bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drug Use and Abuse as Primary Motivators for Involvement in Burglary
Authors: Kuhns Joseph B. , Blevins Kristie R. , Bolin Riane M. , Cambareri Josie F.
Published: January 2017

This study explores substance use as a primary motivator of persistent involvement in burglary among male and female burglars. A self-administered survey instrument was disseminated to a random sample of male and female incarcerated burglars across 12 minimum, medium, and maximum security correctional institutions in three states. A total of 422 inmates completed the survey, 147 of whom were persistent female burglars. Female burglars reported more prior and recent drug use preceding the arrest that resulted in their imprisonment, and female involvement in burglary was primarily motivated by drug use. Early involvement in burglary was a predictor of extent of burglary involvement for women and burglary arrests for men. Female burglars may actually be more involved in substance use than male burglars but are not arrested as often. Efforts to reduce burglary should emphasize substance abuse treatment for both male and female offenders, although the type of treatment should differ.
The Effects of Writing Anxiety and Motivation on EFL College Students’ Self-Evaluative Judgments of Corrective Feedback
Authors: Tsao Jui-Jung , Tseng Wen-Ta , Wang Chaochang
Published: January 2017

Feedback is regarded as a way to foster students’ motivation and to ensure linguistic accuracy. However, mixed findings are reported in the research on written corrective feedback because of its multifaceted nature and its correlations with learners’ individual differences. It is necessary, therefore, to conduct further research on corrective feedback from the student’s perspective and to examine how individual differences in terms of factors such as writing anxiety and motivation predict learners’ self-evaluative judgments of both teacher-corrected and peer-corrected feedback. For this study, 158 Taiwanese college sophomores participated in a survey that comprised three questionnaires. Results demonstrated that intrinsic motivation and different types of writing anxiety predicted English as foreign language learners’ evaluative judgments of teacher and peer feedback. The findings have implications for English-writing instruction.
Restaurant Supervisor Safety Training: Evaluating a Small Business Training Intervention
Authors: Bush Diane , Paleo Lyn , Baker Robin , Dewey Robin , Toktogonova Nurgul , Cornelio Deogracia
Published: January 2017

Objective.

We developed and assessed a program designed to help small business owners/managers conduct short training sessions with their employees, involve employees in identifying and addressing workplace hazards, and make workplace changes (including physical and work practice changes) to improve workplace safety.

Methods.

During 2006, in partnership with a major workers' compensation insurance carrier and a restaurant trade association, university-based trainers conducted workshops for more than 200 restaurant and food service owners/managers. Workshop participants completed posttests to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and intentions to implement health and safety changes. On-site follow-up interviews with 10 participants were conducted three to six months after the training to assess the extent to which program components were used and worksite changes were made.

Results.

Post-training assessments demonstrated that attendees increased their understanding and commitment to health and safety, and felt prepared to provide health and safety training to their employees. Follow-up interviews indicated that participants incorporated core program concepts into their training and supervision practices. Participants conducted training, discussed workplace hazards and solutions with employees, and made changes in the workplace and work practices to improve workers' health and safety.

Conclusions.

This program demonstrated that owners of small businesses can adopt a philosophy of employee involvement in their health and safety programs if provided with simple, easy-to-use materials and a training demonstration. Attending a workshop where they can interact with other owners/managers of small restaurants was also a key to the program's success.
Enhancing Emergency Preparedness and Response Systems: Correlates of Collaboration between Local Health Departments and School Districts
Authors: Shoaf Kimberley I. , Kelley Melissa M. , O'Keefe Kaitlin , Arrington Katharine D. , Prelip Michael L.
Published: January 2017

Objective.

Collaboration between existing components of the public health system is important for protecting public health and promoting community resilience. We describe the factors that promote collaborative emergency preparedness and response activities between local health departments (LHDs) and school systems.

Methods.

We gathered data from a multistage, stratified random sample of 750 LHDs nationwide. Utilizing a mailed invitation, we recruited respondents to participate in an online questionnaire. We calculated descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results.

The majority of LHDs collaborated with school systems for emergency preparedness and response activities and most indicated they were likely to collaborate in the future. Characteristics of the jurisdiction, general experience and perceptions of collaboration, and characteristics of the preparedness collaboration itself predicted future collaboration.

Conclusion.

Our results help us understand the nature of collaborations between LHDs and school systems on emergency preparedness and response activities, which can be used to identify priority areas for developing successful and sustainable joint efforts in the future. By focusing on the perceived value of collaboration and building on existing non-preparedness partnering, communities can increase the likelihood of ongoing successful LHD-school system emergency preparedness collaborations.
Disadvantaged youth report less negative emotion to minor stressors when with peers
Authors: Uink Bep Norma , Modecki Kathryn Lynn , Barber Bonnie L.
Published: January 2017

Previous Experience Sampling Method (ESM) studies demonstrate that adolescents’ daily emotional states are heavily influenced by their immediate social context. However, despite adolescence being a risk period for exposure to daily stressors, research has yet to examine the influence of peers on adolescents’ emotional responses to stressors encountered in their daily life. Adolescents ( N = 108) from a low-SES school completed ESM reports of their social context, minor stressors and emotions, 5 times a day for 7 days. Based on previous findings that the peer context is experienced as positive and rewarding, we expected being with peers would be associated with lower post-stress negative emotions and higher happiness, compared to being with family or alone. As expected, being with peers after a stressor was associated with lower sadness, worry and jealousy compared to being alone, and lower sadness compared to being with family. Gender differences emerged for the influence of peers on sadness, worry, jealousy and happiness. These findings highlight the salient influence of peers on adolescents’ emotional reactivity to stressors as they occur in their natural environment. Findings are discussed in reference to peers as important emotion socialization agents during adolescence and in terms of theories of coping and emotion regulation.
Planning for information systems integration: some key challenges
Authors: Mcgrath G.M. , Dampney C.N.G. , More E.
Published: January 2017

Over the last few decades, technological advances in computer and telecommunications technologies have promised much to organisations. Yet it is clear that, in practice, the reality generally seems to have fallen well short of the ideal. Organisations seeking strategic advantage from their information systems frequently undertake a Strategic Information Systems Planning (SISP) exercise as an initial step. However, despite the substantial increase in SISP activity over the last decade, it would appear that most strategies have not been successfully implemented. In this paper, some important recent research in support of this contention is summarised, and key problems in SISP implementation are identified. It is argued that: (i) the objective of data and systems integration is a distinguishing characteristic of SISP work; (ii) such integration may cause major changes to the balance of organisational power; (iii) SISP implementation is unlikely to be successful unless political turbulence caused by potential power losses is adequately addressed; and (iv) political turbulence may well be the single most important issue facing SISP implementors. Strategy implementation problems are illustrated through reference to a recent, major (three-year) case study of a SISP implementation in one of Australia's largest organisations. We conclude by presenting some suggestions aimed at offering a way forward out of the current malaise.
QUIMaS (Queen's University Image Management System): a museum photographic database
Authors: Philip G. , Crookes D. , Juhasz Z.
Published: January 2017

This paper reports on the construction of an interactive image management system. The system's operation is improved by image processing techniques and parallel processing technology.

Although image processing is largely a well understood problem, the technology for supporting it is still immature. Basically, it is a highly computationally intensive activity, and the purpose of our project was to address this very problem using parallel processing technology in the form of transputers. More specifically, we will describe the use of a transputer network in the development of an image database consisting of a collection of historical museum photographs.

During the first phase of the project, we developed a prototype system consisting of a small number of photographs using a simple hardware configuration. It made use of the hard disk of the PC to store the photographs and was implemented using a single transputer. During the second phase, the full hardware configuration was implemented, including the building up of the database of around 1,000 photographs. The final system consists of an IBM-compatible PC equipped with the necessary image processing and mass storage facilities (650 Mb hard disk) and linked to a network of six transputers. The user interface is provided through a serial mouse and a keyword menu. Users are able to retrieve images in three different modes: (i) a predefined keyword list, which is arranged in a hierarchical fashion to select images relating to a particular subject or geographical area; (ii) the Browse mode allows the user to display a set of up to twelve photographs in miniature ‘stub’ format at one go (this is similar to the turning of the pages of an album). Individual items can then be selected and displayed in full size, if necessary; (iii) if the museum reference number is known, the user can type in the number to retrieve the relevant item.

Section 1 will provide a brief review of the background to the project and the use of transputer technology in image processing. The selection and documentation of the photographs are described in Section 2. Section 3 describes the hardware and software configuration of the single-transputer-based prototype, and the full image database system implemented on a network of transputers.

The organisation of the database, both textual and image data, is explained in Section 4. This is followed by a description of the processing techniques for image enhancement and compression, and a discussion of the results of both compression and decompression processes. The final section will discuss the menu-based, mouse-driven user interface, including the various search facilities and display modes used to view images from the database.
The human approach to information science and management: the framework and prospects underlying the new Danish MSc programme
Authors: Ingwersen Peter
Published: January 2017

This paper analyses the conceptual background of the two-year MSc programme in Information Science and Management offered by the Royal School of Librarianship, Denmark, on top of the traditional four-year course in Librarianship. The present state of library and information science (LIS) education is briefly analysed. Within this context, the programme structure and contents are outlined. The conception of information science which forms the background and framework for the programme structure is analysed and discussed. This conception of LIS emphasises a more profound human-driven approach to the domains of the discipline, and views information, technology, people, and the management aspects involved from a global perspective. The anticipated epistemological consequences of the human dimension are challenged. The major experiences gained from developing the Master's programme are analysed and the current syllabus described.
The productivity of British, American and Nigerian chemists compared
Authors: Bottle Robert , Hossein Sharida , Bottle Alex , Adesanya Olubunmi
Published: January 2017

The number of publications produced by Professors and by Readers plus Senior Lecturers in the UK is compared with Professors and Associate Professors in the USA for the period of 1980–1991. No significant difference was found between the overall samples, though the UK Readers/SLs produced significantly more than the American Associate Professors. British chemists publish in a wider range of journals than the Americans, 72% of whose publications are in American journals.

The productivity of the British sample is also compared with Nigerian chemists. The Nigerians’ productivity was about a sixth of the British sample. Some evidence was found that adverse political and economic conditions had affected the Nigerians’ productivity in the period 1980–1991.
Persisting pan-institutional racism
Authors: Miller Lantz Fleming
Published: January 2017

Which types of group-typing amounts to racism? The answer seemingly has to do with deeper physical or cultural traits over which an agent has no deliberate control but which are formative of the agent. In this article, I look to the cultural or ethnic bases of division of humans into races, albeit of a specific type: a basis that sees humanity climbing in a certain, presumably improving, direction. Those ethnicities that appear not to opt for this climb are commonly presumed – if tacitly – inferior. This outlook is so common, particularly in industrial, governmental, economic-developmental, academic and other intellectual and influential, high-profile institutional settings, it is hard to descry. This article aims to bring this racism, referred to as ‘pan-institutional’ because it extends from local to national and international institutions, into fuller light. The article argues that prominent pan-institutions, including government, academia and industry, work together to propagate this racism, even while these institutions aver they are spreading benevolence to less fortunate cultures, in the cause of cultural, economic and social globalization. In this way, these pan-institutions follow precisely in step with earlier colonialism and missionarism. The article ethically assesses this covert racist pan-institutional movement, reveals the quandaries that many indigenous cultures, especially foragers, face as this movement encroaches on them, and analyses how it is best understood as a refurbishing of colonialism in the name of benevolence. The argument ends by describing how such benevolent globalization builds upon misanthropy and it analyses the moral implications and why this most covert and widespread movement is, like more visible and standard racisms, wrong-headed, unethical, fatal, misanthropist and perhaps self-hating.
Classification of Naturally Occurring Arterial Disease in the Dog
Authors: Kelly Donald F.
Published: January 2017

Evaluation of induced arterial toxicity in safety assessment of drugs involves recognition of morphologic differences between groups of animals. In this organ system, as in all others, it is necessary to be familiar with the background pathology that can occur in control animals of the test species, since such lesion “noise” may complicate the evaluation of drug-related effects if naturally occurring diseases have morphologic features in common with those that can be produced by drugs.

Background arterial lesions have been regarded as relatively unimportant in both the laboratory-maintained beagle and in the larger range of domesticated breeds of dog and few of these vascular lesions lead, per se, to functional organ compromise. At least this appears to be the case in young and middle-aged subjects, within the epidemiologic limits of data from veterinary medical centers where systematic and thorough necropsies are done and recorded. Arterial lesions are, however, not uncommon naturally occurring incidental necropsy findings in dogs; however, in most cases they are of uncertain functional significance.

This presentation summarizes the main pathologic patterns of lesions that can affect arteries in dogs that are not used in safety evaluation studies. The main patterns can be classified as degenerative, proliferative, and inflammatory, although there is some overlap between these partly arbitrary designations. In some cases, etiopathogenesis of the arterial lesion is unclear; in others, there are clear associations with disease processes in other organ systems. Congenital vascular lesions and vascular components of congenital cardiac defects are excluded from consideration since such lesions are unlikely to occur in dog populations used in the safety assessment of drugs.
Clinical Pathology in the National Toxicology Program
Authors: Thompson Morrow B.
Published: January 2017

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) developed a standard approach for clinical pathology investigations that was integrated into most toxicity studies designed and conducted after 1986. Protocols for these studies include specific hematology and clinical chemistry analyses at 3 selected time points in 13-wk studies. Requirements concerning the anesthetization of animals, collection and analysis of samples, and reporting of results have been established to control sources of variability within and between contract laboratories that perform these studies for the NTP. Laboratories must meet minimum standards to be approved for participation in the Program. Important areas of consideration for these laboratories to perform clinical pathology investigations include the facility, equipment, personnel, performance, and quality control procedures. Clinical pathology results from approximately 60 13-wk studies that have been conducted by the NTP in 7 laboratories since 1987 are being analyzed to generate a database of control values for the Fischer rat and B6C3F, mouse and to identify sources of variability. Experimental data from these studies are being analyzed and correlated with histopathologic findings to evaluate the contribution of clinical pathology to the characterization of toxicity and to examine the appropriateness of the current approach. Efforts such as these will provide for the evolution and continued relevance of clinical pathology in toxicity testing.
Regulatory Concerns of the United States Environmental Protection Agency
Authors: Fenner-Crisp Penelope
Published: January 2017

The US Environmental Protection Agency, under 2 of its legislative mandates, has the authority to require the testing of industrial and pesticide chemicals. Among the testing requirements, particularly in chronic studies, are those relating to hematology, clinical chemistry, and urinalysis. Some of these requirements will be discussed in detail. Comments on the usefulness of the current requirements and recommendations for changes will be solicited from the meeting participants.
Clinical Pathology Testing Regulatory Concerns
Authors: Kanno Jun
Published: January 2017

In toxicity testing, each animal may have to be viewed as a surrogate for millions of people and should be examined as thoroughly as a human patient. However, there are many differences between human diagnosis and animal toxicity testing. Human diagnosis is primarily based on anamnesis, symptoms, and utilization of a huge database of diseases. However, in animal toxicity testing, clinical and anatomical pathology data are usually a primary source of toxicity information, even though the positive endpoints are generally not known in advance and the number of positive toxicity endpoints may be numerous. This situation will generate at least 2 practical problems in clinical pathology testing: (1) how to preselect test items without precise knowledge of toxicity endpoints and (2) how to handle multiple data sets for toxicity detection. The latter includes issues of inflation of the overall false-positive rate and multicomparison problems. A "disease" called "significantosis" and a concept of integrated interpretation of multiple biologically related items to avoid false-positive judgments and unnecessary censoring of meaningful outlier data are briefly discussed. In general, toxicity tests are quite exploratory and the endpoints are unknown and multiple, so the procedures for data interpretation should be determined on a case-by-case basis. Construction of toxicity entity-oriented databases may be a requirement for further refinement of toxicity study interpretation.
Employee Resilience and OCB: Mediating Effects of Organizational Commitment
Authors: Paul Happy , Bamel Umesh Kumar , Garg Pooja
Published: January 2017

Executive Summary

With increased popularity of positive psychology, there is a greater emphasis on exploring positive human resource strengths to address the workplace challenges and augment organizational performance. Previous research suggests that resilience positively relates to desired employee attitudes, behaviours, and performance such as organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB). However, it would be intriguing to understand the underlying mechanism of resilience-OCB relationship. Towards this, the study examines the mediating role of organizational commitment.

In the light of identified research gaps, the study explores the mechanism of the relationship between resilience and OCB in the context of Indian organizations. The study sample comprised employees (N = 345) working in the manufacturing industries of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in India. Data were collected with the help of self-administered questionnaires through systematic random sampling. A model was developed and tested in which the effects of resilience on OCB were hypothesized to be mediated by organizational commitment. The hypotheses testing was done using hierarchical multiple regression and for testing the mediating effects, bootstrapping in SPSS was used.

The results provide empirical evidence for the positive relationship between resilience and OCB. Also, the results emphasize that resilience influence organizational commitment as well. As hypothesized, results have also supported the mediating effect of organizational commitment in the relationship between resilience and OCB, explaining the underlying mechanism of resilience-OCB relationship. The mediation is partial which means that resilience influences OCB directly as well as indirectly through organizational commitment.

The study offers significant advancements for both resilience and OCB research. The results also offer direction to organizations which desire to stimulate and maintain employee outcomes in their organizations for competitive advantage. Employee outcomes in organizations can be improved by developing resilience among its employees. Implications of promoting resilience at workplace are discussed.
Removal of Phenol from Aqueous Solution by Adsorption on to Coal Fly Ash
Authors: Alemany L.J. , Jiménez M.C. , Larrubia M.A. , Delgado F. , Blasco J.M.
Published: January 2017

The present work examines the possible use of fly ash, a byproduct of coal power stations, as a means of removing phenol from water, or equivalently, of restricting its movement in solid wastes or soil. Equilibrium experiments were performed to evaluate the removal efficiency of fly ash. The adsorption experiments were undertaken using fly ash treated at three different pH levels and with three different temperatures. The results indicate that although phenol can be removed from water, this depends markedly on the temperature and pH value of the treatment solution employed.
Modified Zeolites in Gas Chromatography for the Analysis of Air Pollutants
Authors: Banakh O.S. , Baranskyi R.I. , Rogovyk V.J. , Zybak I.M.
Published: January 2017

Based on zeolites of types X, Y and M, with and without binding clay, ion-exchange modifications containing alkali and alkaline earth cations (silver and copper) and different quantities of water have been prepared. Data obtained with these zeolites have enabled their retention volumes and selectivities towards low boiling hydrocarbons and oxide gases to be calculated.

Sharp changes were observed in these parameters when the chromatography of ethane and other gases was conducted on such zeolites with up to 10% K+, Rb+ and Cs+ cations replaced, i.e. when low replacement of exchangable cations had been effected. The same effect was encountered with CO and olefins when 0.08CuNaY zeolite was employed. An increase in temperature and the introduction of water into the system caused a decrease in the effect.

These observations have prove useful in the construction of chromatographic columns and adsorption filters for the extraction and concentration of certain pollutants.
Peculiarities Associated with the Adsorption of Alkyne Peroxides from Dimethyl Formamide/Water Solutions on to the Mercury Electrode in the Presence of Tetraethylammonium Cations
Authors: Gorbachevska K.R. , Shvarchovska N.L. , Yatsyshyn M.M. , Kovbuz M.O. , Yuvchenko A.P.
Published: January 2017

The adsorption of alkyne peroxides on to the surface of a mercury electrode from dimethyl formamide (DMFA)/water solutions in the presence of tetraethylammonium perchlorate [(C2H5)4NClO4] has been investigated by polarography and electrocapillarity techniques. It has been shown that the interfacial activity of these peroxides is determined by products arising from associative interactions both between these peroxides and DMFA and tetraethylammonium cations. Comparable estimations of the interfacial activity of various alkyne peroxides in the solutions studied have been made.
Modification of the Surface of a Substrate by Adsorbed Polymer Interlayers for the Control of Adhesion
Authors: Luzinov I. , Voronov A. , Minko S.
Published: January 2017

A good correlation between the parameters of an adsorbed polymer interlayer and the strength of an adhesive joint was observed. Such polymer interlayers were obtained beforehand by the adsorption of polyacrylates, polymethacrylates and their copolymers with acrylic and methacrylic acid from solution on to the surface of aluminium plates. Oligocarbomethacrylate was used as an adhesive. Contact angle measurements were employed for investigating the structure of the adsorbed polymer layers. It was found out that the fraction of sites screened by the polymer, the fraction of the substrate available for the adhesive and the fraction of attached segments affects the adhesion strength.
Understanding the procurement performance of local governments: A duration analysis of public works
Authors: Gori Giuseppe F , Lattarulo Patrizia , Mariani Marco
Published: January 2017

Public works often suffer from long durations and time escalations, which entail the dissatisfaction of collective needs. Using micro-level data on the works recently procured by the municipalities of a large Italian region, we analyse delay incurrence and the subsequent time-to-completion of works. For this purpose, we rely on a split-population duration model. Our findings show that appropriate levels of expertise and experience – which are often believed to be lacking in municipalities – have a role in speeding up works' executions. The lack of experience is actually an issue that requires appropriate policy remedies, in that it brings to higher delay probability and longer delay durations. The same applies to municipalities that resort to late payments in response to budget constraints.
Beyond the financial logic: Realizing valuable outcomes in public–private partnerships in Flanders and Ontario
Authors: van den Hurk Martijn , Hueskes Marlies
Published: January 2017

The value of public–private partnerships has typically been sought in financial and budgetary benefits. In both research and practice, important aspects of nonfinancial value have remained under the radar. This article discusses four “white raven” public–private partnerships that have shown rather atypical results in terms of their physical outcomes—design, contextual fit, and multifunctionality. We argue that despite the increasing role of private sector actors, public sector clients fulfill a key role in delivering value. A strong sense of ambition and vision, in combination with a solid coordination on the part of the client, helps deliver projects that go beyond mere financial perks and deliver true social value. These elements have largely been overlooked in previous research, which has often focused on financial, legal, political, and managerial capacities of government actors.
Teaching the initial stages of handwriting to children with a language handicap
Authors: Grauberg Eva
Published: January 2017

The paper suggests that the teaching of handwriting to children with a language handicap should be delayed until it can be integrated with phonic reading instruction. Prewriting exercises and alternative forms of writing should precede the instruction of handwriting. The writing of single letters and common letter clusters or short words should be taught in parallel, using print (manuscript) style for the former, and cursive style for the latter. Three different types of handwriting lessons aiming respectively at instruction, automatization and application are described.
Career management and development, where to go when you have reached the top
Authors: Laybats Claire , Chapman Darron
Published: January 2017

An interview with Darron Chapman, director at CB Resourcing, on career management and development for senior executives in the knowledge and information management sector. Darron also gives his views and experiences on the recruitment marketplace for senior executives in this sector.
Quality of life and the ICIDH: towards an integrated conceptual model for rehabilitation outcomes research
Authors: Post Marcel WM
Published: January 2017

Objective: The development of the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (ICIDH) has led to the assessment of a wider range of relevant rehabilitation outcomes, but a need for a further broadening exists. In this article, a new proposal for an extended ICIDH is made.

Method: Review of the literature on quality of life and of attempts to integrate the World Health Organization (WHO) biopsychosocial model and the ICIDH.

Results: Our review shows three operationalizations of the concept of quality of life: as health, as well-being and, preferably, as a superordinate construct. None of the attempts to integrate the WHO biopsychosocial model have been entirely successful. Our new proposal is characterized by (a) incorporation of the organ, person and social levels of the ICIDH, (b) distinction between objective and subjective aspects of quality of life as a second axis in the model, resulting in somatic sensations as the subjective part of the organ level, perceived health as the subjective part of the person level and domain- specific life satisfaction as the subjective part of the social level, and (c) separation of the concept of general well-being or happiness as being distinct from the ICIDH. The proposal model is intended to serve as a framework in which different outcomes can be positioned in relation to each other.

Conclusion: Our model is intuitively appealing and remains close to familiar concepts and models. However, it is as yet far from perfect, and we hope to provoke discussion to help further refinement.
Shared responsibility for ongoing rehabilitation: a new approach to home-based therapy after stroke
Authors: Baskett Jonathan J , Broad Joanna B , Reekie Gabrielle , Hocking Clare , Green Geoff
Published: January 2017

Objective: To assess the efficacy of a programme of continuing self-directed exercises for people discharged home after a stroke, supervised once a week by therapists.

Design: A randomized controlled trial of 100 patients discharged from hospital after a stroke, requiring ongoing therapy. The control group received outpatient or day hospital therapy; the experimental group were visited once a week by an occupational and/or physiotherapist who prescribed a programme of exercises and activities for the following week. Subjects were studied for the first three months after discharge from hospital.

Setting: A district general hospital, or the homes of subjects randomized to the experimental group, in New Zealand.

Main outcome measures: (1) Characteristics of the groups, (2) gait speed, limb function, activities of daily living, (3) time with therapists, (4) mood of both subjects and caregivers, (5) anticipation of outcome at entry, compared with perceived outcome at exit.

Results: No statistical differences between the control and experimental groups in characteristics, or in any outcomes measured, except that the contact time period, but not the number of visits, was longer in the experimental group (p = 0.003).

Conclusions: A supervised home-based programme is as effective as outpatient or day hospital therapy.
Significance of Infarct Site and Methylprednisolone on Survival Following Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Metz Craig A , Stubbs Derek F , Hearron Martha S
Published: January 2017

Eight hundred and forty-nine patients with confirmed myocardial infarction were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of the efficacy of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS, Solu-Medrol(R) Sterile Powder, The Upjohn Company) for reduction of morbidity and mortality following an acute myocardial infarction complicated by left ventricular failure. Two study groups were prospectively defined based on time from onset of chest pain to administration of investigational therapy. Study Group 1 received investigational therapy before 6 hours had elapsed while Study Group 2 was treated 6 to 12 hours from the onset of chest pain. Both study groups were randomized to receive either a 30 mg/kg i.v. dose of MPSS (3 g maximum) or a matching placebo at the time of study admission, to be followed by an identical dose three hours later. Definitive electrocardiograms were available for 814 patients at admission. The mortality rates at 28 days and 6 months for the anterior transmural and nontransmural infarctions did not differ significantly with regard to time to treatment or investigational therapy. For the inferior/posterior transmural infarctions, however, there was a 92% relative reduction in mortality at 28 days in the MPSS treatment arm of Study Group 2 (1/83 [1.2%] for patients given MPSS versus 15/97 [15.5%] for those given placebo; p<0.001). This significant difference persisted at the 6 month follow-up evaluation (3/82 [3.6%] for patients on MPSS versus 17/96 [16.6%] for those on placebo, P < 0.01). Site-specific efficacy has been reported for the anterior infarction groups of the major beta-blocker trials. The mechanism of action for the differential effect in these trials, as with the MPSS trial reported here, remains to be determined
Simple Prediction of 28-day Mortality Following an Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Stubbs Derek F
Published: January 2017

Upon admission to a drug study of 1,122 patients with myocardial infarction, twenty-seven questions relating to the patients’ cardiac status were answered by the physicians. These questions were categorized into four groups of related items of signs and symptoms. Thus four scores could be completed: degree of infarction score, cardiogenic shock score, cardiac failure score, and overall-state-of-the-patient score. The scores were all found to be highly correlated with 28-day mortality. Also, since these scores can be easily and immediately determined at the bedside, or with standard tests, they are both convenient and accurate predictors of 28-day mortality following a myocardial infarction.
Morphological Distribution of the Anterior Inferior Iliac Spine in Patients With and Without Hip Impingement: Reliability, Validity, and Relationship to the Intraoperative Assessment
Authors: Balazs George C. , Williams Benjamin C. , Knaus Christopher M. , Brooks Daniel I. , Dickens Jonathan F. , McCabe Michael P. , Anderson Terrence D.
Published: January 2017

Background:

Subspinous impingement of the anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) on the femoral head-neck junction is increasingly recognized as a source of hip impingement. A classification system of AIIS morphology has previously been proposed that correlates with reduced hip motion and may predispose patients to subspinous hip impingement.

Purpose:

To examine the morphological distribution of AIIS types in patients with and without diagnosed hip impingement and correlate AIIS morphology to intraoperative findings at the time of surgery.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Three-dimensional reconstructed pelvic computed tomography scans were generated for a stratified sample of 449 hips in patients without a history of hip pain or hip impingement and 59 hips in patients with a diagnosis of hip impingement. Three blinded assessors classified the AIIS for each hip twice. The morphological distribution between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients was compared, controlling for age, sex, and affected side. Within the symptomatic cohort, AIIS morphology was compared with the intraoperative assessment of a low-lying AIIS using the Fisher exact test.

Results:

The intraobserver reliability of the classification system in our cohort was substantial (κ = 0.68-0.77). The interobserver reliability was moderate (κ = 0.50). The morphological distribution between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients was similar, with 75% of patients in the asymptomatic group and 80% of the patients in the symptomatic group having a type 2 or type 3 AIIS. When matched for age, sex, and affected side, there was no significant difference in the assessed classification type between the groups ( P = .55). Within the symptomatic group, there was no significant correlation between the surgeon assessment of a low-lying AIIS and a type 2 or type 3 radiographic classification ( P = .10). The positive predictive value of a type 2 or type 3 AIIS classification for hip impingement symptoms was 10%, and the negative predictive value was 91%.

Conclusion:

These findings suggest that a high percentage of patients with AIIS morphology associated with subspinous impingement are, in fact, asymptomatic. The current radiographic classification scheme should not be used exclusively for clinical decision making.
Clinical and Educational Telepsychiatry Applications: A Review
Authors: Hilty Donald M , Marks Shayna L , Urness Doug , Yellowlees Peter M , Nesbitt Thomas S
Published: January 2017

Objective:

Telepsychiatry in the form of videoconferencing brings enormous opportunities for clinical care, education, research, and administration. Focusing on videoconferencing, we reviewed the telepsychiatry literature and compared telepsychiatry with services delivered in person or through other technologies.

Methods:

We conducted a comprehensive review of telepsychiatry literature from January 1, 1965, to July 31, 2003, using the terms telepsychiatry, telemedicine, videoconferencing, effectiveness, efficacy, access, outcomes, satisfaction, quality of care, education, empowerment, and costs. We selected studies for review if they discussed videoconferencing for clinical and educational applications.

Results:

Telepsychiatry is successfully used for various clinical services and educational initiatives. Telepsychiatry is feasible, increases access to care, enables specialty consultation, yields positive outcomes, allows reliable evaluation, has few negative aspects in terms of communication, generally satisfies patients and providers, facilitates education, and empowers parties using it. Data are limited with regard to clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

Conclusions:

Telepsychiatry is effective. More short- and long-term quantitative and qualitative research is warranted on clinical outcomes, predictors of satisfaction, costs, and educational outcomes.
Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Comorbid Major Depressive Episodes and Alcohol Dependence in the General Population
Authors: Wang JianLi , El-Guebaly Nady
Published: January 2017

Objectives:

To estimate the 12-month prevalence of alcohol dependence (AD) among subjects with major depressive episodes (MDEs) and the 12-month prevalence of MDEs among those with AD; to investigate the associations between demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and comorbid MDE and AD, based on established theoretical models; and to compare the rates of mental health service use between groups having high and low risk for comorbid conditions.

Methods:

We used data from the 1996–1997 Canadian National Population Health Survey. MDE and AD were measured using the World Health Organization's Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Form (CIDI-SF). We calculated the 12-month prevalence of MDEs among participants with AD and of AD among those with MDEs. The associations between demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and comorbidity were investigated.

Results:

Of participants with MDEs, 8.6% had AD; 19.6% of participants with AD reported having at least 1 MDE in the past 12 months. Being young (aged 12 to 24 years); being divorced, separated, or widowed; and having low family income level were positively associated with MDE, AD, and comorbidity. Among participants with comorbid MDE and AD, those who were aged 12 to 24 years were less likely to have used any mental health services in the past 12 months than were others.

Conclusions:

Young age, single marital status, and low family income may be potential risk factors for comorbid MDE and AD. Although AD is rare in the general population, public health interventions that target the groups identified as at risk may help to prevent MDE, AD, and comorbidity.
Detecting Women at Risk for Postnatal Depression Using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at 2 to 3 Days Postpartum
Authors: Teissèdre Frédérique , Chabrol Henri
Published: January 2017

Objective:

This study evaluates the capacity of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) implemented in the first days postpartum to detect women who will suffer from postnatal depression.

Method:

A sample of 1154 women completed the EPDS at 2 to 3 days postpartum and again at 4 to 6 weeks postpartum.

Results:

There was a highly significant positive correlation between EPDS scores on both occasions (Spearman rank correlation: r = 0.59, P < 0.0001). The cut-off scores of 10 and 11 for EPDS administered at 2 to 3 days obtained good specificity, sensitivity, and positive predictive values for the cut-off scores proposed for the diagnosis of postnatal depression at 4 to 6 weeks postpartum.

Conclusion:

The EPDS completed at 2 to 3 days postpartum is a useful means of detecting women at risk of postnatal depression.
Is Neuroleptic Dysphoria a Variant of Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Side Effects?
Authors: Voruganti Lakshmi P , Awad A George
Published: January 2017

Objectives:

Neuroleptic drugs induce psychological side effects such as dysphoria, cognitive impairment, and loss of motivation. These side effects were largely underrecognized and trivialized in the past as variants of extrapyramidal side effects (EPSEs). We review the recent literature on the subject and clarify the relation between neuroleptic-induced dysphoria and EPSEs.

Methods:

We critically examined clinical, interventional, neuroimaging, and basic science studies published in the past 10 years, delineating the temporal, phenomenological, biochemical, and neuroanatomical relation between dysphoria and EPSEs.

Results:

Subjective responses occur within 4 to 6 hours of neuroleptic use, whereas acute dystonia is often observed within 24 hours and parkinsonian syndrome after 5 to 7 days. Neuroleptic-induced dopaminergic blockade mediates both dysphoria and EPSEs. However, impaired dopamine function in the nucleus accumbens seems to give rise to dysphoria, whereas blockade of D2 receptors in the nigrostriatal system is responsible for EPSEs.

Conclusion:

The earlier notion that neuroleptic dysphoria is a variant of EPSEs was simplistic and speculative. Exploring the differences rather than dwelling on the similarities will likely enhance our understanding of dopamine's role in the origin of varied side effects and in their distinctive characteristics.
Major Depression and Mental Health Care Utilization in Canada: 1994 to 2000
Authors: Patten Scott B , Beck Cynthia A
Published: January 2017

Background:

Major depression makes an important contribution to disease burden in Canada. In principle, the burden of major depression can be reduced by the provision of treatment within the health care system. In a previous data analysis, the National Population Health Survey (NPHS) reported an increase in antidepressant (AD) use between 1994 and 1998. In this paper, the analysis is extended to 2000, and additional aspects of health care utilization are described.

Methods:

The NPHS provides a unique source of longitudinal data concerning major depression and its treatment in Canada. In this survey, probable cases of major depression were identified using a brief predictive instrument; health care utilization was evaluated using additional survey items; and the latest data release from Statistics Canada (that is, 2000) was used to make weighted estimates of the frequency of health care utilization in relation to major depression status.

Results:

The use of ADs has continued to escalate. These increases have been largest in men and in persons aged under 35 years. There has been an increase in polypharmacy: in 2000, almost 9% of persons taking an AD reported taking more than 1 AD medication—a tripling since 1994. The frequency of consultations with alternative practitioners has also grown. Although the overall proportion of persons with major depression who report consulting with health professionals about their mental health has not increased, the number of persons with major depressive disorder reporting 6 or more visits to nurses, social workers, and psychologists may have.

Conclusion:

The provision of AD treatment continues to expand in Canada. This probably represents a changing pattern of practice, because the frequency of professional consultation has not increased. More detailed data are required to evaluate the extent to which treatment needs are being met.
Experimental Affective Symptoms in Panic Disorder Patients
Authors: Overbeek Thea , Schruers Koen , van Leeuwen Ine Docters , Klaassen Tineke , Griez Eric
Published: January 2017

Objective:

To date, carbon dioxide (CO2) challenge tests in panic disorder (PD) patients have focused on anxiety as the sole outcome measure. This study assesses a broader range of symptoms in patients with PD.

Method:

We administered a gas mixture of 35% CO2 and 65% oxygen (O2) to 25 patients with PD. Nine patients met the criteria for a comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD), and 16 did not. We assessed not only subjects' symptoms of anxiety but also their symptoms of depression and aggression.

Results:

Baseline ratings did not differ across the 2 subgroups. Postchallenge ratings were higher for PD and MDD patients on all the assessed affective symptoms, except for specific panic symptoms.

Conclusion:

These findings suggest that, in addition to anxiety, CO2 challenge induces depressive and aggressive symptoms, specifically in PD patients with comorbid depression.