bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ceravital versus Plastipore in Tympanoplasty: A Randomized Prospective Trial
Authors: Mangham Charles A. , Lindeman Roger C.
Published: July 2017

The hearing results and extrusion rates for ossicular chain reconstruction using a new material called Ceravital, a bioactive glass ceramic, were compared with those for Plastipore, a porous polyethylene that is our standard for synthetic materials. Our null hypothesis was that the results of the two materials were similar. A Ceravital or a Plastipore prosthesis was randomly assigned to 112 consecutive patients. We had 6-month follow-up on 100 patients and 3-year follow-up on 80 patients. The average air-bone gap at 4,000 Hz was 6 dB less with Plastipore than with Ceravital (p = .036). Patients were twice as likely to have an air-bone gap of 15 dB or less with Plastipore than with Ceravital (40% versus 21%; p = .061). Two of the 38 patients with Ceravital prostheses had a late hearing-result failure due to resorption of the prosthesis material. The materials had similar extrusion rates. We rejected our null hypothesis. The Plastipore group had better hearing results than did the Ceravital group.
Combined Effects of Noise and Cisplatin: Short- and Long-Term Follow-Up
Authors: Laurell Göran F. E.
Published: July 2017

The combined effects of noise exposure and intravenous cisplatin injection on electrophysiologic hearing thresholds in guinea pigs were studied with short-term and long-term follow-up. The combined effects on the permanent threshold shift were dependent on the order of exposure. A potentiation was achieved when noise exposure preceded cisplatin injection by 30 minutes or by 3 days. Cisplatin injection 2 or 3 days before noise exposure produced no significant potentiation or inhibition. The combined effects on the temporary threshold shift were not influenced by the sequence of exposure.
Diameter of the Cochlear Nerve in Deaf Humans: Implications for Cochlear Implantation
Authors: Nadol Joseph B. , Xu Wen-Zhuang
Published: July 2017

Although the parameters that are most important for postoperative speech perception in cochlear implantation have not been identified, it is assumed that the numbers of remaining cochlear neurons and spiral ganglion cells in the implanted deaf ears are critical. In this study, we evaluated the correlation of the maximum diameter of the cochlear and vestibular nerve trunks with the number of spiral ganglion cells in horizontal sections of the temporal bone of 42 patients who were profoundly deaf during life, and in 5 patients with normal hearing. The maximum diameters of the cochlear, vestibular, and eighth cranial nerves were significantly smaller in the deaf population as compared to normal-hearing controls. In addition, the counts of the remaining spiral ganglion cells were significantly correlated with the maximum diameter of the cochlear (p = .0006), vestibular (p = .001), and eighth cranial nerves (p = .0003). The regression equation estimated that 25% of the variance of the spiral ganglion cell count was predicted by the maximum diameter of the eighth nerve. Although the results of this study suggest that preoperative radiographic imaging of the diameter of the eighth nerve may be helpful in predicting the residual spiral ganglion cell count, the wide variability of diameters of the eighth nerve in hearing and deaf subjects militates against this theoretic usefulness.
Benign Fetal Ascites Associated with Maternal Polyhydramnios: A Report of Transitory Ascites in Two Newborn Infants
Authors: Bryan Elizabeth M.
Published: July 2017

Two cases of transitory ascites in the newborn period associated with maternal polyhydramnios are described. No predisposing cause was found in either infant but the possibility of an abnormality in the fetal circulation is suggested.
Comparison of Erythromycin Ethyl Succinate, Stearate and Estolate Treatments of Group A Streptococcal Infections of the Upper Respiratory Tract
Authors: Janicki R. S. , Garnham J. C. , Worland M. C. , Grundy W. E. , Thomas J. R.
Published: July 2017

The microbiologic and clinical responses of acute Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infections of the upper respiratory tract to oral treatment with erythromycin ethyl succinate, stearate, and estolate were studied in 303 patients. Streptococcal M and T typing was done on all positive cultures. The overall cure rate was 95.4 per cent, with no statistically significant differences in clearing organisms from the pharynx. Of the 285 cured patients who completed the prescribed follow-up period, 11 had recurrences between the 12th and 31st day after initiation of therapy, and five developed new infections. No cases of rheumatic fever or glomerulonephritis were encountered during a follow-up study. Eight gastrointestinal reactions and one transient rash occurred. Results with these forms of erythromycin compare favorably with published results for similar infections treated with oral penicillins.
Dropout Prevention for Youth with Disabilities: Efficacy of a Sustained School Engagement Procedure
Authors: Sinclair Mary F. , Christenson Sandra L. , Evelo David L. , Hurley Christine M.
Published: July 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of a sustained dropout prevention procedure that incorporated monitoring and school engagement strategies. Ninety-four students with learning and emotional/behavioral disabilities received interventions in Grades 7 and 8; half of the students (treatment group) continued to receive intervention through Grade 9. Results of this experimental study indicated that, for two of three measures, students in the treatment group were significantly more likely to be engaged in school than were control group students. The overall performance of both treatment and control students, however, points to the need for early and sustained support for students with learning and behavioral disabilities to attain academic and behavioral standards.
Academic and Personality Characteristics of Gifted Students with Cerebral Palsy: A Multiple Case Study
Authors: Willard-Holt Colleen
Published: July 2017

Using a qualitative cross-case methodology over 3 years, I investigated the ways in which gifted students with cerebral palsy and no speech indicated their cognitive abilities. Data collection methods included participant observation, interviewing document analysis, audiotaping, and videotaping, and data were analyzed using analytic induction, constant comparison, diagramming, and cross-case analysis. The participants demonstrated several academic characteristics of giftedness, some of which were modified by effects of the disability. Personality traits which often accompany giftedness were manifested: maturity, goal orientation, persistence/determination, and patience. Giftedness was also apparent in ways which were related to the disability: recognition of limitations at a mature level, desire for independence from human aides and technological devices, and use of the intellect to circumvent the disability.
Paraeducator Experiences in Inclusive Settings: Helping, Hovering, or Holding Their Own?
Authors: Marks Susan Unok , Schrader Carl , Levine Mark
Published: July 2017

The perspectives and experiences of 20 paraeducators working with inclusion students with disabilities who also present significant behavioral challenges were investigated in this research. The inclusion students were in Grades K through 8 and represented a range of disability categories (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, serious emotional disturbance [SED], learning disability, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder [AD/HD]). Findings from this study indicate that paraeducators tend to assume high levels of responsibility for managing the academic and behavioral needs for special education students in inclusive settings. This tendency appears to be due to the nature of the job, which can create conflicting roles in meeting both the needs of inclusion students as well as those of general education teachers.
Grouping Practices and Reading Outcomes for Students with Disabilities
Authors: Elbaum Batya , Vaughn Sharon , Hughes Marie , Moody Sally Watson
Published: July 2017

This meta-analytic review investigated the relationship between reading outcomes for students with disabilities (learning disabilities, behavior disorders) and the grouping formats (student pairs, small groups, combinations of different formats) used during their reading instruction. Twenty studies produced between 1975 and 1995 met criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Results indicated positive effects for alternative grouping formats compared to whole class instruction; support for the efficacy of student pairing was particularly strong. In addition, analyses indicated that outcomes for students involved in cross-age tutoring varied significantly by students' role (tutor vs. tutee) within the pair. Implications of the findings are discussed with regard to classroom practice in the teaching of reading to students with disabilities.
Long discontinuous carbon fibre/polypropylene composites for high volume structural applications
Authors: Harper LT , Burn DT , Johnson MS , Warrior NA
Published: July 2017

A processing route is presented to manufacture discontinuous carbon fibre-reinforced polypropylene composites, using much longer fibre lengths (25 mm) and higher volume fractions (up to 45%) than previously reported in the literature. Carbon fibre tows are coated with different ratios of polypropylene, blended with a maleic anhydride coupling agent, to investigate the influence of the interfacial shear strength at the microscale on the macroscale composite properties. Improvements in the tensile performance at the macroscale (70% increase) are not as high as those reported for the interfacial shear strength at the microscale (300%), following the addition of the coupling agent. Consequently, the tensile strength of the carbon fibre-reinforced polypropylene material is only 45% of values reported for carbon fibre/epoxy systems, however, the tensile stiffness is comparable. This demonstrates the potential for using carbon fibre-reinforced polypropylene for structural applications, following further process optimisation to overcome the current high levels of porosity (3.3% at 0.45 Vf) to improve the tensile strength.
Buckling analyses of double-shell octagonal lattice truss composite structures
Authors: Sui Qianqian , Lai Changliang , Fan Hualin
Published: July 2017

To reveal the compression failure modes of one-dimensional hierarchical double-shell octagonal lattice truss composite structures (DLTCSs), finite element modeling and equivalent continuum models were developed. DLTCS has three typical failure modes: (a) fracture of the strut, (b) global buckling, and (c) local buckling. Failure mode maps were constructed. It is found that column of long enough length will collapse at global buckling. When the column length decreases, the failure mode will turn to local buckling and strut fracture successively. Bay length greatly influences the buckling mode. Longer bay length could change the buckling mode from global buckling to local buckling. Compared with single-shell lattice truss composite structure, DLTCS has advantage in load carrying when the column fails at strut fracture or global buckling, while local buckling tolerance of DLTCS is smaller.
A Categorical Content Analysis of Highly Cited Literature Related to Trends and Issues in Special Education
Authors: Arden Sarah V. , Pentimonti Jill M. , Cooray Rochana , Jackson Stephanie
Published: July 2017

This investigation employs categorical content analysis processes as a mechanism to examine trends and issues in a sampling of highly cited (100+) literature in special education journals. The authors had two goals: (a) broadly identifying trends across publication type, content area, and methodology and (b) specifically identifying articles with disaggregated outcomes for students with learning disabilities (LD). Content analyses were conducted across highly cited (100+) articles published during a 20-year period (1992–2013) in a sample ( n = 3) of journals focused primarily on LD, and in one broad, cross-categorical journal recognized for its impact in the field. Results indicated trends in the article type (i.e., commentary and position papers), content (i.e., reading and behavior), and methodology (i.e., small proportions of experimental and quasi-experimental designs). Results also revealed stability in the proportion of intervention research studies when compared to previous analyses and a decline in the proportion of those that disaggregated data specifically for students with LD.
Context Matters: Contextual Factors Informing Mentoring in Art Initial Teacher Education
Authors: Becher Ayelet , Orland-Barak Lily
Published: July 2017

This article explores the contextual factors that shape mentoring practice in Art Initial Teacher Education. Based on in-depth interviews, nonparticipant observations and stimulated recall interviews with participants, we examine how various factors related to the context of mentors’ work influence their approaches to subject matter mentoring. Adopting a discursive stance to mentoring, we use critical discourse analysis to expose connections between mentors’ language, ideas, and beliefs and the broader context of subject matter mentoring. In each mentoring setting studied, the analysis surfaces distinctive contextual factors that are grounded in mentors’ interpretations of the roles and functions of their subject matter domains. We show how these factors inform mentors’ perceptions of the purposes and processes of mentoring and their enactments in practice. Our findings offer an extended perspective to subject matter mentoring and new directions for thinking about context in mentoring. Implications for mentor preparation and selection are discussed.
How Persistent Is Generalised Trust?
Authors: Dawson Chris
Published: July 2017

There are at least two competing views on the foundations of generalised trust: experiential and cultural. The experiential perspective emphasises that trust is fragile and remains open to environmental influences throughout life, whilst the cultural perspective asserts that trust is a stable trait established early in pre-adult life through intergenerational transmission mechanisms. Utilising an innovative methodology applied to a major UK longitudinal survey, this article tests these alternative accounts by analysing the persistence of generalised trust throughout the life-course. In support of the cultural perspective, trust is found to be a relatively stable, persistent human trait. Whilst generalised trust is open to change, these changes are however temporary with an overriding tendency for individuals to revert back to their initial, long-term level. Greater emphasis should be placed on the establishment of initial, pre-adult trust, as changes induced by post-childhood environmental forces are likely to be prone to rapid decay.
Neighbourhood land use features, collective efficacy and local civic actions
Authors: Corcoran Jonathan , Zahnow Renee , Wickes Rebecca , Hipp John
Published: July 2017

This paper explores the association between neighbourhood land use features and informal social control. More specifically, we examine the extent to which such features in combination with the socio-demographic context of the neighbourhood facilitate or impede collective efficacy and local civic actions. We achieve this through spatially integrating data from the census, topographic databases and a 2012 survey of 4132 residents from 148 neighbourhoods in Brisbane, Australia. The study creates a new classification of a neighbourhood’s physical environment by creating novel categories of land use features that depict social conduits, social holes and social wedges. Social conduits are features of the neighbourhood that facilitate interaction between individuals, social holes are land uses that create situations where there is no occupancy, and social wedges are features that carve up neighbourhoods. We find some evidence to suggest that residents’ reports of collective efficacy are higher in neighbourhoods with a greater density of social conduits. Density of social conduits is also positively associated with local civic action. However, in neighbourhoods with more greenspace, residents are less likely to engage in local civic actions.
Application Programming Interface Documentation: What Do Software Developers Want?
Authors: Meng Michael , Steinhardt Stephanie , Schubert Andreas
Published: July 2017

The success of an application programming interface (API) crucially depends on how well its documentation meets the information needs of software developers. Previous research suggests that these information needs have not been sufficiently understood. This article presents the results of a series of semistructured interviews and a follow-up questionnaire conducted to explore the learning goals and learning strategies of software developers, the information resources they turn to and the quality criteria they apply to API documentation. Our results show that developers initially try to form a global understanding regarding the overall purpose and main features of an API, but then adopt either a concepts-oriented or a code-oriented learning strategy that API documentation both needs to address. Our results also show that general quality criteria such as completeness and clarity are relevant to API documentation as well. Developing and maintaining API documentation therefore need to involve the expertise of communication professionals.
The Influence of Technological Links, Social Ties, and Incumbent Firm Opportunistic Propensity on the Formation of Corporate Venture Capital Deals
Authors: Kim Ji Youn (Rose) , Steensma H. Kevin , Park Haemin Dennis
Published: July 2017

New ventures often innovate by building on the technology of incumbent firms. The resulting technological links that form between new ventures and incumbents can open up valuable collaborative opportunities between them. Nonetheless, because these technological links also increase incumbents’ abilities to misappropriate the knowledge of new ventures, such collaboration can render new ventures particularly susceptible to the opportunistic whims of their incumbent partners. Whether technological links promote or impede corporate venture capital (CVC) deal formation may depend on incumbent firms’ propensities to behave opportunistically and how aware new ventures are of such propensities. We argue that when new ventures have social ties to incumbent firms that have opportunistic tendencies, technological links between them strongly impede CVC deal formation. In such cases, social ties substantiate new ventures’ fears of knowledge misappropriation that might occur. In contrast, when new ventures have social ties to incumbent firms that lack opportunistic tendencies, technological links between them strongly promote CVC deal formation as social ties validate the incumbent firm’s trustworthiness and the potential for productive collaboration as a result of technological links. Using a data set that integrates patent citations, hand-collected career histories, and infringement lawsuits, we tracked the investment pattern between 29 incumbents and 402 new ventures in the U.S. information technology industry and found support for our arguments.
Body composition predictors of therapy response in patients with primary extremity soft tissue sarcomas
Authors: De Amorim Bernstein Karen , Bos Stijn A , Veld Joyce , Lozano-Calderon Santiago A , Torriani Martin , Bredella Miriam A
Published: July 2017

Background

Recent studies have suggested that the quantity and quality of adipose tissue and muscle, assessed on non-contrast computed tomography (CT), may serve as imaging biomarkers of survival in patients with and without neoplasms.

Purpose

To assess body composition measures that could serve as predictors of therapy response in patients with extremity soft tissue sarcomas treated with radiation therapy and surgery.

Material and Methods

The study was IRB-approved. Sixty patients had a history of extremity soft tissue sarcoma and underwent FDG-PET/CT prior to radiation therapy and surgical resection. Cross-sectional areas and CT attenuation (HU) of abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and psoas muscle were assessed on non-contrast CT. Clinical information on predictors of tumor recurrence and post-surgical wound infections were recorded. Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine longitudinal associations between body composition and tumor recurrence/wound infections.

Results

Twenty-three tumor recurrences occurred over a follow-up period of 43 ± 35 months. Higher SAT and lower psoas attenuation were associated with tumor recurrence which remained significant after adjustment for covariates ( P ≤ 0.01). There were 13 post-surgical wound infections. Higher VAT and SAT attenuation were associated with post-surgical wound infections ( P < 0.04); however, VAT attenuation lost significance after adjustment for covariates.

Conclusion

Abdominal adipose tissue and psoas muscle attenuation assessed on non-contrast CT may predict tumor recurrence and post-surgical infections in patients with extremity soft tissue sarcomas.
A relational insight of brand personification in business-to-business markets
Authors: Gupta Suraksha , Melewar T. C. , Bourlakis Michael
Published: July 2017

Customers find it difficult to differentiate between competing products based on their functional aspects. The shortening life cycle of products due to quick adoption of technological innovations by competitors makes it difficult for them to identify products based on specifications. The contemporary academic literature related to relationship marketing and brand management is passionate about customer and consumer psychology but little attention has been given to the brand selection criteria of resellers as business customers of the brand. This paper combines branding and relationship marketing as two broad functions of marketing. The paper argues upon the role of human representatives of the brand as brand personified in managing these two functions of marketing in business-to-business markets. The proposal of the paper is to use human representatives as a tool for the execution of relationship marketing and branding strategies. The objective behind using human representatives is to maximize the mindshare of resellers towards the brand and create value for them beyond products and services.
Improved modal convergence using the assumed modes method for rods carrying various lumped elements
Authors: Cha Philip D , Ha Park Tae
Published: July 2017

In this paper, the assumed modes method is used to determine the modes of vibration of an arbitrarily supported uniform and nonuniform rods carrying various lumped elements, including a lumped mass, a grounded spring, a grounded viscous damper, and an undamped and damped oscillator. In applying the assumed modes method, the set of trial functions used in the expansion can be arbitrary as long as they satisfy the geometric boundary conditions of the system. In practice, the trial functions are often selected to correspond to the eigenfunctions of the bare uniform rod. Numerical experiments show that while this set of trial functions converges to the exact results, the rate of convergence can be exceedingly slow. In order to expedite modal convergence, the eigenfunctions are augmented with piecewise linear functions that capture the slope discontinuities of the mode shapes at the attachment locations due to the presence of the lumped elements. The results obtained using the two sets of trial functions are compared with those obtained exactly. It is shown that including the piecewise linear functions significantly improves the accuracy of the modes of vibration of the system while drastically reducing the computational time and effort.
History and Diagnostic Value of Antibodies to Citrullinated Proteins in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Peene I. , De Rycke L. , Baeten D. , Hoffman I. , Veys E.M. , De Keyser F.
Published: July 2017

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory joint disease characterized by the presence of autoantibodies. The best known autoantibody is the rheumatoid factor. Another group of antibodies directed against citrullinated epitopes is proven to be more specific for rheumatoid arthritis. This review gives an overview of the history of the different anti-citrullinated protein antibody detection methods and their diagnostic and prognostic properties in RA.
Macrophage-Targeted Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Demidova T. N. , Hamblin M. R.
Published: July 2017

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses light activatable molecules that after illumination produce reactive oxygen species and unwanted tissue destruction. PDT has dual selectivity due to control of light delivery and to some extent selective photosensitizer (PS) accumulation in tumors or other diseased tissue, additional targeted selectivity of PS for disease is necessary. The delivery of drugs to selected lesions can be enhanced by the preparation of targeted macromolecular conjugates that employ cell type specific targeting by ligand-receptor recognition. Macrophages and monocytes express a scavenger-receptor that is a high-capacity route for delivering molecules into endocytic compartments in a cell-type specific manner. We have shown that by attaching PS to scavenger-receptor ligands it is possible to get three logs of selective cell killing in macrophages while leaving non-macrophage cells unharmed. The capability to selectively kill macrophages has applications in treating cancer and in the detection and therapy of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque and possibly for autoimmune disease and some infections.
Response of ADA and Its Isoenzymes in Mice Infected by Trichinella Spiralis and Treated with Mimosine
Authors: Hitoglou S. , Frydas S. , Hatzistilianou M. , Pappa S. , Gougoustamou D. , Kotsis A.
Published: July 2017

Infections caused by the nematode Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) are chatacterized by an inflammatory response in the host. The aim of this study was to identify and evaluate markers for monitoring mice infected with T. spiralis and treated with or without mimosine. The markers that have been used were total and differential white blood cell counts, subpopulations of lymphocytes, serum tADA and its isoenzymes ADA1 and ADA2 activity. The study included 3 groups of BALB/c mice. Group A consisted of 16 healthy mice, Group B of 16 mice infected with T. spiralis and treated with saline, and Group C of 16 mice infected with T. spiralis and treated with mimosine. The measurements were made once per week for the first six weeks continuously following the infection. According to our results, leukocytosis, lymphocytosis and increased percentages of adhesion molecules and CD4 lymphocytes were present in groups B and C one week post-infection. Total ADA activity as well as ADA1 and ADA2 was higher in groups B and C versus group A from the first week post-infection. The levels of tADA activity, ADA1 and ADA2 were higher in group B compared to those of group C and the difference was statisticaly sigificant (p<0.05) during the 4th week post-infection. The majority of tADA activity, essential for an efficient immune response, was derived from ADA1 which may have been produced by infected tissues. The elevated activities of tADA and ADA1 may be sensitive markers for infection of T. spiralis and for monitoring the course of the infection.
Is there stimulant sensitivity in children?
Authors: Klein R. , Mannuzza S.
Published: July 2017

It has been suggested that exposure to stimulants alters the dopamine system and thus enhances sensitivity to stimulants and possibly other drugs. Sensitization has been induced experimentally in animals, especially in rats, and has been shown to be long-lasting. In addition, cross-sensitization across different compounds has been demonstrated. The animal data have raised concern that exposure to methylphenidate in childhood may enhance the risk for later abuse of stimulants and other drugs.

We review the evidence bearing on sensitization in children treated with stimulants and followed into adulthood. None of four clinic-based studies found an excess of drug abuse in children previously treated with stimulants. A school-based longitudinal study obtained a relationship between early stimulant treatment and later drug use, without controlling for clinical confounds. The single prospective-controlled study of children who received placebo or methylphenidate does not support the sensitization hypothesis.
Guidelines and algorithms for the use of methylphenidate in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Greenhill L. , Beyer D. H. , Finkleson J. , Shaffer D. , Biederman J. , Conners C. K. , Gillberg C. , Huss M. , Jensen P. , Kennedy J. L. , Klein R. , Rapoport J. , Sagvolden T. , Spencer T. , Swanson J. M. , Volkow N.
Published: July 2017

Objective:

To review published algorithms for guiding the use of methylphenidate (MPH) in the treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents.

Methods:

A consensus roundtable of 12 experts was convened to review the evidence for the safety and efficacy of MPH in the treatment of ADHD, as well as the published algorithms and practice guidelines for using MPH. The experts reviewed the algorithms for practicality and acceptability by clinicians.

Results:

Algorithms that included MPH commonly selected it as the initial medication to be employed in the treatment of children with ADHD. Factors involved included its high efficacy, good safety record, and the ubiquitous nature of its appearance in the ADHD treatment literature.

Conclusions:

MPH should be considered as the first medication to be used in a treatment algorithm for children and adolescents with ADHD.
Prevalence, Incidence, and Persistence of Postpartum Depression, Anxiety, and Comorbidity among Chinese Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Women: A Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors: Dennis Cindy-Lee , Brown Hilary K. , Wanigaratne Susitha , Fung Kenneth , Vigod Simone N. , Grigoriadis Sophie , Marini Flavia , Brennenstuhl Sarah
Published: July 2017

Objective:

Our objectives were to examine the prevalence and incidence of postpartum depressive, anxiety, and comorbid symptoms over the first postpartum year; the persistence of these symptoms; and the prevalence stratified by immigration status.

Method:

We conducted a longitudinal cohort study in Ontario, Canada. Participants were 571 Chinese recent immigrant, nonrecent immigrant, and Canadian-born women with live births in 2011 to 2014. Participants were assessed at 4, 12, and 52 weeks postpartum for the presence of possible and high depressive symptomatology (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS] >9 and >12, respectively), anxiety symptomatology (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory [STAI] >40), and comorbid symptomatology (EPDS >9 and STAI >40). Prevalence and incidence with 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

Results:

Prevalence rates were highest at 4 weeks and decreased across time, with possible depressive symptomatology most prevalent at most time points. Incidence rates at 12 and 52 weeks were generally similar. Of those with possible symptomatology at 4 weeks, 42.0% or less continued to have symptomatology at 12 weeks and 17.4% or less at 52 weeks. There were no differences in prevalence of any type of symptomatology between immigrant and Canadian-born Chinese women at 4 weeks, but at 12 and 52 weeks, most types of symptomatology were more common among recent and nonrecent immigrants.

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that Chinese immigrant women are a high-risk group for postpartum depressive and anxiety symptomatology. Future research should identify cultural and psychosocial factors associated with immigration that could be addressed in the system of care for postpartum immigrant women.
Do Ethical Leadership, Visibility, External Regulation, and Prosocial Impact Affect Unethical Behavior? Evidence From a Laboratory and a Field Experiment
Authors: Belle Nicola , Cantarelli Paola
Published: July 2017

This article investigates the effects that ethical leadership, visibility of task performance and conduct, external regulation, and prosocial impact have on revealed and observed preferences for unethical behavior in public administration settings. Experiment 1 engages university students in a laboratory experiment and observes misconduct in two tasks. Ethical messages and visibility reduced subjects’ dishonesty in declaring the outcome of the task that affected their pay but did not influence the self-reported performance in the exercise tied to raising donations. For the latter task, ethical leadership and visibility interacted negatively. Monetary incentives and prosocial impact increased individuals’ unethical behavior consistently across the two tasks. Experiment 2 is a discrete choice experiment exploring public sector workers’ preferences for misbehaving on the job. While ethical leadership and visibility did not affect their preferences, a significant financial gain and the opportunity to improve the life of many people increased the willingness to behave unethically.
Environmental Considerations for Severely Handicapped Individuals: The Needs and the Questions
Authors: Hutchins Margaret P. , Renzaglia Addle
Published: July 2017

Special learning environments for severely handicapped students can seldom be justified. Specially designed and often extravagantly costly physical space, which does not provide adequate opportunity for the generalization of functional skills to unmodified settings, should be viewed skeptically. The use of natural environments, without expensive or unnecessary modifications, is advocated.
Questions, Answers, and Research on the Education of Exceptional Children
Authors: Prehm Herbert J. , Mcloone Barbara B.
Published: July 2017

This article addresses three questions: What is research? What contribution has research made to special education? Why should I read research? Research is a process in which one asks questions, seeks answers to those questions in such a way that someone else could easily follow the same procedures, and shares the answers. The purpose of all research is to describe and to understand; special education research shares that purpose. Examples of research contributions to special education from medicine, psychology, and sociology are presented. Unique characteristics and contributions of special education research include the range of research methods used, the role of testing, the degree to which principles from parent disciplines are validated, and the reciprocal relationship that exists between researchers in special education and those in other disciplines. The purpose of reading research and supporting research endeavors is to accumulate knowledge as a basis for improving practice.
The Logic of Sample Selection: Who Represents What?
Authors: Keogh Barbara K. , Macmillan Donald L.
Published: July 2017

This article focuses on sampling problems related to the use of system-identified subjects in special education research. Differences in school district criteria and procedures for selection of pupils into special education programs for the mildly handicapped have resulted in limited generalizability of research findings across studies. Overlap between samples identified as LD and EMR is particularly noticeable. Suggested approaches to deal with these sampling problems are identified. These include the use of rationally defined subgroups, the statistical procedure of cluster analysis, and marker variables.
Construction of functional pancreatic artificial islet tissue composed of fibroblast-modified polylactic-co-glycolic acid membrane and pancreatic stem cells
Authors: Liu Liping , Tan Jing , Li Baoyuan , xie Qian , Sun Junwen , Pu Hongli , Zhang Li
Published: July 2017

Objective

To improve the biocompatibility between polylactic- co-glycolic acid membrane and pancreatic stem cells, rat fibroblasts were used to modify the polylactic- co-glycolic acid membrane. Meanwhile, we constructed artificial islet tissue by compound culturing the pancreatic stem cells and the fibroblast-modified polylactic- co-glycolic acid membrane and explored the function of artificial islets in diabetic nude mice.

Methods

Pancreatic stem cells were cultured on the fibroblast-modified polylactic- co-glycolic acid membrane in dulbecco's modified eagle medium containing activin-A, β-catenin, and exendin-4. The differentiated pancreatic stem cells combined with modified polylactic- co-glycolic acid membrane were implanted subcutaneously in diabetic nude mice. The function of artificial islet tissue was explored by detecting blood levels of glucose and insulin in diabetic nude mice. Moreover, the proliferation and differentiation of pancreatic stem cells on modified polylactic- co-glycolic acid membrane as well as the changes on the tissue structure of artificial islets were investigated by immunofluorescence and haematoxylin and eosin staining.

Results

The pancreatic stem cells differentiated into islet-like cells and secreted insulin when cultured on fibroblast-modified polylactic- co-glycolic acid membrane. Furthermore, when the artificial islet tissues were implanted into diabetic nude mice, the pancreatic stem cells combined with polylactic- co-glycolic acid membrane modified by fibroblasts proliferated, differentiated, and secreted insulin to reduce blood glucose levels in diabetic nude mice.

Conclusion

Pancreatic stem cells can be induced to differentiate into islet-like cells in vitro. In vivo, the artificial islet tissue can effectively regulate the blood glucose level in nude mice within a short period. However, as time increased, the structure of the artificial islets was destroyed due to the erosion of blood cells that resulted in the gradual loss of artificial islet function.
“Allow Me to Speak”
Authors: Silva-Martínez Elithet
Published: July 2017

Intimate partner violence is experienced by millions of women. The experience becomes complex when confronted in a different country, especially for Spanish-speaking Latina immigrants, representing a challenge in their path to survival. This ethnographic study was based in Chicana feminism and Mujerismo epistemology. From the Mujerista framework arises the concept of permítanme hablar and la lucha, which emphasizes the importance of the women’s narratives from their own contexts. Consequently, the need of reclaiming from their stories alternative forms of intervention by service providers and those who develop programs as well as social policies in favor of their communities.
Modified Pfeffer Questionnaire for Functional Assessment in Parkinson Disease
Authors: Almeida Kelson James , de Macêdo Lívio Pereira , Lemos de Melo Lobo Jofili Lopes Janine , Bor-Seng-Shu Edson , Campos-Sousa Raimundo Nonato , Barbosa Egberto Reis
Published: July 2017

Introduction:

It was proposed to modify the Pfeffer questionnaire (PQ) for functional assessment in patients with Parkinson disease (PD).

Aim:

To determine the cutoff score for diagnosis of functional impairment in patients with PD by modified PQ (mPQ).

Methods:

A total of 110 patients with PD were enrolled into the study, and a neuropsychological test battery was performed to assess their cognitive status. Regarding functional assessment, the mPQ has been applied, and their results were compared to the functional assessment by Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly adapted for use in Brazil (IQCODE-BR). The statistical analysis was accomplished through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve with evaluation of the area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity of the new cutoff point.

Results:

Eighty-nine patients with PD were evaluated with a mean age of 63.69 ± 9.14 years. Cognitive status categorization was 28.10% as normal, 44.94% as mild cognitive impairment, and 26.96% of patients as dementia associated with PD. The average score on PQ was 3.49 ± 4.79 and on the mPQ 2.56 ± 3.49. In IQCODE-BR, the average score was 6.75 ± 32.72. The ROC curve for the new cutoff point presented 47.4% sensitivity, 88.10% specificity, and 0.757 of area under the curve, with a standard deviation of 0.055 (95% confidence interval: 0.650-0.864).

Conclusion:

3.5 is proposed as the cutoff point to define functional impairment in patients with PD by mPQ.
Modeling of track geometry degradation and decisions on safety and maintenance: A literature review and possible future research directions
Authors: Higgins Christian , Liu Xiang
Published: July 2017

In a railroad track, the inherent and small geometrical deviations in the position of rails from their ideal design states constitute imperfections that can have a significant impact on the safety and the rate of degradation of the rail system. These deviations are measured by various technologies and further assessed using various algorithms and statistical techniques to quantify the condition of the system. This paper reviews the existing research regarding the collection of track geometry data, analysis of degradation, and the associated safety and maintenance decisions. The knowledge gaps in the existing literature are identified and possible future research directions are suggested. The review can be used as a reference by practitioners and researchers to determine optimal practices for assuring the safety of tracks.
Penciclovir: a review of its spectrum of activity, selectivity, and cross-resistance pattern
Authors: Boyd M. R. , Safrin S. , Kern E. R.
Published: July 2017

The antiherpesvirus agent penciclovir has been evaluated extensively in cell culture. The spectrum of activity of penciclovir against human herpesviruses is similar to that of acyclovir, both compounds having good activity against herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2 (HSV-1, HSV-2), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Like acyclovir, penciclovir has slight activity against cytomegalovirus (CMV). The susceptibility of recent clinical isolates was not influenced by geographical origin. The activity of penciclovir was examined in several antiviral assays (plaque reduction, virus antigen, virus yield, and viral DNA inhibition) and in many different host cells (fibroblast, epithelial-like, keratinocyte). The comparative activity of penciclovir and acyclovir depended on both the host cell and the assay and, while in certain circumstances penciclovir was more active than acyclovir, overall the activities of the two compounds were considered comparable. Both compounds were highly selective antiviral agents with minimal effects on a wide range of representative, proliferating human cells. The inhibition of a variety of acyclovir-resistant strains has been examined and, as expected, thymidine kinase-negative strains were resistant to both penciclovir and acyclovir. The majority of acyclovir-resistant HSV and VZV clinical strains were cross-resistant to penciclovir. However, certain acyclovir-resistant strains, some of which were of clinical origin and all of which expressed altered thymidine kinase or DNA polymerase, were susceptible to penciclovir. In addition, a series of foscarnet-resistant HSV isolates appeared to be susceptible to both penciclovir and acyclovir. These results led to the evaluation of penciclovir in further cell culture studies, and also in animal models. Furthermore, the mechanism of action of penciclovir has also been investigated. Since the oral absorption of penciclovir in animals was poor, an oral form, famciclovir, was selected which gave improved oral bioavailability of penciclovir.
Synchronization control based on novel error for a hybrid mechanism
Authors: Cao Yuanyuan , Gao Guoqin , Wu Xintong
Published: July 2017

For a bilaterally symmetric type hybrid mechanism used for automobile electro-coating conveying, the controller based on a novel synchronization error is proposed to improve the synchronization performance of the mechanism motion. The Jacobi matrix of the mechanism is calculated according to kinematic analysis, and the dynamic model is established by Lagrange method. Considering the structure and motion characteristics of the mechanism, a novel synchronization error is proposed. By combining cross-coupling control with sliding mode control, a novel synchronization controller based on the novel error is designed. The stability of the proposed algorithm is proved by Lyapunov stability theorem, and the convergence of the tracking error is proved with Barbalat’s Lemma. The simulation and experimental results show that the synchronization controller based on the novel error can not only have the superiority of designing the controllers in the task space but also avoid the problem of estimating the contour error when using contour error as the synchronization error.
Public Health Interventions: School Nurse Practice Stories
Authors: Anderson Linda J. W. , Schaffer Marjorie A. , Hiltz Cynthia , O’Leary Stacie A. , Luehr Ruth Ellen , Yoney Erika L.
Published: July 2017

This study describes and analyzes school nurses’ (SN) experiences with understanding and using public health interventions from the Public Health Intervention Wheel. The Wheel offers a model for naming interventions provided by SNs from a public health perspective. Research teams from academic and SN practice settings conducted six focus groups with school nurses from Minnesota. Participants were asked to share experiences through telling stories from their practice that represented a specific wedge of the Wheel. Researchers organized data by intervention; often stories represented more than one intervention. Stories represented all levels of practice. This study highlights important contributions of school nurses to promote the health of school populations through the use of Wheel interventions. The integration of Wheel interventions in the application of the Framework for 21st-Century School Nursing Practice™ provides SNs with a language to document and communicate their expert professional practice.
Automated vibration-based fault size estimation for ball bearings using Savitzky–Golay differentiators
Authors: Ismail Mohamed AA , Bierig Andreas , Sawalhi Nader
Published: July 2017

Vibration-based fault diagnosis has been utilized as a reliable method for identifying ball bearings health since the 1970s. Recently, there has been an increased research effort to develop methods for fault quantification with the aim of estimating the fault size to allow the service life of a ball bearing to be extended beyond the detection stage. These studies have shown that the vibration signal from a localized spall (e.g. fatigue defect) in a ball bearing exhibits features corresponding to two main events, namely, the entry into and the exit from the spall. The time span between these two events is correlated with the spall size. Studies have shown that the entry into the spall is the more challenging event to identify, which often requires extensive signal processing techniques. This paper introduces an automated vibration-based technique for estimating the size of a spall in a ball bearing under axial loading conditions similar to those of linear electro-mechanical actuators. This technique is based on the extraction of the entry/exit events from the vibrational jerk, which are numerically determined from accelerometer data. The differentiation of the acceleration data to estimate jerk signal is performed using a variant of Savitzky–Golay (SG) differentiators, which provide enhancement for the detection of the entry and exit points. Sensible spall size estimations have been achieved for 24 different scenarios of fault sizes, rotor speeds and loads measured on a test rig provided by DLR (German Aerospace Center).