bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Straw Phonation and Neutral Vowel Protocols on the Choral Sound of Two Matched Women’s Choirs
Authors: Manternach Jeremy N. , Schloneger Matthew , Maxfield Lynn
Published: November 2018

Many choral teacher-conductors and voice professionals utilize semioccluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercises (e.g., lip trills, straw phonation) in their classrooms or studios. Research with individual singers has indicated that these techniques may increase “vocal economy,” boosting acoustic output while reducing singer effort. Recently, researchers have investigated these phenomena in choral settings, finding that choirs have maintained or increased spectral energy after straw phonation. Most chorister participants have perceived improved choral sound and vocal efficiency after the protocols. These investigations, however, have used one-group pretest-posttest designs. Therefore, results could reflect a “masterclass effect.” The purpose of this study was to compare acoustic output and listener perceptions of pre- and posttest measurements of two matched women’s choirs who engaged in (a) a straw phonation protocol or (b) an identical protocol performed on a neutral, unoccluded vowel (“ah”). Results indicated that both groups sang with more spectral energy after the protocols, and a majority of expert listeners noted these increases. However, the straw group’s increase was more than 1 dB SPL greater across the entire spectrum (0–10 kHz). Choral teacher-conductors and music teacher educators may wish to use straw phonation exercises to increase choral output and reduce vocal effort.
Request for euthanasia in the suicide note of a planned suicide
Authors: Bodwal Jatin , Kumar Sikary Asit , Chauhan Mohit , Behera Chittaranjan
Published: November 2018

This case is of a suicide victim who purchased various drugs online using forged prescriptions after detailed research about the drugs to commit suicide. He left a suicide note giving details of his suicide methods and the reasons for it. He also denied any treatment and asked for euthanasia if he survived and remained in a vegetative state.
Fatal ruptured ectopic pregnancy – a case report
Authors: Jayanth SH , Chandra Girish , Praveen S
Published: November 2018

A 26-year-old unmarried female with a history of acute abdominal pain and bleeding per vagina was brought unresponsive to the hospital. She was in shock on arrival and could not be resuscitated. Death was registered as a medico-legal case. Further investigation by the police revealed that she had amenorrhoea for eight weeks and had tested positive for pregnancy. She had consumed abortion pills purchased from a local pharmacist without consulting a doctor and had developed acute abdominal pain after 48 h. Autopsy revealed a ruptured ectopic pregnancy (tubal type).
Long-Term Reactions to the Loss of a Close Friend in an Extreme Terror Incident
Authors: Johnsen Iren , Dyregrov Kari , Matthiesen Stig Berge , Laberg Jon Christian
Published: November 2018

This article presents results from one of the first longitudinal studies exploring the effects of losing a close friend to traumatic death, focusing on complicated grief over time and how this is affected by avoidant behavior and rumination about the loss. The sample consists of 88 persons (76% women and 24% men, mean age = 21) who lost a close friend in the Utøya killings in Norway on July 22, 2011.Quantitative data were collected at three time-points; 18, 28, and 40 months postloss. Main findings are that bereaved friends are heavily impacted by the loss and their grief reactions are affected negatively by avoidant behavior and rumination. This indicates that close bereaved friends are a group to be aware of and that there is a need for better strategies for identifying individuals in need for follow-up.
Medellín Fifty Years Later: From Development to Liberation
Authors: Luciani Rafael
Published: November 2018

On August 24, 1968, Paul VI inaugurated the Second General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate. The work sessions were held at the Medellín Seminary between August 26 and September 6. Medellín represents the reception of Gaudium et Spes within the “People of God” ecclesiology of Lumen Gentium and is considered the only example of a continental reception of Vatican II carried out in a collegial and synodal manner. This article exposes the previous debates, the main topics, and the immediate reception.
Constructing Parenthood: Catholic Teaching 1880 to the Present
Authors: Kohlhaas Jacob
Published: November 2018

This article reviews Catholic theological conceptions of parenthood within magisterial documents since the late nineteenth century and contends that presumptions about parenthood tend to arise as reactions to Western cultural developments related to sex and gender. This reactionary trend creates instability in conceptions of parenthood and inhibits the ability of the institutional church to respond constructively to real challenges that face parents in the present. Pastoral concern for lived realities, as well as the responsibilities of Christian parents to socialize and evangelize children, tend to disrupt this trend, but more adequate theological attention to parenthood qua parenthood is still required.
Substance Use Disorder Typologies of Canadian Federally Sentenced Men: Relationships With Institutional Behavior and Postrelease Success
Authors: Ternes Marguerite , Farrell Macdonald Shanna , Cheverie Madelon
Published: November 2018

This study explored the presence of subgroups of incarcerated offenders using cluster analysis. Subgroups were created based on severity of criminogenic needs, including substance use, from a retrospective cohort of 5,275 Canadian male incarcerated offenders. Five groups emerged: (a) Primarily Drug Users With Stable Employment/Education, (b) Primarily Drug Users with High Needs, (c) Polysubstance Users With Positive Social Supports, (d) Polysubstance Users With Severe Need for Intervention, and (e) Drug Offenders With Good Reintegration Potential. Sociodemographic factors, criminal history, institutional behavior, and rates of recidivism were explored across subgroups. Drug Offenders With Good Reintegration Potential had the lowest rates of institutional charges and recidivism, while offenders in the Primarily Drug With High Needs and Polysubstance With Severe Need for Intervention groups had the highest rates. These findings highlight that classification of offenders is complex and nuanced. Knowing the pattern and severity of substance use and criminogenic needs aids offender management.
Self-Disclosure and Perceived Responsiveness Among Youth With Asthma: Links to Affect and Anti-Inflammatory Gene Expression
Authors: Imami Ledina , Stanton Sarah C. E. , Zilioli Samuele , Tobin Erin T. , Farrell Allison K. , Luca Francesca , Slatcher Richard B.
Published: November 2018

Self-disclosure and perceived responsiveness are important building blocks of social relationships that have long-lasting consequences for health and well-being. However, the conditions under which self-disclosure and responsiveness are likely to benefit health, and how early in life these benefits arise, remain unclear. Among 141 youth (aged 10-17) with asthma, we investigated how average daily levels of self-disclosure and responsiveness are linked to positive and negative affect and the expression of the glucocorticoid receptor gene NR3C1, a marker of improved regulation of stress physiology and immune functioning. Higher levels of self-disclosure were associated with higher NR3C1 expression and positive affect only when perceptions of responsiveness were high. Furthermore, perceived responsiveness was linked to NR3C1 expression for females but not males. These results suggest that the potential benefits of self-disclosure depend on the extent to which interaction partners are perceived as responsive and that these benefits emerge prior to adulthood.
Are Movers More Egalitarian than Stayers? An Intergenerational Perspective on Intra-Household Financial Decision-Making
Authors: Eroğlu Şebnem
Published: November 2018

This study seeks to investigate the role of international migration in shaping the financial decision-making behaviors of married couples through a comparison of three generations of Turkish migrants to Europe (i.e., movers) with their counterparts who remained in Turkey (i.e., stayers). The data are drawn from a subset of personal data from the 2000 Families Survey, involving 4,215 interviews performed randomly with married individuals nested within 1,713 families. The results suggest that international migration increases the tendency for spouses to jointly decide on their finances by (1) weakening the intergenerational transmission of traditional financial decision-making behaviors and gender ideologies and (2) enabling more intense acculturation of younger generations within “less patriarchal” contexts. With its unique, intergenerational, and multisite perspective, the study provides particular insight into the understudied relationship between migration and intra-household decision-making and its benefits for gender equality.
Quantitative Analysis of the Derailment Characteristics of Loaded and Empty Unit Trains
Authors: Li Weixi , Roscoe Geordie S. , Zhang Zhipeng , Saat M. Rapik , Barkan Christopher P. L.
Published: November 2018

Operation of unit trains has grown substantially over the past half century owing to their ability to provide economic and efficient transportation of bulk products. Although various aspects of train safety have been studied, there has been limited research examining the effect of train loading conditions on derailment occurrence, cause and severity. An algorithm was developed to identify derailments of loaded and empty unit trains on mainlines and sidings recorded in the Federal Railroad Administration database. A dataset of these accidents for the 15-year period of 2001–2015 was developed and analyzed. The frequency of derailments for both loaded and empty unit trains declined by more than 50%. The average number of cars derailed per accident fluctuated for both loading conditions, but showed no particular trend. Approximately five times more loaded unit train derailments were recorded in the database than empty unit trains, but in the absence of specific unit train traffic data, inferences about rates are not possible. Loaded unit trains were more than four times heavier than empty unit trains and loaded train derailments tended to involve more cars than empty trains. The distribution of derailment causes differed for loaded and empty unit trains. Loaded trains most frequently derailed because of broken rails and welds, while the leading cause of empty train derailments was obstructions, in particular severe weather. Over 90% of the derailments of loaded and empty unit trains considered in this study occurred on mainline tracks, and the distribution of causes differed between mainline and siding tracks.
Antithrombotic properties of hemofilter coated with polymer having a hydrophilic blood-contacting layer
Authors: Tagaya Masashi , Hara Kazunobu , Takahashi Shunsuke , Nagoshi Saki , Handa Hiroki , Okano Shinya , Murataka Takuo
Published: November 2018

Objective:

Extracorporeal circulation devices are coated with a biocompatible polymer coating agent (BPCA) that has a hydrophilic blood-contacting layer, but hemofilters are not. We aimed to investigate the antithrombotic properties of a BPCA-coated hemofilter.

Methods:

Four experiments using BPCA-coated circuits and non-coated hemofilters and four experiments using BPCA-coated circuits and BPCA-coated hemofilters were performed with whole human blood and compared by measuring the circuit pressure every 5 min, antithrombin activity every 40 min, and thrombin–antithrombin complex every 40 min, for a total of 240 min of recirculation.

Results:

The mean time required for the pressure at the inlet of the hemofilter to increase sharply was longer in BPCA-coated than in non-coated hemofilters (66 ± 11 min vs 25 ± 9 min, p < 0.01). The mean antithrombin activity value at 200 and 240 min of recirculation was significantly higher in the experiments with BPCA-coated versus non-coated hemofilters (43.3 ± 2.87 vs 33.3 ± 5.74, p = 0.04; 42.8 ± 3.59 vs 31.0 ± 5.35, p = 0.01, respectively); the antithrombin activity values at the other time points were not significantly different. Furthermore, all thrombin–antithrombin complex values in experiments with the BPCA-coated hemofilters achieved overrange at 80 min of recirculation, whereas those with the non-coated hemofilter achieved overrange at 40 min.

Conclusion:

This study suggests that BPCA-coated hemofilters can inhibit antithrombin consumption, contributing to antithrombotic effects in extracorporeal circulation circuits.
The Revised Youth Asset Survey (YAS-R)
Authors: Oman Roy F. , Lensch Taylor , Amroussia Nada , Clements-Nolle Kristen , Lu Minggen , Yang Yueran
Published: November 2018

Purpose:

The study’s purpose was to improve the psychometric properties of the Youth Asset Survey (YAS).

Design:

Longitudinal cohort study with youth and parents recruited via door-to-door canvassing to participate in a 5-wave, 4-year study that assessed prospective associations among youth assets and youth health-related behaviors. Additional test items were added in the last 2 waves of a study to improve the YAS.

Setting:

Households in randomly selected census tracts located in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

Participants:

Youth and their parents (N = 1111 parent/child dyads). Youth demographic characteristics at wave 4 were mean age = 17.3 (standard deviation = 1.62) years; 53% female, 41% white, 28% Hispanic, 24% African American, and 6% other.

Measures:

Sixty-eight items assessing 17 youth asset constructs and 8 single items assessing youth risk behaviors.

Analysis:

Confirmatory factor analysis and generalized linear models were conducted to assess construct reliability and predictive validity, respectively.

Results:

Cronbach α for the revised asset constructs ranged from .72 to .82, predictive validity was strong, and all revised asset constructs were assessed via 4 items.

Conclusions:

Researchers and practitioners have an improved 68-item YAS-Revised, freely available for their use, which measures 17 youth assets with good reliability, validity, and functionality.
VDR gene FokI polymorphism as a poor prognostic factor for papillary thyroid cancer
Authors: Beysel Selvihan , Eyerci Nilnur , Pinarli Ferda Alparslan , Apaydin Mahmut , Kizilgul Muhammed , Caliskan Mustafa , Ozcelik Ozgur , Kan Seyfullah , Cakal Erman
Published: November 2018

This is the first study to investigate the effect of vitamin D receptor ( VDR) gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms on the clinicopathologic features of papillary thyroid cancer in Turkey. A total of 165 patients with papillary thyroid cancer and 172 controls were included in this case–control study. VDR gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms FokI (rs2228570), BsmI (rs1544410), ApaI (rs7975232), and TaqI (rs731236) were evaluated using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. VDR gene polymorphisms BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI did not differ between the papillary thyroid cancer group and control group (p > 0.05, each). BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI were not associated with papillary thyroid cancer risk. The VDR gene FokI CT/TT genotype was associated with an increased papillary thyroid cancer risk (CT vs CC: odds ratio = 1.71, 95% confidence interval = 1.15–2.76, p = 0.028; TT vs CC: odds ratio = 2.44, 95% confidence interval = 1.29–4.62, p = 0.005; CT/TT vs CC: odds ratio = 1.88, 95% confidence interval = 1.20–2.96, p = 0.006; CT/CC vs TT: odds ratio = 1.80, 95% confidence interval = 1.05–3.20, p = 0.041). VDR gene polymorphisms were not in linkage disequilibrium. The FokI TT genotype was associated with having T3 and T4, stage III/IV, extra-thyroidal invasion. The FokI CT/TT or TT genotype was associated with developing N1 status, multifocality, tumor size ≥10 mm, and treatment with radioiodine therapy. Persistence/recurrence did not differ between the FokI genotypes. Carriers of the FokI T allele were at an increased risk of more advanced tumor-node-metastasis stage, greater tumor size, multifocality, and extra-thyroidal invasion of papillary thyroid cancer compared with the CC genotype. VDR gene FokI T allele and TT genotype correlated with aggressiveness of papillary thyroid cancer; thus, FokI could be useful as a poor prognostic factor to assess the high risk of papillary thyroid cancer.
Stepping forward: challenges and pathways to building a vibrant research culture through the Scholarly Project
Authors: Ng Faith , Ayres Alice , Suetani Shuichi , Parker Stephen
Published: November 2018

Objectives:

The Scholarly Project is a relevant task to support building a culture of research in psychiatry across Australia and New Zealand. However, there are several impediments to trainees’ confident completion of this project. The authors review recent literature on the challenges voiced by trainees, as well as solutions posed by clinician-researchers and medical educators. Relevant strategies are highlighted, and several practical solutions to support the completion of the Scholarly Project are proposed.

Conclusions:

There are several pathways available to alleviate barriers to trainees’ timely commencement and completion of the Scholarly Project, including enhancing research capacity within services, familiarity with the requirements, access to supervisors and additional support for trainees.
Doubling: a model for international clinical partnerships
Authors: Jureidini Jon , Stone Julie , Jureidini Molly
Published: November 2018

Objectives:

This article draws attention to an initiative aimed at benefiting colleagues in developing countries, through financial and/or moral support. It describes an attempt to engage The Royal College of Australian and New Zealand Psychiatrists (‘the College’) in supporting this philanthropic activity. It further aims to attract interest from the College and fellows in contributing to international philanthropy.

Conclusions:

Doubling provides a credible model for facilitating better mental health care in situations where there are trained staff but inadequate resources. The College’s resistance to engagement with this project may represent a missed opportunity for philanthropic support.
Relational Treatment Program for Suicidal Adolescents and Their Families “Life Is Calling”
Authors: Ólafsdóttir Hrefna
Published: November 2018

Purpose:

Research was performed to evaluate the “Life Is Calling” treatment program for suicidal adolescents and their families.

Methods:

A confirmatory factor analysis was performed on the Icelandic version of the Reasons for Living Instrument—Adolescents (IRFL-A) using a nonclinical group. The IRFL-A was used to measure the outcome of the program for a clinical group of suicidal adolescents. The nonclinical and clinical groups were compared. The parents reflected on how effective the program was.

Results:

The IRFL-A instrument was shown to be fit for use in Iceland. The adolescents’ desire to live changed for the better during treatment and 6 months after treatment. According to the parents, the program was very useful/useful for them, the family, and their suicidal adolescent.

Conclusion:

The IRFL-A is a useful assessment instrument both in clinical settings and for research. The treatment program is effective for suicidal adolescents regardless of their gender or age.
Structure and control design of levitation electromagnet for electromagnetic suspension medium-speed maglev train
Authors: Ding Jingfang , Yang Xin , Long Zhiqiang
Published: November 2018

Electromagnetic suspension is considered as a widely-used type of maglev train systems. It has been successfully used recently in Changsha Maglev Express (CME), China. Great research interests and engineering efforts have been focused on increasing the operation speed of such an environment-friendly low-speed maglev type to 200 km/h in order to meet the requirement of inter-city transportation, which has not been realized yet. However, at a higher speed, there is a considerable levitation force drop at the front of vehicles due to the pronounced eddy current effect. The electromagnet modules are more likely to saturate. An optimized electromagnet design is required for the medium-speed maglev train to achieve better levitation capability, weaker vibration, and more comfortable ride. Based on the actual parameters and operation data of CME, this paper uses the three-dimensional finite element analysis method to fully analyze the occurrence of magnetic saturation and its adverse effects. A novel structure design of electromagnet module coping with the problem of magnetic saturation is proposed to improve the levitation performance. The study also puts forward a three-controller system on the electromagnet module at the front of the vehicles which can effectively ease the imbalance of levitation forces.
Critical Pedagogy as a Response to Datafication
Authors: Markham Annette N.
Published: November 2018

Critical pedagogy is a vital part of building data literacy. It moves beyond the level of data critique to social action in response to datafication. This article contends that academics can do more to teach those in the public sphere as well as classroom to become critical interpretive researchers of their own lived experience, an action/participatory research framework that identifies critical thinking as the purpose of research and improved digital or data literacy as the outcome of research. This article suggests three strategic modes through which the strengths of critical approaches and qualitative epistemologies can be blended to serve as pedagogical tools for understanding and critically analyzing data, datafication, and other aspects of the digital era.
From Doxastic to Epistemic: A Typology and Critique of Qualitative Interview Styles
Authors: Berner-Rodoreda Astrid , Bärnighausen Till , Kennedy Caitlin , Brinkmann Svend , Sarker Malabika , Wikler Daniel , Eyal Nir , McMahon Shannon A.
Published: November 2018

Qualitative interview styles have been guided by precedent within academic disciplines. The nature of information sought, and the role of interviewer and interviewee are key determinants across styles, which range from doxastic (focused on understanding interviewees’ experiences or behaviors) to epistemic (focused on co-constructing knowledge). In this article, we position common interview styles along a doxastic–epistemic continuum, and according to the role of the interviewee (from respondent to equal partner). Through our typology and critique of interview styles, we enhance epistemic interviewing by introducing “deliberative interviews,” which are more debate oriented and closer to equality in the interviewee and interviewer relationship than existing interview styles. Deliberative interviews require a comprehensive, pre-interview briefing on the subject matter followed by interactive deliberation wherein complex issues are debated across viewpoints in an effort to devise solutions. The effectiveness of this interview style in generating new knowledge warrants empirical testing across academic disciplines.
Emergency brachial artery ligation for ruptured infected pseudoaneurysm of haemodialysis access is a possible option
Authors: Bishnoi Arvind Kumar , Rai Guruprasad , Kamath Ganesh Sevagur , Vishnu Rajkamal , Kumar Vijay , Joshi Harshil , Prabhu Ravindra , Soni Lalu Prasad , Nasser Arfan
Published: November 2018

Background:

For patients with end-stage renal disease, a good vascular access is essential for chronic haemodialysis. Surgically created access arteriovenous fistula for haemodialysis is associated with multiple complications, and ruptured pseudoaneurysm being the most life threatening and dreaded of all. The management of this complication warrants emergency procedure, although timely diagnosis and arteriovenous fistula salvage has been emphasised. In this study, we describe the surgical technique and outcomes of ligation of the proximal arteriovenous fistula as a plausible alternative and life-saving procedure.

Method and Results:

This is a retrospective study performed between January 2011 and December 2016. A total of 588 native arteriovenous fistula–related surgeries were performed, of which 18 patients (3.06%) developed delayed complication of infected pseudoaneurysm and rupture. All presented to the emergency care with life-threatening bleeding. We describe the surgical technique as a life-saving measure to this fatal complication.

Conclusion:

Proximal arteriovenous fistula has higher incidence of aneurysmal complications than distal ones. Ligation of the brachial artery which was a ‘grey zone’ of unpredictable prognosis has yielded good results and can be safely performed in desperate situations with low complication rates.
Metaphor, morality and legitimacy: A critical discourse analysis of the media framing of the payday loan industry
Authors: Budd Kate , Kelsey Darren , Mueller Frank , Whittle Andrea
Published: November 2018

This study examines the metaphors used in the British press to characterize the payday loan industry in order to develop our understanding of organizational delegitimation. Drawing on critical discourse analysis and theories of moral panic, we show how the metaphors used in the press framed the industry as a ‘moral problem’. The study identified four root metaphors that were used to undertake moral problematization: predators and parasites, orientation, warfare and pathology. We show how these metaphors played a key role in the construction of a moral panic through two framing functions: first by constructing images of the damage and danger caused by the firms and second by attributing agency in such a way that moral responsibility was assigned to the organizations. We also extend the discussion of our findings to explore the ideological dimensions of the moral panic. We develop a critical analysis that points to the potential scapegoating role of the discourse, which served as a convenient moral crusade for the government and other neo-liberal supporters to pursue, while detracting attention away from the underlying socio-economic context, including austerity policies, the decline in real wages and the deregulation of the finance sector. From this critical perspective, payday loan companies can be seen as a ‘folk devil’ through which society’s fears about finance capitalism are articulated, creating disproportionate exaggeration and alarm, while the system as a whole can remain intact.
Efficacy of the Best Possible Self protocol in diabetes self-management: A mixed-methods approach
Authors: Gibson Ben , Umeh Kanayo F , Newson Lisa , Davies Ian
Published: November 2018

Recent research has demonstrated that positive affect may facilitate illness self-management. This study used a sequential exploratory mixed-methods typology to assess whether a brief writing task designed to boost positive affect (the Best Possible Self protocol) could improve aspects of diabetes self-management, specifically. A qualitative investigation explored people with diabetes’ ( n = 20) views regarding Best Possible Self feasibility and acceptability, while a subsequent quantitative investigation assigned people with diabetes ( n = 50) to a Best Possible Self or non-Best Possible Self condition and assessed affect and self-management behaviours over a 4-week period. Findings indicated that individuals were receptive to the Best Possible Self and that it provided benefits for diabetes self-management.
Can a poor psychosocial work environment and insufficient organizational resources explain the higher risk of ill-health and sickness absence in human service occupations? Evidence from a Swedish national cohort
Authors: Aronsson Vanda , Toivanen Susanna , Leineweber Constanze , Nyberg Anna
Published: November 2018

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate differences in burnout, self-rated health (SRH) and sickness absence between human service occupations (HSOs) and other occupations, and whether they can be attributed to differences in psychosocial work environment and organizational resources. Methods: Data were derived from the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health, an approximately representative sample of the Swedish working population ( n = 4408). Employment in HSOs, psychosocial work environment and organizational resources in 2012 predicted relative risks of sickness absence, burnout and suboptimal SRH in 2014 using modified Poisson regressions. The psychosocial work factors’ and organizational resource variables’ relative importance were estimated by adding them to the models one by one, and with population attributable fractions (PAFs). Results: Employment in HSOs was associated with a higher risk of sickness absence and the risk was explained by psychosocial and organizational factors, particularly high emotional demands, low work-time control and exposure to workplace violence. Employment in HSOs was not associated with burnout after sociodemographic factors were adjusted for, and furthermore not with SRH. A lower risk of suboptimal SRH was found in HSOs than in other occupations with equivalent psychosocial work environment and organizational resources. PAFs indicated that psychosocial work environment and organizational resource improvements could lead to morbidity reductions for all outcomes; emotional demands were more important in HSOs. Conclusions: HSOs had higher risks of sickness absence and burnout than other occupations. The most important work factors to address were high emotional demands, low work-time control, and exposure to workplace violence.
Induced abortions by woman’s country of origin in Finland 2001–2014
Authors: Heino Anna E. , Gissler Mika , Malin Maili , VÄisÄnen Heini
Published: November 2018

Aims: Understanding the differences in reproductive-health behaviours between native and migrant populations helps provide good reproductive-health services. We investigate the differences in induced abortion rates, pregnancy histories and use of contraceptives between native and migrant populations in Finland. Methods: The Finnish Register on Induced Abortions was linked with Population Register data from years 2001–2014 to identify first- and second-generation immigrants. The data included 142,708 induced abortions. Results: Abortion and contraceptive use varied between women of Finnish and foreign origins. Native women had a lower abortion rate than women born abroad. Women born in Somalia and India had the highest likelihood for having an abortion shortly after birth. The highest risk for having an abortion soon after previous induced abortion was among women born in Iran, Iraq, Somalia and former Yugoslavia. The risk for having more than two induced abortions was the highest for women born in Russia/the former Soviet Union and Estonia. Second-generation immigrants had a lower abortion rate than first-generation immigrants. Lack of contraceptive use prior to abortion was more common among women born abroad. Conclusion: There were differences in pregnancy histories and in the use of reliable contraceptive methods before an induced abortion by country of birth. The higher likelihood for abortion after a recent birth among first-generation immigrants highlights the need for more targeted counselling immediately after childbirth. Although the abortion rate is lower among second-generation immigrants, the neglect of contraceptive use calls for additional education in sexual and reproductive health.
Numerical investigation on the influence of ventilation shaft on gaseous radionuclide diffusion of uranic exhaust in atmosphere
Authors: Yang Rong , Zhang Xiaowen , Zhong Yongming , Ye Yongjun
Published: November 2018

Understanding the distribution of radionuclides from uranium mine tail gas into the surface atmosphere is one way of dealing with radioactive pollution, but the factors affecting the concentration distribution are considered insufficiently studied. This article looks into the structural characteristics of the exhaust shaft of a uranium mine and studied the effect of the cross-sectional shape (square or round) on radionuclide concentrations. We used numerical simulation to verify the significance and clarity of the impact. The results show that, without considering the terrain, the radionuclide concentration distribution is not sensitive to wind direction at different heights, regardless of exhaust shaft shape. There are 2–5 times more radionuclides discharged from the round exhaust shaft as the square shaft, and the difference increases with height. The concentration exceeds the maximum dose requirement until approximately 500 m downwind when the square exhaust shaft is used, while it is at least 1000 m with the round exhaust shaft. These conclusions imply that the structural features of the exhaust shafts, especially the cross-sectional shape, should be given high priority during construction, and the structure of the exhaust shafts should not be neglected or oversimplified in the study of similar problems.
Ren’s frequency–amplitude formulation for nonlinear oscillators
Authors: Hu Gui-Fang , Deng Shu-Xian
Published: November 2018

A fast insight into the frequency–amplitude relationship of a rehabilitation training device and other nonlinear vibrations as well is of great importance. This paper applies Ren’s frequency–amplitude formulation to obtain approximate frequencies of nonlinear oscillators with little calculation while keeping high relative accuracy. The golden mean location is used in the example procedures.
Education, inequality and social justice: A critical analysis applying the Sen-Bourdieu Analytical Framework
Authors: Hart Caroline Sarojini
Published: November 2018

This paper offers a critical examination of the nature of inequalities in relation to education and the pursuit of social justice. It argues that assessment of educational resources and measures such as school enrolment and educational achievement are limited in what they tell us about the injustices learners may experience. It is proposed that, drawing on Amartya Sen’s capability approach, we benefit from extending our evaluative space beyond learners’ achievements to encompass their freedoms to achieve. It is argued that attention should be paid to the relative value individuals place on these various freedoms. Furthermore, in order to deepen insights into the multiple factors influencing the development of learner values, and the unequal possibilities for realising their aspired valued achievements, the discussion also draws on key sociological concepts from Pierre Bourdieu. The theoretical synthesis leads to the introduction of the Sen-Bourdieu Analytical Framework, a conceptual model that illustrates the socially dynamic processes within which learners and formal educational systems are situated. The principal aims are to offer an alternative development paradigm and an expanded evaluative framework to inform local, national and international educational policy and practice.
Leveraging Household Structure for Increasing Adult Physical Activity in a Low-Income, African American Community
Authors: Bernhart John A. , Ylitalo Kelly R. , Umstattd Meyer M. Renée , Doyle Eva I. , Wilkinson Lindsay R. , Stone Kahler W.
Published: November 2018

Health behavior changes often require focusing on factors beyond the individual, particularly in low-income and underresourced areas. The purpose of this article was to assess associations between household structure and adult physical activity levels. Data were collected using Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response methodology to administer a household survey ( n = 100). Household structure was calculated from summing the number of adults (⩾18 years) and children (<18 years) reported living in the house. Physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form. Adults living in households with two or more adults reported more MET (metabolic equivalent of task) minutes of physical activity per week than adults from households with only one adult. Adults living in households with two or more adults were twice as likely to meet aerobic guidelines for physical activity compared to adults living in households with only adult. Findings suggest the need for developing ecologic approaches in low-income communities to increase social support for physical activity in adults.
Experts’ Perspectives on Key Ethical Issues Associated With HIV Phylogenetics as Applied in HIV Transmission Dynamics Research
Authors: Mutenherwa Farirai , Wassenaar Douglas R. , de Oliveira Tulio
Published: November 2018

The use of phylogenetics in HIV molecular epidemiology has considerably increased our ability to understand the origin, spread, and characteristics of HIV epidemics. Despite its potential to advance knowledge on HIV transmission dynamics, the ethical issues associated with HIV molecular epidemiology have received minimal attention. In-depth interviews were conducted with scientists from diverse backgrounds to explore their perspectives on ethical issues associated with phylogenetic analysis of HIV genetic data as applied to HIV transmission dynamics studies. The Emanuel framework was used as the analytical framework. Favorable risk–benefit ratio and informed consent were the most invoked ethical principles and fair participant selection the least. Fear of loss of privacy and disclosure of HIV transmission were invariably cited as key ethical concerns. As HIV sequence data become increasingly available, comprehensive guidelines should be developed to guide its access, sharing and use, cognizant of the potential harms that may result.
Efficacy of Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Zhang Zhao-Xuan , Zhang Dai , Yu Xiao-Tong , Ma Yue-Wen
Published: November 2018

This study aims to determine the effect of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) versus drug when treating chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS; type III B chronic prostatitis). The study included 45 participants with CPPS, divided into two groups: Group I comprised 25 participants, who were treated with rESWT (3,000 pulses each; pressure: 1.8–2.0 bar; frequency: 10 Hz) once a week; Group II consisted of 20 participants who received a combination of an α-blocker and an anti-inflammatory agent. Participants were treated for 8 weeks. The assessments were done before treatment, after the fourth and eighth rESWT, and 3 months after the end of treatment by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, National Institutes of Health-developed Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5). Both groups of participants showed statistically significant improvement in all the assessments ( p < .001) after the treatment, with significantly better results in Group I in NIH-CPSI ( p < .001). The recurrence rate of symptoms in Group I at 3 months after end of treatment was much lower than that in Group II (4% vs. 50%, p < .001). This prospectively nonrandomized, control study revealed perineal rESWT as a new therapy option for CPPS with statistically significant effects in comparison to drugs at least for 3 months after cessation of treatment.
Endovascular techniques for achievement of better flow diverter wall apposition
Authors: Kühn Anna L , Rodrigues Katyucia de Macedo , Wakhloo Ajay K , Puri Ajit S
Published: November 2018

Flow diverter malapposition has been described as a technical complication during endovascular procedures and can be associated with, potentially delayed, life-threatening aneurysm rupture or ischemic events.

We performed a retrospective review of our flow diverter database to identify all patients in whom device malapposition was detected on follow-up angiogram immediately after device deployment. Feasibility and technical success of different endovascular approaches aiming to correct the inadequate vessel wall apposition were evaluated. Successful endovascular techniques for manipulation of the flow diverter included use of wires, catheters and additional flow diverter/stent devices.

In our practice, we found six successful endovascular techniques for device manipulation, which allowed us to safely achieve good flow diverter wall apposition.
Data, Year-End Reports, and Perseverance
Authors: Maughan Erin D. , Hogan Janis
Published: November 2018

This is the companion interview to the “data and school nursing” articles series, sharing practical examples of how frontline school nurses use data. This interview is with Janis Hogan who shares her data in a year-end report and uses her data to advocate for programs.
Protein Levels and Microstructural Changes in Localized Regions of Early Cartilage Degeneration Compared with Adjacent Intact Cartilage
Authors: Jacob Bincy , Jüllig Mia , Middleditch Martin , Payne Leo , Broom Neil , Sarojini Vijayalekshmi , Thambyah Ashvin
Published: November 2018

Objective

It was hypothesized that the respective protein profiles of bovine cartilage from sites of localized mild to moderate (GI to GII) degeneration versus adjacent sites of intact tissue would vary in accordance with the tissue microstructural changes associated with a pre-osteoarthritic state.

Methods

A total of 15 bovine patellae were obtained for this study. Paired samples of tissue were collected from the lateral region of each patella. If the patella contained a site of degeneration, a paired tissue set involved taking one sample each from the degenerated site and the intact tissue adjacent to it. Sufficient tissue was collected to facilitate 2 arms of investigation: microstructural imaging and proteome analysis. The microstructural analysis used a bespoke tissue preparation technique imaged with differential interference contrast optical microscopy to assess fibrillar scale destructuring and underlying bone spicule formation. An iTRAQ-based proteome analysis was performed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry to identify the differential levels of proteins across the intact and degenerated cartilage and further, the results were validated with multiple reaction monitoring assay.

Results

In the healthy cartilage pairs, there was no significant variation in protein profiles between 2 adjacent sample sites. In pairs of tissue that contained a sample of GI/GII tissue, there were both significant microstructural changes as well as the difference in abundance levels of 24 proteins.

Conclusions

From the known functions of the 24 proteins, found to be strongly aligned with the specific microstructural changes observed, a unique “proteins ensemble” involved in the initiation and progression of early cartilage degeneration is proposed.
Are Funder Open Access Platforms a Good Idea?
Authors: Ross-Hellauer Tony , Schmidt Birgit , Kramer Bianca
Published: November 2018

As open access (OA) to publications continues to gather momentum, we should continuously question whether it is moving in the right direction. A novel intervention in this space is the creation of OA publishing platforms commissioned by funding organizations. Examples include those of the Wellcome Trust and the Gates Foundation, as well as recently announced initiatives from public funders like the European Commission and the Irish Health Research Board. As the number of such platforms increases, it becomes urgently necessary to assess in which ways, for better or worse, this emergent phenomenon complements or disrupts the scholarly communications landscape. This article examines ethical, organizational, and economic strengths and weaknesses of such platforms, as well as usage and uptake to date, to scope the opportunities and threats presented by funder OA platforms in the ongoing transition to OA. The article is broadly supportive of the aims and current implementations of such platforms, finding them a novel intervention which stands to help increase OA uptake, control costs of OA, lower administrative burden on researchers, and demonstrate funders’ commitment to fostering open practices. However, the article identifies key areas of concern about the potential for unintended consequences, including the appearance of conflicts of interest, difficulties of scale, potential lock-in, and issues of the branding of research. The article ends with key recommendations for future consideration which include a focus on open scholarly infrastructure.
How feasible and practical is it to introduce the Endometriosis Phenome and Biobanking Harmonisation Project (EPHect) standard surgical form into clinical practice?
Authors: To Valerie , Lam Alan , Shyamsunder Akshara , Johnson Neil
Published: November 2018

Background:

The Endometriosis Phenome and Biobanking Harmonisation Project has been set up to facilitate and advance global endometriosis research.

Aim:

To test the feasibility and practicality of using the Endometriosis Phenome and Biobanking Harmonisation Project standard surgical form in routine clinical practice.

Materials and methods:

Standard surgical form was filled out using a web-based application for 225 consecutive women who underwent surgery for suspected or known endometriosis.

Results:

Median age was 37 years. Half (49.8%) of the women had a previous surgical diagnosis of endometriosis. Endometriosis was found in 91.5% of patients in this cohort. Median operative time was 101 min. Operative photographs substantially assisted completion of the standard surgical form post-operatively. The median time required to fill out the questionnaire was 8 min (range, 2–17 min). This was mostly dependent on the severity and distribution of endometriosis lesions. The standard surgical form is very comprehensive and has the advantage of including both the American Society of Reproductive Medicine classification and the Endometriosis Fertility Index; however, characterisation of deep endometriosis is insufficient for some women. In addition, some sections such as the descriptive endometriosis table (section IX) remain subjective.

Conclusion:

Using the Endometriosis Phenome and Biobanking Harmonisation Project standard surgical form to collect research data is feasible, especially when using an electronic database entry tool. It is also practically manageable, although the time taken is more than originally estimated by the Endometriosis Phenome and Biobanking Harmonisation Project standard surgical form authors. Even though some sections of the standard surgical form may be subjective, it is comprehensive and we would recommend its adoption into routine clinical practice for endometriosis research.