bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proximity, pain, and State punishment
Authors: Hayes David
Published: March 2017

This article examines the difficulties of calculating the severity of sentences presented by differences in individual penal subjects’ experiences, a key challenge to proportionality-based justifications of punishment. It explores the basic arguments for and against recognising subjective experience, before advancing a model of penal severity based upon the proximity of the pains of punishment to penal State actions. This model could partially resolve foundational problems in giving criminally just sentences. Whilst we cannot wholly reconcile penal subjectivism and objectivism, there are still some opportunities to improve penal policy and sentencing practice by adopting a proximity model for penal severity.
Responding to Aggression and Reactive Behaviours in the Home
Authors: Herron Rachel V , Rosenberg Mark W
Published: March 2017

Behaviours such as hitting, spitting, swearing and kicking can be a common response to personal, social and environmental challenges experienced by people with dementia. Little attention, however, has been given to how partners in care experience and respond to these behaviours in the home. This paper examines the emerging theme of ‘aggression,’ in seven interviews with nine former partners in care of people with dementia in Ontario, Canada. We explore how partners in care talk about, interpret and respond to these behaviours drawing on recent conceptualizations of structural and interpersonal violence in health and social geography and contributing to the growing body of research on relational care. We discuss the responses to, and implications of, these behaviours at a range of spatial scales and identify important considerations for future research.
A robust propulsion layout for underwater vehicles with enhanced manoeuvrability and reliability features
Authors: Pugi Luca , Pagliai Marco , Allotta Benedetto
Published: March 2017

Design of autonomous underwater vehicles is deeply influenced by required mission specifications. In particular, some activities like inspection of offshore plants or harsh marine environments require underwater vehicle with high autonomy, good propulsion performances and manoeuvrability. These features are deeply influenced by design and performances of the propulsion system. In particular, performances of underwater vehicles (both remotely operated and autonomous) are deeply influenced by four quadrants performances of propellers and by complex fluid dynamics interactions that are difficult to be, even roughly, evaluated. In this work, a study of a reconfigurable propulsion layout and its comparison with a conventional one is introduced. In particular, this study is also focused on modelling techniques that should really represent a reasonable trade-off in terms of accuracy and involved computational resources for fast prototyping and simulation of this kind of mechatronic systems.
Detecting damage events in concrete using diffuse ultrasound structural health monitoring during strong environmental variations
Authors: Fröjd Patrik , Ulriksen Peter
Published: March 2017

Diffuse ultrasonic wave measurements used in structural health monitoring applications can detect damage in concrete. However, the accuracy is very susceptible to environmental variations. In this study, a large concrete floor slab was monitored using diffuse wave fields that were generated by continuous-wave transmissions between ultrasonic transducers. The slab was monitored for several weeks while being subjected to changes in environmental conditions. Subsequently, it was damaged using impact hits, resulting in centimeter-scale cracking. The variations caused by the environment masked the effects of the damage in the measurements. To address this issue, the Mahalanobis distance was used to distinguish between the influence of the damage and the influence of the environmental variations. The Mahalanobis model uses amplitude and phase measurements of continuous waves at a set of different frequencies as inputs. A moving window approach was applied to the baseline data set to account for slow trends. This study shows that this technique greatly suppresses most of the variations caused by environmental conditions. All damage events in our data set have been detected.
From liberation to salvation: Revolutionary critical pedagogy meets liberation theology
Authors: McLaren Peter , Jandrić Petar
Published: March 2017

This conversation between Peter McLaren and Petar Jandrić brings about some of the most recent and deepest of McLaren’s insights into the relationship between revolutionary critical pedagogy and liberation theology, and outlines the main directions of development of McLaren’s thought during and after Pedagogy of Insurrection. In the conversation, McLaren reveals his personal and theoretical path to liberation theology. He argues for the relevance of liberation theology for contemporary social struggles, links it with social sciences, and addresses some recent critiques of Pedagogy of Insurrection. McLaren identifies the idolatry of money as the central point of convergence between liberation theology and Marxism. Developing this thought further, he asserts that Jesus was a communist. McLaren analyses the revolutionary praxis of liberation theology in Latin America, and concludes that the struggle needs to avoid violence and endure without losing tenderness. He analyzes the international politics of liberation theology and shows that liberation theology was demonized by the US administration because it works for the poor. McLaren then expands experiences from Latin America towards a global ethics of solidarity, criticizes Church positions on various matters, and insists on a critical approach to Church dogmas. He explores theoretical and practical dissonances between Marxism and Christianity, and expands them towards a more general dichotomy between the material and the spiritual. He explores the Christian eschaton – the arrival of the Kingdom of God – and links it to Marx’s prophecy of the future socialist society. Finally, he explores ecumenical opportunities of liberation theology and firmly links it with the arrival of the socialist society.
Development and Implementation: B’More Healthy Communities for Kid’s Store and Wholesaler Intervention
Authors: Schwendler Teresa , Shipley Cara , Budd Nadine , Trude Angela , Surkan Pamela J. , Anderson Steeves Elizabeth , de Morais Sato Priscila , Eckmann Thomas , Loh Hong , Gittelsohn Joel
Published: March 2017

Higher rates of obesity and obesity-related chronic disease are prevalent in communities where there is limited access to affordable, healthy food. The B’More Healthy Communities for Kids (BHCK) trial worked at multiple levels of the food environment including food wholesalers and corner stores to improve the surrounding community’s access to healthy food. The objective of this article is to describe the development and implementation of BHCK’s corner store and wholesaler interventions through formal process evaluation. Researchers evaluated each level of the intervention to assess reach, dose delivered, and fidelity. Corner store and wholesaler reach, dose delivered, and fidelity were measured by number of interactions, promotional materials distributed, and maintenance of study materials, respectively. Overall, the corner store implementation showed moderate reach, dose delivered, and high fidelity. The wholesaler intervention was implemented with high reach, dose, and fidelity. The program held 355 corner store interactive sessions and had 9,347 community member interactions, 21% of which were with children between the ages of 10 and 14 years. There was a 15% increase in corner store promoted food stocking during Wave 1 and a 17% increase during Wave 2. These findings demonstrate a successfully implemented food retailer intervention in a low-income urban setting.
Patient-Reported Barriers to the Prekidney Transplant Evaluation in an At-Risk Population in the United States
Authors: Lockwood Mark B. , Saunders Milda R. , Nass Rachel , McGivern Claire L. , Cunningham Patrick N. , Chon W. James , Josephson Michelle A. , Becker Yolanda T. , Lee Christopher S.
Published: March 2017

Background:

Despite our knowledge of barriers to the early stages of the transplant process, we have limited insight into patient-reported barriers to the prekidney transplant medical evaluation in populations largely at-risk for evaluation failure.

Methods:

One-hundred consecutive adults were enrolled at an urban, Midwestern transplant center. Demographic, clinical, and quality of life data were collected prior to patients visit with a transplant surgeon/nephrologist (evaluation begins). Patient-reported barriers to evaluation completion were collected using the Subjective Barriers Questionnaire 90-days after the initial medical evaluation appointment (evaluation ends), our center targeted goal for transplant work-up completion.

Results:

At 90 days, 40% of participants had not completed the transplant evaluation. Five barrier categories were created from the 85 responses to the Subjective Barriers Questionnaire. Patient-reported barriers included poor communication, physical health, socioeconomics, psychosocial influences, and access to care. In addition, determinants for successful evaluation completion included being of white race, higher income, free of dialysis, a lower comorbid burden, and reporting higher scores on the Kidney Disease Quality of Life subscale role-emotional.

Conclusion:

Poor communication between patients and providers, and among providers, was the most prominent patient-reported barrier identified. Barriers were more prominent in marginalized groups such as ethnic minorities and people with low income. Understanding the prevalence of patient-reported barriers may aid in the development of patient-centered interventions to improve completion rates.
Transcendental Spirituality and Acquaintance With the Activities of the Domestic National Transplant Center as Factors Shaping Attitudes Toward Organ Donation
Authors: Melnikov Semyon , Ashkenazi Tamar , Amara Muhammad , Peles Bortz Anat
Published: March 2017

Context:

Organ donation has been shown to be perceived as inappropriate by religiously observant individuals. The impact of spirituality level on attitudes toward organ donation has not been broadly explored.

Objective:

To explore the contribution of ethnicity, spirituality, level of religious observance, and acquaintance with the activities of the Israel National Transplant Center (INTC) to forming attitudes toward organ donation among Jews and Muslim Arabs in Israel.

Design:

A descriptive cross-sectional survey.

Participants:

Three hundred five (65.2%) Jewish and 163 (34.8%) Muslim Arab respondents living in Israel.

Results:

Jewish respondents had more positive attitudes toward organ donation than Muslim Arabs. Muslim Arabs had a higher mean spirituality score than Jews. Gender, age, ethnicity, level of religious observance, education, 4 spirituality dimensions, and acquaintance with the activities of the INTC explained 41.5% of the variance in attitudes to organ donation. Transcendental spirituality, acquaintance with the activities of the INTC, and level of religious observance had the highest contribution to explaining attitudes to organ donation, while gender and age had a low contribution. Ethnicity, education, and the 3 other spirituality dimensions were not found to have a significant contribution.

Conclusion:

A multifaceted approach to improving attitudes toward organ donation among Jews and Muslim Arabs in Israel is important.
Mindfulness-Based Movement: A Polyvagal Perspective
Authors: Lucas Alexander R. , Klepin Heidi D. , Porges Stephen W. , Rejeski W. Jack
Published: March 2017

Compelling evidence suggests that physical activity is an effective intervention for cancer survivors, including for those undergoing active cancer treatments. However, to date most evidence has emerged from interventions that have promoted moderate to vigorous physical activity. In this conceptual review, we argue that attention should be given to the entire continuum of physical activity from reducing sedentary behavior to increasing higher levels of physical activity when possible. In addition, considerable evidence in the cancer literature supports the value of mindfulness-based interventions as a means of helping patients and survivors cope with the variety of threats that accompany this disease. Based on the success of these two areas of research, we argue for conceptualizing and promoting physical activity as Mindfulness-Based Movement, using Polyvagal Theory as a theoretical framework to understand the role and value of Mindfulness-Based Movement as a potential intervention for cancer care and control.
Toward improved myocardial maturity in an organ-on-chip platform with immature cardiac myocytes
Authors: Sheehy Sean P , Grosberg Anna , Qin Pu , Behm David J , Ferrier John P , Eagleson Mackenzie A , Nesmith Alexander P , Krull David , Falls James G , Campbell Patrick H , McCain Megan L , Willette Robert N , Hu Erding , Parker Kevin K
Published: March 2017

In vitro studies of cardiac physiology and drug response have traditionally been performed on individual isolated cardiomyocytes or isotropic monolayers of cells that may not mimic desired physiological traits of the laminar adult myocardium. Recent studies have reported a number of advances to Heart-on-a-Chip platforms for the fabrication of more sophisticated engineered myocardium, but cardiomyocyte immaturity remains a challenge. In the anisotropic musculature of the heart, interactions between cardiac myocytes, the extracellular matrix (ECM), and neighboring cells give rise to changes in cell shape and tissue architecture that have been implicated in both development and disease. We hypothesized that engineered myocardium fabricated from cardiac myocytes cultured in vitro could mimic the physiological characteristics and gene expression profile of adult heart muscle. To test this hypothesis, we fabricated engineered myocardium comprised of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes with laminar architectures reminiscent of that observed in the mature heart and compared their sarcomere organization, contractile performance characteristics, and cardiac gene expression profile to that of isolated adult rat ventricular muscle strips. We found that anisotropic engineered myocardium demonstrated a similar degree of global sarcomere alignment, contractile stress output, and inotropic concentration–response to the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol. Moreover, the anisotropic engineered myocardium exhibited comparable myofibril related gene expression to muscle strips isolated from adult rat ventricular tissue. These results suggest that tissue architecture serves an important developmental cue for building in vitro model systems of the myocardium that could potentially recapitulate the physiological characteristics of the adult heart.

Impact statement

With the recent focus on developing in vitro Organ-on-Chip platforms that recapitulate tissue and organ-level physiology using immature cells derived from stem cell sources, there is a strong need to assess the ability of these engineered tissues to adopt a mature phenotype. In the present study, we compared and contrasted engineered tissues fabricated from neonatal rat ventricular myocytes in a Heart-on-a-Chip platform to ventricular muscle strips isolated from adult rats. The results of this study support the notion that engineered tissues fabricated from immature cells have the potential to mimic mature tissues in an Organ-on-Chip platform.
Loyalty to Ethnic Heritage and Hispanic College Student Engagement
Authors: Arana Renelinda , Blanchard Steve
Published: March 2017

This study examined Hispanic undergraduate students’ campus engagement at a private Hispanic Serving Institution. Through an analysis of survey responses of 84 students, a new measurement of ethnic loyalty is utilized. This study found that students who are more ethnically loyal are more likely to partake in campus resources than other students. In exploring Hispanic students’ background in a novel way, this study contributed to efforts to promote integration and Hispanic student success.
A Longitudinal Field Study of Auto-GCAS Acceptance and Trust: First-Year Results and Implications
Authors: Ho Nhut , Sadler Garrett G. , Hoffmann Lauren C. , Zemlicka Kevin , Lyons Joseph , Fergueson William , Richardson Casey , Cacanindin Artemio , Cals Samantha , Wilkins Mark
Published: March 2017

In this paper we describe results from the first year of field study examining U.S. Air Force (USAF) F-16 pilots’ trust of the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS). Using semistructured interviews focusing on opinion development and evolution, system transparency and understanding, the pilot–vehicle interface, stories and reputation, usability, and the impact on behavior, we identified factors positively and negatively influencing trust with data analysis methods based in grounded theory. Overall, Auto-GCAS is an effective life-/aircraft-saving technology and is generally well received and trusted appropriately, with trust evolving based on factors including having a healthy skepticism of the system, attributing system faults to hardware problems, and having trust informed by reliable performance (e.g., lives saved). Unanticipated findings included pilots reporting reputation to not be negatively affected by system activations and an interface anticipation cue having the potential to change operational flight behavior. We discuss emergent research avenues in areas of transparency and culture, and values of conducting trust research with operators of real-world systems having high levels of autonomy.
Effectiveness of pain and symptom management training for paediatric clinicians
Authors: Chen Yong-Chuan , Peng Niang-Huei , Chen Chao-Huei , Lu Frank Leigh , Chang Yue-Cune , Liu Hsin-Li , Yeats Mark
Published: March 2017

Pain and symptom management is the most important area of paediatric palliative care, but clinicians often receive little training in this area. Our research evaluated the effectiveness of pain and symptom management training among paediatric professionals. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest study was used. Fifty-three paediatric nurses and 18 paediatricians participated in this study for a response rate of 80%. Results showed significant main effects of training on confidence levels ( p < 0.001), and attitude scores ( p < 0.001) among paediatric clinicians in a variety of areas, with no differences in scores between paediatricians and nurses. This suggests that education can effectively increase paediatric clinicians’ confidence in and attitudes towards providing pain and symptom management for children with severe illness. Further training is needed to promote interdisciplinary healthcare team work to improve the effectiveness of pain and symptom management.
Size matters in planning hysterectomy approach
Authors: Mohan Yasmina , Chiu Vicki Y , Lonky Neal M
Published: March 2017

Hysterectomy is the second most common gynecologic surgery; approximately 600,000 women undergo hysterectomies each year in the United States. Estimated uterine size, either by bimanual examination, ultrasonography, or both, is one of the major factors in evaluating the need for hysterectomy and in selecting the surgical approach. In this article, we review how physician-estimated uterine size can be confidently used in providing optimal hysterectomy care, as data indicate estimation is closely correlated with actual post-surgical pelvic specimen weight.
The value of hysteroscopic biopsy in the diagnosis of endometrial polyps
Authors: Spadoto-Dias Daniel , Bueloni-Dias Flávia Neves , Elias Leonardo Vieira , Leite Nilton José , Modotti Waldir Pereira , Lasmar Ricardo Bassil , Dias Rogério
Published: March 2017

Several studies have demonstrated that the combination of hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy is more accurate in differentiating endometrial polyps from endometrial hyperplasia and cancer. However, blind biopsy not always confirms hysteroscopic findings due to high rates of inadequate or insufficient material. The objective of this clinical, prospective, and comparative study was to establish a correlation between the histological results of office-based endometrial biopsies (hysteroscopically guided and blind) with the surgical polypectomy specimens. We evaluated 82 patients with hysteroscopic diagnosis of endometrial polyp, who randomly underwent hysteroscopically guided biopsy or blind biopsy, referred for surgical resection. A total of 36 women (43.9%) underwent hysteroscopically guided biopsy and 46 women (56.1%) underwent blind biopsy. The sensitivity of hysteroscopically guided biopsy for the diagnosis of endometrial polyps ranged between 35.3 and 36.8%, when carried out at the apex and base of the lesion, compared with 29.2% for blind biopsy. Specificity was 33.3, 50, and 60%, respectively, for each biopsy. The positive predictive values were 75, 77.8, and 87.5%, and negative predictive values were 8.3, 14.3, and 8.1% respectively, compared with surgical polypectomy specimens. The office-based endometrial biopsies had low diagnostic accuracy for endometrial polyps compared with surgical polypectomy specimens.
Management of inherited thrombophilia in pregnancy
Authors: Ormesher Laura , Simcox Louise , Tower Clare , Greer Ian A
Published: March 2017

Adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as pregnancy loss and pre-eclampsia, are associated with thrombotic mechanisms and thrombophilia. Antithrombotic interventions, particularly low-molecular-weight heparin, have been investigated in women identified by previous pregnancy outcome; however, the results have been inconsistent. This may reflect heterogeneity of both the study groups and the disease processes resulting in inadequate stratification to guide antithrombotic interventions. Furthermore, the variation in gestation at initiation of low-molecular-weight heparin treatment might be important. Despite limited evidence of efficacy, low-molecular-weight heparin is often used in an attempt to prevent these complications, owing to the lack of other effective treatments and its perceived safety in pregnancy. Research is required to better understand the disease processes, identify possible biomarkers and thereby more homogeneous groups for targeted treatment.
Rational study endpoints in anti-neoplastic agent regulatory approval trials in the gynecologic malignancies
Authors: Markman Maurie
Published: March 2017

A discussion of rational endpoints in clinical trials seeking regulatory approval for new anti-neoplastic agents involving the three major gynecologic malignancies, cancers of the ovary, cervix, and endometrial, is particularly interesting as (in the opinion of this commentator) the conclusion will be different in the individual cancers.
Social and Contextual Constraints on Embodied Perception
Authors: Schnall Simone
Published: March 2017

A number of papers have challenged research on physiological and psychological influences on perception by claiming to show that such findings can be explained by nonperceptual factors such as demand characteristics. Relatedly, calls for separating perception from judgment have been issued. However, such efforts fail to consider key processes known to shape judgment processes: people’s inability to report accurately on their judgments, conversational dynamics of experimental research contexts, and misattribution and discounting processes. Indeed, the fact that initially observed effects of embodied influences disappear is predicted by an extensive amount of literature on judgments studied within social psychology. Thus, findings from such studies suggest that the initially presumed underlying processes are at work—namely, functional considerations that are informative in the context of preparing the body for action. In this article, I provide suggestions on how to conduct research on perception within the social constraints of experimental contexts.
A Growing Disconnection From Nature Is Evident in Cultural Products
Authors: Kesebir Selin , Kesebir Pelin
Published: March 2017

Human connection with nature is widely believed to be in decline even though empirical evidence is scarce on the magnitude and historical pattern of the change. Studying works of popular culture in English throughout the 20th century and later, we have documented a cultural shift away from nature that begins in the 1950s. Since then, references to nature have been decreasing steadily in fiction books, song lyrics, and film storylines, whereas references to the human-made environment have not. The observed temporal pattern is consistent with the explanatory role of increased virtual and indoors recreation options (e.g., television, video games) in the disconnect from nature, and it is inconsistent with a pure urbanization account. These findings are cause for concern, not only because they imply foregone physical and psychological benefits from engagement with nature, but also because cultural products are agents of socialization that can evoke curiosity, respect, and concern for the natural world.
Status-Based Identity
Authors: Destin Mesmin , Rheinschmidt-Same Michelle , Richeson Jennifer A.
Published: March 2017

Psychological research on socioeconomic status (SES) has grown significantly over the past decade. In this article, we build upon and integrate existing approaches to direct greater attention toward investigating the subjective meaning and value that people attach to understanding their own SES as an identity. We use the term status-based identity to organize relevant research and examine how people understand and make meaning of their SES from moment to moment in real time. Drawing from multiple areas of research on identity, we suggest that even temporary shifts in how people construe their status-based identities predict changes in thought, affect, motivation, and behavior. This novel focus is positioned to examine the psychological effects of status transitions (e.g., upward or downward mobility). Further, in initial empirical work, we introduce a new measure to assess uncertainty regarding one’s SES (i.e., status-based identity uncertainty) and offer evidence that greater uncertainty regarding one’s status-based identity is associated with lower individual well-being. In sum, we argue that insight from the literature on identity will both expand and serve to organize the burgeoning literature on the psychology of SES and, in so doing, reveal promising new directions for research.
Can Memories of Traumatic Experiences or Addiction Be Erased or Modified? A Critical Review of Research on the Disruption of Memory Reconsolidation and Its Applications
Authors: Treanor Michael , Brown Lily A. , Rissman Jesse , Craske Michelle G.
Published: March 2017

Recent research suggests that the mere act of retrieving a memory can temporarily make that memory vulnerable to disruption. This process of “reconsolidation” will typically restabilize the neural representation of the memory and foster its long-term storage. However, the process of reconsolidating the memory takes time to complete, and during this limited time window, the original memory may be modified either by the presentation of new information or with pharmacological agents. Such findings have prompted rising interest in using disruption during reconsolidation as a clinical intervention for anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and substance use disorders. However, “boundary conditions” on memory reconsolidation may pose significant obstacles to clinical translation. The aim of this article is to critically examine the nature of these boundary conditions, their neurobiological substrates, and the potential effect they may have on disruption of reconsolidation as a clinical intervention. These boundary conditions also highlight potential constraints on the reconsolidation phenomenon and suggest a limited role for memory updating consistent with evolutionary accounts of associative learning for threat and reward. We conclude with suggestions for future research needed to elucidate the precise conditions under which reconsolidation disruption may be clinically useful.
Investigation of Consensually Nonmonogamous Relationships
Authors: Conley Terri D. , Matsick Jes L. , Moors Amy C. , Ziegler Ali
Published: March 2017

We proposed that the premise that monogamy is the exemplary form of romantic partnership underlies much theory and research on relationship quality, and we addressed how this bias has prompted methodological issues that make it difficult to effectively address the quality of nonmonogamous relationships. Because the idea that consensually nonmonogamous (CNM) relationships are functional (i.e., satisfying and of high quality) is controversial, we included a basic study to assess, in a variety of ways, the quality of these relationships. In that study, we found few differences in relationship functioning between individuals engaged in monogamy and those in CNM relationships. We then considered how existing theories could help researchers to understand CNM relationships and how CNM relationships could shed light on relationship processes, and we proposed a model of how CNM and monogamous relationships differ. Finally, in a second study, we determined that even researchers who present data about CNM are affected by the stigma surrounding such relationships. That is, researchers presenting findings favoring polyamory were perceived as more biased than researchers presenting findings favoring monogamy.
Wisdom in Context
Authors: Grossmann Igor
Published: March 2017

Philosophers and psychological scientists have converged on the idea that wisdom involves certain aspects of thinking (e.g., intellectual humility, recognition of uncertainty and change), enabling application of knowledge to life challenges. Empirical evidence indicates that people’s ability to think wisely varies dramatically across experiential contexts that they encounter over the life span. Moreover, wise thinking varies from one situation to another, with self-focused contexts inhibiting wise thinking. Experiments can show ways to buffer thinking against bias in cases in which self-interests are unavoidable. Specifically, an ego-decentering cognitive mind-set enables wise thinking about personally meaningful issues. It appears that experiential, situational, and cultural factors are even more powerful in shaping wisdom than previously imagined. Focus on such contextual factors sheds new light on the processes underlying wise thought and its development, helps to integrate different approaches to studying wisdom, and has implications for measurement and development of wisdom-enhancing interventions.
Counterpoint
Authors: Durgin Frank H.
Published: March 2017

Claims about alterations in perception based on manipulations of the energetics hypothesis (and other influences) are often framed as interesting specifically because they affect our perceptual experience. Many control experiments conducted on such perceptual effects suggest, however, that they are the result of attribution effects and other kinds of judgmental biases influencing the reporting process rather than perception itself. Schnall (2017, this issue), appealing to Heider’s work on attribution, argues that it is fruitless to try to distinguish between perception and attribution. This makes the energetics hypothesis less interesting.
Collaterals 2016: Translating the collaterome around the globe
Authors: Liebeskind David S , Woolf Graham W , Shuaib Ashfaq ,   for the Collaterals 2016 Consortium
Published: March 2017

Collaterals 2016 (third International Symposium on Collaterals to the Brain) was a multidisciplinary scientific conference focused on collateral circulation in acute ischemic stroke. Decisive challenges include generalizability of optimal triage and selection paradigms based on collateral status for definitive treatment of acute ischemic stroke, rapid dissemination of expert methods, and the urgent need to leverage networking opportunities for stroke science related to the hemodynamics of collaterals. The collaterome, or individual capacity to offset ischemia in the brain, and determination of a favorable collateral profile have become pivotal factors in consideration of the precision medicine of stroke decision-making. The conference convened over 50 invited faculty from around the world to connect on-site participants at a state-of-the-art facility with remote audiences in more than 22 countries and regions. The 2½-day program was structured into 40-min sessions devoted to key issues in translating the collaterome in acute stroke therapy across the globe. This unique forum of expertise emphasized the timely impact of collaterals on a monumental scale, encouraging maximal participation, rapid diffusion and added value of a diverse networking resource. The meeting format established a model geographical framework and innovative videoconferencing platform for future scientific conferences.
Framing conflict – the Cold War and after: Reflections from an old hack
Authors: Somerville Keith
Published: March 2017

The media – whether mainstream press, broadcasting and online services or social media – is still a major source of news about conflicts for the majority of people. They rely on the media to tell them what is going on in the world, select what is important or relevant and exclude the items that are deemed unimportant or unintelligible. The media uses forms of representation and framing to simplify and provide recognized depictions of distant countries, peoples and wars. These are part of the basic operating procedures of media organizations. But do they conceal or exclude more than they explain and do they give an accurate picture of the causes and combatants? Based on 40 years of monitoring, reporting and putting together news programmes on conflicts across the globe, the author seeks to analyse how framing works and the distortions in understanding that it leads to. The author gives his perspective on the five decades of conflict in Angola and the way framing has changed but done little to inform or educate.
Reporting conflict in Africa
Authors: Plaut Martin
Published: March 2017

The quality of reporting African conflicts by Western media has declined in recent years as budgets have been cut and the number of correspondents has been reduced. Falling coverage has meant that audiences are unfamiliar with even the most basic facts about most African states. Most news stories must start from first principles, leaving little room for nuance and detail. This article, drawing on nearly three decades of first-hand experience, explains the pressures faced in reporting developing stories in complex emergencies. These include persuading editors of the need to cover events in countries that rarely appear in the Western media to the difficulties of interpreting journalistic standards written to meet the needs of domestic news coverage. This comes as the demand to satisfy the needs of an ever-expanding range of outlets has never been greater, including radio, television and online media. In the circumstances, careful preparation and a highly professional and supportive editorial team in a journalist’s home base are essential for a successful assignment.
Experimental methods for the mechanical characterization of cycling short pads
Authors: Marcolin Giuseppe , Panizzolo Fausto A , Paoli Antonio , Petrone Nicola
Published: March 2017

In cycling, non-traumatic injuries affecting the genitourinary tract have been the most extensively studied considering their effect in reducing the quality of life. The employment of saddle with specific geometries and of cycling shorts with pads can contribute to reduce the pressure on the perineal area and to increase the level of comfort. The aim of this study was to develop a method to quantify the mechanical properties of pads which can influence the cyclist’s perineal protection and its level of comfort. The proposed method consisted of both a laboratory and a field test component. The laboratory part included an accelerated fatigue test of 300,000 cycles performed with an hydraulic actuator. Loads employed were derived from pressure data collected on the saddle of a professional cyclist who pedalled both on asphalt and crossing potholes at a constant speed. The measurement of cylinder force and displacement allowed to calculate the damping and the stiffness over time for the pads tested. The field test allowed to collect the acceleration at the seatpost of the bike and at the back of the cyclist by means of two accelerometers. A transfer function [Formula: see text] allowed to quantify the vibration transmissibility of the pads. The application of our method characterized the pads tested concerning damping, stiffness and vibration transmissibility. This method could be useful for the manufacturer in the choice of density and thickness of foams, to obtain the desired level of protection, comfort and long-time efficacy of pads.
Low adherence to national guidelines for proton-pump inhibitor prescription in patients receiving combination aspirin and anticoagulation
Authors: Sharma Rajani , Roy Abhik , Ramos Christopher , Rosenberg Richard , Garcia-Carrasquillo Reuben , Lebwohl Benjamin
Published: March 2017

Background:

Aspirin, when used with concurrent anticoagulation, increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). Therefore, multisociety guidelines recommend prophylactic proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) for patients receiving aspirin and anticoagulation. We aimed to determine rates and predictors of adherence to these recommendations.

Methods:

All adult inpatients discharged from the hospital on aspirin and anticoagulation from July 2009 to June 2014 were retrospectively evaluated for PPI prescription on discharge instructions. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression to test for predictors of PPI prescription.

Results:

A total of 2422 patients were discharged on aspirin and anticoagulation; the mean age was 68 years and 53.2% were male; 42.2% were prescribed a PPI at discharge. On univariate analysis, factors associated with discharge PPI prescription included increased age (47.1% versus 37.9%), white race (47.3% versus 37.1–40.2%), higher aspirin dose (55.1% versus 39.4%), being married (46.2% versus 39.4%) and preadmission PPI use (96.6% versus 23.4%). On multivariate analysis, significant predictors of discharge PPI prescription were age 60–69 years [odds ratio (OR) 1.61] and 70–79 years (OR 1.48), and preadmission PPI use (OR 120.03). Lower odds of discharge PPI prescription included Medicaid (OR 0.55) or Medicare (OR 0.71) insurance, Spanish language (OR 0.63), and lower dose aspirin (81 mg) (OR 0.40).

Conclusions:

A total of 42.2% of patients discharged on aspirin and anticoagulation were prescribed PPIs. Older age and preadmission PPI use were predictive of PPI prescription, while Medicaid/Medicare insurance, Spanish language, and lower dose aspirin decreased the likelihood of discharge PPI prescription. This creates an opportunity to improve primary GIB prevention through quality improvement interventions.
The calcium and vitamin D controversy
Authors: Abrahamsen Bo
Published: March 2017

Areas of the world where vitamin D levels are low for months of the year and intakes of calcium are high have a high prevalence of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. This suggests a public health message of avoiding calcium supplements and increasing vitamin D intake. No message could be more welcome as vitamin D can be given as a bolus while calcium must be taken daily and may be poorly tolerated. This approach is based on no evidence from intervention studies. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggest that vitamin D given with calcium elicits a small reduction in fracture risk and deaths. This has not been demonstrated for D given alone. The cardiovascular safety of calcium and vitamin D (CaD) supplements is difficult to ascertain due to weaknesses in RCT designs and adjudication that cannot be remedied by subanalysis. Moreover, no major new RCTs are in process to provide better evidence. It remains unclear that calcium from dietary sources has health advantages over supplements. Benefits may be confined to patients with poor nutritional intake and the small effects at societal levels may be derived from large effects in a small number of patients. This has been impossible to confirm given the limited information about baseline vitamin D and calcium status at entry into trials. Future intervention studies should carefully capture baseline characteristics as these may determine the strength of the response, and make more efficient use of randomization strategies allowing subsequent disassembly or subanalyses while maintaining balancing. Though large clinical RCTs currently evaluate the effects of higher vitamin D doses (equivalent to 50–83 µg/d) there is no current research effort regarding the calcium controversy. In the absence of such studies it is not possible to provide clinicians with evidence-based recommendations regarding the best use of CaD supplementation.
Anatomically Contoured Anterior Plating for Isolated Tibiotalar Arthrodesis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kusnezov Nicholas , Dunn John C. , Koehler Logan R. , Orr Justin D.
Published: March 2017

Introduction. We performed a systematic review of the published literature to characterize patient demographic, surgical techniques, and functional outcomes to elucidate the complication and revision rates following isolated tibiotalar arthrodesis with anatomically contoured anterior plating. Methods. A comprehensive literature search was performed. Inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed studies in English, after 1990, at least 10 patients, and reporting clinical outcomes following contoured anterior plating and with follow-up of at least 80% and 1 year. Primary outcomes were fusion rate, time to fusion, return to activities, satisfaction, and functional outcome scores. Complication rates, reoperation, and revision were also extracted. Results. Eight primary studies with 164 patients met the inclusion criteria. The average sample size was 21 ± 10.0 patients and average age was 49.2 years with 61.6% male. Posttraumatic arthritis (49.4%) was the most common operative indication, followed by primary osteoarthrosis (18.9%). The average follow-up was 21.1 months. At this time, 97.6% of patients went on to uneventful union at a weighted average time of 18.7 weeks postoperatively. AOFAS scores improved significantly ( P < .05). 25% complication rate was reported with wound complication (7.9%) and hardware irritation (6.7%) most common. Overall, 21.3% of patients underwent reoperation; 4 for revision arthrodesis following nonunion. Conclusion. Isolated tibiotalar arthrodesis utilizing anatomically contoured anterior plating demonstrates excellent clinical and functional outcomes at short-term follow-up. Overall, 97.6% of patients went on to fusion and functional outcomes consistently improved following surgery. Furthermore, while one-quarter of patients experienced complications, wound complications were relatively uncommon and less than one-quarter of these required surgical intervention.

Levels of Evidence: Level IV: Systematic Review
Performance of composites versus metals under extreme loading
Authors: Szuladziński Gregory
Published: March 2017

Most structures, including airframes, are designed using quasi-static criteria. With this approach, composites are superior to metals, as they are stronger and have a smaller mass density. This article addresses a question of the remaining margins of safety when the loads are outside the design envelope, be they in magnitude or in character. The answers are provided first for some simple panels, and then for a selected airliner wing. In each case, the items compared are designed using the same design load. A related problem of dynamic buckling is addressed in detail and it is explained how it may lead to great destructive power of slender structural elements. The difference in performance between metals and composites, in that regard, is addressed. A few numerical examples and simulation results are provided.
A general concrete model in hydrocodes: Verification and validation of the Riedel–Hiermaier–Thoma model in LS-DYNA
Authors: Grunwald Christoph , Schaufelberger Benjamin , Stolz Alexander , Riedel Werner , Borrvall Thomas
Published: March 2017

The Riedel–Hiermaier–Thoma model, which is available in ANSYS Autodyn since 2000 as a description of concrete and similar geological materials in highly dynamic loading situations, has recently been implemented in the multi-purpose Finite Element code LS-DYNA. This article gives a brief overview of the physical details and verifies the new implementation by comparing single element test results with the established Autodyn code. Four real cases, ranging from low to very high pressure loading by impact, penetration and blast, are used to demonstrate thereafter the validity of the model in a wide range of applications. Simulation results from both codes are compared to experimental data at several occasions. Although slight differences between the implementations are observed, the overall agreement, both between the codes and with experiments, is very good. The systematic work in this publication demonstrates that the Riedel–Hiermaier–Thoma model is a useful addition to the LS-DYNA material library and shall motivate research to apply the model over a wide range of applications. A comprehensive, physically derived dataset is provided for a C70/85 high-strength concrete used in one validation case.
Assessment of resistance definitions used for blast analysis of unreinforced masonry walls
Authors: Gagnet Eric M , Hoemann John M , Davidson James S
Published: March 2017

Over recent decades, three distinct methods have evolved that are currently being used to generate resistance functions for single-degree-of-freedom analyses of unreinforced masonry walls subjected to blast loading. The degree of differences in these resistance definitions depends on whether the wall is assumed to be simply supported or whether compression arching forces result from rotation restraint at the supports. The first method originated in the late 1960s as a result of both experimental and analytical research sponsored by the US Department of Defense. That method, referred to as the Wiehle method, is the basis of Unified Facilities Criteria 3-340-02 and other derived analytical software such as the Wall Analysis Code developed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center. The second method is based on elastic mechanics and an assumed linear decay function that follows and is the basis of the widely used Single-Degree-of-Freedom Blast Effects Design Spreadsheets software distributed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Protective Design Center. The third method is largely based on concrete and masonry behavioral theories developed by Paulay and Priestly in the early 1990s. This article systematically compares the resistance methodologies for arching and non-arching scenarios, demonstrates the implications by plugging the disparate resistance functions into blast load single-degree-of-freedom models, compares the analytical results to full-scale blast test results, and offers conclusions about the accuracy and efficacies of each method.