bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hospice Palliative Care (HPC) and Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD): Results From a Canada-Wide Survey
Authors: Antonacci Rebecca , Baxter Sharon , Henderson J. David , Mirza Raza M. , Klinger Christopher A.
Published: August 2019

Background:

With the legalization of medical assistance in dying (MAiD) in Canada, physicians and nurse practitioners now have another option within their scope of practice to consider alongside hospice palliative care (HPC) to support the patient and family regardless of their choice toward natural or medically assisted death. To elucidate insights and experiences with MAiD since its inception and to help adjust to this new end-of-life care environment, the membership of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) was surveyed.

Methods:

The CHPCA developed and distributed a 16-item survey to its membership in June 2017, one year following the legalization of MAiD. Data were arranged in Microsoft® Excel and open-ended responses were analyzed thematically using NVivo 12 software.

Results:

From across Canada, 452 responses were received (response rate: 15%). The majority of individuals worked as nurses (n = 161, 33%), administrators (n = 79, 16%), volunteers (n = 76, 16%) and physicians (n = 56, 11%). Almost 75% (n = 320) of all respondents indicated that they had experienced a patient in their program who had requested MAiD. Participants expressed dissatisfaction with the current psychological and professional support being provided by their health care organization and Ministry of Health - during and after the MAiD procedure.

Conclusion:

The new complexities of MAiD present unique challenges to those working in the health-care field. There needs to be an increased focus on educating/training providers as without proper support, health-care workers will be unable to perform to their full potential/scope of practice while also providing patients with holistic and accessible care.
Administering Neostigmine as a Subcutaneous Infusion: A Case Report of a Patient Dying With Myasthenia Gravis
Authors: Hindmarsh Jonathan , Woods Elizabeth , Lee Mark , Pickard Jonathan
Published: August 2019

Background:

Abrupt withdrawal of pharmacological therapies for myasthenia gravis can exacerbate muscle weakness and even trigger myasthenic crisis. Such medications should ideally be continued, but how this can be achieved in patients approaching the end of life, particularly when enteral administration is compromised, has not been defined.

Case History:

An 83-year-old man with a history of generalized myasthenia gravis and palliative metastatic anal adenocarcinoma was admitted to his local hospital with general decline, where he was considered by more than one physician to be actively dying from his cancer. In the days preceding admission, the patient had not taken his medications consistently, including the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, pyridostigmine, for the management of his myasthenia gravis.

Case Management and Outcome:

Reintroduction of the patient’s usual myasthenia therapy improved his clinical condition to the point where he was no longer thought to be dying. When enteral administration of pyridostigmine was no longer possible, the patient was successfully converted to neostigmine, which was administered as a continuous subcutaneous infusion.

Conclusion:

Undertreated myasthenia gravis can lead to a rapid deterioration in a patient’s clinical condition, and such patients may be mistakenly diagnosed as dying. Undertreated myasthenia gravis should therefore be considered as a potentially reversible cause of acute deterioration, especially in patients with complex comorbidities. The use of neostigmine as a continuous subcutaneous infusion may have a role in the management of such patients, particularly when enteral administration of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors is no longer possible.
Parties’ Issue Emphasis Strategies on Facebook
Authors: Rafałowski Wojciech
Published: August 2019

In recent years, a significant amount of research has been devoted to theorising and explaining parties’ vote-seeking behaviours with regard to emphasising certain policy domains and ignoring others. These strategies are largely determined by the parties’ issue ownership and the context of the competition. In this article, I explore the interaction between these two groups of factors, that is, how a given party type and its role within the party system moderate the political actor’s responsiveness to various unfolding events. The study uses a collection of Facebook posts published by the official profiles of some of the Polish political parties. I demonstrate that the competitors develop distinct strategies of issue emphasis in accordance with the incentives coming from the events that occur on the one hand and their strengths and weaknesses related to certain issue domains on the other.
Preparing Special Education Preservice Teachers to Teach Phonics to Struggling Readers: Reducing the Gap Between Expert and Novice Performance
Authors: Englert Carol Sue , Mariage Troy V. , Truckenmiller Adrea J. , Brehmer Julie , Hicks Karen , Chamberlain Courtney
Published: August 2019

In this study, the authors examine the learning of 48 preservice teachers (PSTs) taking a literacy course in special education and the primary-grade struggling readers they tutored in a field component of the course. The primary purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the effects of the course and tutoring on PSTs’ knowledge and preparedness to teach reading. In addition, the authors examine whether the phonics scores of their tutored students improved. The results showed that PSTs improved in their knowledge of literacy, self-confidence in teaching reading to struggling readers, and analyses of oral reading miscues. Their tutored students also improved significantly on measures of their phonics knowledge and performance. The authors of this study suggest that carefully designed literacy coursework with field experiences can help PSTs perform more like mature teachers when the literacy tools and instructional scripts for teaching phonics are made explicit and transparent. Implications and limitations are discussed.
Gender Segregation and Trajectories of Organizational Change: The Underrepresentation of Women in Sports Leadership
Authors: Pape Madeleine
Published: August 2019

This article offers an account of organizational change to explain why women leaders are underrepresented compared to women athletes in many sports organizations. I distinguish between accommodation and transformation as forms of change: the former includes women without challenging binary constructions of gender, the latter transforms an organization’s gendered logic. Through a case study of the International Olympic Committee from 1967-1995, I trace how the organization came to define gender equity primarily in terms of accommodating women’s segregated athletic participation. Key to this was the construction of women’s bodies as athletically able but inferior to men, an arrangement formalized in codified rules and procedures and legitimized by external stakeholders. Defined in these terms, gender equity did little to transform the organization’s binary and hierarchically gendered logic, which continued to shape the informal norms and procedures associated with the organization’s allegedly gender-neutral and meritocratic yet male-dominated leadership. I argue that the exclusion of women from ostensibly gender-integrated leadership positions allows organizations to avoid revealing gender similarity between men and women. This maintains a logic underpinned by notions of binary gender difference and masculine superiority.
Feminism! What Is It Good For? The Role of Feminism and Political Self-Efficacy in Women’s Online Political Participation
Authors: Heger Katharina , Hoffmann Christian P.
Published: August 2019

Despite initial hopes for more egalitarian access to democracy, research has shown that political participation on the Internet remains as stratified as its offline counterpart. Gender is among the characteristics affecting an individual’s degree of political engagement on the Internet—even when controlling for socioeconomic status. To explain this gender divide, it is necessary to go beyond purely resource-based perspectives. Social cognitive theory allows for an analysis of how environmental factors shape cognitions, such as political efficacy, which, in turn, foster political participation. Political efficacy has been shown to be lower among women compared to men. This study explores determinants of gendered online political participation (OPP) by analyzing how self-efficacy mediates the effect of newly developed measures of three different waves of feminist attitudes on OPP. Based on a survey of 1,078 Internet users in Germany, 70% of them women, we analyze the effects of feminism on political efficacy and participation. Feminism is associated with higher internal political efficacy. Also, some feminist paradigms are shown to empower women to participate politically online. This effect, however, is not mediated through efficacy. This finding sheds light on opportunities to foster women’s political participation.
Stability of Insulin Detemir Injection in Different Primary Packaging Systems at Room Temperature
Authors: Shah Harsh S. , Rubin Rochelle F. , Lakhwani Gargi R. , DiGregorio Robert , Dave Rutesh H.
Published: August 2019

Purpose:

To assess the stability of insulin detemir at controlled room temperature (RT) at 25°C in different packaging systems over 7 days.

Methods:

The degradation characteristics of insulin detemir were determined based on the assay results in different packaging systems (pinhole glass vial, closed glass vial, glass syringe, and plastic syringe) at RT using a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay method for insulin injection. Each packaging system was compared to insulin detemir stored in the original packaged closed glass vial at 2°C to 8°C.

Results:

Insulin detemir stored in a closed glass vial and a glass syringe showed minor degradation at the end of day 7 (98.96% ± 1.49% and 99.78% ± 0.10%, respectively). Insulin detemir stored in plastic syringe decreased to 94.90% ± 2.50% by day 3 and to 93.52% ± 0.29% by day 7. Storage in pin-hole glass vial showed an increase in the assay (152.13% ± 0.12%) by day 7.

Conclusion:

Stability studies in different packaging systems demonstrated that insulin detemir remained stable for at least 7 days in a closed glass vial or glass syringe, but for only 3 days in a plastic syringe at RT. This study will allow pharmacists in the hospital setting to deliver patient-specific insulin doses into an insulin syringe with confidence in the stability.
Facebooking Alone? Millennials’ Use of Social Network Sites and Volunteering
Authors: Lee Young-joo
Published: August 2019

The younger generation’s widespread use of online social network sites has raised concerns and debates about social network sites’ influence on this generation’s civic engagement, whether these sites undermine or promote prosocial behaviors. This study empirically examines how millennials’ social network site usage relates to volunteering, using the 2013 data of the Minnesota Adolescent Community Cohort Study. The findings reveal a positive association between a moderate level of Facebook use and volunteering, although heavy users are not more likely to volunteer than nonusers. This bell-shaped relationship between Facebook use and volunteering contrasts with the direct correlation between participation in off-line associational activities and volunteering. Overall, the findings suggest that it is natural to get mixed messages about social network sites’ impacts on civic engagement, and these platforms can be useful tools for getting the word out and recruiting episodic volunteers.
Advanced photovoltaic thermal collectors
Authors: Sopian Kamaruzzaman , Alwaeli Ali H A , Kazem Hussein A
Published: August 2019

The solar irradiance received by the solar cell is partially lost as heat, which carries negative effect on its voltage and in turn, its generated power. This trapped heat within the photovoltaic module is considered waste energy. Hence, techniques to extract this heat to utilize it for thermal loads, such as water heating or drying, are presented throughout the literature. Most prominent technique is the hybrid photovoltaic thermal collector. This device will serve in cooling the solar cell and hence improving its efficiency during operation. Meanwhile, it will absorb the heat and transfer it into a working fluid. The fluid could be utilized directly or indirectly for thermal loads in moderate and low temperature range applications. The type of working fluid highly affects the photovoltaic thermal performance and its physical design. This paper tracks the development of working fluids and analyzes highly efficient photovoltaic thermals from the literature. Moreover, a lengthy discussion on state-of-the-art photovoltaic thermal systems is presented and recommendations for future works are listed as well.
Urban food insecurity and its determinants: a baseline study of Bengaluru
Authors: Anand Shriya , Jagadeesh Keerthana , Adelina Charrlotte , Koduganti Jyothi
Published: August 2019

There is an increasing need to study urban food security in the global South. This is because of the monetization of food in urban areas and compounding vulnerability from other deprivations such as lack of access to infrastructure. We assess these claims in this paper, based on a city-wide household survey in Bengaluru (Bangalore) carried out in 2016 that used experiential measures of food security like the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. We find that income and consumption do not have a clear relationship with food insecurity. However, socioeconomic dimensions like education level and wage type of the household head, and infrastructural dimensions like housing typology, and water connection are strongly related to food security. Through this work, we attempt to establish the baseline evidence on the current status of food security in Bengaluru, to lay the foundation for a future research agenda on urban food security in India.
Digital Traces: New Data, Resources, and Tools for Psychological-Science Research
Authors: Rafaeli Anat , Ashtar Shelly , Altman Daniel
Published: August 2019

New technologies create and archive digital traces—records of people’s behavior—that can supplement and enrich psychological research. Digital traces offer psychological-science researchers novel, large-scale data (which reflect people’s actual behaviors), rapidly collected and analyzed by new tools. We promote the integration of digital-traces data into psychological science, suggesting that it can enrich and overcome limitations of current research. In this article, we review helpful data sources, tools, and resources and discuss challenges associated with using digital traces in psychological research. Our review positions digital-traces research as complementary to traditional psychological-research methods and as offering the potential to enrich insights on human psychology.
Bihari Identity: An Uncharted Question
Authors: Verma Jyoti
Published: August 2019

Sources of multidisciplinary social sciences were consulted for understanding the Bihari identity narrative. Bihar’s glorious history and landmark events of 100 years (1912–2012), were briefly examined. Observations and sparse empirical findings were used for presenting the Bihari identity discourse. Seemingly, the identities ‘fighter’ and ‘revolutionary’ resulted from the land’s rebellious background while unfair treatment during colonial and post-colonial rules conferred the identity ‘poor and backward’ to the state. Difficult conditions kept Bihar’s population on move and Biharis became identified as ‘migrants’. Lalu–Rabri’s regime (1990–2005) thoroughly tarnished the state’s image while feudal mentality, caste differentiation, political ambition and collective power of the oppressed constituted the identities ‘criminals’ and ‘violent’. Empirical evidence indicates that the struggling middle class wanted power was competitive and untrusting. Nevertheless, Biharis were sensitive towards others’ feelings, cared for relationships, were intelligent, hardworking and patient. An insider finds elements of simplicity in Bihari people’s attire and etiquette but also perceive them to be undisciplined, socially irresponsible and tolerant towards corruption. However, Bihari identity was in transition; backward caste was in power, social justice and development were utilized as power managing strategies and urban Biharis were opting for capitalist culture. Although Bihari identity remains tied to caste and subregions, it seems to be a subset of Indian identity.
Art and the Social Work Profession: Shall Ever the Twain Meet?
Authors: Flynn Marilyn L.
Published: August 2019

Despite evidence of widespread increasing interest in the arts as mechanisms for personal and social change, social work is conspicuous for its lack of organized conceptual attention to this area. This article argues that there are four potential perspectives that might be adopted as a means of expanding social work science and professional practice: the arts as adjunct to clinical treatment and healing, the arts as the “work” in social work, the arts as tool for social investment, and the arts as driver of political and ideological commitment. An argument is presented for a new vision of the profession in academic environments in which the arts are defined as one of the fundamental pillars. This might lead to reimagining of scholarship, the reconstruction of social work education, and acceleration of social reform.
The Puzzling Metaphor: Teaching General Systems Theory to Marriage and Family Therapy Trainees
Authors: Tadros Eman
Published: August 2019

This article aims to connect the general systems theory (GST) principle of Holism and structural family therapy (SFT) to highlight commonalities between theories. This article will discuss primary concepts, family development, symptomology, process of change, and techniques of SFT in order to provide a basic overview of the theory. In an effort to provide a means for teaching marriage and family therapist trainees, an innovative strategy using metaphor will be introduced. The Puzzling Metaphor symbolizes the systems concept of holism in a visual representation coupled with SFT’s concepts and techniques to concurrently learn principles of both models.
Medical Family Therapy in Home-Based Settings: A Case Application
Authors: Finney Natasha , Tadros Eman
Published: August 2019

Medical family therapy (MedFT) is a systemic, biopsychosocial meta-framework by which clinicians provide therapeutic services to patients and their families who are experiencing physical health problems. MedFTs conceptualize families holistically and further work with families to develop a sense of agency and communion to improve their lived experience. Home-based family therapy (HBFT) is a method of treatment in which clinicians and other mental health professionals meet clients and their families where they are by providing therapeutic services at their clients’ places of residence. However, there is a gap in existing literature regarding the application of MedFT within the HBFT setting. The purpose of this article is to explore how MedFT can be utilized in home-based therapy settings. Moreover, a case application is provided to illustrate the applicability and effectiveness of the utilization of MedFT in HBFT settings.
Villous Morphology in Urinary Bladder Biopsy: An Approach to Diagnosis
Authors: Mitra Suvradeep , Ayyanar Pavithra , Kaur Gurwinder
Published: August 2019

Villous morphology in urinary bladder biopsy is a relatively uncommon finding. Villi are slender, finger-like structures that are commonly seen in the small intestine or in neoplastic lesions of gastrointestinal lineage/differentiation. Importantly, placenta also exhibits villi that are morphologically and functionally different from the intestinal one. Majority of the neoplastic lesions of urinary bladder are urothelial in origin with a minor subset showing glandular differentiation. While the presence of benign villi in urinary bladder biopsy necessitates a search for an occult perforation, provided a sample mismatch is ruled out, cytoarchitecturally abnormal/dysplastic villi indicate a neoplastic lesion of the urinary bladder encompassing villous adenoma and adenocarcinoma and urothelial carcinoma with villoglandular differentiation. The dysplastic villi in urinary bladder also imply a lower gastrointestinal endoscopy to rule out a colorectal primary. The development of the villous lesions in the urinary bladder and the colorectum are embryologically related and pose a major diagnostic challenge to the clinicians and surgical pathologists due to identical histomorphology and immunohistochemistry. We tend to discuss the morphological differentials and diagnostic approach to the villous lesions in the urinary bladder biopsy.
Formulation and attributes of gluten-free cakes of Andean corn improved with green banana flour
Authors: Segundo Cristina , Giménez Alejandra , Lobo Manuel , Iturriaga Laura , Samman Norma
Published: August 2019

The aim of this work was obtaining layer and sponge cakes formulated with corn flour replaced by green banana flour and to determine the best substitution proportions to achieve nutritionally improved products and with texture and sensory characteristics acceptable. The replacement of corn flour by GB flour increased the density in layer cake batters, while in sponge cake batters the density decreased. The batters were influenced by the increase in the flow properties, the viscoelastic behaviour, and the decrease in the thixotropic properties. The thermal analysis of batters determined a partial gelatinization of the starch, which together with its rheological properties influenced the cakes’ texture parameters. The substitution of 30% corn flour by GB flour in sponge and layer cakes produced a decrease in cohesiveness and an increase in hardness. In sponge cakes, incorporation of up to 30% of GB flour improved the sensory attributes and the textural properties, while in layer cakes a 30% substitution did not significantly deteriorate the quality of cakes.
Poverty and Savings: Optimal Taxes with Endogenous Discount Factors
Authors: Bouchard St-Amant Pier-André , Perrault Louis
Published: August 2019

Following recent developments linking poverty to present-bias behavior, we conduct an optimal linear taxation analysis where some individuals (called “behaviorals”) have a discount factor that is a function of their disposable income. In the model, endogenous discount factors imply (1) that taxing labor decreases the valuation of savings and (2) that subsidies on savings mitigate for a lower weight being given to future consumption. We perform simulations where the number of behavioral individuals increases and find that resources raised through labor taxation are used to finance saving subsidies rather than an increase of transfers. The prevalence of behaviorals leads to an increase in the labor income tax rate.
The Income Tax Compliance Costs of Private Households: Empirical Evidence from Germany
Authors: Blaufus Kay , Hechtner Frank , Jarzembski Janine K.
Published: August 2019

Using a survey of more than 18,000 taxpayers in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany), we estimate the income tax compliance costs of German households and study the determinants of these costs. We find that taxpayers need between 9.13 and 10.23 hours and spend €106 to meet their income tax obligations. The average total burden is between €228 (lower bound estimate) and €321 (upper bound estimate). The aggregate cost burden ranges between 2.03 percent and 2.92 percent of the German income tax revenues of tax year 2015. Although these costs have decreased significantly over recent years (mainly for self-preparers without self-employment income), international comparisons illustrate that the German burden is still located in the upper middle. The five most important cost drivers that increase individual costs are the use of tax advice, the appeal procedure, income, return complexity, and education. We cannot confirm that e-filing reduces taxpayers’ compliance costs.
Colour contrast sensitivity in eyes at high risk of neovascular age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Calcagni Antonio , Howells Olivia , Eperjesi Frank , Bartlett Hannah , Denniston Alastair KO , Gibson Jonathan M , Hogg Christopher R , Matthews Timothy D
Published: August 2019

Purpose:

To generate the first published reference database of colour contrast sensitivity in eyes at high risk of neovascular age-related macular degeneration and to explore this important feature in quality of vision.

Background:

Quality of vision depends on many factors. Changes in chromatic contrast sensitivity remain largely unexplored in eyes at high risk of neovascular age-related macular degeneration; they may however not only be relevant for quality of life but also an early indicator of the onset of the disease, so it is important to have a means to evaluate any variation in colour contrast sensitivity, especially in view of the likely increase in neovascular age-related macular degeneration as the population ages.

Methods:

This prospective longitudinal study evaluated colour contrast sensitivity along the protan and tritan colour axes in 145 eyes at high risk of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Results:

Colour contrast sensitivity showed statistically significant correlations with age and visual acuity, but not gender nor laterality (i.e. whether the right or left eye was being tested). There was significant variability among individuals, especially for the tritan axis, with some subjects well within normal limits for age and others with very poor colour contrast sensitivity.

Conclusion:

This study has generated the first published colour contrast sensitivity reference database for eyes at high risk of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. It has also shown a high inter-individual variability of colour contrast sensitivity in eyes at high risk of neovascular age-related macular degeneration, but the significance of this is unclear. Further work is required to establish if eyes with high colour contrast sensitivity thresholds (i.e. poor colour vision) have a higher risk of developing neovascular age-related macular degeneration over time, and this is the subject of ongoing work.
Ocular non-teratoid medulloepithelioma with teratoid metastases in ipsilateral intraparotid lymph nodes
Authors: Sarangi Jayati , Kakkar Aanchal , Roy Diya , Thakur Rishikesh , Singh Chirom Amit , Sharma Mehar C
Published: August 2019

Purpose:

To describe a rare presentation of a case of intraocular non-teratoid medulloepithelioma with teratoid metastases in ipsilateral intraparotid lymph nodes.

Case description:

A 9-year-old male child with previous history of ciliary body non-teratoid medulloepithelioma presented with a swelling in the right pre-auricular region for 1 month. Magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography–computed tomography showed a right intraparotid mass with enlarged ipsilateral cervical lymph nodes. A core biopsy was taken from the lesion, which on microscopy showed a tumor composed of small round cells arranged in cords, tubules lined by multilayered cells, and in cribriform pattern. These cells were embedded in a hypocellular, loose myxoid matrix. Based on the histopathological characteristics and previous history, a diagnosis of medulloepithelioma metastastic to ipsilateral parotid gland was made. The patient underwent right total conservative parotidectomy and bilateral neck dissection. Histopathological examination revealed metastatic medulloepithelioma in five out of eight intraparotid lymph nodes, with extranodal extension into the adjacent parotid parenchyma. Foci of hyaline cartilage were identified within the tumor, leading to a diagnosis of metastatic teratoid medulloepithelioma.

Conclusion:

Intraparotid lymph node metastases from intraocular medulloepithelioma is a rare possibility and we recommend that the parotid should be evaluated in cases of intraocular medulloepithelioma at initial presentation as well as during the follow-up period. Also, metastasis should be considered in all pediatric patients with solitary mass lesions showing unconventional histology for a primary parotid neoplasm.
Prevalence of Thymic Parathyroids in Primary Hyperparathyroidism During Radioguided Parathyroidectomy
Authors: Dream Sophie , Lindeman Brenessa , Chen Herbert
Published: August 2019

Background:

Radioguided surgery has been an effective tool for identifying hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands during routine parathyroidectomy for hyperparathyroidism. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of radioguided surgery for the identification of intrathymic parathyroid glands.

Material and Methods:

Between March 2001 and February 2018, 2291 patients underwent parathyroidectomy by 1 surgeon for primary hyperparathyroidism. Of these patients, 158 (7%) were identified to have an ectopic intrathymic parathyroid gland. All patients underwent radioguided parathyroidectomy. Ex vivo radionuclide counts were used to confirm parathyroid excision with specimen radioactivity of >20% of the background level.

Results:

The mean age was 56 ± 1 years with 74% of the patients being female. Preoperatively, 122 patients underwent sestamibi scan, which correctly identified the affected gland 61% of the time. Mean background radionuclide count was 208 ± 7, mean ex vivo radionuclide count was 127 ± 9, with ex vivo counts of removed glands >20% in all patients. All ectopic parathyroid glands were successfully identified using gamma probe. Ex vivo counts found to be significantly higher in patients with adenomas. Patients with parathyroid adenomas also were older in age and had higher preoperative calcium levels. While 10% of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism have hyperplasia, 42% of patients with thymic parathyroids had hyperplasia.

Conclusions:

Radioguided parathyroidectomy is useful in detecting ectopic parathyroid glands in the thymus. Patients with hyperplasia disproportionately have clinically significant thymic parathyroid glands.
Realism and reflexivity: Morgenthau, academic freedom and dissent
Authors: Molloy Seán
Published: August 2019

Primarily known as a pioneer of International Relations (IR) theory, Hans Morgenthau also wrote on a series of other political themes. Especially prominent in his later career is a concern with the right and duty of a theorist to exercise academic freedom as a critic of government power and, especially in this particular case, of US foreign policy. For Morgenthau the responsibility to hold governments to account by reference to the ‘higher laws’ that underpin and legitimize democracy in its truest form was a key function of the theorist in society. Dissensus and healthy debate characterize genuine democracy for Morgenthau who was perturbed by what he perceived to be a worrying concern with conformity and consensus among the political and academic elites of Vietnam War era America. This article investigates the theoretical and philosophical commitments that explain why Morgenthau felt compelled to oppose the government of his adopted state and the consequences of his having done so. For all the vicissitudes he endured, Morgenthau ultimately emerged vindicated from his clash with the political elite and his experience serves as an exemplary case of the effective use of academic freedom to oppose government policy by means of balanced, judicious critique. In the final section I argue that Morgenthau’s approach to theory, theorization and the role of the intellectual in society provides valuable insights into the nature of reflexivity in IR that are of relevance to contemporary debates in the discipline.
Psychologizing indexes of societal progress: Accounting for cultural diversity in preferred developmental pathways
Authors: Krys Kuba , Capaldi Colin A , Lun Vivian M-C , Vauclair Christin-Melanie , Bond Michael H , Domínguez-Espinosa Alejandra , Uchida Yukiko
Published: August 2019

Since the Second World War, the dominating paradigm of societal development has focused on economic growth. While economic growth has improved the quality of human life in a variety of ways, we posit that the identification of economic growth as the primary societal goal is culture-blind because preferences for developmental pathways likely vary between societies. We argue that the cultural diversity of developmental goals and the pathways leading to these goals could be reflected in a culturally sensitive approach to assessing societal development. For the vast majority of post-materialistic societies, it is an urgent necessity to prepare culturally sensitive compasses on how to develop next, and to start conceptualizing growth in a more nuanced and culturally responsive way. Furthermore, we propose that cultural sensitivity in measuring societal growth could also be applied to existing development indicators (e.g. the Human Development Index). We call for cultural researchers, in cooperation with development economists and other social scientists, to prepare a new cultural map of developmental goals, and to create and adapt development indexes that are more culturally sensitive. This innovation could ultimately help social planners understand the diverse pathways of development and assess the degree to which societies are progressing in a self-determined and indigenously valued manner.
Love at first sight? Populist attitudes and support for direct democracy
Authors: Mohrenberg Steffen , Huber Robert A , Freyburg Tina
Published: August 2019

Do citizens who strongly exhibit populist attitudes support direct democracy? Existing studies tend to claim that populists support direct democracy because of their stealth-democratic orientation or argue that stealth democrats want direct democracy due to the populist nature of stealth-democratic attitudes. Yet, albeit both populists and stealth democrats reject elite rule, they prefer direct democracy for different reasons. Populists support direct democracy as a means to implement the volonté générale, whereas stealth democrats view it as holding politicians accountable for ineffective policy solutions. Our analysis of representative survey data in four European democracies (France, Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom) reveals that individuals with stronger populist attitudes indeed support direct democracy more than citizens with no strong populist attitudes. This effect is observed when controlling for stealth-democratic orientations and when using a measure separating the feature populism shares with stealth democracy – anti-elitism – from the one unique to populism, people-centrism.
Delayed gratification and adherence to exercise among patients with claudication
Authors: Sharath Sherene E , Lee MinJae , Kougias Panos , Taylor Wendell C , Zamani Nader , Barshes Neal R
Published: August 2019

Few studies have explicitly identified factors that explain an individual’s willingness to engage in community-based exercise for claudication. Identifying the unique characteristics of those inclined toward physical activity would inform interventions that encourage walking. We examined the utility of behavioral economics-related concepts in understanding walking among Veterans with claudication. Patients who received care at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston, Texas, were surveyed on symptom severity, behavioral economics, stress, and depression. The primary outcome was a binary variable measuring current walking for exercise and defined as walking for at least 30 minutes every day. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify variables, both clinically and statistically significant, at a p-value < 0.05. Between April 2017 and March 2018, we received 148 (30%) responses. A total of 35% ( n = 51) of respondents indicated that they walked recreationally for exercise compared to 65% ( n = 94) who did not. Characteristics that were significantly associated with walking included regularly saving money (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 10.7, p = 0.001), seeking complex problem-solving (aOR = 0.12, p = 0.002), and severe symptoms (aOR = 0.24, p = 0.017). Individuals describing a preference for the future rather than immediate benefit also reported currently walking for exercise. Defining the characteristics of those who exercise may help inform strategies designed to increase walking among those who do not adhere to recommendations.
The gray matter volume of the right insula mediates the relationship between symptoms of depression/anxiety and sleep quality among college students
Authors: Yin Huazhan , Zhang Li , Li Dan , Xiao Lu , Cheng Mei
Published: August 2019

This study investigated the neuroanatomical basis of the association between depression/anxiety and sleep quality among 370 college students. The results showed that there was a significant correlation between sleep quality and depression/anxiety. Moreover, mediation results showed that the gray matter volume of the right insula mediated the relationship between depression/anxiety and sleep quality, which suggested that depression/anxiety may affect sleep quality through the right insula volume. These findings confirmed a strong link between sleep quality and depression/anxiety, while highlighting the volumetric variation in the right insula associated with emotional processing, which may play a critical role in improving sleep quality.
Journalists’ level of knowledge on empirical research and opinion polling: A study of Kenyan journalists
Authors: Kiambi Dane
Published: August 2019

This study examines the level of knowledge of Kenyan political reporters on a few key concepts of empirical research and opinion polling. Although data from this study are from a nonrepresentative sample, it offers important insights into levels of knowledge on an important topic in journalism. Results indicate that 63.4 percent of the reporters did not know that survey findings from a nonrandom or nonprobability sample cannot be generalized to the population. Another 63.4 percent did not know that sampling error cannot be computed from data that were collected using a nonrandom sample, while 49.3 percent did not get it correct that the main difference between a nonrandom and random sample was that a random sample ensures that each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected as a study participant. Editors interviewed for this study were in agreement that majority of the reporters were ill-prepared when it comes to interpreting results from an opinion poll and accurately reporting on them. This analysis finds that structural factors, such as ownership, government control, political power, and lack of resources impact a journalist’s level of knowledge on opinion polling. Most immediate interventions such as the need for universities and colleges to incorporate research methods courses in their curriculum and sponsoring journalists to workshops and fellowships on opinion polling with a view to bridging the knowledge gap are recommended.
Inclusion in the international school context: implications for school development
Authors: Pletser Jayne
Published: August 2019

This small-scale study was carried out in the elementary department of an international school considered successful in removing barriers to learning for a wide diversity of learners. A qualitative approach sought to gather data in order to understand the organisational context through a case study of how the school had removed barriers to learning for three students in different levels of learning support. The findings indicated that inclusion in this context was a process bound up in a proactive, dynamic, continuous cycle with a focus on learning, access and solution seeking.
Associations of Serum Lipids and Deep Venous Thrombosis Risk After Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients With Primary Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Dai Xiaoyu , Ding Wenge , Li Huan , Xu Peng , Huang Zhihui , Zhu Wenjun , Liu Jinbo
Published: August 2019

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremities is a common complication after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study aimed to investigate the potential associations between serum lipids and the risk of DVT after TKA in patients with primary knee osteoarthritis (OA). A total of 431 patients who received TKA caused by primary knee OA were randomly enrolled. According to the results of the color Doppler ultrasound of bilateral lower extremities deep veins on the third day postoperatively, patients were divided into DVT and non-DVT groups. Comparisons of preoperative serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein A1, and apolipoprotein B were then performed by the Student’s t test, χ2 test, and multivariate logistic regression analysis. For females, DVT patients had a higher serum LDL-C level at baseline ( P = .043) compared with non-DVT patients. A higher LDL-C value was significantly associated with an elevated DVT risk following TKA in female patients ( P = .037). In female patients with primary knee OA, preoperative serum LDL-C level may have an association with DVT risk after TKA. The relatively small male sample size may limit the accuracy of the findings.
Ethanol Extracts of Dietary Herb, Alpinia nantoensis, Exhibit Anticancer Potential in Human Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Kuo Ching-Ying , Weng Teng-Song , Kumar K. J. Senthil , Tseng Yen-Hsueh , Tung Ta-Wei , Wang Sheng-Yang , Wang Hui-Chun
Published: August 2019

Recent advances in mammography screening, chemotherapy, and adjuvant treatment modalities have improved the survival rate of women with breast cancer. Nevertheless, the breast tumor with metastatic progression is still life-threatening. Indeed, combination therapy with Ras-ERK and PI3K inhibitors is clinically effective in malignant breast cancer treatment. Constituents from genus Alpinia plants have been implicated as potent anticancer agents in terms of their efficacy of inhibiting tumor cell metastasis. In this study, we tested the effects of ethanol extracts of Alpinia nantoensis (rhizome, stem, and leaf extracts) in cultured human breast cancer cells and particularly focused on the Ras-ERK and PI3K/AKT pathways. We found that the rhizome and leaf extracts from A nantoensis inhibited cell migration, invasion, and sphere formation in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The potency was extended with the inhibition of serum-induced PI3K/AKT and Ras-ERK activation and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-mediated EGFR activation in MDA-MB-231 cells. These results indicate that extracts of A nantoensis could inhibit signal transduction at least involved in EGFR as well as the PI3K/AKT and Ras-ERK pathways, which are crucial players of tumor cell migration and invasion. Our study strongly supports that the extracts of A nantoensis could be a novel botanical drug lead for the development of an antimetastatic agent for the treatment of human malignant breast cancer.
Adult Neurogenesis in the Development of Epilepsy
Authors: Danzer Steve C.
Published: August 2019

Compelling evidence indicates that hippocampal dentate granule cells are generated throughout human life and into old age. While animal studies demonstrate that these new neurons are important for memory function, animal research also implicates these cells in the pathogenesis of temporal lobe epilepsy. Several recent preclinical studies in rodents now suggest that targeting these new neurons can have disease-modifying effects in epilepsy.
An evaluation of Alberta pharmacists’ practices, views and confidence regarding prescription drug abuse and addiction within their practice setting
Authors: Necyk Candace , Cor Ken , Mazzuca Arianna , Meleshko Lauren
Published: August 2019

Background:

Pharmacists play an important role in managing patients with prescription drug abuse and addiction (PDAA). The objective of this study was to explore Alberta pharmacists’ practices, views and confidence in the management of patients at risk of or living with PDAA in their practice setting.

Methods:

A 26-question online questionnaire was distributed to 4261 pharmacists across Alberta, of whom 656 (15%) participated. The questionnaire consisted of 17 multiple-choice, 6 multipart and 3 free-response questions. Questionnaire responses were collected and analyzed in Qualtrics.

Results:

Sixty-six percent ( n = 408) of pharmacists indicated that PDAA was prevalent in their practice setting, with 55% ( n = 340) of respondents encountering more than 6 patients with suspected or known PDAA a month. Thirty-five percent ( n = 198) of pharmacists indicated they were moderately confident at identifying patients with potential PDAA. However, 41% ( n = 235) of the pharmacists indicated that they only discuss PDAA with identified patients less than half of the time. Pharmacists lacked confidence in their ability to discuss PDAA treatment options with their patients as well as collaborate with addiction treatment facilities. Lack of training or knowledge in PDAA (48%) and uncertainty of how to initiate discussion or effectively communicate with patients about PDAA (39%) were identified as barriers that significantly or very significantly hindered respondents from managing PDAA in their practice.

Conclusions:

Although many pharmacists are moderately confident in identifying patients with potential PDAA, several barriers hinder intervention. Providing pharmacists with additional training and resources may better equip them to manage PDAA within their practice settings. Can Pharm J (Ott) 2019;152:xx-xx.
B cell depletion can be effective in multiple sclerosis but failed in a patient with advanced childhood cerebral X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy
Authors: Rosewich Hendrik , Nessler Stefan , Brück Wolfgang , Gärtner Jutta
Published: August 2019

Rituximab exerts its clinical efficacy by its specific pattern of depletion of CD20+ B lymphocytes and it has been demonstrated that rituximab is an effective treatment for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), the most common monogenetic neuroinflammatory disorder, shares substantial overlap with multiple sclerosis in the neuropathological changes found in brain tissues in advanced stages of the disease. While there is no effective therapy for these patients, we hypothesized that rituximab might be effective in arresting the neuroinflammatory process. Our detailed clinical, imaging and immunological data revealed that rituximab is not effective in advanced stages of X-ALD and consequently should not be applied for compassionate use in these patients.