bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychometric evaluation of the Post Hospitalization Behavior Questionnaire for Ambulatory Surgery and postoperative behavior and recovery in children undergoing tonsil surgery
Authors: Nilsson Ulrica , Ericsson Elisabeth , Eriksson Mats , Idvall Ewa , Bramhagen Ann-Cathrine
Published: June 2018

The study comprised a prospective, comparative cross-sectional survey in 143 (of 390) children undergoing tonsil surgery. Parents answered the Post Hospitalization Behavior Questionnaire for Ambulatory Surgery (PHBQ-AS), and children answered the questionnaire Postoperative Recovery in Children (PRiC). The PHBQ-AS had positive correlation with the PRiC and with general health. On day 10 after surgery, up to one-third of the children still reported physical symptoms (PRiC). No gender or age differences concerning the items of behavior (PHBQ-AS) were found. The quality of postoperative recovery (PRiC) in girls was lower, with higher levels of nausea, dizziness, coldness, and headache compared to the boys. Children <6 years of age reported higher levels of dizziness and lower sleep quality and lower general health.
Should age impact breast cancer management in young women? Fine tuning of treatment guidelines
Authors: Suter Matteo B. , Pagani Olivia
Published: June 2018

Despite breast cancer being uncommon in young women, it is still the most frequent cancer diagnosed in women aged 15–39 years, and the leading cause of death in this age group in high-income countries, after accidents and self-injury. The present review summarizes the most recent guidelines and offers an expert perspective on the many challenges associated with treatment of young women with breast cancer. We will especially focus on early breast cancer, exploring the specificities of the diagnostic process, imaging techniques, locoregional and systemic treatments, and the added value of dedicated multidisciplinary teams. Specific differences in adjuvant treatment between premenopausal and postmenopausal women, especially regarding endocrine therapy, will be addressed in detail. Research questions and current gaps in important fields, such as the paucity of age-specific data regarding antihuman epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (anti-HER2) therapy and gene panels such as OncotypeDX or MAMMAPRINT will be highlighted. A consistent part of this review is dedicated to the issues defining ‘young women’, such as fertility preservation, managing long-term side effects of oncological treatments and genetic counselling, by detailing current strategies and future perspectives.
Switching costs impact on customer retention in telecommunication
Authors: Thoumy Mira , Abdallah Elie
Published: June 2018

Purpose:

The purpose of this article is to assess the switching costs impact on the customer retention in the Lebanese telecommunication industry.

Design/methodology/approach:

Based on previous literature around customer retention and switching costs, a qualitative survey was conducted on one of the two operators managing the telecommunication market in Lebanon. Focus groups were organized to capture the point of view and perspective of top managers of the operator, results were then coded, and analyzed.

Findings:

Due to the current duopoly and status quo of the Lebanese telecommunication market, owned completely by the government and managed by two operators sharing the market equally and offering nearly the same portfolio, technologies and network coverage, the switching costs include only the time and effort needed to switch to the other operator, the financial fees to be paid upon buying a new subscription, the attachment to mobile number, and the relational loss from breaking bond with the current provider.

Research limitations/implications:

Focus group sessions were conducted with managers of one of the two telecom operators in Lebanon, and it might be relevant to interview the managers of the other operator as well. This topic was tackled from the provider’s point of view; it would be interesting to check the customers’ point of view.

Practical implications:

Managers in the Lebanese telecommunication industry can prepare marketing strategies including customer retention programs and well-designed switching costs to protect and increase their market share once this sector induces more competition either with the introduction of the number portability service or with the privatization of this sector in Lebanon.

Originality/value:

The customer retention and switching costs constructs are not yet studied in the Lebanese telecommunication market, and also due to the saturation in this industry, customer retention is becoming an imperative topic to all operators in this business.
Real-world effectiveness of long-acting antipsychotic treatments in a nationwide cohort of 3957 patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and other diagnoses in Quebec
Authors: Stip Emmanuel , Lachaine Jean
Published: June 2018

Background:

Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAI-AP) for patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) have saved significant healthcare costs. However, the cost effectiveness of LAI-AP for patients with other mental disorders has yet to be established. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of early initiation of LAI-AP medications on healthcare resource utilization (HRU). Drawing on the Quebecois universal healthcare program (RAMQ), we conducted a nationwide prospective cohort study of LAI-AP under real-world conditions.

Methods:

This study was performed using a representative sample of patients newly treated with LAI-AP ( n = 3957) who were covered by the Québec Health Insurance Plan. The index date was defined as the date of the first prescription for LAI-AP between 1 January 2008 and 31 March 2012. We collected (a) the demographics and patient characteristics; (b) the treatment characteristics index drug, speciality of the principal prescriber, prescriptions of LAI-AP; and (c) HRU and costs. Two comparisons were made between (a) non-SCZ users of LAI-AP and SCZ users of LAI-AP; and (b) patients with SCZ using first-generation antipsychotic LAI-AP (FGA-LAI) and second-generation antipsychotic LAI-AP (SGA-LAI).

Results:

In the people with SCZ group, 976 patients were on an SGA-LAI, and 1020 patients were on an FGA-LAI; 41.9% of all users were on risperidone LAI-AP during this period and 17.9% were on zuclopenthixol decanoate. The number of hospitalizations was reduced by half. Durations were also significantly reduced. The total healthcare cost savings for all users were C$29,876 per patient/per year. Younger patients tended to receive more SGA-LAI than FGA-LAI: 29% versus 13%. The percentage of general practitioners who prescribe LAI-AP is higher in the FGA-LAI group than in the SGA-LAI group: 19% versus 13%. For psychiatrist prescribers, it is the opposite: 86% (SGA-LAI) versus 79% (FGA-LAI). The concomitant use of oral antipsychotics (OAP) in the year following index date is higher in the FGA-LAI group: 75% versus 43%. The number of hospitalization days was reduced by 31.5 days in the FGA-LAI group and 38.8 days in the SGA-LAI group. Cost savings were of C$31,924 in the FGA-LAI group and of C$39,100 in the SGA-LAI group.

Conclusion:

The initiation of LAI-AP saved significant costs to the province of Québec compared with the previous year. Initiation of a LAI-AP resulted in lower resource use. Higher medication costs were offset by lower inpatient and outpatient costs.
Ischemic stroke rates decrease with increased ticagrelor use after acute myocardial infarction in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Ulvenstam Anders , Henriksson Robin , Söderström Lars , Mooe Thomas
Published: June 2018

Aims

It is unknown whether dual antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor instead of clopidogrel reduces the risk of ischaemic stroke in acute myocardial infarction patients that undergo percutaneous coronary intervention. This study investigated whether the introduction of dual antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor was associated with reduced ischaemic stroke risk in a real-world population.

Methods and results

Patients with ischaemic stroke after acute myocardial infarction from 8 December 2009–31 December 2013 were identified using the Register for Information and Knowledge on Swedish Heart Intensive Care Admissions and the Swedish National Patient Register. The study period was divided into two similar periods using the date of the first prescription of ticagrelor as the cut-off. The risk of ischaemic stroke in percutaneous coronary intervention-treated acute myocardial infarction patients during the first period (100% clopidogrel treatment) versus the second period (60.7% ticagrelor treatment) was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Variables associated with ischaemic stroke were identified using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. There were 686 ischaemic stroke events (2.0%) among 34931 percutaneous coronary intervention-treated acute myocardial infarction patients within one year, 366 (2.2%) during the first period and 320 (1.8%) during the second period ( p = 0.004). The Cox model showed a 21% relative risk reduction in ischaemic stroke in the second period versus the first one (hazard ratio 0.79, 95% confidence interval, 0.68–0.92; p = 0.003). The independent predictors of increased stroke risk were older age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, heart failure during hospitalization, previous ischaemic stroke, and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Conclusion

The risk of ischaemic stroke in percutaneous coronary intervention-treated acute myocardial infarction patients decreased after the introduction of ticagrelor in Sweden.
Incidental peritoneal tuberculosis: surgeon’s dilemma in endemic regions
Authors: Krishnamurthy Gautham , Rajendran Jayapal , Sharma Vishal , Kumar Hemanth , Singh Harjeet
Published: June 2018

Background:

Peritoneal tuberculosis has varying clinical manifestations. The study was conducted to highlight the entity of incidental peritoneal tuberculosis. Diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma is likely to occur on detection of unexpected peritoneal nodules.

Materials and methodology:

Incidental peritoneal tuberculosis was defined as peritoneal tuberculosis (peritoneal tubercles or ascites) detected intraoperatively in patients undergoing surgical exploration for other indications with no preoperative suspicion of abdominal tuberculosis or active tubercular lesions anywhere in the body. Retrospective analysis of patients operated in our department from June 2016 to November 2017 was performed.

Results:

Of the 409 patients operated, 5 patients (1.2%) had incidental peritoneal tuberculosis. The primary indication of surgery was laparoscopic cholecystectomy in three, restoration of bowel continuity in one and laparoscopic appendectomy in one. Two patients had remote history of antitubercular therapy for pulmonary and nodal tuberculosis, respectively. The three patients planned for laparoscopic cholecystectomy had their procedures deferred on suspicion of peritoneal carcinomatosis. Subsequently, all the three underwent cholecystectomy after completion of antitubercular treatment. None of the resected specimen (gallbladder/appendix/colon) had evidence of tuberculosis (acid fast bacilli positive or caseating granuloma). Antitubercular treatment for 6 months was completed in all the patients with active peritoneal disease.

Conclusion:

Incidental peritoneal tuberculosis represents an uncommon form of peritoneal tuberculosis. Absence of prior tuberculosis does not preclude the diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis. In an endemic region of tuberculosis, surgeons must be aware of the entity on encountering such finding. Frozen section can help in guiding appropriate management.
Penile urethral stricture disease
Authors: Spilotros Marco , Venn Suzie , Anderson Paul , Greenwell Tamsin
Published: June 2018

Patients affected by a urethral stricture account for a considerable cost to all healthcare systems. The estimated prevalence of all urethral stricture in the UK is 10/100,000 men during youth, increasing to about 40/100,000 by age 65 years and to more than 100/100,000 thereafter. A penile urethral stricture is a narrowing of the lumen of the urethra due to ischaemic fibrosis of the urethral epithelium and/or spongiofibrosis of the corpus spongiosum occurring within the penile urethra. Its aetiology is largely idiopathic but other important causes are failed hypospadias repair and lichen sclerosus, which account for 60% of all cases. Strictures of the anterior urethra account for 92% of cases: bulbar strictures are more frequent (46.9%), followed by penile (30.5%) and combined bulbar/penile (9.9%), that is, 40.4% of all men presenting with stricture will have a penile urethral stricture alone or in combination with a bulbar urethral stricture. There are several options for the treatment of penile urethral strictures ranging from less invasive treatments, including urethral dilatation and direct vision internal urethrotomy, to more complex augmentation graft and flap urethroplasty. The aim of the present review is to describe the aetiology and epidemiology of anterior urethral strictures and the available options reported in literature for their treatment.

Level of evidence: 1a
Beyond Statistics: Accepting the Null Hypothesis in Mature Sciences
Authors: Morey Richard D. , Homer Saskia , Proulx Travis
Published: June 2018

Scientific theories explain phenomena using simplifying assumptions—for instance, that the speed of light does not depend on the direction in which the light is moving, or that the shape of a pea plant’s seeds depends on a small number of alleles randomly obtained from its parents. These simplifying assumptions often take the form of statistical null hypotheses; hence, supporting these simplifying assumptions with statistical evidence is crucial to scientific progress, though it might involve “accepting” a null hypothesis. We review two historical examples in which statistical evidence was used to accept a simplifying assumption (that there is no luminiferous ether and that genetic traits are passed on in discrete forms) and one in which the null hypothesis was not accepted despite repeated failures (gravitational waves), drawing lessons from each. We emphasize the role of the scientific context in acceptance of the null: Accepting a null hypothesis is never a purely statistical affair.
Towards Victim-oriented Police? Some Reflections on the Concept and Purpose of Policing and Their Implications for Victim-oriented Police Reform
Authors: Paterson Craig , Williams Andrew
Published: June 2018

The global policy drift towards community policing and an enhanced philosophical and practical orientation towards victims of crime has been slow but incrementally successful in some jurisdictions. This article uses a comparative approach to review the different conceptual and theoretical assumptions that underpin thinking about policing to tentatively identify the factors that support victim-oriented police reform. The article draws on evidence from India and Argentina plus England and Wales to assess how different policing models have translated victim-oriented language into practice. It is notable that while police forces across the globe often share a common understanding of police functions, there is less agreement when referring to how to engage with citizens and balancing the broader panoply of policing priorities. Conceptual understandings of policing often contain unarticulated assumptions about how policing should be done, and this partly explains why placing citizenship and victims at the core in rhetorical terms does not always translate into practice. The article concludes with a call for a concerted effort to articulate a clear philosophical and conceptual understanding of victim-oriented policing as an enabler of police reform.
Comparison of glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase status by fluorescent spot test and rapid diagnostic test in Lao PDR and Cambodia
Authors: Henriques Gisela , Phommasone Koukeo , Tripura Rupam , Peto Thomas J. , Raut Shristi , Snethlage Coco , Sambo Im , Sanann Nou , Nguon Chea , Adhikari Bipin , Pongvongsa Tiengkham , Imwong Mallika , von Seidlein Lorenz , Day Nicholas P. , White Nicholas J. , Dondorp Arjen M. , Newton Paul , Ley Benedikt , Mayxay Mayfong
Published: June 2018

Background

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common enzymopathy worldwide. Primaquine is the only licensed drug that effectively removes Plasmodium vivax hypnozoites from the human host and prevents relapse. While well tolerated by most recipients, primaquine can cause haemolysis in G6PD deficient individuals and is, therefore, underused. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) could permit ascertainment of G6PD status outside of laboratory settings and hence safe treatment in remote areas. The performance of the fluorescent spot test (Trinity, Ireland; FST) and a G6PD RDT (Carestart, USA) against spectrophotometry were assessed.

Methods

Participants were enrolled during cross-sectional surveys in Laos and by purposive sampling in Cambodia. FST and RDT were performed during village surveys and 3 mL of venous blood was collected for subsequent G6PD measurement by spectrophotometry.

Results

A total of 757 participants were enrolled in Laos and 505 in Cambodia. FST and RDT performed best at 30% cut-off activity and performed significantly better in Laos than in Cambodia. When defining intermediate results as G6PD deficient, the FST had a sensitivity of 100% (95%CI 90–100) and specificity of 90% (95%CI 87.7–92.2) in Laos and sensitivity of 98% (94.1–99.6) and specificity of 71% (95%CI 66–76) in Cambodia (p < 0.001). The RDT had sensitivity and specificity of 100% (95%CI 90–100) and 99% (95%CI 97–99) in Laos and sensitivity and specificity of 91% (86–96) and 93% (90–95) in Cambodia (p < 0.001). The RDT performed significantly better (all p < 0.05) than the FST when intermediate FST results were defined as G6PD deficient.

Conclusion

The interpretation of RDT results requires some training but is a good alternative to the FST.

Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov; NCT01872702; 06/27/2013; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01872702
Systematic measurement error in self-reported health: is anchoring vignettes the way out?
Authors: Dasgupta Aparajita
Published: June 2018

This paper studies systematic reporting heterogeneity in self-assessed health in India using World Health Survey (WHS)-SAGE survey that has subjective assessments on own health and hypothetical vignettes as well as objective measures like measured anthropometrics and performance tests on a range of health domains. The study implicitly tests and validates the assumption of response consistency in a developing country setting, thus lending support to the use of vignettes. Additionally, we are able to control for unobservable heterogeneities of reporting behavior at the individual level by employing individual fixed-effects estimation using multiple ratings on a set of vignettes by the same person. The study confirms identical pattern of systematic bias by the socioeconomic subgroups as is indicated by vignette technique. It further highlights that substantial amount of reporting heterogeneity remains unexplained after controlling for the usual socioeconomic control variables. The finding has potentially broader implications for research based on self-reported data in a developing country.

JEL Classification:C83, D91, I12, I18, I15, I32, J10
Seismic fault detection with convolutional neural network
Authors: Xiong Wei , Ji Xu , Ma Yue , Wang Yuxiang , AlBinHassan Nasher M. , Ali Mustafa N. , Luo Yi
Published: June 2018

Mapping fault planes using seismic images is a crucial and time-consuming step in hydrocarbon prospecting. Conventionally, this requires significant manual efforts that normally go through several iterations to optimize how the different fault planes connect with each other. Many techniques have been developed to automate this process, such as seismic coherence estimation, edge detection, and ant-tracking, to name a few. However, these techniques do not take advantage of the valuable experience accumulated by the interpreters. We have developed a method that uses the convolutional neural network (CNN) to automatically detect and map fault zones using 3D seismic images in a similar fashion to the way done by interpreters. This new technique is implemented in two steps: training and prediction. In the training step, a CNN model is trained with annotated seismic image cubes of field data, where every point in the seismic image is labeled as fault or nonfault. In the prediction step, the trained model is applied to compute fault probabilities at every location in other seismic image cubes. Unlike reported methods in the literature, our technique does not require precomputed attributes to predict the faults. We verified our approach on the synthetic and field data sets. We clearly determined that the CNN-computed fault probability outperformed that obtained using the coherence technique in terms of exhibiting clearer discontinuities. With the capability of emulating human experience and evolving through training using new field data sets, deep-learning tools manifest huge potential in automating and advancing seismic fault mapping.
An airborne electromagnetic system with a three-component transmitter and three-component receiver capable of detecting extremely conductive bodies
Authors: Smith Richard S.
Published: June 2018

Extremely conductive bodies, such as those containing valuable nickel sulfides, have a secondary response that is dominated by an in-phase component, so this secondary response is very difficult to distinguish from the primary field emanating from the transmitter (because by definition they are identical in temporal shape and phase). Hence, an airborne electromagnetic (AEM) system able to identify the response from the extremely conductive bodies in the ground must be able to predict the primary field to identify and measure the secondary response of the extremely conductive body. This is normally done by having a rigid system and bucking out the predicted primary (which will not change significantly due to the rigidity). Unfortunately, these rigid systems must be small and are not capable of detecting extremely conductive bodies buried deeper than approximately 100 m. Another approach is to measure the transmitter current and geometry and subtract the primary mathematically, but these measurements must be extremely accurate and this is difficult or expensive, so it has not been done successfully for an AEM system. I exploit the geometric relationship of the primary fields from a three-component (3C) dipole transmitter. If the transmitter is mathematically rotated so that one axis points to the receiver, then linear combinations of the fields measured by a 3C receiver can be combined in such a way that the primary fields from the transmitter sum to zero and cancel. Alternatively, the measured transmitter current and response could be used to estimate the transmitter-receiver geometry and then to predict and remove the primary field. Any residual must be the secondary coming from a conductive body in the ground. Hence, extremely conductive bodies containing valuable minerals can be found. An AEM system with a 3C transmitter and a 3C receiver should not be too difficult to build.
Spinal Activation of Tropomyosin Receptor Kinase-B Recovers the Impaired Endogenous Analgesia in Neuropathic Pain Rats
Authors: Kato Daiki , Suto Takashi , Obata Hideaki , Saito Shigeru
Published: June 2018

BACKGROUND:

Although endogenous analgesia plays an important role in controlling pain states, chronic pain patients exhibit decreased endogenous analgesia compared to healthy individuals. In rats, noxious stimulus–induced analgesia (NSIA), which is an indicator of endogenous analgesia, diminished 6 weeks after spinal nerve ligation (SNL6W). A recent study in rats with deleted noradrenergic fibers demonstrated that the noradrenergic fibers were essential to NSIA. It has also been reported that brain-derived neurotrophic factor increased spinal noradrenergic fibers. Therefore, this study examined the effect of TrkB activation, which is the receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, on impaired NSIA in SNL6W rats. In addition, we also examined the effect of endogenous analgesia on acute incisional pain.

METHODS:

After 5 daily intraperitoneal injections of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF, TrkB agonist, 5 mg/kg), NSIA was examined by measuring the withdrawal threshold increment in the left (contralateral to nerve ligation) hindpaw at 30 minutes after capsaicin injection (250 μg) in the forepaw. K252a (TrkB antagonist, 2 μg) was administrated intrathecally for 5 days. Idazoxan (α2 adrenoceptor antagonist, 30 μg), atropine (muscarinic antagonist, 30 μg), and propranolol (nonselective β adrenoceptor antagonist, 30 μg) were administered intrathecally for 15 minutes before capsaicin injection. Microdialysis and immunohistochemistry were performed to examine the noradrenergic plasticity in the spinal dorsal horn. A hindpaw incision was performed on the left (contralateral to nerve ligation) hindpaw. Data were analyzed by 1-way analyses of variance or 2-way repeated-measures 1-way analysis of variance followed by a Student t test with Bonferroni correction.

RESULTS:

Five daily intraperitoneal injections of 7,8-DHF restored the attenuated NSIA in SNL6W rats (n = 7, P = .002; estimated treatment effect [95% CI]: 62.9 [27.0–98.7] g), with this effect blocked by 5 daily intrathecal coadministrations of K252a (n = 6, P < .001; −57.8 [−78.3 to −37.2] g). This effect was also inhibited by a single intrathecal administration of idazoxan (n = 8, P < .001; −61.6 [–92.4 to −30.9] g) and atropine (n = 8, P = .003; −52.6 [–73.3 to −31.9] g), but not by propranolol. Furthermore, 7,8-DHF increased the noradrenergic fiber in the spinal dorsal horn and the noradrenaline release in response to the capsaicin injection in the forepaw in SNL6W rats. In addition, repeated injections of 7,8-DHF prevented delayed recovery from incisional pain in SNL6W rats.

CONCLUSIONS:

Spinal activation of TrkB may recover the attenuated endogenous analgesia by improving the adrenergic plasticity, thereby leading to prevention of pain prolongation after surgery.
Non-linear amplification of graded voltage signals in the first-order visual interneurons of the butterflyPapilio xuthus
Authors: Rusanen Juha , Frolov Roman , Weckström Matti , Kinoshita Michiyo , Arikawa Kentaro
Published: June 2018

Lamina monopolar cells (LMCs) are the first-order visual interneurons of insects and crustacea, primarily involved in achromatic vision. Here we investigated morphological and electrophysiological properties of LMCs in the butterfly Papilio xuthus. Using intracellular recording coupled with dye injection, we found two types of LMCs. Cells with roundish terminals near the distal surface of the medulla demonstrating no or small depolarizing spikes were classified as L1/2. LMCs with elongated terminals deep in the medulla that showed prominent spiking were classified as L3/4. The majority of LMCs of both types had broad spectral sensitivities, peaking between 480 and 570 nm. Depending on the experimental conditions, spikes varied from small to action potential-like events, with their amplitudes and rates decreasing as stimulus brightness increased. When the eye was stimulated with naturalistic contrast-modulated time series, spikes were reliably triggered by high-contrast components of the stimulus. Spike-triggered average functions showed that spikes emphasize rapid membrane depolarizations. Our results suggest that spikes are mediated by voltage-activated Na+ channels, which are mainly inactivated at rest. Strong local minima in the coherence functions of spiking LMCs indicate that the depolarizing conductance contributes to the amplification of graded responses even when detectable spikes are not evoked. We propose that the information transfer strategies of spiking LMCs change with light intensity. In dim light, both graded voltage signals and large spikes are used together without mutual interference, due to separate transmission bandwidths. In bright light, signals are non-linearly amplified by the depolarizing conductance in the absence of detectable spikes.
Dehydration Impairs Cognitive Performance: A Meta-analysis
Authors: WITTBRODT MATTHEW T. , MILLARD-STAFFORD MELINDA
Published: June 2018

Dehydration (DEH) is believed to impair cognitive performance but which domains are affected and at what magnitude of body mass loss (BML) remains unclear.

Purpose

To conduct systematic literature review and meta-analysis to determine the effect size (ES) of DEH on cognitive performance and influence of experimental design factors (e.g., DEH > 2% BML).

Methods

Thirty-three studies were identified, providing 280 ES estimates from 413 subjects with DEH ranging from 1% to 6% BML. Outcome variables (accuracy, reaction time), cognitive domains, and methods to induce DEH varied. Effect sizes were calculated using standardized mean differences and multivariate meta-analysis.

Results

Impairment of cognitive performance (all domains/outcomes) with DEH was small but significant (ES = −0.21; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.31 to −0.11; P < 0.0001) with significant heterogeneity (Q(279) = 696.0, P < 0.0001; I
2 = 37.6%). Tasks of executive function (ES = −0.24; 95% CI: −0.37 to −0.12), attention (ES = −0.52; 95% CI: −0.66 to −0.37), and motor coordination (ES = −0.40 to 95% CI: −0.63 to −0.17) were significantly impaired (P ≤ 0.01) after DEH, and attention/motor coordination was different (P < 0.001) from reaction time specific tasks (ES = −0.10; 95% CI: −0.23 to 0.02). Body mass loss was associated with the ES for cognitive impairment (P = 0.04); consequently, impairment was greater (P = 0.04) for studies reporting >2% BML (ES = −0.28; 95% CI: −0.41 to −0.16) compared with ≤2%; (ES = −0.14; 95% CI: −0.27 to 0.00).

Conclusions

Despite variability among studies, DEH impairs cognitive performance, particularly for tasks involving attention, executive function, and motor coordination when water deficits exceed 2% BML.
Modeling Training Loads and Injuries: The Dangers of Discretization
Authors: CAREY DAVID L. , CROSSLEY KAY M. , WHITELEY ROD , MOSLER ANDREA , ONG KOK-LEONG , CROW JUSTIN , MORRIS MEG E.
Published: June 2018

Purpose

To evaluate common modeling strategies in training load and injury risk research when modeling continuous variables and interpreting continuous risk estimates; and present improved modeling strategies.

Method

Workload data were pooled from Australian football (n = 2550) and soccer (n = 23,742) populations to create a representative sample of acute:chronic workload ratio observations for team sports. Injuries were simulated in the data using three predefined risk profiles (U-shaped, flat and S-shaped). One-hundred data sets were simulated with sample sizes of 1000 and 5000 observations. Discrete modeling methods were compared with continuous methods (spline regression and fractional polynomials) for their ability to fit the defined risk profiles. Models were evaluated using measures of discrimination (area under receiver operator characteristic [ROC] curve) and calibration (Brier score, logarithmic scoring).

Results

Discrete models were inferior to continuous methods for fitting the true injury risk profiles in the data. Discrete methods had higher false discovery rates (16%–21%) than continuous methods (3%–7%). Evaluating models using the area under the ROC curve incorrectly identified discrete models as superior in over 30% of simulations. Brier and logarithmic scoring was more suited to assessing model performance with less than 6% discrete model selection rate.

Conclusions

Many studies on the relationship between training loads and injury that have used regression modeling have significant limitations due to improper discretization of continuous variables and risk estimates. Continuous methods are more suited to modeling the relationship between training load and injury. Comparing injury risk models using ROC curves can lead to inferior model selection. Measures of calibration are more informative judging the utility of injury risk models.
Psychodiagnostics: Classification of the Yips Phenomenon based on Musician’s Dystonia
Authors: IOANNOU CHRISTOS I. , KLÄMPFL MARTIN K. , LOBINGER BABETT H. , RAAB MARKUS , ALTENMÜLLER ECKART
Published: June 2018

Purpose

Similar to musician’s focal dystonia, a task-specific phenomenon known as yips, has also been reported in professional athletes. Yips is usually described as focal dystonia, or choking under pressure, or as lying on a continuum between both. Based on the common occupational conditions across musicians and athletes, the present exploratory study aimed to investigate whether musicians diagnosed with focal dystonia and golfers affected with yips, can be similarly subclassified based on their psychological profiles.

Methods

Twenty healthy musicians, 20 musicians with focal dystonia, 20 healthy golfers, and 20 yips-affected golfers went through a test battery including three psycho-diagnostic standardized questionnaires (the Competitive Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Frost’s Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, and the Stress Coping Questionnaire), measuring trait cognitive and somatic anxiety, perfectionistic tendencies and different stress coping strategies.

Results

Findings based on a clustering procedure suggest that similar to musician’s dystonia, yips-affected golfers can be classified into those with and those without specific elevated perfectionistic, stress and anxiety traits. The roles of these different psychological profiles as possible triggering factors of the yips are discussed and compared with those of musician’s dystonia.

Conclusions

The current study suggests that the yips phenomenon might cover a broader range of different subtypes of movement disturbances than those already suggested in the literature. Finally, a theoretical model, which explains the role of the different triggering factors in the discrimination of the different subtypes, is suggested. A better classification and understanding of the different subtypes of yips could lead to a more accurate diagnosis and to the design of more individualized treatment intervention.
Disentangling the infrageneric classification of megadiverse taxa from Mata Atlantica: Phylogeny of Miconia section Chaenanthera (Melastomataceae: Miconieae)
Authors: Goldenberg Renato , Reginato Marcelo , Michelangeli Fabián A.
Published: June 2018

Miconia is the largest genus restricted to the Neotropics, with about 1060 species, and one of the biggest in Mata Atlântica, with 115 species. As currently defined,Miconia is clearly polyphyletic with no clear boundaries to the other genera in the Miconieae. Moreover, the traditional infrageneric classification does not reflect the evolutionary history of the group, thus limiting its utility for identification and monographic purposes. Miconia sect. Chaenanthera and M. sect. Jucunda are two sections mostly restricted to Mata Atlântica that have previously been shown to belong to a single clade (Chaenanthera clade), despite being morphologically distinct from each other. In this paper, we provide a new phylogenetic hypothesis for the Chaenanthera clade with an expanded sampling of both taxa and molecular markers, in order to provide a base for future taxonomic studies. Given the incongruent patterns observed across different markers in our preliminary analyses, a phylogenetic network was also estimated for the group. The history of some morphological characters was reconstructed and the phylogenetic position of a few molecularly unsampled species was estimated based on their morphology. The Chaenanthera clade was corroborated with strong support, although resolution is still unsatisfactory for several relationships within the group. Individual flower­related characters do not reliably predict phylogenetic relationships in this group. Morphological diagnostic characters for above species taxa will demand character combinations and likely the inclusion of other sources of information. We also present the first line of evidence supporting the presence of reticulation shaping the history of the Chaenanthera clade. The concerted effect of incongruent signal, limited variability, incomplete lineage sorting and reticulation events, is certainly a major force driving the phylogenetic support recovered in our analyses, and likely in several other published trees across Melastomataceae.
Engineering procedure in electron-beam welding of blade packet for steam turbines
Authors: Хейфец М. , Kheifets M. , Бородавко В. , Borodavko V. , Пынькин А. , Pynkin A. , Грецкий Н. , Gretsky N.
Published: June 2018

A technology for manufacturing a steam turbine blade packet made of heat-resistant high-alloy hard-to-weld steel of a martensitic class is offered. The advantage of electron-beam welding use at the assembly of a blade packet instead of a common electric arc welding method in protective environment is described. A technological tooling specially designed essential for welding process automation is considered. There are shown results of laser scanning a blade packet geometry with the aid of NikonMetrology MCAx40+ coordinate measuring arm with the further computer analysis of results obtained in applied Focus software which has shown that thermal deformations are within the limits of a tolerance for the mentioned operation and exclude completely further processing.

The application of electron-beam welding at manufacturing a blade packet allows increasing assembly quality, decreasing defects and cost price of an engineering process.
Performance Approximation of Emergency Service Systems with Priorities and Partial Backups
Authors: Karimi Akbar , Gendreau Michel , Verter Vedat
Published: June 2018

An approximate procedure is presented for priority emergency service systems with partial backups where requests for service with a given origin and priority can be responded to by a certain subset of response units. We introduce and analyze the family of queuing and loss systems with partial service and use them to approximate the distribution of the number of busy response units, which in turn enables us to estimate the average server workloads, immediate and delayed dispatch rates, and waiting delays as system performance measures. We consider systems with zero and infinite queue capacities and let the dispatching policies and service times depend on call priority and customer and server locations. The validity of the approximation model and its computational aspects are studied through numerous tests and a realistic application of locating a fleet of ambulances in downtown Montréal.

The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2017.0810 .
Digital marketing in dentistry and ethical implications
Authors: De Lira Ana de Lourdes Sá , Magalhães Bruna Mouzinho
Published: June 2018

With the increase of competition in the market of dental services, it is necessary to use marketing tools that emphasize the dental surgeon and dental clinics. Digital marketing is one of the fastest growing available resources among health professionals, who use websites and social networks as a means of communication, advertisement and publicity. The objective of this literature review was to compare the digital marketing with other marketing strategies in dentistry based on the code of ethics, in order to increase productivity, capture new patients and loyalty of those in treatment. Indexed searches were carried out in the databases LILACS, MEDLINE, SCIELO, BIREME, PORTAL CAPES and included 27 articles, published between 1998 and 2017. It was concluded that digital marketing has shown to be of great importance in the dental services market, if in conjunction with the other types of external and internal marketing, as long as it obeys the ethical precepts of the Dental Ethics Board. KeywordsDental ethics; Marketing; Marketing of health services; Social media.
Prevalence of foramen tympanicum (or of huschke) in a brazilian population: a cone beam computed tomography study
Authors: Lima Annamaria Teixeira , Leme Thais Camargo , Barbieri Ana Amélia , Assis Afonso Celso Souza , Manhães Júnior Luís Roberto , Lopes Sergio Lucio Pereira de Castro
Published: June 2018

Objective: To study the prevalence of foramen of Huschke (FH) or foramen tympanicum (FT) in a Brazilian population by means of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Material & Methods: 303 tomographic examinations were selected from an oral radiology clinic’s archive, totalising 606 temporomandibular joints (TMJs), all acquired with an I-CAT CBCT scanner (Next Generation, Imaging Science International, Hatfield, PA, USA) operating at voxel size of 0.25 mm and field of view (FoV) between 6.0 to 8.0-cm height to encompass the mid-third of the face. The images were analysed by using XORAN software (Xoran Technologies, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA) on a multiplanar reconstruction window, in which the entire tympanic region (right and left) was individually scanned in the supero-inferior orientation for presence of FH through axial sections. Results: Considering the total sample, we observed a prevalence of 14 foramens (2.27%), with FT being more prevalent in females than in males (respectively, 1.46 % and 0.81%); as for age, we found a higher prevalence of FT in males aged between 0 and 20 years old (0.33%) and in females older than 70 years old (0.66%); and as for the affected side, that is, presence of unilateral or bilateral FT, we found that 0.65% of the examinations had unilateral FT, whereas 1.62% had bilateral FT. Conclusion: FT had a prevalence of 2.27% in our sample, with females being more affected than males and highly prevalent (0.66%) in women older than 70 years old.
Adhesive materials and technology – Brazil & Japan
Authors: Giannini Marcelo , Nikai Toru , Tagami Junji
Published: June 2018

BRAZIL-JAPAN JOINT SYMPOSIUM ON ADHESIVE DENTISTRY 2017
Retos del sistema educativo Colombiano para la implementación de la política de prevención y erradicación del trabajo infantil
Authors: Anzelin Ingrid , Martinez Jefferson Galeano , Parra Moreno Ciro Hernando
Published: June 2018

Evitar rupturas en las trayectorias educativas por problemáticas sociales exige acciones sinérgicas entre la política social y la política educativa. Esta investigación da cuenta de elementos que inciden en la articulación entre estas dos políticas, a partir de un estudio de caso instrumental que identifica las dificultades en el proceso de implementación de los compromisos asignados por la política de prevención y erradicación del trabajo infantil al sistema educativo. Para la reconstrucción del caso, se analizaron documentos de política de las dos últimas décadas y se consultaron 42 actores en distintos niveles del sistema educativo y de protección en Colombia y Bogotá. Se encuentra que el conocimiento e interpretación del trabajo infantil, la articulación entre los diferentes niveles del sistema educativo y la capacidad técnica y operativa de los actores que deben implementar las acciones establecidas por la política de prevención y erradicación del trabajo infantil, al interior de las instituciones educativas, resultan factores imprescindibles para responder de manera pertinente a la realidad de los estudiantes trabajadores.
Asymmetric Robin Problems with Indefinite Potential and Concave Terms
Authors: Papageorgiou Nikolaos S. , Rădulescu Vicenţiu D. , Repovš Dušan D.
Published: June 2018

We consider a parametric semilinear Robin problem driven by the Laplacian plus an indefinite and unbounded potential. In the reaction, we have the competing effects of a concave term appearing with a negative sign and of an asymmetric asymptotically linear term which is resonant in the negative direction. Using variational methods together with truncation and perturbation techniques and Morse theory (critical groups), we prove two multiplicity theorems producing four and five, respectively, nontrivial smooth solutions when the parameter

λ
>
0

{\lambda>0}

is small.
Measuring the Deterrent Effect of European Cartel Law Enforcement
Authors: Moritz Birgit , Becker Martin , Schmidtchen Dieter
Published: June 2018

This article proposes a new approach to measuring the deterrent effect of cartel law enforcement by combining a game-theoretic model with Monte Carlo simulations. The game-theoretical analysis shows which type of perfect Bayesian Nash equilibria is obtained depending on the parameter setup: perfect compliance, imperfect compliance or zero compliance. For each equilibrium, we also derive the probabilities of type I (false-positive) and type II (false-negative) errors committed by the cartel authority. To account for the uncertainty and the vague knowledge concerning the model parameters, we perform Monte Carlo simulations based on parameter ranges extracted from the related literature. The simulations indicate that zero compliance dominates the picture and that the error probabilities are high for type II and negligible for type I errors. The results are fairly robust against correlation in the input parameters. Further robustness studies and interactive visualizations can be obtained with a supplemental web application.
A computational algorithm and the method of determining the temperature field along the length of the rod of variable cross section
Authors: Kudaykulov Anarbay , Tashev A. A. , Askarova A.
Published: June 2018

Bearing elements of a number of strategic equipment are limited length rods with a variable cross-section. Most of them are exposed to certain types of heat sources. To ensure reliable operation of these equipment it is necessary to know the temperature field along the length of the rod with a variable cross section. This paper proposes a computational algorithm and method to determine the temperature field along the length of the rod with limited length and variable cross-section. They are based on fundamental laws of energy conservation. Also obtained is an approximate analytical solution of the problem.
The effects of nonce words, frequency, contextual richness, and L2 vocabulary knowledge on the incidental acquisition of vocabulary through reading: more than a replication of Zahar et al. (2001) & Tekmen and Daloğlu (2006)
Authors: Reynolds Barry Lee
Published: June 2018

Researchers investigating the incidental acquisition of vocabulary through reading must select either real or nonce words as targets. To determine whether this decision affects acquisition, English as a foreign language classes (English experimental n=80; nonce experimental n=89) were given a 2,381-token short story containing either 26 target English or nonce words. Analysis of the gain scores on an unexpected meaning recognition assessment for the two experimental and two control groups (English control n=73; nonce control n=114) found a statistically significant difference in acquisition. The large effect size found indicates the choice to use nonce targets has a clear effect on acquisition outcomes. Additional analysis also indicated the contextual richness of the words surrounding targets was subordinate to frequency of exposure in terms of encouraging incidental acquisition. Furthermore, learners’ L2 vocabulary size had only a negligible effect on acquisition outcomes. Further analyses, implications, and consequences in regard to research practices are discussed.