bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using Prosopography to Raise the Voices of Those Erased in Social Work History
Authors: Coles D. Crystal , Netting F. Ellen , O’Connor Mary Katherine
Published: August 2017

In this article, we introduce prosopography, a valuable historical research method that can be used by feminist social work scholars. While feminists in various fields use this methodology to investigate background characteristics of women in history through collective studies of how they have established relationships and networks to influence change, our review of the literature suggests that it has been little used in social work. We provide a brief overview of prosopography, strengths and limitations, and an illustration of the method as enacted focusing on the roles of early feminists within the development of nonprofit human service organizations. It is our intent to demonstrate the possibilities of prosopography to identify and understand groups of women who have been erased in social work history.
Structural Pathways Between Race/Ethnicity, Substance Use, Military Service, and Male-Perpetrated Intimate Partner Violence in Pre-9/11 Military Families
Authors: Cancio Roberto
Published: August 2017

Along with service members, military families bear the brute consequences of global U.S. military intervention. Various studies have concluded that these deployments put military families at high risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). Using structural equation modeling (SEM) as a novel approach to examine IPV among pre-9/11 military families, this study considers variations of self-reported IPV from the point of the abused partner to test the impact of several life events and demographic factors on the type of IPV most prevalent among perpetrators. The study sample contains information about 599 male perpetrators from the Nature and Scope of Violence Against Women in San Diego, California (1996-1998), a survey about domestic violence from clients admitted to women’s shelters. Perpetrators race/ethnicity, age, military experience, previous exposure to abuse, income, and education were modeled using SEM procedures to determine the frequency of IPV perpetrated under the influence of certain substances and etiologic characteristics. Particular attention focused on the differences among the military’s racial and ethnic groups and on the overall differences between IPV perpetrations among military families to nonmilitary families. Study findings indicate that (a) irrespective of race, pre-9/11 veteran perpetrators commit verbal/mental abuse more often than other forms of IPV, (b) when taking race/ethnicity into account, for veterans, there are differences with IPV perpetration trends and substance use, and (c) IPV perpetration trends are different between veteran and nonveteran groups, irrespective of race.
Common Core State Standards on Twitter: Public Sentiment and Opinion Leaders
Authors: Wang Yinying , Fikis David J.
Published: August 2017

The purpose of this study is to examine the public opinion on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) on Twitter. Using Twitter Application Program Interface (API), we collected the tweets containing the hashtags #CommonCore and #CCSS for 12 months from 2014 to 2015. A Common Core corpus was created by compiling all the collected 660,051 tweets. The results of sentiment analysis suggest Twitter users expressed overwhelmingly negative sentiment toward the CCSS in all 50 states. Five topic clusters were detected by cluster analysis of the hashtag co-occurrence network. We also found that most of the opinion leaders were those who expressed negative sentiment toward the CCSS on Twitter. This study for the first time demonstrates how text mining techniques can be applied to education policy research, laying the foundation for real-time analytics of public opinion on education policies, thereby informing policymaking and implementation.
Sliding mode guidance for impact time and angle constraints
Authors: Kumar Shashi Ranjan , Ghose Debasish
Published: August 2017

This paper proposes a guidance strategy, which caters to both impact angle and impact time terminal constraints. This guidance scheme is based on switching between impact time and impact angle guidance laws. Unlike the existing impact time guidance laws, the proposed guidance strategy takes into account the curvature of the trajectory due to requirement of impact angle. The guidance law is derived using sliding mode control theory with the switching surface based on impact time error. The interceptor first corrects its course to nullify the impact time error and then aims to achieve interception with desired impact angle. In order to reduce transitions between the two guidance laws, a novel hysteresis loop is introduced in the switching conditions. The guidance law is initially designed for stationary targets, and later it is extended to constant velocity targets using the notion of predicted interception point. In order to validate the efficacy of the proposed guidance strategy, simulation results are presented with constant as well as realistic time-varying speed interceptor models for different engagement scenarios against stationary and constant velocity targets. The performance of the guidance law is evaluated under noisy measurements and the presence of system lag and its performance is compared with other existing guidance laws.
A study on the aerodynamic characteristics of a stratospheric airship in its entire flight envelope
Authors: Sun Xiao-Ying , Li Tian-E , Lin Guo-Chang , Wu Yue
Published: August 2017

Aerodynamic characteristics of a stratospheric airship in its entire flight envelope, including take-off, ascending, cruising, descending, and landing, is an important part of its research topic. In this paper, experiments of wind pressure measurement on a 1/30-scale stratospheric airship model were carried out to obtain a better assessment of the aerodynamic characteristics during the cruising process. Based on the wind pressure distribution, the effects of pitch angle, yaw angle, and combined angles (pitch angle and yaw angle acted simultaneously) on the aerodynamics of the airship were analyzed. In addition, the contributions of different portions of the airship hull (namely head, middle, and tail) to the aerodynamic forces and moments were discussed. The experimental results imply that the tail portion is the main contributor to pressure drag force. The combined angles significantly increase aerodynamic forces and rolling moment, and the rolling moment produced by the middle portion accounts for the major proportion. Secondly, the computational fluid dynamics method was verified and employed to study the aerodynamic characteristics of the full-scale model in its entire flight envelope based on the decision of the wind environment parameters and attitude. As a main result, it can be concluded that, more attention should be paid to the airship when it is located in the troposphere and near the ground with an inclined take-off angle.
Incidence of renal Fanconi syndrome in patients taking antiretroviral therapy including tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
Authors: Medland Nicholas A , Chow Eric PF , Walker Rowan G , Chen Marcus , Read Tim RH , Fairley Christopher K
Published: August 2017

The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and predictors of Fanconi Syndrome (FS) in a cohort of patients taking tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). Clinical records and laboratory investigations from patients receiving TDF between 2002 and 2016 were extracted. FS was defined as normoglycaemic glycosuria and proteinuria and at least one other marker of renal dysfunction. Regression analysis was performed with time to development of FS and the following covariates: ritonavir co-administration, age, gender, co-morbidities (hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, viral hepatitis), CD4 cell count nadir and baseline eGFR. One thousand and forty-four patients received TDF without ritonavir and 398 patients with ritonavir. Thirteen cases of FS were identified with a mean duration of exposure of 55 months. The incidence of FS was 1.09/1000PY (0.54–1.63) of TDF exposure (without ritonavir) and 5.50/1000PY (3.66–7.33) of TDF-ritonavir co-administration (p=0.0057). The adjusted hazards ratio for ritonavir co-administration was 4.71 (1.37–16.14, p=0.014). Known risk factors for chronic kidney disease were not associated with development of FS. Ritonavir co-administration, but not other factors, is associated with a greater risk of FS. FS developed late. Known risk factors for chronic kidney disease and length of treatment are not useful for identifying patients most at risk of developing FS in patients taking TDF.
Optimal placement of actuators for active vibration control using a novel adaptive cuckoo search
Authors: Yang Bo , Miao Jun , Fan Zichen , Long Jun , Liu Xuhui
Published: August 2017

Actuator configuration and optimization play a vital role in active control of vibration. This article formulates an actuator position optimization strategy for active control system of solar panel using the solid propellant microthruster arrays. In order to reduce the control spillover effect and improve the control quality, an optimal placement method based on optimization criterion and a novel adaptive cuckoo search named dynamic adaptive evaluation cuckoo search is proposed. The optimization criterion is designed with the consideration of desired control performance and efficiency of each contributed and undesired mode; thus, the control force applied to solar panel is mostly utilized by the desired modes. In optimization procedure, the finite element model is used to analyze the configuration problems of the actuators, which can be converted into the constraints of decision in integer programming, and then, the dynamic adaptive evaluation cuckoo search can be used to optimize the solution. Finally, simulation results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of optimization criterion, and the statistical analyses for comparisons demonstrate competitive performance of dynamic adaptive evaluation cuckoo search with respect to recent algorithms for solving placement problems.
Wild plant use and multi-cropping at the early Neolithic Zhuzhai site in the middle Yellow River region, China
Authors: Bestel Sheahan , Bao Yingjian , Zhong Hua , Chen Xingcan , Liu Li
Published: August 2017

Sediments from ash pits and cultural layers at the Peiligang and Yangshao period site of Zhuzhai, near Zhengzhou on the Yellow River, were floated to recover charred macrobotanical remains. In addition to cereals including domesticated broomcorn and foxtail millet and rice, charred nutshells, tubers, and fruits were recovered, presenting a full picture of subsistence during the initial stages of plant domestication in north China. Charcoal fragments and seeds from the samples were directly dated to the middle Peiligang period ( c. 7924 ± 41 to 7640 ± 45 cal. BP), making these among the oldest domesticated broomcorn and foxtail millet seeds in the world. Artifact similarities between Zhuzhai and Jiahu and the presence of only wild Setaria sp. seeds at Jiahu but domesticated Setaria italica seeds at Zhuzhai indicate that the central plains region of China during the middle Peiligang (8000–7500 cal. BP) is likely the time and region where foxtail millet ( Setaria italica) was first domesticated. Charred nutshell fragments from the Peiligang period at Zhuzhai weighed approximately 8 g, while charred seeds totaled only 1.9 g, suggesting nuts were more important than seeds and domesticated cereals in middle Peiligang subsistence and indicating a slow uptake of cereal crop domestication. The presence of charred fruit fragments (0.08 g) and tubers (0.09 g) denotes the use of wild resources in early agricultural society. By the late Yangshao period ( c. 5169 ± 89 cal. BP), wood charcoal fragments in the samples weighed 1.3 g, nutshell fragments weighed 0.7 g, and seeds weighed 0.1 g, indicating that even after cereal domestication the use of wild and gathered resources such as nuts was still important. The Zhuzhai site places early cereal domestication in context and provides a well-rounded picture of plant-based subsistence at this formative period.
Symposium on work in the ‘gig’ economy: Introduction
Authors: Flanagan Frances
Published: August 2017

This introduction overviews four approaches to theoretical and empirical research on the ‘gig’ economy, framing them within the concept of the ‘fissuring of the workplace’. It outlines arguments that ‘gig’ or digital work is not a new phenomenon but a resurgence of older, unregulated labour extraction methods and outlines the need for a more nuanced way of measuring the dimensions of job insecurity and their corrosive effects. In foreshadowing potential policy approaches to addressing the regulatory deficit surrounding gig economy work, it argues for an eclectic approach to using and strengthening legislation designed to safeguard the rights of consumers and providers of services, including contractors, and regardless of employment status. Finally, it foreshadows a study of how a successful union movement respond to the gig economy – negotiation with a digital platform to bring advertised hourly pay rates into line with the minima set within the industrial relations system for employment in the relevant industries.
Online Course Student Collaboration Literature: A Review and Critique
Authors: Cherney Maura R. , Fetherston Michelle , Johnsen Lauren Jean
Published: August 2017

University online course enrollment continues to rise at a rate higher than that of traditional, face-to-face university education, and several benefits exist to creating a collaborative online course environment. Therefore, a need exists to critically consider existing research about small group work in online courses. The present article provides a meta-synthesis of 41 articles related to this topic. This meta-synthesis includes a review of literature followed by a discussion of critiques and directions for future research about online course student collaboration. Findings from this meta-synthesis include a lack of consistent definitions within literature about student collaboration online, methodological issues in existing empirical studies, and the lack of interdisciplinary contribution to online course small group literature.
Social Work Doctoral Education in Transition
Authors: Cnaan Ram A.
Published: August 2017

This introductory article to the symposium on doctoral education in social work aims to provide a framework for the symposium. Doctoral education in social work is continuously in flux. As society and the profession are constantly changing and as academia is also in a state of transition, doctoral education in social work needs to be reassessed. The five papers in this symposium start with understanding the changing environment and then they deal with issues such as policy research, the scientific inquiry, and transdisciplinary research. Finally, it discusses issues of racial and ethnic diversity in doctoral education. The hope is that this set of papers will help shape the discourse regarding social work doctoral education and will help doctoral directors and their peers better plan.
Powerlessness, Normalization, and Resistance: A Foucauldian Discourse Analysis of Women’s Narratives On Obstetric Fistula in Eastern Sudan
Authors: Hamed Sarah , Ahlberg Beth-Maina , Trenholm Jill
Published: August 2017

Eastern Sudan has high prevalence of female circumcision and child marriage constituting a risk for developing obstetric fistula. Few studies have examined gender roles’ relation with obstetric fistula in Sudan. To explore the associated power-relations that may put women at increased risk for developing obstetric fistula, we conducted nine interviews with women living with obstetric fistula in Kassala in eastern Sudan. Using a Foucauldian discourse analysis, we identified three discourses: powerlessness, normalization, and covert resistance. Existing power-relations between the women and other societal members revealed their internalization of social norms as absolute truth, and influenced their status and decision-making power in regard to circumcision, early marriage, and other transformative decisions as well as women’s general behaviors. The women showed subtle resistance to these norms and the harassment they encountered because of their fistula. These findings suggest that a more in-depth contextual assessment could benefit future maternal health interventions.
Discovery Learning in Management Education: Design and Case Analysis
Authors: Druckman Daniel , Ebner Noam
Published: August 2017

Two approaches to the process of guided discovery learning are compared for their impacts on concept understanding. One, referred to as design, emphasizes invention and draws on the simulation literature. The other, referred to as case analysis, focuses on discovery and draws on the case-based reasoning literature. Following a lecture on four cognitive-bias concepts, management students were assigned randomly to a design, case analysis, or lecture-only condition: A first experiment compared a design with a lecture-only condition and a second experiment compared case analysis with a lecture-only condition. Both design and case analysis students understood the concepts better than lecture-only students. Designers in the first experiment retained their understanding of the concepts better than the case analysts in the second experiment. The impacts on learning for design were similar to those obtained in earlier research where design was compared with role-playing and a classroom lecture. Implications of the findings for theory development and practice are discussed.
Validation of the Job-Hopping Motives Scale
Authors: Lake Christopher J. , Highhouse Scott , Shrift Alison G.
Published: August 2017

Job-hopping is the practice of making frequent voluntary job changes. Integrating theory and research from career and organizational turnover research, two distinct motives for job-hopping were proposed. The escape motive describes frequently changing jobs to escape disliked work environments, whereas the advancement motive describes frequently changing jobs as a means of career advancement. A self-report measure of job-hopping motives was developed and validated using responses from 221 students and 1,528 adults. Factor analysis showed that the motives are distinct but moderately related. The escape motive was associated with negative reactivity (impulsivity, negative affect) and script-based turnover decisions. The advancement motive was associated with positive proactivity (persistence, growth need strength), and protean, boundaryless, and kaleidoscope career theory components. Both motives were associated with organizational withdrawal, quick turnover decisions, and increased turnover. Job-hopping motives predicted historic job change rate over and above demographic, career, and organizational turnover variables.
Career Certainty and Major Satisfaction
Authors: Pesch Kathryn M. , Larson Lisa M. , Seipel Matthew T.
Published: August 2017

Information-seeking is conceptualized by multiple career decision-making models but has received insufficient attention in the literature. This may be in part due to the difficulty in assessing the amount of information students have acquired about their chosen careers (i.e., their level of occupational knowledge). The present study, sampling 316 college students, modeled this process, with career exploration activities and occupational knowledge as exogenous variables. We expected both exogenous variables to directly and indirectly relate to career certainty and major satisfaction, with self-perceived occupational knowledge, occupational information self-efficacy (defined as the self-efficacy of seeking occupational information during the career decision-making process), and interest congruence acting as mediators. Results showed that career exploration activities indirectly related to the two outcome variables through both self-perceived knowledge and occupational information self-efficacy. Occupational knowledge only related to interest congruence; the latter did not relate to either outcome variable. This study was the first to objectively assess college students’ knowledge of the careers they were actively pursuing and the first to examine that construct along with other important career decision-making variables.
A Replication of “Do Voters Affect or Elect Policies? Evidence from the U.S. House” (Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2004)
Authors: Button Patrick
Published: August 2017

I replicate Lee, David S., Enrico Moretti, and Matthew J. Butler. 2004. “Do Voters Affect or Elect Policies? Evidence from the U.S. House,” using new advances in regression discontinuity design methodology and data extended to the 2012 election. For the methodology, I use nonparametric methods with optimal bandwidths and bias correction, and I investigate the sensitivity of results to parametric methods, bandwidth, and the inclusion of covariates. My results with this more thorough and modern analysis are the same.
Respiratory T-Wave Inversion in a Patient With Chest Pain
Authors: Sharma Himani , Tiwari Abhinav
Published: August 2017

T-wave inversion on electrocardiogram (ECG) is always a concerning finding as it is often associated with myocardial ischemia or ventricular strain. Respiratory variation in the T-wave morphology has been reported in the literature; however, the frequency of this observation remains unknown as this is not routinely evaluated. Although the exact physiological mechanisms underlying this ECG change are unclear, it is proposed to be due to the respiratory variation of the heart position resulting in an alteration in T-wave polarity. We describe a case of a patient who presented with chest pain with T-wave inversions in inferior and lateral ECG leads. On repeating ECG with breath held in end inspiration, the T waves became positive. The pain was found to be musculoskeletal in origin. This case is a reminder of an under-recognized physiological phenomenon involving the cardiac conduction. Variation of T-wave morphology with respiration may suggest a noncardiac cause of chest pain.
Hypermethylation of MIR21 in CD4+ T cells from patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis associates with lower miRNA-21 levels and concomitant up-regulation of its target genes
Authors: Ruhrmann Sabrina , Ewing Ewoud , Piket Eliane , Kular Lara , Cetrulo Lorenzi Julio Cesar , Fernandes Sunjay Jude , Morikawa Hiromasa , Aeinehband Shahin , Sayols-Baixeras Sergi , Aslibekyan Stella , Absher Devin M , Arnett Donna K , Tegner Jesper , Gomez-Cabrero David , Piehl Fredrik , Jagodic Maja
Published: August 2017

Background:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system caused by genetic and environmental factors. DNA methylation, an epigenetic mechanism that controls genome activity, may provide a link between genetic and environmental risk factors.

Objective:

We sought to identify DNA methylation changes in CD4+ T cells in patients with relapsing-remitting (RR-MS) and secondary-progressive (SP-MS) disease and healthy controls (HC).

Methods:

We performed DNA methylation analysis in CD4+ T cells from RR-MS, SP-MS, and HC and associated identified changes with the nearby risk allele, smoking, age, and gene expression.

Results:

We observed significant methylation differences in the VMP1/MIR21 locus, with RR-MS displaying higher methylation compared to SP-MS and HC. VMP1/MIR21 methylation did not correlate with a known MS risk variant in VMP1 or smoking but displayed a significant negative correlation with age and the levels of mature miR-21 in CD4+ T cells. Accordingly, RR-MS displayed lower levels of miR-21 compared to SP-MS, which might reflect differences in age between the groups, and healthy individuals and a significant enrichment of up-regulated miR-21 target genes.

Conclusion:

Disease-related changes in epigenetic marking of MIR21 in RR-MS lead to differences in miR-21 expression with a consequence on miR-21 target genes.
Indeterminate Bodies
Authors: Waterton Claire , Yusoff Kathryn
Published: August 2017

Indeterminate Bodies organizes a number of theoretical and empirical studies around the concept and actuality of indeterminacy, as it relates to body and society. Located within the struggle to apprehend different categories of ‘body’ in the volatile flows of late-capital, indeterminacy is considered through such multiple incarnations as economy, contingency, inheritance, question, force, uncertainty, materiality and affective resistance to determination. While indeterminacy is often positioned as the ‘trouble’ or friction in subject/object knowledge-formation (framed as ontological or empirical challenge), it also engenders affects such that some subjects are both in and out of recognition. Questions of indeterminacy overlap with work on imperceptibility, giving rise to interlocked questions about the modes of representation, categorization, inclusion, exclusion and sensibility in the production of bodies. We address the hesitancies, difficulties and necessities of working with and through indeterminacy in order open up new descriptions, visions and modes of political work.
Parameter effects on the mechanical performance of triple-tower four-span suspension bridges
Authors: Jia Lijun , Lin Zanbi , Xiao Rucheng , Jiang Yang
Published: August 2017

Given the ineffective anchorage of the middle tower, a triple-tower suspension bridge shows a different mechanical behavior when compared with a traditional suspension bridge. Accordingly, this work investigates the mechanical performance of triple-tower suspension bridges. First, theoretical analysis was performed while considering the top displacement of the side tower and the stiffness of the middle tower. And the analytical solutions to live load of cable force, girder deflection, and anti-slip coefficient between the cable and saddle were obtained. Second, finite element models were established to perform a parametric analysis on tower stiffness, sag–span ratio, and side–main span ratio. These parameters influence the mechanical behaviors of bridges in different ways, and determining these parameters at the conceptual design stage should fulfill the requirements of mechanical performance of these structures while comprehensively considering their economic performance.
The Study on Mental Health at Work: Design and sampling
Authors: Rose Uwe , Schiel Stefan , Schröder Helmut , Kleudgen Martin , Tophoven Silke , Rauch Angela , Freude Gabriele , Müller Grit
Published: August 2017

Aims: The Study on Mental Health at Work (S-MGA) generates the first nationwide representative survey enabling the exploration of the relationship between working conditions, mental health and functioning. This paper describes the study design, sampling procedures and data collection, and presents a summary of the sample characteristics. Methods: S-MGA is a representative study of German employees aged 31–60 years subject to social security contributions. The sample was drawn from the employment register based on a two-stage cluster sampling procedure. Firstly, 206 municipalities were randomly selected from a pool of 12,227 municipalities in Germany. Secondly, 13,590 addresses were drawn from the selected municipalities for the purpose of conducting 4500 face-to-face interviews. The questionnaire covers psychosocial working and employment conditions, measures of mental health, work ability and functioning. Data from personal interviews were combined with employment histories from register data. Descriptive statistics of socio-demographic characteristics and logistic regressions analyses were used for comparing population, gross sample and respondents. Results: In total, 4511 face-to-face interviews were conducted. A test for sampling bias revealed that individuals in older cohorts participated more often, while individuals with an unknown educational level, residing in major cities or with a non-German ethnic background were slightly underrepresented. Conclusions: There is no indication of major deviations in characteristics between the basic population and the sample of respondents. Hence, S-MGA provides representative data for research on work and health, designed as a cohort study with plans to rerun the survey 5 years after the first assessment.
Predictive value of stroke discharge diagnoses in the Danish National Patient Register
Authors: Lühdorf Pernille , Overvad Kim , Schmidt Erik B. , Johnsen Søren P. , Bach Flemming W.
Published: August 2017

Aims: To determine the positive predictive values for stroke discharge diagnoses, including subarachnoidal haemorrhage, intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral infarction in the Danish National Patient Register. Methods: Participants in the Danish cohort study Diet, Cancer and Health with a stroke discharge diagnosis in the National Patient Register between 1993 and 2009 were identified and their medical records were retrieved for validation of the diagnoses. Results: A total of 3326 records of possible cases of stroke were reviewed. The overall positive predictive value for stroke was 69.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 67.8–70.9%). The predictive values differed according to hospital characteristics, with the highest predictive value of 87.8% (95% CI 85.5–90.1%) found in departments of neurology and the lowest predictive value of 43.0% (95% CI 37.6–48.5%) found in outpatient clinics. Conclusions: The overall stroke diagnosis in the Danish National Patient Register had a limited predictive value. We therefore recommend the critical use of non-validated register data for research on stroke. The possibility of optimising the predictive values based on more advanced algorithms should be considered.
Gender and validity of self-rated health in nineteen European countries
Authors: Baćak Valerio , Ólafsdóttir Sigrún
Published: August 2017

Aims: The aims of this study were to: (1) examine the concurrent validity of self-rated health for mental and physical health in Europe; and (2) evaluate whether self-rated health predicts health problems differentially by gender. Methods: Data are from 19 European countries surveyed in the 2014 European Social Survey. We applied ordinary least squares regression to examine the association between self-rated health and summary indicators of physical and mental health problems. Results: We observed an association between self-rated health and both physical and mental health problems in all countries. Gender differences in the concurrent validity of self-rated health were documented in eleven out of 19 countries. Conclusions: Self-rated health is a valid and efficient measure of physical and mental health across the European continent, with significantly greater concurrent validity among women.
Design of the FINS-TEENS study: A randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of fatty fish on cognitive performance in adolescents
Authors: Skotheim Siv , Dahl Lisbeth , Handeland Katina , Frøyland Livar , Lie Øyvind , Øyen Jannike , Kjellevold Marian , Stormark Kjell Morten , Graff Ingvild Eide
Published: August 2017

Aims: To describe the rationale, study design, population and dietary compliance in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigating the effect of fatty fish on cognitive performance and mental health in adolescents. Method: In the Fish Intervention Studies-TEENS (FINS-TEENS) study we individually randomized 478 adolescents (14–15-year-olds) from eight secondary schools in Norway to receive school meal lunches with fatty fish or meat or n-3 supplements three times a week for 12 weeks. Demographic factors, psychological tests and biological measures were collected pre-and post-intervention. Duplicate portions of lunch meals were collected and individual intake recorded throughout the study. Results: In total, 481 out of 785 adolescents (61%) agreed to participate and 34 (7%) dropped out. Breakfast consumption was the only group difference in background characteristics. Analyses of selected nutrients in the lunch meals showed higher levels of n-3 fatty acids, vitamin D and n-6 fatty acids in the fish compared to the meat meals. Dietary compliance (score 0–144) revealed that the intake in the Fish group (mean = 59, standard deviation (SD) = 35) were lower than in the Meat group (mean = 83, SD = 31, p < 0.01) and Supplement group (mean = 105, SD = 25, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The results show that it is possible to conduct a RCT with fatty fish in a school-based setting. The results also emphasize the importance of collecting detailed records of dietary compliance, as this information is important when interpreting and analysing the outcome of dietary interventions.
Representations of LGBT ageing and older people in Australia and the UK
Authors: Hughes Mark , King Andrew
Published: August 2017

While there is evidence of the cultural scripts lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older people use in making sense of their lives, little attention has been given to how these scripts are themselves produced. This article examines cultural representations of LGBT ageing and older people in 40 UK and Australian websites. It is argued that these sites form part of a cultural imaginary about LGBT ageing and older people accessed by policy makers and service providers. Employing membership categorization analysis, the study revealed attributes attached to LGBT ageing categories that related to constraint and celebration narratives. It also uncovered anomalies within the text of 23 websites where celebration and constraint attributes were juxtaposed, although in 15 websites only celebration representations were apparent. The findings highlight the complexity of some representations of LGBT ageing and older people, and the limitations of framing LGBT ageing and older people in homogenous ways.
Falling down a flight of stairs: The impact of age and intoxication on injury pattern and severity
Authors: Chatha Hridesh , Sammy Ian , Hickey Michael , Sattout Abdo , Hollingsworth John
Published: August 2017

Background

Falling down a flight of stairs is a common injury mechanism in major trauma patients, but little research has been undertaken into the impact of age and alcohol intoxication on the injury patterns of these patients. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of age and alcohol intoxication on injury pattern and severity in patients who fell down a flight of stairs.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study of prospectively collected trauma registry data from a major trauma centre in the United Kingdom comparing older and younger adult patients admitted to the Emergency Department following a fall down a flight of stairs between July 2012 and March 2015.

Results

Older patients were more likely to suffer injuries to all body regions and sustained more severe injuries to the spine; they were also more likely to suffer polytrauma (23.6% versus 10.6%; p < 0.001). Intoxicated patients were more likely to suffer injuries to the head and neck (42.9% versus 30.5%; p = 0.006) and were significantly younger than sober patients (53 versus 69 years; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Older patients who fall down a flight of stairs are significantly different from their younger counterparts, with a different injury pattern and a greater likelihood of polytrauma. In addition, alcohol intoxication also affects injury pattern in people who have fallen down a flight of stairs, increasing the risk of traumatic brain injury. Both age and intoxication should be considered when managing these patients.
Context-aware grading of quality evidences for evidence-based decision-making
Authors: Afzal Muhammad , Hussain Maqbool , Haynes Robert Brian , Lee Sungyoung
Published: August 2017

Processing huge repository of medical literature for extracting relevant and high-quality evidences demands efficient evidence support methods. We aim at developing methods to automate the process of finding quality evidences from a plethora of literature documents and grade them according to the context (local condition). We propose a two-level methodology for quality recognition and grading of evidences. First, quality is recognized using quality recognition model; second, context-aware grading of evidences is accomplished. Using 10-fold cross-validation, the proposed quality recognition model achieved an accuracy of 92.14 percent and improved the baseline system accuracy by about 24 percent. The proposed context-aware grading method graded 808 out of 1354 test evidences as highly beneficial for treatment purpose. This infers that around 60 percent evidences shall be given more importance as compared to the other 40 percent evidences. The inclusion of context in recommendation of evidence makes the process of evidence-based decision-making “situation-aware.”
The iSquare protocol: combining research, art, and pedagogy through the draw-and-write technique
Authors: Hartel Jenna , Noone Rebecca , Oh Christie , Power Stephanie , Danzanov Pavel , Kelly Bridgette
Published: August 2017

This article introduces the iSquare protocol, a novel application of the draw-and-write technique. The protocol was developed in the field of information science to explore the visual dimension of information and as an alternative and complement to written definitions of information that dominate the literature. In addition to generating a new visual perspective on information, the approach has proven fruitful for artistic and pedagogical purposes. Here, the protocol is presented in detail for scholars within information science and those beyond who may adapt it to their own research questions. The article begins with an overview of the draw-and-write technique, followed by a history of its use in the iSquare Research Program. Then, the distinguishing features of the iSquare protocol, its artistic potentials and teaching applications are outlined. Links are provided to an instructional script and research instrument template, enabling turnkey implementation of the method.
Interactive visualization to assist fall-risk assessment of community-dwelling elderly people
Authors: Sun Tien-Lung , Huang Chien-Hua
Published: August 2017

In fall-risk assessment, clinical experts have to provide accurate assessment of high-risk individuals using vast amounts of collected data. In this article, we propose an interactive visualization approach for clinical experts to improve their interpretation of assessment scores and facilitate the decision-making process. Fall-risk assessment data on a total of 356 community-dwelling elders were collated. The Short-Form Berg Balance Scale and 3-Meter Timed Up and Go test were used to screen elderly people with high fall risks. A series of interactive visualization techniques were conducted. After grouping by the literature and a statistical 5% outlier method, some disputed elderly people were examined through interactive visualization. Finally, receiver operating characteristic analysis was conducted using previous fall experience (faller or non-faller) and the three methods. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that the area under the curve was the highest (0.87, 95% confidence interval: 0.80–0.94) for the interactive visualization process compared to the other methods (literature, 0.81 (95% confidence interval: 0.71–0.90); statistical 5% outlier, 0.80 (95% confidence interval: 0.70–0.90)). Through the interactive visualization approach, the clinical experts were able to determine the screening results and their relationship with the decision boundary more rapidly and accurately, demonstrating that this approach is useful for risk assessment in the medical domain.
The coupled effect of bearing misalignment and friction on vibration characteristics of a propulsion shafting system
Authors: Qin Wenyuan , Qin Hui , Zheng Hongbo , Zhang Zhiyi
Published: August 2017

The propulsion shafting system of ships is usually supported, in part, by water-lubricated rubber bearings, which often work at mixed or boundary lubrication state under heavy-load and low-speed conditions, resulting in strong friction on the bearing–shaft interface and even abnormal vibration in the overall system. In addition, bearing misalignment can further affect the distribution of friction and consequently change the lateral and torsional vibration characteristics of the shafting system. In this work, the rubber bearing was simplified into parallel-distributed springs and the water film was neglected. The dynamic model of the propulsion shafting system was built with the finite element method and reduced by mode truncation. The coupled effect of bearing misalignment and friction was subsequently analyzed with this reduced model and the fourth-order Runge–Kutta method. Finally, lateral and torsional vibration characteristics of the overall system under different bearing misalignment were obtained, which can be used in the identification or diagnosis of abnormal vibration induced by friction.
Transvenous Intravascular Ultrasound–Guided Endovascular Treatment for Chronic Total Occlusion of the Infrainguinal Arteries
Authors: Takahashi Yasuhiro , Sato Taisuke , Okazaki Hirotake , Nozaki Ayaka , Matsushita Masato , Kamiya Masataka , Shimizu Wataru
Published: August 2017

Purpose: To investigate the 1-year outcomes of transvenous intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)–guided endovascular therapy (EVT) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the lower extremity arteries. Methods: Transvenous IVUS-guided EVT was performed in 44 patients (50 limbs) with CTO of the femoropopliteal arteries or tibioperoneal trunk. Treatment involved crossing a guidewire through the CTO under the guidance of both fluoroscopic and IVUS imaging, along with insertion of the IVUS catheter into a vein parallel to the target artery. Primary success rate, complications, and target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 12-month follow-up were investigated. Results: Successful recanalization, defined as grade 3 flow (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction score) and no flow-limiting dissection, was observed in 48 (96%) limbs. Two limbs with failed recanalization had a very long CTO lesion from the superficial femoral artery to below the knee. A bidirectional approach was selected in 11 (22%) limbs. Complications at the access site occurred in only 2 patients. The rate of freedom from TLR at 12 months was 77.9% (95% confidence interval 61.4 to 87.9). Conclusion: Transvenous IVUS-guided EVT is safe and can provide optimal short-term results for EVT of CTO in the infrainguinal arteries. IVUS-guided EVT may be one of the most effective treatment strategies for CTO of the femoropopliteal arteries or tibioperoneal trunk.
The Untapped Potential of the Nurse Practitioner Workforce in Reducing Health Disparities
Authors: Poghosyan Lusine , Carthon J. Margo Brooks
Published: August 2017

The growing nurse practitioner (NP) workforce represents a significant supply of primary care providers, who if optimally utilized, are well-positioned to improve access to health care for racial and ethnic minorities. However, many barriers affect the optimal utilization of NPs in primary care delivery. These barriers may also prevent NPs from maximally contributing to efforts to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities. Our review of the empirical and health policy literature sought to elucidate factors that affect NPs’ potential and ability to narrow or eliminate health disparities. We found that restrictive state scope of practice regulations, disparate reimbursement policies, lack of NP workforce diversity, and poor organizational structures in NP practices may limit NPs’ contributions to current efforts to reduce disparities. Our results led to the development of the nurse practitioner health disparities model which identifies barriers to and opportunities for optimal use of NPs in reducing racial and ethnic disparities. State and federal policymakers and administrators in health-care settings should take actions to remove legislative and organizational barriers to enable NPs to deliver high-quality care to racial and ethnic minorities. Researchers can use the nurse practitioner health disparities model to produce empirical evidence to reduce health disparities and improve population health.
Congress and the President in Times of War
Authors: Schorpp Susanne , Finocchiaro Charles J.
Published: August 2017

The increasingly common involvement of the United States in military conflict resonates throughout American political institutions and affects the balance of power in important ways. We examine one particular aspect of executive augmentation of power in times of war—legislative deference—and move beyond a binary approach to the effect of war. Instead, we contend that executive advantage depends on the salience and severity of the conflict. Matters of war often drive upward the prevalence of security concerns in public discourse. Although this can leave the president to compete with Congress on a much more friendly playing field, perceptions of the war’s development can turn the tide. We empirically test our hypotheses with data spanning a 50-year period and find that the salience and severity of war matter, though not equally for both chambers of Congress. The findings hold implications for how we understand the institutional balance of power within and across conflicts, which represents a major aspect of American constitutional design and function.
Long-term effect of parasympathetic or sympathetic denervation on intestinal epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis
Authors: Davis Elizabeth A , Washington Martha C , Yaniz Emily R , Phillips Heidi , Sayegh Ayman I , Dailey Megan J
Published: August 2017

Intestinal epithelial tissue is constantly regenerated as a means to maintain proper tissue function. Previous studies have demonstrated that denervation of the parasympathetic or sympathetic nervous system to the intestine alters this process. However, results are inconsistent between studies, showing both increases and decreases in proliferation after denervation of the parasympathetic or sympathetic. The effect appears to correlate with (1) the timing post-denervation, (2) denervation-induced changes in food intake, (3) the denervation technique used, and (4) which intestinal segment is investigated. Thus, we proposed that parasympathetic or sympathetic denervation does not have an effect on intestinal epithelial regeneration when you (1) evaluate denervation after long-term denervation, (2) control for post-surgical changes in food intake, (3) use minimally invasive surgical techniques and (4) include a segmental analysis. To test this, adult male Sprague Dawley rats underwent parasympathetic denervation via subdiaphragmatic vagotomy, sympathetic denervation via celiacomesenteric ganglionectomy, a parasympathetic denervation sham surgery, or a sympathetic denervation sham surgery. Sham surgery ad libitum-fed groups and sham surgery pair-fed groups were used to control for surgically induced changes in food intake. Three weeks post-surgery, animals were sacrificed and tissue from the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum was excised and immunohistochemically processed to visualize indicators of proliferation (bromodeoxyuridine-positive cells) and apoptosis (caspase-3-positive cells). Results showed no differences between groups in proliferation, apoptosis, or total cell number in any intestinal segment. These results suggest that parasympathetic or sympathetic denervation does not have a significant long-term effect on intestinal epithelial turnover. Thus, intestinal epithelial regeneration is able to recover after autonomic nervous system injury.

Impact statement

This study investigates the long-term effect of autonomic denervation on intestinal epithelial cell turnover, as measured by proliferation, apoptosis, and total cell number. Although previous research has established that autonomic denervation can alter intestinal epithelial turnover under short-term conditions, here we establish for the first time that these changes do not persist long-term when you control for surgical-induced changes in food intake and use targeted denervation procedures. These findings add to the base of knowledge on autonomic control of tissue turnover, highlight the ability of the intestinal epithelium to recover after autonomic injury and reveal possible implications of the use of ANS denervation for disease treatment in humans.