bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The library in the research culture of the university
Authors: Kiel Ralph , O’Neil Frances , Gallagher Adrian , Mohammad Cindy
Published: March 2015

This article presents a case study of Victoria University Library as a relatively young university library contributing to the development of an institution’s nascent research culture. It showcases various scholarly communication projects and initiatives with an emphasis on digital repositories, digital literacies and new roles for libraries. The concerns, challenges, and successes of the Library may help inform the planning and implementation of initiatives and projects in similar academic libraries.
Space–Time Clustering of Crime Events and Neighborhood Characteristics in Houston
Authors: Zhang Yan , Zhao Jihong , Ren Ling , Hoover Larry
Published: March 2015

Spatial–temporal interaction analysis is employed to identify repeat and near-repeat patterns of crime in time and space. Most research to date addresses burglary and shooting incidents. Using the Knox method for space–time interaction, this study analyzes crime data in 12 “super neighborhoods” located in Houston’s crime-heavy southwest quadrant to explore spatial–temporal clustering of three types of crime, namely, residential burglary, street robbery, and aggravated assault. The findings suggest that each type of crime event has a unique clustering signature. Residential burglaries show significant space–time clustering in a relatively longer time range (up to 90 days) and distance interval (up to 1.55 miles). In contrast, street robberies present significant clustering only up to 6 days and a quarter of a mile. For aggravated assault, the clusters of pairs occur within the interval of 7 days and within a little more than 1 mile of an initial assault. Examination of the socioeconomic characteristics of the neighborhoods indicates that crime events cluster more often in low income and racially/ethnically diverse neighborhoods. Significant spatial correlations of crime clusters are detected. The findings offer insight into potential suppression of crime events that are time and space correlated.
Procedural Learning in Children With Developmental Coordination, Reading, and Attention Disorders
Authors: Magallón Sara , Crespo-Eguílaz Nerea , Narbona Juan
Published: March 2015

The aim is to assess repetition-based learning of procedures in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), reading disorder (RD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Participants included 187 children, studied in 4 groups: ( a) DCD comorbid with RD and ADHD (DCD+RD+ADHD) (n = 30); ( b) RD comorbid with ADHD (RD+ADHD) (n = 48); ( c) ADHD (n = 19); and typically developing children (control group) (n = 90). Two procedural learning tasks were used: Assembly learning and Mirror drawing. Children were tested on 4 occasions for each task: 3 trials were consecutive and the fourth trial was performed after an interference task. Task performance by DCD+RD+ADHD children improved with training ( P < .05); however, the improvement was significantly lower than that achieved by the other groups (RD+ADHD, ADHD and controls) ( P < .05). In conclusion, children with DCD+RD+ADHD improve in their use of cognitive-motor procedures over a short training period. Aims of intervention in DCD+RD+ADHD should be based on individual learning abilities.
A feasibility study of an electric–hydraulic hybrid powertrain for passenger vehicles
Authors: Honey Emilio , Suh In-Soo
Published: March 2015

The limitations of electrochemical batteries are one of the chief reasons that the widespread adoption of electric vehicles is slowing down. An alternative to overcome this is to use hybrid energy storage systems. One seldom explored alternative is the possibility of combining the electrical and hydraulic components of the battery in a powertrain intended for passenger vehicle use. The present research models an electrohydraulic hybrid vehicle and compares it with a baseline battery electric vehicle under an urban driving cycle. The results show a reduction in the energy consumption as well as a reduction in the battery current transients.
Effect of thermal loading on sealing behavior of single and twin-gasketed flange joints
Authors: Rino Nelson N , Siva Prasad N , Sekhar AS
Published: March 2015

Gasketed flange joints are usually subjected to internal pressure at high temperature. The most important requirement of flange joint is to provide leak-free joint under operating condition. In the present study, temperature-dependent nonlinear gasket properties of spiral-wound gasket at elevated temperatures are obtained experimentally and included in the analysis. The relaxation of gasket contact stress in both single and twin-gasketed joints at elevated temperatures is compared. It is observed that the ability to withstand internal pressure decreases with increase in temperature in both single and twin-gasketed flange joints. But, the twin-gasketed flange joint is found to withstand higher internal pressure than single-gasketed joint at a given bolt preload and temperature. The influence of gasket seating surface rotation on the distribution of gasket radial contact stress at elevated temperature is studied. The effect of elevated temperature on flange stresses of twin-gasketed joint is also examined.
A numerical study on the influence of backfill settlements in the train/track interaction at transition zones to railway bridges
Authors: Paixão André , Fortunato Eduardo , Calçada Rui
Published: March 2015

Railway track degrades more quickly in the transition zones between embankments and bridges, mostly due to the development of settlements in the backfill. This amplifies the dynamic train/track interaction forces and accelerates the deterioration of the components of both the track and the vehicles. Consequently, it induces additional maintenance costs, reduces passenger comfort and, ultimately, it may affect train safety at transition zones. To address this problem and to obtain more insight into the influence of the settlement profiles of the backfill in the train/track system, nonlinear dynamic analyses were performed using a transition zone model to simulate different settlement profiles of the backfill. In some cases, the results showed significant amplifications of axle accelerations and loads. In general, the greater the number of hanging sleepers and their gap sizes, the higher the vertical accelerations of the sleepers and the larger the vertical contact forces between the sleepers and the ballast layer. Settlement profiles associated with backfills with a wedge shape seem to limit these negative aspects.
HIV testing behaviour and use of risk reduction strategies by HIV risk category among MSM in Vancouver
Authors: Bogowicz Paul , Moore David , Kanters Steve , Michelow Warren , Robert Wayne , Hogg Robert , Gustafson Réka , Gilbert Mark ,   the ManCount Study Team
Published: March 2015

We carried out an analysis of a serobehavioural study of men who have sex with men >19 years of age in Vancouver, Canada to examine HIV testing behaviour and use of risk reduction strategies by HIV risk category, as defined by routinely gathered clinical data. We restricted our analysis to those who self-identified as HIV-negative, completed a questionnaire, and provided a dried blood spot sample. Of 842 participants, 365 (43.3%) were categorised as lower-risk, 245 (29.1%) as medium-risk and 232 (27.6%) as higher-risk. The prevalence of undiagnosed HIV infection was low (lower 0.8%, medium 3.3%, higher 3.9%; p = 0.032). Participants differed by risk category in terms of having had an HIV test in the previous year (lower 46.5%, medium 54.6%, higher 67.0%; p < 0.001) and in their use of serosorting (lower 23.3%, medium 48.3%, higher 43.1%; p < 0.001) and only having sex with HIV-positive men if those men had low viral loads or were taking HIV medication (lower 5.1%, medium 4.8%, higher 10.9%; p = 0.021) as risk reduction strategies. These findings speak to the need to consider segmented health promotion services for men who have sex with men with differing risk profiles. Risk stratification could be used to determine who might benefit from tailored multiple health promotion interventions, including HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis.
Diagnosis and risk stratification in patients with anti-RNP autoimmunity
Authors: Carpintero M F , Martinez L , Fernandez I , Romero A C Garza , Mejia C , Zang Y J , Hoffman R W , Greidinger E L
Published: March 2015

Introduction

Anti-RNP autoantibodies occur either in mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) (with a frequently favorable prognosis), or in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cases with aggressive major organ disease. It is uncertain how to assess for the risk of severe disease in anti-RNP + patients.

Methods

Following institutional review board-approved protocols, clinical data and blood were collected from patients with known or suspected anti-RNP autoimmunity and normal controls in a cohort study. Samples were screened for parameters of immune activation. Groups were compared based on clinical diagnoses, disease classification criteria, disease activity and specific end-organ clinical manifestations.

Results

Ninety-seven per cent of patients satisfying Alarcon-Segovia MCTD criteria also met Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinic (SLICC) SLE criteria, while 47% of the anti-RNP + SLE patients also met MCTD criteria. Among SLICC SLE patients, MCTD criteria were associated with reduced rates of renal disease (odds ratio (OR) 4.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3–14.0), increased rates of Raynaud's phenomenon (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.3–9.5) and increased serum B-cell maturation antigen, transmembrane activator and CAML interactor and TNFα levels. Circulating immune markers and markers of type I interferon activation were not effective at distinguishing clinical subgroups.

Conclusions

Among anti-RNP patients, the question of MCTD versus SLE is not either/or: most MCTD patients also have lupus. MCTD classification criteria (but not a broad set of immune markers) distinguish a subset of SLE patients at reduced risk for renal disease.
Essential Elements of an Effective Prison Hospice Program
Authors: Cloyes Kristin G. , Rosenkranz Susan J. , Berry Patricia H. , Supiano Katherine P. , Routt Meghan , Shannon-Dorcy Kathleen , Llanque Sarah M.
Published: March 2015

As the number of prison inmates facing end-stage chronic illness grows, more prisons across the U.S. must address the need for end-of-life care. Many will likely need to develop a plan with potentially limited resources and external support. This case study presents one long-running model of care, the Louisiana State Penitentiary Prison Hospice Program. Based on field observations and in-depth interviews with hospice staff, inmate volunteers and corrections officers, we identify five essential elements that have contributed to the long-term operation of this program: patient-centered care, an inmate volunteer model, safety and security, shared values, and teamwork. We describe key characteristics of each of these elements, discuss how they align with earlier recommendations and research, and show how their integration supports a sustained model of prison end-of-life care.
The Construct Validity of the Dutch Personality Inventory for DSM-5 Personality Disorders (PID-5) in a Clinical Sample
Authors: Bastiaens Tim , Claes Laurence , Smits Dirk , De Clercq Barbara , De Fruyt Filip , Rossi Gina , Vanwalleghem Dominique , Vermote Rudi , Lowyck Benedicte , Claes Stephan , De Hert Marc
Published: March 2015

The factor structure and the convergent validity of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5), a self-report questionnaire designed to measure personality pathology as advocated in the fifth edition, Section III of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM-5), are already demonstrated in general population samples, but need replication in clinical samples. In 240 Flemish inpatients, we examined the factor structure of the PID-5 by means of exploratory structural equation modeling. Additionally, we investigated differences in PID-5 higher order domain scores according to gender, age and educational level, and explored convergent and discriminant validity by relating the PID-5 with the Dimensional Assessment of Personality Pathology—Basic Questionnaire and by comparing PID-5 scores of inpatients with and without a DSM-IV categorical personality disorder diagnosis. Our results confirmed the original five-factor structure of the PID-5. The reliability and the convergent and discriminant validity of the PID-5 proved to be adequate. Implications for future research are discussed.
A numerical approach based on Legendre orthonormal polynomials for numerical solutions of fractional optimal control problems
Authors: Ezz-Eldien SS , Doha EH , Baleanu D , Bhrawy AH
Published: March 2015

The numerical solution of a fractional optimal control problem having a quadratic performance index is proposed and analyzed. The performance index of the fractional optimal control problem is considered as a function of both the state and the control variables. The dynamic constraint is expressed as a fractional differential equation that includes an integer derivative in addition to the fractional derivative. The order of the fractional derivative is taken as less than one and described in the Caputo sense. Based on the shifted Legendre orthonormal polynomials, we employ the operational matrix of fractional derivatives, the Legendre–Gauss quadrature formula and the Lagrange multiplier method for reducing such a problem into a problem consisting of solving a system of algebraic equations. The convergence of the proposed method is analyzed. For confirming the validity and accuracy of the proposed numerical method, a numerical example is presented along with a comparison between our numerical results and those obtained using the Legendre spectral-collocation method.
Beyond Ocular Inquiry
Authors: Daza Stephanie , Gershon Walter S.
Published: March 2015

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Qualitative Inquiry ( QI), we write about the ongoing hegemony of the ocular in research and toward a more multisensory, and aural, embodied inquiry. Sonic inquiry is attention and intention as meta/physical and socially embodied processes without ignoring the body or separating the mind from body or material-physical and social worlds. This article is about acknowledging that sounds and silences have always shaped (research/er) possibilities, as well as what hearing research futures might offer.
The role of screening and monitoring for bleomycin pulmonary toxicity
Authors: Shippee Brittney M , Bates Jill S , Richards Kristy L
Published: March 2015

Bleomycin-induced pulmonary toxicity can have a significant impact on patient outcomes. However, no guidelines for ideal screening and monitoring are available. This paper reviews the literature to identify the best way to monitor and reduce patient risk for bleomycin pulmonary toxicity. We have created evidence-based guidelines to help healthcare professionals identify patient risk factors and provide appropriate assessment and monitoring for patients receiving bleomycin therapy.
Infection with haemoplasma species in 22 cats with anaemia
Authors: Weingart Christiane , Tasker Séverine , Kohn Barbara
Published: March 2015

Objectives

Information regarding the clinical course of natural infection with feline haemotropic mycoplasmas (haemoplasmas) is limited. The objective of the study was to describe the clinical findings and course of disease in naturally infected cats with haemoplasmosis and anaemia.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed on patient data from cats presenting with anaemia and haemoplasma infection regarding signalment, clinical signs, laboratory data and course of infection. The diagnosis was confirmed by conventional haemoplasma PCR analysis.

Results

Haemoplasma infection was found in 22 anaemic (haematocrit 5–25% [median 17%]; reference interval 30–44%) cats (‘ Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’, n = 12; Mycoplasma haemofelis, n = 3; ‘ Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’, n = 2; species not determined, n = 4; coinfection with all three species, n = 1) between 2005 and 2014. Thirteen of the cats had concurrent diseases. All cats underwent antibiotic treatment; 15 cats received blood products. Six cats were euthanased within 11 weeks owing to concurrent disease, persistent severe anaemia or financial constraints. Ten cats underwent follow-up for a period of 14–199 weeks (median 26 weeks). Haemoplasma PCR was negative in 5/7 cases after 3–23 weeks. PCR remained positive in two cases after 18 and 199 weeks, respectively. Reactivation of the haemoplasma infection occurred in two cats, once and three times, respectively, up to 177 weeks after initial presentation. Reactivation was suspected in two further cases. Owing to concurrent disease, four of the 10 follow-up cats were euthanased 14–180 weeks after initial presentation.

Conclusion and relevance

Infection with haemoplasma species is often chronic, can reactivate months later and is rarely a reason for euthanasia.
Toward a cultural adaptation of pharmacotherapy: Latino views of depression and antidepressant therapy
Authors: Vargas Sylvanna M. , Cabassa Leopoldo J. , Nicasio Andel , De La Cruz Ana Alicia , Jackson Elizabeth , Rosario Melissa , Guarnaccia Peter J. , Lewis-Fernández Roberto
Published: March 2015

Relative to non-Latino Whites, Latinos in the United States with major depressive disorder (MDD) show low engagement in antidepressant therapy, whether engagement is defined as pharmacotherapy access, medication initiation, pill-taking, or treatment retention. One potential reason for this disparity in depression care is the low cultural congruence of pharmacotherapy for this population. To examine Latinos’ views of depression and antidepressant therapy, we conducted qualitative interviews with 30 Latino outpatients initiating antidepressants prior to their first treatment visit using the semistructured Treatment Adherence and Retention Questionnaire. These baseline interviews were randomly selected from data collected for a randomized controlled trial testing a novel intervention to enhance engagement by depressed Latino outpatients. Participant narratives were analyzed using open coding and the iterative analytical approach derived from grounded theory. Patient views about depression addressed stigmatizing views held by others in their social circle. Most participants directly refuted these views by providing alternate explanations to depression experiences. Antidepressant therapy narratives also revealed marked stigmatization, but participants tended not to refute these views. Instead, patients expressed concerns about antidepressants and showed marked ambivalence about seeking psychiatric care. Participants, however, did suggest ways in which clinicians and patients might collaborate to address their concerns about antidepressants. Some cultural views, such as concerns about addiction to or dependence on medication, may be negotiable barriers to treatment. Prescribing clinicians should address cultural views and concerns in order to improve Latino engagement in antidepressant therapy.
Impartiality is not fair: Toward an alternative approach to the evaluation of content bias in news stories
Authors: Boudana Sandrine
Published: March 2015

Historically, impartiality has been imposed as the norm of professional journalism. Yet, be it conceived in terms of non-partisanship or balance, it offers a limited approach to the evaluation of the quality of news. This article revises the traditional approach to bias: As neutrality is impossible and truth does not lie in the middle, accuracy is better served by fairness than by a delusive position of impartiality. An alternative model promoting fairness is thus proposed, which is based on the criteria of consistency and justification of position-taking. Based on the work of socio-linguist Labov, this model is not without methodological challenges. We apply the model to a newspaper article for illustrative purposes and as a starting point for discussion, showing that, unlike impartiality, fairness is altogether an attainable and desirable standard.
‘It makes you go crazy’: Children's knowledge and experience of alcohol consumption
Authors: Jayne Mark , Valentine Gill
Published: March 2015

This article contributes to a burgeoning body of writing focused on children and consumption with reference to critical writing around alcohol, drinking and drunkenness. Drawing on empirical research undertaken in the United Kingdom with families with at least one child aged 5–12 years, we show that despidte being uninterested in drinking themselves, children have a sophisticated understanding of alcohol and its effects. In doing so, we contribute to recent theoretical and empirical work on social reproduction, adult–children interaction, materialities and intergenerational transmission of consumption cultures that are bound up with social rather than individualised notions of consumption. By adding non-representational theories relating to emotions, embodiment and affect to such an agenda, we also point to new fruitful avenues for research on children, childhood and consumer culture.
Heidegger, education, nation and race
Authors: Aboutorabi Rozita
Published: March 2015

There are many arguments about Heidegger's work Being and Time (1954). Many critics believe that Heidegger provides a new way of understanding ourselves from a philosophical perspective. However, while some critics emphasize the de-Nazification of Heidegger's thinking, other still promote the notion that Being and Time is pro-Nazi. What is more, this new way of understanding brings a new challenge to education. In this paper, the concepts of Volk (people) and its relation with Being and Time is studied. Also, education is investigated in order to bring up authentic Dasein on Heidegger's view. The exploration undertaken in this paper illustrates that the concept of Volk is not, in Heidegger's view, related to the biological features of a race, but to the mood of attunement to Being, which itself is determined by its historicity and its capacity to bring about both differentiation and order. In general, Heidegger's interpretation of work is based on his concept of Dasein in the Being and Time and, as Radloff ((2007) Heidegger and the Question of National Socialism: Disclosure and Gestalt. Toronto: University of Toronto Press) believed, this is not tactical accommodation to Nazism. In Being and Time, Heidegger tries to save Dasein from everydayness and what he calls ‘the they’ by calling attention to be authentic.

In Heidegger's (1985) view, the questioning process unlocks the essentials in things by forcing us to focus on what would seem to be simple and obvious. Also questioning Dasein’s beliefs and behaviours unfold the causes of them and is a way of bringing up an authentic Dasein and open-minded person. In order to achieve this, we need an authentic teacher who is not lost in ‘the they’. Hence, we might speculate that if schools follow Heidegger's thinking, they would be attractive places in which to provide situations for students to ask question and not be bored. Students are encouraged to learn while pursuing questions. They are active and eager learners who learn through rethinking matters, even if these matters are completely obvious. They learn about them in a manner that their thinking enters unconcealment. If this were the case, education might lead students to become more thoughtful.
Caregiving Experiences of Family Members of Persons With Dementia in South India
Authors: Narayan Suzanne M. , Varghese Mathew , Hepburn Kenneth , Lewis Marsha , Paul Isabel , Bhimani Rozina
Published: March 2015

This study reports on the first phase of an investigation aimed at adapting The Savvy Caregiver program, a successful family caregiving curriculum developed in the United States, for application in South India. Thirty family members caring for a person with dementia were interviewed regarding their experiences as caregivers (CGs). Qualitative interviews were conducted with the family member at a geriatric clinic, while other diagnostic procedures were being carried out with the person with dementia. Findings from the study revealed that although family members understood the term CG, none could identify a word for CG in his or her language. There was little understanding of dementia as an illness. Family CGs reported feeling distressed, overwhelmed, and frustrated with caregiving. Caregivers were interested in an educational program, but many had unrealistic expectations for what they wanted to learn. The findings provide directions for adapting The Savvy Caregiver curriculum for Indian family CGs.
Resveratrol synergistically augments anti-tumor effect of 5-FU in vitro and in vivo by increasing S-phase arrest and tumor apoptosis
Authors: Dun Jiening , Chen Xueyan , Gao Haixia , Zhang Yan , Zhang Huajun , Zhang Yongjian
Published: March 2015

Many studies have shown that natural dietary agents, in combination with chemical agents, can improve the therapeutic response of cancers to chemotherapy and reduce the associated side-effects. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic potential and mechanisms of anticancer effects for the combination of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and resveratrol (Res). In these studies, we employed the cancer cell lines TE-1 and A431 and an animal model of skin cancer. The presented results provide the first evidence that Res can enhance the anti-tumor potency of 5-FU by inducing S-phase arrest. The combination of Res and 5-FU demonstrates synergistic efficacy, causing tumor regression in a two-stage model of mouse skin carcinogenesis induced by DMBA and TPA. There was clear evidence of Res augmenting the growth inhibitory effect of 5-FU on the TE-1 and A431 cancer cells in vitro. In the in vivo studies, the tumor regression rate in the combination group increased significantly after four weeks of treatment ( P < 0.01). The combination of 5-FU and Res significantly increased the percentage of apoptotic cells and the level of activated caspase-3, cleaved PARP and p53 proteins as well as increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. In conclusion, the 5-FU/Res combination enabled a more effective inhibition of cell growth and the induction of apoptosis in cancer cells than 5-FU alone. The results of this study suggest that chemotherapy using natural dietary agents with chemical agents represents a superior cancer treatment option.
Communication skills for consultations about mental health problems
Authors: Imrie Rachael
Published: March 2015

Mental health problems are a common presenting complaint in general practice. Ninety percent of patients with mental health conditions are managed in primary care and more than a third of general practice consultations are linked to mental health conditions. Despite short consultation times, the GP can play a key role in helping people with mental health problems by communicating effectively and liaising with appropriate voluntary and community sector organisations. This article aims to discuss techniques that the GP can use to engage with people with mental health problems and prevent further morbidity and mortality.
Menopause and hormone replacement therapy
Authors: Short Hannah
Published: March 2015

A woman born in 1970 can expect to spend one-third of her life post-menopause. The climacteric period can be challenging for both patients and health care providers, with menopausal symptoms and the physical effects of oestrogen deficiency accounting for a significant proportion of primary care consultations. The use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) remains a controversial topic and misleading information is widespread. Good management of post-reproductive health can have a significant impact on a woman’s current and future well-being. This article aims to provide an overview of the physical, psychological and social consequences of menopause, the menopause consultation and the role of HRT in its management.
What is women’s health?
Authors: Simon Chantal
Published: March 2015

In many ways, the lives of men and women have become more similar over recent years, as more and more women have entered the labour market. Despite this, differences remain. These, in turn, affect both patients’ experiences of health and disease, and the health services required. This article explores the concept of women’s health and what that means for those working in primary care.
‘Redstone is like electricity’: Children’s performative representations in and around Minecraft
Authors: Dezuanni Michael , O’Mara Joanne , Beavis Catherine
Published: March 2015

This article investigates 8- and 9-year-old girls’ use of the popular game Minecraft at home and school, particularly the ways in which they performatively ‘bring themselves into being’ through talk and digital production in the social spaces of the classroom and within the game’s multiplayer online world. We explore how the girls undertake practices of curatorship to display their Minecraft knowledge through discussion of the game, both ‘in world’ and in face-to-face interactions, and as they assemble resources within and around the game to design, build and display their creations and share stories about their gameplay.
To boldly go where no learner has gone before
Authors: “Gus” Andrews Gillian
Published: March 2015

Possibilities for a different form of education have provided rich sources of inspiration for science fiction writers. Isaac Asimov, Orson Scott Card, Neal Stephenson, Octavia Butler, and Vernor Vinge, among others, have all projected their own visions of what education could be. These visions sometimes engage with technologies that are currently opening new horizons in education—sources both of wonder and of anxiety—but they also grapple with concerns about student agency, the shape of schools, and the societal purposes of education. This article is an exploration of schools, learning communities, and ways of knowing on offer in science fiction. It suggests science fiction representations of the future as tools for analyzing and choosing the technologies proposed in education today, posing these questions: Why are we adopting this technology? How might this tool be used in different ways, and to what ends? Does this technological intervention prioritize individual development, or collective growth? Do we believe that intelligence is a matter of nature, or of nurture? How do we support student inquiry and why? Ultimately, is a particular educational technology really what we want, or are we really looking for a shape of social change?
Application of the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer therapeutic strategy and impact on survival
Authors: Hernández-Guerra Manuel , Hernández-Camba Alejandro , Turnes Juan , Ramos Luis Martin , Arranz Laura , Mera José , Crespo Javier , Quintero Enrique
Published: March 2015

Background

The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) classification of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has proved useful in the management of HCC patients. However, BCLC‐recommended first‐line treatment is not always applicable in clinical practice.

Objective

We performed a multicentre retrospective analysis of reasons for deviation from first‐line treatment in 2008–2012.

Methods

One to three‐year survival data were analysed using Kaplan‐Meier method.

Results

A total of 407 consecutive HCC patients (66.6 ± 3 years, 83% male) with cirrhosis were included. Tumours were detected during surveillance in 53% of patients, grouped as Child‐Pugh A (67%), B (25%) and C (8%); and BCLC A (including stage 0, 44%), B (26%), C (15%) and D (15%). In 31% of patients, first‐line treatment was not feasible (51% in early stages) due to: technical reasons (74%); patient non‐conformity (20%); medical decision (3%); and disease progression (3%). One to three‐year survival of patients not receiving the recommended first‐line treatment was similar to that of patients treated according to BCLC recommendations (log‐rank, p =  0.229).

Conclusion

In real‐life practice one‐third of HCC patients could not receive first‐line BCLC treatment. In our cohort of patients, similar short and medium‐term survival was observed. Long‐term prospective studies are required to determine the best alternative treatment option when BCLC first‐line treatment is not feasible.
In defiance of Duverger: The class cleavage and the emergence of district-level multiparty systems in western Europe
Authors: Raymond Christopher D
Published: March 2015

At its core, Duverger’s Law, which holds that the number of viable parties in first-past-the-post systems should not exceed two, applies primarily at the district level. While the number of parties nationally may exceed two, district-level party system fragmentation should not. A growing body of research, however, shows that district-level party system fragmentation can indeed exceed two in first-past-the-post systems. This piece addresses the fundamental tension between Duverger’s Law and recent scholarship on district-level party systems. I explore whether the major alternative explanation for party system fragmentation – the social cleavage approach – can explain violations of Duverger’s Law. Testing this argument in several west European elections prior to the adoption of proportional representation, I find evidence favouring a social cleavage explanation: with the expansion of the class cleavage, the average district-level party system eventually came to violate the two-party predictions associated with Duverger’s Law. This suggests that, in defiance of Duverger, greater levels of social cleavage diversity may produce multiparty systems even in first-past-the-post systems.
Enhanced recovery programmes in colorectal surgery are less enhanced later in the week: An observational study
Authors: Ihedioha Ugochukuwu , Esmail Faatimah , Lloyd G , Miller Andrew , Singh Baljit , Chaudhri Sanjay
Published: March 2015

Summary

Objectives

Since the introduction and favourable early results of the enhanced recovery programme more than a decade ago, it has become increasingly popular following major abdominal surgery. The programme has now been adopted in the UK. The aim of our study was to see if the day of surgery affected hospital stay and we compared patients who had colorectal surgery early in the week (Monday to Wednesday) with those who had it later in the week (Thursday to Friday).

Design

Patient outcomes were studied between May 2010 and April 2011 from a prospectively maintained database. All colorectal surgeons involved in the enhanced recovery programme in our unit have a flexible rota and so no surgeon was operating on a particular day to avoid bias. An enhanced recovery programme protocol was utilised for all the patients with no bowel preparation, early feeding and early mobilisation.

Setting

Study was carried out at the University Hospitals of Leicester.

Participants

Patients undergoing elective colorectal resection between Monday and Friday.

Main outcome measure

Hospital stay.

Results

Two hundred and twenty-seven patients underwent surgery and were on the enhanced recovery programme during this period. Two (0.9%) patients who had surgery on a Sunday were excluded. Two hundred and twenty-five patients were analysed of which 155 (69%) were in the group (Monday to Wednesday) and 70 (31%) in the group (Thursday to Friday). No significant differences were observed amongst the groups for age (p = 0.129), sex (p = 0.555), tumour location (p = 0.140), operation performed (p = 0.127), type of surgery (laparoscopy or open, p = 0.892), complications (p = 0.428). However, a significant shorter length of stay was present in the first group six days (interquartile range: 4–10) versus eight days (interquartile range: 5–11) (p = 0.045).

Conclusion

Operating on colorectal patients early in the week is associated with a significant decreased hospital stay. This should be put into consideration by units practising enhanced recovery programme if the maximal benefit of this is to be attained.
Doctors currently in jobs with academic content and their future intentions to pursue clinical academic careers: questionnaire surveys
Authors: Lambert Trevor W , Smith Fay , Goldacre Michael J
Published: March 2015

Summary

Objectives

Our aim was to report on doctors’ descriptions of their current post at about 12 years after qualification, in respect of academic content, and to compare this with their long-term intentions. By academic content, we mean posts that are designated as clinical academic posts or clinical service posts that include research and/or teaching commitments.

Design

Questionnaire survey.

Participants

All UK medical graduates of 1996 contacted in 2007, graduates of 1999 in 2012, and graduates of 2000 in 2012.

Setting

UK.

Main outcome measures

Responses about current posts and future intentions.

Method

Postal and email questionnaires.

Results

The response rate was 61.9% (6713/10844). Twenty eight per cent were working in posts with academic content (3.3% as clinical academics, 25% in clinical posts with some academic content). Seventeen per cent of women were working in clinical posts with some teaching and research, compared with 29% of men. A higher percentage of men than women intended to be clinical academics as their eventual career choice (3.9% overall, 5.4% of men, 2.7% of women). More doctors wished to move to a job with an academic component than away from one (N = 824 compared with 236). This was true for both men (433 compared with 118) and women (391 compared with 118).

Conclusions

Women are under-represented both in holding posts with academic content and in aspirations to do so. It is noteworthy that many more doctors hoped to move into an academic role than to move out of one. Policy should facilitate this wish in order to address current shortfalls in clinical academic medicine.
Discourses and Practices in Teaching Methods and Assessment
Authors: Gopinath Deepak
Published: March 2015

Translating the purposes of education into practice is particularly challenging for those who are new or have recently entered academia. By reflecting on my first years of teaching in higher education, I discuss two key aspects of my teaching practice: shifts in choice of teaching methods and a critique of different forms of assessment. Through the discussion, I argue that a teacher needs to be reflective on both these aspects and that such reflection needs to be carried out so that the student develops into a “self-directing,” “self-monitoring,” and “self-correcting” individual. At the end of the discussion, the relevance of a “project-based learning” approach starts to become significant in taking my pedagogical practice forward.
A Bridge to Recovery
Authors: Loya Rebecca M.
Published: March 2015

Sexual violence can trigger adverse economic events for survivors, including increased expenses and decreased earnings. Using interview data, this exploratory study examines how access to assets (liquid assets, familial financial assistance, and homeownership) affects survivors’ economic well-being during recovery. In keeping with asset theory, liquid assets and familial assistance can help offset post-assault expenses and facilitate access to services. Homeownership, meanwhile, appears to have mixed effects on survivors’ economic well-being. These findings suggest that the economic costs of sexual violence can burden survivors with fewer financial resources more heavily than those who own significant assets. As such, these findings shift the focus toward a dimension of inequality in recovery from sexual violence that is often overlooked in research and that may have implications for public policy and victim services.
Kinetics of gene expression and bone remodelling in the clinical phase of collagen-induced arthritis
Authors: Denninger Katja CM , Litman Thomas , Marstrand Troels , Moller Kristian , Svensson Lars , Labuda Tord , Andersson Åsa
Published: March 2015

Introduction

Pathological bone changes differ considerably between inflammatory arthritic diseases and most studies have focused on bone erosion. Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) is a model for rheumatoid arthritis, which, in addition to bone erosion, demonstrates bone formation at the time of clinical manifestations. The objective of this study was to use this model to characterise the histological and molecular changes in bone remodelling, and relate these to the clinical disease development.

Methods

A histological and gene expression profiling time-course study on bone remodelling in CIA was linked to onset of clinical symptoms. Global gene expression was studied with a gene chip array system.

Results

The main histopathological changes in bone structure and inflammation occurred during the first two weeks following the onset of clinical symptoms in the joint. Hereafter, the inflammation declined and remodelling of formed bone dominated.

Global gene expression profiling showed simultaneous upregulation of genes related to bone changes and inflammation in week 0 to 2 after onset of clinical disease. Furthermore, we observed time-dependent expression of genes involved in early and late osteoblast differentiation and function, which mirrored the histopathological bone changes. The differentially expressed genes belong to the bone morphogenetic pathway (BMP) and, in addition, include the osteoblast markers integrin-binding sialoprotein (Ibsp), bone gamma-carboxyglutamate protein (Bglap1), and secreted phosphoprotein 1 (Spp1). Pregnancy-associated protein A (Pappa) and periostin (Postn), differentially expressed in the early disease phase, are proposed to participate in bone formation, and we suggest that they play a role in early bone formation in the CIA model. Comparison to human genome-wide association studies (GWAS) revealed differential expression of several genes associated with human arthritis.

Conclusions

In the CIA model, bone formation in the joint starts shortly after onset of clinical symptoms, which results in bony fusion within one to two weeks. This makes it a candidate model for investigating the relationship between inflammation and bone formation in inflammatory arthritis.
Chronic rhinosinusitis: An under-researched epidemic
Authors: Rudmik Luke
Published: March 2015

Background

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a highly prevalent inflammatory disease with significant impacts on patient quality of life and daily productivity. Evaluating the volume of research on CRS, relative to similar chronic diseases, may provide insight into current disparities in research prioritization.

Methods

A systematic review was performed using Ovid MEDLINE (R) (1970 – December 31st, 2014) to define the volume of research publications for CRS, asthma, and diabetes mellitus (DM). Primary outcomes were overall volume of research publications and volume of publications per year. A subgroup analysis was performed using chi-square (χ2) omnibus test with 2×3 contingency tables to identify significant differences in the proportion of total randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and economic evaluation publications between CRS, asthma, and DM groups.

Results

There were substantial disparities in the volume of research published over the last 45 years for CRS (n = 7,962), asthma (n = 136,652), and DM (n = 337,411). Although the volume of research for CRS in increasing, the disparities in the annual publication volumes between CRS, asthma, and DM appeared consistent over the last 45 years.

Conclusions

Outcomes from this review have demonstrated a large disparity in the volume of published research for CRS compared to asthma and DM. Given the similarities in prevalence rates, impact on quality of life and economic burden, the relative under supply of CRS research should prompt efforts to increase research prioritization for this chronic disease.
Gravity gradient and magnetic terrain effects for airborne applications — A practical fast Fourier transform technique
Authors: Pedersen Laust Börsting , Bastani Mehrdad , Kamm Jochen
Published: March 2015

We have implemented a practical fast Fourier transform technique for fast and approximate calculation of terrain effects for airborne measurement of the gravity gradient tensor and the total magnetic field. The calculations proceed in two steps. Starting from a digital terrain model (DTM), we first calculate the fields on a plane surface lying above the highest point of the terrain in the selected area. This calculation can be made arbitrarily accurate by including a sufficiently large number of terms in Parker’s well-known Fourier transform technique. The second step involves a downward continuation of the fields to a draped surface describing the positions of the airborne measurements. The inherent instability of downward continuation through the level of the highest terrain is compensated for by low-pass filtering the calculated fields on the plane surface prior to downward continuation. We use a Gaussian filter with cutoff wavenumbers well below the Nyquist wavenumber corresponding to a wavelength equal to the distance between flight lines. Tests on synthetic data as well as on real data from a DTM from northern Sweden demonstrated that the method works well and provides a low-pass-filtered version of the true terrain effect.
Optimal reorientation of geophysical sensors: A quaternion-based analytical solution
Authors: Krieger Lars , Grigoli Francesco
Published: March 2015

One of the most critical problems affecting geophysical data acquisition procedures is related to the misorientation of multicomponent sensors with respect to a common reference system (e.g., geographic north). In many applications, misoriented sensors affect data analysis procedures, leading to errors in results and interpretations. These problems generally occur in applications where the orientation of the sensor cannot be actively controlled and is not known a priori, e.g., geophysical sensors deployed in borehole installations or on the seafloor. We have developed a quaternion-based method for the optimal reorientation of multicomponent geophysical sensors. In contrast to other approaches, we took into account the full time-series record from all sensor components. Therefore, our method could be applied to all time-series data and was not restricted to a certain type of geophysical sensor. Our method allows the robust calculation of relative reorientations between two-component or three-component sensors. By using a reference sensor in an iterative process, this result can be extended to the estimation of absolute sensor orientations. In addition to finding an optimal solution for a full 3D sensor rotation, we have established a rigorous scheme for the estimation of uncertainties of the resulting orientation parameters. We tested the feasibility and applicability of our method using synthetic data examples for a vertical seismic profile and an ocean bottom seismometer array. We noted that the quaternion-based reorientation method is superior to the standard approach of a single-parameter estimation of rotation angles.