bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Severe Weather Warning Communication: Factors Impacting Audience Attention and Retention of Information during Tornado Warnings
Authors: Drost Robert , Casteel Mark , Libarkin Julie , Thomas Stephen , Meister Matt
Published: June 2016

Weather hazards in the United States inflict both personal and economic tolls on the public. Communicating warnings about weather hazards is an important duty of TV weathercasters. Televised weather warnings are typically conveyed through live radar, live coverage, and warning scrolls. However, these traditional approaches may not be entirely effective given the limited attention some members of the public pay to these warnings. A study comparing individual responses to a traditional warning, an animated warning, and an audio warning was undertaken to evaluate the impact of delivery methods on viewer attention, retention, and preferences during viewing of severe weather warnings. A Tobii T60 eye tracker was used to document visual interactions with on-screen warnings and surveys were used to collect evidence of warning retention and preference. Demographic variables were also collected to describe the study population. Results indicate that viewers of the animated warning retained more pertinent information about the tornado warning than viewers of the traditional warning, and retention during the traditional warning was equivalent to that of the audio warning. In addition, gaze patterns for the traditional warning were much more diffuse than for the animated warning, suggesting that attention was more focused on the animation than the live video. In addition, modifications to reduce visual complexity of traditional warnings may positively impact viewer attention to individual warning elements. Future studies will consider the effectiveness of a hybrid warning containing both traditional and animated components. The current research study can be used to advance current severe weather warning communication techniques and increase public awareness during severe weather events.
Social Capital in Polish-German Migration Decision-Making
Authors: Kalter Frank , Will Gisela
Published: June 2016

In this article we use a combination of retrospective and prospective data from the Polish Migration Project to examine the effect of social capital on the likelihood of migrating to Germany. We derive hypotheses from social capital theory about how personal connections to people with migratory experience affect the probability of migration, and we specify models to be estimated using both the retrospective and prospective data. Estimates of retrospective event history models confirm prior findings about social capital’s influence on migration decisions, and these findings are also generally confirmed using prospective data, even when potentially confounding variables are controlled. The prospective data also enable estimation of a two-stage decision model in which people first come to consider migration as an option and then rationally consider whether to depart. The estimates suggest that weak social ties are especially influential in predicting whether migration is considered, while strong ties are important in the decision to move.
Legal Status, Gender, and Labor Market Participation of Senegalese Migrants in France, Italy, and Spain
Authors: Vickstrom Erik R. , González-Ferrer Amparo
Published: June 2016

Policymakers are understandably concerned about the integration of migrants into labor markets. This article draws on retrospective data from the MAFE-Senegal (Migration between Africa and Europe) survey to show that the effect of legal status on Senegalese migrants’ labor market participation in France, Italy, and Spain differs for men and women because of gendered immigration policies. We find that there is little association between Senegalese men’s legal status and their labor force participation. For Senegalese women, however, those who legally migrate to these countries for family reunification are more likely to be economically inactive upon arrival than women with other legal statuses. Family reunification does not preclude labor market participation entirely, however, as some of these women eventually transition into economic activity.
The Departed
Authors: Parrado Emilio A. , Flippen Chenoa A.
Published: June 2016

This article explores the impact of the 2007 recession and immigration enforcement policies on Latin American immigrants’ out-migration from the Durham, North Carolina, area—a new immigrant destination. Drawing on an original ethnosurvey collected in 2011, the analysis assesses the extent of out-migration over time, what precipitated the move, and whether individuals returned to their country of origin or migrated within the United States. We find that out-migration more than doubled after the 2007 recession and that migrants overwhelmingly returned to their home countries. While family considerations and accidents accounted for most of the departures before the recession, economic considerations became the dominant drivers of out-migration after 2007. Deportations also grew in number but accounted for a negligible share of all out-migration. Departures were more prevalent among immigrants from Mexico and those with lower educational attainment. Latin American migration, especially from Mexico, continues to be circular, and deportation is a relatively ineffective strategy for immigrant population control when compared to voluntary returns.
How Representative Are Snowball Samples? Using the Ethnosurvey to Study Guatemala-U.S. Migration
Authors: Lindstrom David P.
Published: June 2016

This analysis draws on binational data from an ethnosurvey conducted in Guatemala and in the United States in Providence, Rhode Island, to develop a refinement of the weighting scheme that the Mexican Migration Project (MMP) uses. The alternative weighting procedure distinguishes between temporary and settled migrants by using a question on household location in the Guatemala questionnaire that is not used in the MMP. Demographic characteristics and integration experiences of the most recent U.S. trip are used to assess the composition and representativeness of the U.S. sample. Using a composite index of migrant integration to compare the impact of alternative U.S. sample weights on point estimates, I find that although the U.S. sample is broadly representative across a range of background characteristics, the MMP sample weighting procedure biases estimates of migrant integration downward.
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy and Sepsis
Authors: Cappelletti Simone , Ciallella Costantino , Aromatario Mariarosaria , Ashrafian Hutan , Harding Sian , Athanasiou Thanos
Published: June 2016

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is characterized by a systolic dysfunction localized in the apical and medial aspect of the left ventricle. It is usually related to physical or emotional stress. Recent evidence highlighting the role of infection led us to analyze the links between TTC and sepsis. A systematic review of the literature was undertaken to assess any trends in clinical findings, diagnosis, and outcomes in such patients. We identified 23 selected papers reporting a total of 26 patients, having sepsis, in whom TTC occurred. For each case, we collected data identifying population characteristics, source of sepsis, clinical disease description, and the results of cardiovascular investigations. The majority of patients were females (n = 16), mean age was 62.8 (14.0 standard deviation) years, and clinical outcome was favorable in 92.3% of the cases once the management of sepsis was initiated. A better understanding of the mechanisms of sepsis-associated TTC may generate novel strategies to treat the complications of this cardiomyopathy and may even help predict and prevent its occurrence.
Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Microspectroscopy of 20th Century Russian Oil Paintings: Problem of Dating
Authors: Balakhnina Irina A. , Brandt Nikolay N. , Chikishev Andrey Yu , Grenberg Yurii I. , Grigorieva Irina A. , Kadikova Irina F. , Pisareva Svetlana A.
Published: June 2016

Analysis of the IR spectra of samples from 230 Russian oil paintings of the 20th century is used to propose a procedure for the threshold estimation of the age of paintings based on measured parameters (intensity ratios of spectral bands). The bands of compounds that are formed upon interaction of pigment (zinc white) with oil are used for dating.
Plume Dynamics of Laser-Produced Swine Muscle Tissue Plasma
Authors: Camacho Joaquin J. , Diaz Luis , Marin-Roldan Alicia , Moncayo Samuel , Caceres Jorge O.
Published: June 2016

We report on the plume dynamics of the plasma induced by laser ablation of a swine skeletal muscle tissue sample in different vacuum conditions. Pulses from a transversely excited atmospheric CO2 laser were focused onto a target sample and the induced plasma was allowed to expand in different air pressures. The expansion features were studied using fast photography of the overall visible emission by using a gated intensified charged coupled device. Free expansion and plume splitting were observed at different pressure levels. The expansion of the plasma plume front was analyzed using various expansion models and the velocity of the plume front was estimated. The effect of the number of accumulated laser shots on the crater volume at different ambient air pressures and an elemental analysis of the sample were performed using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis. The surface morphology of the irradiated surface showed that increasing the pressure of the ambient gas decreased the ablated mass, or in other words it reduced significantly the laser-target coupling.
Effects of repeated freeze–thaw cycles on endocrine parameters in plasma and serum
Authors: Hillebrand JJ , Heijboer AC , Endert E
Published: June 2016

Background

Repeated freezing and thawing of plasma (or serum) may influence the stability of plasma (or serum) constituents. Despite the alarming warnings from commercial manuals that freeze–thaw cycles affect the stability of hormones in plasma (or serum), surprisingly little, consistent information about this concept is available in literature.

Methods

We studied the stability of 15 endocrine parameters (adrenocorticotropic hormone, osteocalcin, plasma renin activity, α-subunits, cortisol binding globulin, glucagon, inhibin B, fT4, TT4, TT3, rT3, TBG, TSH, chromogranin A and thyroglobulin upon repeated freeze–thaw cycles in plasma (or serum) samples from 10 volunteers. Blood was collected by venipuncture and after centrifugation and aliquoting, all samples were frozen at −20℃. Aliquots were thawed up to four times and changes in concentrations of endocrine parameters were compared to baseline condition.

Results

Repeated freeze–thaw cycling resulted in significant and relevant increases of plasma renin activity and a small decrease of adrenocorticotropic hormone.

Conclusions

For most of the analysed endocrine parameters, we found no effects of multiple freeze–thaw cycles despite alarming notifications in assay manuals. Plasma renin activity was the only endocrine parameter that showed significant and relevant changes following repeated freeze–thaw cycling.
Coscienza, autonomia e resistenza. Note sulle prose politiche di Carlo Levi
Authors: Gaudio Alessandro
Published: June 2016

Si analizza la capacità di Carlo Levi di impiegare, all’interno dei suoi scritti di carattere più marcatamente politico, alcune espressioni peculiari al fine di risvegliarne la memoria storica, da un lato, e dall’altro di considerarne la piena attualità. È il caso, ad esempio, dei concetti di fascismo e antifascismo, di autonomia e resistenza, di coscienza e umanesimo, tutti utilissimi per fissare, prima di tutto con se stesso e molti anni prima di Eboli, le coordinate della sua dimensione morale e civile. Dimensione che non passa dalle secche dei codici e dei programmi usati dalla politica in quanto sistema di pratiche, perché carica, invece, di uno spirito che, finanche su un piano lessicale, rivede, approfondisce e modifica continuamente il suo livello di comprensione e di interpretazione. Nella riflessione dello scrittore piemontese, anche a distanza di decenni, il ruolo della coscienza, dell’autonomia e della resistenza permane immutato perché immutato è, purtroppo, il mondo senza vita dell’amministrazione, del moralismo e dell’ideologia fascista cui egli si oppose sempre con decisione.
The ecosocial approach in social work as a framework for structural social work
Authors: Närhi Kati , Matthies Aila-Leena
Published: June 2016

The article aims to deepen the understanding of structural social work from the point of view of the ecosocial framework. It analyses selected current international literature from the debate on the new wave of various interpretations of ecological social work. The debate shares four main themes: (a) a global perspective, (b) a critical view of professional social work, (c) a holistic ecosocial transition of society and (d) environmental and ecological justice. The ecosocial framework challenges structural social work to follow the principles of sustainable development and considers environmental issues as a crucial part of the goals and practical activities of structural social work.
Identification of Master Regulator Genes in Human Periodontitis
Authors: Sawle A.D. , Kebschull M. , Demmer R.T. , Papapanou P.N.
Published: June 2016

Analytic approaches confined to fold-change comparisons of gene expression patterns between states of health and disease are unable to distinguish between primary causal disease drivers and secondary noncausal events. Genome-wide reverse engineering approaches can facilitate the identification of candidate genes that may distinguish between causal and associative interactions and may account for the emergence or maintenance of pathologic phenotypes. In this work, we used the algorithm for the reconstruction of accurate cellular networks (ARACNE) to analyze a large gene expression profile data set (313 gingival tissue samples from a cross-sectional study of 120 periodontitis patients) obtained from clinically healthy ( n = 70) or periodontitis-affected ( n = 243) gingival sites. The generated transcriptional regulatory network of the gingival interactome was subsequently interrogated with the master regulator inference algorithm (MARINA) and gene expression signature data from healthy and periodontitis-affected gingiva. Our analyses identified 41 consensus master regulator genes (MRs), the regulons of which comprised between 25 and 833 genes. Regulons of 7 MRs ( HCLS1, ZNF823, XBP1, ZNF750, RORA, TFAP2C, and ZNF57) included >500 genes each. Gene set enrichment analysis indicated differential expression of these regulons in gingival health versus disease with a type 1 error between 2% and 0.5% and with >80% of the regulon genes in the leading edge. Ingenuity pathway analysis showed significant enrichment of 36 regulons for several pathways, while 6 regulons (those of MRs HCLS1, IKZF3, ETS1, NHLH2, POU2F2, and VAV1) were enriched for >10 pathways. Pathways related to immune system signaling and development were the ones most frequently enriched across all regulons. The unbiased analysis of genome-wide regulatory networks can enhance our understanding of the pathobiology of human periodontitis and, after appropriate validation, ultimately identify target molecules of diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic value.
Disruption, resilience, and vernacular heritage in an Indian city: Pune after the 1961 floods
Authors: Shinde Kiran A
Published: June 2016

This paper offers insights into production of vernacular architectural heritage that result from disruption caused by disaster such as a flood in a city. To understand the complexities surrounding vernacular heritage, this paper proposes a conceptual approach derived from Lefebvre’s theory of production of space constituting the triad of spatial practice, representation of spaces and representational space. The strength of this approach in explaining resilience and vernacular architectural heritage is illustrated by examining rehabilitation settlements that evolved after the devastating floods of 1961 in Pune (a city with a population of 4.5 million). The paper focuses on the rehabilitation process that was undertaken in response to the floods and relies on secondary data and primary field observations in the rehabilitated settlements. It was found that these settlements had twofold characteristics; externally, they directed the trajectory of growth and expansion of the city owing to their strategic location in the periphery around the old core, and internally within, they contributed to reshaping of urban form and vernacular architecture as the affected people reconstructed their houses and everyday lives. A significant contribution to the making of these rehabilitation spaces was the state’s provision of land for rehabilitation and encouragement to the mechanism of Cooperative Housing as a representation of space incorporating contemporary planning ideologies. These settlements comprised the ‘architecture of the dispossessed’ where material culture and imagery informed different and hybrid forms of houses but these were a departure from the past as they needed to accommodate rebuilding and expansion while serving aspirations of those affected.
Antenatal drug consumption: the burden of self-medication in a developing world setting
Authors: Adanikin Abiodun Idowu , Awoleke Jacob Olumuyiwa
Published: June 2016

This institutional-based cross-sectional study examines the burden of self-medication during pregnancy in a middle-income country setting and the impact on fetal wellbeing. Using a blend of open-ended and indication-oriented questionnaires, 346 pregnant women at term were interviewed about their pregnancy complaints and drug intake. Inferential statistical data analysis was employed with level of significance (α) set at 0.05. Excluding routine supplements and vaccinations, 251 (72.5%) women used medicines, of whom 79 (31.5%) had self-medicated. Consuming drugs without prescription was associated with increased US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) risk category (χ2 = 8.375; P = 0.015). There is therefore a need to scale up efforts towards educating women about the dangers of self-medication, while also introducing effective restrictive policies on over-the-counter drug sales.
Clinical, Psychosocial, and Demographic Factors Are Associated With Overweight and Obesity in Early Adolescent Girls With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Minges Karl E. , Whittemore Robin , Chao Ariana M. , Jefferson Vanessa , Murphy Kathryn M. , Grey Margaret
Published: June 2016

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to examine the differences in clinical, psychosocial, and demographic factors by sex and weight status.

Methods

Baseline data were analyzed from 318 adolescents (mean age = 12.3 ± 1.1 years, 55.0% female, 62.7% white) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) from a multisite clinical trial. Differences were examined between normal weight (body mass index ≥5th and <85th percentile) and overweight/obese (body mass index ≥85th percentile) boys and girls with T1D in clinical, psychosocial, and demographic factors. Descriptive and multiple logistic regression analyses were used.

Results

Overweight/obesity was prevalent (39.0%) and common in girls (42.6%) and boys (33.1%). In bivariate analyses, overweight/obese girls had parents with lower educational attainment, longer diabetes duration, and significantly worse self-management and psychosocial health as compared with normal weight girls. There were no differences between overweight/obese and normal weight girls in A1C, therapy type, race/ethnicity, or household income. No significant differences were found between normal weight and overweight/obese boys. In multivariate analysis, parental educational attainment (master or higher vs high school diploma or less) and perceived stress were significantly associated with overweight/obesity in girls. Longer duration of T1D bordered statistical significance.

Conclusions

Overweight/obesity is prevalent among adolescents with T1D. Clinical, psychosocial, and demographic factors are associated with overweight/obesity in girls but not boys. Greater attention to weight status and aspects of health that are germane to adolescents with T1D is warranted.
The Dynamics of Paid and Unpaid Activities Among People Aged 50–69 in Denmark, France, Italy, and England
Authors: Di Gessa Giorgio , Grundy Emily
Published: June 2016

In the context of the current policy emphasis on extending working lives, we investigate whether the relationship between participation in paid work, other formal, and informal activities among people aged 50–69 is complementary or competitive. We also investigate differences in associations between countries using comparable longitudinal data from Denmark, France, Italy, and England. We find positive associations between informal and formal engagement in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Paid work was negatively associated with formal and informal engagement, and respondents who stopped working were more likely to be engaged in formal (Denmark and France) and informal activities (England and Italy) at follow-up than respondents who continued working. However, the strongest predictor of formal and informal engagement at follow-up was baseline engagement. In the context of policy aims to extend working lives and broaden older people’s participation in other productive activities, new balances between work and other forms of engagement are still to be found.
Paternal mental health trajectory classes and early fathering experiences
Authors: Vänskä Mervi , Punamäki Raija-Leena , Tolvanen Asko , Lindblom Jallu , Flykt Marjo , Unkila-Kallio Leila , Tulppala Maija , Tiitinen Aila
Published: June 2016

A father’s mental health is important for family well-being, but research is scarce on paternal symptoms during the transition to fatherhood. This study identified fathers’ latent mental health trajectory classes from the pre- to postnatal period and examined their associations with early fathering experiences. It further analysed, whether a family’s infertility history was associated with mental health trajectory classes and moderated their effects on fathering experiences. Finnish fathers ( N = 773) reported psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire; GHQ-36) and depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory; BDI-13) in pregnancy (T1), and at 2 months (T2) and 12 months (T3) postpartum. They further reported their fathering experience (Parenting Stress Index; PSI-36) at T2 and T3. Results revealed five paternal mental health trajectory classes, differing in timing and course of symptoms across the pre- and postpartum: stable low (79%) and moderate increasing (9%) levels of symptoms, and prenatal (5%), early fatherhood (3%) and heterogeneous high levels of (4%) problems. The trajectory classes were associated with fathering experiences within parental, interactive and child domains, across the child’s first year. The stable low levels of symptoms-class showed the most positive experiences and the heterogeneous high levels of problems-class the most negative ones; mental health problems in the early fatherhood-class reported negative fathering experience, but only when the child was 2 months old. A family’s infertility history neither showed any significant association with trajectory classes nor moderated their impact on early fathering, supporting the growing evidence that infertility treatments do not place an additional burden on early fatherhood.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Resolution in Hypopnea‐ versus Apnea‐Predominant Children after Adenotonsillectomy
Authors: Tang Alice L. , Cohen Aliza P. , Benke James R. , Stierer Kevin D. , Stanley James , Ishman Stacey L.
Published: June 2016

Objective

Given that 30% to 40% of children have persistent obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) after adenotonsillectomy, we evaluated whether children with hypopnea‐predominant OSA were more likely to have complete disease resolution after adenotonsillectomy than those with apnea‐predominant disease. We also identified risk factors that might modify the relationship between disease resolution and polysomnographic event type (ie, hypopnea vs apnea).

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Tertiary pediatric hospital.

Subjects/Methods

Consecutive 1‐ to 18‐year‐old typically developing children diagnosed with OSA from March 2011 to December 2012 underwent adenotonsillectomy and completed pre‐ and postoperative polysomnography within 1 year of surgery.

Results

Fifty‐eight children were included (27 female; mean ± SD: age, 5.6 ± 3.1 years; body mass index z score, 1.1 ± 1.7). Overall, adenotonsillectomy resulted in significant improvement in obstructive apnea‐hypopnea index (oAHI) from 23.3 ± 40.0 to 4.3 ± 8.2 events per hour (P <. 001), obstructive apnea index (5.1 ± 7.4 to 0.4 ± 0.8, P <. 001), and obstructive hypopnea index (oHI; 18.1 ± 37.5 to 3.7 ± 8.1, P <. 001). There was complete response (oAHI <1.0 event/h) in 24 of 58 patients (41%) but no difference by event type (P =. 11). On univariate analysis, only race, sex, oxygen saturation nadir, and oHI were predictive of response to adenotonsillectomy, while multivariate analysis found that prematurity, age, oxygen saturation nadir, oHI, obstructive apnea index, and oAHI were predictive. Event type was not significant, even in a model controlling for age, race, sex, prematurity, asthma, body mass index, and baseline polysomnographic variables.

Conclusion

This small study demonstrated no difference in disease resolution between children with hypopnea‐ and apnea‐predominant OSA who underwent adenotonsillectomy. Additionally, adenotonsillectomy significantly improved OSA in most children, and high preoperative oAHI was associated with persistent postoperative OSA.
Electrophysiologic Evaluation of the Facial Nerve and Blink Reflex Pathways in Asymptomatic Cochlear Implant Users
Authors: Edizer Deniz Tuna , Adatepe Turgut , Uzun Nurten , Yigit Ozgur , Gunduz Aysegul , Yildiz Muhammet , Celebi Ozlem Onerci
Published: June 2016

Objective

To evaluate the functional integrity of the facial nerve and blink reflex (BR) pathways in asymptomatic patients who underwent cochlear implantation (CI).

Study Design

Case series with planned data collection.

Setting

Tertiary referral center.

Subjects and Methods

Twenty‐four deafened patients with unilateral CI who had no complications were enrolled. Bilateral compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) of the facial nerve were recorded over the nasalis and occipitalis muscles, whereas BR responses were recorded over the orbicularis oculi after supraorbital nerve stimulation. All recordings were performed when the external part of the implant was in place (CIp) and after its removal (CIr), except occipitalis recordings, which were performed only after removal. The amplitude and latency of CMAP were measured to evaluate the axonal integrity of the zygomatic and posterior branches of the facial nerve. Latency, amplitude, and duration of the BR were measured to investigate the integrity of trigeminofacial connections.

Results

The amplitude and latency of CMAP over the nasalis muscle were bilaterally normal, and the difference between CIp and CIr was not statistically significant. No CMAP of the occipitalis muscle was recorded in 4 (16.7%) patients, and low‐amplitude responses were recorded on the implant side of 20 (83.3%). Amplitudes of the contralateral R2 response were higher in the CIp condition versus the CIr condition (P =. 031). There were no differences among other BR components.

Conclusion

During functioning of the CI system, excitability of the facial circuit may increase either through the facial motor nucleus or through removal of the inhibitory effect of the descending pathway.
The framing of Australian childcare policy problems and their solutions
Authors: Cook Kay , Corr Lara , Breitkreuz Rhonda
Published: June 2016

Using discursive policy analysis, we analyse recent Australian childcare policy reform. By examining the policy framings of two successive governments and a childcare union, we demonstrate how the value of care work was strategically positioned by each of the three actors, constructing differing problems with different policy solutions. We argue that women’s care work was recognised by one government as valuable and professional when it aligned with an educational investment framing of enhanced productivity. This framing was capitalised upon by a union campaign for ‘professional’ wages, resulting in a government childcare worker wage subsidy. However, prior to implementation, a change of government re-framed the problem. The new government cast mandatory quality standards as placing unnecessary financial pressure on families and business. Within this frame, the remedy was to instead subsidise employer staff-development costs without increasing workers’ wages.
Transforming Rehabilitation
Authors: Burke Lol , Collett Steve
Published: June 2016

After some 30 years of using probation as an object of neoliberal economic and ideological thinking in order to redesign the delivery of what was a long established locally accountable public service, a radically new delivery landscape has been fashioned within the criminal justice system of England and Wales. Whilst much of the ideological and practical leg work had been undertaken by New Labour during their three terms in office (1997−2010), further conceptualization and meaning to what a Rehabilitation Revolution might look like was quickly taken forward by the incoming Coalition Government from May 2010 in the guise of the Transforming Rehabilitation project. Offender rehabilitation and public protection now face some severe challenges in the form of fragmentation, local accountability, communication, staff morale and occupational status and culture. As Transforming Rehabilitation receives a further injection of momentum from the Prime Minister, David Cameron, in his February 2016 vision for the future operation and role of prisons, we are left to ponder where this leaves probation in the context of reducing resources and increasingly scarce social provision and welfare benefits.
The Collateral Consequences of Sex Offender Management Policies: Views From Professionals
Authors: Call Corey
Published: June 2016

In this study, the perceptions of community corrections professionals and clinical specialists toward the collateral consequences of current sex offender management policies were explored and contrasted. In addition, potential influencing factors of these perceptions were examined. Results indicate high levels of belief that sex offenders experience a variety of collateral consequences upon reentry; however, community corrections professionals are significantly less likely to believe that sex offenders experience collateral consequences than clinical specialists. Furthermore, few demographic variables were found to significantly influence the perceptions of the sample. Implications for the management of sex offenders are discussed.
Diet-induced obesity alters dural CGRP release and potentiates TRPA1-mediated trigeminovascular responses
Authors: Marics Balázs , Peitl Barna , Varga Angelika , Pázmándi Kitti , Bácsi Attila , Németh József , Szilvássy Zoltán , Jancsó Gábor , Dux Mária
Published: June 2016

Background

Clinical studies suggest a link between obesity and the primary headache disorder migraine. In our study we aimed to reveal the effect of obesity on meningeal nociceptor function in rats receiving a high-fat, high-sucrose diet.

Methods

Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) receptor activation-induced changes in meningeal blood flow, release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from trigeminal afferents and TRPA1 protein expression in the trigeminal ganglia were measured in control and obese rats. Metabolic parameters of the animals were assessed by measuring glucose and insulin homeostasis as well as plasma cytokine concentrations.

Results

The present experiments revealed an enhanced basal and TRPA1 receptor agonist-induced CGRP release from meningeal afferents of obese insulin-resistant rats and an attenuated CGRP release to potassium chloride. Obesity was also associated with an augmented vasodilatation in meningeal arteries after dural application of the TRPA1 agonist acrolein, a reduction in TRPA1 protein expression in the trigeminal ganglia and elevations in circulating proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 in addition to increased fasting blood glucose and insulin concentrations.

Conclusions

Our results suggest trigeminal sensitisation as a mechanism for enhanced headache susceptibility in obese individuals after chemical exposure of trigeminal nociceptors.
Evaluation of key driver categories influencing sustainable waste management development with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP): Serbia example
Authors: Tot Bojana , Srđević Bojan , Vujić Bogdana , Russo Mário Augusto Tavares , Vujić Goran
Published: June 2016

The problems of waste management have become increasingly complex in recent decades. The increasing amount of generated waste, adopted legislation in the field of waste management, administrative issues, economic impacts and social awareness are important drivers in achieving a sustainable waste management system. However, in practice, there are many other drivers that are often mutually in conflict. The purpose of this research is to define the precise driver and their corresponding sub-drivers, which are relevant for developing a waste management system and, on the basis of their importance, to determine which has the predominant influence on the slow development of a waste management system at the national and regional level, within the Republic of Serbia and similar countries of southeast Europe. This research presents two levels of decision making: the first is a pair-wise comparison of the drivers in relation to the goal and the second is a pair-wise comparison of the sub-drivers in relation to the driver and in relation to the goal. Results of performed analyses on the waste management drivers were integrated via the decision-making process supported by an analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The final results of this research shows that the Institutional–Administrative driver is the most important for developing a sustainable waste management system.
New Reliability and Validity Evidence of the Emotional Intelligence Scale
Authors: Zhoc Karen C. H. , Li Johnson C. H. , Webster Beverley J.
Published: June 2016

Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS) is a popular EI measure. Yet, it has been criticized for an unclear factor structure, and its psychometric properties were mainly examined in the Western context. This study was to evaluate its psychometric properties based on 1,724 Hong Kong undergraduate students, including its (a) factor structure, (b) internal consistency, and (c) criterion validity. We compared different factor structures reported in the literature. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results supported a six-factor structure, which is tallied with Salovey and Mayer’s EI conceptualization. A multigroup CFA also rendered the structure as gender invariant. The scale was internally consistent with high McDonald’s omega coefficients. Significant association between EI and grade point average (GPA) was revealed in the faculties with people-oriented studies. Furthermore, EI was correlated with social, cognitive, and self-growth outcomes and satisfaction of university experience. The study contributes to clarify the factor structure and provides new reliability and validity evidence of the EIS in the Eastern context.
An Inadvertent Concurrent Replication
Authors: Lemons Christopher J. , King Seth A. , Davidson Kimberly A. , Berryessa Teresa L. , Gajjar Shimul A. , Sacks Lia H.
Published: June 2016

Replication is a critical aspect of scientific inquiry that presents a variety of challenges to researchers, even under the best of conditions. We conducted a review of replication rates in special education journals similar to the review conducted by Makel et al. in this issue. Unknowingly conducting independent reviews allowed for an unexpected opportunity to examine how two teams of researchers attempted to replicate a previously published study and explore similarities and differences between the outcomes. In our review, we identified 70 replication studies published between 1997 and 2013, indicating that 0.41% of published articles in special education journals are replication studies. Similar to findings reported by Makel et al., our review indicates that most replications are successful and that successful replications are more likely when author overlap occurs. Although there are similar patterns in the two data sets, an examination of exact agreement on article inclusion revealed an agreement rate of 15.2%. Possible explanations for the discrepancy and implications for future directions are provided.
Promoting workplace health and safety in urban public space: reflections from Durban, South Africa
Authors: Alfers Laura , Xulu Phumzile , Dobson Richard
Published: June 2016

This article is a critical reflection on the Phephanathi Platform, an ongoing collaboration among organizations of informal traders working in the Warwick Junction markets in Durban, South Africa and their support organizations. The purpose of the Platform is to experiment with the extension of occupational health and safety to informal workers working in urban public space through the establishment of an integrated urban health platform. The article is concerned not only with the practical aspects of the Platform, but also assesses the Platform as a political strategy. It focuses on two key pieces of work – the design and rollout of first aid stands into the markets, and the attempt to institutionalize occupational health and safety for informal workers within the local municipality. The article concludes with a meta-reflection on the work, elaborating on some of the important questions that are raised and drawing out the implications for integrating occupational health and safety into the urban environment.
Ethical competency of nurse leaders: A qualitative study
Authors: Barkhordari-Sharifabad Maasoumeh , Ashktorab Tahereh , Atashzadeh-Shoorideh Foroozan
Published: June 2016

Background:

Ethics play an important role in activating the manpower and achieving the organizational goals. The nurse leaders’ ethical behavior can promote the care quality by affecting the nurses’ performance and bringing up several positive consequences for the organization.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to identify and describe the ethical competency of nurse leaders in cultural domains and the working conditions of the Iranian healthcare setting to arrive at a more comprehensive and specific perspective.

Methods:

This was a qualitative conventional content analysis study conducted with the participation of 14 nurse leaders at various levels. The participants were selected using the purposive sampling method, and the required data were collected using deep interview and also semi-structured interview. A deductive method of content analysis was applied in data analysis.

Ethical considerations:

This study was conducted in accord with the principles of research ethics and national rules and regulations relating to informed consent and confidentiality.

Findings:

Data analysis resulted in 17 subcategories that were subsequently grouped into three major categories including empathetic interactions, ethical behavior, and exalted manners.

Discussion:

Our findings are consistent with previous ones, yet presenting a more complete knowledge about aspects of ethical competency of nurse leaders. The nurse leaders can provide a proper behavioral model for the work environment through the use of new information.

Conclusion:

The nurse leaders introduced various aspects of ethical competency, so the leaders’ ethical competency could be promoted via planning and managing some ethical development programs. More future research is needed regarding the experiences of the subordinates and other related parties.
A New Approach for the Cooperation between Academia and Industry: An Empirical Analysis of the Triple Helix in East China
Authors: Chen Feiyu , Wu Chong , Yang Weining
Published: June 2016

The triple helix of university–industry–government relations has been accepted as a significant determiner of innovation. For the economic progress of the industrialised nations, the cooperation between academia and industry is terribly crucial. For the purpose of profit maximisation by means of such cooperation, achieving a healthy and productive cooperation is of vital importance. Science and technology (S&T) cooperation platform is an original cooperative mode in East China, which is similar to the technology transfer office. This article researches the cooperation relation and makes a thorough inquiry of the influence of cooperation on high-tech firms. Based on an investigation of 552 high-tech firms and 56 universities, we found that the high-tech firms can improve economic situation via the cooperation with universities on the platform. Moreover, principal discoveries demonstrate that the economic performance of high-tech firms is positively related with the co-operation projects. Furthermore, with a view to making policies and raising probable improvements to cooperative efficiency between academia and industry, this study also finds that high-tech firms selecting distinct cooperation models on the platform will bring different effects on the economic performance of firms.
Book Review: Atul Joshi, Winning a Billion Consumers: A Disruptive Approach for Success in India
Authors: Tandon Neelam
Published: June 2016

Atul Joshi, Winning a Billion Consumers: A Disruptive Approach for Success in India. New Delhi: SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd, 2016, 261 pp., ₹450 (ISBN: 978-93-515-0557-0)
Book Review: Pritam Singh, Asha Bhandarker and Snigdha Rai, The Leadership Odyssey: From Darkness to Light
Authors: Mohapatra Mamta
Published: June 2016

Pritam Singh, Asha Bhandarker and Snigdha Rai, The Leadership Odyssey: From Darkness to Light. New Delhi: Response Books (Division of SAGE Publications), 2016, 322 pp. ₹ 975. (ISBN: 978-93-515-0736-9 [HB])
Rural and Urban Differences in Stage at Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer in Hunan Province, China
Authors: Li Liuxun , Chen Elaina Y. , Zha Mingjiang , Zheng Xiaoping , Long Zhi , He Leye
Published: June 2016

This study set out to investigate whether patients in rural areas tend to have more advanced prostate cancer (PCa) than urban areas in Hunan province, define possible factors related to the stage at diagnosis of PCa between rural and urban areas, and to determine the potential correlations between these factors and PCa stage at time of diagnosis. Data were used from a retrospective database of 490 PCa patients from the Third XiangYa hospital. Rural and urban differences in PCa stage, age, delay in diagnosis, prostate specific antigen (PSA) values, PSA screening, and metabolic syndrome were described and analyzed. Pearson correlation, Spearman correlation, and multiple linear regression were performed to examine the correlations between factors which may attribute to regional differences and stage. The percentage of advanced stage in rural cases was higher than in urban cases. Moreover, younger age, longer delay in diagnosis, less metabolic syndrome, and fewer PSA screening prior to diagnosis were observed in rural patients compared with the urban patients. Current study revealed that rural patients were more likely to have advanced PCa stage and PSA values at time of diagnosis. Perhaps, most importantly, these data demonstrated that both rural and urban patients in Hunan province suffered from an unacceptable frequency of advanced PCa, presumably from lack of routine PSA screening.
High School Students’ Self-Reported Use of School Clinics and Nurses
Authors: Harper Christopher R. , Liddon Nicole , Dunville Richard , Habel Melissa A.
Published: June 2016

Access to school health clinics and nurses has been linked with improved student achievement and health. Unfortunately, no studies have examined how many students report using school clinics or nurses and for which services. This study addressed this gap with data from a nationally representative sample of 15- to 25-year-olds. Respondents who reported being in high school were provided a list of services and asked whether they had gone to a school nurse or clinic for any of the listed services. Nearly 90% reported having access to a school clinic or nurse. Among students with access, 65.6% reported using at least one service. Non-White students and younger students were more likely to report having access to a clinic or nurse. These results show many students have access to clinics or nurses and are using these services, although not uniformly for all services.
The Sensitivity of Adolescent School-Based Hearing Screens Is Significantly Improved by Adding High Frequencies
Authors: Sekhar Deepa L. , Zalewski Thomas R. , Beiler Jessica S. , Czarnecki Beth , Barr Ashley L. , King Tonya S. , Paul Ian M.
Published: June 2016

High frequency hearing loss (HFHL), often related to hazardous noise, affects one in six U.S. adolescents. Yet, only 20 states include school-based hearing screens for adolescents. Only six states test multiple high frequencies. Study objectives were to (1) compare the sensitivity of state school-based hearing screens for adolescents to gold standard sound-treated booth testing and (2) consider the effect of adding multiple high frequencies and two-step screening on sensitivity/specificity. Of 134 eleventh-grade participants (2013–2014), 43 of the 134 (32%) did not pass sound-treated booth testing, and 27 of the 43 (63%) had HFHL. Sensitivity/specificity of the most common protocol (1,000, 2,000, 4,000 Hz at 20 dB HL) for these hearing losses was 25.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] = [13.5, 41.2]) and 85.7% (95% CI [76.8, 92.2]), respectively. A protocol including 500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, 6,000 Hz at 20 dB HL significantly improved sensitivity to 76.7% (95% CI [61.4, 88.2]), p < .001. Two-step screening maintained specificity (84.6%, 95% CI [75.5, 91.3]). Adolescent school-based hearing screen sensitivity improves with high frequencies.
Effects of Liposomal Bupivacaine With Adductor Canal Block on Pain and Functional Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Phillips Jennifer , Doshi Amish
Published: June 2016

Background: Liposomal bupivacaine (LB) has an extended duration of action compared to bupivacaine and may allow patients to reach physical therapy (PT) goals faster than traditional methods. Objective: To determine the effect of a periarticular LB mixture with adductor canal blockade (ACB) on postoperative opioid requirements, pain scores, and functional outcomes in patients undergoing primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed; 86 patients received the LB mixture + ACB, and 86 historical controls received nonliposomal bupivacaine and femoral nerve block (FNB). Results: There was no effect of group on mean postoperative pain scores ( P = 0.144). There was an effect of group on equivalent morphine dose ( P = 0.008). Pain scores and morphine doses changed over time in both groups, but there was no time-group interaction. Compared with controls, patients in the LB mixture group were more likely to require minimal assistance or better when going from a sitting to a standing position by postoperative day 1 (POD; 99% vs 81%, P = 0.0001) and POD 2 (90% vs 77%, P = 0.0212). There were no differences between groups with regard to discharge disposition or safety outcomes. Use did not affect LOS for patients discharged to an extended care facility but did reduce LOS for those discharged home. Conclusions: The LB mixture was effective in reducing opioid use and improving functional outcomes compared with historical controls.