bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic Potential of Multilineage-Differentiating Stress-Enduring Cells for Osteochondral Repair in a Rat Model
Authors: Mahmoud Elhussein Elbadry , Kamei Naosuke , Shimizu Ryo , Wakao Shohei , Dezawa Mari , Adachi Nobuo , Ochi Mitsuo
Published: October 2017

Multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells are stage-specific embryonic antigen-3 (SSEA-3) positive cells existing in mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) populations. Muse cells have the pluripotency to differentiate into all germ layers as embryonic stem cells. In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of Muse cell transplantation for osteochondral defect repair. Muse cells were isolated from human bone marrow MSCs. An osteochondral defect was created in the patellar groove of immunodeficient rats. After this, cell injection was performed, whereby rats were divided into 3 groups: the control group, the rats of which were given a PBS injection; the non-Muse group, which comprised 5 × 104SSEA-3 negative non-Muse cells; and the Muse group, which comprised 5 × 104SSEA-3 positive Muse cells. The white repaired tissue had a mostly smooth homogenous surface at 12 weeks after treatment in the Muse group, while no repair tissue was detected in the control and non-Muse groups. Histological assessments showed better repair at the cartilage defect sites in the Muse group compared to the other groups at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment. Muse cells could be a new promising cell source for the treatment of osteochondral defects.
Evaluation of the Utility of Point-of-Care HIV Testing on a Canadian Internal Medicine Inpatient Unit
Authors: Lau Lawrence , Wudel Beverly , Lee Eugene , Darraj Majid , Richert Quinlan , Trajtman Adriana , Bresler Kim , Bullard Jared , Kasper Ken , Becker Marissa , Keynan Yoav
Published: November 2017

Point-of-care (POC) HIV testing has been shown to be an acceptable method for increasing HIV testing uptake. To date, no studies have examined the use of POC testing for routine HIV screening on the medicine inpatient unit. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted over a three-month period in July, August, and October 2016 to evaluate the prevalence of undiagnosed HIV and the attitudes towards routine POC HIV testing. Patients admitted directly to medicine inpatient teaching units at a tertiary hospital in Winnipeg, Canada, were approached for participation. The POC HIV test was administered at the bedside. Reactive and indeterminate tests were confirmed with standard serological HIV testing. Participants were given a questionnaire regarding their attitudes towards POC testing on the unit. Although no cases of previously undiagnosed HIV were identified during the study period, only 35% of participants were found to have ever had HIV testing previously. The majority of participants were satisfied with the POC testing experience and would choose to have the POC testing again. Overall, the low rate of outpatient testing highlights the need for routine HIV testing on an inpatient basis.
The Effects of Thai Herbal Ha‐Rak Formula on COX Isoform Expression in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells Induced by IL‐1β
Authors: Palo Titchaporn , Thaworn Athiwat , Charoenkij Phornnapa , Thamsermsang Onusa , Chotewuttakorn Sirikul , Tripatara Pinpat , Laohapand Tawee , Akarasereenont Pravit
Published: October 2017

Objective. To investigate the modulated effects of HRF on cyclooxygenase isoform expression and its activity, using the human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model induced by interleukin‐1 beta (IL‐1β). Methods. Cells were treated with indomethacin (positive control), HRF, and its components at various concentrations prior to treatment with IL‐1β at 24 h. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Moreover, the anti‐inflammatory effects of HRF and its components through mRNA and protein expression were established using real‐time quantitative PCR and Western blot, respectively. COX activity was identified via exogenous and endogenous PGE2 productions using the EIA. Result. There was no cytotoxicity in HUVECs treated with HRF. None of the experimental conditions used in the study affected the expression of COX‐1, but COX‐2 protein expression was inhibited at concentrations under 10 µg/mL. Despite the significantly increased levels of exogenous PGE2, HRF had no effect on COX‐2 mRNA expression. However, the production of PGE2 was lower at a concentration of 100 µg/mL HRF than at a concentration below 10 µg/mL. Interestingly, each component of HRF revealed different effects of the Ha‐Rak formula. Conclusion. Our preliminary findings suggest that HRF and its components provide diverse modulation of COX‐2 and PGE2 at the in vitro level.
Data Science in Radiology: A Path Forward
Authors: Aerts Hugo J.W.L.
Published: November 2017

Artificial intelligence (AI), especially deep learning, has the potential to fundamentally alter clinical radiology. AI algorithms, which excel in quantifying complex patterns in data, have shown remarkable progress in applications ranging from self-driving cars to speech recognition. The AI application within radiology, known as radiomics, can provide detailed quantifications of the radiographic characteristics of underlying tissues. This information can be used throughout the clinical care path to improve diagnosis and treatment planning, as well as assess treatment response. This tremendous potential for clinical translation has led to a vast increase in the number of research studies being conducted in the field, a number that is expected to rise sharply in the future. Many studies have reported robust and meaningful findings; however, a growing number also suffer from flawed experimental or analytic designs. Such errors could not only result in invalid discoveries, but also may lead others to perpetuate similar flaws in their own work. This perspective article aims to increase awareness of the issue, identify potential reasons why this is happening, and provide a path forward. Clin Cancer Res; 24(3); 532–4. ©2017 AACR.
Insights into Epigenetic Remodeling in VHL-Deficient Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Ricketts Christopher J. , Linehan W. Marston
Published: November 2017

Summary: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is characterized by loss of the von Hippel–Lindau tumor suppressor gene (VHL), and the functional tumorigenic consequences of this loss have been used to develop therapies for advanced ccRCC, such as targeting activation of the HIF pathway. Yao and colleagues elucidate how VHL loss contributes to chromatin alteration at both gene promoters and enhancers/superenhancers, in both an HIF-dependent as well as independent manner, and how this may provide additional targets for therapeutic intervention in advanced ccRCC. Cancer Discov; 7(11); 1221–3. ©2017 AACR.

See related article by Yao et al., p. 1284.
Plasma Volume and Renal Function Predict Six-Month Survival after Hospitalization for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure
Authors: Bilchick Kenneth C. , Chishinga Nathaniel , Parker Alex M. , Zhuo David X. , Rosner Mitchell H. , Smith LaVone A. , Mwansa Hunter , Blackwell Jacob N. , McCullough Peter A. , Mazimba Sula
Published: November 2017

Background: Plasma volume (PV) is contracted in stable patients with heart failure (HF) due to decongestion strategies. On the other hand, increased PV can adversely affect the trajectory of HF. We therefore examined the effects of increased percentage change in PV (%ΔPV), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and %ΔPV stratified by BUN and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) on survival after discharge in patients hospitalized for acute decompensated HF (ADHF). Methods: We used the Strauss-Davis-Rosenbaum formula to calculate the %ΔPV between baseline and hospital discharge in a cohort from the Evaluation Study of Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Artery Catheterization Effectiveness trial (ESCAPE). Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed for survival over 6 months. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to obtain adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the associations between survival after discharge and %ΔPV, BUN, and %ΔPV stratified by BUN and GFR. Results: Of the 324 patients included in our study (age 56.1 ± 13.6 years, 26.5% female), those with increased or no %ΔPV at discharge were less likely to survive at 6 months compared with those having reduced %ΔPV (log rank, p = 0.0093). Increased %ΔPV (HR 1.08 per 10% increase; 95% CI: 1.02-1.14) and increased BUN at discharge (HR 1.02 per mg/dL; 95% CI: 1.01-1.03) were independently associated with worse survival. Decreasing %ΔPV had a greater association with improved survival in patients with discharge BUN <31 mg/dL (p = 0.02) and discharge GFR >40 mL/min/1.73 m2 (p = 0.047). Conclusions: Increased %ΔPV and BUN at discharge predicted worse 6-month survival in patients with ADHF. Decreased %ΔPV with low BUN or high GFR at discharge was associated with improved survival.
Histological Assessment of Gonads in DSD: Relevance for Clinical Management
Authors: Spoor Johannes A. , Oosterhuis J. Wolter , Hersmus Remko , Biermann Katharina , Wolffenbuttel Katja P. , Cools Martine , Kazmi Zainab , Ahmed Syed F. , Looijenga Leendert H.J.
Published: November 2017

Malignant gonadal germ cell tumors, referred to as germ cell cancers (GCC), occur with increased frequency in individuals who have specific types of differences (disorders) of sex development (DSD). Recent population-based studies have identified new environmental and genetic risk factors that have led to a ‘genvironment' hypothesis, which may potentially be helpful in risk assessment in DSD-related GCC. In DSD, the malignancy risk is highly heterogeneous, but recent studies allow now to discriminate between high- and low-risk conditions. Gonadal biopsy is in some cases the best procedure of choice to assess the risk, and with the availability of immunohistochemical biomarkers [OCT3/4 (POU5F1), TSPY, SOX9, FOXL2 and KITLG (SCF)], a reliable classification of GCC and its precursors can be made. The opportunities in the field of virtual diagnostic pathology will be presented, having possibilities for rare diseases in general and DSD specifically. It is expected that the International DSD Registry will stimulate international collaborations, facilitating better diagnostic procedures as well as research.
Associations of Endogenous Estradiol and Testosterone Levels With Plaque Composition and Risk of Stroke in Subjects With Carotid Atherosclerosis
Authors: Glisic Marija , Mujaj Blerim , Rueda-Ochoa Oscar L. , Asllanaj Eralda , Laven Joop S.E. , Kavousi Maryam , Ikram M. Kamran , Vernooij Meike W. , Ikram M. Arfan , Franco Oscar H. , Bos Daniel , Muka Taulant
Published: November 2017

Rationale:

Sex steroids may play a role in plaque composition and in stroke incidence.

Objectives:

To study the associations of endogenous estradiol and testosterone with carotid plaque composition in elderly men and postmenopausal women with carotid atherosclerosis, as well as with risk of stroke in this population.

Methods and Results:

Data of 1023 postmenopausal women and 1124 men (≥45 years) with carotid atherosclerosis, from prospective population-based RS (Rotterdam Study), were available. At baseline, total estradiol (TE) and total testosterone (TT) were measured. Carotid atherosclerosis was assessed by ultrasound, whereas plaque composition (presence of calcification, lipid core, and intraplaque hemorrhage) was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. TE and TT were not associated with calcified carotid plaques in either sex. TE was associated with presence of lipid core in both sexes (in women odds ratio, 1.48 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–2.15]; in men odds ratio, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.03–1.46]), whereas no association was found between TT and lipid core in either sex. Higher TE (odds ratio, 1.58 [95% CI, 1.03–2.40]) and lower TT (odds ratio, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.68–0.98]) were associated with intraplaque hemorrhage in women but not in men. In women, TE was associated with increased risk of stroke (hazard ratio, 1.98 [95% CI, 1.01–3.88]), whereas no association was found in men. TT was not associated with risk of stroke in either sex.

Conclusions:

TE was associated with presence of vulnerable carotid plaque as well as increased risk of stroke in women, whereas no consistent associations were found for TT in either sex.
Plasma Metabolites From Choline Pathway and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in the PREDIMED (Prevention With Mediterranean Diet) Study
Authors: Guasch‐Ferré Marta , Hu Frank B. , Ruiz‐Canela Miguel , Bulló Mònica , Toledo Estefanía , Wang Dong D. , Corella Dolores , Gómez‐Gracia Enrique , Fiol Miquel , Estruch Ramon , Lapetra José , Fitó Montserrat , Arós Fernando , Serra‐Majem Lluís , Ros Emilio , Dennis Courtney , Liang Liming , Clish Clary B. , Martínez‐González Miguel A. , Salas‐Salvadó Jordi
Published: October 2017

Background

The relationship between plasma concentrations of betaine and choline metabolism and major cardiovascular disease (CVD) end points remains unclear. We have evaluated the association between metabolites from the choline pathway and risk of incident
CVD
and the potential modifying effect of Mediterranean diet interventions.

Methods and Results

We designed a case‐cohort study nested within the
PREDIMED
(Prevention With Mediterranean Diet) trial, including 229 incident
CVD
cases and 751 randomly selected participants at baseline, followed up for 4.8 years. We used liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry to measure, at baseline and at 1 year of follow‐up, plasma concentrations of 5 metabolites in the choline pathway: trimethylamine N‐oxide, betaine, choline, phosphocholine, and α‐glycerophosphocholine. We have calculated a choline metabolite score using a weighted sum of these 5 metabolites. We used weighted Cox regression models to estimate
CVD
risk. The multivariable hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) per 1‐
SD
increase in choline and α‐glycerophosphocholine metabolites were 1.24 (1.05–1.46) and 1.24 (1.03–1.50), respectively. The baseline betaine/choline ratio was inversely associated with
CVD
. The baseline choline metabolite score was associated with a 2.21‐fold higher risk of
CVD
across extreme quartiles (95% confidence interval, 1.36–3.59;
P
<0.001 for trend) and a 2.27‐fold higher risk of stroke (95% confidence interval, 1.24–4.16;
P
<0.001 for trend). Participants in the higher quartiles of the score who were randomly assigned to the control group had a higher risk of
CVD
compared with participants in the lower quartile and assigned to the Mediterranean diet groups (
P
=0.05 for interaction). No significant associations were observed for 1‐year changes in individual plasma metabolites and
CVD
.

Conclusions

A metabolite score combining plasma metabolites from the choline pathway was associated with an increased risk of
CVD
in a Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular risk.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
http://www.controlled-trials.com
. Unique identifier:
ISRCTN
35739639.
Dysfunction of Myosin Light‐Chain 4 (MYL4) Leads to Heritable Atrial Cardiomyopathy With Electrical, Contractile, and Structural Components: Evidence From Genetically‐Engineered Rats
Authors: Peng Wenhui , Li Miaoxin , Li Hailing , Tang Kai , Zhuang Jianhui , Zhang Jianguo , Xiao Jingjing , Jiang Hui , Li Dali , Yu Yongchun , Sham Pak C. , Nattel Stanley , Xu Yawei
Published: October 2017

Background

There is increasing interest in the concept of atrial cardiomyopathy, but the underlying molecular and mechanistic determinants remain poorly defined. We identified a family with heritable atrial cardiomyopathy manifesting as progressive atrial‐selective electromechanical dysfunction, tachyarrhythmias, and bradyarrhythmias requiring pacemaker implantation. Myosin light‐chain 4 (
MYL4
), encoding the atrial‐selective essential myosin light chain, was identified as a candidate gene. We used genetically modified rat models to investigate the role of

MYL
4

in atrial cardiomyopathy.

Methods and Results

Exome sequencing and systematic bioinformatic analyses identified a rare missense variant of

MYL
4

(c.31G>A [
p.E11K
]) in a large multiplex atrial cardiomyopathy family pedigree. The mutation cosegregated with atrial standstill (selected as the principal presenting trait) with a logarithm of the odds score of 5.3. The phenotype of rats with

MYL
4

mutation knock‐in confirmed the causative role of the mutation.

MYL
4

knockout rats showed a similar atrial cardiomyopathy phenotype, whereas rats with an adjacent 4‐amino‐acid deletion showed no phenotype. Both

MYL
4 p.E11K

knock‐in rats and

MYL
4

knockout rats showed progressive atrial electrophysiological, contractile, and fibrotic abnormalities, similar to affected patients. Biochemical analyses of

MYL
4 p.E11K

mutation rats showed activation of proapoptotic and profibrotic signaling, along with increased atrial‐cardiomyocyte terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining, suggesting enhanced apoptotic cell death, findings that were mimicked by in vitro adenoviral transfer of the mutant gene to neonatal‐rat cardiomyocytes.

Conclusions

Loss‐of‐function

MYL
4

gene variants cause progressive atrial cardiomyopathy in humans and rats. Our findings identify

MYL
4

as a key gene required for atrial contractile, electrical and structural integrity. These results improve our understanding of the molecular basis of atrial cardiomyopathy and introduce new models for further mechanistic analysis.
Temporal Trends in the Use and Comparative Effectiveness of Direct Oral Anticoagulant Agents Versus Warfarin for Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: A Canadian Population‐Based Study
Authors: Yu Amy Y. X. , Malo Shaun , Svenson Lawrence W. , Wilton Stephen B. , Hill Michael D.
Published: October 2017

Background

Direct oral anticoagulants (
DOAC
s) are noninferior to warfarin for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (
AF
). We aimed to determine the population risk of stroke and death in incident
AF
, stratified by anticoagulation status and type, and the temporal trends of oral anticoagulation practice in the post‐
DOAC
approval period.

Methods and Results

We conducted a population‐based cohort study of incident nonvalvular
AF
cases using administrative health data in Alberta, Canada. We used Cox proportional hazards modeling with anticoagulation status as a time‐varying exposure and adjusted for age (continuous), sex, congestive heart failure, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, prior transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, peripheral artery disease, and chronic kidney disease. Primary outcome was the composite of stroke and death. Among 34 965 patients with incident
AF
(56.0% male, median age 73 years), relative to warfarin,
DOAC
use was associated with decreased risk of all stroke and death (hazard ratio: 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.83–0.97) and decreased hemorrhagic stroke (hazard ratio: 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.40–0.91]) but a similar risk of ischemic stroke (hazard ratio: 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.94–1.34]). During this time period,
DOAC
use increased rapidly, surpassing warfarin, but the total oral anticoagulation use in the population remained stable, even in the subgroup with the highest thromboembolic risk.

Conclusions

In a real‐world population‐based study of patients with incident
AF
, anticoagulation with
DOAC
s was associated with decreased risk of stroke and death compared with warfarin. Despite a rapid uptake of
DOAC
s in clinical practice, the total proportion of
AF
patients on anticoagulation has remained stable, even in high‐risk patients.
Beyond the evoked/intrinsic neural process dichotomy
Authors: Bolt Taylor , Anderson Michael L. , Uddin Lucina Q.
Published: November 2017

Contemporary functional neuroimaging research has increasingly focused on characterization of intrinsic or “spontaneous” brain activity. Analysis of intrinsic activity is often contrasted with analysis of task-evoked activity that has traditionally been the focus of cognitive neuroscience. But does this evoked/intrinsic dichotomy adequately characterize human brain function? Based on empirical data demonstrating a close functional interdependence between intrinsic and task-evoked activity, we argue that the dichotomy between intrinsic and task-evoked activity as unobserved contributions to brain activity is artificial. We present an alternative picture of brain function in which the brain’s spatiotemporal dynamics do not consist of separable intrinsic and task-evoked components, but reflect the enaction of a system of mutual constraints to move the brain into and out of task-appropriate functional configurations. According to this alternative picture, cognitive neuroscientists are tasked with describing both the temporal trajectory of brain activity patterns across time, and the modulation of this trajectory by task states, without separating this process into intrinsic and task-evoked components. We argue that this alternative picture of brain function is best captured in a novel explanatory framework called enabling constraint. Overall, these insights call for a reconceptualization of functional brain activity, and should drive future methodological and empirical efforts.
Heritability of the human connectome: A connectotyping study
Authors: Miranda-Dominguez Oscar , Feczko Eric , Grayson David S. , Walum Hasse , Nigg Joel T. , Fair Damien A.
Published: November 2017

Recent progress in resting-state neuroimaging demonstrates that the brain exhibits highly individualized patterns of functional connectivity—a “connectotype.” How these individualized patterns may be constrained by environment and genetics is unknown. Here we ask whether the connectotype is familial and heritable. Using a novel approach to estimate familiality via a machine-learning framework, we analyzed resting-state fMRI scans from two well-characterized samples of child and adult siblings. First we show that individual connectotypes were reliably identified even several years after the initial scanning timepoint. Familial relationships between participants, such as siblings versus those who are unrelated, were also accurately characterized. The connectotype demonstrated substantial heritability driven by high-order systems including the fronto-parietal, dorsal attention, ventral attention, cingulo-opercular, and default systems. This work suggests that shared genetics and environment contribute toward producing complex, individualized patterns of distributed brain activity, rather than constraining local aspects of function. These insights offer new strategies for characterizing individual aberrations in brain function and evaluating heritability of brain networks.
Forget the Landscape: The Space of Rabbinic and Greco-Roman Mnemonics
Authors: Klein Gil P.
Published: November 2017

This article investigates the notion of memorization in rabbinic and Roman spatial practices. The Greco-Roman mnemonic technique, in which space was a structuring device for the memorized ideas, words or images, has been extensively studied. Scholars have also demonstrated how such a technique was applied in rabbinic systems of memorization and the arrangement of oral traditions. Nevertheless, very little has been written about the role of mnemonics in the organization of space itself. In the first part of the article I use the comparison between the Corpus Agrimensorum Romanorum (first to fifth centuries CE collection of illuminated manuals of land survey and urban planning) and tractate Eruvin to explore references to cities in the shape of Greek letters, which are almost identical in the two texts. The fact that a list of cities in the shape of letters was used in the Roman corpus as a mnemonic device for the memorization of urban layouts suggests that the rabbis corresponded with such methods in their spatial formulations of the Sabbath Boundary. In the second part of the article I investigate the rabbinic system of forgotten produce (shikheḥah) that maps fields in order to determine which crops were unintentionally left behind by the farmer and consequently belonged to the poor. As I demonstrate, many of the spatial and visual principles applied by the rabbis in this system echo the mnemonic principles described in the Roman work on memorization Rhetorica Ad Herennium. The primary purpose of the article, however, is not merely to illuminate an instance of cultural exchange, but rather to point to the profound link established by mnemonics between space, image and language. The mechanism of organizing words and ideas spatially and visually affected the ways in which space was perceived and was, itself, organized.
Prodromus of a fern flora for Bolivia. V. Ophioglossaceae
Authors: KESSLER MICHAEL , SMITH ALAN R.
Published: November 2017

We provide a synopsis to the family Ophioglossaceae in Bolivia, comprising seven species in four genera, Botrypus, Cheiroglossa and Sceptridium with one species each, and Ophioglossum with four species.
Descriptions of pupae of two Hydropsyche species from China (Insecta, Trichoptera, Hydropsychidae)
Authors: XIE YUE , XU JI-HUA , WANG BEI-XIN , SUN CHANG-HAI
Published: November 2017

Pupae of two Hydropsyche species collected from Zhe-jiang Province, China, were examined and their barcode sequences were generated and analyzed. The pupae of H. simulata and H. homunculus were associated with their adult males by mtCOI gene sequences, described, illustrated, and diagnosed.
Narcissism, Fame Seeking, and Mass Shootings
Authors: Bushman Brad J.
Published: November 2017

For many years, the conventional wisdom was that most acts of aggression and violence stem from insecurities and low self-esteem. The possibility that some mass shooters have low self-esteem, low self-worth, or painful personal insecurities should not lead us to overlook another more likely possibility: that a significant number of mass shooters may have large egos and narcissistic tendencies. This article will (a) describe the psychological concepts of narcissism and narcissistic traits; (b) review previous research on links between narcissism, aggression, and violence; (c) review evidence that some mass shooters exhibit narcissistic traits; and (d) discuss the implications of narcissistic mass shooters for society and the media coverage of their shooting rampages.
Canadian Health Care System: Who Should Pay for All Medically Beneficial Treatments? A Burning Issue
Authors: Chowdhury Mohammad Ziaul Islam , Chowdhury Monsur Ahmed
Published: November 2017

The Canadian health care system can be characterized as a mix of public and private participation, although it is often described as a publicly funded system. In Canada, “medically necessary” services are covered with public funds; however, the Canada Health Act provides no formal definition of medical necessity. The provincial and territorial health care insurance plans decide which services are medically necessary. As a result, coverage of hospital and medical services differs among provinces. Outpatient prescription drugs are not covered by public plans. The coverage for diagnostics and medications for rare diseases is also limited. Private insurance plans, often provided by employers, are an expensive solution, although coverage is not sufficient. Those who are unemployed, self-employed, or informally employed and those with rare diseases that require expensive treatments and drugs frequently are not covered by any plan and face financial difficulty paying for their prescriptions and treatments. As a result, many Canadians are struggling and facing inequality in acquiring medical services for rare diseases and outpatient prescription drugs due to an unfair Canadian health care system. This paper proposes some recommendation to make medical services more accessible and affordable to every Canadian.
Does section 63 of the Mental Health Act 1983 disempower patients with mental illness? Analysis of the case law
Authors: Senasinghe Bhanuka
Published: November 2017

In England and Wales, detained psychiatric inpatients are treated under section 63 of the Mental Health Act 1983. This paper critically analyses the relevant law and considers the arbitrary distinctions between consent for treatments for mental illnesses and physical conditions, which may disempower patients with mental illness. Section 63 states that (for detained psychiatric patients) consent for medical treatment for patients’ mental disorder is not required. The treating clinician responsible for a patient decides what this medical treatment entails. This article focuses on three main legal cases: B v Croydon Health Authority, Tameside and Glossop v CH and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust v RC and considers whether s 63 disempowers patients with mental illnesses.
Identity Fusion in U.S. Military Members
Authors: Hart Roland , Lancaster Steven L.
Published: November 2017

Identity fusion, the visceral sense of interconnectedness between oneself and the members of a group, has been associated with military service anecdotally and examined among foreign military groups. However, no study to date has explored fusion and its relationship with functioning among U.S. military members. The aims of this study were (1) to examine the incremental predictive validity of fusion, (2) to examine the relationship between fusion and pro- and antisocial in-group behaviors, and (3) to determine how one’s attitude toward their military service may affect fusion. Data were collected via self-report using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk software. Results indicated that fusion predicted progroup beliefs and in-group helping behaviors above and beyond other indicators of military identity. Further, satisfaction with the military mediated the relationship between fusion and willingness to give time to other veterans. Identifying an important mediator of fusion expands upon earlier work in the field and suggests routes for future inquiry.
Using a Visual Structured Criterion for the Analysis of Alternating-Treatment Designs
Authors: Lanovaz Marc J. , Cardinal Patrick , Francis Mary
Published: November 2017

Although visual inspection remains common in the analysis of single-case designs, the lack of agreement between raters is an issue that may seriously compromise its validity. Thus, the purpose of our study was to develop and examine the properties of a simple structured criterion to supplement the visual analysis of alternating-treatment designs. To this end, we generated simulated data sets with varying number of points, number of conditions, effect sizes, and autocorrelations, and then measured Type I error rates and power produced by the visual structured criterion (VSC) and permutation analyses. We also validated the results for Type I error rates using nonsimulated data. Overall, our results indicate that using the VSC as a supplement for the analysis of systematically alternating-treatment designs with at least five points per condition generally provides adequate control over Type I error rates and sufficient power to detect most behavior changes.
Superfluity and insecurity: Disciplining surplus populations in the Global North
Authors: Shammas Victor L
Published: November 2017

Capitalism in northern societies is entering an age of advanced precarity. On the one hand, postindustrial societies are confronted by growing surplus populations for whom there exist few positive functions in the market. These new ‘dangerous classes’ are increasingly subject to surveillance, discipline, and exclusion as the policing and penal instruments of the state are called upon to detect and contain risk. On the other hand, capitalism’s ‘insiders’ are increasingly consigned to a precarious life of hyperflexible labor and generalized insecurity. Confronted with a growing mass of ‘social detritus’, augmented by advances in automation and catalyzed by accelerating flows of capital, states in the Global North will increasingly be forced to mobilize the disciplinary instruments of policing and punishment to contain the swelling ranks of problem populations.
Enhanced Curriculum Intervention Did Not Result in Increased Postnatal Physical Activity in Rural, Southern, Primarily African American Women
Authors: Thomson Jessica L. , Tussing-Humphreys Lisa M. , Goodman Melissa H. , Landry Alicia S.
Published: November 2017

Purpose:

To test the impact of an enhanced home visiting curriculum on postnatal physical activity in rural, southern, primarily African American mothers.

Design:

Randomized controlled trial.

Setting:

Three rural counties in Mississippi.

Participants:

Between September 2013 and May 2016, 54 postpartum women randomized to standard home visiting curriculum (n = 30 control) or lifestyle enhanced home visiting curriculum (n = 24 experimental) were followed for 12 months.

Intervention:

The experimental arm of the intervention built upon the Parents as Teachers curriculum (control arm) by adding culturally tailored, maternal weight management and early childhood obesity prevention components.

Measures:

Physical activity behavior and related psychosocial constructs including attitudes, expectations, self-efficacy, social support, and barriers.

Analysis:

Generalized linear mixed models were applied to test for treatment and time effects on physical activity and related psychosocial constructs.

Results:

Postnatal retention rates were 83% and 88% for control and experimental arms, respectively. Mean weekly minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were 28 and 50 minutes at postnatal months 1 and 12 in the control arm and 40 minutes for both time points in the experimental arm. Although a significant time effect was found, pairwise comparisons failed to reach statistical significance.

Conclusion:

The enhanced treatment was not effective at increasing postnatal physical activity nor improving related psychosocial construct measures in this cohort of rural, southern women.
Around the Corner to Better Health: A Milwaukee Corner Store Initiative
Authors: Young Staci , DeNomie Melissa , Sabir JoAnne , Gass Eric , Tobin Jessie
Published: November 2017

Purpose:

To discuss successes and challenges of a collaborative pilot project to increase healthy food availability in corner stores in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Lindsay Heights Healthy Corner Store Initiative aimed to help corner stores sell high-quality produce by increasing supply of healthy foods and funding minor store upgrades to facilitate change.

Design:

Evaluation research.

Setting:

Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Participants:

Corner stores; youth and adult community members.

Intervention:

(1) Supporting businesses in purchasing equipment to stock fresh produce, (2) connecting stores with produce sources, and (3) community outreach and marketing.

Measures:

Partnership capacity, youth engagement in food justice, and community members’ usage of corner stores.

Analysis:

Qualitative analysis; descriptive statistics.

Results:

Storeowners reported more sold produce items per week and increased noticeable fresh produce upon entrance into the store. There was increased or improved store redesign, fresh produce signage, in-store cooking demonstrations, and small business development resources.

Conclusion:

Youth learned about new vegetables, increased kitchen skills and proper food storage, and the effects of obesity on overall health. Similar interventions must address infrastructure costs, cooperation with property owners, and local policies and regulations affecting business practices.
Influence of polyphenyl ester and nanosized copper filler on the tribological properties of carbon fibre–reinforced ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene composites
Authors: Wang Ziyang , Ma Yunhai , Guo Li , Tong Jin
Published: November 2017

Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) reinforced with carbon fibre (CF) and filled with polyphenyl ester (POB) and nanosized copper (Cu) fillers was prepared by compression moulding. The tribological behaviours and the synergism of the incorporation of fibre and particulates were studied. The proportions of the reinforcement material ranged from 5 wt% to 25 wt%, the filler material of POB varied from 5 wt% to 25 wt% and the nanosized filler was from 4 wt% to 12 wt%. In the sample with CF only, the lowest wear rate was observed for the UHMWPE + 15% CF composite. The particulate filler further reduced the composite wear rate, and the lowest wear rate was found for the hybrid with CF, POB and nanosize Cu particles, that is, for the UHMWPE + 15% CF + 15% POB + 12% Cu composite. The particulate filler was added, and the coefficient of friction slightly increased. The transfer film formed on the metal counterface was studied using optical microscopy, and the topography of the transfer film was investigated using atomic force microscopy. Results showed that the transfer films were thin, compact and uniform on the metal counterfaces of the UHMWPE + 15% CF + 15% POB + 12% Cu composite. Worn surface morphologies of composites were studied using scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that the worn surface of the UHMWPE + 15% CF + 15% POB + 12% Cu composite was smoother and had better wear resistance than that of other composites.
Investigation on the thermal insulation properties of lightweight biocomposites based on lignocellulosic residues and natural polymers
Authors: Nechita Petronela , Ionescu Ştefania Miţa
Published: November 2017

Due to their advantages (low cost, non-toxic, biodegradable, abundant, low density and very good mechanical properties), the lignocellulosic residues were widely used in the last time as reinforcements in composite materials with applications in the building industry. Besides these wastes, expanded perlite (EP) and natural polymers are promising candidates for the building industry, based on their specific characteristics and economic advantages. In this article, the results are presented regarding the thermal insulation properties of composite materials based on EP and natural polymers (starch polymer matrix reinforced with lignocellulosic wastes). The samples of composite materials were obtained from the laboratory and characterized in terms of the main specific properties of building materials, such as thermal conductivity/resistance, water absorption capacity, apparent density and image analyses by scanning electron microscopy. The obtained results have highlighted the values for thermal conductivity of composite samples between 0.05 and 0.11 (W/mK), similar to those materials currently used in building thermal insulation.
More Than Meets the Eye: A Review and Future Directions for the Social Psychology of Socioemotional Wealth
Authors: Jiang David S. , Kellermanns Franz W. , Munyon Timothy P. , Morris M. Lane
Published: November 2017

Socioemotional wealth (SEW) research has been criticized for not directly assessing the locus and drivers of family members’ SEW. We propose that a social psychological approach to SEW can help address these concerns, conducting analyses on 421 articles published across 25 journals during the first decade of SEW research. We therefore assess how SEW has been used and identify various inherent complexities that SEW poses for researchers. Altogether, our analyses afford us opportunities to better understand SEW scholarship’s social psychological roots and to propose an agenda that can help further build and extend the psychological microfoundations of family firms.
The Impact of Cirrhosis and Prescription Medications on QTc Interval Before and After Liver Transplantation
Authors: Santeusanio Andrew D. , Dunsky Kevin G. , Pan Stephanie , Schiano Thomas D.
Published: November 2017

Background:

Higher rates of corrected QT (QTc) prolongation have been reported in patients with cirrhosis. The impact of liver transplantation and prescription medications on the natural history of QTc prolongation has yet to be well characterized.

Methods:

This was a single-center review of patients receiving (group 1) or listed for (group 2) a liver transplant during 2014. Patients in group 1 were followed prospectively from the date of transplantation to assess rates of QTc normalization posttransplant. In group 2, patients were evaluated from the date of listing up until December 2015 to assess the prevalence of QTc prolongation among liver transplant candidates.

Results:

In group 1, 22 (75.9%) patients with QTc intervals >460 milliseconds at the time of transplant established normal baseline QTc intervals following transplantation. The median time to this QTc normalization was 17 days. In group 2, 30 (16.9%) patients had at least 1 documented QTc interval >500 milliseconds with prevalence rates of 42.9%, 19.0%, and 10.2% in patients with natural model of end-stage liver disease scores of >30, 16 to 30, and <16, respectively ( P < .01). Overall, 49.4% of patients in group 1 and 47.5% of patients in group 2 were prescribed QTc prolonging medications.

Conclusion:

QTc prolongation will resolve following transplantation in the majority of patients and generally occurs within the first several weeks. Among the listed liver transplant candidates, higher rates of clinically significant QTc prolongation may be observed in patients with more severe underlying cirrhosis. QTc prolonging medications are commonly prescribed in this population and warrant monitoring following initiation.
India on Humanitarian Intervention and Responsibility to Protect: Shifting Nuances
Authors: Choedon Yeshi
Published: November 2017

India’s opposition to humanitarian intervention has been influenced by its colonial experience and its predisposition towards the principles of sovereignty and non-intervention. However, India did not adopt a strident opposition in the post-Cold War due to the changed power configuration. The article discusses how India adopted a cautious approach and yet used every opportunity to remind the international community the baleful effect of intervention in the internal affairs. After securing concession to a considerable extent on the ambitious Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and when most of the countries showed an inclination to accept humanitarian intervention in the form of ‘R2P’ at the UN summit in 2005, India grudgingly went along accepting it. India participated in the deliberation on the implementation of R2P and took its stand on various crises in which R2P was evoked. The experience of NATO’s Libya operation under R2P was regarded as substantiation of India’s apprehension of the misuse of the concept, and India reverted its position to the sceptical view of humanitarian intervention/R2P. By mere complaining about the mixing of peace enforcement with peacekeeping, when the United Nations deployed ‘intervention brigade’ for the protection of civilians, India lost the opportunity to take the initiative to propose a new mechanism to deal with the humanitarian crisis in atrocious internal conflicts.
Methodological and Practical Issues in Cross-National Qualitative Research: Lessons From the Literature and a Comparative Study of the Experiences of People Receiving a Diagnosis of Cancer
Authors: Chapple Alison , Ziebland Sue
Published: November 2017

Social science and health services research have much to gain from cross-national qualitative research, yet the logistics involved in setting up such studies, especially where different languages and health systems are involved, can seem daunting. In this article, we highlight issues to consider and suggest some solutions, drawing both on the literature and examples from our own cross-national research. We highlight the issues involved with synchronizing staffing and funding, ensuring comparable methods, project management, and communication between research groups, the consequences of the different criteria for ethical approval for recruitment, the challenge of working with multiple languages, teams involving different disciplines and skill sets, and coordinating and timing data collection and analysis. The aim of this article is to draw on the literature, which includes several useful insights, as well as reflections from our own cross-national research, to highlight considerations for cross-national qualitative research teams. Our approach is to highlight and discuss potential challenges and suggest potential solutions, using the format of an illustrated literature review.
“I Can Never Be Too Comfortable”: Race, Gender, and Emotion at the Hospital Bedside
Authors: Cottingham Marci D. , Johnson Austin H. , Erickson Rebecca J.
Published: November 2017

In this article, we examine how race and gender shape nurses’ emotion practice. Based on audio diaries collected from 48 nurses within two Midwestern hospital systems in the United States, we illustrate the disproportionate emotional labor that emerges among women nurses of color in the white institutional space of American health care. In this environment, women of color experience an emotional double shift as a result of negotiating patient, coworker, and supervisor interactions. In confronting racist encounters, nurses of color in our sample experience additional job-related stress, must perform disproportionate amounts of emotional labor, and experience depleted emotional resources that negatively influence patient care. Methodologically, the study extends prior research by using audio diaries collected from a racially diverse sample to capture emotion as a situationally emergent and complex feature of nursing practice. We also extend research on nursing by tracing both the sources and consequences of unequal emotion practices for nurse well-being and patient care.
Psychometric Properties of the Eating Disorder Examination–Questionnaire (EDE-Q): A Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Assessment of Measurement Invariance by Sex
Authors: Rand-Giovannetti Devin , Cicero David C. , Mond Jonathan M. , Latner Janet D.
Published: November 2017

The original, theoretically derived factor structure of the Eating Disorder Examination–Questionnaire (EDE-Q) has received limited empirical support and there is no consensus on an appropriate alternative. Moreover, there is a paucity of data on the factor structure of the EDE-Q across sexes. The goals of the current study were to evaluate models of the EDE-Q factor structure and to assess the best-fitting model for differences by sex. Twelve models were compared using confirmatory factor analysis in a sample of 940 undergraduates. Confirmatory factor analysis did not support the original factor structure. A four-factor model fit the data reasonably well with factors corresponding to themes of (a) dietary restraint, (b) preoccupation and restriction, (c) weight and shape concern, and (d) eating shame. The EDE-Q was found to be invariant by sex across all factors except Factor 3. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Markets and Violence: Qualitative Research and the Neoliberal Future
Authors: Nespor Jan
Published: November 2017

Neoliberal epistemologies are grounded in a temporal paradox. To prosper, you have to know how actions taken now will pay off in the future. But you can’t know that—the future is uncertain and unknowable. In this context, qualitative inquiry becomes less a matter of explanation or interpretation than of feeding information into efforts to collapse the temporal horizon and format the future in a form that you can dominate. This article examines manifestations of this approach in the qualitative research practices of two key institutional sectors of neoliberalism: the corporate and military.