bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Messy interviews: changing conditions for politicians’ visibility on the web
Authors: Kroon Åsa , Eriksson Göran
Published: March 2016

This article provides an updated analysis relating to John B. Thompson’s argument about political visibility and fragility. It does so in light of recent years’ development of communication technologies and the proliferation of nonbroadcasting media organizations producing TV. Instances of a new mediated encounter for politicians is analyzed in detail – the live web interview – produced and streamed by two Swedish tabloids during election campaigning 2014. It is argued that the live web interview is not yet a recognizable ‘communicative activity type’ with an obvious set of norms, rules, and routines. This fact makes politicians more intensely exposed to moments of mediated fragility which may be difficult to control. The most crucial condition that changes how politicians are able to manage their visibility is the constantly rolling ‘non-exclusive’ live camera which does not give the politician any room for error. The tabloids do not seem to mind ‘things going a bit wrong’ while airing; rather, interactional flaws are argued to be part and parcel of the overall web TV performance.
Probation without boundaries? ‘Agile working’ in the Community Rehabilitation Company ‘transformed’ landscape
Authors: McDermott Shelly-Ann
Published: March 2016

The repeated references to ‘agile working’ within the Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) landscape led me to independently investigate what the terminology means. In this article, I share the findings from my brief examination of some of the available literature on these ‘new ways of working’. I place this information within the context of the publicized approaches that four out of the eight CRC owners promote. It is noteworthy that between them, these four corporate bodies own 16 out of the 21 CRCs in England and Wales. I conclude by highlighting some of the boundaries that could restrict probation practitioners’ ability to conduct meaningful probation work built around relationships of trust, collaboration and engagement.
Analyzing Health-Related Quality of Life in the EVOLVE Trial
Authors: Briggs Andrew H. , Parfrey Patrick S. , Khan Nasreen , Tseng Spring , Dehmel Bastian , Kubo Yumi , Chertow Glenn M. , Belozeroff Vasily
Published: March 2016

Background: The Evaluation of Cinacalcet HCl Therapy to Lower Cardiovascular Events (EVOLVE) clinical trial evaluated the effects of cinacalcet on clinical events in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) who were on hemodialysis. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed by a generic, preference-based health outcome measure (EQ-5D) at scheduled visits and after a study event. Here, we report the HRQoL analysis from EVOLVE. Methods: We assessed changes in HRQoL from baseline to scheduled visits, and estimated the acute (3 mo) and chronic (beyond 3 mo) effects of sHPT-related events on HRQoL using generalized estimating equation analysis controlling for baseline HRQoL and randomized assignment. Results: Data on HRQoL were available for 3547 of 3883 subjects, with 1650 events in the placebo and 1502 in the cinacalcet arm. At the study end, no difference in change from baseline HRQoL was observed in the direct comparison of EQ-5D by treatment arms. The regression analysis showed significant effects of events on HRQoL and a modest positive effect of cinacalcet. Estimated quality-adjusted life-year gains were of similar magnitude based on the observed data or the predictions from the model, with only a small gain in precision from the predicted analysis. Conclusions: By contrast with a conventional comparison, a regression analysis demonstrated large decrements in HRQoL after events and a modest improvement in HRQoL with cinacalcet. As randomized controlled trials are rarely powered to detect differences in HRQoL, a prespecified regression analysis may be acceptable to improve precision of the effects and understand their origin.
Effects of regions of interest methods on apparent coefficient measurement of the parotid gland in early Sjögren’s syndrome at 3T MRI
Authors: Xu Xiaoquan , Su Guoyi , Hu Hao , Wang Yanyan , Hong Xunning , Shi Haibin , Wu Feiyun
Published: March 2016

Background

The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) has been used to assess parotid gland abnormalities in Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) patients; however, few data exist on the influence of region of interest (ROI) methods on ADC measurements.

Purpose

To assess the influence of ROI methods on ADC measurement, and their diagnostic ability in detecting parotid gland abnormalities in early SS patients.

Material and Methods

Thirteen early SS patients underwent parotid gland diffusion-weighted imaging scans at a 3.0 T MR unit. Two readers independently measured the parotid gland ADC value using three different ROIs (whole-gland [WG], single-slice [SS], and reader-based circular [RBC]). The ADC value based on three different ROIs (ADC-ROIWG, ADC-ROISS, ADC-ROIRBC) were compared between the SS group and a matched healthy control (HC) group (n = 19). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to determine the diagnostic ability and reproducibility of the parameters.

Results

The ADC-ROIWG, ADC-ROISS, and ADC-ROIRBC in the SS group were all significantly higher than those in HC group (all P < 0.05). The ADC-ROIWG showed better diagnostic ability than did ADC-ROIRBC ( P = 0.0200), while no significant difference was found between ADC-ROIWG and ADC-ROISS ( P = 0.4636). The ROIWG method showed the best inter- and intra-reader agreement (ICC, 0.902 and 0.928, respectively), followed by ROISS and ROIRBC.

Conclusion

The ROI methods can influence the parotid gland ADC measurements and their diagnostic ability. Considering our results, we suggest using in clinical practice single-slice ROIs to measure the ADC of the parotid gland.
Inside-Out Versus All-Inside Repair of Isolated Meniscal Tears: An Updated Systematic Review
Authors: Fillingham Yale A. , Riboh Jonathan C. , Erickson Brandon J. , Bach Bernard R. , Yanke Adam B.
Published: March 2016

Background:

Meniscal tears are common in the young, active population. In this group of patients, repair is advised when possible. While inside-out repair remains the standard technique, recent advances in all-inside repair devices have led to a growth in their popularity. Previous reviews on the topic have focused on outdated implants of limited clinical relevance.

Purpose:

To determine the difference in failure rates, functional outcomes, and complications between inside-out and modern all-inside repairs.

Study Design:

Systematic review.

Methods:

A systematic review was registered with PROSPERO and performed following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines using the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. Inclusion criteria were (1) clinical study reporting on all-inside or inside-out repair, (2) evidence levels 1 to 4, and (3) use of modern all-inside implants for all-inside repairs. Exclusion criteria were (1) use of meniscal arrows or screws and (2) concomitant surgical procedures. Study characteristics, subjects, surgical technique, clinical outcomes, and complications were collected and analyzed.

Results:

A total of 481 studies were screened and assessed for eligibility, which identified 27 studies for review. Studies defined clinical failure as persistent mechanical symptoms, effusion, or joint line tenderness, while anatomic failure was incomplete or no healing on MRI or second-look arthroscopy. There were no significant differences in clinical or anatomic failure rates between inside-out and all-inside repairs (clinical failure: 11% vs 10%, respectively, P = .58; anatomic failure: 13% vs 16%, respectively, P = .63). Mean ± SD Lysholm and Tegner scores for inside-out repair were 88.0 ± 3.5 and 5.3 ± 1.2, while the respective scores for all-inside repair were 90.4 ± 3.7 and 6.3 ± 1.3. Complications occurred at a rate of 5.1% for inside-out repairs and 4.6% for all-inside repairs.

Conclusion:

The quality of the evidence comparing inside-out and all-inside meniscal repair remains low, with a majority of the literature being evidence level 4 studies. In this review comparing modern all-inside devices with inside-out repair, no differences were seen in failure rates, functional outcome scores, or complication rates.
Lateral Acetabular Coverage Predicts the Size of the Hip Labrum
Authors: Garabekyan Tigran , Ashwell Zachary , Chadayammuri Vivek , Jesse Mary Kristen , Pascual-Garrido Cecilia , Petersen Brian , Mei-Dan Omer
Published: March 2016

Background:

Bony morphological abnormalities of the hip joint are often accompanied by adaptive soft tissue changes. These adaptive changes, if better understood and characterized, may serve to inform clinical decision making.

Purpose:

To investigate the correlation between the size of the hip labrum and lateral acetabular coverage in patients at our hip preservation clinic.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A cohort of 236 patients seen at a dedicated hip preservation service between June 2013 and June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were grouped according to the degree of acetabular coverage, as measured by the lateral center-edge angle (LCEA): normal acetabular coverage (25°-39.9°), acetabular overcoverage (≥40°), borderline dysplasia (20°-24.9°), and frank dysplasia (<20°). Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging was utilized to measure the length of the labrum at 3 locations: laterally, anteriorly, and anteroinferiorly.

Results:

Frankly dysplastic and borderline dysplastic hips exhibited larger values of labral length at all locations when compared with hips with normal acetabular coverage ( P < .001) or acetabular overcoverage ( P < .001). Interestingly, mean labral length values in frank dysplasia were statistically similar to corresponding measurements in borderline dysplasia. In hips with frank dysplasia, borderline dysplasia, or normal acetabular coverage, labral length was consistently greatest at the lateral labrum and correspondingly lowest at the anteroinferior labrum ( P < .001). In hips with acetabular overcoverage, labral length did not vary significantly between the lateral, anterior, and anteroinferior locations. Multivariate analyses confirmed LCEA to be the strongest predictor of labral length, irrespective of measurement location.

Conclusion:

Patients with borderline dysplasia and frank dysplasia exhibited increased values of labral length in the weightbearing zone, potentially indicating a compensatory reaction to the lack of bony coverage. Labral length may serve as an instability marker and inform clinical decision making for patients with borderline dysplasia.
Static and vibration properties of randomly oriented shape memory alloy short wires reinforced epoxy resin
Authors: Khalili Seyyed Mohammad Reza , Saeedi Ali
Published: March 2016

The static and vibrational properties of randomly oriented shape memory alloy short wires reinforced epoxy resin are determined considering the interface effect between shape memory alloy wires and the resin. First, experimental pull-out test is utilized to obtain the interfacial shear strength between the reinforcement and the matrix. Then, using the finite element simulation, the elastic modulus of the equivalent fiber is determined. Micromechanics model based on Eshelby’s equivalent inclusion and Halpin-Tsai method is used to predict the elastic modulus of shape memory alloy/epoxy composites theoretically. Experimental tensile tests in the present work beside the reported vibration results in the literature are used in order to validate the accuracy of the model. The results showed that ignoring the interface effect in modeling the behavior of shape memory alloy/epoxy composites causes significant errors, especially in high-volume fraction of the shape memory alloy wires. Moreover, the critical aspect ratio of the shape memory alloy wires is obtained as a function of temperature. The critical values for the aspect ratio are about 30, 40 and 42 for 50℃, 25℃ and 0℃, respectively.
Copper and cobalt recovery from pyrite ashes of a sulphuric acid plant
Authors: Erust Ceren , Akcil Ata
Published: March 2016

The pyrite ashes formed as waste material during the calcination of concentrated pyrite ore used for producing sulphuric acid not only has a high iron content but also contains economically valuable metals. These wastes, which are currently landfilled or dumped into the sea, cause serious land and environmental pollution problems owing to the release of acids and toxic substances. In this study, physical (sulphation roasting) and hydrometallurgical methods were evaluated for their efficacy to recover non-iron metals with a high content in the pyrite ashes and to prevent pollution thereby. The preliminary enrichment tests performed via sulphation roasting were conducted at different roasting temperatures and with different acid amounts. The leaching tests investigated the impact of the variables, including different solvents, acid concentrations and leach temperatures on the copper and cobalt leaching efficiency. The experimental studies indicated that the pre-enrichment via sulphation roasting method has an effect on the leaching efficiencies of copper and cobalt, and that approximate recoveries of 80% copper and 70% cobalt were achieved in the H2O2-added H2SO4 leaching tests.
Are Buzzed Drivers Really the Problem: A Quasi-Experimental Multilevel Assessment of the Involvement of Drivers With Low Blood Alcohol Levels in Fatal Crashes
Authors: Stringer Richard J.
Published: March 2016

Controversy over drivers with low blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) have become a highly salient issue since the proposal to reduce the per se BAC limit to .05 for driving under the influence (DUI) convictions. However, little traffic safety, and no criminological research, has examined this phenomenon. This study fills a deficiency in the literature by utilizing quasi-experimental propensity score matching techniques in combination with multilevel modeling to examine the extent of involvement of low BAC drivers in fatal crashes. The results indicate that low BAC drivers are only involved in a very small portion of crashes and are not at fault in many. In addition, although drivers with low BAC have an increased odds of responsibility for a crash than drivers with no BAC, this increase is much lower than other factors such as age, speed, distractions, drug use, and high BAC. This study discusses the implications of focusing resources on drivers that are not considerable contributors to crashes, such as a predicted increase in arrests.
Choreographing the Performer–Audience Interaction
Authors: Pehkonen Samu
Published: March 2016

The article introduces the concept of choreography, defined as situationally enacted participation and action framework that provides sequential structure for social interaction, for studying performer–audience interaction during musical performances. Performers develop a preferred type of interaction during a repeated series of concerts. Audiences become absorbed in the choreography through participation in the concerts and the circulation of the Internet videos from earlier concerts. As the audience learns to expect certain actions from the side of the performers, improvisation is required from the performers in order for the choreography to be successful. Attention is paid to the methods the performers use to produce “watchables” and to manage the audience responses. The spatial, temporal, and gestural elements of this enacted choreography are analyzed sequentially using conversation analysis. The longitudinal data is composed of YouTube concert videos of Kings of Convenience performing a song, “I’d Rather Dance with You.”
“I Believe We Are the Fewer, the Prouder”: Women’s Agency in Meaning-Making after Military Sexual Assault
Authors: Hannagan Rebecca J.
Published: March 2016

This article draws on ethnographic evidence and argues for the theoretical significance of that evidence regarding concepts of personal agency vis-à-vis rhetorics of victimhood. The problem discussed in this article is that a dominant discourse that positions women primarily or exclusively as victims in response to their experience of sexual assault not only works to re-victimize women but imposes unnecessary boundaries on the meaning of these experiences for the women involved. Instead of privileging the dominant discourse, this article seeks to privilege the voices of women who have experienced sexual assault. How women make sense of their experiences and themselves is constituted by their discourses. Among the many ways women choose to make sense of their experience and (re)construct the self is by drawing on the alternative available discourses including their military values and identity.
Layout design optimization of a space propulsion system using hybrid optimization algorithm
Authors: Shafaee Maziar , Mohammadzadeh Parviz , Elkaie Abbas , Abbasi Saied
Published: March 2016

The layout design problem of a propulsion system is complex and time-consuming process. This is mainly due to geometrical and performance constraints and system requirements. In addition, layout design optimization of a space propulsion system is non-linear, non-convex, and multimodal, which makes it difficult to implement conventional optimization methods to this class of design problems. This paper presents a hybrid optimization algorithm using genetic algorithm and sequential quadratic programming for optimal layout design of a space propulsion system. Previous research works mainly focused on the layout design components with constant parts. However, the approach adopted in this paper involves both variable mass component and hybrid optimization algorithm (GA-SQP) of a space propulsion system. The proposed hybrid optimization algorithm explores globally the design search space to locate the most promising region using genetic algorithm, whereas gradient-based sequential quadratic programming algorithm is used to reduce the computational time with a high degree of accuracy. The results obtained show that the proposed method provides an effective way of solving layout design optimization problem using both variable mass components method and a hybrid optimization for optimal layout design of a space propulsion system.
Novel effect of Daflon and low-dose γ-radiation in modulation of thioacetamide-induced hepatic encephalopathy in male albino rats
Authors: Abdel-Rafei MKh , Amin MM , Hasan HF
Published: March 2016

This study was designed to evaluate the hepato and neuroprotective activity of Daflon and low-dose γ radiation on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver damage and hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in rats. Effect of daily Daflon treatment (100 mg/kg body weight, Per OS (p.o.) for consecutive 3 days) and/or fractionated low-dose γ-radiation (LDR; 0.25 Gy, twice the total dose of 0.5 Gy at the 1st and 3rd day, respectively) was evaluated against TAA (300 mg/kg, intraperitoneal × 3) induced liver damage and HE in rats. Serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, γ-glutamyltransferase, total bilirubin, ammonia, and manganese were estimated to evaluate liver function. In addition, malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were determined to assess antioxidant capacity in liver tissue. Moreover, hepatic apoptotic markers (cysteine-dependent aspartate-directed proteases 3, 8 (caspase-3, 8) and cytochrome C) were estimated to indicate hepatic apoptosis. HE was evaluated through the determination of whole brain ammonia, manganese, MDA, GSH, GPX, SOD, CAT, and caspase-3. The cognitive and locomotor deficits were assessed via step through passive avoidance test, activity cage (actophotometer), γ-aminobutyric acid, and N-methyl-d-aspartate/adenosine triphosphate–neuronal nitric oxide synthase/nitric oxide–cyclic guanosine monophosphate axis in rats’ cerebella and hippocampi. The involvement of hypoxia inducible factor-1α, aquaporine-4, and matrix metalloproteinase 9 in association with the brain water content (%) in the whole brain as an index for brain edema was also evaluated. The obtained results showed a marked amelioration of the aforementioned biochemical parameters and behavioral tasks which is supported by histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. It could be concluded that Daflon and LDR afforded hepatoprotection and neuroprotection against TAA-induced acute liver damage and HE.
Confidence interval of difference of proportions in logistic regression in presence of covariates
Authors: Reeve Russell
Published: March 2016

Comparison of treatment differences in incidence rates is an important objective of many clinical trials. However, often the proportion is affected by covariates, and the adjustment of the predicted proportion is made using logistic regression. It is desirable to estimate the treatment differences in proportions adjusting for the covariates, similarly to the comparison of adjusted means in analysis of variance. Because of the correlation between the point estimates in the different treatment groups, the standard methods for constructing confidence intervals are inadequate. The problem is more difficult in the binary case, as the comparison is not uniquely defined, and the sampling distribution more difficult to analyze. Four procedures for analyzing the data are presented, which expand upon existing methods and generalize the link function. It is shown that, among the four methods studied, the resampling method based on the exact distribution function yields a coverage rate closest to the nominal.
Phase I/II dose-finding design for molecularly targeted agent: Plateau determination using adaptive randomization
Authors: Riviere Marie-Karelle , Yuan Ying , Jourdan Jacques-Henri , Dubois Frédéric , Zohar Sarah
Published: March 2016

Conventionally, phase I dose-finding trials aim to determine the maximum tolerated dose of a new drug under the assumption that both toxicity and efficacy monotonically increase with the dose. This paradigm, however, is not suitable for some molecularly targeted agents, such as monoclonal antibodies, for which efficacy often increases initially with the dose and then plateaus. For molecularly targeted agents, the goal is to find the optimal dose, defined as the lowest safe dose that achieves the highest efficacy. We develop a Bayesian phase I/II dose-finding design to find the optimal dose. We employ a logistic model with a plateau parameter to capture the increasing-then-plateau feature of the dose–efficacy relationship. We take the weighted likelihood approach to accommodate for the case where efficacy is possibly late-onset. Based on observed data, we continuously update the posterior estimates of toxicity and efficacy probabilities and adaptively assign patients to the optimal dose. The simulation studies show that the proposed design has good operating characteristics. This method is going to be applied in more than two phase I clinical trials as no other method is available for this specific setting. We also provide an R package dfmta that can be downloaded from CRAN website.
Sample size determinations for stepped-wedge clinical trials from a three-level data hierarchy perspective
Authors: Heo Moonseong , Kim Namhee , Rinke Michael L , Wylie-Rosett Judith
Published: March 2016

Stepped-wedge (SW) designs have been steadily implemented in a variety of trials. A SW design typically assumes a three-level hierarchical data structure where participants are nested within times or periods which are in turn nested within clusters. Therefore, statistical models for analysis of SW trial data need to consider two correlations, the first and second level correlations. Existing power functions and sample size determination formulas had been derived based on statistical models for two-level data structures. Consequently, the second-level correlation has not been incorporated in conventional power analyses. In this paper, we derived a closed-form explicit power function based on a statistical model for three-level continuous outcome data. The power function is based on a pooled overall estimate of stratified cluster-specific estimates of an intervention effect. The sampling distribution of the pooled estimate is derived by applying a fixed-effect meta-analytic approach. Simulation studies verified that the derived power function is unbiased and can be applicable to varying number of participants per period per cluster. In addition, when data structures are assumed to have two levels, we compare three types of power functions by conducting additional simulation studies under a two-level statistical model. In this case, the power function based on a sampling distribution of a marginal, as opposed to pooled, estimate of the intervention effect performed the best. Extensions of power functions to binary outcomes are also suggested.
Blessing or Curse
Authors: Ahmed Junaid , Martinez-Zarzoso Inmaculada
Published: March 2016

Flows of remittances to Pakistan are being increasingly viewed as a relatively attractive source of external finance, which can help to foster development and manage economic shocks. Remittances have become a major source of revenue, surpassing the volume of foreign direct investment (FDI) and official development assistance (ODA) that the country receives. This study focuses primarily on the stability, cyclicality and stabilization impacts of remittances to Pakistan. It is evident that foreign flows exhibit different types of volatility; remittances are found to be a less volatile source of external finance than FDI and ODA; they are also found to be counter-cyclical and stabilizing, thus serving to stabilize the recipient economy in times of economic downturns. ODA appears to be a-cyclical and stabilizing, whereas FDI emerges as pro-cyclical and destabilizing. Furthermore, remittances are insensitive to cyclical fluctuations in the sending countries. We also consider a structural vector autoregressive (SVAR)-based identification in order to examine the responses of financial flows to innovation in receiving and sending economies. We confirm the counter-cyclical mechanism of remittances with respect to Pakistani output. In particular, our results indicate that remittance flows to Pakistan are mainly explained by the economic conditions in the country.
Improving Completion Rates in Adult Education Through Social Responsibility
Authors: Wahlgren Bjarne , Mariager-Anderson Kristina
Published: March 2016

Dropout is a serious problem within education. This article reports on an intervention project, titled “New Roles for the Teacher—Increased Completion Rates Through Social Responsibility,” which sought to reduce nonattendance and drop-out rates in the Danish adult educational system by improving teachers’ competences. This goal was pursued by engaging teachers in training programs aimed at improving their relational competences. The data showed that these focused training programs have an effect on the educational culture at the colleges and on the teachers’ attitudes toward the importance of reducing drop-out rates. As a consequence, the teachers acted more consistently and purposefully to prevent dropout, and a positive effect of the intervention on drop-out rates was documented.
Collaboration With Community Mental Health Service Providers
Authors: Villarreal Victor , Castro-Villarreal Felicia
Published: March 2016

Schools have played an increasingly central role in providing mental health services to youth, but there are limitations to the services that are available through school-based mental health professionals. Thus, collaboration with non-school-based community mental health providers is oftentimes necessary. As collaboration can address limitations of school-based services and enhance and complement school-based services, it has been identified as best practice in comprehensive mental health service delivery. This collaboration column provides a brief review that highlights the critical opportunities for collaboration between school- and non-school-based professionals. Potential barriers to effective collaboration are also discussed, and strategies are introduced to overcome these barriers in order to provide effective and complementary mental health services to students in need.
Using Learning Labs for Culturally Responsive Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
Authors: Bal Aydin , Schrader Elizabeth M. , Afacan Kemal , Mawene Dian
Published: March 2016

Culturally responsive positive behavioral interventions and supports (CRPBIS) is a statewide research project designed to renovate behavioral support systems to become more inclusive, adaptive, and supportive for all. The CRPBIS methodology, called learning lab, provides a research-based process to bring together local stakeholders and facilitates their authentic participation in problem solving. Learning lab addresses the outcome disparities for youth from culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds and strategically includes CLD families and students and representatives from community-based organizations. Learning labs were found to successfully create and sustain productive partnerships among local stakeholders that renovated their school discipline systems. The purpose of this article is to provide specific guidelines and key considerations for practitioners on how to implement learning labs to facilitate authentic and productive family–school–community collaboration and systemic transformation in schools.
Science in Culture
Authors: Sardo Ana Margarida , Grand Ann
Published: March 2016

In this commentary, we explore the factors that contributed to festival goers’ choice to attend science-based events at a summer cultural festival. We evaluated the impact of such events on the audiences: their levels of engagement, reasons for participation, and their views on and reactions to the events. Presented with a variety of cultural events, attendances at science-based events were strong, with high levels of enjoyment and engagement with scientists and other speakers. Moreover, audiences saw science not as something distinct from “cultural” events but as just another option: Science was culture.
Practical Considerations for the Use of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Stacy Zachary , Richter Sara
Published: March 2016

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a significant risk factor for stroke and peripheral thromboembolic events (TEs). Preventing blood clots in the heart to reduce stroke and TE risk is a key goal of AF therapy. Traditional stroke risk assessment tools for patients with nonvalvular AF include the CHADS2 and CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc scores, while long-term outcome data with the newer direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are emerging. The goals of this review were to assess traditional therapies and existing treatment guidelines and to discuss key pharmacologic properties of the DOACS, noting how these may benefit at-risk patients with AF. This narrative review was developed on the basis of the authors’ clinical knowledge, extensive reading of the literature, and broad pharmacy experience in the management of patients with AF. Limitations of oral vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) include slow onset of action, the need for regular monitoring of their anticoagulation effect, significant food and drug interactions, and unpredictable dose–response properties. Key clinical trial data led to the approvals of apixaban, dabigatran etexilate, edoxaban, and rivaroxaban in the United States to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular AF. With predictable pharmacologic properties and limited drug and/or dietary interactions, the DOACs offer several benefits over traditional oral anticoagulation therapy with VKA. However, they have limitations, including the absence of immediate reversal agents and limited options for monitoring their anticoagulation effects in clinical practice. As experience with the use of DOACs grows, optimized treatment regimens and improved patient care are expected.
Technical Adequacy of the SWPBIS Tiered Fidelity Inventory
Authors: McIntosh Kent , Massar Michelle M. , Algozzine Robert F. , George Heather Peshak , Horner Robert H. , Lewis Timothy J. , Swain-Bradway Jessica
Published: March 2016

Full and durable implementation of school-based interventions is supported by regular evaluation of fidelity of implementation. Multiple assessments have been developed to evaluate the extent to which schools are applying the core features of school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (SWPBIS). The SWPBIS Tiered Fidelity Inventory (TFI) was developed to be used as an initial assessment to determine the extent to which a school is using (or needs) SWPBIS, a measure of SWPBIS fidelity of implementation at all three tiers of support, and a tool to guide action planning for further implementation efforts. In this research, we evaluated the psychometric properties of the TFI in three studies: a content validity study, a usability and reliability study, and a large-scale validation study. Results showed strong construct validity for assessing fidelity at all three tiers, strong interrater and 2-week test–retest reliability, high usability for action planning, and strong relations with existing SWPBIS fidelity measures. Implications for accurate evaluation planning are discussed.
Ethnicity and prevalence of multiple sclerosis in east London
Authors: Albor Christo , du Sautoy Timothy , Kali Vanan Narmadha , Turner Benjamin P , Boomla Kambiz , Schmierer Klaus
Published: March 2016

Background:

Incidence and prevalence rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) are generally higher in White populations than in other ethnic groups. Relevant studies in the United Kingdom were conducted over 30 years ago.

Objectives:

To provide updated ethnicity-specific MS prevalence rates in the United Kingdom.

Methods:

Electronic records from general practices (GPs) in four east London boroughs were queried for the number of people diagnosed with MS, grouped by ethnicity, into 5-year age bands. Compared against total registered GP patients in the area (c. 900,000), the age-standardised MS prevalence was calculated by ethnic group.

Results:

The overall age-standardised prevalence of MS was 111 per 100,000 (152 for women and 70 for men), and 180, 74 and 29 for the White, Black and South Asian populations, respectively. The sex ratios (female:male) were 2.2:1, 2.1:1 and 2.8:1, respectively.

Conclusion:

MS prevalence was considerably lower among Black and South Asian populations, compared to the White population, by 59% and 84%, respectively. However, compared to available data in Africa and South Asia, MS is several times more prevalent among Black people and South Asians living in the United Kingdom than their territorial ancestry.
Has the participation of older employees in the workforce increased? Study of the total Swedish population regarding exit from working life
Authors: Nilsson Kerstin , Östergren Per-Olof , Kadefors Roland , Albin Maria
Published: March 2016

Aims: This study investigated: (i) the workforce participation in Sweden among older employees before and after changes in eligibility for sickness absence and unemployment compensation by a social insurance reform; and (ii) absence and early exit mechanisms from the workforce for different professions by looking at sickness benefits, disability pension and unemployment, early statutory pension, employment pension and unregistered economic supply. Methods: A register-based follow-up study of the total Swedish workforce population of 55–64-year-olds, measured in 2004 and 2011. Results: The total proportion of individuals aged 55–64 in the workforce increased between 2004 and 2011, but the increase was mostly in professions with lower educational requirements, a lower salary and dominated by women. Both in 2004 and in 2011, men in professions with higher educational requirements more often exit working life with an early statutory pension and employment pension. In contrast, professions with lower educational requirements more often absence working life with sickness benefits, disability pension and unemployment compensation than other professions in both 2004 and 2011. Conclusions: The change in regulations seems to have contributed to an overall shrinking proportion of individuals within the sickness benefit and disability pension schemes. At the same time the proportion of individuals taking an early pension has increased. The results indicated a tendency of passing on the costs of labour-market exit within different economic compensation arrangements, as well as to the individuals themselves; for example, less sickness benefit, disability pension, but more statutory pension and employment pension earlier.
Sustainable marriages? Divorce patterns of binational couples in Europe versus North America
Authors: Irastorza Nahikari
Published: March 2016

This paper analyses the marital dissolution of binational couples (i.e. couples comprised of immigrants and natives) in countries with traditionally distinct integration models: Canada, the United States and France. Previous studies appeal to cultural differences to explain the higher divorce rates of binational couples but they omit the potential effect of migration or that of environmental factors such as immigration policies and attitudes towards migration and intermarriage. In order to test a model that includes all these factors, an identical online survey was conducted in the cited countries. The concepts ‘binational couples’ and ‘culture’ were disentangled into specific types of couples and variables. While being involved in a binational marriage was not found to be a significant predictor of divorce, being involved in one where both partners are foreign born decreases the risk of divorce. Religion, family values and families’ perception of a relationship are also significantly related to marital stability.
Comparing student self-assessment to individualized instructor feedback
Authors: Gibbs Jennifer C , Taylor Jim D
Published: March 2016

The literature confirms the commonsense belief that feedback promotes learning. However, personalized feedback, especially in an online environment, can be exceedingly time-consuming for the instructor and may not improve student learning. To test this, a non-random sample of students in three sections of an online statistics course received individualized feedback on weekly homework assignments that were graded solely on completion as pass/fail; students in another three sections of the course were responsible to assess their own homework (but not other projects or examinations) via posted answer keys. A total of 47 students voluntarily completed objective questions testing their knowledge of the subject matter at the end of the course. Overall, there was no difference in learning between the two groups, nor were there any differences in student satisfaction of the course or the instructor. Caveats and implications are discussed.
Being different and being the same: Multimodal image projection strategies for a legitimate distinctive identity
Authors: Zamparini Alessandra , Lurati Francesco
Published: March 2016

This article examines how organizations claim legitimate distinctive identities in competitive groups by projecting multimodal—that is, visual and verbal—images. Through a qualitative empirical exploration of wineries’ projected images in a regional cluster, this study identifies three projection strategies by which organizations combine collective and organizational identity markers to claim their legitimate distinctive identities. By examining legitimate distinctiveness as a multimodal discursive construct, this study advances the understanding of the link among collective and organizational identity, projected images, and legitimate distinctiveness, thereby contributing to theories of organizational positioning in established organizational categories. More broadly, this study contributes to discursive theories of legitimate distinctiveness by adding multimodal projection strategies to the array of linguistic rhetorical devices that organizations use to influence their stakeholders’ perceptions.
Pressure distribution under different types of blood pressure measurement cuffs
Authors: Naqvi Shenela , Husain Muhammad Dawood , Potluri Prasad , Mandal Parthasarathi , Lewis Philip
Published: March 2016

The principal component of any non-invasive blood pressure measurement system is an inflatable cuff. Different types of fabrics are used for inflatable cuffs construction. In this study, sphygmomanometric blood pressure measurement using inflatable cuffs was simulated in Abaqus and validated through experimental results. The purpose of the simulation is to study the effect of variation in cuff fabric geometric and mechanical properties on pressure distribution and pressure transmission during blood pressure measurement by predicting the pressure at the interface of the blood pressure cuffs and a metal cylinder. Geometric and mechanical properties of the fabrics of four different cuff types were found experimentally. Interface pressure at the cuffs and metal cylinder surface was also found experimentally using Tekscan pressure sensing system for models validation. The results of the simulation showed that the interface pressure underneath the cuffs vary with variation in geometric and mechanical properties of their fabrics. The results of the simulation were found to be in good agreement with experimental findings. This research demonstrates that the pressure distribution under the cuffs is related to the cuffs' fabric geometric and mechanical properties. This means that variation in cuffs' fabric properties could ultimately incur variations in the blood pressure values of human subjects.
Nonlinear dynamic analysis of nuclear fuels considering thermo–elastic–plastic–creep phenomena
Authors: Kwon Young-Doo , Shim Bo-Kyoung , Song Ji-Min
Published: March 2016

Recently, research on the behavior of nuclear fuel rods in accident situations was performed. The research conducted was very sophisticated and involved complex tasks related to thermal, elastic, plastic, and creep phenomena. Previously, a nonlinear iterative static analysis for the behavior of a nuclear fuel rod was performed taking into consideration the thermal, elastic, plastic, and creep effects. However, the analysis cannot be applied to an unstable situation such as a bulging phenomenon of a nuclear fuel rod when a loss of coolant accident occurs. In this study, a nonlinear iterative dynamic analysis is performed considering large strain and thermo-mechanical effects, and the results of this dynamic analysis were obtained. The analysis is similar to those of static analysis; however, it differs from the static analysis after loss of coolant accident because of the inertia term of the dynamic equation.
It’s Not So Easy to Make Resilience Go Away
Authors: Galatzer-Levy Isaac R. , Bonanno George A.
Published: March 2016

A large number of studies have identified trajectories of adjustment following acute and aversive life events. In these studies, a stable trajectory of positive health or resilience is almost always the modal outcome (Bonanno, 2004; Bonanno et al., 2011). Infurna and Luthar (2016, this issue) reported that they replicated findings from two early studies in which trajectories of subjective well-being were identified before and after divorce, widowhood, and unemployment (Galatzer-Levy, Bonanno, & Mancini, 2010; Mancini, Bonanno, & Clark, 2011) and then reanalyzed these data in such a way to conclude a decrease in the prevalence of resilience. In this commentary, we discuss three serious flaws in Infurna and Luthar’s claims. First, they did not actually replicate our original analyses. They used different data, time points, and parameters. Second, the model specifications in their reanalyses were not optimal because they increased variance, reduced variability in response to the stressor, and had lower entropy, indicating that their models more poorly captured unique patterns of response. Third, their reanalyses were theoretically uninformative as they minimized both group differences and overall responses to the stressor event and thus failed to identify widely acknowledged populations, such as chronic stress reactivity.
A Closer Look at Social Psychologists’ Silver Bullet
Authors: Bless Herbert , Burger Axel M.
Published: March 2016

The main advantage of experimental research lies in the possibility of systematically investigating the causal relation between the variables of interest. The well-known advantages result from (a) the possibility to manipulate the independent variable, (b) random assignment of participants to the experimental conditions, and (c) the experimenter’s control over the operationalization of the variables and the general experimental setting. We argue that it is exactly these elements that constitute core advantages of experimental research but that are—at the same time—associated with side effects, which are often out of focus when researchers derive theoretical conclusions from their experimental findings. We discuss potential restrictions linked to these core elements of experimental research. Implications for both theory development and research design are discussed.
Prognostic performance of critical care scores in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation
Authors: Georgiadou Panagiota , Analitis Antonis , Sbarouni Eftihia , Voudris Vassilis
Published: March 2016

Background

Critical care management of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a major determinant of their outcome.

Aims

The aim of this study was to compare the prognostic performance of four general scoring systems [Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE), Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), and MultiOrgan Dysfunction (MOD) scores] in TAVI patients.

Methods

Between 1 June 2008 and 30 June 2014, 75 patients (81.2 ± 6.4 years old, 36 men and 39 women) who underwent TAVI were scored during the first 24 h of their stay at the intensive care unit (ICU). The outcome measures were in-hospital and 30-day mortality and in-hospital and 30-day morbidity defined as myocardial infarction, implantation of permanent pacemaker, stroke, tamponade, major bleeding, vascular access site complications and prolonged ventilation.

Results

Four patients (5.3%) died in ICU and one more during follow-up, indicating a 30-day mortality rate of 6.6%. Regarding in-hospital mortality, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.92 for SAPS II, 0.88 for APACHE II, 0.73 for MODS and 0.74 for SOFA. Regarding 30 day-mortality, SAPS II and APACHE II performed equally higher (AUC = 0.88) than the other two scores (0.79 for MODS and 0.80 for SOFA). SAPS II had the best calibration among all four scores for in-hospital and 30-day mortality ( χ2 = 3.06 and χ2 = 3.29, respectively). AUCs for in-hospital and 30-day morbidity were above 0.7 for SAPS II and APACHE II.

Conclusions

SAPS II and APACHE II are reliable mortality and morbidity risk stratification models for TAVI patients with high calibration and discrimination.