bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Magnitude of Blood Pressure Reduction and Clinical Outcomes in Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Wang Xia , Arima Hisatomi , Heeley Emma , Delcourt Candice , Huang Yining , Wang Jiguang , Stapf Christian , Robinson Thompson , Woodward Mark , Chalmers John , Anderson Craig S.
Published: March 2015

Abstract—

Evidence supports early intensive blood pressure (BP) lowering in acute intracerebral hemorrhage, but uncertainty persists over whether potential benefits and harms vary according to the magnitude of BP reduction. We aimed to determine whether larger systolic BP (SBP) reductions were associated with better outcomes in participants of the Intensive Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage Trial (INTERACT2). INTERACT2 was an international, open, blinded end point, randomized controlled trial of patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (<6 hours) and elevated SBP (150–220 mm Hg) assigned to intensive (target SBP <140 mm Hg) or guideline-recommended (SBP <180 mm Hg) treatment. Associations of BP reduction (baseline minus average of achieved SBP) during 3 time periods post randomization (15–60 minutes, 1–24 hours, and 2–7 days) on poor outcome (death or major disability) at 90 days were analyzed in multivariable logistic regression models with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Larger SBP reductions within the first hour after randomization were associated with lower risks of poor outcome: compared with minimal reduction (<10 mm Hg), odds ratios were 0.80 (95% confidence interval, 0.63–1.02) for moderate (10–20 mm Hg) and 0.65 (0.52–0.82) for large (≥20 mm Hg) reductions (
P
trend <0.01). Similar associations were also observed for SBP reductions during 1 to 24 hours (
P
<0.01) and 2 to 7 days (P 0.02). No heterogeneity in associations for patients above or below baseline SBP 180 mm Hg was reported (
P
>0.30). Optimal recovery from intracerebral hemorrhage was observed in hypertensive patients who achieved the greatest SBP reductions (≥20 mm Hg) in the first hour and maintained for 7 days.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00716079.
Differential Time Trends of Outcomes and Costs of Care for Acute Myocardial Infarction Hospitalizations by ST Elevation and Type of Intervention in the United States, 2001–2011
Authors: Sugiyama Takehiro , Hasegawa Kohei , Kobayashi Yasuki , Takahashi Osamu , Fukui Tsuguya , Tsugawa Yusuke
Published: March 2015

Background

Little is known whether time trends of in‐hospital mortality and costs of care for acute myocardial infarction (
AMI
) differ by type of
AMI
(
ST
‐elevation myocardial infarction [
STEMI
] vs. non‐
ST
‐elevation [
NSTEMI
]) and by the intervention received (percutaneous coronary intervention [
PCI
], coronary artery bypass grafting [
CABG
], or no intervention) in the
United States
.

Methods and Results

We conducted a serial cross‐sectional study of all hospitalizations for
AMI
aged 30 years or older using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 2001–2011 (1 456 154 discharges; a weighted estimate of 7 135 592 discharges). Hospitalizations were stratified by type of
AMI
and intervention, and the time trends of in‐hospital mortality and hospital costs were examined for each combination of the
AMI
type and intervention, after adjusting for both patient‐ and hospital‐level characteristics. Compared with 2001, adjusted in‐hospital mortality improved significantly for
NSTEMI
patients in 2011, regardless of the intervention received (
PCI
odds ratio [
OR
] 0.68, 95%
CI
0.56 to 0.83;
CABG OR
0.57, 0.45 to 0.72; without intervention
OR
0.61, 0.57 to 0.65). As for
STEMI
, a decline in adjusted in‐hospital mortality was significant for those who underwent
PCI
(
OR
0.83; 0.73 to 0.94); however, no significant improvement was observed for those who received
CABG
or without intervention. Hospital costs per hospitalization increased significantly for patients who underwent intervention, but not for those without intervention.

Conclusions

In the
United States
, the decrease in in‐hospital mortality and the increase in costs differed by the
AMI
type and the intervention received. These non‐uniform trends may be informative for designing effective health policies to reduce the health and economic burdens of
AMI
.
Occipital Cortex of Blind Individuals Is Functionally Coupled with Executive Control Areas of Frontal Cortex
Authors: Deen Ben , Saxe Rebecca , Bedny Marina
Published: March 2015

In congenital blindness, the occipital cortex responds to a range of nonvisual inputs, including tactile, auditory, and linguistic stimuli. Are these changes in functional responses to stimuli accompanied by altered interactions with nonvisual functional networks? To answer this question, we introduce a data-driven method that searches across cortex for functional connectivity differences across groups. Replicating prior work, we find increased fronto-occipital functional connectivity in congenitally blind relative to blindfolded sighted participants. We demonstrate that this heightened connectivity extends over most of occipital cortex but is specific to a subset of regions in the inferior, dorsal, and medial frontal lobe. To assess the functional profile of these frontal areas, we used an n-back working memory task and a sentence comprehension task. We find that, among prefrontal areas with overconnectivity to occipital cortex, one left inferior frontal region responds to language over music. By contrast, the majority of these regions responded to working memory load but not language. These results suggest that in blindness occipital cortex interacts more with working memory systems and raise new questions about the function and mechanism of occipital plasticity.
Twitter Visualization Using Spirographs
Authors: Lin Ye , Vuillemot Romain
Published: March 2015

This paper explores the use of Spirographs to display data from Twitter feeds. The authors first identified particularly interesting Spirograph patterns and gave them flower names reminiscent of their visual features. They then further investigated one particular scenario using customized Spirograph patterns: the visualization of Twitter data during an academic conference. The resulting visualization is appealing and efficiently shows the distribution of tweet data over time, including trends over both shorter and longer time spans. These early results show that Spirographs have an effective attractiveness and structural features that make them a perfect candidate for the ambient display of temporal data.
Salton Sea Revisited: An Aesthetic Study of Realtime Lapse
Authors: Eskandar Xárene
Published: March 2015

The author’s work and research are guided by the study of the relationship between our body and space, primarily the space of the natural landscape devoid of the built environment. Salton Sea Revisited explores two aesthetic discoveries associated with realtime lapse. First, the emergence of data not perceivable in a moment-by-moment-based experience of time; second, insignificant moments become significant events through the simultaneous experience of time, heightening one’s experience of the landscape and one’s existence in that particular moment in time and space.
Dwarf males in the barnacle Alepas pacifica Pilsbry, 1907 (Thoracica, Lepadidae), a symbiont of jellyfish
Authors: Yusa Y. , Yamato S. , Kawamura M. , Kubota S.
Published: March 2015

In the pedunculate barnacle Alepas pacifica Pilsbry, 1907, a symbiont of jellyfish, several small individuals were found attached to conspecifics rather than directly to the host. We investigated whether these individuals act as dwarf males, as is known in some other species of barnacles. The conspecific-attached individuals had longer penes than juvenile hermaphrodites of similar sizes attached directly to the jellyfish, although there was no other morphological difference between these two types of individuals. Only the largest conspecific-attached individual was ovigerous. We conclude that the conspecific-attached individuals are dwarf males, which develop the male function at a smaller size than hermaphrodites do, with a small possibility of becoming hermaphroditic. This is the first report of dwarf males, and hence of the coexistence of males and hermaphrodites (androdioecy), in the family Lepadidae. In addition, the record of A. pacifica attached to Nemopilema nomurai Kishinouye, 1922, is reported herein as new to science.
A new species of Lovenula Schmeil (Copepoda, Calanoida, Diaptomidae) from the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
Authors: Suárez-Morales E. , Wasserman R. J. , Dalu T.
Published: March 2015

Recent collections from the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa yielded an undescribed species of the freshwater diaptomid copepod genus Lovenula. It is probably the largest paradiaptomine known and closely resembles L. falcifera (Lovén, 1845). This species, L. raynerae n. sp., differs in several characters, including the shape of the female genital operculum, but particularly in details of the male and female leg 5: on the female the size of the endopod, a distinctive protuberance on the first exopodal segment; on male leg 5, the features of the seta adjacent to the claw of the right leg, a subdistal endopodal spine of the same ramus and details of the claw, with a middle gap on the inner margin. As with L. falcifera, the new species was collected from an ephemeral habitat. A record of L. falcifera from Ethiopia probably represents an undescribed species. A key to the species of the genus is provided.
Disclosure and Consent to Medical Research Participation
Authors: Bromwich Danielle , Millum Joseph
Published: March 2015

Most regulations and guidelines require that potential research participants be told a great deal of information during the consent process. Many of these documents, and most of the scholars who consider the consent process, assume that all this information must be disclosed because it must all be understood. However, a wide range of studies surveying apparently competent participants in clinical trials around the world show that many do not understand key aspects of what they have been told. The standard view of the conditions for valid consent therefore implies that these people have failed to give valid consent to research participation. In this paper we argue that the standard view is false. The primary function of the requirement that researchers disclose information about a study is the avoidance of illegitimate control over someone’s consent decision, which is a form of fraud.We derive the content and manner of appropriate disclosure by analysing the ways in which the manipulation of information can invalidate consent. Our analysis shows that the informational requirements for valid consent are conceptually distinct and thus unlikely to have identical contents. This implies that consent can be valid when not everything that ought to be disclosed by the person asking for consent is understood by the person who proffers it.
An Anomaly-Based Method for Identifying Signals of Spring and Autumn Low-Temperature Events in the Yangtze River Valley, China
Authors: Qian Weihong , Chen Yun , Jiang Man , Hu Qi
Published: March 2015

Abnormally low temperature (LT) events in spring and autumn can cause severe damage to spring and autumn rice production in the mid- to lower Yangtze River valley in China. Advanced predictions of such events can help mitigate their damage. However, the current methods have limited success in describing and predicting those weather events. In this study, a new method is proposed to decompose any one of the meteorological variables into its climatic component and an anomaly, and the anomaly is used in identifying signals of the LT events. The method is used in 20 strong spring LT events and 44 autumn events during 1960–2008. The results show the advanced ability of this method to clearly describe the LT events as compared with the vague indications of such events that are produced by conventional methods currently in practice in China. In addition, the composite profile of vertical anomalies shows that a negative center of geopotential height anomalies at around 300 hPa, coexisting with a strong cold center of temperature anomalies at 850 hPa, is a signature for LT events. For the 44 autumn LT events and 20 spring LT events during 1960–2008, their early disturbances were identified up to 10.2 days and 6.9 days, respectively, before the occurrence of the LT events in the valley. This result suggests that identifying the early disturbances and extracting anomalous signals from the products of current medium-range weather forecast models may be a potential way to improve the prediction skill for LT events in the valley.
A Hybrid Dynamical–Statistical Downscaling Technique. Part II: End-of-Century Warming Projections Predict a New Climate State in the Los Angeles Region
Authors: Sun Fengpeng , Walton Daniel B. , Hall Alex
Published: March 2015

Using the hybrid downscaling technique developed in part I of this study, temperature changes relative to a baseline period (1981–2000) in the greater Los Angeles region are downscaled for two future time slices: midcentury (2041–60) and end of century (2081–2100). Two representative concentration pathways (RCPs) are considered, corresponding to greenhouse gas emission reductions over coming decades (RCP2.6) and to continued twenty-first-century emissions increases (RCP8.5). All available global climate models from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) are downscaled to provide likelihood and uncertainty estimates. By the end of century under RCP8.5, a distinctly new regional climate state emerges: average temperatures will almost certainly be outside the interannual variability range seen in the baseline. Except for the highest elevations and a narrow swath very near the coast, land locations will likely see 60–90 additional extremely hot days per year, effectively adding a new season of extreme heat. In mountainous areas, a majority of the many baseline days with freezing nighttime temperatures will most likely not occur. According to a similarity metric that measures daily temperature variability and the climate change signal, the RCP8.5 end-of-century climate will most likely be only about 50% similar to the baseline. For midcentury under RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 and end of century under RCP2.6, these same measures also indicate a detectable though less significant climatic shift. Therefore, while measures reducing global emissions would not prevent climate change at this regional scale in the coming decades, their impact would be dramatic by the end of the twenty-first century.
The Magnitude and Causes of Global Drought Changes in the Twenty-First Century under a Low–Moderate Emissions Scenario
Authors: Zhao Tianbao , Dai Aiguo
Published: March 2015

Atmospheric demand for moisture and dry days are expected to increase, leading to drying over land in the twenty-first century. Here, the magnitude and key drivers of this drying are investigated using model simulations under a low–moderate scenario, RCP4.5. The self-calibrated Palmer drought severity index with the Penman–Monteith potential evapotranspiration (PET) (sc_PDSI_pm), top 10-cm soil moisture (SM), and runoff (R) from 14 models are analyzed. The change patterns are found to be comparable while the magnitude differs among these measures of drought. The frequency of the SM-based moderate (severe) agricultural drought could increase by 50%–100% (100%–200%) in a relative sense by the 2090s over most of the Americas, Europe, and southern Africa and parts of East and West Asia and Australia. Runoff-based hydrological drought frequency could also increase by 10%–50% over most land areas despite increases in mean runoff. The probability density functions (PDFs) flatten, enhancing the drought increases induced primarily by decreases in the mean. Precipitation (P) and evapotranspiration (E) changes contribute to the SM change; whereas decreases in sc_PDSI_pm result from ubiquitous PET increases of 10%–20% with contributions from decreased P over subtropical areas. Rising temperatures and vapor deficits explain most of the PET increase, which in turn explains most of the E increases over Asia and northern North America while decreased SM leads to lower E over the rest of the world. Radiation and wind speed changes have only small effects on future PET and drought. Globally, runoff ratio changes little while P, E, and R all increase by about 4%–5% in the twenty-first century.
Carrotmob
Authors: Hutter Katharina , Hoffmann Stefan , Mai Robert
Published: March 2015

The call for business practices that create benefits for companies, customers, and society is getting louder. This article analyzes a new implementation of such a win–win–win approach: the carrotmob. Activists and managers jointly organize a shopping flashmob in which consumers collectively purchase the products of a target company to reward its intent to act more socially responsible. Given that carrotmobs are only efficient if they are supported by a critical mass of consumers, a survey study of 337 young consumers explores the critical drivers of carrotmob participation. Accordingly, object-oriented, personal, and social motives jointly determine carrotmob participation with social motives having the strongest impact.
Usability and Safety in Electronic Medical Records Interface Design
Authors: Zahabi Maryam , Kaber David B. , Swangnetr Manida
Published: March 2015

Objective

The objectives of this study were to (a) review electronic medical record (EMR) and related electronic health record (EHR) interface usability issues, (b) review how EMRs have been evaluated with safety analysis techniques along with any hazard recognition, and (c) formulate design guidelines and a concept for enhanced EMR interfaces with a focus on diagnosis and documentation processes.

Background

A major impact of information technology in health care has been the introduction of EMRs. Although numerous studies indicate use of EMRs to increase health care quality, there remain concerns with usability issues and safety.

Method

A literature search was conducted using Compendex, PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases to find EMR research published since 2000. Inclusion criteria included relevant English-language papers with subsets of keywords and any studies (manually) identified with a focus on EMR usability.

Results

Fifty studies met the inclusion criteria. Results revealed EMR and EHR usability problems to include violations of natural dialog, control consistency, effective use of language, effective information presentation, and customization principles as well as a lack of error prevention, minimization of cognitive load, and feedback. Studies focusing on EMR system safety made no objective assessments and applied only inductive reasoning methods for hazard recognition.

Conclusion

On the basis of the identified usability problems and structure of safety analysis techniques, we provide EMR design guidelines and a design concept focused on the diagnosis process and documentation.

Application

The design guidelines and new interface concept can be used for prototyping and testing enhanced EMRs.
Humor as a Defense Mechanism during the Holocaust
Authors: Ostrower Chaya
Published: March 2015

This article documents narratives of fifty-five Jewish Holocaust survivors who were teenagers during the Holocaust period and highlights their ability to cope with Holocaust atrocities by using various types of humor as a defense mechanism.
Hazing in the College Marching Band
Authors: Silveira Jason M. , Hudson Michael W.
Published: March 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate hazing in collegiate marching bands. Specifically, the researchers were interested in marching band students’ experiences with hazing behaviors, to whom they were reported, attitudes toward hazing, and level of awareness of institutional hazing policies. Using a multistage cluster sampling approach, we distributed an online questionnaire to college marching band members attending National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I schools. Participants ( N = 1,215) were representative of 30 different states and included college freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students. Nearly 30% of respondents indicated they observed some form of hazing in their marching band. The most common acts of hazing involved public verbal humiliation or degradation, which generally went unreported. Reticence to report hazing was largely due to fear of social retaliation or perceptions that the hazing behaviors were innocuous. The vast majority of participants had negative attitudes regarding hazing and most learned about their institution’s hazing policy through a marching band orientation. Implications for the college marching band, contextualization of results, and future directions are discussed.
Highlighted & Underlined
Authors: Richardson Joan
Published: March 2015

News, information, and research about and from the world of education. A key predictor of how well young children will learn to read is the change in volume of white matter in one specific area of the brain (the left temporoparietal region) between kindergarten and 3rd grade. Most parents of children in daycare say all children in daycare should be required to be up to date in their vaccinations. A recent research report finds that the Common Core standards for kindergarteners are not too difficult; in fact, most children arrive at kindergarten arrive with many of the skills already.
ED Law
Authors: Darden Edwin C.
Published: March 2015

Schools and districts have made it clear they are getting tough on bullying, including cyber bullying; but that childhood ritual is proving hard to break. Now the courts are joining the fight.
PDK Connection
Authors: Patterson Gregory A.
Published: March 2015

News and information from the PDK International family of associations. Kappan magazine unveils new Common Core Writing Project.
Book Review: Manish Thakur, Indian Village: A Conceptual History
Authors: Joshi P.C.
Published: March 2015

Manish Thakur, Indian Village: A Conceptual History, Jaipur, Rawat Publications, 2014, 224 pp., $42.44, ISBN 978-8131606384.
Book Review: Akmal Hussain and Muchkund Dubey (Eds), Democracy, Sustainable Development and Peace: New Perspectives on South Asia
Authors: Sharma Sheel Kant
Published: March 2015

Akmal Hussain and Muchkund Dubey (Eds), Democracy, Sustainable Development and Peace: New Perspectives on South Asia, New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2014, 652 pp., ₹1850, ISBN 9780198002346.
Integrating sustainability education into nursing using an interdisciplinary approach
Authors: Grose Jane , Doman Maggie , Kelsey Janet , Richardson Janet , Woods Mike
Published: March 2015

A major driver for interdisciplinary approaches to teaching and learning is the sustainability agenda. Our paper describes a novel interdisciplinary approach to education for sustainability in healthcare intended to raise awareness about issues and provide opportunities for nursing and design students to collectively develop solutions. A scenario was constructed based on our research on sustainable healthcare and waste management and formed one of four skills stations during a nursing clinical skills day. Learning outcomes were specified and students engaged in discussion, fact finding and practical work. Design students observed the skills stations and participated in the sustainability scenario session; they then produced a range of design solutions which were tested by the nursing students. The process was evaluated using a brief survey to determine if the session had made students more aware of sustainability issues and to gain feedback about the teaching methods. Forty one students took part and completed evaluations forms; all thought the scenarios were realistic and saw the relevance to practice. Following the scenario sessions the product design students were encouraged to respond holistically to the sustainability issues they were introduced to; they generated a range of ideas to innovate product and packaging concepts at local level and industry wide that were tested with nursing students. From our intervention, it was found that there are significant benefits in bringing together different professional groups to consider the very real challenges healthcare faces due to climate change and resource depletion. This initiative suggests a scenario-based interprofessional approach to sustainability can be effective in the undergraduate curricula.
Conceptualising psychological distress in families in palliative care: Findings from a systematic review
Authors: Carolan Clare M , Smith Annetta , Forbat Liz
Published: March 2015

Background:

Adult palliative care patients and their family members experience significant psychological distress and morbidity. Psychosocial interventions adopting a systemic approach may provide a cogent model to improve the psychosocial care of families in palliative care. To facilitate design of these interventions, the construct of psychological distress in families in palliative care should be empirically derived.

Aim:

To ascertain how psychological distress is conceptualised in families receiving palliative care.

Design:

A systematic review of the literature; this was followed by a thematic analysis and narrative synthesis.

Data sources:

Using pre-defined search terms, four electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Behavioural Sciences collections) were searched with no date restrictions imposed. Pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria were then applied.

Results:

A total of 32 papers were included in the review. Two findings emerged from data synthesis. First, distress is conceptualised as a multi-dimensional construct but little consensus exists as to how to capture and measure distress. Second, distress in the families within these studies can be conceptualised using a tiered approach, moving from individual non-interactive depictions of distress through gradations of interaction to convey a systemic account of distress within the family system. Thus, distress shifts from a unitary to a systemic construct.

Conclusion:

Currently, there is a paucity of research examining distress informed by family systems theories. This review proposes that distress in families in palliative care can be conceptualised and illustrated within a tiered model of distress. Further research is merited to advance current explanatory frameworks and theoretical models of distress.
“She did miracles for me”: An investigation of dissonant studio practices in higher education music
Authors: Burwell Kim
Published: March 2015

In the research focused on studio-based instrumental and vocal learning there is a good deal of evidence indicating that the interpersonal relationship between teacher and student can have an important effect on the success of their work together. There are occasional references in the research literature to studio apprenticeships that have proved ineffective, but the evidence for this tends to remain indirect or anecdotal in nature. This article takes advantage of an opportunity presented within a broader project to explore the nested case study of a student who, exceptionally, reports that her teacher’s approach is not appropriate for her at her current stage of development. The implied dissonance within the studio is explored through the “rich transcription” of interview and video evidence, highlighting issues of authority, trust and communication.
The body of imagination and the technology of imagery in the Renaissance and in Modernity
Authors: Fliethmann Axel
Published: March 2015

Throughout history, the concepts of phantasia (Greek) or imaginatio (Latin) have been linked to the concept of the human body and in particular to our sensory perceptions. But phantasia/imaginatio have also always been linked to the mind and how the operations of the mind are connected with bodily sensations. Functioning as interface between the senses and the mind, phantasia has predominantly been exemplified with the notion of the visual image, rather than a tactile or oral depiction. But as emphatic as discussion of the image has been, in particular throughout the Renaissance period and again in modernity, it has hardly been linked to the contemporaneous technology of imagery that accompanied the theoretical discourses on imagination. The article will flesh out central historical and systematic aspects of the concept of imagination (I), but instead of submitting them to a history of ideas it will turn to a comparative study of the first monograph on imagination by the Renaissance philosopher Gianfrancesco Pico della Mirandola from 1501 and Sigmund Freud’s Interpretation of Dreams from 1900 (II) to investigate their respective understandings of imagination and inner images in the light of the technology of imagery (III).
Influence of the Cardiomyocyte Circadian Clock on Cardiac Physiology and Pathophysiology
Authors: Martino Tami A. , Young Martin E.
Published: March 2015

Cardiac function and dysfunction exhibit striking time-of-day-dependent oscillations. Disturbances in both daily rhythms and sleep are associated with increased risk of heart disease, adverse cardiovascular events, and worsening outcomes. For example, the importance of maintaining normal daily rhythms is highlighted by epidemiologic observations that night shift workers present with increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. Rhythmicity in cardiac processes is mediated by a complex interaction between extracardiac (e.g., behaviors and associated neural and humoral fluctuations) and intracardiac influences. Over the course of the day, the intrinsic properties of the myocardium vary at the levels of gene and protein expression, metabolism, responsiveness to extracellular stimuli/stresses, and ion homeostasis, all of which affect contractility (e.g., heart rate and force generation). Over the past decade, the circadian clock within the cardiomyocyte has emerged as an essential mechanism responsible for modulating the intrinsic properties of the heart. Moreover, the critical role of this mechanism is underscored by reports that disruption, through genetic manipulation, results in development of cardiac disease and premature mortality in mice. These findings, in combination with reports that numerous cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., diet, diabetes, aging) distinctly affect the clock in the heart, have led to the hypothesis that aberrant regulation of this mechanism contributes to the etiology of cardiac dysfunction and disease. Here, we provide a comprehensive review on current knowledge regarding known roles of the heart clock and discuss the potential for using these insights for the future development of innovative strategies for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
The Orientation Period
Authors: Ashton Kathleen S.
Published: March 2015

The purpose of this research study was to explore adaptation in new registered nurses using the Roy adaptation model as the guiding conceptual framework. This quantitative study employed a random sampling of new nurses in the state of North Carolina. Personal attributes of the new registered nurses and characteristics of their work setting were modeled with four measures considered suitable proxies for adaptation. Being in a formal orientation period significantly supported the new nurses’ overall adaptation. This may represent the benefit of social support, including education, which seems to facilitate adaptation.
King’s Theory of Goal Attainment
Authors: Caceres Billy A.
Published: March 2015

Imogene King’s Theory of Goal Attainment provides a schema for nurses interested in functional status. However, the lack of a uniform definition for functional status has hindered development of a concise understanding of this phenomenon. Functional status is particularly important to nurses who are concerned with the safety and wellbeing of clients. With healthcare’s increased focus on client-family-centered care it is important to develop innovative approaches for evaluating functional status that incorporate the client-family perspective. King’s focus on mutual decision-making is an underutilized resource that can provide great insight into the study and understanding of functional status.
A Study of Graduate Nursing Students’ Reflections on The Art of Tibetan Medicine
Authors: Baumann Steven L. , Murphy Denise C. , Ganzer Christine Anne
Published: March 2015

This global perspective column focuses on a humanbecoming hermeneutic study of first semester graduate nursing students’ reflections on an art museum exhibit titled; Bodies in Balance: The Art of Tibetan Medicine. The research question that guided the study was “what is the emerging meaning of living balance as depicted in the exhibit? The students’ essays were interpreted in light of the humanbecoming perspective. The essays were summarized and yielded four themes; surprising and amazing, interconnectedness of all things, unexpected elements and commonalities, and attention to daily living. Parse’s three core knowings of living quality (fortifying wisdom, discerning witness and penetrating silence) were considered with the emergent meanings from the students’ essays on living balance as depicted in The Art of Tibetan Medicine exhibit. This study showed the use of art in the teaching about global health in graduate nursing education.
Listening
Authors: Bunkers Sandra Schmidt
Published: March 2015

The author presents ideas from Parse’s humanbecoming paradigm, including living quality as the stuff of a life. The following question is explored: In what way could listening be important to living the core knowings of living quality? Three ways of viewing listening as connected to living quality are presented: listening as silence, listening as dialogue, and listening as ethics.
Synthesis and photoluminescence study of zinc sulfide–poly(arylene ether ketone) nanocomposite materials
Authors: Zhang Yinan
Published: March 2015

Zinc sulfide (ZnS)–poly (arylene ether ketone) (PAEK) nanocomposites (NCs) were synthesized in dimethylformamide solution by carboxylic-functionalized hyperbranched PAEK (ACA-HPAEK) as surface modifier without ligand exchange. The changes in the photoluminescence (PL) of ZnS-PAEK NCs with different reaction times, zinc ion (Zn2+)/thiourea ratios, and ZnS/ACA-HPAEK ratios were investigated, aiming at producing the novel NC with distinct luminescence properties. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and high-resolution analytical transmission electron microscopy were used to confirm the formation of ZnS quantum dots with small particle size. Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and PL spectroscopy were used to characterize the luminescence properties of NCs. The results of differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis showed that the NCs exhibited excellent heat resistance. At last, the novel ZnS-PAEK NCs with distinct luminescence properties and excellent heat resistance were obtained.
Numerical-experimental study on the mechanisms of material removal during magnetic abrasive finishing of brittle materials using extended finite element method
Authors: Pashmforoush Farzad , Rahimi Abdolreza
Published: March 2015

Magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) is an advanced machining process efficiently used for finishing of hard-to-machine materials. In this method, material removal takes place through nano-/microindentations in the presence of a controllable magnetic field generated via a permanent or an electronic magnet. Understanding the material removal mechanisms of the process is of particular importance for achievement of a high-quality surface with minimum surface defects. Therefore, in this work a numerical-experimental study was performed toward this issue using the extended finite element method (X-FEM). In this regard, the MAF operation was simulated as an indentation and sliding process of a sharp abrasive and the prevailing material removal mechanisms were obtained during MAF of BK7 optical glass. The constitutive material model for the specimen was defined according to the elastic-plastic-cracking model, which takes into account the tensile cracking and compressive yielding behavior of brittle materials. The X-FEM analysis revealed that both microcutting and microfracture mechanisms exist during MAF process of brittle materials depending on the process parameters. Among various parameters, magnetic particles size and abrasives size were the most influential factors affecting the dominant mechanism of material removal. The obtained numerical results were then validated experimentally by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM observations revealed good performance of X-FEM analysis in prediction of material removal mechanisms during MAF of brittle materials.
Rethinking reliability engineering using machine vision systems
Authors: Kilian Kris , Kilian Monica , Mazur Vladimir , Phelan John
Published: March 2015

Condition monitoring of rolling stock has been part of the railway landscape for the past decade; thermal, acoustic and light sensors are used to capture fleet information on bearings, brakes, wheels, under-carriage and body. The data generated from these sensors has helped rail operators direct their maintenance efforts to the components of highest priority; however, in most cases it has not triggered a fundamental philosophical change in the maintenance strategy. Rail operators generally use time-based maintenance interventions to ensure fleet reliability and safety. Technology is enabling rail operators to take advantage of the benefits of moving from a time-based maintenance regime to a condition-based regime. However, technology simply provides the tools. The benefits of higher reliability and lower costs can only be realized when the organizational culture adapts to make best use of the technology. This paper will discuss the technology that can be deployed to enable a condition-based culture and some of the organizational issues that need to adapt to the new technology. The observations in this paper are not based on a structured research program, but rather are observational, based on out daily dealings with several rail operators around the world.
Value and goals of treat-to-target in systemic lupus erythematosus: knowledge and foresight
Authors: Doria A , Gatto M , Iaccarino L , Punzi L
Published: March 2015

Treat-to-target is a therapeutic strategy aimed at improving disease outcome through the achievement of shared treatment goals, which has dramatically ameliorated the prognosis of widespread disorders, such as hypertension or diabetes.

Conversely, efforts to delineate treat-to-target in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have failed in pinpointing common goals and treatment strategies, probably because of disease heterogeneity and lack of measurable biomarkers predicting disease course and ensuring a safe treatment tapering during quiescence.

Given the detrimental effects of persistent disease activity and protracted corticosteroid therapy on patients’ outcome in lupus, disease remission should be pursued whenever possible. Fortunately, clinical remission is currently realistic for a greater number of patients than it was in the past, yet tight monitoring is required in order for patients to benefit from disease- and corticosteroid-free intervals, while minimizing the risk of disease flares.

In everyday practice, patients should be brought to the lowest level of disease activity ensuring a significant benefit over a persistently active disease, being either clinical remission or low disease activity.
Gamma-delta T lymphocytes and 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels as key factors in autoimmunity and inflammation: the case of zoledronic acid-induced acute phase reaction
Authors: De Santis M , Cavaciocchi F , Ceribelli A , Crotti C , Generali E , Fabbriciani G , Selmi C , Massarotti M
Published: March 2015

Zoledronic acid (ZA) infusion for osteoporosis is frequently associated with the onset of an acute phase reaction (APR) secondary to the activation of γδ T cell receptor (TCR) lymphocytes (γδ T cells) and to low vitamin D levels, similar to what is observed in chronic inflammation and autoimmunity. In this study we investigated whether the phenotype of γδ T cells is associated with APR and 25-OH vitamin D (25-OHvD) levels. For flow-cytometry analysis, peripheral blood samples were obtained from 52 osteoporotic women prior to 5 mg ZA intravenous infusion and from nine women (five with APR) one week later. Twenty-six/52 (50%) patients reported APR and APR+ cases had a higher percentage of central memory Th1-like γδ T cells. One week after ZA infusion, APR was associated with a decreased percentage of central memory Th1-like γδ T cells, an increase in the percentage and activation of effector memory Th1-like γδ T cells, and an increase in Th17-like γδ T cells. Lower 25-OHvD levels were significantly associated with APR, but no correlation was found between 25-OHvD level and γδ T cell percentage or subsets. In conclusion, patients experiencing APR related to ZA infusion have lower 25-OHvD levels and we suggest that the higher percentage of central memory Th1-like γδ T cells and the expansion of effector memory Th1-like and Th17-like γδ T cells are associated with the occurrence of APR.
Oxidatively altered IgG with increased immunoreactivity to β2-glycoprotein I and its peptide clusters influence human coronary artery endothelial cells
Authors: Artenjak A , Omersel J , Ahlin Grabnar P , Mlinarič-Raščan I , Shoenfeld Y , Sodin-Semrl S , Božič B , Čučnik S
Published: March 2015

Oxidative stress has been shown to play a role in modifying antibodies in favor of higher auto-immunoreactivity. We studied the immunoreactivity of oxidized IgG (oxIgG) to β2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI), six peptide sequences corresponding to amino acid clusters on its different domains, to determine their effects on human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC). Human IgG was purified from seven donors, electro-oxidized and checked for immunoreactivity and avidity to β2GPI and to peptides by ELISA. Conformational stability and antibody-antigen complex formation of oxIgG was analyzed by fluorescence spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. Resting and activated sub-confluent HCAEC were stimulated with oxIgG or IgG. Secreted cytokines were measured by ELISA. Immunoreactivity of seven oxIgG samples increased to 7.5-fold against β2GPI and to 3.8-fold against six peptides as compared to IgG. oxIgG showed low avidity “properties.” Conformational changes and exposure of protein hydrophobic regions were confirmed by an elevation in fluorescence (2.4- to 5.0-fold) on bis-ANS dye binding to oxIgG. oxIgG significantly elevated the release of GROα and IL-8 in resting and activated states of HCAEC.

Oxidation alters IgG in favor of autoreactivity toward whole β2GPI and corresponding peptides on different domains of β2GPI and could lead to dysfunction of arterial endothelium by upregulation of chemokines.
The Role of Organizational Culture According to Hofstede Model on Information Technology Acceptance in Hospital Environment
Authors: Tabibi Seyed Jamaledin , Nasiripour Amir Ashkan , Kazemzadeh Reza Baradaran , Ebrahimi Parvin
Published: March 2015

The effect of information systems on organizational performance is dependent on the users’ acceptance. Some researchers suppose that organizational culture can be one of the involving factors in successful implementation of information systems. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of Hofstede organizational culture on the acceptance of hospital information system by its users in non-teaching hospitals of Iran University of Medical Sciences.

This research was applicable and was done by using descriptive and analytical methods. The conceptual model was proposed according to the related literature. The questionnaire was developed based on the model variables; then it was validated by expert panel and content validity ratio and its reliability was tested by calculating Cronbach’s alpha. The questionnaires were delivered among 400 users of HIS in the studied hospitals. To test the model fitness, structural equation modelling method was used by applying LISREL software.

The normed chi-square index (2.01) showed that the research model has fitness with the gathered data. The indices included: GFI = 0.99, CFI = 0.99, AGFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.051. According to the research model, the relationship between two aspects of Hofstede organizational culture (process/results-oriented and open/closed systems) and HIS acceptance variables was statistically significant. The results showed that process/results-oriented culture was related to user satisfaction, and also open/closed system was correlated with three variables, including perceived ease of use, subjective norms and user satisfaction.
Public Roles in Developing the Health Travel Sector
Authors: McCarthy Edwin J.
Published: March 2015

The much-publicized emergence of international health tourism and medical travel (the term ‘health travel’ is adopted herein) often appeals to governments seeking new ways to stimulate economic development and relieve pressure on public budgets for the delivery of health care. With this expansion of activity come questions regarding effective steps governments can take to develop health travel in the national interest. Considerations for public development of health travel are described, with the focus on planning challenges specific to the sub-sector. These include overcoming deficiencies in external market information (Type I challenges) and developing health travel in ways that improve local health care capabilities and benefit local patients (Type 2 challenges). A hierarchy of goals and their interrelationships are described, and a continuum of roles governments that can adopt in supporting the development of health travel are presented. The experiences of select countries are reviewed that assess progression along the continuum, and lessons to date are summarized.
Road Infrastructure in Economically Underdeveloped North-east India
Authors: Nandy S.N.
Published: March 2015

Infrastructure development builds the road map for economic growth and social upliftment of a county. Econometric studies indicate a direct relationship between development of physical infrastructure and economic growth. Road infrastructure, in particular, provides a network to facilitate trade, transport, social integration and economic development, especially for an underdeveloped region. The present article is an effort to study the road infrastructure of India’s north-east (NE) region, which is one of the underdeveloped regions of the country. The growth of infrastructure in NE, both social and physical, has not kept pace with the rest of the country, leading to widening of disparities. The overall economic situation of NE has been presented in the article. Comparative state-wise analyses of road length, type, category and quality of available roads have been carried out. The dispersion of road density in terms of per thousand population and also per thousand square kilometre of area has been mapped across the NE districts. Geographic information system tool has been used to map the attributes, such as, district-wise road length and percentage of surfaced road available in each district. The study reveals that there exist significant variations among states as well as within different districts of a state. Although these analyses are based on the secondary data set, they make an attempt to map the level of inter-state and intra-state disparity in the region.