bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Will Human Potential Carry Us Beyond Human? A Humanistic Inquiry Into Transhumanism
Authors: Grant Amanda Sebastienne
Published: February 2019

Humanism has long celebrated the human, including those qualities that make us uniquely human, as well as the vastness of human potential. Humanistic psychology has further sought to understand what it means to be human and what conditions facilitate human flourishing and the unfolding of potential. Transhumanism, a movement advocating technologically aided human enhancements, represents a new and rapidly growing manifestation of humanistic ideals. Transhumanism identifies physical human limitations as limitations on potential and seeks to remove all such limits, understanding and often celebrating the fact that such changes could make us no longer recognizably human. Transhuman aims include technologically aided radical human enhancements in longevity, health, intelligence, emotion, morality, and more. While the implications of transhumanism are being widely debated within fields such as philosophy and religion, contributions from psychology are scarce. With its wealth of wisdom into the heart of issues around what it means to be human, humanistic psychology is particularly well-suited to exploring transhuman issues. In addition to making a case for the involvement of humanistic psychology in transhumanism, the current work explores several specific areas in which humanistic psychology may be fruitfully applied, such as issues of potential and agency.
Non-native Listeners Benefit Less from Gestures and Visible Speech than Native Listeners During Degraded Speech Comprehension
Authors: Drijvers Linda , Özyürek Asli
Published: February 2019

Native listeners benefit from both visible speech and iconic gestures to enhance degraded speech comprehension (Drijvers & Ozyürek, 2017). We tested how highly proficient non-native listeners benefit from these visual articulators compared to native listeners. We presented videos of an actress uttering a verb in clear, moderately, or severely degraded speech, while her lips were blurred, visible, or visible and accompanied by a gesture. Our results revealed that unlike native listeners, non-native listeners were less likely to benefit from the combined enhancement of visible speech and gestures, especially since the benefit from visible speech was minimal when the signal quality was not sufficient.
TheoArtistry: collaborations with Sir James MacMillan and Michael Symmons Roberts
Authors: Mayward Joel
Published: February 2019

Can the distance between the academic and the artist be overcome within the realm of theology? The TheoArtistry initiative within the Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts answers with a resounding ‘yes’ in its two collaborative projects partnering artists and theologians. This article looks at the composers’ scheme and sacred music from a broad view, then gives particular focus to the poets’ scheme and a specific collaboration between the author and the poet Maria Apichella. The article concludes with theological reflections and practical considerations regarding this theologian–artist collaborative effort.
‘The politics of things’: digital media, urban space, and the materiality of publics
Authors: Willems Wendy
Published: February 2019

Recent characterizations of publics – as expressed through concepts like ‘networked publics’, ‘hashtag publics’, ‘ad hoc publics’, ‘calculated publics’, and ‘engineered publics’ – or notions describing processes of circulation – such as ‘virality’, ‘shareability’, and ‘spreadability’ – fail to appreciate that publics are not just digitally constituted but also manifest themselves in, and are intimately connected to, physical spaces. ‘The politics of things’ refers to the way in which things, objects, infrastructures, and physical space remain crucial to political communication in a digital age as well as to the manner in which bodies, objects, and urban space become politicized and digitally remediated. Drawing on fieldwork carried out during the 2011 and 2016 Zambian elections, this article proposes a material, mobile, and spatial approach to political communication. It hereby extends the relevance of the recent material and infrastructural turn in media and communications in a political context. It examines the physical recirculation of digital content, the digital remediation of physical space, and the communicative role of bodies, objects, and the built environment. Problematizing common dualisms between ‘online’ and ‘offline’ as well as ‘public sphere’ and ‘public space’, it argues for an exploration of publicness and processes of circulation across digital and physical spaces.
Vulnerability and child sexual exploitation: Towards an approach grounded in life experiences
Authors: Brown Kate
Published: February 2019

As child sexual exploitation (CSE) has risen towards the top of the UK’s political agenda, the concept of vulnerability has become a central frame through which to understand and address the issue. This article analyses problems with the concept of vulnerability as it is commonly understood in relation to CSE, taking first steps towards developing an empirically-grounded account of the notion which is more sensitive to the lived realities of victimhood for sexually exploited young people. Drawing on data from participatory qualitative research into life stories of ‘moving on’ from CSE in a large Northern city in England, the article illustrates how vulnerability is shaped through individual factors, situational dynamics and structural forces, connected by human agency through time. It argues that to respond effectively to vulnerability within the field of CSE, we need to move beyond discussion of ‘risk factors’ and denial of agency, towards an understanding of intersectional social divisions, social marginality, ‘critical moments’ and how these shape the investments and actions of vulnerable young people.
Competency Assessment for State Highway Agency Project Managers
Authors: Rezk Sarah , Whited Gary C. , Ibrahim Michael , Hanna Awad S.
Published: February 2019

Project managers (PMs) play a key role in the successful completion of construction projects. Therefore, PM competencies have been heavily investigated over the past few decades, often focusing on two types of skills: hard skills, including technical knowledge; and soft skills, including personal traits. This extensive body of knowledge was lacking the focus on PMs of transportation projects who work in a state highway agency (SHA). This research addresses this gap by developing a comprehensive competency assessment model tailored for SHA PMs. This research identified 55 PM essential competencies spanning five categories: project management knowledge and experience; leadership; SHA operational knowledge and experience; industry knowledge and experience; and cognitive/personal effectiveness. Also, by collecting extensive data from 90 PMs, this research developed a mathematical model to compute competency weights for differentiating exceptional and average PMs. The weights were then used to create a comprehensive score that can assess PM competencies as an overall percentage. This score was benchmarked using the collected data to distinguish between exceptional and average PMs. To effectively communicate the research findings to industry practitioners, a computer-based tool was created. This tool assists SHAs and their PMs in assessing competencies, and identifies training needs to improve overall PM performance and skill sets. The tool was tested and validated by five Wisconsin Department of Transportation PM supervisors, all of whom acclaimed its accuracy and potential value.
Advance Care Planning and Advance Directives: A Multimedia Education Program in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Chiu wu Chiu-Hsiang , Perng Shoa-Jen , Shi Chun-Kuan , Lai Hui-Ling
Published: February 2019

This community-based cluster randomized trial evaluated the efficacy of a 4-week multimedia educational intervention followed by telephone consultations at Weeks 12 and 24 on the selection of a hospice program for end-of-life care and completion of an advance directive (AD) in case of future advanced dementia. One hundred twenty-three cognitively intact older adults from five community centers in Taiwan were randomly assigned to two groups. The study showed that 100% of participants in the intervention group (two community centers, n = 52) selected hospice program care for end-of-life care and signed ADs, whereas those in the control group were less likely to do both ( p < .001). Participants in the intervention group also had a positive change in knowledge, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intention of advance care planning (ACP) for advanced dementia. The theoretically based multimedia educational program was effective in assisting ACP implementation and completing ADs among community-dwelling older adults.
Study on the evolution and transformation of chlorine during co-processing of hazardous waste incineration residue in a cement kiln
Authors: Zhu Hongmei , Wang Yifeng , Jing Nijie , Jiang Xuguang , Lv Guojun , Yan Jianhua
Published: February 2019

The co-processing of hazardous waste in a cement kiln can eliminate a large quantity of hazardous wastes, but the excessive existence of chlorine will affect not only the operation of a cement kiln but also the quality of cement products. In this study, the mixtures of hazardous waste incineration residue and raw meal were incinerated in a high temperature tubular furnace. The distribution ratio of chlorine in flue gas, clinker and fly ash under different experiment conditions was obtained and the influence of the co-processing conditions on chlorine evolution and transformation was studied. The results showed that chlorine mainly existed in flue gas and clinker, and only less than 1% of chlorine existed in fly ash. The incineration temperature had a significant influence on the distribution of chlorine. The higher the incinerating temperature, the greater the distribution ratio of chlorine in flue gas and fly ash. The proportion of chlorine in all parts remained basically unchanged while the temperature was higher than 1300°C. With the increase of the retention time, the proportion of chlorine released into the flue gas increased. The distribution ratio of chlorine in each part remained unchanged after about 30 minutes. There were four stages of the rate of chlorine release. In addition, the chlorine content of the sample had little effect on the partition of chlorine. Some suggestions on the co-processing of hazardous waste in a cement kiln are put forward based on these experimental results.
The use of wastes (organic and inorganic) in land restoration in relation to their characteristics and cost
Authors: Pérez-Gimeno Ana , Navarro-Pedreño José , Almendro-Candel María Belén , Gómez Ignacio , Zorpas Antonis A
Published: February 2019

The great extent of degraded soils in southeast Spain makes it necessary to carry out restoration and rehabilitation strategies. In addition, the great amount of wastes produced need to be properly managed. Several types of wastes and amendments (organic and inorganic) can be applied for soil rehabilitation and land restoration. When large areas must be restored several aspects should be considered, such as availability of the waste, its characteristics, and transport. This research focuses on the characterization and the cost of 12 waste types and amendments (such as sewage sludge compost, brown peat, black peat, fertilized peat, earthworm humus, straw hay, palm tree leaves, pine bark, exfoliated vermiculite, expanded perlite, limestone outcrops, and volcanic crushed stones) obtained from four different sources. All of them were characterized following the UNE standards for soil amendments and the cost was obtained as a mean value of four different sources. The results indicate a great variability of properties between organic and inorganic materials, as was expected. Depending on the type of restoration, the characteristics, and the cost, the materials can be selected for an adequate purpose. Sewage sludge compost is a good alternative for application in large areas related to its characteristics (organic matter content and nutrient availability) and low cost. For inorganic amendments, natural limestone outcrops were the low-cost alternative. The use of both wastes (composted sewage sludge and limestone raw materials) for soil rehabilitation can facilitate the reduction of landfill disposal and add value for these wastes. Moreover, the results are very useful for scientists and engineers who deal with the development of rehabilitation and restoration strategies.
Composting as a strategy to recycle aquatic animal waste: Case study of a research centre in São Paulo State, Brazil
Authors: Lopes Ivã Guidini , de Souza Luiz Fernando , da Cruz Mara Cristina Pessôa , Vidotti Rose Meire
Published: February 2019

Aquaculture is a fast-growing activity in Brazil and around the world, which generates large amounts of waste from fingerling production to the final consumer. Among several possibilities for the management of these wastes, windrow composting stands out as a simple and low-cost method. In this study, 16 composting piles were assembled with wood shavings and peanut shells and managed according to two methods; one with carcasses recharges and another without. A description of the daily occurrences and management details were made. Temperature and moisture content were monitored and at the end of the decomposition process, and after 60 and 100 days of curing, physic-chemical analysis was performed to assess composts quality. A germination index test was performed to assess composts phytotoxicity. All piles exceeded 55 °C for more than 15 days (with the aid of turnings) and germination indices were above 50% for both lettuce and cress seeds. Total nitrogen concentration among composts varied from 22.1 to 33.2 g kg-1 and carbon:nitrogen ratios were below 20, while pH values were above 6.0 in all composts. Curing composts for 60 and 100 days did not influence any of the physic-chemical characteristics of all composts, so this practice can be dodged, thus avoiding unnecessary land use and increasing production costs. The type of management adopted for carcasses of aquatic animals influenced total and inorganic nitrogen, C/N ratio, organic matter and pH values of the composts, being recommended the recharge of carcasses to improve composts stability and quality.
Contested Identities: African Diaspora and Identity Making in a Hair Braiding Salon
Authors: Jenkins Nicole Dezrea
Published: February 2019

Most scholars of intersectionality argue that categories of inequality transform one another. In their empirical analysis, they routinely situate specific categories as master statuses, for example, “black woman” or “immigrant woman.” A growing group of scholars has begun to question the stability of these categories, arguing that context complicates even seemingly stable categories. Drawing on two years of ethnographic fieldwork in a hair-braiding salon located in the Las Vegas valley, where black West African immigrant women professionally braid black American women’s hair, I provide an empirical case that underlines how identity categories usually constructed as stable by sociocultural theorists are often internally contested within the communities that occupy them. My observations demonstrate that both West African and black American women contest competing explanations of what it means to be black women through boundaries. They rely on pejorative stories about the other group at a time when both antiblack racism and antiimmigrant sentiments are on the rise in the contemporary United States. In engaging in the politics of defining black womanhood within white patriarchy, the women reproduce gendered racial hierarchies.
Effect of pin-profiles on thermal cycle, mechanical and metallurgical properties of friction stir–welded aviation-grade aluminum alloy
Authors: Verma Shubham , Gupta Meenu , Misra Joy Prakash
Published: February 2019

Current research is an attempt to choose suitable pin-profile for friction stir welding of aviation-grade aluminum alloy (AA6082). Six tool pin-geometries (T1–T6), that is, threaded cylindrical, taper cylindrical, four slotted, square, triangular and inverted tapered with two flat faces are used to fabricate joints. Mechanical and metallurgical properties of the joints are assessed and allied with nugget zone grain size and thermal properties. The swept volume ratio and pulsating-stirring action of pin-profiles are also quantified. It is observed that square pin-profile provides joint with superior mechanical and metallurgical properties owing to higher pulsating-stirring action and sufficient swept volume ratio. The maximum tensile strength of 300 MPa is obtained by employing square pin-profile tool. Beside this, electron backscatter diffraction analysis has been conducted to critically examine the effect of pin-profiles on grains distribution of nugget zone of friction stir–welded joints. The minimum grain size of 5.48 μm is obtained using square pin-profile.
Synergistically configured shape memory alloy for variable stiffness translational actuation
Authors: Nalini D , Dhanalakshmi K
Published: February 2019

The structural composition of two elastic elements, shape memory alloy wire (active actuating element) and spring (the passive bias), offers variable stiffness actuation. Based on this principle, a variable stiffness linear actuator is conceptually designed and developed. It is electromechanical by nature, that is, it is electrically activated and creates translational/linear motion. The variable stiffness linear actuator engages shape memory alloy wire(s) along with a passive compression spring to work synergistically. The biasing element offers recovery force to the shape memory alloy wire as well as compliance to the whole structure. The synergistic configuration exhibits an aiding force, thereby allowing an actuation with large displacement and a wide range of stiffness. The actuator mechanism is implemented through parallel action and further proposes two different modes of operation: pull mode (i.e. the disc moving along a fixed shaft) and push mode (i.e. linear reciprocating motion of the pushrod). The shape memory alloy configured actuator mechanism is analysed theoretically; the working model of the variable stiffness linear actuator is developed and investigated experimentally. The results apprise that the variable stiffness linear actuator is capable of offering large displacement and in reproducing the stiffness profile for active compliance control applications.
Physical Health, Mental Health, and Fear of Crime Among College Students: A Consideration of Sex Differences
Authors: Rader Nicole E. , Rogers Sarah A. , Cossman Jeralynn S.
Published: February 2019

This article examines how physical health and mental health affect college students’ fear of crime. Few studies have examined the influence of fear of crime on both objective and subjective measures of physical and mental health and—to our knowledge—none has examined how health measures vary by sex in the United States. In addition, most of the existing research targets older individuals, rather than college students. Using the ACHA-NCHA data set (American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment), we expand the fear of crime literature by examining both subjective and objective physical and mental health measures among college-aged men and women.
Exploring the Relationship Between Housing Downturns and Partisan Elections: Neighborhood-Level Evidence from Maricopa County, Arizona
Authors: Pfeiffer Deirdre , Wegmann Jake , Schafran Alex
Published: February 2019

An understudied outcome of foreclosure crises is how their aftershocks affect partisan elections. Two hypotheses are that partisan shifts may occur in neighborhoods with concentrated foreclosures because of (1) declines in turnout among liberal leaning voters or (2) swells of anti-incumbency among all voters. This research explores these hypotheses in Maricopa County, Arizona, by using econometric modeling to uncover associations among neighborhood foreclosures, voter turnout, and changes in the Republican vote share between the 2006 and the 2010 Arizona gubernatorial and U.S. Senate elections. Our results show evidence of (1) anti-incumbent voting behavior and more liberal shifts among neighborhoods harder hit by foreclosures and (2) conservative shifts in neighborhoods experiencing African-American and Latinx population growth. These findings are suggestive of a link between neighborhood housing market distress and neighborhood partisan shifts, which in aggregate may shape state and national policymaking and future neighborhood conditions.
Binge Eating and Loss of Control in College-Age Women
Authors: Kelly-Weeder Susan , Willis Danny G. , Mata Lopez Laura , Sacco Brianna , Wolfe Barbara E.
Published: February 2019

BACKGROUND: Loss of control (LOC) over eating is a cardinal feature of the DSM-5 definition of binge eating (BE). While this behavior is frequently reported in college-age women, there is limited research on descriptions of loss of control from first-person accounts from individuals reporting LOC associated with BE. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate descriptions of LOC associated with BE episodes in college-age women who reported recent BE behavior. STUDY DESIGN: A secondary analysis of previously collected qualitative data on BE behaviors in college students was conducted. Two hundred and twenty-one college-age women’s (age = 19.77 ± 1.03) comments regarding the experiences of LOC associated with BE episodes were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Codes were inductively generated allowing categories to emerge from the data codes. RESULTS: Three major overarching descriptive categories were identified: (1) LOC over eating, (2) feelings associated with the LOC, and (3) cognitive dispositions (thoughts) associated with LOC during a BE episode. DISCUSSION: The findings of this study expand the current literature on LOC over eating and provide a number of potential targets for intervention with college-age women who report BE behaviors.
A Comparison of Sexual Arousal in Men Exposed to Visual Stimuli With and Without Facial Blurring
Authors: Rosetti Leah , Curry Susan , Murphy Lisa , Bradford John B. , Fedoroff J. Paul
Published: February 2019

The role of the facial images in arousal and attraction has been examined before but never via penile plethysmography (PPG). This retrospective chart review aimed to determine the significance and magnitude of differences in arousal measured by PPG in 1,000 men exposed to slide stimuli with or without facial blurring in subjects of various ages. Arousal in response to blurred stimuli was significantly higher than nonanonymized stimuli with modest effect sizes for slides across age and gender categories. Facial blurring increased differences in arousal between adults and adolescents with a modest effect size. Our findings support the use of facial blurring to further protect the anonymity of models and limit the ethical and legal challenges of using slide stimuli with child models.
Health Promotion Interventions in Sports Clubs: Can We Talk About a Setting-Based Approach? A Systematic Mapping Review
Authors: Geidne Susanna , Kokko Sami , Lane Aoife , Ooms Linda , Vuillemin Anne , Seghers Jan , Koski Pasi , Kudlacek Michal , Johnson Stacey , Van Hoye Aurélie
Published: February 2019

Many researchers and authorities have recognized the important role that sports clubs can play in public health. In spite of attempts to create a theoretical framework in the early 2000s, a thorough understanding of sports clubs as a setting for health promotion (HP) is lacking. Despite calls for more effective, sustainable, and theoretically grounded interventions, previous literature reviews have identified no controlled studies assessing HP interventions in sports clubs. This systematic mapping review details how the settings-based approach is applied through HP interventions in sports clubs and highlights facilitators and barriers for sports clubs to become health-promoting settings. In addition, the mapped facilitators and barriers have been used to reformulate previous guidelines of HP in sports clubs. Seven databases were searched for empirical research published between 1986 and 2017. Fifty-eight studies were included, principally coming from Australia and Europe, describing 33 unique interventions, which targeted mostly male participants in team sports. The settings-based approach was not yet applied in sports clubs, as more than half of the interventions implemented in sports club targeted only one level of the socio-ecological model, as well as focused only on study participants rather than the club overall. Based on empirical data, the analysis of facilitators and barriers helped develop revised guidelines for sports clubs to implement settings-based HP. This will be particularly useful when implementing HP initiatives to aid in the development of sports clubs working with a whole setting approach.
Children’s data journeys beyond the ‘supply chain’: co-curating flows and frictions
Authors: Swist Teresa , Collin Philippa , Third Amanda
Published: February 2019

This article explores the flows and frictions of children’s data in the digital age, and how datafication becomes another way of knowing and governing children. There is an urgent need to better understand such digital orientations, who controls them, and how children’s agency becomes enabled and constrained. In this article, we argue that a child rights framework operates to surface the tensions and stumbling blocks at play in the ostensibly seamless circulation of children’s data through the socio-technical assemblages of corporate, government and university organisations. Smooth flows of data become problematised when we explore children’s data journeys and associated frictions with data. This demonstrates the importance of moving beyond existing attempts to better steer children and their data, towards the much more difficult role of co-curating the social, spatial and material supports required to enhance their agency in the digital age.
Speaking out: A postcolonial critique of the academic discourse on far-right populism
Authors: Masood Ayesha , Nisar Muhammad Azfar
Published: February 2019

Brexit and Trump’s victory in the United States has sparked renewed academic interest in far-right populism. However, this academic discourse remains remarkably orientalist in its tenor and rhetoric. The focus of academic debates remains restricted to dissecting the rise of far-right populism in the Global North West, while similar movements in Global South East remain largely ignored. We argue that the contemporary academic discourse about the far-right populism is based on the fundamental assumption that the ‘normal’ Global North West is becoming ‘abnormal,’ while the question of abnormality or lack thereof of the proverbial Orient is not taken up because in such othering discourse, the option of normality is foreclosed to the Global South East. Using the rise of the Bharatiya Janta Party in India as an example, we contend that far-right populist movements in the Global South East have developed and intersect with businesses and government in unique ways. The embrace of neoliberalism by the Indian far-right, a stark contrast to similar movements in the Global North West, further suggests that we might be witnessing a global reorientation of the capitalist order. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of far-right populism must account for and pay attention to the heterogeneities of these movements across the Global North West and the Global South East.
Job interview training targeting nonverbal communication using an android robot for individuals with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Kumazaki Hirokazu , Muramatsu Taro , Yoshikawa Yuichiro , Corbett Blythe A , Matsumoto Yoshio , Higashida Haruhiro , Yuhi Teruko , Ishiguro Hiroshi , Mimura Masaru , Kikuchi Mitsuru
Published: February 2019

Job interviews are significant barriers for individuals with autism spectrum disorder because these individuals lack good nonverbal communication skills. We developed a job interview training program using an android robot. The job interview training program using an android robot consists the following three stages: (1) tele-operating an android robot and conversing with others through the android robot, (2) a face-to-face mock job interview with the android robot, and (3) feedback based on the mock job interview and nonverbal communication exercises using the android robot. The participants were randomly assigned to the following two groups: one group received a combined intervention with “interview guidance by teachers and job interview training program using an android robot” ( n = 13), and the other group received an intervention with interview guidance by teachers alone ( n = 16). Before and after the intervention, the participants in both groups underwent a mock job interview with a human interviewer, who provided outcome measurements of nonverbal communication, self-confidence, and salivary cortisol. After the training sessions, the participants who received the combined interview guidance by teachers and the job interview training program using an android robot intervention displayed improved nonverbal communication skills and self-confidence and had significantly lower levels of salivary cortisol than the participants who only received interview guidance by teachers. The job interview training program using an android robot improved various measures of job interview skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
Delay of gratification in preschoolers with and without autism spectrum disorder: Individual differences and links to executive function, emotion regulation, and joint attention
Authors: Jahromi Laudan B , Chen Yanru , Dakopolos Andrew J , Chorneau Alice
Published: February 2019

This study examined delay of gratification behaviors in preschool-aged children with and without autism spectrum disorder. Recent research has found that elementary-aged children with autism spectrum disorder showed challenges with delay of gratification and that there were individual differences in terms of children’s behaviors during the wait. We extend this work to a younger sample of children with autism spectrum disorder to understand whether these difficulties emerge by the preschool years. Moreover, we assessed whether individual differences in other key self-regulatory capacities (i.e. effortful control, emotion regulation, executive function, and joint attention) were related to delay of gratification wait durations or behavioral strategies. Findings revealed that preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder waited for a shorter duration, demonstrated more temptation-focused behaviors, and expressed less positive affect than their typical peers during the delay of gratification task. At the full-sample level, individual differences in children’s temptation-focused behaviors (i.e. visual attention and verbalizations focused on the temptation) were related to children’s executive function, joint attention, and parents’ ratings of emotion regulation. When we examined associations within groups, the associations were not significant for the autism spectrum disorder group, but for typically developing children, there was a positive association between temptation-focused behaviors and emotion regulation.
Safety of tiotropium in patients with asthma
Authors: Dusser Daniel , Ducharme Francine M.
Published: February 2019

Given the high proportion of patients with asthma who remain uncontrolled despite controller treatment, there remains a need for the development of more effective treatment options with a proven safety and tolerability profile. Recently, asthma guidelines have evolved to incorporate new therapies, including long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) and biologics. Here we focus on the safety profile of tiotropium, a LAMA, using data from the large-scale UniTinA-asthma® clinical trial program, which investigated the use of tiotropium in over 6000 patients with asthma who remained symptomatic despite receiving inhaled corticosteroids maintenance therapy, with or without other adjunct therapies. The large number of patients included allows robust analysis of safety and tolerability. Overall, a similar incidence of patients reporting any adverse event (AE) was observed in the tiotropium (5 µg and 2.5 µg) and placebo groups. Asthma worsening, decreased peak expiratory flow, and upper respiratory tract infections were the most frequently reported AEs. Serious AEs (SAEs) and investigator-defined drug-related AEs were infrequently reported across all treatment groups, including the placebo group, and there were no deaths in any study. Reports of side effects typically associated with anticholinergic drugs, such as dry mouth and urinary retention, were either infrequent or not reported in children, adolescents or adults. The similar proportions of tiotropium- versus placebo-treated patients reporting AEs and SAEs in African-American and Japanese populations, as well as in elderly patients, contribute to the accumulating evidence of the safety and tolerability of tiotropium across broad ethnic and age populations.
Appropriate treatment sessions of flexible bronchoscopic balloon dilation for patients with nonmalignant central airway stenosis
Authors: Liang Weiquan , Hu Peicun , Guo Wenliang , Su Zhuquan , Li Jingxian , Li Shiyue
Published: February 2019

Background:

Balloon dilation is a primary treatment for nonmalignant tracheobronchial stenosis, but often requires multiple treatment sessions to maintain therapeutic efficacy. No guideline is available to suggest the appropriate maximum number of treatment sessions. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the number of balloon dilation sessions and its long-term therapeutic effectiveness in Chinese patients with nonmalignant central airway stenosis.

Methods:

A total of 111 patients with nonmalignant central airway stenosis treated with flexible bronchoscopic balloon dilation from January 2005 to September 2012 were included. The cumulative long-term effective rate was compared between any two adjacent sessions of balloon dilation treatment by McNemar’s test. Multivariate Cox regression was performed to investigate the independent factors associated with long-term effectiveness.

Results:

The cumulative long-term effective rate was significantly increased between any two adjacent sessions before the 6th session of treatment (all p < 0.05) but was no longer significantly increased after the 6th session. The stenosis diameter was larger in the patients receiving ⩽6 treatment sessions than those receiving ⩾6 treatment sessions. Multivariate Cox regression showed that the treatment session was an independent factor associated with long-term effectiveness (hazard ratio = 0.65, 95% confidence interval: 0.57–0.76, p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

These results suggest that the maximum number of treatment sessions of balloon dilation may be six, and patients requiring more treatment sessions were more likely to have delayed long-term effectiveness.
A Review of Cannabis in Chronic Kidney Disease Symptom Management
Authors: Ho Claudia , Martinusen Dan , Lo Clifford
Published: February 2019

Purpose of Review:

Physical and psychological symptom burden in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) is significantly debilitating; yet, it is often inadequately treated. Legalization of cannabis in Canada may attract increasing interest from patients for its medical use in refractory symptom management, but its indications and long-term adverse health impacts are poorly established, creating a challenge for clinicians to support its use. In this review, we summarize key clinical studies and the level of evidence for nonsynthetic cannabinoids in the treatment of common symptoms encountered in advanced stages of CKD, including chronic pain, nausea and vomiting, anorexia, pruritus, and insomnia.

Sources of Information:

Medline and Embase

Methods:

A search was conducted in MEDLINE and EMBASE (inception to March 1, 2018) on cannabis and CKD symptoms of interest, complemented with a manual review of bibliographies. Studies that examined synthetic cannabinoids that are manufactured to mimic the effects of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol such as dronabinol, levonantradol, nabilone, and ajulemic acid were excluded. We focused on studies with higher level of evidence where available, and quality of studies was graded based on the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine Levels of Evidence (1a to 5).

Findings:

Based on studies conducted in patients without renal impairment, those treated with nonsynthetic cannabinoids were 43% to 300% more likely to report a ≥30% reduction in chronic neuropathic pain compared with placebo. However, there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend nonsynthetic cannabinoids for other medical indications, although preliminary investigation into topical endocannabinoids for uremia-induced pruritus in end-stage renal disease is promising. Finally, any benefits of cannabis may be offset by potential harms in the form of cognitive impairment, increased risk of mortality post-myocardial infarction, orthostatic hypotension, respiratory irritation, and malignancies (with smoked cannabis).

Limitations:

Nonsynthetic cannabinoid preparations were highly variable between studies, sample sizes were small, and study durations were short. Due to an absence of studies conducted in CKD, recommendations were primarily extrapolated from the general population.

Implications:

Until further studies are conducted, the role of nonsynthetic cannabinoids for symptom management in patients with CKD should be limited to the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain. Clinicians need to be cognizant that nonsynthetic cannabinoid preparations, particularly smoked cannabis, can pose significant health risks and these must be cautiously weighed against the limited substantiated therapeutic benefits of cannabis in patients with CKD.
Medical Marijuana Knowledge and Attitudes: A Survey of the California Pharmacists Association
Authors: Szyliowicz Dara , Hilsenrath Peter
Published: February 2019

Views on the medical efficacy and acceptability of marijuana have changed over the years. California was the first state permitting individuals to use medical marijuana. Even with a long history of use and widespread agreement around the effectiveness of medical marijuana, the literature is sparse about the role health care providers, including pharmacists, play in this interaction. The purpose of this article is to shed light on knowledge and attitudes of pharmacists regarding medical marijuana. We developed a survey for pharmacists about their level of knowledge and attitudes toward medical marijuana. The survey was distributed using SurveyMonkey. It consisted of 44 questions and an opportunity to provide comments. We collaborated with the California Pharmacists Association who provided a link to the survey in October 2017 to their members. Results from 474 responses indicate a majority of providers believe that marijuana has medical efficacy. Yet most providers report that they neither have much information about medical marijuana nor do they know where to get such information. One area of particular concern is the potential for drug interactions. Pharmacists would feel more comfortable discussing medical marijuana if it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Moreover, they believe more research needs to occur. The variance between California and federal policy leads to dysfunction among pharmacists providing information to patients. We believe federal policy should change.
Teaching Young Adults Job Skills Using a Constant Time Delay and eCoaching Intervention Package
Authors: Horn Annemarie L. , Gable Robert A. , Bobzien Jonna L. , Tonelson Steve W. , Rock Marcia L.
Published: February 2019

Young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and comorbid intellectual disability (ID) are vastly underrepresented in the area of postsecondary employment. This study evaluated the effectiveness and perceptions of an intervention package incorporating constant time delay (CTD) and eCoaching to promote employment skill acquisition. CTD was used by a teacher interventionist to instruct four student participants with ASD and ID in a community setting, while concurrently receiving real-time performance feedback through eCoaching. A multiple probe across participants design was used to evaluate the impact of the intervention on skill acquisition while simultaneously measuring CTD implementation fidelity. Results showed rapid skill acquisition and generalization and follow-up data were positive. CTD was implemented with fidelity and rated favorably among participants.
Preparing Interns to Use Functional Story-Based Instruction to Teach Students With a Severe Intellectual Disability in Rural Schools
Authors: Hyer Glenda , Cooper-Duffy Karena
Published: February 2019

The primary purpose of this study was to prepare special education interns to implement two-task analyses to teach elementary students with severe intellectual disability (SID) emergent literacy and hand washing skills. The secondary purpose was to evaluate the effect of intern instruction on both the independent emergent literacy and hand washing responses of the students. A multiple probe across participant design was used to evaluate the effects of a multicomponent instruction package on the number of steps interns completed correctly on story-based and hand washing task analyses. A second simultaneous multiple probe across students design was used to evaluate the effects of functional story-based instruction on the independent emergent literacy and hand washing responses. Collateral behaviors showed as interns correctly implemented the steps of the story-based and hand washing task analyses, the students with SID increased emergent literacy and hand washing responses. Implications for rural educators are provided.
A value perspective of service interaction quality: the case of immigrants returning to native countries as medical tourists
Authors: Thuy Pham Ngoc , Hau Le Nguyen , Duyen Nguyen Kim Ngoc
Published: February 2019

Marketing literature shows that the interaction between service encounters and customers is essential for the value creation process. However, little is known about how interaction contributes to customer value in the special context of immigrants living in more-developed countries, who return to their native countries for medical service. Based on the data collected from overseas Vietnamese, this study investigates the effects of interaction quality on different forms of service value, leading to positive word-of-mouth. The findings indicate that interaction quality strongly affects customer perception of quality value and social value and moderately affects price value. In turn, these three forms of value significantly affect positive word-of-mouth. By linking perceived quality, social and price value with word-of-mouth, the present study suggests an effective way to promote this special form of medical service to immigrants living outside the country.
Planning for hospitable public spaces and the changing city: A content analysis of the city of Sunderland Unitary Development Plan
Authors: Morton Ian Joseph , Johnson James
Published: February 2019

A plethora of new public spaces have been developed in central areas of many British cities. There is evidence of the emergence of new tourism and hospitality developments (particularly hotels) close to public spaces, which could influence how the spaces are used. Whilst an ongoing discussion of the hospitable city is prevalent within the literature, no study to date has focused specifically on the symbiosis of tourism, hospitality and public space in planning policy documents. To gain a better understanding of how cities plan for a productive relationship between tourism and hospitality and public space and hotel development this article presents a content analysis of the city of Sunderland’s Unitary Development Plan entitled UDP Alteration No. 2 (Central Sunderland) Adopted Policies, this being the central legal urban planning policy document that guides change in the city. The results of the content analysis suggest three central themes of prestige, variety and vibrancy.
Chemotherapeutic control of Gram-positive infection in white sea bream (Diplodus sargus, Linnaeus 1758) broodstock
Authors: Ali Nadia G. M. , Aboyadak Ibrahim M. , El-Sayed Heba S.
Published: February 2019

Aim: This study aimed to identify the pathogenic bacteria responsible for the septicemic disease affecting white sea bream brooders and determining the sensitivity of the recovered isolates to different antibiotics followed by estimation of long-acting oxytetracycline (OTC) efficacy in controlling this disease, and finally, determining the proper dose regimen. Materials and Methods: Biolog microbial identification system was used for determination of the pathogens which are responsible for this disease. Agar disk diffusion test and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were used to determine the antibiotic susceptibility of recovered isolates. Oxytetracycline (OTC) was used at a dose level of 100 mg/kg body weight for the treatment of diseased fish, and the OTC concentration in the serum samples was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Fifteen Staphylococcus epidermidis and 11 Bacillus cereus isolates were recovered from the lesion of muscle, tail, eye, and heart blood. S. epidermidis isolates were sensitive to OTC, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, spiramycin, erythromycin (E), and florfenicol. B. cereus isolates were sensitive to all mentioned antibiotics except E. Based on the MIC test, all B. cereus isolates were sensitive to OTC with MIC ranging between <0.125 and 4 μg/ml and 11 S. epidermidis isolates were sensitive with MIC ranging between <0.125 and 8 μg/ml, while four isolates were resistant. Different degrees of degenerative changes were present in the hepatopancreas, posterior kidney, eye, and skin tissues of diseased fish. Conclusion: Single intraperitoneal injection of long-acting OTC at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight was effective in termination of S. epidermidis and B. cereus infection in white sea bream (D. sargus) broodstock.
Comparative efficacy of two-dimensional mode and color Doppler sonography in predicting gender of the equine fetus
Authors: Mebarki M. , Kaidi R. , Azizi A. , Basbaci M.
Published: February 2019

Background and Aim: Ultrasonographic fetal sexing is of utmost economic importance for horse breeders. Relatively, a few studies have been conducted to determine fetal sex in mare using transrectal Doppler ultrasound. This study aimed to compare two sexing techniques, two-dimensional (2D) mode and color Doppler ultrasonography.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 39 mares under field conditions. Examinations were performed using the ultrasonic model device (Medison SonoAce Pico, South Korea), equipped with real-time 3-7 MHz convex multifrequency transducer. Fetal sex diagnosis was carried out in two periods of pregnancy, early period (57-80 days of gestation) and late period (80-150 days of gestation).

Results: No difference (p=0.4) was observed between the efficiency of the 2D mode and Doppler ultrasound in sex determination with the respective frequency of 74% and 85%. The best time to sex the early fetus was between 57 and 70 days of gestation and between 90 and 120 days for the older fetus.

Conclusion: The accuracy of sex determination can be increased using Doppler mode compared to 2D mode, especially in the early period between 57 and 70 days, in male more than female sex.