma. Taking the lead from social scripts associated with women’s traditional roles and associated ‘feeling rules’, participants mediated their personal lives as distinct from their professional lives to navigate their way through the complex interplay between identities. This emotion work was manifest in the negotiation of intimacy. Other factors such as partner jealousy, which emerge from dual engagement in intimate and work-related sexual behaviours, were also mediated. These findings point to a broader appreciation of emotion work as dually agential and structured and undertaken by sex workers in both their home and work spheres.
The role of leadership in building and managing corporate reputation of 4 and 5 star hotels
Authors: Stavrinoudis Theodoros A , Chrysanthopoulou Dimitra
Published: October 2015

This paper deals with the building and managing of corporate reputation of 4 and 5 star hotels in Athens-Attica, as well as with the role of leadership in corporate reputation. A primary research in hotel firms in Athens-Attica helped identify i) to which extent a charismatic leadership and the skills of a leader positively affect the reputation of hotels, and ii) to which extent a charismatic leadership is related to the leader's skills. The statistical analysis of the research results revealed on the one hand a number of positive correlations between the factors and variables examined and on the other hand some not particularly strong correlations between their sub-factors, thus allowing both reaching conclusions and making suggestions for further research.
Simultaneous two-dimensional measurement of fuel–air ratio and temperature in a direct-injection spark-ignition engine using a new tracer-pair laser-induced fluorescence technique
Authors: Lind Susanne , Zigan Lars , Trost Johannes , Leipertz Alfred , Will Stefan
Published: October 2015

A planar tracer laser–induced fluorescence technique using a new tracer pair is introduced and has been utilized for the simultaneous detection of the fuel–air ratio and the temperature to characterize mixture formation inside a direct-injection spark-ignition engine. The new tracer pair consists of triethylamine and 3-pentanone, which are simultaneously added to the surrogate fuel isooctane. Triethylamine was used for the determination of the fuel–air ratio. The temperature distribution was evaluated with the two-line excitation laser-induced fluorescence technique using 3-pentanone. Prior to the internal combustion engine measurements, the tracer mixture was first investigated in a flow cell to demonstrate the spectral separability of the fluorescence signals and for the extension of the calibration data basis. As a first application, the tracer pair was applied inside a direct-injection spark-ignition engine operated with a split-injection scheme. For the late second injection, the fuel and temperature stratification was studied during the compression stroke. The measured temperature drop due to evaporative cooling effects was found to be about 100 K in the averaged data and up to 125 K in the single-shot measurements. The relation between fuel-rich areas and strong temperature drop can clearly be seen in the results. Furthermore, the suitability of the tracer pair to resolve cyclic variations is visualized.
Music therapy: A nonpharmacological approach to the care of agitation and depressive symptoms for nursing home residents with dementia
Authors: Ray Kendra D , Mittelman Mary S
Published: October 2015

Depression, agitation, and wandering are common behaviors associated with dementia and frequently observed among nursing home residents. Even with pharmacological treatment, behaviors often persist, hindering quality of life for elders, their family, and paid caregivers. This study examined the use of music therapy for treatment of these symptoms among 132 people with moderate to severe dementia in nursing homes. Participants were evaluated for depressive symptoms, agitation, and wandering to determine their predominate behavior. There were two assessments, two weeks apart, prior to intervention, followed by a two-week intervention, and two follow-up assessments, also two weeks apart. A repeated measures ANOVA determined that after two weeks of music therapy, symptoms of depression and agitation were significantly reduced; there was no change for wandering. Multivariate analyses confirmed a relationship between music therapy and change in neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with dementia. Results suggest widespread use of music therapy in long-term care settings may be effective in reducing symptoms of depression and agitation.
From wandering to wayfaring: Reconsidering movement in people with dementia in long-term care
Authors: Graham Megan E
Published: October 2015

The movement of people with dementia in long-term care continues to be an issue of concern among clinicians, caregivers and families. This article will examine the social construction “wandering” and its association with pathology, risk discourse and surveillance technologies. Further, the article will explore the recent shift from the term “wanderer” to the phrase “people who like to walk” in person-centred dementia care. Engaging with Ingold’s concept of movement as wayfaring, an alternative becoming-centred understanding of movement and its significance for people with dementia will be presented and illustrated through a case study. The paper concludes that depathologizing movement opens the possibility to see movement in people with dementia as an intention to be alive and to grow, rather than as a product of disease and deterioration. Suggestions for future research and implications for care interventions are discussed.
Rethinking Kant as a public intellectual
Authors: Møller Sofie
Published: October 2015

In Kant’s Politics in Context, Reidar Maliks offers a compelling account of Kant’s political philosophy as part of a public debate on rights, citizenship, and revolution in the wake of the French Revolution. Maliks argues that Kant’s political thought was developed as a moderate middle ground between radical and conservative political interpretations of his moral philosophy. The book’s central thesis is that the key to understanding Kant’s legal and political thought lies in the public debate among Kant’s followers and that in this debate we find the political challenges which Kant’s political philosophy is designed to solve. Kant’s Politics in Context raises crucial questions about how to understand political thinkers of the past and is proof that our understanding of the past will remain fragmented if we limit our studies to the great men of the established canon.
Rethinking Fat
Authors: Rice Carla
Published: October 2015

This article engages with recent critical research on the obesity epidemic to think through the bioethics of current obesity prevention and consider alternative responses to fat bodies. To develop such an approach, it offers a feminist “body becoming” theory of fat that interweaves constructivist and new materialist theories with embodied and aesthetic perspectives to imagine other possibilities for fat embodiment. Thinking beyond conventional biopedagogical interventions that send moralizing messages about what bodies should be, I theorize a “becoming” pedagogy that moves away from enforcing norms toward more creative ways of expanding possibilities for what bodies could become. Because in our boundary-setting world this kind of imagining is considered the work of the artist and not within the purview of the social scientist, I turn to the arts and to aesthetic theory for insight and inspiration in this project. I discuss representations that focus on embodying and materializing change among individuals and groups so as to transform social scripts about body, ability, and normality.
Human microRNAs profiling in response to influenza A viruses (subtypes pH1N1, H3N2, and H5N1)
Authors: Makkoch Jarika , Poomipak Witthaya , Saengchoowong Suthat , Khongnomnan Kritsada , Praianantathavorn Kesmanee , Jinato Thananya , Poovorawan Yong , Payungporn Sunchai
Published: October 2015

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in regulation of gene silencing and are involved in many cellular processes including inhibition of infected viral replication. This study investigated cellular miRNA expression profiles operating in response to influenza virus in early stage of infection which might be useful for understanding and control of viral infection. A549 cells were infected with different subtypes of influenza virus (pH1N1, H3N2 and H5N1). After 24 h post-infection, miRNAs were extracted and then used for DNA library construction. All DNA libraries with different indexes were pooled together with equal concentration, followed by high-throughput sequencing based on MiSeq platform. The miRNAs were identified and counted from sequencing data by using MiSeq reporter software. The miRNAs expressions were classified into up and downregulated miRNAs compared to those found in non-infected cells. Mostly, each subtype of influenza A virus triggered the upregulated responses in miRNA expression profiles. Hsa-miR-101, hsa-miR-193b, hsa-miR-23b, and hsa-miR-30e* were upregulated when infected with all three subtypes of influenza A virus. Target prediction results showed that virus infection can trigger genes in cellular process, metabolic process, developmental process and biological regulation. This study provided some insights into the cellular miRNA profiling in response to various subtypes of influenza A viruses in circulation and which have caused outbreaks in human population. The regulated miRNAs might be involved in virus–host interaction or host defense mechanism, which should be investigated for effective antiviral therapeutic interventions.
Risk Evaluation of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals
Authors: Gioiosa Laura , Palanza Paola , Parmigiani Stefano , vom Saal Frederick S.
Published: October 2015

We review here our studies on early exposure to low doses of the estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA) on behavior and metabolism in CD-1 mice. Mice were exposed in utero from gestation day (GD) 11 to delivery (prenatal exposure) or via maternal milk from birth to postnatal day 7 (postnatal exposure) to 10 µg/kg body weight/d of BPA or no BPA (controls). Bisphenol A exposure resulted in long-term disruption of sexually dimorphic behaviors. Females exposed to BPA pre- and postnatally showed increased anxiety and behavioral profiles similar to control males. We also evaluated metabolic effects in prenatally exposed adult male offspring of dams fed (from GD 9 to 18) with BPA at doses ranging from 5 to 50 000 µg/kg/d. The males showed an age-related significant change in a number of metabolic indexes ranging from food intake to glucose regulation at BPA doses below the no observed adverse effect level (5000 µg/kg/d). Consistent with prior findings, low but not high BPA doses produced significant effects for many outcomes. These findings provide further evidence of the potential risks that developmental exposure to low doses of the endocrine disrupter BPA may pose to human health, with fetuses and infants being highly vulnerable.
Kinematics modeling and control simulation for a logging harvester in virtual environments
Authors: Zheng Yili , Ge Taotao , Liu Jinhao
Published: October 2015

This article presents the kinematics model and control simulation of a hydraulic boom. This hydraulic boom is used on the logging harvester, which is a typical forestry vehicle. The kinematics equations of the hydraulic boom and the transformation between joint variables and hydraulic cylinder variables are obtained for the control purpose. An autonomous control method is suggested for the harvesting head to capture trunks. There are two separate closed loops in the control scheme: the inner closed loop realizes the control on the hydraulic cylinders, and the outer loop plans the desired trajectory of the harvesting head to capture trunks based on the laser measurement data. An interactive real-time dynamic simulation system is developed, and the proposed control method is verified.
Driver fixation region division–oriented clustering method based on the density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise and the mathematical morphology clustering
Authors: Li Shi-wu , Xu Yi , Sun Wen-cai , Yang Zhi-fa , Wang Lin-hong , Chai Meng , Wei Xue-xin
Published: October 2015

A clustering method that combined density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise with mathematical morphology clustering is proposed to adapt to the features of driver’s fixation such as points’ dispersion and fixation regions’ irregularity and solve the problems of conventional density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise method’s large influence by parameters and mathematical morphology clustering’s needs of much manual intervention. Drivers’ fixation data were collected by Smart Eye Pro 5.7 eye tracking system, and the data were processed and clustered using conventional clustering methods and density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise–mathematical morphology clustering method. The results show that the method proposed in this article takes into account the advantages of density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise and mathematical morphology clustering to cluster irregular regions and makes up for defects of conventional clustering methods. It is verified that density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise–mathematical morphology clustering method is better than the conventional hierarchical clustering method and density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise method in driver’s fixation points clustering and can improve the quality of driver’s fixation region division.