bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Critical Airway Team: A Retrospective Study of an Airway Response System in a Pediatric Hospital
Authors: Sterrett Emily C. , Myer Charles M. , Oehler Jennifer , Das Bobby , Kerrey Benjamin T.
Published: August 2017

Objective

Study the performance of a pediatric critical airway response team.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Freestanding academic children’s hospital.

Subjects and Methods

A structured review of the electronic medical record was conducted for all activations of the critical airway team. Characteristics of the activations and patients are reported using descriptive statistics. Activation of the critical airway team occurred 196 times in 46 months (March 2012 to December 2015); complete data were available for 162 activations (83%). For 49 activations (30%), patients had diagnoses associated with difficult intubation; 45 (28%) had a history of difficult laryngoscopy.

Results

Activation occurred at least 4 times per month on average (vs 3 per month for hospital‐wide codes). The most common reasons for team activation were anticipated difficult intubation (45%) or failed intubation attempt (20%). For 79% of activations, the team performed an airway procedure, most commonly direct laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. Bronchoscopy was performed in 47% of activations. Surgical airway rescue was attempted 4 times. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation occurred in 41 activations (25%). Twenty‐nine patients died during or following team activation (18%), including 10 deaths associated with the critical airway event.

Conclusion

Critical airway team activation occurred at least once per week on average. Direct laryngoscopy, tracheal intubation, and bronchoscopic procedures were performed frequently; surgical airway rescue was rare. Most patients had existing risk factors for difficult intubation. Given our rate of serious morbidity and mortality, primary prevention of critical airway events will be a focus of future efforts.
Impact of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on Survival in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Foreman Andrew , Lee Daniel J. , McMullen Caitlin , de Almeida John , Muhanna Nidal , Gama Ricardo Ribeiro , Giuliani Meredith , Liu Geoffrey , Bratman Scott V. , Huang Shao Hui , O’Sullivan Brian , Song Yuyao , Xu Wei , Goldstein David P.
Published: August 2017

Objective

To identify any association between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and survival outcomes for mucosal squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. An association has been demonstrated between T2DM and cancer outcomes at numerous sites, but data for the head and neck are limited. Improving our understanding of the impact that diabetes has on head and neck cancer survival is relevant for making treatment decisions and counseling patients regarding prognosis.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Academic tertiary referral head and neck cancer center.

Subjects and Methods

By accessing data retrospectively from prospectively collected databases at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, patients were studied who were treated for mucosal head and neck squamous cell cancer between January 2005 and December 2011. Collection of clinical, pathologic, and survival data was completed with an emphasis on T2DM.

Results

Of 2498 patients identified in the study period, 319 (12.8%) had T2DM. Five‐year overall survival was not different between the diabetic (64%, 95% CI = 58%‐71%) and nondiabetic (67%, 95% CI = 65%‐69%; P =. 078) groups. Furthermore, cause‐specific survival did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference between groups (diabetic: 84%, 95% CI = 79%‐88%, vs nondiabetic: 84%, 95% CI = 82%‐86%; P =. 67).

Conclusion

Despite contradictory evidence at other cancer sites, the presence of T2DM alone does not appear to adversely affect cancer survival outcomes in head and neck squamous cell cancer. This is encouraging for the diabetic patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer, and it provides guidance for the multidisciplinary team that treats them.
Spasmodic Dysphonia: A Review. Part 1: Pathogenic Factors
Authors: Hintze Justin M. , Ludlow Christy L. , Bansberg Stephen F. , Adler Charles H. , Lott David G.
Published: August 2017

Objective

The purpose of this review is to describe the recent advances in identifying possible factors involved in the pathogenesis of spasmodic dysphonia. Spasmodic dysphonia is a task‐specific focal laryngeal dystonia characterized by irregular and uncontrolled voice breaks. Pathogenesis of the disorder is poorly understood.

Data Sources

PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library.

Review Methods

The data sources were searched using the following search terms: (spasmodic dysphonia or laryngeal dystonia) and (etiology, aetiology, diagnosis, pathogenesis, or pathophysiology).

Conclusions

Several potential etiological factors have been proposed by epidemiological, genetic, and neuropathological studies. Spasmodic dysphonia is a rare disorder primarily affecting females beginning in their 40s. Vocal tremor co‐occurs in 30% to 60%. Large cohort studies identified risk factors such as a family history of neurological disorders including dystonia and tremor, recent viral illness, and heavy voice use. As none are rare events, a complex interactive process may contribute to pathogenesis in a small proportion of those at risk. Consequences to pathogenesis are neurological processes found in spasmodic dysphonia: loss of cortical inhibition, sensory processing disturbances, and neuroanatomical and physiological differences in the laryngeal motor control system.

Implications for Practice

Diagnosis of spasmodic dysphonia usually includes speech and laryngoscopic assessment. However, as diagnosis is sometimes problematic, measurement of neurophysiological abnormalities may contribute useful adjuncts for the diagnosis of spasmodic dysphonia in the future.
Images and imaginaries of unemployed people: Discursive shifts in the transition from active to activating labour market policies in Germany
Authors: Griesser Markus
Published: August 2017

This article introduces a distinctive approach in the field of policy studies. In so doing, it attempts to show how functional change and policy change are mediated through discursive change. For this purpose, the hypothesis of a re-orientation of state functions in the transition from Fordism to Post-Fordism is introduced and further investigated by re-conceptualising it as a policy change in the field of labour market policies (LMPs). By focusing on two case studies regarding the implementation of active and activating LMPs, I will take a closer look at the adoption of these approaches in Germany. More precisely, the associated political discourse is examined in order to highlight the accompanying ‘economic imaginaries’ and their role in legitimising the aforementioned approaches. I find that such discursive changes are of crucial importance since they represent competing guidelines for political actors in search of solutions to emerging problems.
Developing and evaluating a computerized adaptive testing version of the Word Part Levels Test
Authors: Mizumoto Atsushi , Sasao Yosuke , Webb Stuart A.
Published: August 2017

The knowledge about affix plays a vital role in the development of word knowledge and vocabulary acquisition. A test for diagnostic information on the level of affix knowledge would be useful in order to inform the test users of what learners have gained or lacked in this integral component of vocabulary knowledge. This paper reports the development and evaluation of a computerized adaptive testing (CAT) version of the Word Part Levels Test (WPLT), created by Sasao and Webb (2017). The CAT-WPLT was developed to maximize further the effectiveness of the WPLT as a diagnostic test. It was administered to 760 Japanese university EFL (English as a foreign language) learners. The evaluation was based on the comparison of measurement accuracy with the fixed-item version of the WPLT. The results show that the CAT-WPLT can provide test users with diagnostic information on test-taker’s strengths and weaknesses in affix knowledge with smaller number of items and with the same or greater precision than the previous versions of the WPLT. Pedagogical implications for using the CAT-WPLT are discussed along with issues in utilizing computer adaptivity.
Comparing routine inpatient data and death records as a means of identifying children and young people with life-limiting conditions
Authors: Jarvis Stuart , Fraser Lorna K
Published: August 2017

Background:

Recent estimates of the number of children and young people with life-limiting conditions derived from routine inpatient data are higher than earlier estimates using death record data.

Aim:

To compare routine inpatient data and death records as means of identifying life-limiting conditions in children and young people.

Design:

Two national cohorts of children and young people with a life-limiting condition (primary cohort from England with a comparator cohort from Scotland) were identified using linked routinely collected healthcare and administrative data.

Participants:

A total of 37,563 children and young people with a life-limiting condition in England who died between 1 April 2001 and 30 March 2015 and 2249 children and young people with a life-limiting condition in Scotland who died between 1 April 2003 and 30 March 2014.

Results:

In England, 16,642 (57%) non-neonatal cohort members had a life-limiting condition recorded as the underlying cause of death; 3364 (12%) had a life-limiting condition-related condition recorded as the underlying cause and 3435 (12%) had life-limiting conditions recorded only among contributing causes. In all, 5651 (19%) non-neonates and 3443 (41%) neonates had no indication of a life-limiting condition recorded in their death records. Similar results were seen in Scotland (overall, 16% had no indication of life-limiting conditions). In both cohorts, the recording of life-limiting condition was highest among those with haematology or oncology diagnoses and lowest for genitourinary and gastrointestinal diagnoses.

Conclusion:

Using death record data alone to identify children and young people with life-limiting condition – and therefore those who would require palliative care services – would underestimate the numbers. This underestimation varies by age, deprivation, ethnicity and diagnostic group.
“Partly with and Partly against Her Will”
Authors: Delameillieure Chanelle
Published: August 2017

This article addresses the issue of consent in abduction and elopement cases, aiming to contribute to a better understanding of marriage formation in the fifteenth-century duchy of Brabant. It challenges the division between abduction and elopement in current historiography. Whereas some historians believe in the high frequency of elopements as means for youngsters to freely choose their own spouse, I argue that socioeconomic interests motivated most abductions. Although some women certainly succeeded in influencing marital choices themselves, the abduction/elopement was not a frequently used method to oppose social norms and arranged marriages.
Working Algorithms: Software Automation and the Future of Work
Authors: Shestakofsky Benjamin
Published: August 2017

While some argue that the rise of software automation threatens workers with obsolescence, others assert that new complementarities between humans and software systems are likely to emerge. This study draws on 19 months of participant-observation research at a software firm to investigate how relations between workers and technology evolved over three phases of the company’s development. The author finds two forms of human–software complementarity: computational labor that supports or stands in for software algorithms and emotional labor aimed at helping users adapt to software systems. Instead of perfecting software algorithms that would progressively push people out of the production process, managers continually reconfigured assemblages of software and human helpers, developing new forms of organization with a dynamic relation to technology. The findings suggest how the dynamism of the organizations in which software algorithms are produced and implemented will contribute to labor’s enduring relevance in the digital age.
Effects of Cognitive Styles on Web-Based Learning: Desktop Computers Versus Mobile Devices
Authors: Wang Jen-Hang , Chang Li-Ping , Chen Sherry Y.
Published: August 2017

Mobile devices (MDs) change the way of teaching and learning. However, not every student can appreciate the value of MDs. Thus, it is necessary to consider individual differences. Among various individual differences, cognitive styles particularly affect student learning because they refer to individuals’ information processing habits. In this vein, this study aimed to compare the effects of desktop computers (DCs) and MDs on student learning from a cognitive style perspective. The results demonstrated that students in the MD scenario showed more positive reactions than those in the DC scenario. Students in the MD scenario generally performed better than those in the DC scenario. In addition, Holists and Serialists performed differently in the DC scenario, while they demonstrated similar performance in the MD scenario. However, they spent a similar amount of time for completing the tasks, regardless of the DC scenario and MD scenario.
Home Parenteral Nutrition and Intravenous Fluid Errors Discovered Through Novel Clinical Practice of Reconciling Compounding Records: A Case Series
Authors: Murphy Margaret K. , Gura Kathleen M. , Tascione Christina , Carey Alexandra N. , Duggan Christopher P. , Raphael Bram P.
Published: August 2017

Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) and home intravenous (IV) hydration are complex, high‐risk life‐sustaining therapies for children and adults with severe digestive disorders. HPN compounding errors have the potential to cause serious patient harm. Here we present a retrospective case series at an interdisciplinary pediatric HPN program that includes specialized pharmacists reconciling prescriptions against commercial compounding records. Seven HPN or IV hydration patients were affected by significant errors in anion balance, copper, potassium, sodium, and infusion volume. Outpatient pharmacists’ or other clinicians’ review of compounding records as part of routine quality assurance process is critical for identifying and preventing errors.
High Serum Essential Amino Acids as a Predictor of Skeletal Muscle Depletion in Patients With Cachexia and Advanced Gastrointestinal Cancers
Authors: Kitagawa Moeko , Haji Seiji , Amagai Teruyoshi
Published: August 2017

Background: In recent years, the number of patients with cancer has increased. These patients are prone to sarcopenia as a result of the decrease in muscle mass and muscle weakness that occur in cancer cachexia. Amino Index Cancer Screening is carried out to evaluate cancer cachexia risk by examining amino acid concentration and analyzing amino acid balance. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of consecutive patients with unresectable advanced gastrointestinal cancer (stage IV) receiving chemotherapy treatment (December 2012–September 2015) in an outpatient or in‐hospital setting at our institution (N = 46). Data included characteristics, psoas muscle area per computed tomography, and biochemical blood test and serum amino acid profiles. Method 1: Comparison of biomarkers between 2 groups: psoas muscle index change rate (ΔPMI) decrease vs increase. Method 2.1: Correlation between ΔPMI and biomarkers. Method 2.2: Multiple regression of ΔPMI and biomarkers. Results: EAA/TAA ratio (essential amino acids/total amino acids) in the decrease group was significantly higher than that in the increase group. Among all parameters, serum C‐reactive protein (CRP), leucine, and isoleucine were negatively related to ΔPMI (correlation coefficients = −0.604, −0.540, −0.518; P = .004, .011, .016, respectively). On multiple regression analysis, serum CRP value was strongly related to ΔPMI (r2 = 0.452, β = −0.672, P = .001). Conclusions: Higher serum EAA/TAA ratio and CRP were associated with depletion in psoas muscle area, which led to a diagnosis of sarcopenia, in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancers. These parameters at baseline could be predictors of cancer cachexia.
Cyberbullying Victimization as a Predictor of Cyberbullying Perpetration, Body Image Dissatisfaction, Healthy Eating and Dieting Behaviors, and Life Satisfaction
Authors: Ramos Salazar Leslie
Published: August 2017

Cyberbullying victimization and perpetration continues to be a serious public health, criminal justice, victimology, and educational problem in middle schools in the United States. Adolescents are at a higher risk of experiencing cyberbullying as a victim and/or as a bully given the frequency of their use of the Internet via social networking sites such as Facebook and mobile devices such as cell phones and tablets. To address this important problem, the purpose of this investigation was to examine cyberbullying victimization through communication technology as a predictor of cyberbullying perpetration, body image, healthy eating and dieting behaviors, and life satisfaction of sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade-level middle school students. The World Health Organization recruited participants by using a Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) survey. In this in-class questionnaire, 6,944 middle school students were asked about their cyberbullying experiences as a victim and as a bully via Internet, email, and mobile communication technologies to obtain their evaluations of their body image, eating and dieting habits, and perceptions of life satisfaction. After controlling for demographic factors such as sex, age, and class level, this study found that cyberbullying victimization was a predictor of cyberbullying perpetration, body image dissatisfaction, dieting behaviors, and life satisfaction. However, this study did not find a correlation between cyberbullying victimization and students’ healthy eating behaviors. This study also discussed each of the findings in the context of previous research findings. In addition, the study provides the strengths, limitations, and future directions for the future examination of cyberbullying victimization in middle schools.
Alcohol Consumption, History of Sexual Assault in Adolescence, and Revictimization in a Sample of University Students in the Western United States
Authors: DeCou Christopher R. , Skewes Monica C.
Published: August 2017

This study evaluated alcohol consumption as a moderator of the association between adolescent sexual assault and risk of sexual assault in college. It was hypothesized that sexual assault in adolescence would be associated with higher risk of college victimization and that this association would be moderated by alcohol consumption. Predominantly female and European-American university students ( N = 201) completed self-report measures of alcohol consumption and sexual assault victimization in adolescence and since enrolling in college at a medium-sized university in the Western United States. Controlling for effects of age and gender, there was a significant interaction between alcohol consumption variables (i.e., typical weekly alcohol consumption and binge drinking) and adolescent sexual assault, such that the greatest risk for sexual assault in college was incurred by the heaviest drinkers with the greatest frequencies of adolescent sexual assault. This study highlights the importance of considering past victimization history in concert with alcohol consumption in efforts to prevent sexual victimization in college.
Development of Glatopa® (Glatiramer Acetate): The First FDA-Approved Generic Disease-Modifying Therapy for Relapsing Forms of Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Bell Christine , Anderson James , Ganguly Tanmoy , Prescott James , Capila Ishan , Lansing Jonathan C. , Sachleben Richard , Iyer Mani , Fier Ian , Roach James , Storey Kristina , Miller Paul , Hall Steven , Kantor Daniel , Greenberg Benjamin M. , Nair Kavita , Glajch Joseph
Published: August 2017

The multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment landscape in the United States has changed dramatically over the past decade. While many disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS, DMT costs continue to rise. The availability of generics and biosimilars in the MS-treatment landscape is unlikely to have a major impact on clinical benefit. However, their availability will provide alternative treatment options and potentially lower costs through competition, thus increasing the affordability of and access to these drugs. In April 2015, the first generic version of the complex drug glatiramer acetate (Glatopa® 20 mg/mL) injection was approved in the United States as a fully substitutable generic for all approved indications of the 20 mg/mL branded glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®) dosage form. Despite glatiramer acetate’s complex nature—being a chemically synthesized (ie, nonbiologic) mixture of peptides—the approval occurred without conducting any clinical trials. Rather, extensive structural and functional characterization was performed to demonstrate therapeutic equivalence to the innovator drug. The approval of Glatopa signifies an important milestone in the US MS-treatment landscape, with the hope that the introduction of generic DMTs and eventually biosimilar DMTs will lead to future improvements in the affordability and access of these much-needed treatments for MS.
How can we improve our web collection? An evaluation of webarchiving at the KB National Library of the Netherlands (2007–2017)
Authors: Sierman Barbara , Teszelszky Kees
Published: August 2017

In 2007, the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, the Dutch National Library (KB-NL), started the project ‘webarchiving’ based on a selection of Dutch websites. The initial selection of 1000 websites has currently grown into over 12,000 selected websites, crawled at different intervals. Although due to legal restrictions the current use is limited to the KB-NL reading room, it is important that the KB-NL includes the requirements of the (future) users in its approach to creating a web collection. With respect to the long-term preservation of the collection, we also need to incorporate the requirements for long-term archiving in our approach, as described in the Open Archival Information System (OAIS) Model ISO 14721: 2012. This article describes the results of a research project on webarchiving and the web collection of archived sites in the KB-NL, investigating the following questions. What is webarchiving in the Netherlands? What are the selection criteria of KB-NL and how are these related to what can be found on the Dutch web by the contemporary user? What is the influence of the choice of tools we use to harvest the final archived website? Do we know enough of the value of the web collection and the potential usage of it by researchers and how can we improve this value? This article will describe the outcomes of the research, the conclusions and advice that can be drawn from it and it is hoped will inspire broader discussions about the essence of creating web collections for long-term preservation as part of cultural heritage.
Facial and limb angioedema with parotitis and Kikuchi-like necrotizing lymphadenitis preceding neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus in a young African American male
Authors: Michailidou D , Kribis M , Kataria R , Sedaliu K , Dumitrescu M
Published: August 2017

Angioedema has been observed in a few cases secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Herein, we report a rare case where a young healthy male initially presented with angioedema, lymphadenopathy and parotitis and later on developed neuropsychiatric manifestations at the very onset of his SLE disease. This case illustrates the importance of prompt clinical consideration of lupus with unusual and atypical preceding manifestations
Quality of Life @ Palava Smart City: A Case Study
Authors: Madakam Somayya , Ramaswamy R.  , Date Hema
Published: August 2017

Quality of Life (QoL) is the new buzzword in every corner of the world. Though the concept of QoL has been in existence since decades in association with human lifestyle, it has now crept into every urban citizen’s life. QoL is multidimensional and depends on the level of basic need fulfilment, security requirements, socialization and psychosocial factors. Moreover, QoL is both an individual and collective attribute. Besides, for ensuring QoL in cities, a large number of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies need to be deployed. This article articulates that in these days, QoL can be met in the upcoming Smart Cities, and substantiates it with reporting the QoL practices in Palava Smart City (Mumbai). Since ‘Smart Cities’ is a new notion, an exploratory study has been conducted. The primary data collection techniques are surveys, in-depth interviews and observation. In addition, data have been gathered from secondary sources including various published articles, corporate white papers, blogs and videos. The data analysis has been carried out by SPSS and Atlas-ti software. Palava City Management Association (PCMA) has been planning and implementing high-tech infrastructure, socialization amenities, healthcare benefits, citizen security and embedding IoT technologies for ensuring round-the-clock operational efficiency in the city premises. Authors report that Palava Smart City will soon become one of the top-most liveable cities in the world.
A Reconsideration of Hofstede’s Fifth Dimension: New Flexibility Versus Monumentalism Data From 54 Countries
Authors: Minkov Michael , Bond Michael H. , Dutt Pinaki , Schachner Michael , Morales Oswaldo , Sanchez Carlos , Jandosova Janar , Khassenbekov Yerlan , Mudd Ben
Published: August 2017

Hofstede’s “long-term orientation” (LTO) may be one of the most important dimensions of national culture, as it highlights differences on a continuum from East Asia to Africa and Latin America, strongly associated with differences in educational achievement. However, LTO’s structure lacks theoretical coherence. We show that a statistically similar, and theoretically more focused and coherent, dimension of national culture, called “flexibility versus monumentalism,” or vice versa, can be extracted from national differences in self-enhancement and self-stability or self-consistency, as well as a willingness to help people. Using data from nearly 53,000 respondents recruited probabilistically from 54 countries, we provide a new national flexibility-versus-monumentalism index that measures key cultural differences on the world’s East–West geographic axis and predicts educational achievement better than LTO or any other known dimension of national culture.
Analyzing Rates of Seriously Delinquent Mortgages in Asian Census Tracts in the United States
Authors: Anacker Katrin B.
Published: August 2017

Although race and ethnicity have been analyzed and discussed in the context of the national foreclosure crisis, there has been little work on neighborhoods in which different Asian subgroups reside, which is surprising given the relatively large demographic, economic, and social differences. Based on NSP 3 data, provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and 2005/2009 American Community Survey (ACS) data, provided by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, this article utilizes descriptive statistics and weighted least squares (WLS) regressions to analyze rates of seriously delinquent mortgages for Census tracts in all Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), differentiating among different Asian subgroups. Findings show that neighborhoods with Hmong, Laotian, and Cambodian households had relatively high rates of seriously delinquent mortgages, whereas neighborhoods with Chinese, Japanese, and Pakistani households had relatively low rates of seriously delinquent mortgages.
SUMMIT (Serially Unified Multicenter Multiple Sclerosis Investigation): creating a repository of deeply phenotyped contemporary multiple sclerosis cohorts
Authors: Bove Riley , Chitnis Tanuja , Cree Bruce AC , Tintoré Mar , Naegelin Yvonne , Uitdehaag Bernard MJ , Kappos Ludwig , Khoury Samia J , Montalban Xavier , Hauser Stephen L , Weiner Howard L ,   on behalf of the SUMMIT Consortium
Published: August 2017

Background:

There is a pressing need for robust longitudinal cohort studies in the modern treatment era of multiple sclerosis.

Objective:

Build a multiple sclerosis (MS) cohort repository to capture the variability of disability accumulation, as well as provide the depth of characterization (clinical, radiologic, genetic, biospecimens) required to adequately model and ultimately predict a patient’s course.

Methods:

Serially Unified Multicenter Multiple Sclerosis Investigation (SUMMIT) is an international multi-center, prospectively enrolled cohort with over a decade of comprehensive follow-up on more than 1000 patients from two large North American academic MS Centers (Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Comprehensive Longitudinal Investigation of Multiple Sclerosis at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (CLIMB; BWH)) and University of California, San Francisco (Expression/genomics, Proteomics, Imaging, and Clinical (EPIC))). It is bringing online more than 2500 patients from additional international MS Centers (Basel (Universitätsspital Basel (UHB)), VU University Medical Center MS Center Amsterdam (MSCA), Multiple Sclerosis Center of Catalonia-Vall d’Hebron Hospital (Barcelona clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) cohort), and American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC-Multiple Sclerosis Interdisciplinary Research (AMIR)).

Results and conclusion:

We provide evidence for harmonization of two of the initial cohorts in terms of the characterization of demographics, disease, and treatment-related variables; demonstrate several proof-of-principle analyses examining genetic and radiologic predictors of disease progression; and discuss the steps involved in expanding SUMMIT into a repository accessible to the broader scientific community.
Anti-JCV serology during natalizumab treatment: Review and meta-analysis of 17 independent patient cohorts analyzing anti-John Cunningham polyoma virus sero-conversion rates under natalizumab treatment and differences between technical and biological sero-converters
Authors: Schwab Nicholas , Schneider-Hohendorf Tilman , Hoyt Tammy , Gross Catharina C , Meuth Sven G , Klotz Luisa , Foley John F , Wiendl Heinz
Published: August 2017

Background:

Anti-John Cunningham virus (JCV) serology has been studied with varying results concerning longitudinal changes.

Objectives and methods:

Results from 17 published natalizumab-treated multiple sclerosis (MS) patient cohorts were analyzed with common parameters and subsequently verified in two large independent cohorts with 722 and 499 patients from Germany and the United States.

Results:

Published studies and the verification showed (1) a mean of 10.80% sero-negative patients presented with sero-status change to positivity per year; (2) patients, who sero-convert to index values <0.9, convert from near the threshold and have a high probability of reverting with time; (3) patients, who convert to index values >0.9, start with low index values; (4) while JCV sero-positive patients with low index values sometimes revert to sero-negativity, patients with high index values almost never revert; and (5) the conversion rate of natalizumab-treated patients is three to four times higher than the biological conversion by age.

Conclusion:

JCV sero-conversion was comparable using standardized parameters and indicates influence of natalizumab on JCV immune control. Converters to low index values are probably consistently infected with JCV with varying low levels of activity, in line with their low risk to develop progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Patients with high index values rarely revert back to sero-negativity.
Employment effects of a multidisciplinary health assessment for mentally ill persons – A quasi-randomised controlled trial
Authors: Høgelund Jan , Falgaard Eplov Lene
Published: August 2017

Aim: Relatively little is known about the effectiveness of return-to-work interventions for employees sick-listed with mental disorders, and the results of the literature are contradictory. This study evaluated the return-to-work effect of a multidisciplinary health assessment for persons sick-listed with mental disorders. Methods: The study population consisted of 244 persons who were allocated to the treatment and control groups based on their birth year. In addition to the usual case management, the treatment group ( n = 83) was assessed by a team consisting of a case manager, a psychiatrist, and a job coach. The control group ( n = 99) received the usual case management. We used unique register data to code outcome variables (sick-leave duration and return-to-work duration). Results: The multidisciplinary treatment had no statistically significant effect on the sick-leave duration (HR = 1.05; 95% CI 0.74–1.43) or the return-to-work duration (HR = 0.94; 95% CI 0.65–1.35). Subgroup analyses showed that the treatment effect did not systematically depend on age, education or severity of the mental disorder. We found no signs of systematic dropout from the study population or of imbalanced data. We found an insignificant tendency indicating that control-group case managers may have learned about the intervention from treatment case managers ( p = 0.31). Conclusions: This study showed no return-to-work effect of a multidisciplinary assessment of sick-listed individuals with mental disorders. Together with the sparse and inconclusive findings of the literature, this finding suggests that further research is needed for disentangling the elements that constitute an effective intervention.
Book Review: Williams, Michelle, editor. 2014: The End of the Developmental State?
Authors: Behuria Pritish
Published: August 2017

Williams, Michelle, editor. 2014: The End of the Developmental State? London and New York: Routledge. xxi + 257 pp. £90.00 (hardback), £24.99 (paperback). ISBN 978–0-415–85482–5.
Estimating regional returns to education in India: A fresh look with pseudo-panel data
Authors: Bhattacharya Prabir , Sato Takahiro
Published: August 2017

This study analyzes the effects of socio-economic factors on the real wage rates for male workers in India over the period 1983–2010. In particular, we examine the role of human capital by estimating the Mincerian wage equation. We construct a regional level pseudo-panel data set for our analysis. Our findings show that while the return to primary education is remarkably high, the returns to other, higher, levels of education are equally remarkably low for all of India taken together, becoming progressively so as the level of education increases. These findings are in contradistinction to those of the other studies on returns to education in India, all of which, however, have relied on cross-sectional data for their analyses. We also find relatively little effects of caste, tribe and religion on real wage rates in India, suggesting that these factors may not be as important as is sometimes believed.
Understanding the Relationship Between Male Gender Socialization and Gender-Based Violence Among Refugees in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Fry M. Whitney , Skinner Asheley C. , Wheeler Stephanie B.
Published: August 2017

Gender-based violence (GBV) in humanitarian emergencies is progressively recognized as a global public health problem. Detrimental gender norms influence male perpetrated GBV against women, and social and structural contexts of forced migration and camp resettlement contribute to problematic gender norm development. The review sought to elucidate the dynamics that link gender socialization among male youth in sub-Saharan Africa with violent sexual behaviors. Two concepts were explored: (1) male gender socialization in sub-Saharan Africa related to GBV perpetration patterns and (2) the effect of forced migration on male socialization and GBV. We reviewed articles using a standard systematic review methodology, searching academic databases for peer-reviewed articles, and contacting experts for gray literature. Our initial search identified 210 articles. We manually reviewed these, and 19 met the review inclusion criteria. We identified 20 variables from the first concept and 18 variables from the second. GBV perpetration by male youth is positively associated with social pressures as well as cultural and religious beliefs. Amid forced migration, personal, societal, and cultural preexisting gender inequalities are often amplified to encourage GBV perpetration. The literature revealed aspects of culture, language, role modeling, religion, and the context of violence as important factors that shape young men’s perspectives regarding the opposite sex and gender relations as well as sexual desires and dominance. Overall, though, literature focusing on male socialization and GBV prevention is limited. We made recommendations for future studies among refugee male youth in order to better understand these relationships.
Approaches for building community participation: A qualitative case study of Canadian food security programs
Authors: Hyett Nerida , Kenny Amanda , Dickson-Swift Virginia
Published: August 2017

There is increasing opportunity and support for occupational therapists to expand their scope of practice in community settings. However, evidence is needed to increase occupational therapists’ knowledge, confidence, and capacity with building community participation and adopting community-centered practice roles. The purpose of this study is to improve occupational therapists’ understanding of an approach to building community participation, through case study of a network of Canadian food security programs. Qualitative case study was utilized. Data were semistructured interviews, field observations, documents, and online social media. Thematic analysis was used to identify and describe four themes that relate to processes used to build community participation. The four themes were use of multiple methods, good leaders are fundamental, growing participation via social media, and leveraging outcomes. Occupational therapists can utilize an approach for building community participation that incorporates resource mobilization. Challenges of sustainability and social exclusion must be addressed.
Received signal strength–based indoor localization using a robust interacting multiple model–extended Kalman filter algorithm
Authors: Castro-Arvizu Juan Manuel , Vilà-Valls Jordi , Moragrega Ana , Closas Pau , Fernandez-Rubio Juan A
Published: August 2017

Due to the vast increase in location-based services, currently there exists an actual need of robust and reliable indoor localization solutions. Received signal strength localization is widely used due to its simplicity and availability in most mobile devices. The received signal strength channel model is defined by the propagation losses and the shadow fading. In real-life applications, these parameters might vary over time because of changes in the environment. Thus, to obtain a reliable localization solution, they have to be sequentially estimated. In this article, the problem of tracking a mobile node by received signal strength measurements is addressed, simultaneously estimating the model parameters. Particularly, a two-slope path loss model is assumed for the received signal strength observations, which provides a more realistic representation of the propagation channel. The proposed methodology considers a parallel interacting multiple model–based architecture for distance estimation, which is coupled with the on-line estimation of the model parameters and the final position determination via Kalman filtering. Numerical simulation results in realistic scenarios are provided to support the theoretical discussion and to show the enhanced performance of the new robust indoor localization approach. Additionally, experimental results using real data are reported to validate the technique.
Effects of Zingiber officinale extract on collagen-induced arthritis in mice and IL-1β-induced inflammation in human synovial fibroblasts
Authors: Hwang Ji Hye , Jung Hyo Won , Oh Seung Yeol , Kang Jong-Seong , Kim Jong-Pil , Park Yong-Ki
Published: August 2017

Ginger ( Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is one of the most commonly used medicinal plants and is extensively used for the treatment of arthritic patients in Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) due to its various pharmacological properties. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of ginger on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly focusing on the regulation of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines and the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) release in mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and primary synovial fibroblasts. RA was induced in male DBA/1J mice via immunization with type II collagen (CII). A ginger extract was prepared in water. The ginger extract (100 and 200 mg/kg) or Mobic (50 mg/kg), as a reference drug, was orally administered to CIA mice once daily for 14 days after arthritis induction. Primary fibroblasts were isolated from the synovial tissues of osteoarthritis patients and then were stimulated with IL-1β and treated with the ginger extract at different concentrations. IL-4, IFN- γ, and IL-17 levels were measured in the serum or spleen and paw tissues of CIA mice and culture media via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA expression of IL-17, MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-13 was also detected in paw tissues and synovial fibroblasts through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Histological changes in the knee joints were observed via hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and safranin-O staining. The major compounds in the ginger extract were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Treatment with the ginger extract at 100 or 200 mg/kg significantly decreased the levels of IL-4, IFN-γ, and IL-17 and inhibited the expression of IL-17 in the spleen and paw tissues of CIA mice. Ginger extract inhibited the expression of MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-13 in the paw tissues of CIA mice and reduced inflammatory bone destruction in joint tissues. In IL-1β-stimulated synovial fibroblasts, the ginger extract significantly decreased the production of IFN-γ and IL-17 via inhibition of mRNA expression. The ginger extract also suppressed the expression of MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-13 mRNA. Vanillylacetone, 6-gingerol, 6-shogaol, and 1,4-cineol were identified as the main compounds in the ginger extract. These results indicate that ginger can prevent RA progression by inhibiting the secretion of Th1/Th2 and Th17 cytokines and MMPs, which are involved in the pathogenesis of RA.
Between Venus and Mars: Sources of gender differences in instructional leadership
Authors: Shaked Haim , Gross Zehavit , Glanz Jeffrey
Published: August 2017

Instructional leadership can be explained as an educational leadership approach whereby the school principal engages in a wide range of activities aiming to improve teaching and learning for all students. A recent meta-analysis found that female principals engaged in more active instructional leadership than male counterparts. The current qualitative study sought to understand this gender gap. Data were collected through 59 semi-structured interviews with 36 female principals and 23 male principals from Israel. Data analysis was a four-stage process – condensing, coding, categorizing, and theorizing. Findings showed that female participants, more frequently than their male counterparts, reported possessing two capabilities that are necessary for instructional leadership: (1) instructional expertise; (2) attention to relationships. Gender theories are employed to explain these findings. Practical implications and further research are discussed.
Back to the Future
Authors: Cheung Ho Kwan , Hebl Mikki , King Eden B. , Markell Hannah , Moreno Carlos , Nittrouer Christy
Published: August 2017

This article argues that social and personality psychology theory and findings have been unnecessarily hampered by our reliance on a set of methodological lenses that sacrifice external validity and generalizability. We further urge researchers to renew their use of both classic and evolving alternative methodologies. In particular, we discuss and consider pros and cons of field experiments, big data, archival research, and observations. We propose that it is up to us, as researchers, to ensure that we maximize the breadth of our theory and quality of data by expanding and triangulating the ways in which we collect data.
Combinations of QTc-prolonging drugs: towards disentangling pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects in their potentially additive nature
Authors: Meid Andreas D. , Bighelli Irene , Mächler Sarah , Mikus Gerd , Carrà Giuseppe , Castellazzi Mariasole , Lucii Claudio , Martinotti Giovanni , Nosè Michela , Ostuzzi Giovanni , Barbui Corrado , Haefeli Walter E.
Published: August 2017

Background:

Whether arrhythmia risks will increase if drugs with electrocardiographic (ECG) QT-prolonging properties are combined is generally supposed but not well studied. Based on available evidence, the Arizona Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics (AZCERT) classification defines the risk of QT prolongation for exposure to single drugs. We aimed to investigate how combining AZCERT drug categories impacts QT duration and how relative drug exposure affects the extent of pharmacodynamic drug–drug interactions.

Methods:

In a cohort of 2558 psychiatric inpatients and outpatients, we modeled whether AZCERT class and number of coprescribed QT-prolonging drugs correlates with observed rate-corrected QT duration (QTc) while also considering age, sex, inpatient status, and other QTc-prolonging risk factors. We concurrently considered administered drug doses and pharmacokinetic interactions modulating drug clearance to calculate individual weights of relative exposure with AZCERT drugs. Because QTc duration is concentration-dependent, we estimated individual drug exposure with these drugs and included this information as weights in weighted regression analyses.

Results:

Drugs attributing a ‘known’ risk for clinical consequences were associated with the largest QTc prolongations. However, the presence of at least two versus one QTc-prolonging drug yielded nonsignificant prolongations [exposure-weighted parameter estimates with 95% confidence intervals for ‘known’ risk drugs + 0.93 ms (–8.88;10.75)]. Estimates for the ‘conditional’ risk class increased upon refinement with relative drug exposure and co-administration of a ‘known’ risk drug as a further risk factor.

Conclusions:

These observations indicate that indiscriminate combinations of QTc-prolonging drugs do not necessarily result in additive QTc prolongation and suggest that QT prolongation caused by drug combinations strongly depends on the nature of the combination partners and individual drug exposure. Concurrently, it stresses the value of the AZCERT classification also for the risk prediction of combination therapies with QT-prolonging drugs.