bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing covariate balance when using the generalized propensity score with quantitative or continuous exposures
Authors: Austin Peter C
Published: February 2018

Propensity score methods are increasingly being used to estimate the effects of treatments and exposures when using observational data. The propensity score was initially developed for use with binary exposures (e.g., active treatment vs. control). The generalized propensity score is an extension of the propensity score for use with quantitative exposures (e.g., dose or quantity of medication, income, years of education). A crucial component of any propensity score analysis is that of balance assessment. This entails assessing the degree to which conditioning on the propensity score (via matching, weighting, or stratification) has balanced measured baseline covariates between exposure groups. Methods for balance assessment have been well described and are frequently implemented when using the propensity score with binary exposures. However, there is a paucity of information on how to assess baseline covariate balance when using the generalized propensity score. We describe how methods based on the standardized difference can be adapted for use with quantitative exposures when using the generalized propensity score. We also describe a method based on assessing the correlation between the quantitative exposure and each covariate in the sample when weighted using generalized propensity score -based weights. We conducted a series of Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate the performance of these methods. We also compared two different methods of estimating the generalized propensity score: ordinary least squared regression and the covariate balancing propensity score method. We illustrate the application of these methods using data on patients hospitalized with a heart attack with the quantitative exposure being creatinine level.
Parent-Focused Preventive Interventions for Youth Substance Use and Problem Behaviors: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ladis Barry A. , Macgowan Mark , Thomlison Barbara , Fava Nicole M. , Huang Hui , Trucco Elisa M. , Martinez Marcos J.
Published: February 2018

Research indicates substance use initiation increases the risk of other youth problem behaviors and substance dependence. Preventing these problematic behaviors through parenting has the potential for avoiding deleterious consequences for youth, their families, and the community.

Purpose:

This systematic review provides an assessment of parent-focused preventive interventions that are effective in preventing early substance use (SU) and other problem behaviors among youth.

Method:

A systematic search following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines was conducted to identify prevention studies. Studies were then assessed utilizing the Society for Prevention Research (SPR) efficacy criteria.

Results:

Ten studies, utilizing 11 preventive interventions, met all inclusion criteria.

Discussion:

The efficacious interventions emphasized parent skills training and engagement, were school-based, and utilized multiple prevention strategies. The Strengthening Families Program met the most SPR efficacy criteria. This review suggests parenting interventions are effective at preventing early youth SU and other problem behaviors. Implications for social work practice are discussed.
Bridging the macro to mesoscale: Evaluating the fourth-order anisotropic damage tensor parameters from ultrasonic measurements of an isotropic solid under triaxial stress loading
Authors: Olsen-Kettle Louise
Published: February 2018

One of the most challenging problems which arises in continuum damage mechanics is the selection of variables to describe the internal damage. Many theories have been proposed and various types of damage variables ranging from scalar to vector to tensor quantities have been used. In this paper we consider anisotropic damage and the most general form for damage by using a fourth-order tensor for the damage variables. We demonstrate how experimentally measured quantities can be related to the internal tensorial damage variables. We apply this analysis to experiments of an initially isotropic solid becoming transverse isotropic under triaxial or uniaxial stress loading.
Tracing Sustainability Transformations and Drivers of Green Economy Approaches in the Global South
Authors: Lederer Markus , Wallbott Linda , Bauer Steffen
Published: February 2018

This article provides the introduction to a special issue on Green Economies in the Global South, that sheds light on the causes, complexities, consequences, and different practices of state engagement regarding national-level transitions from business as usual toward integrated economic, ecological, and social policies. Empirically, the special issue comprises four additional papers that open the black box of the state with a focus on state-society relations and the management of trade-offs in the fields of energy and land use politics in developing countries. This introduction guides these country cases with an analytical outline that builds on two specific sets of research questions: (a) Which change agents do have an impact on national politics, and why? What is the particular role of the state in developing and implementing Green Economy policies? (b) Which trade-offs and tensions occur between and within the economic, ecological, and social dimensions of a Green Economy approach? How are they addressed, by whom, and with which consequences?
Safeguards, Standards, and the Science-Policy Interfaces of REDD+: Greening Land Use Through Forest-Based Mitigation in Costa Rica?
Authors: Wallbott Linda , Rosendal G. Kristin
Published: February 2018

This article looks at the evolving concept of “Green Economy” and its potential synergies and trade-offs with biodiversity governance and land use management. By analyzing the accelerating debate and institutionalization of forest-based mitigation projects that are inclined to market-based funding in developing countries through Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries (REDD+), this study aims to critically engage with the promises of a Green Economy that have been purported internationally. We empirically analyze the global development of REDD+ safeguards and standards with a special focus on the role of science–policy interfaces and monitoring, reporting, and verification. These outlines are projected to the exemplary case of Costa Rica, a front-runner in developing land use approaches with a strong reputation for conservation and sustainable forestry.
Functional Results of Open Broström Ankle Ligament Repair Augmented With a Suture Tape
Authors: Coetzee J. Chris , Ellington J. Kent , Ronan James A. , Stone Rebecca M.
Published: February 2018

Background:

The Broström procedure is the most commonly used lateral ligament repair for chronic instability, but there is concern about the strength of the repair and the risk of reinjury. Currently, the InternalBraceTM ligament augmentation repair is an accepted augmentation method for management of a Broström procedure. Our hypothesis was that augmentation of the Broström repair with an InternalBraceTM would allow accelerated rehabilitation and return to activity and would aid in stability of the repair without a tendency to stretch.

Methods:

Eighty-one patients with lateral ankle instability procedures repaired with a Broström and InternalBraceTM augmentation were evaluated at a one-time postoperative visit between 6 and 24 months. Outcomes included demographics, surgical time, the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot score, Veterans Rand 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12), Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), satisfaction, and objective clinical measurements. Eighty-one patients were analyzed including 30 males and 51 females. Median age was 34 years (range, 18-62 years) with a median return for follow-up of 11.5 months (range, 6-27 months).

Results:

Average postoperative VAS and satisfaction were 0.8 ± 1.4 and 9.1 ± 1.6, respectively. Mean return to sport (n = 68) was 84.1 days. Average AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot score was 94.3. A score of 90 or higher on the FAAM Sports subscale was seen in 79.0% of the subjects. The single-leg hop test (Limb Symmetry Index %) showed that 86.4% of patients returned to normal or near normal function. The tape measure method and ankle dorsiflexion comparisons showed a significant difference: 9.2 ± 3.3 cm (operative side) and 10.4 ± 3.7 cm (contralateral side) ( P = .034). Ankle plantar flexion comparison (goniometer) was 48.5 ± 11.5 degrees (operative side) and 49.7 ± 11.9 degrees (contralateral side), showing no difference ( P = .506).

Conclusion:

These results suggest that InternalBraceTM augmentation of a Broström procedure is a safe and efficacious procedure that produces favorable outcomes in patients in terms of preventing recurrent instability in the ankle in the short term.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, case series.
Ten Basic Rules of Antibody Validation
Authors: Weller Michael G
Published: February 2018

The quality of research antibodies is an issue for decades. Although several papers have been published to improve the situation, their impact seems to be limited. This publication makes the effort to simplify the description of validation criteria in a way that the occasional antibody user is able to assess the validation level of an immunochemical reagent. A simple, 1-page checklist is supplied for the practical application of these criteria.
Why Do Those With Long-Term Substance Use Disorders Stop Abusing Substances? A Qualitative Study
Authors: Pettersen Henning , Landheim Anne , Skeie Ivar , Biong Stian , Brodahl Morten , Benson Victoria , Davidson Larry
Published: February 2018

Although a significant proportion of adults recover from substance use disorders (SUDs), little is known about how they reach this turning point or why they stop using. The purpose of the study was to explore the factors that influence reasoning and decision making about quitting substance use after a long-term SUD. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 18 participants, each of whom had been diagnosed with a SUD and had been abstinent for at least 5 years. A resource group of peer consultants in long-term recovery from SUDs contributed to the study’s planning, preparation, and initial analyses. Participants recalled harmful consequences and significant events during their years of substance use. Pressure and concern from close family members were important in their initial efforts to abstain from substance use. Being able to imagine a different life, and the awareness of existing treatment options, promoted hope and further reinforced their motivation to quit. Greater focus on why those with SUDs want to quit may help direct treatment matching; treatment completion may be more likely if the person’s reasons for seeking help are addressed.
Exercising ‘Bad Faith’ in the Asylum Policy Arena
Authors: Poole Lynne , Rafanell Irene
Published: February 2018

This article uses a ‘scoping’ methodology to identify the different ways in which asylum policy and practice fall short of policymakers’ stated aims, are counter-evidential and are inhumane in their effects. It highlights how asylum seekers, commonly constructed as undeserving economic migrants, are impacted by these powerful ‘othering’ narratives, before drawing on a breadth of research evidence to challenge dominant claims and expose the particular weaknesses of the asylum system. In doing so, it asks why, if asylum policy is not informed by the evidence, does not achieve its stated objectives and yet causes suffering for those seeking asylum, such an approach persists. The article then develops the concept of ‘bad faith’ as an exercise of power, in order to theorise the actions of powerful agents in the shaping of asylum policy and practice with reference to hidden collective interests. It contends that the asylum policymaking community, in failing to acknowledge the suffering resulting from the diminishment of asylum seekers into a ‘typified other’, are engaging in an oppressive power operation, concealed by the political narratives underpinning policy reforms from the 1999 Immigration and Asylum Act to the 2016 Immigration Act.
The position of grammar in Finnish, Dutch, and global course books for German as a foreign language
Authors: Tammenga-Helmantel Marjon , Maijala Minna
Published: February 2018

Communicative language teaching and language teaching research suggest forms for desirable and effective grammar teaching. This study investigates to what extent these suggestions are integrated into teaching materials. On the basis of prior studies, we developed a list of both qualitative and quantitative criteria to determine the position of grammar in foreign language course books. This list was then applied to course books for German as a foreign language that are used in Finland and the Netherlands to examine the role grammar plays in these materials. Our results show that many similarities exist between the Dutch, Finnish, and global course books with regard to the location and integration of grammar, and the instructional approach adopted. However, a striking difference was found in the Finnish materials: they provide more grammar exercises and generally a lower progression rate than the Dutch and global materials. We relate this to the typological distance between German and Finnish. In general, even though the analysed teaching materials all follow the rationale behind communicative language teaching, they are traditional in the sense that grammar inhabits a prominent position in the course books. On the other hand, we have observed pedagogical innovations with respect to grammar teaching, such as inductive grammar presentation, a spread of the learning load as well as self-evaluation tools for learners.
Impact on Therapists Working With Sex Offenders: A Systematic Review of Gender Findings
Authors: Baum Nehami , Moyal Shomron
Published: February 2018

Although there is a great deal of literature about the distress of therapists who work with sex offenders, little is known about possible gender differences in their distress. The article presents a systematic review and small-scale meta-analysis that address two questions: whether one gender is more susceptible than the other to the adverse effects of treating sex offenders and whether their distress is manifested similarly or differently. Findings of 36 measures of association reported in 10 eligible studies with a total of 1,754 sex offender therapists (785 males) indicate that males are somewhat more vulnerable to the adverse effects of treating sex offenders ( d = .204, p = .002). Moderator analysis indicates that male therapists show similar levels of burnout and disruption of sexual life as their female counterparts, but a significantly higher level of vicarious traumatization ( d = .365, p < .001). These findings challenge Farrenkopf’s well-known claim that female therapists who work with sex offenders are more prone to experiencing adverse emotional reactions than their male counterparts.
Heart Rate Variability as a Marker of Distress and Recovery: The Effect of Brief Supportive Expressive Group Therapy With Mindfulness in Cancer Patients
Authors: Park HyeYoun , Oh Sohee , Noh Yumi , Kim Ju Young , Kim Jeong-Hyun
Published: February 2018

Objectives. We aimed to investigate the effects of brief supportive expressive group therapy with mindfulness for cancer patients and to assess the utility of heart rate variability (HRV) as a biomarker of distress and treatment effect. Methods. A total of 28 female patients with nonmetastatic cancer at a university hospital in South Korea received a 4-week modified group therapy for distress reduction. The BESTMIND (Brief Expression and Support Therapy with Mindfulness) program consisted of supportive–expressive group therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction. The subjective outcomes of distress, anger, sleep quality, and sense of well-being and the physiological outcome of HRV were assessed before and after the program. Results. After the program, patients showed significantly reduced distress, perceived stress, anger, and sleep disturbance and increased quality of life. No significant change was observed in the degree of mindfulness. A significantly increased SD in the normal beat-to-beat intervals and normalized high-frequency (HF 0.15-0.4 Hz) power from spectral analysis were observed after treatment. According to the correlation analyses, HF power correlated with depression scores, and normalized HF power was associated with depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and anger at baseline. The pretreatment and posttreatment comparison indicated that an increase in HF power was associated with a decrease in anger. Conclusions. These results suggest the effectiveness of this modified group-based program for distress reduction and also provide preliminary evidence for the use of HRV as a biomarker of distress and recovery. HF power from HRV variables may serve as a quantitative biomarker of the treatment response of distress management, including anger.
Fall Hazards Within Senior Independent Living: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Kim Daejin , Portillo Margaret
Published: February 2018

Aim:

The main purpose of this research was to identify significant relationships between environmental hazards and older adults’ falling.

Background:

Falls can present a major health risk to older persons. Identifying potential environmental hazards that increase fall risks can be effective for developing fall prevention strategies that can create safer residential environments for older adults.

Methods:

The research included a retrospective analysis of 449 fall incident reports in two case-control buildings. In the homes of 88 older adults residing in independent living, an observational study was conducted to identify environmental hazards using two assessment tools including Westmead Home Safety Assessment (WeHSA) and resident interviews.

Results:

A fall history analysis indicated that falls occurred in the bathroom were significantly associated with hospitalization. The observational study revealed that the bathroom was the most common place for environmental hazards. The research showed, with increasing age and use of mobility assistive aids, there was a corresponding increase in the total number of environmental hazards. Home hazards were significantly and independently associated with the incidence rate of falls. In other words, the high fall rate building included more environmental hazards compared to the low fall rate building while controlling for residents’ age and mobility.

Conclusion:

The current study provides empirical evidence of the link between environmental hazards and older adults’ falling, which is useful for developing effective fall intervention design strategies.
Plate Alone Versus Plate and Lag Screw for Lapidus Arthrodesis: A Biomechanical Comparison of Compression
Authors: Garas Peter Kameel , DiSegna Steven Thomas , Patel Abhay R.
Published: February 2018

Background. Arthrodesis of the first tarsal metatarsal joint can be accomplished in many ways. The compressive force attained between various constructs remains unclear. This study compares compression achieved through a locking/compression Lapidus plate both with and without the addition of a lag screw. Methods: A dorsal medial Lapidus/locking compression plate (Total Compression Plate System, OrthoPro, Salt Lake City, UT, now Wright Medical) was applied to one cadaveric limb, while the same plate with the addition of a 4.0-mm cannulated lag screw was applied to the contralateral limb for a total of 5 matched pairs of cadaveric specimens. Compressive force was recorded over time and compared between the constructs using a compression sensor (8” FlexiForce Resistive Force Sensor, Phidgets Inc, Calgary, Alberta, Canada). Results: Compression was maintained for 45.4 minutes in the plate only construct, and 317 minutes with the addition of the lag screw ( P = .010). The mean time to 50% peak compression for the plate only construct was 4.90 minutes compared with 15.11 minutes for plate with lag screw construct (P = .012). Conclusion: The addition of a lag screw is recommended for extending the length of compression and possibly reducing nonweightbearing time and the risk of nonunion.

Levels of Evidence: Level V
Impaired Sleep Mediates the Negative Effects of Training Load on Subjective Well-Being in Female Youth Athletes
Authors: Watson Andrew , Brickson Stacey
Published: February 2018

Background:

Although increased training load (TL) and impaired sleep are associated with decreases in subjective well-being in adult athletes, these relationships among female youth athletes are unclear. It is unknown whether the effects of sleep and TL on well-being are independent or whether alterations in sleep mediate the effects of TL on subjective well-being.

Hypothesis:

Sleep and TL exert independent effects on subjective well-being among youth athletes, although alterations in sleep mediate a significant portion of the effect of TL on well-being in female youth athletes.

Study Design:

Prospective cohort study.

Level of Evidence:

Level 4.

Methods:

A total of 65 female soccer athletes (age range, 13-18 years) were monitored for 1 year. Daily TL was determined by session rating of perceived exertion and converted to z-scores. Every morning, participants recorded sleep duration in hours and rated stress, mood, fatigue, and soreness on a scale from −3 to +3 (worst to best). Linear mixed-effects models and mediation analysis were used to evaluate the independent effects of TL and sleep on well-being.

Results:

Average sleep duration was 7.9 ± 1.4 hours during the study period. In the multivariable model, TL and sleep duration were independently associated with fatigue (TL: β = −0.19, P < 0.001; sleep: β = 0.15, P < 0.001), mood (TL: β = −0.030, P = 0.014; sleep: β = 0.13, P < 0.001), stress (TL: β = −0.055, P = 0.001; sleep: β = 0.13, P < 0.001), and soreness (TL: β = −0.31, P < 0.001; sleep: β = 0.022, P = 0.042). Sleep duration mediated a significant portion of the effect of TL on mood (26.8%, P < 0.001), fatigue (12.6%, P < 0.001), and stress (24.5%, P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Among female youth athletes, decreased sleep duration and increased TL are independently associated with impairments of subjective well-being. In addition, decreased sleep mediates a significant portion of the negative effect of increases in TL on subjective well-being.

Clinical Relevance:

Monitoring and promoting sleep among female adolescent athletes may significantly improve subjective well-being, particularly during periods of increased TL.
A review of abusive behaviors at work
Authors: Hackney Kaylee J. , Perrewé Pamela L.
Published: February 2018

We develop an overarching conceptual model of abuse based on the literature and discuss common antecedents and consequences of workplace abuse. We examine numerous conceptualizations of workplace abuse from the perpetrators’ as well as the victims’ perspectives. Further, we delve into the literature to provide moderating factors affecting workplace abuse relationships as well as mediating processes that help to explain why abuse occurs and its outcomes in the workplace.
On positioning videography as a tool for theorizing
Authors: Rokka Joonas , Hietanen Joel
Published: February 2018

The purpose of this article is to critically examine videography in the repertoire of visual approaches and delineate a positioning that would be distinctive, inspiring and daring. Notably, we advocate for alternative video-based approaches that expand the field beyond the dominant ‘representational mode’ by embracing the evocative power of video, and it is only in this way that videographic research could emerge into a self-standing research method without falling under other representational orders of analysis such as being read ‘like text’ or frozen into photographic ‘stills’. In so doing, we develop an image of thought of consumer videographies, where the affective forces of video are harnessed towards ‘theorizing’ in an emergent rather than descriptive form.
Traditional institutions and social cooperation: Experimental evidence from the Buganda Kingdom
Authors: Goist Mitchell , Kern Florian G.
Published: February 2018

Recent studies show that traditional institutions and their representatives—such as chiefs or elders—are influential political forces in Sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere. In this paper, we explore the causal mechanism through which traditional institutions increase cooperation and mobilization. We employ a lab-in-the-field experiment using modified public goods games involving the Buganda Kingdom of Uganda. We incorporate references to traditional authority to measure whether participants contribute more when traditional institutions are involved. We explicate and test two possible mechanisms through which traditional institutions might affect cooperation and mobilization: a horizontal mechanism driven by peer-to-peer effects; and a vertical mechanism driven by access to social hierarchies. We find evidence for the latter. This suggests that traditional institutions increase cooperation, because individuals expect that their cooperation and investment will be rewarded by traditional social elites.
Framing China: Discourses of othering in US news and political rhetoric
Authors: Ooi Su-Mei , D’Arcangelis Gwen
Published: February 2018

China has emerged in the early 21st century as arguably the most important partner and rival to the United States. Increasingly, the United States perceives China’s rise on the world stage as a threat to US global hegemony. US national discourse has constructed China, we argue, as a potential enemy Other—an ever-present threat with whom we cautiously partner with. This article situates this flexible construction within the history of Orientalism in US national discourse—China as exotic other, yellow peril, red peril, and little brother—and considers the cultural work that the trope of China as potential enemy other performs to justify US actions to keep China in line. Specifically, the article traces Orientalist tropes that emerge in US political rhetoric and news media pertaining to three areas of significance in US–China relations—China’s national currency valuation, cyber espionage, and maritime disputes in the East China Sea and South China Sea.
Sagittal band reconstruction in the index finger using a modified Elson technique
Authors: Takahashi Nobuyuki , Iba Kousuke , Hanaka Megumi , Ozasa Yasuhiro , Kanaya Kohei , Yamashita Toshihiko
Published: February 2018

Purpose:

The Elson technique is a rigid reconstruction method for a hypoplastic or absent sagittal band in the treatment of chronic extensor digitorum communis (EDC) tendon dislocation. We performed a modified procedure based on the Elson technique for reconstruction of the radial sagittal band in case involving the index finger. We investigated the postoperative outcomes of chronic EDC dislocation after treatment with the original and modified Elson technique.

Methods:

We examined five fingers of five patients (2 males and 3 females) with a mean age of 41 years. The chronic EDC tendon dislocation was due to an old trauma, or a spontaneous or congenital condition involving the index in two, middle in two, and ring finger in one patient. Sagittal band reconstruction was performed using the modified Elson technique for the index finger and the original technique for the other fingers. The mean duration of postoperative follow-up was 58 months. Clinical findings such as pain and discomfort at metacarpophalangeal flexion associated with the tendon dislocation, range of motion (ROM), and disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand were evaluated. We also examined postoperative recurrence and subjective patient evaluation.

Results:

All cases achieved pain-free stability of the EDC tendon with no recurrence, and full ROM was maintained at the latest examination after surgery. The postoperative subjective evaluation by the patients was “very satisfied” in four fingers and “neutral” in one finger.

Conclusion:

We demonstrated our modified Elson technique for the treatment of chronic extensor tendon dislocation of the index finger.
Subchronic toxicity of lyophilized apoaequorin protein powder in Sprague-Dawley rats
Authors: Bauter Mark R. , Mendes Odete
Published: February 2018

Apoaequorin is a bioluminescent calcium-binding apoprotein endogenous to the Aequorea species of jellyfish and is commercially available in a dietary supplement in support of brain and cognitive health. Results from a previous 90-day subchronic oral gavage study established the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) of lyophilized apoaequorin protein powder (LAPP) at 666.7 mg/kg/day. The current 90-day oral gavage study in Sprague-Dawley rats administered dose levels of 1000, 2000, and 4000 mg/kg/day of test substance as received. These doses are expressed as milligram of supplement with the amounts of apoaequorin based on the analysis of the percentage of active ingredient. The corresponding amounts of apoaequorin protein are 603, 1206, and 2412 mg/kg/day. These dose levels target approximately 4221, 8442, and 16,844 times more than the expected human oral intake. There were no mortalities, clinical observations, ophthalmological, clinical pathology, or histopathological changes attributable to LAPP administration. Changes in mean body weight and feed efficiency, without other correlating clinical or pathological or other toxicologically relevant findings, were considered to be of little toxicological significance. Therefore, the NOAEL for LAPP administered orally up to 90 days was 4000 mg/kg/day (2412 mg/kg/day based on 603 mg/g or 60.3% active ingredient, apoaequorin protein), the highest dose tested in male and female rats.
Allele-selective RUNX1 binding regulates P1 blood group status by transcriptional control of A4GALT
Authors: Westman Julia S. , Stenfelt Linn , Vidovic Karina , Möller Mattias , Hellberg Åsa , Kjellström Sven , Olsson Martin L.
Published: February 2018

Key Points

The intronic A4GALT SNP rs5751348 defines a hematopoietic transcription factor–binding site present in P1 but not P2 blood group alleles. RUNX1 selectively binds to this regulatory site in P1 alleles; small interfering RNA knockdown of RUNX1 downregulates A4GALT transcript levels.
The effect of text messaging on latent tuberculosis treatment adherence: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Johnston James C. , van der Kop Mia L. , Smillie Kirsten , Ogilvie Gina , Marra Fawziah , Sadatsafavi Mohsen , Romanowski Kamila , Budd Matthew A. , Hajek Jan , Cook Victoria , Lester Richard T.
Published: February 2018

There is limited high-quality evidence available to inform the use of text messaging to improve latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment adherence.

We performed a parallel, randomised controlled trial at two sites to assess the effect of a two-way short message service on LTBI adherence. We enrolled adults initiating LTBI therapy from June 2012 to September 2015 in British Columbia, Canada. Participants were randomised in a 1:1 ratio to standard LTBI treatment (control) or standard LTBI treatment plus two-way weekly text messaging (intervention). The primary outcome was treatment completion, defined as taking ≥80% prescribed doses within 12 months (isoniazid) or 6 months (rifampin) of enrolment. The trial was unblinded except for the data analyst.

A total of 358 participants were assigned to the intervention (n=170) and control (n=188) arms. In intention-to-treat analysis, the proportion of participants completing LTBI therapy in the intervention and control arms was 79.4% and 81.9%, respectively (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.88–1.07; p=0.550). Results were similar for pre-specified secondary end-points, including time-to-completion of LTBI therapy, completion of >90% of prescribed LTBI doses and health-related quality of life.

Weekly two-way text messaging did not improve LTBI completion rates compared to standard LTBI care; however, completion rates were high in both treatment arms.
Best supportive care for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: current gaps and future directions
Authors: Ferrara Giovanni , Luppi Fabrizio , Birring Surinder S. , Cerri Stefania , Caminati Antonella , Sköld Magnus , Kreuter Michael
Published: February 2018

Best supportive care (BSC) is generally defined as all the interventions and the multiprofessional approach aimed to improve and optimise quality of life (QoL) in patients affected by progressive diseases. In this sense, it excludes and might be complementary to other interventions directly targeting the disease. BSC improves survival in patients with different types of cancer. Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) experience a vast range of symptoms during the natural history of the disease and might have a beneficial effect of BSC interventions. This review highlights the current evidence on interventions targeting QoL and gaps for the clinical assessment of BSC in the treatment of IPF patients. Very few interventions to improve QoL or improve symptom control are currently supported by well-designed studies. Sound methodology is paramount in evaluating BSC in IPF, as well as the use of validated tools to measure QoL and symptom control in this specific group of patients.
Teacher Knowledge for Active-Learning Instruction: Expert–Novice Comparison Reveals Differences
Authors: Auerbach A. J. , Higgins M. , Brickman P. , Andrews T. C.
Published: February 2018

Active-learning strategies can improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) undergraduates’ abilities to learn fundamental concepts and skills. However, the results instructors achieve vary substantially. One explanation for this is that instructors commonly implement active learning differently than intended. An important factor affecting how instructors implement active learning is knowledge of teaching and learning. We aimed to discover knowledge that is important to effective active learning in large undergraduate courses. We developed a lesson-analysis instrument to elicit teacher knowledge, drawing on the theoretical construct of teacher noticing. We compared the knowledge used by expert (n = 14) and novice (n = 29) active-learning instructors as they analyzed lessons. Experts and novices differed in what they noticed, with experts more commonly considering how instructors hold students accountable, topic-specific student difficulties, whether the instructor elicited and responded to student thinking, and opportunities students had to generate their own ideas and work. Experts were also better able to support their lesson analyses with reasoning. This work provides foundational knowledge for the future design of preparation and support for instructors adopting active learning. Improving teacher knowledge will improve the implementation of active learning, which will be necessary to widely realize the potential benefits of active learning in undergraduate STEM.
Moving Evolution Education Forward: A Systematic Analysis of Literature to Identify Gaps in Collective Knowledge for Teaching
Authors: Ziadie M. A. , Andrews T. C.
Published: February 2018

Evolution is a unifying theory in biology and is challenging for undergraduates to learn. An instructor’s ability to help students learn is influenced by pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), which is topic-specific knowledge of teaching and learning. Instructors need PCK for every topic they teach, which is a tremendous body of knowledge to develop alone. However, investigations of undergraduate thinking and learning have produced collective PCK that is available in peer-reviewed literature. Currently, it is unclear whether the collective PCK available adequately addresses the topics in evolution that college instructors teach. We systematically examined existing literature to determine what collective PCK for teaching evolution is available and what is missing. We conducted an exhaustive literature search and analyzed 316 relevant papers to determine: the evolutionary topics addressed; whether the focus was student thinking, assessment, instructional strategies, or goals; and the type of work (e.g., empirical, literature review). We compared the collective PCK available in the literature with the topics taught in a sample of 32 undergraduate evolution courses around the country. On the basis of our findings, we propose priorities for the evolution education research community and propose that PCK is a useful lens for guiding future research on teaching and learning biology.
Inversion-based method to mitigate noise in borehole sonic logs
Authors: Maalouf Elsa , Torres-Verdín Carlos
Published: February 2018

A major challenge in the interpretation of seismic measurements and sonic logs is the presence of deleterious noise that impacts the quality and reliability of the estimated seismic wavelets and seismic inversion products. Spatial averaging effects and borehole drilling damage can also bias the estimation of in situ stress and elastic properties from sonic logs. We have developed an inversion-based method to mitigate processing errors, spatial averaging effects, and borehole environmental noise on sonic logs, which does not require arbitrary numerical filters, effective-medium theory models, or time-consuming waveform reprocessing. The inversion-based method estimates layer-by-layer slownesses via joint inversion of shear and compressional logs measured in a vertical well, and it uses the estimated slownesses of the assumed horizontal layers to model noise-mitigated sonic logs. By making use of geometric and physical constraints for noise reduction implicit in the inversion-based method, we obtain sonic logs that more accurately reflect the physical properties of rock formations penetrated by wells. Sonic logs are efficiently modeled by invoking axial sensitivity functions. First, we test the inversion-based method with synthetic sonic logs contaminated with noise. Estimated layer-by-layer slownesses agree with those of the original model within a standard deviation of [Formula: see text], while effectively reducing the numerical noise included in the input measurements. When bed-boundary locations are unknown, we perform the inversion-based method by assuming bed boundaries uniformly spaced at the same sampling interval of sonic logs; in this case, although the accuracy of the estimated layer slownesses decreases, the noise on sonic logs decreases. Then, we apply the method to sonic logs acquired in the North Sea and estimate angle reflectivity from the noise-mitigated logs. Results verify the reliability of the inversion-based method to reduce biases in the calculated angle reflectivity within a few minutes of central processing unit time.
Findings of Multiple Myeloma in Afro-Caribbean Patients in the United States
Authors: Banavali Ashtami , Neculiseanu Elvira , Draksharam Padma L. , Datla Sireesha , Savjani Maushmi , Park Jennifer , Sidhu Gurinder , Taiwo Evelyn O.
Published: February 2018

Background

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common malignancy in the United States and has a higher incidence in the black and Afro-Caribbean population. There remain limited data on disease presentation and clinical characteristics in this patient group in the United States. The clinical profile of MM in this underrepresented patient group is described here.

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted at Kings County Hospital, an urban New York City hospital in a majority Afro-Caribbean neighborhood. Data from patients diagnosed with MM from 2000 through 2013 were collected from the institution’s tumor registry. Clinical and demographic characteristics of these patients were then analyzed.

Results

Patients with a diagnosis of MM were identified (N = 287). Data were available for 231 patients and of these, 97% self-identified as black. 55% were female, and there was a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.2. The mean age of female patients was 64 years; that of male patients was 63 years. Of the 231 patients, 81% had anemia, 68% had bone lesions, 47% had renal impairment, and 29% had hypercalcemia. Low levels of monoclonal protein were present in 27% of patients and 57% had disease of International Staging System stages I and II. Women had higher BMI than men.

Conclusion

The mean age of presentation of MM in Afro-Caribbean patients is similar to that in the standard population; however, unlike the general US population, there was a higher incidence in women; mean BMI of women also was higher than that of male patients. A sizeable percentage of Afro-Caribbean patients with MM presented with low levels of monoclonal protein in the presence of multiorgan involvement and damage, suggesting the need for early and aggressive diagnostic testing.
Global Survey of Clinical Oncology Workforce
Authors: Mathew Aju
Published: February 2018

A lack of well-trained clinical oncologists can result in significant cancer health disparities. The magnitude of this problem around the world is poorly described in the literature. A comprehensive global survey of the clinical oncology workforce was conducted. Data on the number of clinical oncologists in 93 countries were obtained from 30 references. The mortality-to-incidence ratio was estimated by using data on incidence and mortality rates from the GLOBOCAN 2012 database; the ratio was > 70% in 26 countries (28%), which included 21 countries in Africa (66%) and five countries in Asia (26%). Eight countries had no clinical oncologist available to provide care for patients with cancer. In 22 countries (24%), a clinical oncologist would provide care for < 150 patients with a new diagnosis of cancer. In 39 countries (42%), a clinical oncologist would provide care for > 500 patients with cancer. In 27 countries (29%), a clinical oncologist would provide care for > 1,000 incident cancers, of which 25 were in Africa, two were in Asia, and none were in Europe or the Americas. The economic and social development status of a country correlates closely with the burden of cancer and the shortage of human resources. Addressing the shortage of clinical oncologists in regions with a critical need will help these countries meet the sustainable development goals for noncommunicable diseases by 2030.
Hypoxia Promotes Ectopic Adhesion Ability of Endometrial Stromal Cells via TGF-β1/Smad Signaling in Endometriosis
Authors: Lin Xiang , Dai Yongdong , Xu Wenzhi , Shi Libing , Jin Xiaoying , Li Chao , Zhou Feng , Pan Yibin , Zhang Yinli , Lin Xiaona , Zhang Songying
Published: February 2018

Hypoxia plays a vital role in the progression of endometriosis. Additionally, integrin-mediated aberrant adhesion is also essential for establishment of endometriotic lesions. In this study, we sought to determine the function of hypoxia in integrin-mediated adhesion of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) in endometriosis. The expressions of adhesion molecule integrins (integrin α5, integrin αV, integrin β3, and integrin β5) were determined in 15 normal endometria and 15 paired eutopic and ectopic endometria by immunohistochemistry. Thirteen primary ESCs from patients with peritoneal endometriosis in the proliferative phase were cultured under a hypoxic (1% O2) or normoxic (21% O2) environment, and the expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, and integrins were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot. The alteration of integrins in endometriotic mouse models were also explored. Our results demonstrated that HIF-1α and integrins were highly expressed in ESCs of endometriotic lesions compared with ESCs of eutopic and normal endometrium. Hypoxia treatment significantly increased ESC adhesion abilities and integrin expression, which were positively correlated with TGF-β1 expression. Both TGF-β1 and hypoxia enhanced ESC adhesion properties, whereas hypoxia combined with TGF-β1 receptor inhibitor inhibited ESC adhesion. Knockdown of HIF-1α attenuated TGF-β1/Smad signaling activation and integrin expression and reduced ESC adhesion. Higher expression levels of HIF-1α, TGF-β1, and integrins were detected in endometriotic cysts from mice models. Our findings provide a novel insight of endometriosis that the hypoxic microenvironment stimulates ESCs to produce excessive TGF-β1 and activates the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway, thus enhancing integrin expression and the adhesion ability of ESCs.
High-throughput screen for compounds that modulate neurite growth of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons
Authors: Sherman Sean P. , Bang Anne G.
Published: February 2018

Development of technology platforms to perform compound screens of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons with relatively high throughput is essential to realize their potential for drug discovery. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of high-throughput screening of hiPSC-derived neurons using a high-content, image-based approach focused on neurite growth, a process that is fundamental to formation of neural networks and nerve regeneration. From a collection of 4421 bioactive small molecules, we identified 108 hit compounds, including 37 approved drugs, that target molecules or pathways known to regulate neurite growth, as well as those not previously associated with this process. These data provide evidence that many pathways and targets known to play roles in neurite growth have similar activities in hiPSC-derived neurons that can be identified in an unbiased phenotypic screen. The data also suggest that hiPSC-derived neurons provide a useful system to study the mechanisms of action and off-target activities of the approved drugs identified as hits, leading to a better understanding of their clinical efficacy and toxicity, especially in the context of specific human genetic backgrounds. Finally, the hit set we report constitutes a sublibrary of approved drugs and tool compounds that modulate neurites. This sublibrary will be invaluable for phenotypic analyses and interrogation of hiPSC-based disease models as probes for defining phenotypic differences and cellular vulnerabilities in patient versus control cells, as well as for investigations of the molecular mechanisms underlying human neurite growth in development and maintenance of neuronal networks, and nerve regeneration.