bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of a Novel Large CYP17A1 Deletion by MLPA Analysis in a Family with Classic 17α-Hydroxylase Deficiency
Authors: Turkkahraman Doga , Guran Tulay , Ivison Hannah , Griffin Aliesha , Vijzelaar Raymon , Krone Nils
Published: March 2015

Steroid 17α-hydroxylase deficiency (17OHD) is a rare form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia caused by mutations in the 17α-hydroxylase (CYP17A1) gene. CYP17A1 is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of adrenal and gonadal steroid hormones facilitating both 17α-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase activities. We characterized a partial CYP17A1 deletion in a Kurdish family with 17OHD by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). The index patient presented with amenorrhea and lack of pubertal development. Investigations established the diagnosis of 46,XY disorder of sex development (DSD). She is the daughter of consanguineous parents and has 2 sisters with similar clinical presentation. All patients showed biochemical signs of primary adrenal and gonadal insufficiency. The molecular genetic analysis by PCR suggested a deletion spanning exons 1-6 of the CYP17A1 gene. MLPA analysis confirmed the large partial CYP17A1 deletion in patients and parents in homozygous and heterozygous state, respectively. This is the first report employing MLPA for mutation analysis to detect a deletion of CYP17A1 spanning multiple exons in 3 patients with classic 17OHD. Therefore, it is important to consider large partial CYP17A1 deletions in 17OHD in addition to point mutations in cases where no segregation analysis is possible to determine the correct genotype.
Bloom Syndrome Radials Are Predominantly Non-Homologous and Are Suppressed by Phosphorylated BLM
Authors: Owen Nichole , Hejna James , Rennie Scott , Mitchell Asia , Hanlon Newell Amy , Ziaie Navid , Moses Robb E. , Olson Susan B.
Published: March 2015

Biallelic mutations in BLM cause Bloom syndrome (BS), a genome instability disorder characterized by growth retardation, sun sensitivity and a predisposition to cancer. As evidence of decreased genome stability, BS cells demonstrate not only elevated levels of spontaneous sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), but also exhibit chromosomal radial formation. The molecular nature and mechanism of radial formation is not known, but radials have been thought to be DNA recombination intermediates between homologs that failed to resolve. However, we find that radials in BS cells occur over 95% between non-homologous chromosomes, and occur non-randomly throughout the genome. BLM must be phosphorylated at T99 and T122 for certain cell cycle checkpoints, but it is not known whether these modifications are necessary to suppress radial formation. We find that exogenous BLM constructs preventing phosphorylation at T99 and T122 are not able to suppress radial formation in BS cells, but are able to inhibit SCE formation. These findings indicate that BLM functions in 2 distinct pathways requiring different modifications. In one pathway, for which the phosphorylation marks appear dispensable, BLM functions to suppress SCE formation. In a second pathway, T99 and T122 phosphorylations are essential for suppression of chromosomal radial formation, both those formed spontaneously and those formed following interstrand crosslink damage.
Cleidocranial Dysplasia with Normal Clavicles: A Report of a Novel Genotype and a Review of Seven Previous Cases
Authors: Singh Ankur , Goswami Mridula , Pradhan Gaurav , Han Min-Su , Choi Je-Yong , Kapoor Seema
Published: March 2015

We report an unusual combination of features comprising delayed tooth eruption and closure of the anterior fontanel as the sole presenting features in a child with cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD). Radiological survey revealed the presence of wormian bones in the skull, pseudoepiphysis at the base of the bilateral second metacarpal, and midline ossification defects at pubic symphysis in the presence of essentially normal clavicles. DNA sequencing of the RUNX2 gene detected a novel nonsense mutation in exon1 (c.166C>T; p.Q56X) in its glutamine-alanine (Q/A) repeat domain. The genotypes of all published cases of CCD with normal clavicles were reviewed. Additional dental and otolaryngological features were enlisted. Three cases with a milder dental phenotype and normal clavicles were associated with a mutation in the Q/A domain. Collectively, we found a novel CCD-causing nonsense mutation p.Q56X in the Q/A domain of the RUNX2 gene.
The Case Mix of Patients Presenting with Full-Thickness Macular Holes and Progression before Surgery: Implications for Optimum Management
Authors: Madi Haifa A. , Dinah Christiana , Rees Jon , Steel David H.W.
Published: March 2015

Aims: Analysis of pre-operative spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) characteristics of full-thickness macular holes (FTMH) and effect on optimum management. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed SD-OCT characteristics of a consecutive cohort of patients waitlisted for FTMH surgery and categorized them by current evidence-based treatments. Results: Out of the 106 holes analysed, 36 were small, 40 medium and 30 large. Initially, 33 holes had vitreomacular adhesion (VMA). 41 holes were analysed for change in characteristics with a median duration of 8 weeks between the scans. The number of small or medium holes decreased from 20 to 6 and that of large holes doubled. The number of holes with VMA halved. Smaller hole size (p = 0.014) and being phakic (p = 0.048) were associated with a larger increase in size. The strongest predictor of hole progression into a different surgical management category was the presence of VMA. Conclusion: FTMH characteristics can change significantly pre-operatively and affect optimal treatment choice.
Organization and Behavior of the Synaptonemal Complex during Achiasmatic Meiosis of Four Buthid Scorpions
Authors: Schneider Marielle C. , Mattos Viviane F. , Carvalho Leonardo S. , Cella Doralice M.
Published: March 2015

Testicular cells of 4 buthid scorpions, Rhopalurus agamemnon (2n = 28), R. rochai (2n = 28), Tityus bahiensis (2n = 6), and T. fasciolatus (2n = 14), which show different types of chromosomal configurations in meiosis I, were subjected to cellular microspreading in order to (1) obtain knowledge about the organization and behavior of the synaptonemal complex (SC), and (2) acquire data about the mechanisms responsible for inter- and intraindividual chromosomal variation within Buthidae. Ultrastructural analysis of microspread nuclei revealed SCs with a well-preserved structure until late substages of prophase I, but did not detect kinetochore plates and recombination nodules. Pachytene cells of R. agamemnon, R. rochai and T. bahiensis exhibited single and unsynapsed axes continuous with totally synapsed SCs, indicating the occurrence of heterozygous chromosomal rearrangements. Although chromosome chains were not observed in T. fasciolatus, the presence of gaps and interlocks points out that this species also carries heterozygous rearrangements, involving a small chromosome segment. Especially in R. rochai, the cellular microspreading analysis was useful to clarify the origin of inter- and intraindividual variation in the number of bivalent-like elements and in the number of chromosomes involved in multivalent associations. It was found that more chromosomes were involved in rearrangements than previously established through investigations using light microscopy alone.
Mallory-Weiss Tear during Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Authors: Kim Ji Wan , Shim Chan-Sup , Lee Tae Yoon , Cheon Young Koog
Published: March 2015

Mallory-Weiss tears (MWTs) are mucosal lacerations caused by forceful retching and are typically located at the gastroesophageal junction. Reported cases of MWT with serious complications seen in esophagogastroduodenoscopy are limited. We report MWT in an 81-year-old woman who presented with gastric perforation by esophagogastroduodenoscopy. We discuss and indicate that hiatal hernia, atrophic gastritis and old age may be associated with the gastric perforation in comparison to typical tears occurring at the gastroesophageal junction.
Somatostatin Receptors 2A and 5 Are Expressed in Merkel Cell Carcinoma with No Association with Disease Severity
Authors: Gardair Charlotte , Samimi Mahtab , Touzé Antoine , Coursaget Pierre , Lorette Gérard , Caille Agnès , Wierzbicka Ewa , Croué Anne , Avenel-Audran Martine , Aubin François , Kerdraon Rémy , Estève Eric , Beneton Nathalie , Guyétant Serge
Published: March 2015

Background/Aims: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare high-grade neuroendocrine tumour of the skin. It has been speculated that MCCs express somatostatin receptors (SSTRs), but this has never been assessed in a large series of MCCs. The main aim of this study was to assess the expression of SSTR2A and SSTR5 in MCC tumours. The secondary aims were to assess whether expression of SSTR was associated with the Ki67 proliferative index, Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) status, clinical characteristics and outcome. Methods: Clinical data and tumours were collected from an ongoing cohort of French patients with MCC. Immunohistochemistry was performed with anti-SSTR2A and anti-SSTR5 monoclonal antibodies, and tumours were classified into 3 groups: ‘no expression', ‘low expression' and ‘moderate expression' using an SSTR staining score. Results: SSTR expression was assessed for 105 MCC tissue samples from 98 patients, and clinical characteristics were available for 87 of them. SSTR expression was consistent between the primary skin tumour and the corresponding metastases for SSTR2A and SSTR5 in 3/7 and 6/7 cases, respectively. SSTR2A and SSTR5 were expressed in 58 cases (59.2%) and in 44 cases (44.9%), respectively. Overall, at least one SSTR was expressed in 75 tumours (76.5%). SSTR expression was not associated with clinical characteristics, Ki67 proliferative index, recurrence-free survival or MCC-specific survival. Expression of SSTR2A was associated with MCPyV status in MCC tumours but not SSTR5. Conclusion: SSTRs were expressed in a high proportion of MCCs, although expression was heterogeneous between tumours and was not associated with disease severity.
Dihydrotestosterone as a Protective Agent in Chronic Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Authors: Giatti Silvia , Rigolio Roberta , Romano Simone , Mitro Nico , Viviani Barbara , Cavaletti Guido , Caruso Donatella , Garcia-Segura Luis Miguel , Melcangi Roberto Cosimo
Published: March 2015

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system. As reported by clinical observations, variation in hormonal levels might alter disease susceptibility and progression. Specifically, decreased levels of testosterone in males are reported to be permissive for disease onset. Accordingly, testosterone seems to exert protective effects in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In this context, it is important to highlight that testosterone is further metabolized into 17ß-estradiol or dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In this study, we aimed to explore the protective effects of DHT treatment in EAE Dark Agouti rats (i.e. an experimental model showing a protracted relapsing EAE). Data obtained 45 days after EAE induction showed that DHT exerts a beneficial effect on clinical scores, coupled with decreased gliosis (i.e. glial fibrillary acidic protein and major histocompatibility complex of class II staining) and inflammation (i.e. translocator protein 18 kDa, interleukin-1ß, Toll-like receptor 4 and nuclear factor-κB expression) in the spinal cord. Moreover, parameters linked to oxidative stress and tissue damage, like thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance levels and Bcl-2-associated X protein expression, and to mitochondrial activity (i.e. content of mitochondrial DNA and proteins), were improved after DHT administration. This neuroactive steroid may be further metabolized into 3a- or 3ß-diol. However, assessment of the levels of these metabolites after DHT treatment seems to suggest that the protective effects observed here are due to DHT itself. Altogether, the present results indicate that DHT was effective in reducing the severity of chronic EAE and, consequently, may represent an interesting perspective for multiple sclerosis treatment.
Variation in Critical Care Unit Admission Rates and Outcomes for Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes or Heart Failure Among High‐ and Low‐Volume Cardiac Hospitals
Authors: van Diepen Sean , Bakal Jeffrey A. , Lin Meng , Kaul Padma , McAlister Finlay A. , Ezekowitz Justin A.
Published: February 2015

Background

Little is known about cross‐hospital differences in critical care units admission rates and related resource utilization and outcomes among patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndromes (
ACS
) or heart failure (
HF
).

Methods and Results

Using a population‐based sample of 16 078 patients admitted to a critical care unit with a primary diagnosis of
ACS
(n=14 610) or
HF
(n=1467) between April 1, 2003 and March 31, 2013 in Alberta, Canada, we stratified hospitals into high (>250), medium (200 to 250), or low (<200) volume based on their annual volume of all
ACS
and
HF
hospitalization. The percentage of hospitalized patients admitted to critical care units varied across low, medium, and high‐volume hospitals for both
ACS
and
HF
as follows: 77.9%, 81.3%, and 76.3% (
P
<0.001), and 18.0%, 16.3%, and 13.0% (
P
<0.001), respectively. Compared to low‐volume units, critical care patients with
ACS
and
HF
admitted to high‐volume hospitals had shorter mean critical care stays (56.6 versus 95.6 hours,
P
<0.001), more critical care procedures (1.9 versus 1.2 per patient, <0.001), and higher resource‐intensive weighting (2.8 versus 1.5,
P
<0.001). No differences in in‐hospital mortality (5.5% versus 6.2%, adjusted odds ratio 0.93; 95%
CI
, 0.61 to 1.41) were observed between high‐ and low‐volume hospitals; however, 30‐day cardiovascular readmissions (4.6% versus 6.8%, odds ratio 0.77; 95%
CI
, 0.60 to 0.99) and cardiovascular emergency‐room visits (6.6% versus 9.5%, odds ratio 0.80; 95%
CI
, 0.69 to 0.94) were lower in high‐volume compared to low‐volume hospitals. Outcomes stratified by
ACS
or
HF
admission diagnosis were similar.

Conclusions

Cardiac patients hospitalized in low‐volume hospitals were more frequently admitted to critical care units and had longer hospitals stays despite lower resource‐intensive weighting. These findings may provide opportunities to standardize critical care utilization for
ACS
and
HF
patients across high‐ and low‐volume hospitals.
Stephanocha nom. nov., a replacement name for the illegitimate silicoflagellate genus Distephanus (Dictyochophyceae)
Authors: Jordan Richard , McCARTNEY KEVIN
Published: March 2015

Stephanocha nom. nov. (Silicoflagellata, Dictyochophyceae) is herein proposed as a replacement name for the illegitimate genus name Distephanus, which is a later homonym of Distephanus, a flowering plant. The old generic description is emended, with S. rotunda as the designated type, and new combinations are made for all bona fide silicoflagellate taxa previously assigned (including those tentatively assigned) to Distephanus, except most already transferred to Distephanopsis.
Bulbostylis albidostricta (Abildgaardieae, Cyperaceae): a new sedge species from Angola
Authors: Veltjen Emily , Browning Jane , Goetghebeur Paul , Larridon Isabel
Published: March 2015

Bulbostylis albidostricta Veltjen & Goetgh. is presented as new species of Bulbostylis (Cyperaceae) from Angola. It is a small, elegant sedge species characterised by a slender creeping rhizome, a single terminal spikelet, glumes with a translucent margin and white velate nutlets. The species is described and illustrated, and differences with the closest resembling species are discussed.
Androsace halleri subsp. nuria Schönsw. & Schneew. (Primulaceae), a new taxon from the eastern Pyrenees (Spain, France)
Authors: Schönswetter Peter , Magauer Marianne , Schneeweiss Gerald M.
Published: March 2015

In the course of molecular phylogeographical investigations in the Aretia group of Androsace (Primulaceae), a previously unrecognised entity from the eastern Pyrenees (Spain/France) was identified as genetically distinct lineage. The entity is here morphologically characterised and described as new subspecies, Androsace halleri subsp. nuria Schönsw. & Schneew.
Redescription of Hemieuryale pustulata von Martens, 1867 (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea) based on Brazilian specimens, with notes on systematics and habitat association
Authors: GONDIM ANNE ISABELLEY , DIAS THELMA LÚCIA PEREIRA , CHRISTOFFERSEN MARTIN LINDSEY , STÖHR SABINE
Published: March 2015

We redescribe Hemieuryale pustulata on the basis of 325 specimens obtained from the continental shelf off northeastern and southeastern Brazil. This is the first record of the species for Brazil. We illustrate for the first time details of the dental plate, oral plate, and vertebrae. Few morphological variations were observed in our extensive material. All specimens were associated with the gorgonian Nicella guadalupensis, suggesting an obligatory association in the Brazilian littoral. H. pustulata did not reveal a particular pattern of distribution on its host gorgonian, but larger gorgonians tend to support a larger number of ophiuroids. In addition to expanding the knowledge on morphology and ecology, we extend the known bathymetric distribution of the species, which is now known from 18 to 330 m.
Parental time investments in children
Authors: Thomsen Mette Kjærgaard
Published: February 2015

Numerous time use studies consistently find that highly educated parents spend more time with their children and more time on developmental activities than do less educated parents. Nevertheless, few empirical studies have examined whether and how these inequalities in parental caring are related to children’s educational performance. This study aims to provide a more complete picture of how parental time spent with children is related to children’s educational performance than offered by prior studies. Unique couple-based time diaries from cohabiting/married couples in Denmark combined with register data on children’s final exams in ninth grade were used to examine different associations between parental time investment in children and children’s educational performance. The study shows a significant overall association between parental time spent on developmental care and children’s educational performance. Moreover, additional analyses reveal that this association is mainly driven by low socioeconomic status children who receive more than 20 minutes of developmental care daily.
Communicating Irregular Migration
Authors: Jacobsen Christine M.
Published: February 2015

This essay addresses the question of how irregular migration is framed in Western media from the location of the migration researcher. What challenges and dilemmas do media frames and practices of framing create for researchers’ participation in communicating research about irregular migration to the public? The essay is written in dialogue with topics raised by the articles in the special issue and seeks to supplement, and at times interrogate, its scrutiny of how irregular migration is covered in the news and received by the audience.
Increased Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio is Related to Slow Coronary Flow
Authors: Akboga Mehmet Kadri , Canpolat Ugur , Balci Kevser Gulcihan , Akyel Ahmet , Sen Fatih , Yayla Cagri , Cay Serkan , Aras Dursun , Aydogdu Sinan
Published: February 2015

Previous studies showed that both inflammation and platelets have a role in development of slow coronary flow (SCF). Platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as an emerging inflammatory indicator was significantly associated with adverse cardiovascular events. Therefore, we aimed to assess the relationship between PLR and SCF. Patients who had angiographically normal coronary arteries were enrolled in this retrospective study (n = 221 as SCF group and n = 293 as control group). Patients who had thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame counts (TFC) above the normal cutoffs were considered to have SCF. Both PLR and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly higher in the SCF group. In correlation analysis, PLR has a significantly positive correlation with the left anterior descending artery TFC ( P = .001), circumflex artery TFC ( P < .001), right coronary artery TFC ( P < .001), and serum CRP level ( P < .001). In multiple logistic regression analysis, PLR was independently associated with presence of SCF (odds ratio: 1.014, P < .001). In conclusion, higher PLR levels were significantly and independently related to the presence of SCF. Besides, PLR was positively correlated with serum CRP level as a conventional marker for systemic inflammation.
Rates of Complications After Newborn Circumcision in a Well-Baby Nursery, Special Care Nursery, and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Srinivasan Mythili , Hamvas Corrine , Coplen Douglas
Published: February 2015

Objective/Method. To determine rates of complications after newborn circumcision by performing a retrospective chart review of patients circumcised at a well-baby nursery, neonatal intensive care units (NICU), and special care nursery (SCN) from 2007 to 2012. Result. A total of 5129 babies (73%) were circumcised at the well-baby nursery and 1909 babies (27%) at the NICU and SCN. Forty-seven patients (0.67%, 95% CI 0.49% to 0.89%) had circumcision-related complications: 5 (0.07%) patients with acute and 42 (0.6%) with late complications. Babies in the NICU/SCN had increased odds of complication (OR 4.00, 95% CI 2.23 to 7.19) compared with those in well-baby nursery. There were increased odds of complications in babies with Caucasian ethnicity (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.48 to 4.89) compared with African American babies and in babies with private insurance (OR 4.0, 95% CI 2.1 to 7.5) compared with nonprivate insurance. Conclusions. The rates of complications after newborn circumcisions were low. Babies in the NICU/SCN had increased odds of complication.
Maternal Beliefs and Parenting Practices Regarding Their Preschool Child’s Television Viewing
Authors: Thompson Darcy A. , Polk Sarah , Cheah Charissa S. L. , Vandewater Elizabeth A. , Johnson Susan L. , Chrismer Marilyn Camacho , Tschann Jeanne M.
Published: February 2015

Objective. To explore maternal beliefs about television (TV) viewing and related parenting practices in low-income Mexican-origin mothers of preschoolers. Methods. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 21 low-income Mexican-origin mothers of preschoolers. Interviews were audio recorded and analyzed using a theoretically based thematic analytic approach. Results. Mothers described strong beliefs about the positive and negative impact of TV content. Mothers emphasized the educational value of specific programming. Content restrictions were common. Time restrictions were not clearly defined; however, many mothers preferred short versus long episodes of viewing. Mothers spoke positively about family viewing and the role of TV viewing in enabling mothers to accomplish household tasks. Discussion. These findings have implications for intervening in this population. Interventionists should consider the value mothers place on the educational role of TV viewing, the direct benefit to mothers of viewing time, the lack of clear time limits, and the common practice of family co-viewing.
Sometimes more competent, but always less warm: Perceptions of biologically oriented mental-health clinicians
Authors: Lebowitz Matthew S , Ahn Woo-kyoung , Oltman Kathleen
Published: February 2015

Background and aims:

Biological conceptualizations of psychopathology are ascendant, including among mental-health clinicians. However, it is unknown how this might affect people’s perceptions of clinicians, which in turn could have considerable public-health implications. The present studies sought to address this issue.

Methods:

In the present research, participants imagined that they or their loved ones were suffering from a mental disorder and then rated their perceptions of one clinician espousing the view that ‘mental disorders are brain diseases’ and another describing them as ‘disorders of thoughts and emotions’.

Results:

Biologically oriented clinicians were perceived as more competent and effective only when the disorder in question was judged to be biologically caused. Otherwise, there was no significant difference in perceived competence, and biologically oriented clinicians were rated less effective. Regardless, all participants perceived the biologically oriented clinician as significantly less warm on average than the psychosocially oriented clinician.

Conclusion:

These findings may have important clinical implications for the crucial therapeutic alliance between therapists and patients.
Sylvia Ashton-Warner’s “strange cadences”: Rereading Spinster and Incense to Idols
Authors: Mercer Erin Siobhan
Published: February 2015

Sylvia Ashton-Warner’s fiction achieved considerable international success, particularly her novels Spinster (1958) and Incense to Idols (1960), which both reached Time magazine’s best books list. This achievement meant that Ashton-Warner was able to resign from teaching and focus on being a fulltime writer and she was eventually awarded an MBE in 1982. Ashton-Warner’s success in literature was matched by her work in education and over the past 50 years there has been a significant body of criticism from scholars in that field analysing her non-fiction as well as her novels. Ashton-Warner’s significance as a writer makes her continuing neglect by literary critics in her homeland of New Zealand all the more curious. This article argues that Ashton-Warner’s novels are neglected in New Zealand literary culture largely because they were published at a time when local criticism privileged a mode of masculinist realism and that their recuperation by feminist scholars keen to challenge the restricted canon has been problematized by their author’s divisive personality, as well as by the conventional conclusions of her novels that tend to involve a level of containment. By taking a feminist approach to two of Ashton-Warner’s most popular novels — Spinster and Incense to Idols — this article aims to demonstrate how they utilize, extend, and subvert modes of writing associated with popular female fiction in order to explore the contradictions of prevailing versions of mid-twentieth-century femininity.
The Impact of Qualitative Research on the “Real World”
Authors: Granek Leeat , Nakash Ora
Published: February 2015

Knowledge translation (KT) remains an elusive term that has no unified definition in the health or social sciences. The wide scope of what KT is in practice invites creativity in disseminating research findings. In this article, we describe innovative KT initiatives based on different methodologies of qualitative research we conducted in the fields of psycho-oncology and mental health. These include medical and public education, training mental health clinicians, national policy recommendations, and clinical interventions in the health field. As academic researchers, we bear a responsibility to the public we are intended to serve with our qualitative research. We argue that researchers need to take KT seriously and think deeply about not only what we research but also the ways in which we translate that knowledge to make the maximum possible positive impact on the communities we study and serve.
A partial test of the ecological theory
Authors: Phillips Scott W , Gayadeen S Marlon , Kim Dae-Young , O’Neil Jennifer L , Robertson Joshua G
Published: February 2015

Klinger (1997) advanced research on police behaviour when he developed his ecological theory as a means to predict or explain the influence of the ‘patrol district’ on police behaviour. He proposed an inverse relationship between the levels of crime and disorder in the officer’s working environment and the amount of formal legal authority used by an officer. That is, the greater the level of crime and disorder in the patrol district, the lower the amount of formal legal authority expended by the officer. Past studies framed within the ecological theory found limited support for Klinger’s notion. It is suggested that prior studies inaccurately operationalised the ‘patrol district’ variable because the study areas were too large to adequately assess his theory. This study expands on past research framed within the ecological theory by operationalising the police patrol area based on US Census ‘block groups’. Results indicate that the rate of arrests in a block group was related to higher levels of calls for service, which is contrary to what is expected with the ecological theory. It is possible that a measure of ‘patrol district’, as an officer understands it, is not the same as the measures commonly accessible to scholars.
Critically examining ‘Flashpoints’ theory
Authors: Jordan Mark
Published: February 2015

This critical appraisal of the ‘Flashpoints’ model raises the potential for its operational application as a vehicle for threat and risk assessment based on contextual intelligence. The model has been successfully used to analyse different types of disorder events, including urban disorders, football violence and single issue protest. An extra level of structuration to take account of police traditions and doctrines was added to the six interdependent levels of the original model. Inclusion of this seventh level provided better contextual understanding of police agency at the ‘interactional’ level of the model. This framework was applied to findings from a comparative study of public disorders in France and Britain, providing valuable insights into the nature and style of the approaches adopted in the two countries. This version of the model proved effective and thorough in its coverage of the critical areas. Due to their interdependence and overlapping nature, the seven levels ensured that the necessary ground was covered. The ‘Flashpoints’ model is ultimately a framework for providing contextual intelligence and showed promise as a tool for community threat assessment. Its contextual levels of analysis do not have to be used after the event. Its use would give police commanders a better understanding of the precursors of disorder and deviance within the communities they serve. At the very least it would evidence analysis and evaluation of local conditions and an ongoing commitment and desire to anticipate and mitigate contingencies.
Toward more insight into the tension between policy and practice regarding the police network function of community police officers in The Netherlands
Authors: Groenendaal Jelle , Helsloot Ira
Published: February 2015

According to formal police policy in the Netherlands, the police should focus on their core business, i.e. criminal investigation and maintaining public order. According to the same policy community police officers should thus participate in local security networks with two tasks: first, gathering relevant information from the network for the core police tasks, and second, making sure that tasks deemed to be non-core policing tasks are left to other network actors. In this article we examine how community police officers implement this policy and the extent to which their network function actually contributes to the core police tasks. Based on five weeks of participative research conducted in the Netherlands, we observed that the network function did not contribute demonstrably to core police tasks, although it did contribute to quality of life and the local security in the neighbourhood. This can be partly explained by network theories that suggest that community police officers also have to ‘give’ in order to ‘get’ information and support. We conclude that neighbourhoods benefit from community police officers with a broad networking remit, at the same time moving away from the illusion that perceived non-primary policing tasks can thus be left to other parties.
Motoring
Authors: Gott J. A. H.
Published: February 2015

Our Motoring Correspondent discusses the effect ofcompetition upon ordinary cars and ordinary drivers, reports some items of motoring interest during the last quarter and gives his impressions of one of the fastest cars in the country.
The Gaming Act, 1968, Takes Hold
Authors: Bacon Ranulph
Published: February 2015

Sir Ranulph Bacon's police career was extremely distinguished. He joined the Metropolitan Police in 1928 and was selected for the Metropolitan Police College, where he won the Baton of Honour in 1935. During the second world war he served in the Middle East, becoming Deputy Provost Marshal, Ninth Army. In 1944 he was appointed Inspector General of the Ceylon Police, returning to England in 1947 to become Chief Constable of Devon. He joined the late Sir Joseph Simpson's top team at New Scotland Yard in 1961 as an Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and retired in 1966 as Deputy Commissioner. Sir Ranulph is a director of Securicor and a member of the Gaming Board.
Crime Control
Authors: Muir A. A.
Published: February 2015

Mr. Muir reviews a particularly forceful and constructive book.
Job Analysis
Authors: Leek C. C.
Published: February 2015

Mr. Leek's experience in teaching in police management courses has been of special advantage in the following treatment of an important aspect of the management of human resources. Our scarcest commodity is manpower and the article discusses ways of applying it to the best advantage. Industry's latest management techniques and control systems are drawn upon.
Dynamic properties of air-jet yarns compared to rotor spinning
Authors: Eldessouki Mohamed , Ibrahim Sayed , Farag Ramsis
Published: February 2015

In yarn production, the mechanism of twist insertion is a major factor that affects the structure and ultimately the properties and characteristics of the produced yarn. Moreover, the differences within the same spinning technique may have a similar effect where, for instance, the properties of yarns produced using Murata Vortex Spinning (MVS) and Reiter air-jet spinning (J20) will differ, although both technologies are just varieties of the same twist insertion principle of using a stream of air. In this work, the structure and properties of Murata vortex, Reiter, and rotor-spun yarns are compared with more emphasis on their mechanical behavior under dynamic stresses. Unlike the dynamic mechanical analysis of materials that presumes linear viscoelastic behavior and is only valid under small strains, this work suggests a cyclic loading with larger strains as a means of the dynamic evaluation of the yarns. Results show no significant difference between the technologies in terms of their initial modulus and maximum elongation, while a significant difference between the technologies is observed in the maximum loading and, to some extent, the work of rupture. The dynamic sonic modulus is compared to the results of the standard mechanical and the suggested cyclic loading tests, and a high correlation between the values was observed.
Homogeneity tests of Tiebout sorting: A case study at the interface of city and suburb
Authors: Hachadoorian Lee
Published: February 2015

The Tiebout hypothesis has stimulated 50 years of research into the relationship between residential location and local taxes and services. One line of research has focused on socioeconomic homogeneity as an indicator of Tiebout sorting. I argue that spatial dependence of socioeconomic variables confounds attempts to attribute sorting to Tiebout processes. Socioeconomic sorting is investigated in Queens and Nassau Counties, NY, one a jurisdictionally unified central city, the other a jurisdictionally fragmented suburban county. Socioeconomic differences between neighbouring census tracts are quantified throughout the study area and regressed on variables representing general purpose local governments and school districts. There is strong evidence of income sorting across small suburban municipalities, while the evidence of income sorting across school districts is ambiguous. I conclude that income sorting may not be as important at the school district level as generally believed, and previous research may have misattributed the political scale of household choice.
Hybrid spatialities: Multi-storey extensions of socialist blocks of flats under post-socialist transition in Serbia, the case of Nis
Authors: Vranic Petar , Vasilevska Ljiljana , Haas Tigran
Published: February 2015

The aim of this research is to study the emergence and evolution of the multi-storey extension (MSE) of socialist blocks of flats in the form of additional storeys or lofts on top of host buildings, which is seen as a dominant model of post-socialist spatial change in inherited multi-storey housing areas in Serbia. Relying on an analysis of empirical data sources, interviews, observation and a comparative analysis, the paper investigates the MSE as a predominantly self-organising process. It also considers its manifestations at different operational and spatial levels in the study area of the city of Nis. It is argued that the MSE, under conditions of low economic capacity, an indifferent attitude of local authorities, an inconsistent legislative environment, and the market as an essential driving force of the process, results in uneven urban transformations, both in physical and social terms.
Sowing the seeds of conflict? Low income housing delivery, community participation and inclusive citizenship in South Africa
Authors: Patel Kamna
Published: February 2015

The delivery of housing to low income citizens across South Africa reflects the state’s realisation of citizens’ social rights to housing and can help to strengthen a citizen’s sense of belonging. Additionally, through the very processes of housing delivery, such as decentralised mechanisms with strong community participation, principles of inclusive citizenship are forged and enacted. However, it is argued in this paper that because housing allocation is devolved and power granted to local elites, an important aspect of citizenship-making has also been devolved with insufficient checks and balances. The paper cautions that the decision-making of local elites who determine access to housing and thus the realisation of citizenship rights, is mitigated by their subjectivities. Based on case studies of selected settlements in eThekwini (Durban), the paper examines how residents access housing in slum upgrade programmes. It finds that, beyond national eligibility criteria additional localised criteria are evident which demand that residents use their identity and social relationships to both provide evidence of their eligibility and negotiate access. The paper further cautions that these local processes may be sowing seeds of conflict by propagating existing social tensions, particularly around ethno- and xenophobia, and party political contests. Such conflict ultimately undermines citizenship ideals.
Use of Statins by Medicare Beneficiaries Post Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Schroeder Mary C. , Robinson Jennifer G. , Chapman Cole G. , Brooks John M.
Published: February 2015

Even though guidelines strongly recommend that patients receive a statin for secondary prevention after an acute myocardial infarction (MI), many elderly patients do not fill a statin prescription within 30 days of discharge. This paper assesses whether patterns of statin use by Medicare beneficiaries post-discharge may be due to a mix of high-quality and low-quality physicians. Our data come from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Chronic Condition Data Warehouse (CCW) and include 100% of Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for an acute myocardial infarction in 2008 or 2009. Our study sample included physicians treating at least 10 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries during their MI institutional stay. Physician-specific statin fill rates (the proportion of each physician’s patients with a statin within 30 days post-discharge) were calculated to assess physician quality. We hypothesized that if the observed statin rates reflected a mix of high-quality and low-quality physicians, then physician-specific statin fill rates should follow a u-shaped or bimodal distribution. In our sample, 62% of patients filled a statin prescription within 30 days of discharge. We found that the distribution of statin fill rates across physicians was normal, with no clear distinctions in physician quality. Physicians, especially cardiologists, with relatively younger and healthier patient populations had higher rates of statin use. Our results suggest that physicians were engaging in patient-centered care, tailoring treatments to patient characteristics.
The Sky Is Falling: Predictors of News Coverage of Natural Disasters Worldwide
Authors: Yan Yan , Bissell Kim
Published: February 2015

General journalistic principles guide the ways that gatekeepers evaluate the newsworthiness of events. These principles are adapted in the field of international communication and indicate some unique features, in particular, of international disasters reporting. The current research examined the presence, amount, and length of news coverage from 3 major U.S. newspapers on 292 global natural disasters from 2004 to 2014. Results showed that U.S. newspapers had a reasonable neglect of international disasters compared with domestic ones and a disproportional favor toward huge versus smaller size disasters. A systematic predicting model was evident: Severity was the most significant and the only consistent determinant of disasters reports, followed by the intensity of deviance. Geographic distance and degree of relevance between countries failed to predict any variance of news coverage. This finding might demonstrate a return to the news value that the newsworthiness of an event should be based on the attributes of the event per se.
Race and Referral to Diabetes Education in Primary Care Patients With Prediabetes and Diabetes
Authors: Hooks-Anderson Denise R. , Crannage Erica F. , Salas Joanne , Scherrer Jeffrey F.
Published: February 2015

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to determine whether there are any race-related disparities in the prevalence of provisions for diabetes education in primary care clinics for patients with diabetes and prediabetes.

Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional study of 3967 patients aged 14 to >89 years with prediabetes and diabetes. Medical record data from patient encounters within primary care clinics at a large academic medical health system between July 1, 2008, and July 31, 2013, were used to determine rates of referral for diabetes education by race. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess associations between race and referral to diabetes education. Separate regression models were computed for patients who were prediabetic and diabetic. Adjusted models included age, sex, A1C, health care utilization, smoking, and diagnosis for depression, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, vascular disease, and obesity.

Results

Compared to that of white patients, a significantly higher prevalence of African American patients with prediabetes were referred to diabetes education, and this association was also observed in patients with diabetes. In fully adjusted models, white patients with prediabetes were significantly less likely to be referred.

Conclusions

Being African American independently increased the likelihood of referral for diabetes education in patients with prediabetes and patients with diabetes. After adjusting for patient comorbidities and risk factors, this association remained significant for patients with prediabetes. Additional research is needed to determine if provider beliefs and attitudes regarding race and diabetes education account for this association.
Feeling Depleted and Powerless
Authors: Kim Junha , Lee Sujin , Rua Tuvana
Published: February 2015

Individuals exercise self-control daily to achieve desired goals; at the same time, people engage in social interaction daily and influence (feel powerful) or are influenced (feel powerless) by others. Does controlling the self have an unforeseen consequence for people’s perception of their capacity to control others? Five studies—one correlational and four experimental—demonstrate that ego depletion from prior self-control determines one’s personal sense of power; low-level, concrete mental construals account for this relationship. Our results showed that people with higher trait self-control reported a greater sense of power (Study 1). People who had depleted their self-control-related regulatory resources (vs. those who had not) experienced a lower sense of power (Study 2). The relationship between ego depletion and low sense of power was mediated by construal level (Study 3) and observed only when low-level, concrete construals were present, but not under high-level, abstract construals (Studies 4 and 5).
Learning From Learning Theory
Authors: Chandler David , Hwang Hokyu
Published: February 2015

In spite of recent interest in its microfoundations, institutional theory’s account of what, why, and when ideas diffuse remains limited and oversocialized. As such, it is unclear how firms decide what to adopt and how these decisions evolve across a population as innovations spread and become taken for granted. We review recent work in institutional theory on this issue and draw from learning theory to inform institutional accounts of adoption decisions in ways that add to current explanations of organizational heterogeneity. In particular, we develop a model of adoption strategies that explains how firms identify which practices to adopt by drawing on knowledge that is either local or distant (search scope) to understand what works and what does not (mindfulness). We then theorize how the decision to adopt is further conditioned by the extent of diffusion (temporal variation) and the characteristics of the field, organization, and innovation (decision context). We discuss the implications of this model for our understanding of how things diffuse and identify additional ways in which the microfoundations of institutional theory can be advanced by studying how organizations learn.
Socio-economic Impact of Tobacco Cultivation on Dalit Agricultural Laborers
Authors: Chikkala Kranthi Kumar
Published: March 2015

This article is based on an in-depth study of the socio-economic changes experienced by agricultural laborers as a result of tobacco cultivation. Two villages in the Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh, India—one where tobacco is extensively grown (Karavadi) and the other where it is not (Veerabhadrapuram) are studied. What emerges from the study is that tobacco cultivation has not only acted as a money multiplier, but has brought about a very high degree of social awareness among the hitherto so-called untouchables (now termed Dalits) in this district. They have become highly conscious of their political and social rights for improving themselves. In this process, some of the practices like untouchability, social exclusion and engagement in traditional occupations have been shaken at their roots.
Conducting Research With Community Groups
Authors: Doornbos Mary Molewyk , Ayoola Adejoke , Topp Robert , Zandee Gail Landheer
Published: February 2015

Nurse scientists are increasingly recognizing the necessity of conducting research with community groups to effectively address complex health problems and successfully translate scientific advancements into the community. Although several barriers to conducting research with community groups exist, community-based participatory research (CBPR) has the potential to mitigate these barriers. CBPR has been employed in programs of research that respond in culturally sensitive ways to identify community needs and thereby address current health disparities. This article presents case studies that demonstrate how CBPR principles guided the development of (a) a healthy body weight program for urban, underserved African American women; (b) a reproductive health educational intervention for urban, low-income, underserved, ethnically diverse women; and (c) a pilot anxiety/depression intervention for urban, low-income, underserved, ethnically diverse women. These case studies illustrate the potential of CBPR as an orientation to research that can be employed effectively in non-research-intensive academic environments.