bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Maternal Incarceration on the Criminal Justice Involvement of Adult Offspring
Authors: Muftić Lisa R. , Bouffard Leana A. , Armstrong Gaylene S.
Published: July 2015

Objectives:

This note examines the relationship between maternal incarceration and adverse outcomes for offspring in early adulthood.

Methods:

Utilizing data derived from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health, a series of multivariate models are conducted to examine the impact maternal incarceration has on criminal justice involvement among young adults. To control for selection effects that may be associated with maternal imprisonment, propensity score matching is utilized.

Results:

Respondents whose mothers had served time in prison were significantly more likely to have an adult arrest, conviction, and incarceration, even after controlling for important demographic factors and correlates of criminal behavior. This effect persisted following matching.

Conclusions:

Maternal incarceration had a substantial effect on the offspring’s adult involvement in the criminal justice system. These findings bolster contentions regarding the unintended consequences of maternal incarceration that include long-term collateral damage to their children.
Impacts of School Structural Factors and Student Factors on Employment Outcomes for Youth With Disabilities in Transition
Authors: Dong Shengli , Fabian Ellen , Luecking Richard G.
Published: July 2015

This study aimed to examine school structural factors (i.e., free/reduced lunch percentage, proportion of minority student enrollment, and student–teacher ratio) that may contribute to employment outcomes for transitioning youth with disabilities beyond individual student factors through hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) analyses. The secondary data for 3,289 students were obtained from the Bridges From School to Work Program, and the school structural data for 121 schools were drawn from the Common Core of Data. The major types of disabilities for the student participants included learning disabilities (73.1%), emotional and behavioral disabilities (4.7%), sensory disabilities (2%), and others (20.2%). Around 41% of participants were female. The study found that employment outcomes (i.e., whether a participant secured a paid job and weekly job earnings) were primarily attributed to student individual factors rather than school structural factors, particularly prior paid work experience. The finding suggests the potential importance of effective transition interventions to improve employment outcomes for all youth with disabilities. Implications for rehabilitation professionals are discussed.
Neighbourhood attachment revisited: Middle-class families in the Montreal metropolitan region
Authors: Jean Sandrine
Published: July 2015

Migration, mobility, globalisation and individualisation have transformed the way people relate to space by affecting their physical, social and emotional bonds to place. Yet, does it mean that place attachment is due to wane and that the neighbourhood does not matter nowadays? The article is tackling this question by addressing the underexplored neighbourhood attachment and the residential choices of young middle-class families in Montreal Census Metropolitan Area. Empirical results are drawn from in-depth interviews with immigrant and non-immigrant households in a comparative perspective between a peri-urban and near-suburban neighbourhood in recent ethnic transition. We explore three types of neighbourhood attachment: physical and social as underlined in the literature, but we also suggest the importance of accounting for the symbolic dimension of neighbourhood attachment. Findings reveal how families display neighbourhood attachment through an extensive use of neighbourhood amenities (physical), embedded social ties (social) and distinctive lifestyles convergent with the representations of middle-class family life (symbolic). Unlike narratives of middle-classes’ place detachment and withdrawal from neighbourhood life, our case study of ‘middle’ middle-class neighbourhoods suggest that the neighbourhood preserves its importance, but that neighbourhood attachment takes different forms and that these forms differ among urban and suburban families. It is argued that what residents believe urban and suburban life should be and their values and identities associated with it needs further investigation, given their considerable role in neighbourhood attachment and residential choices of middle-classes families.
Intimate Relationships and Personal Distress
Authors: Arriaga Ximena B. , Schkeryantz Emily L.
Published: July 2015

Aggression in intimate relationships is pervasive, has been implicated in personal distress, and yet may not be perceived as harmful. Two studies (cross-sectional, longitudinal) examined whether being the target of psychologically aggressive behavior by a partner is uniquely associated with personal distress, beyond the effects of general couple functioning, perpetrating aggression, or experiencing physical aggression. New instances of psychological aggression by a partner predicted increases in personal distress. Study 2 also examined participants’ perceptions of what causes them stress. Although psychological aggression by a partner predicted personal distress, participants did not perceive their relationship as a source of stress. This suggests a pattern of “invisible harm” in which individuals victimized by psychological aggression may not recognize the harm they are experiencing.
Functional Roles of Fatty Acids and Their Effects on Human Health
Authors: Calder Philip C.
Published: July 2015

A variety of fatty acids exists in the diet of humans, in the bloodstream of humans, and in cells and tissues of humans. Fatty acids are energy sources and membrane constituents. They have biological activities that act to influence cell and tissue metabolism, function, and responsiveness to hormonal and other signals. The biological activities may be grouped as regulation of membrane structure and function; regulation of intracellular signaling pathways, transcription factor activity, and gene expression; and regulation of the production of bioactive lipid mediators. Through these effects, fatty acids influence health, well‐being, and disease risk. The effects of saturated, cis monounsaturated, ω‐6 and ω‐3 polyunsaturated, and trans fatty acids are discussed. Although traditionally most interest in the health impact of fatty acids related to cardiovascular disease, it is now clear that fatty acids influence a range of other diseases, including metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, inflammatory diseases, and cancer. Scientists, regulators, and communicators have described the biological effects and the health impacts of fatty acids according to fatty acid class. However, it is now obvious that within any fatty acid class, different members have different actions and effects. Thus, it would seem more appropriate to describe biological effects and health impacts of individual named fatty acids, although it is recognized that this would be a challenge when communicating outside of an academic environment (eg, to consumers).
Framing the Family Meal: A Comparison of Social Marketing Campaigns and Parents’ Views
Authors: Bacon Tracy
Published: July 2015

Research suggests family meals are associated with positive outcomes for children, leading scholars to recommend their public promotion. Several organizations have created campaigns promoting family meals, but little research has been done on their efficacy. This article compares framing strategies of family meal campaigns with parents’ understandings of feeding work, based on content analysis of 10 campaign websites and interviews with 46 American parents. The analysis suggests that while the motivational and diagnostic frames campaigns use are likely to resonate with parents, their prognostic framing does not align with parents’ experiences. Campaign frames are least likely to resonate with single parents, who face more barriers to having the kinds of meals they want and have fewer ideas for overcoming them. To be more effective, organizations promoting family meals should focus on innovative but relatable strategies for improving family meal frequency and quality, with a particular emphasis on single parents.
Mandatory versus voluntary disclosures
Authors: García-Tabuyo Manoli , Sáez-Martín Alejandro , Caba-Pérez María Del Carmen
Published: July 2015

The aim of this paper is to develop the findings of previous research on policies regarding online proactive information disclosure, both voluntary and mandatory. We present and analyze new evidence on the factors that influence decisions taken in this respect. This study is focused on Central America, a region that has received little previous research attention on these issues. To achieve the study goals, we analyze the online information disclosure made by local authorities, regarding both the degree of compliance with legal requirements and the volume of information provided voluntarily. Finally, with respect to the same two types of information provision, we determine the influence of environmental factors on online information disclosure. The results obtained show that transparency is more an issue of attitude than of laws, and highlight the existence of a large gap between legal requirements and actual performance.
Relation of platelet indices to severity of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Akin Fatih , Ayca Burak , Kose Nuri , Altun Ibrahim , Avsar Murat , Celik Omer , Satilmis Seckin , Eksik Abdurrahman , Okuyan Ertugrul
Published: July 2015

Aim:

We investigated the association between platelet indices and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI).

Methods:

A total of 484 consecutive patients who were routinely referred to coronary angiography for STEMI and 81 age- and gender-matched patients with normal coronary arteries were included in the present study. We analyzed the relation between the platelet distribution width (PDW) and the angiographic severity of CAD. The SYNTAX score was used for assessing the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.

Results:

The mean platelet volume (MPV), the plateletcrit (PCT) and the neutrophil levels were significantly higher in the STEMI group than in the control group. Patients with an elevated SYNTAX score (>32) had higher PDW values. The levels of plateletcrit and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were lower in the high SYNTAX score group compared to the moderate-to-low SYNTAX score group. The PDW was positively correlated with age (r = 0.128, p=0.004) and SYNTAX score (r = 0.209, p<0.001). There was a mild, significant inverse association between the PDW level and the eGFR (r = -0.101, p=0.049), the mean platelet volume (MPV) (r = −290, p<0.001) and the PCT (r = −345, p<001). Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that age (OR = 1.046, 95% CI 1.013–1.079, p=0.005), diabetes (OR = 4.779, 95% CI 2.339-9.767, p<0.001) and PDW (OR = 1.229, 95% CI 1.072–1409, p=0.003) were independent correlates of high SYNTAX score.

Conclusion:

Platelet distribution width, an inexpensive and easily measurable laboratory variable, is independently associated with high SYNTAX score.
Applying an Evidence-Based Framework to the Early Childhood Coaching Literature
Authors: Artman-Meeker Kathleen , Fettig Angel , Barton Erin E. , Penney Ashley , Zeng Songtian
Published: July 2015

Professional development (PD) is a critical pathway for promoting the use of evidence-based intervention practices in early childhood (EC) settings. Coaching has been proposed as a type of PD that is especially promising for job-embedded learning. A lack of consensus exists regarding evidence-based EC coaching strategies and what types of support coaches need to implement these strategies. In this literature review, we analyzed the EC coaching literature in terms of coaching strategies shown to improve EC practitioners’ use of effective intervention practices, coaching model components and strategies, the rigor and quality of the research, and the preparation provided to coaches in the identified articles. We conclude with recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of coaching and improving the preparation of coaches who serve in EC settings.
Decolonial Designs
Authors: Phạm Quỳnh N. , Méndez María José
Published: July 2015

Drawing on the writings of two prominent political thinkers and activists, José Martí and Hồ Chí Minh, our article foregrounds the imaginative crossings, ethical–political inspirations, and mutual learning among the colonized. Although embedded in different histories, both Martí’s and Hồ’s writings evince an insurgent solidarity with others under colonial enslavement. They evoke conceptions of self-determination and relationality that are strikingly global rather than national or regional. Going beyond affinities of insurgency, we also investigate critical moments of silence and effacement in Martí’s and Hồ’s engagement with subaltern groups. In weaving their anticolonial visions together as well as examining their limitations, we seek to sketch the contours of an alternative, non-Eurocentric international relations.
Enhancing Gender Equity in Academia
Authors: Stepan-Norris Judith , Kerrissey Jasmine
Published: July 2015

Women are underrepresented in U.S. tenure-track faculty positions, and institutional interventions are key to creating greater gender equality and accessing women’s potential. This study examines the effectiveness of one “transformational” intervention, the ADVANCE Institutional Transformation initiative, implemented at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), in 2001. We compare data on women’s representation in faculty positions before and during the UCI ADVANCE Program (1993–2009) to that of seven other campuses in the University of California system, where no initiatives of this scale were implemented. Using descriptive figures, T tests, and regression analyses, we find that UCI had a higher percentage of women faculty and hired a greater percentage of women during ADVANCE years, but did not retain women at a greater rate. We describe the UCI ADVANCE program and its structure, including its “Equity Advisors,” who we suggest have been important in improving women’s representation among faculty at UCI.
Landfill mining: Development of a theoretical method for a preliminary estimate of the raw material potential of landfill sites
Authors: Wolfsberger Tanja , Nispel Jörg , Sarc Renato , Aldrian Alexia , Hermann Robert , Höllen Daniel , Pomberger Roland , Budischowsky Andreas , Ragossnig Arne
Published: July 2015

In recent years, the rising need for raw materials by emerging economies (e.g. China) has led to a change in the availability of certain primary raw materials, such as ores or coal. The accompanying rising demand for secondary raw materials as possible substitutes for primary resources, the soaring prices and the global lack of specific (e.g. metallic) raw materials pique the interest of science and economy to consider landfills as possible secondary sources of raw materials. These sites often contain substantial amounts of materials that can be potentially utilised materially or energetically. To investigate the raw material potential of a landfill, boreholes and excavations, as well as subsequent hand sorting have proven quite successful. These procedures, however, are expensive and time consuming as they frequently require extensive construction measures on the landfill body or waste mass. For this reason, this article introduces a newly developed, affordable, theoretical method for the estimation of landfill contents. The article summarises the individual calculation steps of the method and demonstrates this using the example of a selected Austrian sanitary landfill. To assess the practicality and plausibility, the mathematically determined raw material potential is compared with the actual results from experimental studies of excavated waste from the same landfill (actual raw material potential).
Dioxins and polyvinylchloride in combustion and fires
Authors: Zhang Mengmei , Buekens Alfons , Jiang Xuguang , Li Xiaodong
Published: July 2015

This review on polyvinylchloride (PVC) and dioxins collects, collates, and compares data from selected sources on the formation of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), or in brief dioxins, in combustion and fires. In professional spheres, the incineration of PVC as part of municipal solid waste is seldom seen as a problem, since deep flue gas cleaning is required anyhow. Conversely, with its high content of chlorine, PVC is frequently branded as a major chlorine donor and spitefully leads to substantial formation of dioxins during poorly controlled or uncontrolled combustion and open fires. Numerous still ill-documented and diverse factors of influence may affect the formation of dioxins during combustion: on the one hand PVC-compounds represent an array of materials with widely different formulations; on the other hand these may all be exposed to fires of different nature and consequences. Hence, attention should be paid to PVC with respect to the ignition and development of fires, as well as attenuating the emission of objectionable compounds, such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and dioxins. This review summarises available dioxin emissions data, gathers experimental and simulation studies of fires and combustion tests involving PVC, and identifies and analyses the effects of several local factors of influence, affecting the formation of dioxins during PVC combustion.
Leaching heavy metals in municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash with chelator/biosurfactant mixed solution
Authors: Xu Ying , Chen Yu
Published: July 2015

The chelator [S,S]-ethylene diamine disuccinic acid, citric acid, and biosurfactant saponin are selected as leaching agents. In this study, the leaching effect of saponin mixed with either ethylene diamine disuccinic acid or citric acid on the levels of copper, zinc, lead, and cadmium in municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash is investigated. Results indicate that saponin separately mixed with ethylene diamine disuccinic acid and citric acid exhibits a synergistic solubilisation effect on copper, zinc, lead, and cadmium leaching from fly ash. However, saponin and ethylene diamine disuccinic acid mixed solution exhibits a synergistic solubilisation effect that is superior to that of a saponin and citric acid mixed solution. The extraction rate of heavy metal in fly ash leached with a saponin and chelator mixed solution is related to the pH of the leaching solution, and the optimal range of the pH is suggested to be approximately neutral. After leaching with a saponin and chelator mixed solution, copper, zinc, lead, and cadmium contents significantly decreased ( p < 0.05) in the extractable or acid-soluble and reducible fractions. By adopting the proposed approach, the leaching concentrations of copper, zinc, lead, and cadmium in treated fly ash are in accordance with Standard for Pollution Control on the Security Landfill Site for Hazardous Wastes GB18598-2001.
Two-Way Street Conversion
Authors: Riggs William , Gilderbloom John
Published: July 2015

While recent policies directed toward multimodal or complete streets have encouraged increased funding for bicycle- and pedestrian-oriented projects, many streets are still plagued by unsafe conditions. This is especially true for one-way streets, which studies show often create unsafe crossing conditions. This study evaluates changes to street dynamics after a two-way street conversion in Louisville, Kentucky. We find that traffic flow increased after implementation of two-way flow, but traffic accidents decreased. We also note other ancillary benefits, such as increase in property values and reduced crime. These results provide evidence that conversions can promote mobility, safety, and livability.
African Women Refugee Resettlement
Authors: Haffejee Badiah , East Jean F.
Published: July 2015

In considering forced migration as a consequence of global conflict, women with refugee status are especially vulnerable. The influx of refugees into the United States, in this case, refugees from Africa, requires us to examine various aspects of what it means to be a refugee. Drawing upon current and extant literature, this article investigates the challenges faced by women refugees from Africa. A womanist framework is described and applied to four areas of resettlement experience including gendered expectations, trauma and mental health, economic self-sufficiency, and cultural integration. In addition, the policy assumptions of the Refugee Act of 1980 are contrasted with the realities and experiences of women refugees from Africa. Implications for social work practice, policy advocacy, and research are discussed.
National Data on Citizen Complaints About Police Use of Force
Authors: Hickman Matthew J. , Poore Jane E.
Published: July 2015

National data on citizen complaints about police use of force were collected by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) in 2003 and 2007. These data are a critical component of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) overall response to 42 USC 14142, which requires the Attorney General to “acquire data about the use of excessive force by law enforcement officers.” The BJS data have the potential to help support democratic policing, provide baseline data on use of force for comparative statistical reporting and research purposes, and enable strong local checks on police abuses, provided their validity and reliability can be demonstrated. This study sought to assess the validity and reliability of the BJS data. Findings indicate that the BJS data suffer from serious measurement flaws, do not provide a valid and reliable basis for comparative statistical reporting and research purposes, and should not be relied on for purposes of litigation.
Negotiating spatial politics: Site-responsive urban art images in mainland China
Authors: Valjakka Minna
Published: July 2015

Since the mid-1990s, growing urbanization has led to the rise of new forms, needs and sites for visual self-expression in urban public space in mainland China. Drawing on periods of intensive fieldwork in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong since 2006, this article suggests a new approach for examining the spatial politics of urban art images in China based on the concept of ‘site responsiveness’. Inspired by discussions on site-specific and site-oriented art and street art, this article aims to clarify the importance of both aesthetic analysis and comparative contextualization of urban art images in relation to (1) the reciprocal relationship between the urban art images and the site, and (2) international developments in the discourses on ‘graffiti’ and ‘street art’. This dual approach provides a starting point for a comprehensive sociospatial interpretation of the visual phenomenon in China while challenging the unproblematized use of the concept of graffiti in existing studies and offering two umbrella concepts – urban art images and creator of urban art images – to facilitate more nuanced research. By examining actions of visual self-expression at the grass-roots level, this article brings attention to an often neglected but crucial perspective to discussions of the city as a living organism and to the interrelations between art and urbanization.
Bayesian optimal interval design for dose finding in drug-combination trials
Authors: Lin Ruitao , Yin Guosheng
Published: July 2015

Interval designs have recently attracted enormous attention due to their simplicity and desirable properties. We develop a Bayesian optimal interval design for dose finding in drug-combination trials. To determine the next dose combination based on the cumulative data, we propose an allocation rule by maximizing the posterior probability that the toxicity rate of the next dose falls inside a prespecified probability interval. The entire dose-finding procedure is nonparametric (model-free), which is thus robust and also does not require the typical “nonparametric” prephase used in model-based designs for drug-combination trials. The proposed two-dimensional interval design enjoys convergence properties for large samples. We conduct simulation studies to demonstrate the finite-sample performance of the proposed method under various scenarios and further make a modication to estimate toxicity contours by parallel dose-finding paths. Simulation results show that on average the performance of the proposed design is comparable with model-based designs, but it is much easier to implement.
Coinfection with Clostridium piliforme and Felid herpesvirus 1 in a kitten
Authors: Neto Rachel T. , Uzal Francisco A. , Hodzic Emir , Persiani Michele , Jolissaint Shazia , Alcaraz Ana , Carvallo Francisco R.
Published: July 2015

A 1-month-old Domestic Shorthair kitten was submitted for autopsy, with a history of upper respiratory tract infection and diarrhea. This was the third kitten from the same litter that had died with similar clinical findings within a period of 1 month. Severe conjunctivitis, rhinitis, tracheitis, and bronchointerstitial pneumonia were present, together with lymphohistiocytic colitis. Respiratory lesions were caused by infection with Felid herpesvirus 1. Colonic lesions were associated with the presence of long filamentous bacteria, identified as Clostridium piliforme, in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. Our report describes a case of concurrent C. piliforme infection (Tyzzer’s disease) and feline rhinotracheitis in a kitten.
Assessment of litter prevalence of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in preweaned piglets utilizing an antemortem tracheobronchial mucus collection technique and a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay
Authors: Vangroenweghe Frédéric , Karriker Locke , Main Rodger , Christianson Eric , Marsteller Thomas , Hammen Kristin , Bates Jessica , Thomas Paul , Ellingson Josh , Harmon Karen , Abate Sarah , Crawford Kimberly
Published: July 2015

The swine industry currently lacks validated antemortem methods of detecting baseline herd prevalence of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. The focus of our study was to evaluate alternative antemortem detection techniques and to determine baseline litter prevalence in preweaned pig populations utilizing the selected technique and a real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. Preliminary data was analyzed on weaned piglets with evidence of respiratory disease ( n = 32). Five sample types (antemortem nasal swab, tracheobronchial mucus, postmortem deep airway swab, bronchoalveolar lavage, and lung tissue) were collected from each pig. Individual samples were tested for M. hyopneumoniae using qPCR. Compared to nasal swabs, tracheobronchial mucus demonstrated higher test sensitivity ( P < 0.0001). Tracheobronchial mucus was collected from apparently healthy preweaned piglets ( n = 1,759; sow farms 1–3) and preweaned piglets exhibiting signs of respiratory disease ( n = 32; sow farm 4), ranging in age from 12 to 25 days. Samples from sow farms 1–3 were pooled into 2 groups of 5 per litter ( n = 360 pools from 180 litters), and qPCR was utilized to analyze each pool. A qPCR-positive result, threshold cycle <37, from either pool designated the litter positive for M. hyopneumoniae. Two out of 180 litters revealed a positive result (1.1%). Individual qPCR assays were run on the samples collected from sow farm 4. Five out of 30 samples revealed a positive result (16.7%). Tracheobronchial mucus collection in combination with qPCR is a sensitive antemortem sampling technique that can be used to estimate the prevalence of M. hyopneumoniae in preweaned pigs, thus providing insight into the infection dynamics across the entire farrow-to-finish process.
Acute death associated with Citrobacter freundii infection in an African elephant (Loxodonta africana)
Authors: Ortega Joaquín , Corpa Juan M. , Orden José A. , Blanco Jorge , Carbonell María D. , Gerique Amalia C. , Latimer Erin , Hayward Gary S. , Roemmelt Andreas , Kraemer Thomas , Romey Aurore , Kassimi Labib B. , Casares Miguel
Published: July 2015

A 21-year-old male African elephant ( Loxodonta africana) died suddenly with no previous medical history. Grossly, there were severe multifocal epicardial and endocardial hemorrhages of the atria and ventricles, hydropericardium, multifocal pleural hemorrhages, and severe pulmonary congestion and edema. Histologically, there was fibrinoid vasculitis and thrombosis in the heart and lung and myocardial necrosis. Citrobacter freundii was isolated in abundance in pure culture from liver and heart samples. Low levels of multiples types of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV-6, EEHV-2B, and EEHV-3A) were detected in spleen samples, but not in heart samples. The levels of EEHV DNA found were much lower than those usually associated with acute EEHV hemorrhagic disease, and many other genomic loci that would normally be found in such cases were evidently below the level of detection. Therefore, these findings are unlikely to indicate lethal EEHV disease. Polymerase chain reaction for encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and toxicology for oleander ( Nerium oleander) were negative. Stress, resulting from recent transport, and antimicrobial therapy may have contributed to the death of this animal.
Yersiniosis due to infection by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis 4b in captive meerkats (Suricata suricatta) in Japan
Authors: Nakamura Shin-ichi , Hayashidani Hideki , Yonezawa Aya , Suzuki Isao , Une Yumi
Published: July 2015

Two meerkats ( Suricata suricatta) housed in the same zoological garden in Japan died due to Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serotype 4b infection. Gross and microscopic lesions included necrotizing enteritis and enlargement of the spleen and liver with multifocal necrosis. Inflammatory cells, primarily neutrophils, and nuclear debris were associated with clusters of Gram-negative bacilli. Additionally, there were aberrant organism forms that were larger than bacilli and appeared as basophilic globular bodies. Immunohistochemical examination showed that the bacilli and globular bodies were strongly positive for Y. pseudotuberculosis O4 antigen. The globular bodies were considered a shape-changed form of Y. pseudotuberculosis, and these morphologically abnormal bacteria could present a diagnostic challenge.
Looking Through the Lens of Receptivity and Its Role in Bereavement Support
Authors: Blackburn Pippa , McGrath Pam , Bulsara Caroline
Published: July 2015

Receptivity is a new concept within the area of scholarship on bereavement. There is a dearth of research that specifically focuses on individuals’ receptivity in relation to bereavement support. This is particularly the case within the context of rural, regional, and remote locations. There is also a noticeable absence in the literature on bereavement support to Aboriginal families. Understanding receptivity in relation to bereavement in rural areas is important, particularly as bereavement support is an important area of service to the community by palliative care services. Receptivity to bereavement services has been identified as a critical factor in participation in bereavement support programs. This review provides a starting point by outlining the present literature on receptivity and bereavement.
Love Thy Neighbor? Trust in Foreigners and Support for Transnational Policies
Authors: Wals Sergio C. , Theiss-Morse Elizabeth , Gonzalez Frank J. , Gosda Tess
Published: July 2015

This study assesses the extent to which individual levels of trust in foreigners relate to preferences about regional transnational policies. We use a nationally representative survey from Mexico (2003), an emerging democracy with relatively high levels of nationalism and several multinational trade agreements. We argue that clarifying the target of social trust is essential for understanding the attitudes of citizens of less powerful countries toward the international policy realm. Statistical analysis strongly suggests that in fact trust in foreigners, above generalized trust, is key to understanding such attitudes. Our results indicate that trust in foreigners among Mexican respondents is positively associated with support for open immigration policies, the North American Free Trade Agreement, and political union with the United States.
Against Thinning and Teleology
Authors: Martel James
Published: July 2015

In this essay, I write a companion piece to Bonnie Honig’s commentary on “Public Things.” In looking at Honig’s comments on Jonathan Lear’s Radical Hope and Lars von Trier’s film Melancholia, I focus on the question of stealth teleologies, particularly in Lear’s case. I argue that what Lear calls “radical hope” is not particularly radical. Instead, it disguises a teleology whereby, passing through some catastrophe, redemption follows. Against this kind of automatism, I argue that in Honig’s own reading, we find the grounds for a turn away from teleology and toward radical contingency, a way of connecting with and via objects that allows us access to an agonal and anti-teleological form of politics (something that I also see as being offered in von Trier’s film).
Evaluation of Factor Xa-Specific Chromogenic Substrate Assays and the Determination of Pharmacokinetics of Fondaparinux
Authors: Yuri Maiko , Tabe Yoko , Tsuchiya Koji , Sadatsuki Ryo , Aoki Jun , Horii Takashi , Iba Toshiaki , Ohsaka Akimichi
Published: July 2015

Fondaparinux (FPX), a synthesized factor Xa inhibitor, is one of the most popular anticoagulants for the prevention of postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE). Although routine monitoring is not required, the bleeding adverse events cannot be neglected, and the measurement of anti-Xa activity is expected to be monitored. The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the performances of 2 chromogenic assays for the detection of anti-Xa activity. Furthermore, the pharmacokinetics of FPX was examined using chromogenic assays. Anti-Xa activity was measured using 2 FPX-based chromogenic substrates (S2222 and STA-Liquid Anti-Xa). The reproducibility, detection limits, linearity, and correlations between the substrates were examined using normal plasma doped with low and high concentrations of FPX formulation. In addition, anti-Xa activity in 235 clinical samples from 164 cases treated was measured, and the pharmacokinetics of FPX was evaluated. Both of the tested substrates were capable of accurately measuring the anti-Xa activity of FPX, with a lower limit of 0.05 μg/mL and a coefficient of variation of less than 10%. The repeated administration of FPX induced a gradual but significant increase in the anti-Xa activity, which was negatively correlated with body weight and estimated glomerular filtration rate. No significant correlation between the anti-Xa activity and the occurrence of postoperative VTE or bleeding event was observed. Anti-Xa activity can be successfully determined using 2 chromogenic assays and automated biochemical analyzers. The clinical significance of anti-Xa activity monitoring should be examined in the future study.
Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Activities of Angelica shikokiana Extract and Its Isolated Compounds
Authors: Mira Amira , Alkhiary Wael , Shimizu Kuniyoshi
Published: July 2015

Angelica shikokiana is a Japanese medicinal plant that is used traditionally in several ailments of cardiovascular diseases. However, there is no report regarding its anticoagulant or antiplatelet activities. So this study was designed to screen for such activities (anticoagulant by prothrombin time [PT], activated partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin time assays and antiplatelet activities against adenosine 5′-diphosphate [ADP] and arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregations) for the methanol extract of the aerial part ( Angelica methanol extract [AME]), its isolated coumarins, flavonoids, and flavonoid metabolites. The AME had potent anticoagulant and antiplatelet activities, and the flavonoid compounds were evidenced to be responsible for such activities. Among coumarins compounds, hyuganin C showed significant prolongation of only PT, while other coumarins were inactive. Similarly, hyuganin C and bergapten were the only active coumarins against ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Compared to the parent compounds, colonic metabolites of the flavonoids had similar anticoagulant and antiplatelet activities, while glucuronides showed sharp decreases in all studied activities. This is the first report showing that the medicinal plant A shikokiana has potent antiplatelet and anticoagulant activities.
Comparison of the INR Values Measured by CoaguChek XS Coagulometer and Conventional Laboratory Methods in Patients on VKA Therapy
Authors: Kalçık Macit , Yesin Mahmut , Gürsoy Mustafa Ozan , Gündüz Sabahattin , Karakoyun Süleyman , Astarcıoğlu Mehmet Ali , Bayam Emrah , Cerşit Sinan , Özkan Mehmet
Published: July 2015

Background:

Warfarin, which is a widely used oral anticoagulant, has a narrow therapeutic window and requires regular international normalized ratio (INR) monitoring to maintain optimal anticoagulation. Recently, several portable coagulometers have been developed to measure INR levels.

Objective:

To compare the INR results obtained by a portable coagulometer (CoaguChek XS) and a standard laboratory method (STAGO STA-R).

Methods:

Overall, 433 consecutive patients (male: 191, median age: 61 [44-86] years) who were admitted to outpatient anticoagulation clinic were enrolled in this study. Each patient was tested for INR using portable CoaguChek XS and STAGO STA-R automatic laboratory coagulometer. Correlation between methods was assessed using the Pearson correlation test and Cohen κ test. Bland-Altman plot was used to identify mean difference and 95% limits of agreement.

Results:

The mean INR values for CoaguChek XS and STAGO STA-R were 2.54 ± 1.17 and 2.79 ± 1.39, respectively. There was a strong positive correlation between the 2 methods ( r = .966; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.95-0.97, P < .001). The Bland-Altman analysis gave a mean difference of 0.26 ± 0.40 between the 2 methods, with a 95% limit of agreement of −0.54 to 1.05. In patients with INR values >5.0, there was only a moderate correlation ( r = .676; 95% CI: 0.38-0.89, P = .002), and the mean difference of INR tended to increase as mean INR values increased. There was a high overall agreement between the 2 methods (κ = .751; 95% CI: 0.69-0.80; P < .001).

Conclusion:

There was good consistency between traditional laboratory testing and CoaguChek XS coagulometer, which provides rapid and reliable INR analysis.
How to prevent undesired oscillation in NC rotary table
Authors: Ghaffari Ali , Mohammadiasl Ebrahim
Published: July 2015

Heavy lathe-mill and turn-mill machine tools with both turning and milling operations are usually equipped with a frictional brake system to mitigate the effect of the mechanical backlash on the gear driven rotary table. In this paper the simultaneous effects of the coupled nonlinear frictions and backlashes on the positioning of the rotary axis have been investigated theoretically and empirically. Using the describing function method, it is shown that the undesired oscillations of the system are due to the existence of a limit cycle in the nonlinear closed-loop trajectory pattern of the rotary axis. Some simple practical rules are proposed for parameters adjustment of the rotary table, to assure that limit cycle is not created, and the multi-function machine does not oscillate improperly. The proposed rules can be used both at the designing stage and also during the maintenance of the machine. In order to verify the simulation results, a complete set of experimental data in a heavy lathe-mill machine has been utilized. It is shown that the deviation between the simulation results and the real experimental data at different operating conditions are quite small.
Patient Characteristics Predicting Readmission Among Individuals Hospitalized for Heart Failure
Authors: O’Connor Melissa , Murtaugh Christopher M. , Shah Shivani , Barrón-Vaya Yolanda , Bowles Kathryn H. , Peng Timothy R. , Zhu Carolyn W. , Feldman Penny H.
Published: July 2015

Heart failure is difficult to manage and increasingly common with many individuals experiencing frequent hospitalizations. Little is known about patient factors consistently associated with hospital readmission. A literature review was conducted to identify heart failure patient characteristics, measured before discharge, that contribute to variation in hospital readmission rates. Database searches yielded 950 potential articles, of which 34 studies met inclusion criteria. Patient characteristics generally have a very modest effect on all-cause or heart failure–related readmission within 7 to 180 days of index hospital discharge. A range of cardiac diseases and other comorbidities only minimally increase readmission rates. No single patient characteristic stands out as a key contributor across multiple studies underscoring the challenge of developing successful interventions to reduce readmissions. Interventions may need to be general in design with the specific intervention depending on each patient’s unique clinical profile.
Long-Term Effects of Antipsychotic Medications in Older Adults
Authors: Alpert Patricia T.
Published: July 2015

Many older adults across all settings are on antipsychotic medications; all too frequently for long periods of time. There are very few studies about the long-term effects of these medications, especially when used in those with declining physiological ability to metabolize medications. This paper looks at the three most commonly prescribed classes of antipsychotic medications used in older adults. A second purpose is to increase knowledge and potential strategies home health nurses can use to help their patients.
The Effect of Citicoline Supplementation on Motor Speed and Attention in Adolescent Males
Authors: McGlade Erin , Agoston Anna Monica , DiMuzio Jennifer , Kizaki Miho , Nakazaki Eri , Kamiya Toshikazu , Yurgelun-Todd Deborah
Published: July 2015

Objective: This study assessed the effects of citicoline, a nutraceutical, on attention, psychomotor function, and impulsivity in healthy adolescent males. Method: Seventy-five healthy adolescent males were randomly assigned to either the citicoline group ( n = 51 with 250 or 500 mg citicoline) or placebo ( n = 24). Participants completed the Ruff 2&7 Selective Attention Test, Finger Tap Test, and the Computerized Performance Test, Second Edition (CPT-II) at baseline and after 28 days of supplementation. Results: Individuals receiving citicoline exhibited improved attention ( p = 0.02) and increased psychomotor speed ( p = 0.03) compared with those receiving placebo. Higher weight-adjusted dose significantly predicted increased accuracy on an attention task ( p = 0.01), improved signal detectability on a computerized attention task ( p = 0.03), and decreased impulsivity ( p = 0.01). Discussion: Adolescent males receiving 28 days of Cognizin® citicoline showed improved attention and psychomotor speed and reduced impulsivity compared to adolescent males who received placebo.
Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA)
Authors: Dul Jan
Published: July 2015

Theoretical “necessary but not sufficient” statements are common in the organizational sciences. Traditional data analyses approaches (e.g., correlation or multiple regression) are not appropriate for testing or inducing such statements. This article proposes necessary condition analysis (NCA) as a general and straightforward methodology for identifying necessary conditions in data sets. The article presents the logic and methodology of necessary but not sufficient contributions of organizational determinants (e.g., events, characteristics, resources, efforts) to a desired outcome (e.g., good performance). A necessary determinant must be present for achieving an outcome, but its presence is not sufficient to obtain that outcome. Without the necessary condition, there is guaranteed failure, which cannot be compensated by other determinants of the outcome. This logic and its related methodology are fundamentally different from the traditional sufficiency-based logic and methodology. Practical recommendations and free software are offered to support researchers to apply NCA.
Simultaneous visual inspection for barometric whole-body plethysmography waveforms during pulmonary function testing in client-owned cats
Authors: Lin Chung-Hui , Wu Huey-Dong , Lo Pei-Ying , Lee Jih-Jong , Liu Chen-Hsuan
Published: July 2015

Objectives

For the purpose of applying a barometric whole-body plethysmography (BWBP) device as a routine clinical tool in client-owned cats, the objective of this study was to evaluate the methodological importance of simultaneous visual inspection (SVI) of graphic tracing.

Methods

To investigate the effect of SVI on the results obtained, 50 client-owned cats were included. Breath-by-breath analysis was conducted with BWBP software, and a commonly used rejection setting was chosen for automatic elimination (AE) of non-breath artefactual waveforms, according to tidal volume (TV), inspiratory and expiratory time, and the difference between inspiratory and expiratory volumes. During 10 mins of data recording, SVI for BWBP waveforms was performed to record manually time periods that were free of any artefacts. The two datasets derived from AE alone (AEA method) and AE plus SVI (SVI-AE method) were compared. The inter-observer effect on the process of SVI was evaluated on six cats.

Results

There were statistically significant differences ( P <0.001) between the AEA and SVI-AE datasets for most BWBP parameters. Bland–Altman analysis of the parameter-enhanced pause (Penh) showed heterogeneous variances, indicating less agreement when the Penh values were large. Intra-individual coefficients of variation of Penh were significantly higher with the AEA method than with the SVI-AE method (61.1% vs 34.7%, respectively; P <0.001). Inter-observer agreement on the SVI process was excellent, and no statistically significant differences between the two observers were found for any BWBP parameters obtained by the SVI-AE method ( P >0.05).

Conclusions and relevance

Visual inspection for BWBP waveforms in real time can reliably identify stable breathing signals in client-owned cats. The obtained results were significantly different when the SVI method was used in addition to AE. In the interpretation of BWBP parameters or comparison of measurements among studies, whether an SVI methodology was applied should be considered.