bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental performance assessment of a photovoltaic/thermal stepped solar still
Authors: Sarhaddi Faramarz
Published: January 2018

In this paper, the performance analysis of a stepped solar still connected to photovoltaic thermal collector is carried out numerically and experimentally. A transient thermal model is obtained by writing energy balance for the various components of solar still system (i.e. glass cover, saline water, absorber plate, photovoltaic thermal collector). Also, an expression for the energy efficiency of system is derived. An experimental setup is designed and fabricated. The simulation results are validated by the measured experimental data. Finally, parametric studies are carried out and the effect of various operating and design parameters on the energy efficiency, freshwater productivity, and output electrical power is investigated. It is observed that there is a desired value for the mass flow rate of saline water and the area of photovoltaic thermal collector, which maximizes the energy efficiency. The desired value of the mass flow rate and photovoltaic thermal collector area is 0.068 kg/min and 1.33 m2, respectively. Furthermore, the connection of photovoltaic thermal collector to the stepped solar still improves the freshwater productivity and energy efficiency and it provides additional electrical power for other applications.
An 8000-year multi-proxy peat-based palaeoclimate record from Newfoundland: Evidence of coherent changes in bog surface wetness and ocean circulation
Authors: Blundell Antony , Hughes Paul DM , Chambers Frank M
Published: January 2018

Energy carried by warm tropical water, transported via the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), plays a vital role in regulating the climate of regions bordering the North Atlantic Ocean. Previous phases of elevated freshwater input to areas of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) production in the early to mid-Holocene have been linked with slow-downs in the AMOC and changes in regional climate. Newfoundland’s proximity in the North Atlantic region to the confluence of the Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current and to an area of NADW production in the Labrador Sea makes it an ideal testing ground to investigate the influence of past fluctuations in ocean circulation on terrestrial ecosystems. We use multi-proxy peat-based records from the east coast of Newfoundland to derive a proxy-climate signal for the past 8000 years, which we have compared with changes in ocean circulation. Prominent shifts towards near-surface bog water-table levels, reflecting cooler/wetter climatic conditions, are evident in the early mid-Holocene at c. 7830, 7500, 7220 and 6600 cal. BP with minor changes occurring at c. 6340 and 6110 cal. BP. These events are coherent with evidence of meltwater injections into the N. Atlantic and of reduced NADW production. More recent increases in bog surface wetness in the mid- to late Holocene at c. 4290 and c. 2610 cal. BP are also consistent with reported periods of reduced NADW production. Coherence between the bog-derived palaeoclimate record developed from Newfoundland and evidence of fluctuations in ocean current strength is apparent in the early mid-Holocene.
Glial fibrillary acidic protein as a prognostic marker of acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Liu G , Geng J
Published: January 2018

Background:

We investigated the association between serum levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and stroke functional outcomes in a cohort of 286 patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Methods:

We prospectively studied 286 patients with AIS who were admitted within 24 h after the onset of symptoms. Serum levels of GFAP and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were measured at admission. The primary end point was stroke functional outcome among 1-year after stroke onset. We used logistic regression models to assess the relationship between GFAP levels and stroke outcomes.

Results:

The GFAP level was obtained with a median value of 0.18 (interquartile ranges (IQRs): 0.09–0.28) ng/ml. In multivariable models adjusted for age, gender, and other risk factors, GFAP levels were associated with an increased risk of a NIHSS>6 (odds ratio (OR) = 1.55; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16–1.89; p = 0.012). The poor outcome distribution across the GFAP quartiles ranged between 12.7% (first quartile) and 70.4% (fourth quartile). After adjusting for other established risk factors, in multivariate models comparing the Q3 and Q 4 quartiles against the Q1 of the GFAP, the levels of GFAP were associated with poor outcome, and the adjusted risk of poor outcome increased by 211% (3.11[1.80–5.05], p < 0.001) and 522% (6.22[2.98–11.83], p < 0.001), respectively. Interestingly, GFAP improved the ability of NIHSS score to diagnose poor outcomes (area under the curve [AUC] of the combined model 0.82; 95% CI: 0.77–0.88; p = 0.02).

Conclusion:

GFAP levels are a novel and complementary biomarker to predict functional outcome 1 year after AIS
Using blood near infrared spectra from steers to classify fat and meat samples with low or high levels of vaccenic acid
Authors: Prieto N , Dugan MER , Vahmani P , Rolland DC , Aalhus JL
Published: January 2018

Near infrared spectroscopy on steer blood was tested to discriminate between subcutaneous fat and longissimus thoracis samples with low or high levels of vaccenic acid. One day prior slaughter, blood samples from steers were harvested and near infrared spectra were collected on both whole blood and red blood cells. At slaughter, samples of subcutaneous fat and longissimus thoracis were collected and vaccenic acid content was analyzed by gas chromatography. Partial least squares discriminant analyses based on whole blood and red blood cell near infrared spectra were applied to classify subcutaneous fat and longissimus thoracis samples according to their content of vaccenic acid (low or high). Based on the results from the partial least squares discriminant analyses, subcutaneous fat and longissimus thoracis samples with low or high content of vaccenic acid could be discriminated from the blood near infrared spectra with accuracy from 74 to 95%. Application of near infrared spectroscopy technology on steer blood may have potential as early screening of live animals based on low or high levels of vaccenic acid in subcutaneous fat or longissimus thoracis.
Associations of osteoprotegerin with coronary artery calcification among women with systemic lupus erythematosus and healthy controls
Authors: Poornima I G , Shields K , Kuller L H , Manzi S M , Ramsey-Goldman R , Richardson C , Rhew E , Dunlop D D , Song J , Edmundowicz D , Kondos G T , Carr J J , Langman C B , Price H , Chung A H , Santelices L B , Mackey R H
Published: January 2018

Objective

We tested the hypothesis that higher circulating levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) are related to higher levels of coronary artery calcification (CAC) among women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared with healthy controls (HCs).

Methods

Among 611 women in two age- and race-matched SLE case-control studies, OPG was assayed in stored blood samples (HEARTS: plasma, n cases/controls = 122/124, and SOLVABLE: serum, n cases/controls = 185/180) and CAC was measured by electron beam computed tomography.

Results

In both studies, SLE patients had higher OPG and CAC levels than HCs. Higher OPG was associated with high CAC (>100 vs.100) among SLE, and with any CAC (>0 vs. 0) among HCs. Multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI) for OPG tertile 3 vs. 1 was 3.58 (1.19, 10.76), p trend = 0.01 for SLE, and 2.28 (1.06, 4.89), p trend = 0.04 for HCs. Associations were attenuated when age-adjusted, but remained significant for HC women aged ≥ 40 and SLE women aged ≥ 50. ROC analyses identified 4.60 pmol/l as the optimal OPG cutpoint for predicting high CAC (>100) among SLE patients with sensitivity = 0.74 and specificity = 0.61, overall, but 0.92 and 0.52, respectively, for SLE patients aged ≥ 50.

Conclusion

Our cross-sectional results suggest that higher OPG levels are related to higher CAC levels among women with SLE vs. healthy controls.
“Out of time”: A temporal view on identity change in trailing spouses
Authors: Slobodin Ortal
Published: January 2018

Previous research on expatriate families has often emphasized the negative impact of relocation on female trailing spouses’ well-being. In contrast to male employees who are sheltered from identity discontinuity by institutional frameworks, female trailing spouses often face a sudden loss of essential social and psychological functions that establish identities, such as a sense of belonging, professional achievement, and social interactions. This phenomenological study seeks to add to the discussions about the trailing spouse phenomenon by applying the role of time experience to the understanding of identity disruption and reconstruction. Although global mobility, migration, and cultural integration encompass dynamic changes in time experience, time and temporality are seldom used as central frameworks to understand how identities are transformed in the course of cultural change. Therefore, focusing on the time aspect in trailing spouses’ narratives may provide insight into identity loss and construction processes. This study included in-depth interviews with 12 trailing mothers (ages 27–42 years) who relocated to the Netherlands or the United States for a limited time period to support their husband’s career. Interviews were performed face to face or by video-chat and the data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Narratives indicated that the experience of time was a significant power in shaping trailing mothers’ emotions, motivations, and behaviors during the relocation period. Specifically, three independent, interrelated attitudes toward time emerged: increased awareness of time constraints, diminished sense of time, and permanent temporariness. Taken together, these attitudes represent a failure to mourn the loss of important psychological and social aspects that once structured their lives. A failure to acknowledge this loss may limit the trailing spouses’ ability to reconstruct identities in their new home and to engage in meaningful social and professional networks.
The Ethos of Science and Its Correlates: An Empirical Analysis of Scientists’ Endorsement of Mertonian Norms
Authors: Kim So Young , Kim Yoonhoo
Published: January 2018

Mertonian norms of science have long been subject to various criticisms, one of which concerns a ‘story book image’ of science that those norms portray for science to justify the independence of science from social control. Despite much criticism of Merton’s work on the normative structure of science, little research has been undertaken on the degree to which practicing scientists indeed hold onto such norms. This study presents an empirical analysis of Mertonian norms using the survey of 633 Korean scientists. The Korean scientific community offers a strategic research site. With predominantly US-educated researchers, it contains a sizeable membership of academic scientists who have become sensitised to ethical and normative problems due to Dr Hwang’s notorious research fraud scandal. Our empirical analysis analyses scientists’ endorsement of Mertonian norms based on a framework incorporating demographic factors and the socialisation into science. Among the four Mertonian norms, we find communalism to be strongly influenced by professional conditions such as size of research funding, professional network and involvement of non-academic affairs. This finding confirms the growing concerns with the norm of communal ownership of scientific output in the face of increasing academic commercialisation.
Goodwill accounting standards in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Japan
Authors: Garcia Clémence , Katsuo Yuko , van Mourik Carien
Published: January 2018

In this article, we revisit the history of accounting for goodwill in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Japan following the conclusions and predictions of Ding, Richard and Stolowy (2008). We aim at verifying whether the four phases of development of the accounting for goodwill between 1880 and 2005 are actually determined by the global change from a stakeholder model of corporate governance to a shareholder model. An extended time frame of analysis (until 2016) is considered in this study, which includes Japan among the country-specific accounting systems investigated. Our findings do not support Ding et al.’s predictions for Japan and demonstrate a disagreement between those countries which consider goodwill as a depleting asset and those which consider goodwill as a permanent asset. This observation might explain better the current debate concerning international harmonization on goodwill.
Linguistic Conceptualizations of Disease Among the Luo of Kenya
Authors: Ojwang Benson Oduor
Published: January 2018

The region inhabited by the Luo ethnic group in Kenya is disease endemic. However, disease awareness initiatives register low acceptance due to the sociocultural images of disease and illness conceptualized in the local Dholuo language in ways that may contradict modern biomedical knowledge and practice. This article evaluates the sociocultural basis of encoding descriptions of disease in the Luo indigenous knowledge system and their implications for modern medical practice. The methodology entailed use of qualitative interviews of purposively sampled Dholuo-speaking patient escorts in a provincial referral hospital. Nonparticipant observation was also conducted at funerals to monitor contextualized usage of the discourse of disease, illness, and death. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis and categorized into emergent themes and categories. The results revealed that Dholuo is replete with expressions that emphasize the vulnerability and discrimination of the sick. Such attitudes cause rejection of interventions and negatively influence health-seeking behavior. The expressions were relevant and acceptable to cultural insiders; hence, they could determine their understanding of health conditions thereby influencing how they make medical decisions. It emerges that the unique Luo worldview controls their perceptions on the causes of disease and prescribes community-driven remedies which may depart from the expectations of the biomedical model.
Family Members’ Existential and Moral Dilemmas With Coercion in Mental Healthcare
Authors: Norvoll Reidun , Hem Marit Helene , Lindemann Hilde
Published: January 2018

Coercion in mental healthcare does not only affect the patient, but also the patient’s families. Using data from interviews with 36 family members of adult and adolescent people with mental health problems and coercion experiences, the present narrative study explores family members’ existential and moral dilemmas regarding coercion and the factors influencing these dilemmas. Four major themes are identified: the ambiguity of coercion; struggling to stay connected and establishing collaboration; worries and distress regarding compulsory care; and dilemmas regarding initiating coercion. Subsequently, coercion can reduce, but also add burden for the family by creating strains on family relations, dilemmas, (moral) distress, and retrospective regrets; this is reinforced by the lack of information or involvement and low-quality care. Subsequently, it is a moral obligation to develop more responsive health services and professionals who provide more guidance and balanced information to increase the possibilities for voluntary alternatives and informed decision making.
Themes, Theories, and Models
Authors: Morgan David L.
Published: January 2018

Although theory building is often described as the ultimate goal of qualitative research, an examination of articles in Qualitative Health Research ( QHR) shows that themes are actually the typical format for reporting results. In addition, articles that rely on themes often present low-level theories in the form of models that connect these themes. Because models have received less attention than either themes or theories, this article concentrates on summarizing four different kinds of models: hierarchies, timelines, processes, and cycles. In each of these cases, it presents both a general illustration of such a model and a realistic example from a published article in QHR. It concludes with a call for greater recognition of the role that models play in capturing the results of qualitative research.
“There Is Zero Regulation on the Selling of Alcohol”: The Voice of the Youth on the Context and Determinants of Alcohol Drinking in Lebanon
Authors: Yassin Nasser , Afifi Rima , Singh Neil , Saad Reem , Ghandour Lilian
Published: January 2018

Alcohol-related research from the Arab world has rarely touched on the experiences or views of Arab adolescents. In this article, we present an in-depth analysis of youth alcohol drinking patterns and determinants derived from focus group discussions completed with more than 100 Lebanese high school/vocational students (15–19 years). The social ecology of alcohol use framework guided our research and analysis. Findings reveal that alcohol drinking is perceived as a pervasive and serious public health problem, triggered by a complex web of social relations, and facilitated by lax policies. Recommendations to curb heavy/harmful alcohol drinking among adolescents include regulating the role of alcohol industry, providing alternative recreational spaces/pass-times, educating about alcohol-related harms, and promoting more research on alcohol and its harms. Findings confirm the social ecology of alcohol use framework, and suggest the addition of the macro level of influence to this model, namely, a comprehensive alcohol harm reduction policy.
Bridging Natural and Digital Domains: Attitudes, Confidence, and Interest in Using Technology to Learn Outdoors
Authors: Hougham R. Justin , Nutter Marc , Graham Caitlin
Published: January 2018

Background: The current study, Project EARPOD (Engaging At-Risk Populations Outdoors, Digitally), addressed two questions: First, does the use of technology in environmental education detract from students’ experiences outdoors? Second, can these technological interventions be expanded to provide access to students and schools across the socioeconomic spectrum? Purpose: EARPOD used an integrated technology program, Digital Observation Technology Skills (DOTS), to engage underserved students in experiential education meant to increase environmental literacy and provide evaluative data for pedagogical development in environmental education. Methodology/Approach: Researchers collected data on the impact of technology-integrated environmental programming on students’ knowledge and attitudes toward using technology in outdoor education. Lessons were conducted in small groups, encouraging peer mentoring with regard to tool use and observation that promoted teamwork within groups at an informal science learning (ISL) center. Findings/Conclusions: Preliminary results showed that students reported an increase in three main characteristics with regard to technology: confidence in using technologies outdoors, knowledge of available technologies, and knowledge of using different technologies. Implications: The results of the Project EARPOD study will help future educators and administrators make decisions regarding best practices and resource allocation for the use of technology within the field of environmental education.
Enhancing the College Student Experience: Outcomes of a Leisure Education Program
Authors: Jordan Katherine A. , Gagnon Ryan J. , Anderson Denise M. , Pilcher June J.
Published: January 2018

Background: Experiential education in higher education provides opportunities for college student development that contribute to student success. As such, a leisure education program is posited as a complement to experiential education programming. Purpose: This study explored the impact of a leisure education program (leisure skills) on dimensions of college student success, including school satisfaction, student life satisfaction, school belonging, and self-esteem. Methodology/Approach: This study compared 531 leisure skills students with a group of 136 students not enrolled in a leisure skills class. Findings/Conclusions: The results of a repeated-measures analysis indicated leisure skills students fared better than non–leisure skills students in the measured dimensions, maintaining similar levels of school satisfaction, life satisfaction, belonging, and self-esteem over the course of the semester while the non–leisure skills students experienced decreases. Implications: Students who chose leisure skills classes experienced stability and improvement in school and student life satisfaction, school belonging, and self-esteem. Therefore, leisure education programming should be further examined as a mechanism for college student success.
Place as Pedagogy: Toward Study Abroad for Social Change
Authors: Pipitone Jennifer M.
Published: January 2018

Background: Emergent bodies of literature have uncovered problematic trends in U.S. study abroad that reproduce hierarchies of power and colonialism, perpetuate views of an exotic cultural “other,” and privilege tourism over education. Purpose: This work responded to these problems by exploring ways of teaching and learning in study abroad that embrace the pedagogical power of place to foster awareness of the self in relation to other, cultivate relationality, and deconstruct the exotic. Methodology/Approach: Reflecting on two major findings from a longitudinal comparative case study with 19 students on short-term study abroad programs to Morocco and Bali, this article considers how educators can adapt the intentions and practices of their programs to embrace the pedagogical potential of place to foster the renegotiation of representations and heightened relationality. Findings/Conclusions: Findings indicate engagement with place was fundamental to the production of experiential learning space, mediated through pedagogies that engaged students with local rhythms, meanings, and histories; social interactions; and cultural tools that engaged students in alternative ways of knowing and being in the world before and during the trip. Implications: This article offers five epistemological commitments and several pedagogical strategies to guide future program development with an eye toward social change.
The post-impact response of flax/UP composite laminates under low velocity impact loading
Authors: Dhakal HN , Ghasemnejad H , Zhang ZY , Ismail SO , Arumugam V
Published: January 2018

Flax fibre-reinforced unsaturated polyester composite laminates were fabricated by vacuum bagging process and their impact and post-impact responses were investigated through experimental testing and finite element simulations. Samples of 60 mm × 60 mm × 6.2 mm were cut from the composite laminates and were subjected to a low-velocity impact loading to near perforation using hemispherical steel impactor at three different energy levels, 25, 27 and 29 Joules. Post-impact was employed to obtain full penetration. The impacted composite plates were modelled with various lay-ups using finite element software LS-DYNA (LS-DYNA User’s Manual 1997) to provide a validated finite element model for the future investigation in the field. The effects of impact and post-impact on the failure mechanisms were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. Parameters measured were load bearing capability, energy absorption and damage modes. The results indicate that both peak load and the energy absorption were reduced significantly after the post-impact events. Consequently, it was observed from the visual images of the damages sites that the extent of damage increased with increased incident energy and post-impact events.
Perceptions of Cooperating Music Teachers on Service Motives, Relationships, and Mentoring Strategies During Student Teaching
Authors: Palmer C. Michael
Published: January 2018

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the perceptions of four cooperating teachers concerning their role in the music student teaching experience. Participants included an elementary music educator, middle school band director, high school band director, and a high school choir director. Research questions were (a) What are the personal and professional motivations for hosting a student teacher? (b) How do cooperating teachers describe relationships with student teachers? and (c) What strategies do cooperating teachers use in mentoring student teachers? Data collected included two interviews with each participant and a focus group interview. Participants expressed a desire to help the next generation of music teachers and an eagerness to learn new teaching strategies from interns and collaborate with them in a co-teaching model. Relationships were built around student teachers’ skill sets, personality, and work ethic. Mentoring strategies included modeling, facilitating learning opportunities, and regular discussion and reflection activities.
Feasibility of a Collaborative, Prospective Interdisciplinary Review and Pharmacy-Based Dispensing Process for Prothrombin Complex Concentrate
Authors: Stratton Maria , Grgurich Philip , Heim Kurt , Mackey Sandra , Burns Joseph D.
Published: January 2018

Background: Therapeutic options for rapid reversal of vitamin K antagonist therapy include 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC4) and fresh frozen plasma (FFP). These agents have unique requirements for preparation, potential adverse effects, and cost-effectiveness considerations. Objective: To retrospectively assess whether our process for collaborative prospective review and pharmacy preparation facilitates timely and safe warfarin reversal with PCC4 as compared with FFP and to compare effectiveness and safety of the agents in practice. Methods: We performed a retrospective, single-center, before and after cohort study of patients requiring warfarin reversal for life-threatening bleeding or urgent invasive procedures over an 18-month period. The primary end point was time from ordering of reversal agent to administration. Secondary end points measured time to therapeutic effect and rates of adverse events. Results: Of 98 patients studied, 72 received FFP, and 26 received PCC4. The median times from ordering to administration of FFP and PCC4 were 69 and 44 minutes, respectively ( P = 0.015). Median time from ordering to end of infusion was significantly shorter for PCC4 compared with FFP (54 vs 151 minutes, respectively; P < 0.0001). In all, 72% of PCC4 patients and 28% of FFP patients achieved the goal international normalized ratio (INR) of ≤1.4 at the first INR check ( P < 0.0001). Adverse reactions occurred in 4% of patients in each group. Conclusion: In routine clinical practice incorporating collaborative prospective review and dispensing from the institution’s pharmacy, PCC4 was associated with faster administration, a higher rate of INR correction, and similar rates of adverse events compared with FFP.
Lessons Learned From Hurricane Maria: Pharmacists’ Perspective
Authors: Melin Kyle , Maldonado Wanda T. , López-Candales Angel
Published: January 2018

The destruction in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria brought an increased demand for health care services while severely limiting the health care system’s ability to provide patient care. Immediately following the hurricane, countless patients found themselves in a situation without their medications for both acute and chronic conditions. Many of these patients turned first to community pharmacies for access to their medications. In this letter, we describe the response of pharmacists to the needs of their communities following the natural disaster, Hurricane Maria, and summarize some lessons learned from the experience that may be useful in future disaster planning.
IDEA4PS: The Development of a Research-Oriented Learning Healthcare System
Authors: Moffatt-Bruce Susan , Huerta Timothy , Gaughan Alice , McAlearney Ann Scheck
Published: January 2018

Leveraging opportunities to learn and then improve the delivery of care using experiences throughout the health care system is essential in efforts to transform health care delivery. The authors present the approach of one academic medical center in becoming a research-oriented Learning Healthcare System (ro-LHS). By reframing the role of research in improving outcomes, the organization was able to move beyond its focus on quality improvement to foster a culture in which feedback informs practice and research drives improvement. The patient safety learning laboratory, the Institute for the Design of Environments Aligned for Patient Safety, funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, has provided foundational infrastructure to connect stakeholders across the medical center and university and conduct rigorous research in the context of practice. With this new focus, research now informs operations in a cycle of continuous improvement across the authors’ ro-LHS.
Populism and Popular Support: Vertical Accountability, Exogenous Events, and Leader Discourse in Venezuela
Authors: Love Gregory J. , Windsor Leah C.
Published: January 2018

As a populist leader, Hugo Chavez famously used emotionally charged populist rhetoric to appeal to a broad base of poor and working-class Venezuelans. Was his choice of linguistic discourse a tool of popular control, response to public opinion, or both? Answering this question sheds light on the effectiveness of classical democratic conceptions of vertical accountability for populist leaders. Using a theoretical framework incorporating macro implications of Zaller’s receive-accept-sample (RAS) model, the concept of Erikson, Mackuen, and Stimson’s mood, and latent public opinion, we develop several competing expectations regarding rhetoric and presidential approval in Venezuela. Using computational sentiment analysis on a unique dataset of transcripts from Chavez’s Aló Presidente broadcasts, we evaluate Chavez’s quarterly public approval ratings with vector autoregression (VAR) and Koyck models. Results indicate presidential approval levels are causally linked to not only exogenous economic factors but also leader discourse. Results also indicate that leader language is not shaped by approval levels, illustrating the power of messaging and media control for populist leaders and the potential limits of democratic accountability.
Examination of Relational Resilience With Couple Burnout and Spousal Support in Families With a Disabled Child
Authors: Aydogan Didem , Kizildag Seval
Published: January 2018

The aim of this study is to present an explanation of relational resilience in families with a disabled child with spousal support, which can be a protective factor, and couple burnout, which can be a risk factor. The study group of the research consisted of 233 married individuals. Of the participants who live in Turkey, 162 (69.5%) were female and 71 (30.5%) were male. In the study, Relational Resilience Scale was used to measure the relational resilience of the participants, Couple Burnout Scale was used to measure the relationship burnout, Spouse Support Scale was used to measure the level of support spouses receive from each other, and Demographic Information Form was used to determine the demographic characteristics. The data were tested with standard multiple regression analysis. According to the findings of the study, spousal support as a protective factor and couple burnout as a risk factor predict the relational resilience in families with a disabled child. Starting from this point of view, relational resilience of married individuals with a disabled child was evaluated with regard to spousal support and burnout within the marriage. Results were discussed in light of the related literature and suggestions were made.
Psychometrics of the Iowa and Berlin Gambling Tasks: Unresolved Issues With Reliability and Validity for Risk Taking
Authors: Schmitz Florian , Kunina-Habenicht Olga , Hildebrandt Andrea , Oberauer Klaus , Wilhelm Oliver
Published: January 2018

The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) is one of the most prominent paradigms employed for the assessment of risk taking in the laboratory, and it was shown to distinguish between various patient groups and controls. The present study was conducted to test the psychometric characteristics of the original IGT and of a new gambling task variant for assessing individual differences. Two studies were conducted with adults of the general population ( n = 220) and with adolescents ( n = 389). Participants were also tested on multiple measures of working memory capacity, fluid intelligence, personality traits associated with risk-taking behavior, and self-reported risk taking in various domains. Both gambling tasks had only moderate retest reliability within the same session. Moderate relations were obtained with cognitive ability. However, card selections in the gambling tasks were not correlated with personality or risk taking. These findings point to limitations of IGT type gambling tasks for the assessment of individual differences in risky decision making.
The Combination of Sibling Victimization and Parental Child Maltreatment on Mental Health Problems and Delinquency
Authors: van Berkel Sheila R. , Tucker Corinna Jenkins , Finkelhor David
Published: January 2018

This study examined how the combination of sibling victimization and parental child maltreatment is related to mental health problems and delinquency in childhood and adolescence. Co-occurrence, additive associations, and interactive associations of sibling victimization and parental child maltreatment were investigated using a sample of 2,053 children aged 5–17 years from the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence. The results provide primarily evidence for additive associations and only suggest some co-occurrence and interactive associations of sibling victimization and child maltreatment. Evidence for co-occurrence was weak and, when controlling for the other type of maltreatment, only found for neglect. Sibling victimization was related to more mental health problems and delinquency over and above the effect of child abuse and neglect. Moderation by sibling victimization depended on child age and was only found for the relation between both types of child maltreatment by parents and delinquency. For mental health, no interactive associations were found. These results highlight the unique and combined associations between sibling victimization on child development.
Laziness in Postqualitative Inquiry
Authors: Gildersleeve Ryan Evely
Published: January 2018

Laziness is commonly perceived as lethargy and carries a negative connotation. In this article, I argue to understand laziness as a political stance and suggest that lazy practices can become useful for postqualitative inquiry that seeks to disrupt normative explanations of the world. As political action, laziness, then provides postqualitative inquiry with an additional tool for contributing to social justice via social research. Laziness combats the neoliberal condition in which academic research is situated and might serve as a virtue of postqualitative inquiry.
Moxifloxacin versus levofloxacin for antibacterial prophylaxis in acute leukemia patients
Authors: Lee Pauline , Knoebel Randall W , Pisano Jennifer , Pettit Natasha N
Published: January 2018

Objective

The primary endpoint of this study was to determine the incidence of febrile neutropenia among patients receiving either moxifloxacin or levofloxacin for antibacterial prophylaxis. Secondary endpoints were number of documented infections and in-hospital mortality in patients who develop febrile neutropenia.

Methods

A single-center retrospective cohort analysis at a large tertiary care academic medical center was conducted. This study included adult acute leukemia patients (age ≥18 years old) who received inpatient antibacterial prophylaxis (moxifloxacin or levofloxacin) from 1 July 2012 to 1 October 2014. Patients were excluded from the study if they were treated with antimicrobial therapy in the preceding five days or admitted to the hospital with neutropenic fever. Fisher’s exact test was used for categorical data and Mann–Whitney test for continuous data. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine risk factors for febrile neutropenia.

Results

Eighty-five patients were included in the final analysis with 40 patients who received moxifloxacin and 45 patients who received levofloxacin. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. Twenty-two patients experienced febrile neutropenia requiring intravenous antibiotics in the moxifloxacin group and 30 patients in the levofloxacin group (P = 0.190). Age and duration of neutropenia appeared to predict for febrile neutropenia; however, after multivariate analysis, longer duration of neutropenia was shown to be the best predictor for febrile neutropenia with an odds ratio of 4.69 (95% CI, 1.697–12.968). Both groups had similar rates of documented infections and in-hospital morality.

Conclusion

Moxifloxacin and levofloxacin showed similar rates of febrile neutropenia when used for neutropenic antibacterial prophylaxis in acute leukemia patients.
Micronised bran-enriched fresh egg tagliatelle: Significance of gums addition on pasta technological features
Authors: Martín-Esparza ME , Raga A , González-Martínez C , Albors A
Published: January 2018

The aim of the work was to produce fibre-enriched fresh pasta based on micronised wheat bran and durum wheat semolina with appropriate techno-functional properties. Wheat semolina was replaced with fine particle size (50% below 75 µm) wheat bran – up to 11.54% (w/w). A Box–Behnken design with randomised response surface methodology was used to determine a suitable combination of carboxymethylcellulose, xanthan gum and locust bean gum to improve pasta attributes: minimum cooking loss, maximum values for water gain and swelling index, as well as better colour and texture characteristics before and after cooking. The proximate chemical composition of wheat semolina and bran was determined and the microstructure of uncooked pasta was observed as well. From the response surface methodology analysis, it is recommended to use: (i) xanthan gum over 0.6% w/w as it led to bran-enriched pasta with a better developed structure and superior cooking behaviour, (ii) a combination of xanthan gum (0.8% w/w) and carboxymethylcellulose (over 0.6% w/w) to enhance uncooked pasta yellowness.
A Controlled Trial of Extended-Release Guanfacine and Psychostimulants on Executive Function and ADHD
Authors: van Stralen Judy P. M.
Published: January 2018

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of guanfacine extended-release (GXR) versus placebo as adjunct therapy to usual care stimulant therapy in improving executive function in children aged 6 to 12 years diagnosed with ADHD. Method: In this single center, double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial, subjects continued to take their psychostimulant and were randomly assigned at baseline to receive active treatment or placebo first. Efficacy measures included Behavioural Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF-P), ADHD Rating Scale IV (ADHD-RS IV), and Clinical Global Impressions of Severity of Illness (CGI-S) and Improvement (CGI-I) scales. Safety measures included adverse events and vital signs. Results: Significant benefits of GXR plus psychostimulant were observed on BRIEF-P ( p value = .0392), ADHD-RS-IV ( p < .0001), CGI-S ( p = .0007), and CGI-I ( p = .003). There were no serious adverse events and no new safety signals. Conclusion: Use of GXR as adjunctive therapy to stimulant therapy significantly improves executive function in children with ADHD.
How Consumers Assess Free E-Services
Authors: Hüttel Björn A. , Schumann Jan Hendrik , Mende Martin , Scott Maura L. , Wagner Christian J.
Published: January 2018

Despite the ubiquity of free e-services (e.g., free music/video streaming services), little empirical research has examined how consumers assess such service offerings. This research reveals the crucial role of consumer-perceived nonmonetary costs (NMCs; e.g., related to advertising intrusiveness) to better explain the zero-price effect (ZPE). Four experiments show that free e-services elicit positive affect in consumers, which leads to two distinct effects that drive the ZPE: a benefit-inflation effect, such that consumers overemphasize the benefits of free e-services, and a cost-deflation effect, such that they also judge the corresponding NMCs as lower. Furthermore, the authors find that the social norm of reciprocity increases consumers’ acceptance of NMCs. This research provides managerial guidance on how to better market free service offerings. Companies that consider providing basic and premium offerings should include a free basic option, which increases consumers’ benefit perceptions, lowers their perceptions of NMCs, and consequently increases demand for this service option. Finally, the findings help managers model the trade-off between immediate additional revenue generated by the fees consumers pay for a premium option and the revenue stream that a free basic option generates (e.g., through higher advertising revenues).
Evaluation of heat dissipation and structural response of a cellular panel as a heat exchanger
Authors: Higashiyama Shohei , Ushijima Kuniharu , Motosuke Masahiro , Cantwell Wesley J
Published: January 2018

This paper investigates the heat dissipation performance and structural response of two-dimensional cellular structures (based on triangular, square and honeycomb designs) using the finite element analysis technique. Three parameters are used to describe the heat transfer capacity of the structures, these being the heat dissipation Q, the pressure loss Δ P and the temperature difference between the outer wall and the fluid, [Formula: see text]. In addition, the relative normal stiffness E∕ Es is used to assess structural performance. These values are dependent upon both the geometry of the cellular unit and also the relative density ρ of the cellular structure. In this study, the effect of varying the cell geometry on these parameters is investigated numerically. Based on the findings of this investigation, it is concluded that a honeycomb panel, with a relative density ρ = 0.45, exhibits the optimum design for use in the manufacture of a heat exchanger.
Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase Activity Increases NAD+ Production in IFN-γ–Stimulated Human Primary Mononuclear Cells
Authors: Grant Ross S
Published: January 2018

IFN-γ activation of mononuclear phagocytes significantly increases indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and flux through the kynurenine pathway (KP). However, the effect of IDO on NAD+ synthesis, the end product of KP metabolism, is unknown. To investigate this, primary human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured up to 10 days and activated with IFN-γ in the presence or absence of a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor. Day 10 macrophages had significantly higher NAD+ levels compared with monocytes. IFN-γ activation of macrophages resulted in the highest induction of IDO but decreased intracellular NAD+ concentrations at both 24 and 48 hours. However, IFN-γ activation of both day 6 and day 10 macrophages in the presence of a PARP inhibitor resulted in significantly higher intracellular NAD+ levels at 24 hours. This study provides evidence for the first time that an immune-mediated increase in IDO activity increases NAD+ biosynthesis concomitantly with an increase in NAD+ catabolism in primary human macrophages.
Rationale and Design for a Monocentric Prospective Study: Sleep Apnea Diagnosis Using a Novel Pacemaker Algorithm and Link With Aldosterone Plasma Level in Patients Presenting With Diastolic Dysfunction (SAPAAD Study)
Authors: Champ-Rigot Laure , Ferchaud Virginie , Prévost Jean-Noël , Moirot Pierre , Pellissier Arnaud , Legallois Damien , Alexandre Joachim , Scanu Patrice , Morello Remy , Saloux Eric , Milliez Paul Ursmar
Published: January 2018

Previous studies showed good agreement between pacemaker respiratory disturbance index (RDI) and polysomnography for diagnosis of severe sleep apnea (SA). The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of RDI compared with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) from a cardiorespiratory sleep study for the diagnosis of severe SA within patients requiring a pacemaker and meeting diastolic dysfunction criteria. Secondary objectives are as follows: correlation between plasma aldosterone level and SA severity, diagnostic accuracy of RDI for moderate SA, prevalence of SA among patients with diastolic dysfunction, occurrence of arrhythmias, and improvement of RDI with continuous positive airway pressure therapy. We designed a monocentric prospective nonrandomized study of prevalent cases to include 68 patients with a 6-month follow-up. Both RDI and AHI will be compared 2 months after implantation and after 1 month of continuous positive airway pressure treatment in patients with severe SA. This is the first study that examines diagnostic accuracy of pacemaker algorithm for the diagnosis of SA and correlation with plasma aldosterone levels in patients with diastolic dysfunction.

Protocol version: V04. 04/04/2017 Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02751021
Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation (PANSI) Inventory: Initial Psychometric Properties as a Suicide Risk Screening Tool Among Nigerian University Students
Authors: Aloba Olutayo , Adefemi Sunday , Aloba Tolulope
Published: January 2018

Objective:

The objective of this study is to examine the factor structure, validity, reliability, and the screening properties as a suicide risk assessment tool of the 14-item Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation (PANSI) in a nonclinical sample of Nigerian university students.

Methods:

A total of 514 students completed the PANSI, in addition to the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12).

Results:

Prior to the factor analysis, the sample was randomly divided into two. In one half of the sample (sample 1), exploratory factor analysis of the inventory yielded a 2-factor model (Negative Suicide Ideation [PANSI-NSI] and Positive Ideation [PANSI-PI]), whereas confirmatory factor analysis in the other half (sample 2) produced a 2-factor model with indices of fitness that indicated a satisfactory model fit ( c2 = 93.8; df = 67; χ2/degree of freedom = 1.400; P = .017; goodness of fit index = 0.951; Tucker-Lewis index = 0.964; comparative fit index = 0.974; root mean square error of approximation = 0.040). The internal consistencies of the items of the PANSI-PI and PANSI-NSI subscales were 0.75 and 0.79, respectively. The construct validity of the 2 subscales was modestly satisfactory: PANSI-PI had negative correlations with the GHQ-12 ( r = −.239, P < .001) and the BDI-II ( r = −.190, P < .001), whereas the PANSI-NSI had positive correlations with the GHQ-12 ( r = .248, P < .001) and the BDI-II ( r = .376, P < .001). In addition, a cutoff total score of 17 on the PANSI-NSI was associated with the best sensitivity (80.0%) and specificity (92.5%) in the identification of those students who endorsed experiencing suicidal ideation (area under the curve = 0.82, 95% confidence interval = 0.58-1.00).

Conclusions:

The PANSI has exhibited satisfactory psychometric properties as a self-rated suicidal behavior assessment instrument in the evaluation of the positive and negative thoughts associated with suicidal ideation among Nigerian university students.