bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Orientation and Crafted Bureaucracy: Finding Dignity in Nicaraguan Food Safety
Authors: Nading Alex
Published: August 2017

This article explores how food‐safety inspectors (hygienistas) in Nicaragua monitor and certify foodservice workers and facilities. While inspectors are well versed in sanitary law, they describe their job not as law enforcement but as “orientation.” Orientation integrates state regulation with interpersonal exchanges of gifts and jokes, which reinforce unwritten social norms. Such interpersonal exchanges are not simply signs of corruption or governmental incapacity. Rather, orientation is a form of “crafted bureaucracy”: a pragmatic effort to ensure both the quality of food and the quality of governmental encounters. Orientation allows inspectors and food producers to reconcile memories of Nicaragua's revolutionary past with anxieties about the country's more recent integration into a global food economy. While effective surveillance is at stake in orientation, dignity is also at stake. When orientation is successful, the dignity of both bureaucrats and food workers is temporarily affirmed. When orientation fails, their dignity is at risk. [public health, hygiene, medical anthropology, infrastructure, Latin America]
Glossolalia and cacophony in South Korea: Cultural semiosis at the limits of language
Authors: HARKNESS NICHOLAS
Published: August 2017

In Christian traditions of “speaking in tongues,”glossolaliarefers to an explicitly linguistic form of involvement with the deity, one carried out through denotationally unintelligible behavior. Its religious legitimacy depends on its being speech and not merely speech‐like. South Korean Christians practice glossolalia widely across denominations, commonly in cacophonous settings of group prayer. Combined, glossolalia and cacophony impose limits on “normal” linguistic functions while reinforcing ideological commitments to language itself. Glossolalia should be conceptualized as cultural semiosis that is said to contain, and can therefore be justified by, an ideological core of language, but that is in fact produced at the ideological limits of language. This dynamic shapes how practitioners discern the nature of communication with their deity and with one another. [speaking in tongues, noise, unintelligibility, intensity and intensification, Pentecostalism, Yoido Full Gospel Church, South Korea]

기독교의 방언기도 전통에서 ‘방언(方言)’이란 특정 지역에서 쓰는 사투리를 의미하는 것이 아니라 명시적으로 이해할 수 없는 행동을 통해 신과 직접 관계를 맺는 언어 형식을 가리킨다. 방언기도의 종교적 정당성은 그것이 단순히 말과 유사한 행위가 아니라 진짜 말이라는 것에 달려 있다. 한국 기독교에서 방언기도는 여러 교단에서 널리 행해지는데, 일반적으로는 서로의 말을 알아들을 수 없는 집단 기도 상황에서 일어난다. 서로의 말을 알아들을 수 없는 성질과 방언기도가 결합됐을 때, 그것은 “일반적인” 언어적 기능을 제한하는 한편 언어 자체에 대한 이념적 헌신은 강화시킨다. 인류학적 분석을 위해 방언기도는 문화적 세미오시스로 개념화되어야 한다. 이 문화적 세미오시스는 언어의 이데올로기적 핵심을 담고 있고 그러므로 그에 의해 정당화된다고 간주되지만 실제로는 언어의 이데올로기적 한계에서 생산되는 것이다. 이러한 역학은 화자들이 신과 자신 사이의 의사소통, 그리고 서로 간의 의사소통의 성격을 파악하는 방식을 형성하는 데 중요한 영향을 끼친다. [방언기도, 소음, 불가해성, 강렬함과 강화, 오순절주의, 여의도 순복음교회, 한국]
Sacralizing kinship, naturalizing the nation: Blood and food in postrevolutionary Iran
Authors: WELLMAN ROSE
Published: August 2017

In Iran, ideas and practices of the family are integral to religious nation‐making. State elites and supporters (here members of the Basij, Iran's paramilitary organization) tie the blood of kinship to the blood and sacrifice of Iran‐Iraq War martyrs. They harness blood's relational and sacred properties in museum displays and commemorations to delineate and sanctify an Islamic nation composed of pure, kindred citizens. Food has similar efficacy: pious acts of sharing food at home infuse the rituals of state power, creating “what should be”—that is, citizens who embody familial piety, purity, and closeness to God. The Iranian case compels us to consider how a full spectrum of immaterial qualities, substances, and acts of kin making can inform the nation and its politics. [kinship, nation, blood, food, Basij, Islam, Iran]
A comparison of gastric emptying of soluble solid meals and clear fluids matched for volume and energy content: a pilot crossover study
Authors: Okabe T. , Terashima H. , Sakamoto A.
Published: August 2017

We previously demonstrated that the gastric emptying time of different liquids with the same volume mainly depended on their energy content, regardless of differences in composition. In this crossover study, we investigated whether the same applies when soluble solid foods are ingested with water. Ten healthy volunteers ingested one of five test diets consisting of two test meals (Calorie Mate® 100 and 200 kcal) and three test solutions (water and glucose solutions of 100 and 200 kcal), each given in a volume of 400 ml, and then underwent ultrasonography to measure the gastric antral cross‐sectional area every 10 min for 120 min. The gastric emptying time was defined as the time for the antral cross‐sectional area to revert to its initial value. When test diets with the same energy content were ingested, the gastric emptying curves were nearly identical, regardless of whether the original form was solid or liquid. The median (IQR[range]) gastric emptying times of Calorie Mate® of 100 kcal with water vs. isocaloric glucose solution were 65 (60–78 [50–80]) vs. 65 (60–70 [50–80]) min (p = 0.58), and for Calorie Mate® of 200 kcal with water vs. isocaloric glucose solution they were 100 (93–108 [90–120]) vs. 105 (90–110 [90–120]) min (p = 0.54). The median (IQR [range]) for water was 40 (30–40 [30–50]) min. Energy content may be a critical determinant of the gastric emptying time when ingesting soluble solid diets with water.
Maternal and neonatal outcomes following abnormally invasive placenta: a population‐based record linkage study
Authors: Baldwin Heather J. , Patterson Jillian A. , Nippita Tanya A. , Torvaldsen Siranda , Ibiebele Ibinabo , Simpson Judy M. , Ford Jane B.
Published: August 2017

Introduction

Abnormally invasive placenta involves abnormal adherence of the placenta to the myometrium and is associated with severe pregnancy complications such as blood transfusion and hysterectomy. Knowledge of outcomes has been limited by small sample sizes and a focus on maternal rather than neonatal outcomes. This study uses population‐level data collected over 10 years to investigate maternal and neonatal outcomes and trends in incidence of abnormally invasive placenta (also known as placenta accreta, increta and percreta).

Material and methods

A population‐based record linkage study was performed, including all women who gave birth in New South Wales, Australia, between 2003 and 2012. Data were obtained from birth records, hospital admissions and deaths registrations. Modified Poisson regression models, adjusted for confounding factors, were used to quantify the effect of abnormally invasive placenta on adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Results

Abnormally invasive placenta was significantly associated with morbidity for mothers (adjusted relative risk 17.6, 99% confidence interval 14.5–21.2) and infants (adjusted relative risk 3.1, 99% confidence interval 2.7–3.5). Abnormally invasive placenta increased risk of stillbirth (relative risk 5.4, 99% confidence interval 4.0–7.3) and neonatal death (relative risk 8.0, 99% confidence interval 1.5–41.6). The overall rate of abnormally invasive placenta was 24.8 per 10 000 deliveries, and 22.7 per 10 000 among primiparae. Incidence increased by 30%, from 20.6 to 26.9 per 10 000, over the 10‐year study period.

Conclusions

Abnormally invasive placenta substantially increases the risk of severe adverse outcomes for mothers and babies, and the incidence is increasing. Delivery should occur in tertiary hospitals equipped with neonatal intensive care units. Clinicians should be cognizant of the risks, particularly to infants, and maintain a high index of suspicion of abnormally invasive placenta, including in primiparae.
Letter: the treatment of coronary artery disease in cirrhotics needs more thinking
Authors: Zhao J. , Tian H. , Liang C.
Published: August 2017

Linked Content

This article is linked to Krill et al and Feagins papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14121 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14232.
Safety of herpes zoster vaccination among inflammatory bowel disease patients being treated with anti‐TNF medications
Authors: Khan N. , Shah Y. , Trivedi C. , Lewis J. D.
Published: August 2017

Background

The risk of herpes zoster (HZ) is elevated in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients treated with anti‐TNF medications. While it is optimal to give herpes zoster vaccine prior to initiation of therapy clinical circumstances may not always allow this.

Aim

To determine the safety of giving herpes zoster vaccine while patients are on anti‐TNF therapy.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving IBD patients who were followed in the Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system between 2001 and 2016. Patients who received herpes zoster vaccine while on anti‐TNF medication were identified through vaccination codes and confirmed through individual chart review. Our outcome of interest was development of HZ between 0 and 42 days after herpes zoster vaccine administration.

Results

Fifty‐six thousand four hundred and seventeen patients with IBD were followed in the VA healthcare system. A total of 59 individuals were on anti‐TNF medication when they were given herpes zoster vaccine, and amongst them, 12 (20%) were also taking a thiopurine. Median age at the time of herpes zoster vaccine was 64.9 years and 95% of patients had a Charlson Comorbidity Index of ≥2. Median number of encounters within 42 days after receiving herpes zoster vaccine was two. No case of HZ was found within 0‐42 days of HZV administration.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that co‐administering the herpes zoster vaccine to patients who are taking anti‐TNF medications is relatively safe. This study significantly expands the evidence supporting the use of herpes zoster vaccine in this population, having included an elderly group of patients with a high Charlson Comorbidity Index who are likely at a much higher risk of developing HZ.
Therapeutic drug monitoring of voriconazole for treatment and prophylaxis of invasive fungal infection in children
Authors: Allegra Sarah , Fatiguso Giovanna , De Francia Silvia , Favata Fabio , Pirro Elisa , Carcieri Chiara , De Nicolò Amedeo , Cusato Jessica , Di Perri Giovanni , D'Avolio Antonio
Published: August 2017

Voriconazole therapeutic drug monitoring is not consistently recommended due to its high interpatient and intrapatient variability. Here, we aimed to describe our experience with voriconazole for treatment and prophylaxis of invasive fungal infections in paediatric patients. A fully validated high‐performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method was used to quantify voriconazole concentration in plasma, at the end of dosing interval. A high interindividual variability was shown. We enrolled 237 children, 83 receiving intravenous and 154 oral voriconazole. A positive correlation between drug dose and drug plasma exposure was observed. Considering intravenous route, patients with higher serum creatinine had higher voriconazole concentrations; a positive correlation was found among drug exposure and age. Sex significantly influenced drug levels: males had higher median drug concentrations than females (P < 0.001). Close voriconazole pharmacokinetics monitoring should help individualize antifungal therapy for children.
Birth Outcome of Children Fathered by Men Treated with Systemic Corticosteroids during the Conception Period – A Cohort Study based on Nationwide Data
Authors: Larsen Michael Due , Friedman Sonia , Magnussen Bjarne , Nørgård Bente Mertz
Published: August 2017

Information on the safety of paternal use of medications prior to the time of conception is limited, and there is little available evidence regarding possible adverse effects of paternal use of systemic corticosteroids (SCS). In this cohort study, based on nationwide data, we examined the association between paternal use of SCS prior to conception and adverse birth outcome. The study includes data from all singletons born in Denmark from 1 January 1997 through 2013 (N = 1,013,994). Children fathered by men who redeemed a prescription of SCS within 3 months before conception (N = 2380) constituted the exposed groups. The outcome was congenital abnormalities (CAs), pre‐term birth and small‐for‐gestational age (SGA). We adjusted for co‐variates in multi‐level logistic regression analyses. The adjusted odds ratios for pre‐term birth and SGA were 0.81 (95% CI: 0.55–1.21) and 1.06 (95% CI: 0.68–1.64), respectively. The adjusted odds ratios for CAs were 1.08 (95% CI: 0.87–1.40) in children fathered by men who redeemed one prescription within 3 months before conception and 1.33 (95% CI: 0.99–1.79) in children fathered by men who redeemed two or more prescriptions. This study is the largest to date examining the effect of paternal use of SCS prior to conception on birth outcome. We found no significantly increased risk of pre‐term birth or SGA. In children of fathers who redeemed at least two prescriptions of SCS within 3 months before conception, we found an increased risk of CAs, though not statistically significant. The types of CAs did not show a distinct pattern.
Characterizing the experience of auditory verbal hallucinations and accompanying delusions in individuals with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder: A systematic review
Authors: Smith LM , Johns LC , Mitchell RLC
Published: August 2017

Objectives

The aim of the current study was to inform ongoing attempts to identify clinically meaningful subcategories of auditory verbal hallucination (AVH), and to evaluate evidence that might pertain to the suitability of current psychological interventions for people with bipolar disorder (BD) who experience psychotic symptoms.

Methods

A comprehensive synthesis of findings on the phenomenology of AVH and delusions in BD is included, alongside a critical review of clinical and cognitive correlates. Studies published in the previous 20 years, until December 2016, were retrieved from the following databases: Embase, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Thirty‐two articles were reviewed after applying a set of predetermined inclusion criteria.

Results

Psychotic symptoms were common in both manic and depressive phases, although higher frequencies were indicated in mania. Few detailed characterizations of AVH phenomenology were identified. Delusions with persecutory, grandiose and referential themes were the most common in BD. AVHs were associated with delusions and there was evidence to suggest that delusion subtype may vary according to mood state and type of AVH. Data on clinical correlates of AVH in BD were sparse. However, the results indicated that cognitive appraisals or interpretations of voices might be different in BD from those established to be predictive of clinical outcomes in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Conclusions

Clear gaps exist in our current understanding of the first‐person experience of AVH in BD and the potential relationship to co‐occurring symptoms, including delusions. Further research into cognitive interpretations of AVH in BD might inform adapted psychological interventions for psychotic symptoms in this population.
Does fathers’ and mothers’ rumination predict emotional symptoms in their children?
Authors: Psychogiou Lamprini , Moberly Nicholas J. , Parry Elizabeth , Russell Abigail Emma , Nath Selina , Kallitsoglou Angeliki
Published: August 2017

Objectives

Although rumination can have a negative influence on the family environment and the quality of parent–child interactions, there is little research on the role of parental rumination in predicting adverse child outcomes over time. This longitudinal study examined whether mothers’ and fathers’ brooding rumination would each uniquely predict emotional symptoms in preschool children.

Methods

The initial sample consisted of 160 families (including 50 mothers with past depression, 33 fathers with past depression, and 7 fathers with current depression according to the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV). Families were seen at two times separated by 16 months. Children's mean age at the entry into the study was 3.9 years (SD = 0.8). Each parent independently completed the Ruminative Response Scale, the Child Behavior Checklist, the Patient Health Questionnaire, and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale.

Results

Fathers’ brooding rumination significantly predicted children's emotional symptoms over 16 months when controlling for child emotional symptoms, couple adjustment, parents’ depressive symptoms, mothers’ brooding and reflective rumination, and fathers’ reflective rumination at baseline. Unexpectedly, mothers’ brooding rumination did not significantly predict child emotional symptoms over time. Correlational analyses showed significant associations between parents’ rumination and lower levels of couple adjustment.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that fathers’ brooding rumination may play a unique role in their children's emotional outcomes. If these findings are replicated, studies should examine the processes by which these links occur and their implications for clinical interventions.

Practitioner points

Rumination is prevalent among individuals with depression, but to date no studies have examined the possible role of mothers’ and fathers’ brooding rumination in predicting children's emotional symptoms.

Fathers’ brooding rumination was positively associated with children's emotional symptoms over time when controlling for mothers’ rumination and other important characteristics.

Parental rumination might be a promising target for both prevention and intervention strategies for parents with depression and their children.

The findings of this study could inform parenting interventions (e.g., educate parents about the possible effects of rumination on family interactions and children's outcomes, help parents notice when they ruminate, teach them to replace rumination with more adaptive strategies).

The findings should be interpreted with caution. The study relied on self‐reports, and therefore, the data are subject to shared method variance which may have artificially inflated associations between parent and child outcomes.

The sample consisted of well‐educated parents, and therefore, the findings should be generalized to other populations with caution.
Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging identifies significant apical prostate cancers
Authors: Kenigsberg Alexander P. , Tamada Tsutomu , Rosenkrantz Andrew B. , Llukani Elton , Deng Fang‐Ming , Melamed Jonathan , Zhou Ming , Lepor Herbert
Published: August 2017

Objective

To determine if multiparametric (mp) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can identify significant apical disease, thereby informing decisions regarding preservation of the membranous urethra.

Materials and Methods

Men undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) between January 2012 and June 2016, who underwent a 12‐core transrectal ultrasonography‐guided systematic biopsy (SB), preoperative 3‐Tesla MRI, and sectioning of the prostate specimen with tumour foci mapping, were extracted from a single surgeon's prospective longitudinal outcomes database. Apical SB and mpMRI lesion results were compared with regard to their ability to predict aggressive tumours in the prostatic apex (PA), defined as prostate cancer grade group >1.

Results

Of the 100 men who met the eligibility criteria, 43 (43%) exhibited aggressive prostate cancer in the distal 5 mm of the apex. A Likert score >2 in the apical one‐third of the prostate was found to be more reliable than any cancer found on apical SB at detecting aggressive cancer in the apex. On multivariate regression analysis, which included Likert score in the apex, age, prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level, prostate size and presence of any cancer on apical biopsy, only Likert score (P = 0.005) and PSA level (P = 0.025) were significant and independent predictors of aggressive cancer in the distal apex.

Conclusion

The results of the study showed that MRI was superior to SB at identifying aggressive prostate cancer within the distal PA and may be useful for planning the extent of apical preservation during RP.
Female urethral injuries associated with pelvic fracture: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Patel Devin N. , Fok Cynthia S. , Webster George D. , Anger Jennifer T.
Published: August 2017

To review systematically the literature on female urethral injuries associated with pelvic fracture and to determine the optimum management of this rare injury. Using Meta‐analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology criteria, we searched the Cochrane, Pubmed and OVID databases for all articles available before 30 June 2016 using the terms ‘female pelvic fracture urethroplasty’, ‘female urethral distraction’, ‘female pelvic fracture urethral injury’ and ‘female pelvic fracture urethra girls.’ Two authors of this paper independently reviewed the titles, abstracts, and articles in duplicate. We identified 162 individual articles from the databases. Fifty‐one articles met our criteria for full review, including 158 female patients with urethral trauma. Of these injuries, 83 (53%) were managed with immediate repair; 17/83 (20%) via primary alignment and 66/83 (80%) via anastomotic repair. The remaining 75/158 (47%) were managed with delayed repair. Rates of urethral stenosis and fistula were highest after primary alignment. Urethral integrity appears to be similar after both primary anastomosis and delayed repair; however, patients experienced significantly more incontinence and vaginal stenosis after delayed repair. Patients who underwent delayed urethral repair were more likely to undergo more extensive reconstructive surgery than those who underwent primary repair. The optimum management of female urethral distraction defects is based on very‐low‐quality literature. Based on our review of the available literature, primary anastomotic repair of a female urethral distraction defect via a vaginal approach as soon as the patient is haemodynamically stable appears to be optimal.
The shape variational autoencoder: A deep generative model of part‐segmented 3D objects
Authors: Nash C. , Williams C. K. I.
Published: August 2017

We introduce a generative model of part‐segmented 3D objects: the shape variational auto‐encoder (ShapeVAE). The ShapeVAE describes a joint distribution over the existence of object parts, the locations of a dense set of surface points, and over surface normals associated with these points. Our model makes use of a deep encoder‐decoder architecture that leverages the part‐decomposability of 3D objects to embed high‐dimensional shape representations and sample novel instances. Given an input collection of part‐segmented objects with dense point correspondences the ShapeVAE is capable of synthesizing novel, realistic shapes, and by performing conditional inference enables imputation of missing parts or surface normals. In addition, by generating both points and surface normals, our model allows for the use of powerful surface‐reconstruction methods for mesh synthesis. We provide a quantitative evaluation of the ShapeVAE on shape‐completion and test‐set log‐likelihood tasks and demonstrate that the model performs favourably against strong baselines. We demonstrate qualitatively that the ShapeVAE produces plausible shape samples, and that it captures a semantically meaningful shape‐embedding. In addition we show that the ShapeVAE facilitates mesh reconstruction by sampling consistent surface normals.
Generalized Matryoshka: Computational Design of Nesting Objects
Authors: Jacobson Alec
Published: August 2017

This paper generalizes the self‐similar nesting ofMatryoshkadolls (“Russian nesting dolls”) to arbitrary solid objects. We introduce the problem of finding the largest scale replica of an object thatnestsinside itself. Not only should the nesting object fit inside the larger copy without interpenetration, but also it should be possible to cut the larger copy in two and remove the smaller object without collisions. We present a GPU‐accelerated evaluation of nesting feasibility. This test can be conducted at interactive rates, providing feedback during manual design. Further, we may optimize for some or all of the nesting degrees of freedom (e.g., rigid motion of smaller object, cut orientation) to maximize the smaller object's scale while maintaining a feasible nesting. Our formulation and tools robustly handle imperfect geometric representations and generalize to the nesting of dissimilar objects in one another. We explore a variety of applications to aesthetic and functional shape design.
A Constrained Resampling Strategy for Mesh Improvement
Authors: Abdelkader Ahmed , Mahmoud Ahmed H. , Rushdi Ahmad A. , Mitchell Scott A. , Owens John D. , Ebeida Mohamed S.
Published: August 2017

In many geometry processing applications, it is required to improve an initial mesh in terms of multiple quality objectives. Despite the availability of several mesh generation algorithms with provable guarantees, such generated meshes may only satisfy a subset of the objectives. The conflicting nature of such objectives makes it challenging to establish similar guarantees for each combination, e.g., angle bounds and vertex count. In this paper, we describe a versatile strategy for mesh improvement by interpreting quality objectives as spatial constraints on resampling and develop a toolbox of local operators to improve the mesh while preserving desirable properties. Our strategy judiciously combines smoothing and transformation techniques allowing increased flexibility to practically achieve multiple objectives simultaneously. We apply our strategy to both planar and surface meshes demonstrating how to simplify Delaunay meshes while preserving element quality, eliminate all obtuse angles in a complex mesh, and maximize the shortest edge length in a Voronoi tessellation far better than the state‐of‐the‐art.
Practices in the evaluation of potential kidney transplant recipients who are elderly: A survey of U.S. transplant centers
Authors: Mandelbrot Didier A. , Fleishman Aaron , Rodrigue James R. , Norman Silas P. , Samaniego Milagros
Published: August 2017

Limited data exist regarding the evaluation and selection of older candidates for transplantation. To help guide the development of program protocols and help define research questions in this area, we surveyed U.S. transplant centers regarding their current practices in the evaluation of older kidney transplant candidates. We emailed a 28‐question survey to the medical and surgical directors of 190 adult kidney transplant programs in the USA. We received usable responses from 59 programs, a 31.1% response rate. Most (76.3%) programs do not have absolute age cutoffs for listing patients, but for the 22.0% of programs that do have cutoffs, the mean age was 79, range 70‐90. Nearly one‐third (29.2%) of programs require a minimum life expectancy to list for transplant, reporting a mean of 4.5 years life expectancy, (range 2‐10). Programs vary significantly in evaluating candidates living in a nursing home or with cognitive impairments. Practices regarding the evaluation of older transplant candidates vary widely between U.S. programs. Further studies are needed on the impact of age and other comorbidities on transplant outcomes, to help guide decisions on which older patients are most appropriate for transplant listing.
Sign language in dental education—A new nexus
Authors: Jones T. , Cumberbatch K.
Published: August 2017

Focus

The introduction of the landmark mandatory teaching of sign language to undergraduate dental students at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus in Kingston, Jamaica, to bridge the communication gap between dentists and their patients is reviewed.

Literature review

A review of over 90 Doctor of Dental Surgery and Doctor of Dental Medicine curricula in North America, the United Kingdom, parts of Europe and Australia showed no inclusion of sign language in those curricula as a mandatory component.

History of sign language in dental education

In Jamaica, the government's training school for dental auxiliaries served as the forerunner to the UWI's introduction of formal training of sign language in 2012. Outside of the UWI, a couple of dental schools have sign language courses, but none have a mandatory programme as the one at the UWI.

Programme rationale

Dentists the world over have had to rely on interpreters to sign with their deaf patients. The deaf in Jamaica have not appreciated the fact that dentists cannot sign and they have felt insulted and only go to the dentist in emergency situations. The mandatory inclusion of sign language in the Undergraduate Dental Programme curriculum at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, sought to establish a direct communication channel to formally bridge this gap.

Programme development

The programme of two sign language courses and a direct clinical competency requirement was developed during the second year of the first cohort of the newly introduced undergraduate dental programme through a collaborating partnership between two faculties on the Mona Campus.

Implementation

The programme was introduced in 2012 in the third year of the 5‐year undergraduate dental programme.

Programme review & outcomes

To date, two cohorts have completed the programme, and the preliminary findings from an ongoing clinical study have shown a positive impact on dental care access and dental treatment for deaf patients at the UWI Mona Dental Polyclinic.

Implications

The development of a direct communication channel between dental students and the deaf that has led to increased dental access and treatment for the deaf can be extended to dentists and to other dental students globally. The vision is that similar courses will be introduced in other health training programmes at the UWI, and conceivably, in other institutions.

Limitations

The small sample size allows for informative, but not definitive, conclusions to be drawn.

Conclusion

The mandatory inclusion of sign language and Deaf culture in the dental curricula has not just removed a communication barrier, but has assisted in the empathetic and ethical development of the dental student.
MRP1 protein expression in leukemic stem cells as a negative prognostic marker in acute myeloid leukemia patients
Authors: Paprocka Maria , Bielawska‐Pohl Aleksandra , Rossowska Joanna , Krawczenko Agnieszka , Duś Danuta , Kiełbiński Marek , Haus Olga , Podolak‐Dawidziak Maria , Kuliczkowski Kazimierz
Published: August 2017

Background

It is well established that expression of multi‐drug resistance (MDR) proteins (MDR1, BCRP, MDR3, MRP1, and LRP) in leukemic blasts correlates with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients’ clinical response. Assuming that leukemic stem cells (LSC) are resistant to chemotherapy and responsible for relapse, it might be clinically relevant to evaluate the expression level of MDR proteins in LSC and relate it to the clinical outcome.

Methods

Bone marrow samples from 26 patients with de novo AML were labeled with antibodies to distinguish CD34+CD38−CD123+ LSC population and with antibodies against MDR1, BCRP, MDR3, MRP1, or LRP proteins. Multicolor flow cytometry was applied to evaluate the expression of MDR proteins in blasts and LSC.

Results

Nine of 26 patients with AML attained CR (30%). High negative correlation was found between MDR1 and LRP expression in blasts and the patient's remission. MDR proteins were expressed more frequently in LSC than in leukemic blasts. High negative correlation was also observed between remission achievement and MRP1 expression in LSC.

Conclusions

Our data present for the very first time the high negative correlation between MRP1 protein expression in LSC and AML patients’ remission. It does strongly suggest that MRP1 expression in LSC is an adverse prognostic marker in patients with de novo AML.
On Kantians and Pragmatists: Kenneth Baynes's Habermas
Authors: Finlayson James Gordon
Published: August 2017

In this article I lay out Kenneth Baynes's interpretation of Habermas's social and political philosophy, and develop three lines of criticism. The first concerns the question of whether, and if so in what respect, Habermas's political theory counts as a critical social theory. I argue that it is not clear in what sense Habermas's political theory is a ‘critical’ social theory, and that Baynes's interpretation throws little light on this issue. The second related issue is to what extent it can be fairly claimed that on Habermas's account of democracy, political legitimacy rests on a “core morality”. While there is a possible reconstruction of Habermas along these lines, I argue that it conflicts with the central tenets of Habemras's political theory. Finally, I question whether Baynes is right to align Habermas's ideal of public reason so closely with Rawls's.
Participation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinases 1/2 in osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells grown on titanium surfaces
Authors: Silva Heitor F. , Abuna Rodrigo P. F. , Lopes Helena B. , Francischini Marcelo S. , de Oliveira Paulo T. , Rosa Adalberto L. , Beloti Marcio M.
Published: August 2017

Osteoblasts and adipocytes coexist in the implantation site and affect the process of titanium (Ti) osseointegration. As extracellular signal‐regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) are involved in osteogenesis and adipogenesis, the aim of our study was to investigate if the effects of Ti surface topography on osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation are modulated by ERK1/2. The experiments were conducted based on the effect of the ERK1/2 inhibitor, PD98059, on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) grown under osteogenic and adipogenic conditions on Ti with nanotopography (Ti‐Nano) or on machined Ti (Ti‐Machined). The results showed that, in general, ERK1/2 inhibition favored osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation of MSCs grown on Ti‐Machined. In MSCs grown on Ti‐Nano, ERK1/2 inhibition upregulated the expression of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin and reduced extracellular matrix mineralization. In terms of adipocyte differentiation, ERK1/2 inhibition elicited similar MSC responses to Ti‐Nano and Ti‐Machined, upregulating gene expression of adipocyte markers without affecting lipid accumulation. Our results indicate that, under osteogenic and adipogenic conditions, the responses of MSCs to Ti surface topography in terms of osteogenesis and adipogenesis are dependent on ERK1/2. Thus, a precise modulation of ERK1/2 expression and activity induced by surface topography could be a good strategy to drive the process of implant osseointegration.
Determinants of Underwriting Fees by New Entrant Banks: Evidence from the Japanese IPO Underwriting Market
Authors: Koda Keiichiro , Yamada Kazuo
Published: August 2017

This research investigates how banks expand market share after entering the underwriting market by examining the relation between commercial bank equity investments and underwriting fees. First, we find that not only bank underwriters with private information about issuers but also those without private information discount their fees, especially for smaller and riskier firms. This result is robust when using multiple firm‐bank relationship measures or when changing the investing stage. This is consistent with the strategic discount view that predicts that bank underwriters discount fees to expand bank market shares in underwriting markets.
Direct and indirect effects of episodic frost on plant growth and reproduction in subalpine wildflowers
Authors: Pardee Gabriella L. , Inouye David W. , Irwin Rebecca E.
Published: August 2017

Frost is an important episodic event that damages plant tissues through the formation of ice crystals at or below freezing temperatures. In montane regions, where climate change is expected to cause earlier snow melt but may not change the last frost‐free day of the year, plants that bud earlier might be directly impacted by frost through damage to flower buds and reproductive structures. However, the indirect effects of frost mediated through changes in plant–pollinator interactions have rarely been explored. We examined the direct and pollinator‐mediated indirect effects of frost on three wildflower species in southwestern Colorado, USA, Delphinium barbeyi (Ranunculaceae), Erigeron speciosus (Asteraceae), and Polemonium foliosissimum (Polemoniaceae), by simulating moderate (−1 to −5°C) frost events in early spring in plants in situ. Subsequently, we measured plant growth, and upon flowering measured flower morphology and phenology. Throughout the flowering season, we monitored pollinator visitation and collected seeds to measure plant reproduction. We found that frost had species‐specific direct and indirect effects. Frost had direct effects on two of the three species. Frost significantly reduced flower size, total flowers produced, and seed production of Erigeron. Furthermore, frost reduced aboveground plant survival and seed production for Polemonium. However, we found no direct effects of frost on Delphinium. When we considered the indirect impacts of frost mediated through changes in pollinator visitation, one species, Erigeron, incurred indirect, negative effects of frost on plant reproduction through changes in floral traits and pollinator visitation, along with direct effects. Overall, we found that flowering plants exhibited species‐specific direct and pollinator‐mediated indirect responses to frost, thus suggesting that frost may play an important role in affecting plant communities under climate change.
The haemtrack home therapy reporting system: Design, implementation, strengths and weaknesses: A report from UK Haemophilia Centre Doctors Organisation
Authors: Hay C. R. M. , Xiang H. , Scott M. , Collins P. W. , Liesner R. , Dolan G. , Hollingsworth R.
Published: August 2017

Introduction

Haemtrack is an electronic home treatment diary for patients with inherited bleeding disorders, introduced in 2008. It aimed to improve the timeliness and completeness of patient‐reported treatment records, to facilitate analysis of treatment and outcome trends. The system is easy to use, responsive and accessible.

Methods

The software uses Microsoft technologies with a SQL Server database and an ASP.net website front‐end, running on personal computers, android and I‐phones. Haemtrack interfaces with the UK Haemophilia Centre Information System and the National Haemophilia Database (NHD). Data are validated locally by Haemophilia Centres and centrally by NHD. Data collected include as follows: treatment brand, dose and batch number, time/date of bleed onset and drug administration, reasons for treatment (prophylaxis, bleed, follow‐up), bleed site, severity, pain‐score and outcome.

Results

Haemtrack was used by 90% of haemophilia treatment centres (HTCs) in 2015, registering 2683 patients using home therapy of whom 1923 used Haemtrack, entering >17 000 treatments per month. This included 68% of all UK patients with severe haemophilia A. Reporting compliance varied and 55% of patients reported ≥75% of potential usage. Centres had a median 78% compliance overall. A strategy for progressively improving compliance is in place. Age distribution and treatment intensity were similar in Haemtrack users/non‐users with severe haemophilia treated prophylactically.

Conclusion

The Haemtrack system is a valuable tool that may improve treatment compliance and optimize treatment regimen. Analysis of national treatment trends and large‐scale longitudinal, within‐patient analysis of changes in regimen and/or product will provide valuable insights that will guide future clinical practice.
Study of physical function in adolescents with haemophilia: The SO‐FIT study
Authors: Khair K. , Holland M. , Bladen M. , Griffioen A. , McLaughlin P. , von Mackensen S. ,   the SO‐FIT Study Group
Published: August 2017

Introduction

Contemporary haemophilia care demands Patient‐Reported Outcomes. SO‐FIT is a UK multi‐centre study, assessing self‐reported function, health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and joint health in boys with severe haemophilia.

Methods

Subjective physical function (PedHAL, HEP‐Test‐Q) and HRQoL (Haemo‐QoL Short Form [SF]) were assessed alongside joint health using the objective Haemophilia Joint Health Score (HJHS v2.1). Demographic and clinical data were collected.

Results

Data from 127 boys mean age 12.38 ± 2.5 (range 8‐17) treated at 16 sites were analysed. One‐hundred‐and‐thirteen had haemophilia A, 25/9 past/current inhibitor, 124 were treated prophylactically (46.8% primary) and three on‐demand. In the preceding 6 months, boys reported median 0 joint bleeds (range 0‐8) with a median HJHS score of 1 (range 0‐30). Boys reported good physical functioning; HEP‐Test‐Q (M = 80.32 ± 16.1) showed the highest impairments in the domain “endurance” (72.53 ± 19.1), in PedHAL (M = 85.44 ± 18.9) highest impairments were in the domains “leisure activities & sports” (M = 82.43 ± 23.4) and “lying/sitting/kneeling/standing” (M = 83.22 ± 20.3). Boys reported generally good HRQoL in Haemo‐QoL SF SF (M = 22.81 ± 15.0) with highest impairments in the domains “friends” (M = 28.81 ± 30.5) and “sports & school” (M = 26.14 ± 25.1). HJHS revealed low correlations with the Haemo‐QoL SF (r = .251, P < .006), the PedHAL (r = −.397, P < .0001) and the HEP‐Test‐Q (r = −.323, P < .0001). A moderate correlation was seen between HEP‐Test‐Q and Haemo‐QoL SF of r = −.575 (P < .0001) and between PedHAL and Haemo‐QoL SFr = −.561 (P < .0001) implying that good perceived physical function is related to good HRQoL.

Conclusions

The SO‐FIT study has demonstrated that children with severe haemophilia in the UK report good HRQoL and have good joint health as reflected in low HJHS scores.
What is new in the pathophysiology of acne, an overview
Authors: Dréno B.
Published: August 2017

Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit. Its pathophysiology includes hyperseborrhoea, abnormal follicular keratinization and Propionibacterium acnes proliferation in the pilosebaceous unit. Recent research has shed some new light on the involvement of the sebaceous gland, as well as on the pro‐inflammatory activity of the cutaneous microbiome. During puberty, alteration of the sebaceous lipid profile, called dysseborrhoea, stress, irritation, cosmetics and potential dietary factors lead to inflammation and formation of different types of acne lesions. Dysbiosis, the process leading to a disturbed skin barrier and disequilibrium of the cutaneous microbiome, resulting in the proliferation of P. acnes strains, is another important process that triggers acne. P. acnes activates the innate immunity via the expression of protease activated receptors (PARs), tumour necrosis factor (TNF) α and toll‐like receptors (TLRs), and the production of interferon (INF) γ, interleukins (IL‐8, IL12, IL‐1), TNF, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) by keratinocytes, resulting in the hyperkeratinization of the pilosebaceous unit. Rebalancing the natural microbiome of the skin by restoring the natural skin barrier, limiting the proliferation of P. acnes on the skin by using topical antibacterials which do not cause resistance and regulating quantity and quality of sebum will be the main acne treatment challenges in the future. The aim of this article to provide an update on the involvement of the sebaceous gland, the innate immunity and the cutaneous microbiome, how all of these factors promote acne and to illustrate their links with current and future treatments.
The Contractionary Effect of Bad Economic News
Authors: HE ZHAOCHEN
Published: August 2017

Is bad economic news a self‐fulfilling prophecy? This paper examines the local employment effects of exposure to pessimistic economic news. By combining detailed data on newspaper subscriptions with a tabulation of negative newspaper stories, the flow of such news across the United States during the 2008 recession is reconstructed at county and quarterly levels. The resulting data set is used to estimate the causal impact of such news on unemployment, hiring, and separation rates. Exposure to pessimistic news is found to suppress hiring and total employment during the early stages of the recession by up to 40% compared to prerecession levels; such news can account for some 7% of the total reduction in employment between 2007 and 2010. Content analysis of the articles in question rules out the possibility that this relationship is driven by reverse causation, that is, newspapers merely reporting poor economic performance. Further analysis of Google search data suggests that the effect is mediated by changes in public attitude caused by exposure to negative news. These findings imply that labor market outcomes can differ due to arbitrary differences in the dispersal of economic information. Bearings on economic theory, including the notions of “sunspots” and “animal spirits,” are discussed.
Intrinsic Persistence of Wage Inflation in New Keynesian Models of the Business Cycles
Authors: DI BARTOLOMEO GIOVANNI , DI PIETRO MARCO
Published: August 2017

We derive and estimate a New Keynesian wage Phillips curve that accounts for intrinsic inertia. In line with microevidence on wage setting, we consider a wage‐setting model featuring an upward‐sloping hazard function, based on the notion that the probability of resetting a wage depends on the time elapsed since the last reset. Our wage Phillips curve embeds also backward terms. We test the hazard function slope using generalized method of moment estimation. Then, placing our equation in a small‐scale New Keynesian model, we investigate its dynamic properties using Bayesian estimation. Model comparison shows that our model outperforms commonly used alternative methods to introduce persistence.
Characteristics of Spontaneous Births Attended by Midwives and Physicians in US Hospitals in 2014
Authors: Thornton Patrick
Published: August 2017

Introduction

This study compares characteristics and birth outcomes of women attended by certified nurse‐midwives/certified midwives (midwives) and physicians in US hospitals in 2014.

Methods

Data reported in 2014 on the 2003 version of the US birth certificate were examined. Spontaneous vaginal births attributed to midwives and physicians and occurring in hospitals were included. Demographic and risk profiles and adjusted odds ratios for maternal and newborn outcomes were compared by provider type.

Results

Midwives attended 294,604 (12.21%) and physicians attended 2,117,376 (87.79%) of all spontaneous vaginal births occurring in 47 states. Small but statistically significant differences (P < .05) were evident in most characteristics. Substantively, profiles were remarkably similar along all demographic and many medical risk variables. Age, race, and insurance status varied by less than 2 percentage points; education status and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participation varied by less than one percentage point. Parity, body mass index, maternal weight gain, tobacco use, trimester care began, and average number of prenatal visits also varied by less than one to 2 percentage points. Midwives attended women with hypertension, diabetes, and infections in proportions similar to physicians. Physicians attended more women with preterm birth and multiple gestation. Midwives attended more women beyond 41 weeks’ gestation. There were no differences in 5‐minute Apgar scores, neonatal seizures, anomalous neonates, or those no longer living at the time of data collection. Third‐ or fourth‐degree lacerations (odds ratio [OR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78‐0.84), labor induction (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.76‐0.77), and epidural analgesia use (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.53‐0.54) were less likely in midwife‐attended births. Birth at greater than 42 weeks' gestation was more likely (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.97‐2.17) among midwife‐attended births.

Discussion

In 2014, midwives practicing in US hospitals attended women with a range of risks similar to those of women attended by physicians. Small but statistically significant differences were noted in most characteristics and should be controlled in comparative studies. This contrasts with earlier reports of midwives caring for disproportionately disadvantaged women compared to physicians.