bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Glucocorticoid Programming in Very Preterm Birth
Authors: Finken Martijn J.J. , van der Voorn Bibian , Heijboer Annemieke C. , de Waard Marita , van Goudoever Johannes B. , Rotteveel Joost
Published: March 2016

Very preterm (i.e., <32 weeks of gestation) infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit are compromised in their abilities to respond adequately to common threats like hemodynamic changes and reduced energy supplies, which is partly attributable to adrenocortical insufficiency. Conversely, later in life, these infants show features of increased glucocorticoid bioactivity, such as abdominal fat distribution, raised blood pressure, insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus type 2. It has been suggested that the very preterm newborn responds to the adverse postnatal environment with a sustained elevation in hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis activity that persists beyond infancy. This has implications for subsequent growth, body composition, metabolism, neurodevelopment and, ultimately, long-term disease risk. The mechanisms underpinning these associations are not fully elucidated yet. This review gives a brief summary of studies that investigated adrenocortical function in very preterm newborns and how the axis changes with age, as a possible explanation for the association between prematurity and long-term outcome.
Transposition of the Great Arteries in Fetal Life: Accuracy of Diagnosis and Short-Term Outcome
Authors: Domínguez-Manzano Paula , Mendoza Alberto , Herraiz Ignacio , Escribano David , Román Violeta , Aguilar Juan Miguel , Galindo Alberto
Published: March 2016

Objective: To review our series of prenatally diagnosed transposition of the great arteries (TGA) to analyze the accuracy of fetal echocardiography for achieving a precise diagnosis of the TGA type (simple vs. complex) and to examine the short-term outcome. Methods: A total of 94 cases of simple and complex TGA types (ventriculoarterial discordance with atrioventricular concordance) prenatally evaluated in our referral center between 1998 and 2014 were included. Fetuses with additional congenital anomalies and those with incomplete follow-up were excluded. Prenatal diagnostic accuracy and short-term survival were analyzed for the different types of TGA. Results: The TGA type was correctly ascertained prenatally in 93.3%. Most fetuses were diagnosed with simple TGA (62.7%). There were 6 discrepancies: 5 fetuses with simple TGA had postnatally TGA + ventricular septal defect (VSD; n = 3) or TGA + VSD + coarctation of the aorta (n = 2), and 1 fetus with TGA + VSD postnatally showed severe left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The mortality rate was 6.6%; it was higher in complex versus simple forms (12.8 vs. 1.9%, p = 0.038), and in cases with intramural coronary artery versus those without (60 vs. 3.5%, p < 0.001). We found no relationship between the arrangement of the great arteries and coronary arterial abnormalities. Conclusions: Simple TGA has a better outcome than the complex forms. A discrepancy rate of 7% with potential influence on the prognosis of survival between the prenatal diagnosis of the TGA type and the definitive diagnosis was found.
Anatomical and Functional Estimations of Brachial Artery Diameter and Elasticity Using Oscillometric Measurements with a Quantitative Approach
Authors: Yoshinaga Keiichiro , Fujii Satoshi , Tomiyama Yuuki , Takeuchi Keisuke , Tamaki Nagara
Published: March 2016

Noninvasive vascular function measurement plays an important role in detecting early stages of atherosclerosis and in evaluating therapeutic responses. In this regard, recently, new vascular function measurements have been developed. These new measurements have been used to evaluate vascular function in coronary arteries, large aortic arteries, or peripheral arteries. Increasing vascular diameter represents vascular remodeling related to atherosclerosis. Attenuated vascular elasticity may be a reliable marker for atherosclerotic risk assessment. However, previous measurements for vascular diameter and vascular elasticity have been complex, operator-dependent, or invasive. Therefore, simple and reliable approaches have been sought. We recently developed a new automated oscillometric method to measure the estimated area (eA) of a brachial artery and its volume elastic modulus (VE). In this review, we further report on this new measurement and other vascular measurements. We report on the reliability of the new automated oscillometric measurement of eA and VE. Based on our findings, this measurement technique should be a reliable approach, and this modality may have practical application to automatically assess muscular artery diameter and elasticity in clinical or epidemiological settings. In this review, we report the characteristics of our new oscillometric measurements and other related vascular function measurements.
Individualized Statin Benefit for Determining Statin Eligibility in the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Thanassoulis George , Williams Ken , Altobelli Kathleen Kimler , Pencina Michael J. , Cannon Christopher P. , Sniderman Allan D.
Published: March 2016

Background—

Current guidelines recommend statins in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease on the basis of predicted cardiovascular risk without directly considering the expected benefits of statin therapy based on the available randomized, controlled trial evidence.

Methods and Results—

We included 2134 participants representing 71.8 million American residents potentially eligible for statins in primary prevention from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for the years 2005 to 2010. We compared statin eligibilities using 2 separate approaches: a 10-year risk-based approach (≥7.5% 10-year risk) and an individualized benefit approach (ie, based on predicted absolute risk reduction over 10 years [ARR
10
] ≥2.3% from randomized, controlled trial data). A risk-based approach led to the eligibility of 15.0 million (95% confidence interval, 12.7–17.3 million) Americans, whereas a benefit-based approach identified 24.6 million (95% confidence interval, 21.0–28.1 million). The corresponding numbers needed to treat over 10 years were 21 (range, 9–44) and 25 (range, 9–44). The benefit-based approach identified 9.5 million lower-risk (<7.5% 10-year risk) Americans not currently eligible for statin treatment who had the same or greater expected benefit from statins (≥2.3% ARR
10
) compared with higher-risk individuals. This lower-risk/acceptable-benefit group includes younger individuals (mean age, 55.2 versus 62.5 years;
P
<0.001 for benefit based versus risk based) with higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (140 versus133 mg/dL;
P
=0.01). Statin treatment in this group would be expected to prevent an additional 266 508 cardiovascular events over 10 years.

Conclusions—

An individualized statin benefit approach can identify lower-risk individuals who have equal or greater expected benefit from statins in primary prevention compared with higher-risk individuals. This approach may help develop guideline recommendations that better identify individuals who meaningfully benefit from statin therapy.
Childhood residential mobility and long-term outcomes
Authors: Tønnessen Marianne , Telle Kjetil , Syse Astri
Published: March 2016

To study relations between childhood residential mobility and early adult outcomes, we use detailed longitudinal data on complete cohorts born in Norway between 1965 and 1980 ( N = 967 151) and information on all their relocations between municipalities. Results from models with and without sibling-fixed effects show that children with more residential moves are more likely to drop out of high school, to have a lower adult income and to experience early parenthood, although most of these associations are weaker in the sibling fixed effects models. We also find that age at moving matters: the outcomes are similar for children who move or remain in place prior to elementary school, whereas those who move in adolescence are worse off than those who do not.
The Theory of Legal Cynicism and Sunni Insurgent Violence in Post-Invasion Iraq
Authors: Hagan John , Kaiser Joshua , Hanson Anna
Published: March 2016

We elaborate a cultural framing theory of legal cynicism—previously used to account for neighborhood variation in Chicago homicides—to explain Arab Sunni victimization and insurgent attacks during the U.S. post-invasion occupation of Iraq. Legal cynicism theory has an unrecognized power to explain collective and interpersonal violence in international as well as U.S. settings. We expand on how “double and linked” roles of state and non-state actors can be used to analyze violence against Arab Sunni civilians. Arab Sunnis responded to reports of unnecessary violent attacks by U.S./Coalition soldiers with a legally cynical framing of the U.S./Coalition-led invasion and occupation, the new Shia-dominated Iraqi state, and its military and police. A post-invasion frame amplification of beliefs about state-based illegitimacy, unresponsiveness, and insecurity made it not only possible but predictable that Arab Sunni insurgent attacks would continue against U.S./Coalition forces and transfer to Shia-dominated Iraqi government forces. Violence in Iraq persisted despite U.S. surge efforts to end the Arab Sunni insurgency.
What Does It Mean to Span Cultural Boundaries? Variety and Atypicality in Cultural Consumption
Authors: Goldberg Amir , Hannan Michael T. , Kovács Balázs
Published: March 2016

We propose a synthesis of two lines of sociological research on boundary spanning in cultural production and consumption. One, research on cultural omnivorousness, analyzes choice by heterogeneous audiences facing an array of crisp cultural offerings. The other, research on categories in markets, analyzes reactions by homogeneous audiences to objects that vary in the degree to which they conform to categorical codes. We develop a model of heterogeneous audiences evaluating objects that vary in typicality. This allows consideration of orientations on two dimensions of cultural preference: variety and typicality. We propose a novel analytic framework to map consumption behavior in these two dimensions. We argue that one audience type, those who value variety and typicality, are especially resistant to objects that span boundaries. We test this argument in an analysis of two large-scale datasets of reviews of films and restaurants.
Immigration and Welfare Support in Germany
Authors: Schmidt-Catran Alexander W. , Spies Dennis C.
Published: March 2016

In recent years, several international-comparative studies have analyzed the relationship between migration and native populations’ decreasing support for redistributive policies. However, these studies use cross-sectional designs and aggregate the number of foreign-born residents at the national level. Both aspects are theoretically and methodologically problematic. We address these shortcomings by investigating cross-sectional as well as longitudinal effects in the case of Germany, using a combination of individual- and regional-level data for several time points from 1994 to 2010. Our results suggest that native-born populations become more reluctant to support welfare programs when the proportion of foreigners at the regional level increases. This effect is particularly strong in the initial phase of immigration, and it is further moderated by the economic context: the higher the unemployment rate, the more negative is the effect of foreigners on natives’ attitude toward providing welfare.
Can Politicians Police Themselves? Natural Experimental Evidence From Brazil’s Audit Courts
Authors: Hidalgo F. Daniel , Canello Júlio , Lima-de-Oliveira Renato
Published: March 2016

To enhance government accountability, reformers have advocated strengthening institutions of “horizontal accountability,” particularly auditing institutions that can punish lawbreaking elected officials. Yet, these institutions differ in their willingness to punish corrupt politicians, which is often attributed to variation in their degree of independence from the political branches. Taking advantage of a randomized natural experiment embedded in Brazil’s State Audit Courts, we study how variation in the appointment mechanisms for choosing auditors affects political accountability. We show that auditors appointed under few constraints by elected officials punish lawbreaking politicians—particularly co-partisans—at lower rates than bureaucrats insulated from political influence. In addition, we find that even when executives are heavily constrained in their appointment of auditors by meritocratic and professional requirements, auditors still exhibit a pro-politician bias in decision making. Our results suggest that removing bias requires a level of insulation from politics rare among institutions of horizontal accountability.
Advances in the Study of Democratic Responsiveness: An Introduction
Authors: Esaiasson Peter , Wlezien Christopher
Published: March 2016

Responsiveness is a central quality of representative democracy. During the past decades, a number of innovative studies have advanced our knowledge about actual responsiveness processes. However, research on the consequences that follow from responsiveness has lagged behind and forms the subject of this special issue. Our introduction identifies a range of conceptual issues that arise as we focus attention on citizens’ reactions to the ways in which politicians relate to public sentiments between elections.
Who’s Asking? Interviewer Coethnicity Effects in African Survey Data
Authors: Adida Claire L. , Ferree Karen E. , Posner Daniel N. , Robinson Amanda Lea
Published: March 2016

Face-to-face interviews constitute a social interaction between interviewer and respondent, and in the African context, social interactions are strongly shaped by ethnicity. Yet research using African survey data typically fails to account for the effect of shared ethnicity on survey responses. We find that respondents give systematically different answers to coethnic and noncoethnic interviewers across surveys in 14 African countries, but with significant variation in the degree of bias across question types and types of noncoethnic dyads, with the largest effects occurring where both the respondent and interviewer are members of ethnic groups with a history of political competition and conflict, and where the respondent or interviewer shares an ethnicity with the head of state. Our findings have practical implications for consumers of African survey data and underscore the context dependence of the social interaction that constitutes the survey experience.
Supporting the Summer Reading of Urban Youth
Authors: Stein Marc L.
Published: March 2016

This article presents an evaluation of the first 2 years of a research-based summer learning program that provided self-selected and developmentally appropriate books to students in low-income and low-resource elementary schools by a local philanthropic organization in a large urban district. The evaluation found evidence of a positive effect of participation in the program on the state year-end standardized reading assessment but found no statistically significant effects on the proximal measures of reading achievement in the fall after summer vacation. The article also provides an analysis of implementation of the program and lessons learned that could be useful to other organizations that are interested in implementing similar programs.
Comparing Between- and Within-Group Variances in a Two-Level Study
Authors: Raykov Tenko , Marcoulides George A. , Akaeze Hope O.
Published: March 2016

This note is concerned with examining the relationship between within-group and between-group variances in two-level nested designs. A latent variable modeling approach is outlined that permits point and interval estimation of their ratio and allows their comparison in a multilevel study. The procedure can also be used to test various hypotheses about the discrepancy between these two variances and assist with their relationship interpretability in empirical investigations. The method can also be utilized as an addendum to point and interval estimation of the popular intraclass correlation coefficient in hierarchical designs. The discussed approach is illustrated with a numerical example.
Effort in Low-Stakes Assessments
Authors: Attali Yigal
Published: March 2016

Performance of students in low-stakes testing situations has been a concern and focus of recent research. However, researchers who have examined the effect of stakes on performance have not been able to compare low-stakes performance to truly high-stakes performance of the same students. Results of such a comparison are reported in this article. GRE test takers volunteered to take an additional low-stakes test, of either verbal or quantitative reasoning as part of a research study immediately following their operational high-stakes test. Analyses of performance under the high- and low-stakes situations revealed that the level of effort in the low-stakes situation (as measured by the amount of time on task) strongly predicted the stakes effect on performance (difference between test scores in low- and high-stakes situations). Moreover, the stakes effect virtually disappeared for participants who spent at least one-third of the allotted time in the low-stakes situation. For this group of test takers (more than 80% of the total sample), the correlations between the low- and high-stakes scores approached the upper bound possible considering the reliability of the test.
Personnel attitudes toward people with mental illness at a psychiatric hospital in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Ming-De , Chang Yen-Ching
Published: March 2016

Background:

The attitudes of psychiatric hospital personnel are critically related to the quality of mental health care, but few studies have investigated this issue.

Aims:

This study is aimed at an exploration of the attitudes of psychiatric hospital personnel toward people with mental illness and at an examination of the associated factors.

Method:

A self-report questionnaire, the Mental Illness Attitude Scale (MIAS), was used to collect data from psychiatric hospital personnel in Taiwan ( n = 290). The MIAS included 46 items and 4 dimensions: acceptance, rehabilitation and prognosis, social distance and recommendations for interventions.

Results:

Rehabilitation and prognosis had the highest item average scores (4.03) and social distance had the lowest item average scores (3.22). Stigmatization and the number of different types of contacted clients were two significantly associated attitude factors.

Conclusion:

Psychiatric hospital personnel in Taiwan tend to have positive attitudes toward people with mental illness in general situations but hold less positive attitudes in terms of community integration-related issues and intimate relationships. More evidence-based community services should be conducted to decrease personnel concerns about the successful community integration of those who are mentally ill. Future studies can investigate the concept and impact of stigmatization more deeply.
Influence of Cultural Meaning System and Socioeconomic Change on Indecisiveness in Three Cultures
Authors: Li Liman Man Wai , Masuda Takahiko , Jiang Feng
Published: March 2016

Psychologists have debated two external factors that influence human behaviors: current socioeconomic changes and historically shared cultural meaning systems. By conducting triangular comparisons among Hong Kong Chinese, mainland Chinese, and European Canadians, the current study examined whether these two factors differentially influence people’s indecisiveness. We found that (a) Hong Kong Chinese participants’ level of indecisiveness was highest, and there were no differences between the two other groups; (b) dialectical beliefs facilitated participants’ indecisiveness whereas optimism toward the future attenuated it across cultures and both factors explained cultural variations in indecisiveness; and (c) different from European Canadians’ optimism, optimism about the future promoted by perception of current rapid societal change made mainland Chinese more decisive. The importance of within-region analyses to disentangle varying factors in decision-making processes is discussed.
Toward the Model of Independence
Authors: de la Mata Manuel L. , Santamaría Andrés , Ruiz Marcia L.
Published: March 2016

Research over the past two decades has evidenced (cross)cultural variations in autobiographical memory (AM). These variations are consistent with cultural differences in self-construal. However, research about the influence of people’s participation in specific cultural practices (e.g., schooling practices) on AM and self is needed. Our study explores some characteristics of AMs of Mexican participants with different backgrounds of formal schooling. The results evidenced differences between schooling levels in the age at the earliest memory, the content of their memories, and the personal self-focusing index. The characteristics of the AMs of the participants with more school experience are similar to those that characterize the “cultures of independence.” At a more theoretical level, our data may support the ideas proposed by Greenfield, Keller, and Kagitçibasi about the role of formal schooling (as a crucial sociodemographic factor) in promoting the developmental pathway to independence.
Impartiality in Political Judgment: Deliberative Not Philosophical
Authors: Button Mark E , Garrett Jacob
Published: March 2016

Is impartiality possible or desirable within the conduct of political judgment? Many philosophers and democratic theorists have answered this question with a resounding “no.” This article provides an affirmative answer to this question based upon the empirical study of deliberative democracy within “mini-publics.” Through a reconstruction of the phenomenology of deliberative democracy within groups, this article offers an alternative conception of impartiality that can overcome many of the political and philosophical challenges that have been raised about this quality. “Deliberative impartiality” is a group-mediated orientation born from reflective civic collaborations within deliberative processes that prioritize free, equal, and inclusive communicative participation. This process-dependent form of mutually enacted deliberative impartiality differs from the individual, cognitive “standpoint” model of impartiality that still informs much of the theoretical literature, and it is for this same reason an intriguing and overlooked approach to impartiality that is worthy of empirical and theoretical consideration.
Analysis of yarn tension based on yarn demand variation on a tricot knitting machine
Authors: Liu Xing , Miao Xuhong
Published: March 2016

To date, the trend in the development of knitting promotes higher requirements for warp tension control, and the fluctuation of knitting warp finally comes down to the imbalance between yarn demand and feed while forming every loop. According to warp knitting machine characteristics, four typical points are chosen to calculate the value of yarn demand, and in this way a model is built to obtain and plot the overall change trend in yarn demand in one knitting cycle. Combined with the theoretical tension curve calculated based on the yarn demand and the measured one, it is verified as coincident. The model is useful for analyzing the factors causing warp dynamic tension variation, and lays the groundwork for accurate active tension compensation.
Modeling and numerical simulation of simultaneous heat and mass transfer during convective drying of porous materials
Authors: Kahveci Kamil
Published: March 2016

In this study, a model was developed and numerical simulations based on the developed model were performed to investigate the convective air drying behavior of porous materials and to discuss the reliability of assumptions often used in convective drying models. Simulation results were obtained for a wool yarn drying process with various values of the drying air temperature and inlet velocity. The results show that a symmetric pair of vortices is formed in the wake region of the material as a result of boundary separation. The length of the vortex formation increases with the inlet velocity, depending on the increase in the Reynolds number. The results also show that temperature is the major factor affecting the drying rate, while the velocity has a secondary effect. The results also show that the temperature in the material and on the surface of the material varies significantly depending on the evaporation rate, developing boundary layer, and boundary layer separation. Therefore, a constant temperature assumption in the material and on the material surface is not reasonable. Furthermore, the results show that the temperature gets significantly lower values, especially in the early stages of drying, due to the energy consumed for evaporation. Therefore, it is not reasonable to neglect evaporation, as this would result in an over-prediction of the drying rate.
CAD/CAE for stress–strain properties of multifilament twisted yarns
Authors: Sriprateep Keartisak , Bohez Erik LJ
Published: March 2016

A method is presented for modeling the tensile behavior of multifilament twisted yarns. A filament assembly model and a computer-aided design/computer-aided engineering (CAD/CAE) approach are proposed for the tensile analysis. The geometry of the twisted yarn and the nonlinear filament properties were considered. The finite element method (FEM) and large deformation effects were applied for computation of the stress–extension curves. Ideal yarn structures of five layers with different twist angles were simulated to predict the tensile behavior of each filament and each layer. The stress acting on the filaments after yarn extension could be directly analyzed by the FEM. The stress distribution in the filaments showed that the highest stress regions were located at the filament in the center of the yarn and decreased slightly to the yarn surface. The stress–extensions of the filaments were converted to yarn tensile behavior that is shown in terms of the maximum and average stress–extension curves. The results of this prediction model were compared with the stress–strain curves of high-tenacity rayon yarn and the energy method. The maximum stress–extension curves showed very good agreement with experimental results and are more accurate than those obtained by previous methods.
Inmate Education as a Service Learning Opportunity for Students
Authors: Meyer Cheryl L. , Harned Megan , Schaad Amanda , Sunder Katherine , Palmer Judson , Tinch Christy
Published: March 2016

There is mounting evidence that prison inmates benefit from educational opportunities but may not be offered to them. In addition, when they are offered, priority is given to prisoners who will be released in the near future, and those serving long-term or life sentences are less likely to have access to classes. A service learning opportunity was created where students taught a life span development class to women serving long-term sentences. This article provides a guide to setting up the class while avoiding obstacles along the way. It also outlines benefits to students, inmates, supervising faculty, and society. In order to teach, students must apply what they have learned, and the prison experience challenges them to consider their power and privilege.
Coverage of the Stanford Prison Experiment in Introductory Psychology Courses
Authors: Bartels Jared M. , Milovich Marilyn M. , Moussier Sabrina
Published: March 2016

The present study examined the coverage of Stanford prison experiment (SPE), including criticisms of the study, in introductory psychology courses through an online survey of introductory psychology instructors ( N = 117). Results largely paralleled those of the recently published textbook analyses with ethical issues garnering the most coverage, but other theoretical and methodological criticisms more sparsely covered by instructors. This resemblance was also true in terms of the use of references critical of the SPE including Carnahan and McFarland’s study and the British Broadcasting Corporation prison study, both of which were cited infrequently in textbook content analyses. Results suggest criticisms of the landmark SPE in the classroom are noted with similar frequency as in introductory psychology textbooks.
Why Expertise Is Important for the Detection of Abnormal Performance
Authors: Frame David , Hughson Eric , Leach J. Chris
Published: March 2016

The Sarbanes–Oxley Act emphasizes auditor and analyst independence as defining characteristics of quality financial reporting. We argue that this focus on independence may have adverse effects on auditor expertise. In particular, an independent auditor will lack firsthand knowledge regarding the construction of a client’s financial statements, knowledge that is obtained through the provision of a variety of non-audit services. This lack of firm-specific expertise introduces the potential for a bias analogous to that alleged in sports fans’ belief in the “hot hand” in athletic performance. In studies of professional sports, little evidence of serially abnormal performance has been documented by empirical researchers. As a result, many assert the absence of a hot hand in sports and conclude that athletic spectators’ beliefs and assertions thereof are not rational. We demonstrate that commonly used tests lack power specifically in the detection of abnormally elevated streaks in performance, even for large sample sizes. Importantly, in contrast to the usual non-structural (and non-parametric) approach, incorporating a structural-data-generating process dramatically enhances an observer’s ability to make the correct inference concerning the existence of a hot hand even if only a few observations are available. Of relevance to the debate regarding the (dis)advantages of independent auditors, we argue that auditor expertise regarding the underlying structure of the data-generating processes is paramount in increasing statistical power in (a) an auditor’s detection of anomalous corporate behavior and (b) inquiries by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) regarding auditor inference and potential corruption.
Motherhood in Complex Families
Authors: Fomby Paula
Published: March 2016

Families formed through multipartner fertility, where children with a common biological mother were conceived by different biological fathers, represent a growing share of all families in the United States. Using data from four waves of the Fragile Families Child and Wellbeing Study ( N = 3,366), I find that women who have engaged in multipartner fertility are more likely to experience parenting stress and depression compared with mothers whose children share the same biological father. Mothers’ depression is explained in the short term by poor relationship quality with the father of her prior children and in the longer term by indicators of boundary ambiguity in complex families. Mothers’ parenting stress was only weakly explained by variation in perceived kin support, father involvement, or boundary ambiguity.
Effects of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Therapy in Colorectal Cancer Patients
Authors: Kim Kyeng Jin , Na Yeon Kyung , Hong Hae Sook
Published: March 2016

This study aimed to examine the effect of progressive muscle relaxation therapy (PMRT) on cortisol level, the Stress Arousal Checklist (SACL) score, blood pressure, and heart rate in colorectal cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Forty-six patients were divided into control and experimental groups. Cortisol levels, blood pressure, and heart rate were measured before surgery and between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. on the first, third, and fifth days after surgery. SACL score was measured before surgery and on the fifth day after surgery at the same time points. PMRT was performed twice a day for 5 days. Analyses of covariance with advanced covariate levels and t tests showed that PMRT helps colorectal cancer patients achieve a lower stress response and provides an important basis for stress control.
Physiology and pillow talk
Authors: Denes Amanda , Afifi Tamara D. , Granger Douglas A.
Published: March 2016

This study investigates the association between individual differences in testosterone and communication after sexual activity. Two hundred and fifty-three young adult participants (78% women, M age = 21 years, 73% White) provided saliva samples (later assayed for testosterone) and subsequently, over a 2-week period, completed an online diary after each time they engaged in sexual activity. Individual differences in testosterone levels were inversely associated with perceived benefits of, and positively associated with perceived risks of, disclosing thoughts and feelings to one’s partner after sexual activity. When testosterone levels were higher, post sex disclosures were less intentional and less positive, and these associations were mediated by risk–benefit assessments. An interaction between testosterone and orgasm revealed that higher testosterone levels were associated with more negative post sex disclosures for those who did not orgasm, but not for those who experienced orgasm. This finding suggests that high testosterone/no orgasm individuals may be the least likely to experience the beneficial effects of post sex communication. Similar results were found both when biological sex was controlled for and when analyses were conducted separately for women and men. Implications for a biosocial model of post sex behavior and communication are discussed.
Improving the wellbeing of staff who work in palliative care settings: A systematic review of psychosocial interventions
Authors: Hill Rebecca C , Dempster Martin , Donnelly Michael , McCorry Noleen K
Published: March 2016

Background:

Staff in palliative care settings perform emotionally demanding roles which may lead to psychological distress including stress and burnout. Therefore, interventions have been designed to address these occupational risks.

Aim:

To investigate quantitative studies exploring the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions that attempt to improve psychological wellbeing of palliative care staff.

Design:

A systematic review was conducted according to methodological guidance from UK Centre for Reviews and Dissemination.

Data sources:

A search strategy was developed based on the initial scans of palliative care studies. Potentially eligible research articles were identified by searching the following databases: CINAHL, MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO and Web of Science. Two reviewers independently screened studies against pre-set eligibility criteria. To assess quality, both researchers separately assessed the remaining studies using the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies.

Results:

A total of 1786 potentially eligible articles were identified – nine remained following screening and quality assessment. Study types included two randomised controlled trials, two non-randomised controlled trial designs, four one-group pre–post evaluations and one process evaluation. Studies took place in the United States and Canada (5), Europe (3) and Hong Kong (1). Interventions comprised a mixture of relaxation, education, support and cognitive training and targeted stress, fatigue, burnout, depression and satisfaction. The randomised controlled trial evaluations did not improve psychological wellbeing of palliative care staff. Only two of the quasi-experimental studies appeared to show improved staff wellbeing although these studies were methodologically weak.

Conclusion:

There is an urgent need to address the lack of intervention development work and high-quality research in this area.
Comparison of cerebral blood flow measurement with [15O]-water positron emission tomography and arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging: A systematic review
Authors: Fan Audrey P , Jahanian Hesamoddin , Holdsworth Samantha J , Zaharchuk Greg
Published: March 2016

Noninvasive imaging of cerebral blood flow provides critical information to understand normal brain physiology as well as to identify and manage patients with neurological disorders. To date, the reference standard for cerebral blood flow measurements is considered to be positron emission tomography using injection of the [15O]-water radiotracer. Although [15O]-water has been used to study brain perfusion under normal and pathological conditions, it is not widely used in clinical settings due to the need for an on-site cyclotron, the invasive nature of arterial blood sampling, and experimental complexity. As an alternative, arterial spin labeling is a promising magnetic resonance imaging technique that magnetically labels arterial blood as it flows into the brain to map cerebral blood flow. As arterial spin labeling becomes more widely adopted in research and clinical settings, efforts have sought to standardize the method and validate its cerebral blood flow values against positron emission tomography-based cerebral blood flow measurements. The purpose of this work is to critically review studies that performed both [15O]-water positron emission tomography and arterial spin labeling to measure brain perfusion, with the aim of better understanding the accuracy and reproducibility of arterial spin labeling relative to the positron emission tomography reference standard.
Gut microbiota impact on stroke outcome: Fad or fact?
Authors: Winek Katarzyna , Meisel Andreas , Dirnagl Ulrich
Published: March 2016

Microbiota and its contribution to brain function and diseases has become a hot topic in neuroscience. We discuss the emerging role of commensal bacteria in the course of stroke. Further, we review potential pitfalls in microbiota research and their impact on how we interpret the available evidence, emerging results, and on how we design future studies.
Hourly analysis of cerebrospinal fluid glucose shows large diurnal fluctuations
Authors: Verbeek Marcel M , Leen Wilhelmina G , Willemsen Michèl A , Slats Diane , Claassen Jurgen A
Published: March 2016

Cerebrospinal fluid analysis is important in the diagnostics of many neurological disorders. Since the influence of food intake on the cerebrospinal fluid glucose concentration and the cerebrospinal fluid/plasma glucose ratio is largely unknown, we studied fluctuations in these parameters in healthy adult volunteers during a period of 36 h. Our observations show large physiological fluctuations of cerebrospinal fluid glucose and the cerebrospinal fluid/plasma glucose ratio, and their relation to food intake. These findings provide novel insights into the physiology of cerebral processes dependent on glucose levels such as energy formation (e.g. glycolysis), enzymatic reactions (e.g. glycosylation), and non-enzymatic reactions (e.g. advanced endproduct glycation).
Social Status of Adolescents With an Early Onset of Externalizing Behavior: The SNARE Study
Authors: Franken Aart , Harakeh Zeena , Veenstra Rene , Vollebergh Wilma , Dijkstra Jan Kornelis
Published: March 2016

This study investigated the social status (i.e., popularity, likeability, and friendships) of adolescents with an early onset of externalizing behavior (i.e., alcohol use, tobacco use, and antisocial behavior). Building on Moffitt’s dual-taxonomy model, it was hypothesized that early onset adolescents were more popular, but not necessarily more liked or with more friends. Hypotheses were tested using data from the Social Network Analysis of Risk Behaviors in Early Adolescence (SNARE) study ( N = 1,100, 50% boys, [Formula: see text]age = 12.7, SD = 0.47 years). Findings indicated that adolescents with an early onset of one or more externalizing behaviors were more popular, less liked, and had as many friends as their peers. These findings suggest that early onset adolescents potentially function as role models.
Postoperative renormalization of C-reactive protein with adjuvant lienal polypeptide and its association with tumour recurrence in T1 clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Guo Yijun , Hu Qingfeng , Sun Chuanyu , Gu Bin , Xu Ke , Xia Guowei
Published: March 2016

Objectives

To evaluate the effect of pre- and postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) levels on tumour recurrence following curative nephrectomy in patients with stage T1 clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC).

Methods

Patients with stage T1 CCRCC were recruited. CRP was quantified 3 days before and 4 weeks after surgery. Patients were followed-up for clinical outcome every 3 months. A subset of patients received lienal polypeptide as adjuvant treatment.

Results

Patients with elevated preoperative CRP levels (≥8.2 mg/l; n = 61) had higher grade tumours, were more likely to require radical nephrectomy and were more likely to experience recurrence than those with normal CRP levels. Non-normalization of elevated preoperative CRP was associated with tumour recurrence, but elevated CRP was not an independent risk factor of tumour recurrence.

Conclusion

Postoperative renormalization of elevated CRP is associated with decreased risk of recurrence in CCRCC.
Postmortem Changes in Animal Carcasses and Estimation of the Postmortem Interval
Authors: Brooks J. W.
Published: March 2016

A thorough understanding of the physical and chemical changes that occur in the body after death is critical for accurate interpretation of gross and microscopic pathology at autopsy. Furthermore, knowledge of the postmortem processes and the factors that affect them will aid in the estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI). The estimation of the PMI is important in many human and animal death investigations. Despite many decades of research, accuracy in estimation of the time of death has not significantly improved, and no single method can be reliably used to accurately estimate the time of death. Great care should be taken when formulating such an estimate, for it is dependent on multiple circumstantial and environmental factors, and the accuracy and precision of the estimate decrease as the PMI increases. The majority of the research in the field has been conducted on human bodies, but many relevant conclusions may be drawn regarding the expected postmortem changes in animals and the estimation of the PMI. The veterinary pathologist must use great caution when attempting to extrapolate data and apply formulas designed for use in humans. Methods reviewed include gross changes, microscopic changes, temperature-based methods, postmortem chemistry, molecular methods, microbial assay, ocular changes, radiography, entomology, and others. Although only several of these methods are currently practical for use in the workup of cases, it is expected that future research will result in improved techniques with enhanced accuracy in the estimation of the PMI, which will benefit both human and veterinary forensic investigations.
Plate Versus Intramedullary Nail Fixation of Anterior Tibial Stress Fractures
Authors: Markolf Keith L. , Cheung Edward , Joshi Nirav B. , Boguszewski Daniel V. , Petrigliano Frank A. , McAllister David R.
Published: March 2016

Background:

Anterior midtibial stress fractures are an important clinical problem for patients engaged in high-intensity military activities or athletic training activities. When nonoperative treatment has failed, intramedullary (IM) nail and plate fixation are 2 surgical options used to arrest the progression of a fatigue fracture and allow bone healing.

Hypothesis:

A plate will be more effective than an IM nail in preventing the opening of a simulated anterior midtibial stress fracture from tibial bending.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Fresh-frozen human tibias were loaded by applying a pure bending moment in the sagittal plane. Thin transverse saw cuts, 50% and 75% of the depth of the anterior tibial cortex, were created at the midtibia to simulate a fatigue fracture. An extensometer spanning the defect was used to measure the fracture opening displacement (FOD) before and after the application of IM nail and plate fixation constructs. IM nails were tested without locking screws, with a proximal screw only, and with proximal and distal screws. Plates were tested with unlocked bicortical screws (standard compression plate) and locked bicortical screws; both plate constructs were tested with the plate edge placed 1 mm from the anterior tibial crest (anterior location) and 5 mm posterior to the crest.

Results:

For the 75% saw cut depth, the mean FOD values for all IM nail constructs were 13% to 17% less than those for the saw cut alone; the use of locking screws had no significant effect on the FOD. The mean FOD values for all plate constructs were significantly less than those for all IM nail constructs. The mean FOD values for all plates were 28% to 46% less than those for the saw cut alone. Anterior plate placement significantly decreased mean FOD values for both compression and locked plate constructs, but the mean percentage reductions for locked and unlocked plates were not significantly different from each other for either plate placement. The percentage FOD reductions for all plate constructs and the unlocked IM nail were significantly less with a 50% saw cut depth.

Conclusion:

Plate fixation was superior to IM nail fixation in limiting the opening of a simulated midtibial stress fracture, and anterior-posterior placement of the plate was an important variable for this construct.

Clinical Relevance:

Results from these tests can help guide the selection of fixation hardware for patients requiring surgical treatment for a midtibial stress fracture.
Malaria in the Era of Food Fortification With Folic Acid
Authors: Nzila Alexis , Okombo John , Hyde John
Published: March 2016

Food fortified with folic acid has been available for consumption in North America for over a decade. This strategy has led to an increase in folate levels in the general population and, more importantly, a significant decrease in the incidence of neural tube defects. However, this increase in folate intake has been associated with a greater risk of cancer disease. Many African countries are now embracing this concept; however, because folate promotes malaria parasite division, as it does in cancer cells, there is a possibility of malaria exacerbation if folate intake is increased. A precedent for such a concern is the now compelling evidence showing that an increase in iron intake can lead to a higher malaria risk; as a result, mass administration of iron in malaria-endemic areas is not recommended. In this article, we review work on the effect of folate on malaria parasites. Although this topic has received little research attention, the available data suggest that the increase in folate concentration could be associated with an increase in malaria infection. Thus, the introduction of food fortification with folic acid in malaria-endemic areas should be attended by precautionary programs to monitor the risk of malaria.
Organization and Stigma Management
Authors: Savio Gianmarco
Published: March 2016

Scholarly work has discussed the ways in which stigmatized groups may resist their stigma, along with various resources at their disposal that facilitate such resistance. However, it has not explicitly considered how organization can serve as one such resource. Bringing into dialogue scholarly work on stigma, organizations, and social movements, this article examines the role of organization as a key resource for managing and resisting stigma. In doing so, it draws from a comparative analysis of two groups of dumpster divers in New York City. It finds that whereas informal social organization allowed one group to develop shared views regarding the practice, formal collective organization enabled another group to confront the stigma itself. The findings therefore highlight the role of organization in both mitigating shared stigma and challenging its basis—thereby providing insights into the social conditions of stigma management and the collective resources at the disposal of stigmatized groups.