bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plasma BDNFs level initially and post treatment in acute mania: comparison between ECT and atypical antipsychotic treatment and healthy controls
Authors: Karamustafalioglu Nesrin , Genc Abdullah , Kalelioglu Tevfik , Tasdemir Akif , Umut Gokhan , Incir Said , Akkuş Mustafa , Emul Murat
Published: April 2015

Background:

Inconsistent findings concerning brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels across different episodes in bipolar disorder have been reported, which is also in line with the treatment effects on BDNF levels in acute mania. We aimed to compare plasma BDNF level alterations after pure antipsychotic drug or ECT plus antipsychotic drug treatment in acute mania.

Methods:

Sixty-eight patients with mania were divided into two treatment arms: the antipsychotic treatment arm (AP) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)+AP arm. In addition, 30 healthy controls were included in the study.

Results:

There was no significant statistical difference according to mean age, education level, marital and working status between patients and healthy controls. The initial serum BDNF level in patients with acute mania was significantly lower than healthy controls. The initial BDNF level between the ECT arm and AP arm was not significant. The BDNF level decreased significantly after reaching remission in patients with acute mania. The change in BDNF level in the AP arm was not significant while in the ECT arm it was significant after treatment.

Conclusions:

In this study, for the first time we revealed a significant decrease in BDNF levels after ECT sessions in acute manic patients. Besides clinical remission after treatment in acute mania, the decrement in BDNF levels does not seem to be related to clinical response. Thus cumulative effects of mood episodes for the ongoing decrease in BDNF levels might be borne in mind despite the achievement of remission and/or more time being required for an increase in BDNF levels after treatment.
A comparison of risperidone and haloperidol for the risk of ischemic stroke in the elderly: a propensity score-matched cohort analysis
Authors: Shin Ju-Young , Choi Nam-Kyong , Lee Joongyub , Park Mi-Ju , Lee Shin Haeng , Park Byung-Joo
Published: April 2015

Objective:

With an increase in antipsychotic use in the elderly, the safety profile of antipsychotics has been emphasized. Strong concerns have been raised about whether the risk of ischemic stroke differs between risperidone and haloperidol. This study compared the risk of ischemic stroke between elderly patients taking risperidone and haloperidol.

Method:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database, applying a propensity-matched analysis. The cohort consisted of elderly patients who were newly prescribed haloperidol or risperidone between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2009. Patients with prior cerebrovascular diseases (ICD-10, I60–I69), transient ischemic attack (ICD-10, G45), or cerebral tumors (ICD-10, C31) during 365 days prior to the initiation date were excluded. The study subjects were selected by propensity score matching. The outcome was defined as the first hospitalization for ischemic stroke (ICD-10, I63). Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for ischemic stroke with haloperidol compared with risperidone use.

Results:

A total of 14,103 patients were included in the propensity-matched cohort for each drug. Overall, the incidence rate was higher for haloperidol users compared to the risperidone users (6.43 per 1000 person-years vs. 2.88 per 1000 person-years). A substantially increased risk was observed in haloperidol users (adjusted HR = 2.02, 95% CI, 1.12–3.62).

Conclusions:

The evidence showed that haloperidol should be prescribed in the elderly with caution.
Multifunctional artificial reefs for small islands
Authors: Ng Kiat , Thomas Tony , Phillips Michael R. , Calado Helena , Borges Paulo , Veloso-Gomes Fernando
Published: April 2015

Multifunctional artificial reefs (MFARs) have been growing in popularity over the last decade. They are offshore submerged structures which provide coastal protection while also enhancing marine and recreational amenities such as surfing and beach widening. A feasibility study was undertaken for São Miguel Island (Azores) where island-wide general site-selection criteria and local site-specific parameters identified São Roque reef as a potential MFAR location. Expert knowledge addressed multidisciplinary aspects through semi-guided interviews, which provided evaluation criteria for the São Roque reef development. Wave changes before and after reef reprofiling were determined using the Regional Coastal Process WAVE propagation model (CEDAS/RCPWAVE). Results demonstrated additional coastal protection to the historic church and existing seawalls, and no adverse effects on the updrift São Roque and downdrift Pópulo Milicias beaches. Further simulation for an extended reef (30 m seaward) showed model sensitivity together with a greater reduction in approaching wave heights. This analysis suggested that the further seaward the reef is extended, the greater the coastal protection afforded. It also denoted longer, rideable surfing waves and greater substrate surface area for marine colonization, while conversely having an increasing effect on downdrift Pópulo Milicias beach, construction costs and footprint impact. An optimal solution will provide a balance to these advantages and disadvantages. A SWOT analysis showed the potential of capitalizing internal strengths and external opportunities to offset internal weaknesses and external threats. With global growing emphasis on the importance of incorporating amenity values into coastal protection works, this research informs alternative solutions for other small islands, especially similar small volcanic islands.
A Comparative Study on the Biomechanical and Histological Properties of Bone-to-Bone, Bone-to-Tendon, and Tendon-to-Tendon Healing
Authors: Leung Kwok-Sui , Chong Wai Sing , Chow Dick Ho Kiu , Zhang Peng , Cheung Wing-Hoi , Wong Margaret Wan Nar , Qin Ling
Published: April 2015

Background:

Surgical repair around the bone-tendon insertion (BTI) may involve bone-to-bone (BB), bone-to-tendon (BT), or tendon-to-tendon (TT) reattachment with varying healing outcome.

Hypothesis:

The repair of Achilles tendon–calcaneus (ATC) by reattachment of homogeneous tissue (BB or TT) would heal faster, with respect to tensile properties at the healing complex, than those of reattachment of heterogeneous tissues (BT) over time.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Forty-seven adolescent male Chinese goats were divided into BB, BT, and TT groups. Osteotomy of the calcaneus, reattachment of Achilles tendon to the calcaneus after removal of the insertion, and tenotomy of the Achilles tendon were performed to simulate BB, BT, and TT repair, respectively. The ATC healing complexes were harvested at 6, 12, or 24 weeks postoperatively. Mechanical and morphological properties of the healing ATC complexes were assessed by tensile testing and qualitative histology, respectively. The contralateral intact ATC complex was used as the control.

Results:

Failure load of BT was 33.4% lower than that of TT ( P = .0243) at week 12. Ultimate strength of BT was 50.2% and 45.3% lower than that of TT at weeks 12 ( P = .0002) and 24 ( P = .0001), respectively. Tissue morphological characteristics of the BB and TT groups showed faster remodeling. The BT group showed limited regeneration of fibrocartilage zone and excessive formation of fibrous tissue at the healing interface.

Conclusion:

BTI repair between homogeneous tissues (BB and TT healing) showed better healing quality with respect to mechanical and histological assessments than did healing between heterogeneous tissues (BT healing).

Clinical Relevance:

Anatomic reconstruction of ATC complex injury may be a primary concern when selecting the proper surgical approach. However, it is recommended to select fracture fixation (BB) or tendon repair (TT) instead of bone-tendon reattachment (BT) if possible to ensure better outcome at the healing interface.
Urban waste management and the mobile challenge
Authors: Mavropoulos Antonis , Tsakona Maria , Anthouli Aida
Published: April 2015

Digital evolution and mobile developments are carving a new era that affects human behaviour and global governance. Interconnectivity and flow of information through various types of modern means create new opportunities for cooperation and ways to work. Waste management could not stay unaffected by these changes. New potentials are arising for the sector, offering a novel field for innovation, changing the way waste practices are applied. In this framework, mobile products and apps can become valuable tools for authorities, companies, civilians and other stakeholders, integrating these technologies in the battle for environmental protection, recycling, etc. This article examines the unexplored challenges of mobile apps to deliver sustainable waste management with emphasis on recycling and waste prevention performance, especially for emerging developing countries. It presents the opportunities that are involved in using mobile apps to improve both the systemic performance of a specific waste management system and the individual behaviour of the users. Furthermore, the article reviews the most important relevant literature and summarises the key findings of the recent research on mobile apps and human behaviour. Useful conclusions are drawn for both the content and the format of the mobile apps required for recycling and waste prevention. Finally, the article presents the most characteristic mobile apps that are already in place in the waste management sector.
Phase Angle as a Prognostic Marker in Patients With Critical Illness
Authors: da Silva Taís Kereski , Berbigier Marina Carvalho , Rubin Bibiana de Almeida , Moraes Rafael Barberena , Corrêa Souza Gabriela , Schweigert Perry Ingrid Dalira
Published: April 2015

Background: Phase angle (PA) is interpreted as an indicator of cell membrane integrity and a prognostic indicator in some clinical situations. This study aims to evaluate PA as a prognostic marker in critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and associate this marker with length of hospital stay, mortality, and clinical scores. Methods: A cohort study was conducted with 95 patients aged ≥18 years admitted to the ICU, who were assessed in terms of prognostic indexes (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II [APACHE II] and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment [SOFA]), clinical evolution (ICU discharge, death, and length of ICU stay), and PA. Results: Patients were predominantly male (63.1%) and had a mean age of 63.7 ± 14.6 years; length of stay of 4 days (range, 3–9 days); mortality of 15.8%; mean APACHE II and SOFA scores of 17.3 ± 8.2 and 6.1 ± 3.1 points, respectively; and mean PA of 4.91 ± 1.36°. An association was observed between females and PA <5.1° (P = .035), which was the cutoff point determined from the receiver operating characteristic curve. PA was correlated with APACHE II score (r = −0.241; P = .02). This correlation became moderate only when patients without sepsis were considered (r = −0.506; P < .001). Conclusions: PA seems to be a good prognostic marker for patients without sepsis. The weak correlation between PA and APACHE II score and the lack of association with other clinical outcomes are limitations for interpreting the prognostic value of PA in the entire study sample.
The Plight of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Authors: Kilgour John G.
Published: April 2015

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) was created by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to insure the vested benefits of defined benefit pension plans. Over the past 40 years its funding requirements and insurance premiums have been strengthened and increased many times, most recently by the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of (December) 2014. Yet the PBGC remains in difficult straights. The plight of the PBGC is that, whatever it does to improve its short-run prospects will result in more plan failures and terminations in the long run.
Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy, Mood, and Breastfeeding Outcomes among Primiparous Women
Authors: Henshaw Erin J. , Fried Rachel , Siskind Emily , Newhouse Linda , Cooper Marie
Published: April 2015

Background:

A link between postpartum mood and breastfeeding has been established in the literature, but little is known about the relationship of breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE) to breastfeeding and mood outcomes, particularly in primiparous women.

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the relationship among BSE, mood, and breastfeeding outcomes in primiparous women. A secondary purpose was to explore self-reported reasons for difficult emotional adjustment during the transition to motherhood.

Methods:

Primiparous women who initiated breastfeeding were surveyed at 2 days, 6 weeks, and 6 months postpartum. Breastfeeding self-efficacy, depressive symptoms, work status, breastfeeding difficulties, partner support, and use of lactation services were included in a hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Women who identified as emotionally distressed provided open-ended responses identifying the main cause of their stress.

Results:

High BSE at 2 days postpartum predicted positive emotional adjustment and fewer depressive symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum, as well as more exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum. Among distressed mothers, breastfeeding concerns were among the most commonly named reasons for stress, along with lack of sleep, lack of social support, and overwhelming learning demands involved with being a new parent.

Conclusion:

Breastfeeding perceptions are associated with emotional health and breastfeeding outcomes. Bolstering women’s early BSE may be an important goal for multiple dimensions of postpartum health.
Process modeling, joint virtual testing and construction of joint connectors for mechanical fastening by flow-drilling screws
Authors: Grujicic Mica , Snipes JS , Ramaswami S
Published: April 2015

In this work, a computational approach is proposed in order to help establish the effect of various flow-drilling screw process and material parameters on the quality and the mechanical performance of the resulting flow-drilling screw joints. Toward that end, a sequence of three distinct computational analyses is developed. These analyses include the following: (a) finite element modeling and simulations of the flow-drilling screw process; (b) determination of the mechanical properties of the resulting flow-drilling screw joints through the use of three-dimensional, continuum finite element–based numerical simulations of various mechanical tests performed on the flow-drilling screw joints and (c) determination, parameterization and validation of the constitutive relations for the simplified flow-drilling screw connectors, using the results obtained in (b) and the available experimental results. The availability of such connectors is mandatory in large-scale computational analyses of whole-vehicle crash or even in simulations of vehicle component manufacturing, for example, car-body electro-coat paint-baking process. In such simulations, explicit three-dimensional representation of all flow-drilling screw joints is associated with a prohibitive computational cost. The approach developed in this work can be used, within an engineering-optimization procedure, to adjust the flow-drilling screw process and material parameters (design variables) in order to obtain a desired combination of the flow-drilling screw joint mechanical properties (objective function).
Wear of the Charité® lumbar intervertebral disc replacement investigated using an electro-mechanical spine simulator
Authors: Moghadas Parshia , Mahomed Aziza , Shepherd Duncan ET , Hukins David WL
Published: April 2015

The Charité® lumbar intervertebral disc replacement was subjected to wear testing in an electro-mechanical spine simulator. Sinusoidally varying compression (0.6–2 kN, frequency 2 Hz), rotation (±2°, frequency 1 Hz), flexion–extension (6° to −3°, frequency 1 Hz) and lateral bending (±2°, frequency 1 Hz) were applied out of phase to specimens immersed in diluted calf serum at 37 °C. The mass of the ultra-high-molecular weight polyethylene component of the device was measured at intervals of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 million cycles; its volume was also measured by micro-computed tomography. Total mass and volume losses were 60.3 ± 4.6 mg (mean ± standard deviation) and 64.6 ± 6.0 mm3. Corresponding wear rates were 12.0 ± 1.4 mg per million cycles and 12.8 ± 1.2 mm3 per million cycles; the rate of loss of volume corresponds to a mass loss of 11.9 ± 1.1 mg per million cycles, that is, the two sets of measurements of wear agree closely. Wear rates also agree closely with measurements made in another laboratory using the same protocol but using a conventional mechanical spine simulator.
Comparative study for surface topography of bone drilling using conventional drilling and loose abrasive machining
Authors: Singh Gurmeet , Jain Vivek , Gupta Dheeraj
Published: April 2015

Drilling through the bone is a complicated process in orthopaedic surgery. It involves human as a part of the work so it needs better perfection and quality which leads to the sustainability. Different studies were carried out on this curious topic and some interesting results were obtained, which help the orthopaedic surgeon on the operation table. Major problems faced during bone drilling were crack initiation, thermal necrosis and burr formation. The surface topography of the bone is an indirect indication for the sustainability of bone joint. In this study, a comparison is made between conventional and a loose abrasive unconventional drilling technique for the surface characterization of the bone. The attempt has been made to show the feasibility of bone drilling with non-conventional technique and its aftereffect on the bone structure. The burr formation during conventional bone drilling was found to be more which leads to problems such as crack initiation and thermal necrosis. Scanning electrode microscope and surface roughness tester were used to characterize the surface of the fine drilled bone specimen and the results testified quite better surface finish and least crack formation while drilling with loose abrasive unconventional technique.
Review of toxicity and trends in the use of tiagabine as reported to US poison centers from 2000 to 2012
Authors: Spiller HA , Wiles D , Russell JL , Casavant MJ
Published: April 2015

Background:

Tiagabine is a novel antiepileptic that acts by increasing synaptic and extracellular gamma-aminobutyric acid concentrations. Information concerning overdose of tiagabine is limited. After introduction, an increasing number of off-label uses suggested that tiagabine use would increase. However in 2005 and 2008, warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were issued on the risk of seizures in non-epileptic and increased suicide ideation. We evaluated the temporal trends associated with these two warnings as well as clinical outcomes from tiagabine overdose.

Method:

A retrospective review of all single substance tiagabine exposures in National Poison Data System (NPDS) from 2000 to 2012.

Results:

A total of 2147 patients had ingested tiagabine, with a mean of 165 year−1. This was disproportionally distributed, with a steep rise leading up to 2004 (max 559 year−1) and then a significant decline ( p < 0.05) between 2005 and 2006. The number of cases reported to NPDS mirrored the sales of tiagabine. Clinical effects were predominantly neurological, with the most commonly reported effects being drowsiness (27%), agitation (19%), confusion (12%), seizures (11%), and tachycardia (10%). In all, 758 patients (35%) showed a major or moderate medical outcome, with no deaths reported. A disproportionate share of the major outcomes was in the suicide attempt group (73%). The majority of patients (75%) were treated in a health-care facility (HCF).

Conclusions:

The HCF usage is likely due to high rate of symptomatic patients (59%) and the large proportion of suicide attempt cases. The frequency of tiagabine cases in NPDS mirrored pharmaceutical sales, with steep declines temporally related to the 2005 FDA warning.
The impact of high fructose on cardiovascular system
Authors: Saygin M , Asci H , Cankara FN , Bayram D , Yesilot S , Candan IA , Alp HH
Published: April 2015

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of α-lipoic acid (α-LA) on oxidative damage and inflammation that occur in endothelium of aorta and heart while constant consumption of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). The rats were randomly divided into three groups with each group containing eight rats. The groups include HFCS, HFCS + α-LA treatment, and control. HFCS was given to the rats at a ratio of 30% of F30 corn syrup in drinking water for 10 weeks. α-LA treatment was given to the rats at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day orally for the last 6 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the rats were killed by cervical dislocation. The blood samples were collected for biochemical studies, and the aortic and cardiac tissues were collected for evaluation of oxidant–antioxidant system, tissue bath, and pathological examination. HFCS had increased the levels of malondialdehyde, creatine kinase MB, lactate dehydrogenase, and uric acid and showed significant structural changes in the heart of the rats by histopathology. Those changes were improved by α-LA treatment as it was found in this treatment group. Immunohistochemical expressions of tumor necrosis factor α and inducible nitric oxide synthase were increased in HFCS group, and these receptor levels were decreased by α-LA treatment. All the tissue bath studies supported these findings. Chronic consumption of HFCS caused several problems like cardiac and endothelial injury of aorta by hyperuricemia and induced oxidative stress and inflammation. α-LA treatment reduced uric acid levels, oxidative stress, and corrected vascular responses. α-LA can be added to cardiac drugs due to its cardiovascular protective effects against the cardiovascular diseases.
Making sense of the history of clock-time, reflections on Glennie and Thrift’s Shaping the Day
Authors: Martineau Jonathan
Published: April 2015

This paper enquires into the history of clock-time through a critical engagement with Paul Glennie and Nigel Thrift’s Shaping the Day. The paper delineates the contours of an approach to the history of clock-time based on an analysis of the parallelism between the historical trajectories of clock-time and market relations. This approach is presented through a four-fold critical engagement with Glennie and Thrift's book assessing theoretical shortcomings, definitional problems, normative commitments and historical method.
Health Promotion Financing With Mongolia’s Social Health Insurance
Authors: Bayarsaikhan Dorjsuren , Nakamura Keiko
Published: April 2015

Health promotion is receiving more attention in Mongolia. A survey is undertaken to examine health promotion in terms of health-related information, education, counseling, screening, preventive and medical checkups. Almost all (97.5%) of the subjects feel that access to reliable and systematically organized health-related information is important. About 60% of the subjects expressed that the amount of currently available information is inadequate. There are several factors that limit the implementation of public health programs. These include inadequate focus on promoting health at individual level, lack of funds, and limited incentives to promote health. This article examined social health insurance as an option to address these issues. Three hypothetical benefits package options expanded to health promotion were developed and simulated by a computerized tool. The simulations show that all 3 options are financially sustainable at the existing level of contribution if Mongolia will gain near universal health insurance coverage and improve revenue collection practices.
Temporal Trend of Anemia Among Reproductive-Aged Women in India
Authors: Bharati Susmita , Pal Manoranjan , Som Suparna , Bharati Premananda
Published: April 2015

Background. Anemia is one of the major leading nutritional deficiencies in India, and the most vulnerable groups are preschool and adolescent children and pregnant and lactating women. Aim. The main objective of the study is to determine the temporal trend of anemia among reproductive-aged women of age 15-49 years. Methodology. The study uses data from second and third rounds of the National Family Health Surveys (NFHS-2, 1998-1999, and NFHS-3, 2005-2006), conducted by the International Institute for Population Sciences. The dependent variable was the status of anemia of women. The determining variables were type of residence, age group, religion and castes, educational status, marital status, and household standard of living index. Results. Anemia was most prevalent in the east zone for both the periods. The changes at the all India level were not much, but the north-east zone improved very well, whereas the south zone deteriorated drastically. The occurrence of severely anemic women in India varied between 1% and 2%. The highest prevalence rates were observed among women who were 15 to 24 years of age, illiterate, from non-Christian scheduled tribes (STs), unmarried, and whose standard of living was low. Rates of anemia have increased over time except in the case of Buddhists, Parsees, Jains, and the STs. Conclusion. From the viewpoint of our study, illiteracy and low standard of living may be the main causes of anemia among women in India. It is also necessary to take appropriate steps to curb anemia in women in their early adulthood.
Acceptable Care? Illness Constructions, Healthworlds, and Accessible Chronic Treatment in South Africa
Authors: Fried Jana , Harris Bronwyn , Eyles John , Moshabela Mosa
Published: April 2015

Achieving equitable access to health care is an important policy goal, with access influenced by affordability, availability, and acceptability of specific services. We explore patient narratives from a 5-year program of research on health care access to examine relationships between social constructions of illness and the acceptability of health services in the context of tuberculosis treatment and antiretroviral therapy in South Africa. Acceptability of services seems particularly important to the meanings patients attach to illness and care, whereas—conversely—these constructions appear to influence what constitutes acceptability and hence affect access to care. We highlight the underestimated role of individually, socially, and politically constructed healthworlds; traditional and biomedical beliefs; and social support networks. Suggested policy implications for improving acceptability and hence overall health care access include abandoning patronizing approaches to care and refocusing from treating “disease” to responding to “illness” by acknowledging and incorporating patients’ healthworlds in patient–provider interactions.
The Experiences and Perceptions of Street-Involved Youth Regarding Emergency Department Services
Authors: Nicholas David B. , Newton Amanda S. , Calhoun Avery , Dong Kathryn , deJong-Berg Margaret A. , Hamilton Faye , Kilmer Christopher , McLaughlin Anne Marie , Shankar Janki
Published: April 2015

Street-involved (SI) youth comprise a substantial component of the urban homeless population. Despite being significant users of hospital emergency department (ED) services for acute and ongoing health needs, little is known about their experiences of ED care and the factors affecting their ED use. This study used a grounded theory and community-based approach to examine these issues. Focus groups and individual interviews were facilitated with 48 SI youth between ages 15 and 26 years, recruited in hospital or through community agencies serving SI youth in a major Western Canadian city. Results demonstrate that SI youth often perceived suboptimal care and experienced long waiting periods that led to many avoiding or prematurely exiting the ED. Service gaps appeared to have a negative bearing on their care and health outcomes. Findings invite a critical review of ED care processes, structures, and staff interactions in the aim of enhancing ED services to SI youth.
Clinical Effects of Platelet-Rich Plasma and Hyaluronic Acid as an Additional Therapy for Talar Osteochondral Lesions Treated with Microfracture Surgery
Authors: Görmeli Gökay , Karakaplan Mustafa , Görmeli Cemile Ayşe , Sarıkaya Baran , Elmalı Nurzat , Ersoy Yüksel
Published: April 2015

Background:

Osteochondral ankle injuries commonly affect the dome of the talus, and these injuries are a common cause of athletic disability. Various treatment options are available for these injuries including intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of HA and PRP as adjunct therapies after arthroscopic microfracture in osteochondral lesions (OCLs) of the talus.

Methods:

In this prospective, randomized blinded study, 40 patients with talar OCLs in their ankle joints were treated with arthroscopic debridement and a microfracture technique. Thirteen randomly selected patients received PRP, 14 patients received HA, and the remaining 13 patients received saline as a control group. The participants were assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) and visual analog pain scale (VAS) scores after a 15.3-month (range, 11-25 months) follow-up.

Results:

Postoperatively, all the groups exhibited significantly increased AOFAS scores and decreased VAS scores compared with their preoperative results ( P < .005). The AOFAS scores were significantly increased in the PRP group versus the HA and control groups ( P < .005), although the increased AOFAS scores in the HA group versus the control group were also significant ( P < .005). Similar to the AOFAS scores, the decrease in the VAS scores was significantly lower in the PRP group versus the HA and control groups ( P < .005). In addition, the HA group had significantly lower VAS scores than the control group ( P < .005).

Conclusion:

Both PRP and HA injections improved the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent operation for talar OCLs in the midterm period and can be used as adjunct therapies for these patients. Because a single dose of PRP provided better results, we recommend PRP as the primary adjunct treatment option in the talar OCL postoperative period.

Level of Evidence:

Level I, prospective randomized study.
Plane elastostatic stress analysis in complex variables: A wavelet processing perspective
Authors: Vigdergauz S
Published: April 2015

The well-known Kolosov–Muskhelishvili (KM) representation of the Airy function for 2D stress analysis in complex variable terms is enhanced by combining it with Walsh wavelets decomposition. It allows us to perform general analytical derivations up to the maximum extent possible which, in turn, provides a basis for developing a new stress computation algorithm readily incorporated into the routine single scale KM scheme. The mathematical treatment of the wavelet application is supported by a number of examples where non-trivial closed-form solutions are known and serve as a benchmark for numerical simulations. The comparison shows that the proposed framework has better performance than the conventional Fourier transform, especially when it comes to non-smooth stress distributions.
Working From the Inside Out
Authors: Hanson Dale , Gunning Colleen , Rose Judy , McFarlane Kathryn , Franklin Richard C.
Published: April 2015

Mackay Whitsunday Safe Community (MWSC) was established in 2000 in response to high rates of injury observed in the region. MWSC assumed an ecological perspective, incorporating targeted safety promotion campaigns reinforced by supportive environments and policy. By involving the community in finding its own solutions, MWSC attempted to catalyze structural, social, and political changes that empowered the community and, ultimately, individuals within the community, to modify their environment and their behavior to reduce the risk of injury. A community network consisting of 118 members and an external support network of 50 members was established. A social network analysis conducted in 2000 and 2004 indicated that the network doubled its cohesiveness, thereby strengthening its ability to collaborate for mutual benefit. However, while MWSC was rich in social resources, human and financial resources were largely controlled by external agencies. The bridging and linking relationships that connected MWSC to its external support network were the social mechanism MWSC used to access the resources it required to run programs. These boundary-spanning relationships accessed an estimated 6.5 full-time equivalents of human resources and US$750,000 in 2004 that it used to deliver a suite of injury control and safety promotion activities, associated with a 33% reduction in injury deaths over the period 2002 to 2010. MWSC can only be understood in its ecological context. The productivity of MWSC was vulnerable to the changing policy priorities of external sponsoring agents and critically dependent on the advocacy skills of its leaders.
Building the Evidence Base for Population-Level Interventions
Authors: Lifsey Sarah , Cash Amanda , Anthony Jodi , Mathis Sheryl , Silva Sandra
Published: April 2015

Population-level interventions focused on policy, systems, and environmental change strategies are increasingly being used to affect and improve the health of populations. At the same time, emphasis on implementing evidence-based public health practices and programming is increasing, particularly at the federal level. Valuing strategies in the population health domain without the benefit of demonstrated efficacy through highly rigorous methods introduces an inherent tension between planning and acting on the best evidence available, waiting for more rigorous evidence to emerge, as well as exploring innovative ways to evaluate and model evidence-based strategies. This article describes the creation of a resource that helps public health practitioners use current evidence for strategic decision making while building the evidence base for population-level interventions. The resource addresses topics of current discussion in the field of evaluating population-level interventions, including the tension between internal and external validity, the need to include measures of health equity, and the balance between fidelity to the intervention and adaptation to the community context. The resource is intended to advance development of evidence in the field by providing practitioners, project managers, and evaluators with a practical guide for using, reviewing, and adding to the existing evidence base.
A Natural Experiment Opportunity in Two Low-Income Urban Food Desert Communities
Authors: Dubowitz Tamara , Ncube Collette , Leuschner Kristin , Tharp-Gilliam Shannah
Published: April 2015

A growing body of evidence has highlighted an association between a lack of access to nutritious, affordable food (e.g., through full-service grocery stores [FSGs]), poor diet, and increased risk for obesity. In response, there has been growing interest among policy makers in encouraging the siting of supermarkets in “food deserts,” that is, low-income geographic areas with low access to healthy food options. However, there is limited research to evaluate the impact of such efforts, and most studies to date have been cross-sectional. The Pittsburgh Hill/Homewood Research on Eating, Shopping, and Health (PHRESH) is a longitudinal quasi-experimental study of a dramatic change (i.e., a new FSG) in the food landscape of a low-income, predominantly Black neighborhood. The study is following a stratified random sample of households ( n = 1,372), and all food venues ( n = 60) in both intervention and control neighborhoods, and the most frequently reported food shopping venues outside both neighborhoods. This article describes the study design and community-based methodology, which focused simultaneously on the conduct of scientifically rigorous research and the development and maintenance of trust and buy-in from the involved neighborhoods. Early results have begun to define markers for success in creating a natural experiment, including strong community engagement. Baseline data show that the vast majority of residents already shop at a FSG and do not shop at the nearest one. Follow-up data collection will help determine whether and how a new FSG may change behaviors and may point to the need for additional interventions beyond new FSGs alone.
Alinea: An Advanced Linear Algebra Library for Massively Parallel Computations on Graphics Processing Units
Authors: Magoulès Frédéric , Ahamed Abal-Kassim Cheik
Published: April 2015

Direct and iterative methods are often used to solve linear systems in engineering. The matrices involved can be large, which leads to heavy computations on the central processing unit. A graphics processing unit can be used to accelerate these computations. In this paper, we propose a new library, named Alinea, for advanced linear algebra. This library is implemented in C++, CUDA and OpenCL. It includes several linear algebra operations and numerous algorithms for solving linear systems. For both central processing unit and graphic processing unit devices, there are different matrix storage formats, and real and complex arithmetics in single- and double-precision. The CUDA version includes a self-tuning of the grid, i.e. threading distribution, depending upon the hardware configuration and the size of the problems. Numerical experiments and comparison with existing libraries illustrates the efficiency, accuracy and robustness of the proposed library.
OpenACC acceleration of the Nek5000 spectral element code
Authors: Markidis Stefano , Gong Jing , Schliephake Michael , Laure Erwin , Hart Alistair , Henty David , Heisey Katherine , Fischer Paul
Published: April 2015

We present a case study of porting NekBone, a skeleton version of the Nek5000 code, to a parallel GPU-accelerated system. Nek5000 is a computational fluid dynamics code based on the spectral element method used for the simulation of incompressible flow. The original NekBone Fortran source code has been used as the base and enhanced by OpenACC directives. The profiling of NekBone provided an assessment of the suitability of the code for GPU systems, and indicated possible kernel optimizations. To port NekBone to GPU systems required little effort and a small number of additional lines of code (approximately one OpenACC directive per 1000 lines of code). The naïve implementation using OpenACC leads to little performance improvement: on a single node, from 16 Gflops obtained with the version without OpenACC, we reached 20 Gflops with the naïve OpenACC implementation. An optimized NekBone version leads to a 43 Gflop performance on a single node. In addition, we ported and optimized NekBone to parallel GPU systems, reaching a parallel efficiency of 79.9% on 1024 GPUs of the Titan XK7 supercomputer at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Association of Job Strain With Cortisol and Alpha-Amylase Among Shift-Working Health Care Professionals in Laboratory and Field
Authors: Karhula Kati , Härmä Mikko , Sallinen Mikael , Lindholm Harri , Hirvonen Ari , Elovainio Marko , Kivimäki Mika , Vahtera Jussi , Puttonen Sampsa
Published: April 2015

Although the prevalence of work-related stress has increased, knowledge on the contributions of that stress to long-term adverse health effects is still lacking. Stress biomarkers can reveal early signs of negative health effects, but no previous studies have measured both acute stress reactions and long-term exposure to job strain using both salivary cortisol and α-amylase (AA). The present study examines the association between job strain and these biomarkers among shift-working female health care professionals in the laboratory and the field. The 95 participants were recruited from hospital wards categorized in either the top (high job strain [HJS] group, n = 42) or the bottom quartile of job strain (low job strain [LJS] group, n = 53), as rated by survey responses. Participants’ self-perceived job strain was at least as high or low as the ward’s average estimation. Saliva samples were collected during the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), preselected morning and night shifts, and a day off. There was a larger increase in the cortisol concentration of participants in the HJS than in the LJS group (2.27- vs. 1.48-fold, respectively, nonsignificant) during the TSST. Participants in the HJS group also had higher salivary AA levels 30 min after awakening on the morning-shift day than those in the LJS group ( p = .02), whereas the salivary cortisol awakening response on the day off was higher in the LJS group ( p = .05, education as a covariate). The remaining stress-biomarker results did not differ significantly between groups. These data suggest that HJS in shift-working health care professionals is weakly associated with changes in stress biomarkers.
A retrospective analysis of catheter-based thrombolytic therapy for acute submassive and massive pulmonary embolism
Authors: George Bennet , Wallace Eric L , Charnigo Richard , Wingerter Kelly E , Kapadia Pavan , Gurley John C , Smyth Susan S
Published: April 2015

Catheter-based thrombolysis (CBT) is emerging as an option for acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Although prior studies have demonstrated improvement in right ventricular function, little data is available regarding clinical patient outcomes. Our institution adopted CBT as an option for patients with submassive and massive PE and we evaluated its effect on patient outcomes. Two hundred and twenty-one patients who presented to our institution with submassive and massive PE were analyzed over three years by time period; 102 prior to the use of CBT and 119 during the time CBT was performed. The primary outcome was in-hospital major adverse clinical events (a composite of death, recurrent embolism, major bleeding, or stroke). Secondary outcomes were overall and ICU length of stay and individual components of the composite outcome. Mean age was 56.3±16 years with high rates of central PE (57.9%), RV dysfunction (37%), and myocardial necrosis (26%). Mean RV/LV ratio was 1.2. Thirty-two patients were treated with CBT. The composite endpoint occurred more frequently in the CBT era vs the pre-CBT era (21.0% vs 14.7%, p=0.23). After multivariate adjustment, CBT treatment demonstrated no effect on major adverse clinical events (OR 0.84, CI 0.22–3.22, p=0.80). CBT era patients had an unadjusted 37% increase in ICU days and 54% increase in total length of stay ( p<0.001). Within the CBT era, CBT treatment resulted in an adjusted 190% increase in overall length of stay ( p<0.001). CBT did not demonstrate improvement in hospital outcomes, despite adjustments of PE severity, and was associated with a significant increase in overall and ICU length of stay.
Venous leg ulceration pathophysiology and evidence based treatment
Authors: Chi Yung-Wei , Raffetto Joseph D
Published: April 2015

Venous leg ulceration (VLU) is one of the most predominate medical disorders worldwide and in the western hemisphere it affects around 1.5% of the general population and up to 5% of the elderly population. Unfortunately, this trend will only increase given the growth of an aging population worldwide. Understanding its pathophysiology that begins with venous hemodynamic abnormalities and leads to inflammatory alterations with microcirculatory changes is critical to delivering effective curative therapy. As such, the main component to treatment is reversing the underlying venous hypertension and pro-inflammatory milieu using compression treatment along with various adjuvant therapies. Given its impact, a comprehensive multi-pronged approach to care, treatment and prevention is required to reverse the increasing trend that is observed worldwide.
Do grammatical–gender distinctions learned in the second language influence native-language lexical processing?
Authors: Kaushanskaya Margarita , Smith Samantha
Published: April 2015

Aims and Objectives/Purpose/Research Questions:

How does learning a second language influence native language processing? The present study examined whether knowledge of Spanish – a language that marks grammatical gender – influences lexical processing in English – a language that does not mark grammatical gender.

Design/Methodology/Approach:

Three groups of adult English native speakers were tested: monolinguals; emergent bilinguals with high exposure to Spanish; and emergent bilinguals with low exposure to Spanish. Participants engaged in an associative learning task in English where they learned to associate names of inanimate objects with proper names. For half of the pairs, the grammatical gender of the noun’s Spanish translation matched the gender of the proper name (e.g. corn-Patrick). For half of the pairs, the grammatical gender of the noun’s Spanish translation mismatched the gender of the proper noun (e.g. beach-William).

Data and Analysis:

Fifty-six participants were tested − 21 monolingual speakers of English, 18 emergent bilinguals with high exposure to Spanish, and 17 emergent bilinguals with low exposure to Spanish. Data were analyzed using mixed analyses of variance.

Findings/Conclusions:

High-Spanish-exposure bilinguals (but not monolinguals or low-Spanish-exposure bilinguals) were less accurate at retrieving proper names for gender-incongruent than for gender-congruent pairs.

Originality:

The methodological approach used in this paper is especially well-suited to testing activation of grammatical gender in languages like English, which do not grammaticize gender.

Significance/Implications:

The findings of this study indicate that second-language morphosyntactic information is activated during native-language lexical processing, even when the second language is acquired later in life. This is particularly significant, considering well-known limitations in explicit knowledge of grammatical gender distinctions in the late-acquired second language.