bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Breath-to-breath variability of exhaled CO2 as a marker of lung dysmaturity in infancy
Authors: Fouzas Sotirios , Theodorakopoulos Ilias , Delgado-Eckert Edgar , Latzin Philipp , Frey Urs
Published: September 2017

The concept of diffusional screening implies that breath-to-breath variations in CO2 clearance, when related to the variability of breathing, may contain information on the quality and utilization of the available alveolar surface. We explored the validity of the above hypothesis in a cohort of young infants of comparable postmenstrual age but born at different stages of lung maturity, namely, in term-born infants ( n = 128), preterm-born infants without chronic lung disease of infancy (CLDI; n = 53), and preterm infants with moderate/severe CLDI ( n = 87). Exhaled CO2 volume (VE,CO2) and concentration (FE,CO2) were determined by volumetric capnography, whereas their variance was assessed by linear and nonlinear variability metrics. The relationship between relative breath-to-breath change of VE,CO2 (ΔVE,CO2) and the corresponding change of tidal volume (ΔVT) was also analyzed. Nonlinear FE,CO2 variability was lower in CLDI compared with term and non-CLDI preterm group ( P < 0.001 for both comparisons). In CLDI infants, most of the VE,CO2 variability was attributed to the variability of VT ( r2 = 0.749), whereas in term and healthy preterm infants this relationship was weaker ( r2 = 0.507 and 0.630, respectively). The ΔVE,CO2 − ΔVT slope was less steep in the CLDI group (1.06 ± 0.07) compared with non-CLDI preterm (1.16 ± 0.07; P < 0.001) and term infants (1.20 ± 0.10; P < 0.001), suggesting that the more dysmature the infant lung, the less efficiently it eliminates CO2 under tidal breathing conditions. We conclude that the temporal variation of CO2 clearance may be related to the degree of lung dysmaturity in early infancy.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Young infants exhibit appreciable breath-to-breath CO2 variability that can be quantified by nonlinear variability metrics and may reflect the degree of lung dysmaturity. In infants with moderate/severe chronic lung disease of infancy (CLDI), the variability of the exhaled CO2 is mainly driven by the variability of breathing, whereas in term-born and healthy preterm infants this relationship is less strong. The slope of the relative CO2-to-volume change is less steep in CLDI infants, suggesting that dysmature lungs are less efficient in eliminating CO2 under tidal breathing conditions.
Structure-Function Analysis of the Periplasmic Escherichia coli Cyclophilin PpiA in Relation to Biofilm Formation
Authors: Skagia Aggeliki , Vezyri Eleni , Grados Konstantinos , Venieraki Anastasia , Karpusas Michael , Katinakis Panagiotis , Dimou Maria
Published: September 2017

The presence of peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerases (PPIases, EC: 5.2.1.8) in all domains of life indicates their biological importance. Cyclophilin PpiA, present in the periplasm of gram-negative bacteria, possesses PPIase activity but its physiological functions are still not clearly defined. Here, we demonstrate that the ΔppiA deletion strain from Escherichia coli exhibits an increased ability for biofilm formation and enhanced swimming motility compared to the wild-type strain. To identify structural features of PpiA which are necessary for the negative modulation of biofilm formation, we constructed a series of mutant PpiA proteins using a combination of error-prone and site-directed mutagenesis approaches. We show that the negative effect of PpiA on biofilm formation is not dependent on its PPIase activity, since PpiA mutants with a reduced PPIase activity are able to complement the ΔppiA strain during biofilm growth.
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: A Case Involving the Scalp - Clinical and Videodermoscopic Findings
Authors: Sánchez Cárdenas Carlos Daniel , Álvarez Luna Yolanda Judith , Bello Hernández Yesenia , Asz Sigall Daniel , Arenas Guzmán Roberto
Published: September 2017

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a worldwide infectious disease caused by flagellate protozoa of the genus Leishmania. In America, the species most commonly responsible for CL are L. mexicana and L. brasiliensis. Usually, in America, it is transmitted by sand flies mainly of the genus Lutzomyia and Psychodopygus. CL most commonly affects exposed areas and is characterized by an erythematous infiltrated and ulcerated papular or nodular lesion. We report a 28-year-old male, with a 6-month history and a previous trip to the forest in the south of Mexico. He presented with an asymptomatic erythematous plaque on his scalp, with slow and progressive nodular lesions with central crusted ulceration, with a raised and well-defined border. On videodermoscopy, we observed erythematous gummy lesions, yellowish scabs, and white star, dotted, hairpin, and glomerular patterns of vessels.
Chromosomal Microarray Analysis in Fetuses with Growth Restriction and Normal Karyotype: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Borrell Antoni , Grande Maribel , Pauta Montse , Rodriguez-Revenga Laia , Figueras Francesc
Published: September 2017

Objective: To perform a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis to estimate the incremental yield of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) over karyotyping in fetal growth restriction (FGR). Methods: This was a systematic review conducted in accordance with the PRISMA criteria. All articles identified in PubMed, Ovid Medline, and ISI Web of Knowledge (Web of Science) from January 2009 to November 2016 describing pathogenic copy number variants (CNVs) in fetuses with growth restriction were included. Case reports were excluded. Risk differences were pooled to estimate the overall and stratified CMA incremental yield. Results: Ten studies with full data available met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Combined data from these studies revealed a 4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1-6%) incremental yield of CMA over karyotyping in nonmalformed growth-restricted fetuses, and a 10% (95% CI 6-14%) incremental yield in FGR when associated with fetal malformations. The most frequently found pathogenic CNVs were 22q11.2 duplication, Xp22.3 deletion, and 7q11.23 deletion (Williams-Beuren syndrome), particularly in isolated FGR. Conclusion: The use of genomic CMA provides a 4% incremental yield of detecting pathogenic CNVs in fetuses with isolated growth restriction and normal karyotype.
Factors Affecting Stereotactic Accuracy in Image-Guided Deep Brain Stimulator Electrode Placement
Authors: Ko Andrew L. , Ibrahim Aly , Magown Philippe , Macallum Rebecca , Burchiel Kim J.
Published: September 2017

Background/Aims: Intraoperative imaging allows near-real-time assessment of stereotactic accuracy during implantation of deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes. Such technology can be used to examine factors impacting stereotactic error. Methods: Intraoperative CT imaging was reviewed in patients undergoing DBS placement at Oregon Health and Sciences University. Coordinates of the target electrode were compared to the operative plan to characterize the magnitude and direction of stereotactic error with respect to side of implantation, target, and electrode approach angles. Results: One hundred sixty-nine leads in 94 patients were examined. Targets were GPi (n = 86), STN (n = 31), and Vim (n = 52). The average Euclidean error was 1.63 mm (SD 0.87). The error magnitude was higher for Vim (1.95 mm) than for GPi (1.44 mm), while STN (1.65 mm) did not differ from either Vim or GPi (ANOVA: F = 6.15, p = 0.003). Electrodes targeting Vim and STN were significantly more likely to deviate medially compared to those targeting GPi (ANOVA: F = 9.13, p < 0.001). The coronal approach angle affected the error when targeting Vim (ρ = 0.338, p = 0.01). These findings were confirmed during multivariate analyses. Conclusions: This study shows a significant effect of target on the accuracy of electrode placement for DBS. Targeting Vim results in a greater Euclidean error and a greater medial deviation off target. These systematic deviations should be taken into account during electrode implantation.
Reflectance Confocal Microscopy as New Diagnostic Tool in Folliculotropic Mycosis Fungoides
Authors: Fabbrocini Gabriella , Mazzella Caterina , Cantelli Mariateresa , Baldo Antonello , Russo Daniela , De Rosa Gaetano , Monfrecola Giuseppe
Published: September 2017

We present a case of folliculotropic mycosis fungoides (FMF), a variant of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma which particularly affects hair follicles. FMF can imitate a wide variety of otherwise benign dermatoses, so it poses major diagnostic obstacles both for the dermatologist as well as the dermatopathologist. In our case, in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) was very important for guiding the skin biopsy site selection. For this reason, RCM can reduce the number of unsuccessful histopathological examinations and increase the diagnostic accuracy for different skin dermatoses.
Modeling Major Adverse Outcomes of Pediatric and Adult Patients With Congenital Heart Disease Undergoing Cardiac Catheterization
Authors: Jayaram Natalie , Spertus John A. , Kennedy Kevin F. , Vincent Robert , Martin Gerard R. , Curtis Jeptha P. , Nykanen David , Moore Phillip M. , Bergersen Lisa
Published: September 2017

Background:

Risk standardization for adverse events after congenital cardiac catheterization is needed to equitably compare patient outcomes among different hospitals as a foundation for quality improvement. The goal of this project was to develop a risk-standardization methodology to adjust for patient characteristics when comparing major adverse outcomes in the NCDR’s (National Cardiovascular Data Registry) IMPACT Registry (Improving Pediatric and Adult Congenital Treatment).

Methods:

Between January 2011 and March 2014, 39 725 consecutive patients within IMPACT undergoing cardiac catheterization were identified. Given the heterogeneity of interventional procedures for congenital heart disease, new procedure-type risk categories were derived with empirical data and expert opinion, as were markers of hemodynamic vulnerability. A multivariable hierarchical logistic regression model to identify patient and procedural characteristics predictive of a major adverse event or death after cardiac catheterization was derived in 70% of the cohort and validated in the remaining 30%.

Results:

The rate of major adverse event or death was 7.1% and 7.2% in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. Six procedure-type risk categories and 6 independent indicators of hemodynamic vulnerability were identified. The final risk adjustment model included procedure-type risk category, number of hemodynamic vulnerability indicators, renal insufficiency, single-ventricle physiology, and coagulation disorder. The model had good discrimination, with a C-statistic of 0.76 and 0.75 in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. Model calibration in the validation cohort was excellent, with a slope of 0.97 (standard error, 0.04;
P
value [for difference from 1] =0.53) and an intercept of 0.007 (standard error, 0.12;
P
value [for difference from 0] =0.95).

Conclusions:

The creation of a validated risk-standardization model for adverse outcomes after congenital cardiac catheterization can support reporting of risk-adjusted outcomes in the IMPACT Registry as a foundation for quality improvement.
High Levels of (Un)Switched Memory B Cells Are Associated With Better Outcome in Patients With Advanced Atherosclerotic Disease
Authors: Meeuwsen John A. L. , van Duijvenvoorde Amerik , Gohar Aisha , Kozma Maria O. , van de Weg Sander M. , Gijsberts Crystel M. , Haitjema Saskia , Björkbacka Harry , Fredrikson Gunilla N. , de Borst Gert J. , den Ruijter Hester M. , Pasterkamp Gerard , Binder Christoph J. , Hoefer Imo E. , de Jager Saskia C. A.
Published: September 2017

Background

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory lipid disorder and the main underlying pathology of acute ischemic events. Despite a vast amount of data from murine atherosclerosis models, evidence of B‐cell involvement in human atherosclerotic disease is limited. We therefore investigated the association of circulating B‐cell subtypes with the occurrence of secondary cardiovascular events in advanced atherosclerotic disease.

Methods and Results

This cohort study consists of 168 patients who were included in the Athero‐Express biobank between 2009 and 2011. Before surgery, peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and stored in liquid nitrogen. After gentle thawing of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells, different B‐cell subtypes including naïve, (un)switched memory, and
CD
27
+
CD
43
+
B1‐like B cells, were analyzed by flow cytometry. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze associations between B‐cell subtypes, circulating antibodies and secondary cardiovascular manifestations during the 3‐year follow‐up period. Mean age was 70.1±9.6 years, males represented 62.8% of the population, and 54 patients had secondary manifestations during follow‐up. High numbers of unswitched memory cells were protective against secondary outcome (hazard ratio, 0.30 [95%
CI
, 0.13–0.69];
P
<0.01). Similar results were obtained for the switched memory cells that also showed to be protective against secondary outcome (hazard ratio, 0.33 [95%
CI
, 0.14–0.77];
P
=0.01).

Conclusions

A high number of (un)switched memory B cells is associated with better outcome following carotid artery endarterectomy. These findings suggest a potential role for B‐cell subsets in prediction and prevention of secondary cardiovascular events in patients with atherosclerosis.
Eight new species and two new records of Batriscenellus Jeannel (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) from China and India
Authors: JIANG RI-XING , YIN ZI-WEI
Published: September 2017

Eight new species of the pselaphine genus Batriscenellus Jeannel (Batrisitae: Batrisini) are described from China and India: B. besucheti, new species (India: Meghalaya), B. carltoni, new species (India: Meghalaya and Assam), B. cuccodoroi, new species (India: Meghalaya), B. fanxingqiui, new species (China: Fujian), B. loebli, new species (India: Meghalaya), B. pengzhongi, new species (China: Guizhou), B. simplex, new species (China: Guangxi), and B. strictus, new species (China: Zhejiang). Habitus and major diagnostic features of the new species are illustrated. New distributional records for B. femoralis Yin & Li (China: Fujian, Hunan) and B. xijiaogongyuan Yin, Jiang & Chen (China: Jiangxi) are provided.
Loss-of-Function GRHL3 Variants Detected in African Patients with Isolated Cleft Palate
Authors: Eshete M.A. , Liu H. , Li M. , Adeyemo W.L. , Gowans L.J.J , Mossey P.A. , Busch T. , Deressa W. , Donkor P. , Olaitan P.B. , Aregbesola B.S. , Braimah R.O. , Oseni G.O. , Oginni F. , Audu R. , Onwuamah C. , James O. , Augustine-Akpan E. , Rahman L.A. , Ogunlewe M.O. , Arthur F.K.N. , Bello S.A. , Agbenorku P. , Twumasi P. , Abate F. , Hailu T. , Demissie Y. , Hailu A. , Plange-Rhule G. , Obiri-Yeboah S. , Dunnwald M.M. , Gravem P.E. , Marazita M.L. , Adeyemo A.A. , Murray J.C. , Cornell R.A. , Butali A.
Published: September 2017

In contrast to the progress that has been made toward understanding the genetic etiology of cleft lip with or without cleft palate, relatively little is known about the genetic etiology for cleft palate only (CPO). A common coding variant of grainyhead like transcription factor 3 ( GRHL3) was recently shown to be associated with risk for CPO in Europeans. Mutations in this gene were also reported in families with Van der Woude syndrome. To identify rare mutations in GRHL3 that might explain the missing heritability for CPO, we sequenced GRHL3 in cases of CPO from Africa. We recruited participants from Ghana, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. This cohort included case-parent trios, cases and other family members, as well as controls. We sequenced exons of this gene in DNA from a total of 134 nonsyndromic cases. When possible, we sequenced them in parents to identify de novo mutations. Five novel mutations were identified: 2 missense (c.497C>A; p.Pro166His and c.1229A>G; p.Asp410Gly), 1 splice site (c.1282A>C p.Ser428Arg), 1 frameshift (c.470delC; p.Gly158Alafster55), and 1 nonsense (c.1677C>A; p.Tyr559Ter). These mutations were absent from 270 sequenced controls and from all public exome and whole genome databases, including the 1000 Genomes database (which includes data from Africa). However, 4 of the 5 mutations were present in unaffected mothers, indicating that their penetrance is incomplete. Interestingly, 1 mutation damaged a predicted sumoylation site, and another disrupted a predicted CK1 phosphorylation site. Overexpression assays in zebrafish and reporter assays in vitro indicated that 4 variants were functionally null or hypomorphic, while 1 was dominant negative. This study provides evidence that, as in Caucasian populations, mutations in GRHL3 contribute to the risk of nonsyndromic CPO in the African population.
Properties of MWCNT–glass fiber fabric multiscale composites: mechanical properties, interlaminar adhesion, and thermal conductivity
Authors: Zeng Shaohua , Shen Mingxia , Duan Pengpeng , Lu Fengling , Cheng Shangneng , Li Ziyuan
Published: September 2017

In this study, multiscale MWCNT–glass fiber fabric (MGFf) preforms with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) dispersed onto commercial E-glass fiber fabric (GFf) was used to fabricate the MGFf multiscale composites. The mechanical properties, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), dynamic viscoelasticity and thermal conductivity of MGFf multiscale composites were investigated using a universal material testing machine, dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer and transient plane source method. Furthermore, the reinforcing mechanisms of MWCNTs on interlaminar adhesion of MGFf multiscale composites were explored using scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. Compared with the GFf composite, the ILSS and thermal conductivity of MGFf multiscale composites were increased by 40.5% and 55.3%, respectively; both of the tensile and flexural properties of MGFf multiscale composites were significantly enhanced; the glass transition temperature of MGFf multiscale composites was also raised. In addition, the interface thickness was increased with the addition of MWCNTs, and MWCNTs in MGFf multiscale composites behaved as hooked fibers to improve the interlaminar adhesion. The work demonstrates the great promise of MGFf preforms toward practical industrial application in manufacturing multifunctional fiber composites with high strength and modulus, high shear resistance and good thermal conductivity.
Rhetorical entrapment and the politics of alliance cooperation: explaining divergent outcomes in Japan and South Korea during the Iraq War
Authors: Park Seo-Hyun
Published: September 2017

This article is about rhetorical framing and its effects on foreign policy outcomes – specifically in intra-alliance relations. It argues that leaders’ attempts to change the framing of existing security concepts alter the context – and cost – of alliance cooperation. In particular, I highlight the mechanism of rhetorical entrapment as the causal link between initial rhetorical action and the changed context of alliance cooperation. While previous studies of rhetorical entrapment have focused on individual-level reputational costs – such as moral shaming or political backlash when hypocrisy is exposed – I focus on the socially constructed nature of political rhetoric and the consequences of language use. That is, I explore why leaders are compelled to choose certain security rhetoric in the first place and how social resonance and audience receptivity can present unintended political constraints and hidden costs. In this way, the findings from this article contribute to two separate bodies of work in the field of International Relations that have yet to be examined closely in tandem: the role of foreign policy rhetoric employed by leaders as part of their political legitimation strategies, and the domestic politics of alliance cooperation. Through comparative case studies of Japan and South Korea prior to and during the early stages of the Iraq War, I demonstrate the role of rhetorical entrapment in explaining the politics of alliance cooperation.
Cultural Distance and Firm Internationalization: A Meta-Analytical Review and Theoretical Implications
Authors: Beugelsdijk Sjoerd , Kostova Tatiana , Kunst Vincent E. , Spadafora Ettore , van Essen Marc
Published: September 2017

This paper presents the most comprehensive review and meta-analysis of the literature on cultural distance and firm internationalization to date. We analyze the effects of cultural distance on key strategic decisions throughout the entire process of internationalization. For the preinvestment stage, we examine the decisions on where to invest (location choice), how much to invest (degree of ownership), and how to organize the foreign expansion (entry and establishment mode). For the postinvestment stage, we examine the decisions of how to integrate the foreign subsidiary into the organization (transfer of practices) as well as the performance effects of cultural distance at both the subsidiary and the firm level. We find that firms are less likely to expand to culturally distant locations but if they do, they prefer greenfield investments and integrate subsidiaries more through transfer of management practices. Cultural distance does not seem to affect how much capital firms invest and whether they enter through a joint venture or full ownership. Interestingly, cultural distance has a strong negative effect on subsidiary performance but no effect on the performance of the whole multinational company. In addition, we find that the effects of cultural distance are not sensitive to time, but they are sensitive to the cultural framework used (e.g., Hofstede vs. Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness) and the home country of the company (developed vs. emerging market). Based on our study, we feel confident to offer some theoretical insights, recommendations for improving the validity and reliability of cultural-distance research, and ideas for future research.
Strengths and Gaps in Physicians’ Risk Communication: A Scenario Study of the Influence of Numeracy on Cancer Screening Communication
Authors: Petrova Dafina , Kostopoulou Olga , Delaney Brendan C. , Cokely Edward T. , Garcia-Retamero Rocio
Published: September 2017

Objective. Many patients have low numeracy, which impedes their understanding of important information about health (e.g., benefits and harms of screening). We investigated whether physicians adapt their risk communication to accommodate the needs of patients with low numeracy, and how physicians’ own numeracy influences their understanding and communication of screening statistics. Methods. UK family physicians ( N = 151) read a description of a patient seeking advice on cancer screening. We manipulated the level of numeracy of the patient (low v. high v. unspecified) and measured physicians’ risk communication, recommendation to the patient, understanding of screening statistics, and numeracy. Results. Consistent with best practices, family physicians generally preferred to use visual aids rather than numbers when communicating information to a patient with low (v. high) numeracy. A substantial proportion of physicians (44%) offered high quality (i.e., complete and meaningful) risk communication to the patient. This was more often the case for physicians with higher (v. lower) numeracy who were more likely to mention mortality rates, OR=1.43 [1.10, 1.86], and harms from overdiagnosis, OR=1.44 [1.05, 1.98]. Physicians with higher numeracy were also more likely to understand that increased detection or survival rates do not demonstrate screening effectiveness, OR=1.61 [1.26, 2.06]. Conclusions. Most physicians know how to appropriately tailor risk communication for patients with low numeracy (i.e., with visual aids). However, physicians who themselves have low numeracy are likely to misunderstand the risks and unintentionally mislead patients by communicating incomplete information. High-quality risk communication and shared decision making can depend critically on factors that improve the risk literacy of physicians.
Exploring the Job Demands–Resources Model of Work Engagement in Government: Bringing in a Psychological Perspective
Authors: Borst Rick T. , Kruyen Peter M. , Lako Christiaan J.
Published: September 2017

Work engagement refers to an active energetic state of mind that is characterized by vigor, dedication, and absorption. Despite practitioner’s attention for work engagement, few public administration scholars have studied public servants’ work engagement empirically. The goal of this study is to extend the job demands–resources (JD-R) model of work engagement using insights from the public administration literature. The analysis of a large-scale survey ( N = 9,465) shows that (a) work and personal resources, including public service motivation, are positively related to work engagement; (b) red tape moderates these relationships; and (c) work engagement mediates the relationship between JD-R and job outcomes. In conclusion, public organizations can potentially increase work engagement and inherently employee outcomes by increasing work-related resources (autonomy, cooperation with colleagues) and selecting personnel with a proactive personality and high levels of public service motivation.
Apoptosis-mediated neurotoxicity and altered gene expression induced by silver nanoparticles
Authors: Ghooshchian Maryam , Khodarahmi Parvin , Tafvizi Farzaneh
Published: September 2017

Although not fully recognized, the neurotoxic effects of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) are thought to occur through induction of oxidative stress and apoptosis. To investigate the exact underlying molecular mechanism, we aimed to explore the apoptotic effects of intraperitoneal injection of Ag-NPs and investigated the possible attributed changes in the mRNA expression of Bcl-2 and Bax genes in the rat hippocampus. Two in vivo sets of experiments, one to demonstrate apoptosis and the other to assess gene expression, were conducted on male Wistar rats. In each set, the first group, acting as control, received saline and the other three groups received Ag-NP at doses of 100, 200, and 400 ppm for five successive days. Ten days after the last injection, hippocampal tissue of the first set of rats was assessed for apoptosis using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxy uridine triphosphate nick-end labeling staining. In the second set of experiments, mRNA expression of Bcl-2 and Bax genes was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Ag-NP treatment was shown to induce apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, Ag-NP reduced mRNA level of Bcl-2 in the rat hippocampal cells at all investigated doses compared to the control group ( p < 0.001). The mRNA level of Bax, on the other hand, was increased in these cells. The increase was significant compared to the control group at the doses of 200 ppm ( p < 0.05) and 400 ppm ( p < 0.001). Our results show that Ag-NPs reduce Bcl-2 and increase Bax genes expression, resulting in increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratios in rat hippocampal cells. This altered gene expression induces cell apoptosis and contributes to the neurotoxicity of Ag-NPs.
Weighing the Value of the Bargain: Prosecutorial Discretion After Sentencing Guidelines
Authors: Vance Stephen E. , Richmond Kerry M. , Oleson James C. , Bushway Shawn D.
Published: September 2017

There is little empirical research to indicate whether the introduction of sentencing guidelines displaces discretion from judges to prosecutors. In the handful of studies that examine the hydraulic displacement of discretion, discretion is usually measured by the rate of charge bargaining. The current study uses an alternative methodology—calculating the value of the bargain—to examine the effect of sentencing guidelines on prosecutorial discretion in the District of Columbia Superior Court. It measures the impact of charge bargaining on sentence length in a sample of 266 pre-guidelines sentences and 263 post-guidelines sentences, and finds that the rate of charge bargaining did not change after the introduction of guidelines, but that the impact of bargaining on sentence length increased slightly. Although the amount of displacement of discretion in the D.C. Guidelines was modest, the study demonstrates that alternative measures (value of the bargain) might reveal displacement of discretion when traditional measures (rate of the bargain) do not.
Relevance for work in the Western Cape tourism industry of the National Certificate Vocational in tourism education at TVET colleges
Authors: Engelbrecht Mardine , Spencer John , van der Bijl Andre
Published: September 2017

This article investigates the relevance of the National Certificate Vocational (NCV) tourism programme for the South African tourism industry in terms of skills needed by tourism students to work in the tourism industry after graduating. The NCV programmes were introduced in 2007 at public Further Education and Training Colleges (now Technical, Vocational Education and Training Colleges), with the phasing out of certain national technical education (NATED) Report 191 programmes, known as N-Programmes. Research was conducted in the form of an empirical questionnaire survey. A mixed methods approach, using a quantitative and qualitative methodology, was employed to gather relevant data. The results suggest that NCV tourism students are employable in small, medium-sized and microenterprises once they graduate, but that graduates need more experience and practical knowledge to be employable in the wider tourism labour market. The results indicate that more relevant NCV tourism curricula are needed to make the qualification of greater applicability to the South African tourism industry.
Sample size considerations for n-of-1 trials
Authors: Senn Stephen
Published: September 2017

N-of-1 trials are trials in which patients are treated with two or more treatments on multiple occasions. They can have many different purposes and can be analysed in different frameworks. In this note, five different criteria for planning sample sizes for n-of-1 trials are identified, and formulae and advice to address the associated tasks are provided. The basic design addressed is that of randomisation to treatment and control within cycles of pairs of episodes and the model assumed is that of a Normal–Normal mixture with variance components corresponding to within-cycle within-patient variation and treatment-by-patient interaction. The code to accomplish the tasks has been written in GenStat®, SAS® and R® and the application of the approaches is illustrated.
Bayesian sensitivity analysis for unmeasured confounding in causal mediation analysis
Authors: McCandless Lawrence C , Somers Julian M
Published: September 2017

Causal mediation analysis techniques enable investigators to examine whether the effect of the exposure on an outcome is mediated by some intermediate variable. Motivated by a data example from epidemiology, we consider estimation of natural direct and indirect effects on a survival outcome. An important concern is bias from confounders that may be unmeasured. Estimating natural direct and indirect effects requires an elaborate series of assumptions in order to identify the target quantities. The analyst must carefully measure and adjust for important predictors of the exposure, mediator and outcome. Omitting important confounders may bias the results in a way that is difficult to predict. In recent years, several methods have been proposed to explore sensitivity to unmeasured confounding in mediation analysis. However, many of these methods limit complexity by relying on a handful of sensitivity parameters that are difficult to interpret, or alternatively, by assuming that specific patterns of unmeasured confounding are absent. Instead, we propose a simple Bayesian sensitivity analysis technique that is indexed by four bias parameters. Our method has the unique advantage that it is able to simultaneously assess unmeasured confounding in the mediator–outcome, exposure–outcome and exposure–mediator relationships. It is a natural Bayesian extension of the sensitivity analysis methodologies of VanderWeele, which have been widely used in the epidemiology literature. We present simulation findings, and additionally, we illustrate the method in an epidemiological study of mortality rates in criminal offenders from British Columbia.
Impact of Classical Risk Factors for Arterial or Venous Thrombosis in Patients With Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Authors: Navarro-Carpentieri Daniel , del Carmen Castillo-Hernandez Maria , Majluf-Cruz Karim , Espejo-Godinez Guillermo , Carmona-Olvera Paola , Moreno-Hernandez Manuel , Lugo-García Yolanda , Hernandez-Juarez Jesús , Loarca-Piña Luis , Isordia-Salas Irma , Majluf-Cruz Abraham
Published: September 2017

There are classical risk factors associated with arterial thrombosis (AT) or venous thromboembolic disease (VTD). However, less is known about these risk factors and AT or VTD episodes in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Our aim was to elucidate whether APS-related thrombotic episodes are associated with the same risk factors as the non-APS population. We gathered demographics, medical history, complications, and causes of death associated with the risk factors for AT or VTD in patients with APS. We analyzed 677 thrombotic events in 386 patients. Type 2 diabetes mellitus and grade 3 obesity were associated with VTD instead of AT. There were no significant differences between the groups for almost all laboratory tests analyzed, although lupus anticoagulant was significantly higher in the VTD group. We suggest that thrombosis in APS is due to the APS itself and that the risks factors for AT or VTD do not have a main role. Our findings may have an ethnical background. Therefore, it may be difficult to elaborate predictive thrombotic clinical scores applicable to patients with different ethnical background.
Qualitative Research Methods to Advance Research on Health Inequities Among Previously Incarcerated Women Living With HIV in Alabama
Authors: Sprague Courtenay , Scanlon Michael L. , Pantalone David W.
Published: September 2017

Justice-involved HIV-positive women have poor health outcomes that constitute health inequities. Researchers have yet to embrace the range of qualitative methods to elucidate how psychosocial histories are connected to pathways of vulnerability to HIV and incarceration for this key population. We used life course narratives and intersubjectivity—predicated on interview dialogue—to investigate how familial and social settings established their social patterning of HIV, incarceration risk, and poor health. Working with two Alabama community-based organizations, we recruited and interviewed 24 HIV-positive cisgender women with cyclical incarceration. We analyzed the data by charting women’s life histories and conducting iterative content analyses. Participants described chaotic home environments, marked by exposure to trauma in childhood. The majority experienced repeated sexual and physical abuse that went undiagnosed and untreated until adulthood. Adolescence and young adulthood were characterized by onset of substance use, violent intimate partnerships, and subsequent behavioral and mental health problems. In adulthood, risk behaviors persisted for decades and women lacked mental health treatment and social support. Life course narratives and intersubjectivity contributed to knowledge by affording agency to marginalized participants to reflect on and narrate their life stories; instilling needed trust for researchers to investigate the complex risk pathways and psychosocial histories with this population; illuminating the nature, timing, sequence, and frequency of events underlying women’s vulnerability and exposure to HIV and incarceration; and clarifying that early shaping events in childhood are connected to later risk environments and behaviors in adolescence and adulthood, suggesting the need for earlier interventions than are typically proposed.
‘Relive the passion, find your affair’: Revising the infidelity script online
Authors: Harrison Katherine
Published: September 2017

Affairs websites such as Victoria Milan, Gleeden or Illicit Encounters are the latest in a long line of commercial online ventures offering different kinds of intimacy. While online dating sites have long been used as a covert way to find additional partners or extramarital intimacy, recent years have seen an increase in the variety of new media services explicitly targeted at unfaithful partners. However, as the July 2015 hacking (and subsequent media coverage) of well-known affairs site, Ashley Madison, showed, the status of these sites is still contested and the services they offer still highly provocative. With this in mind, this article explores the intersection of new media and the contested form of intimacy often referred to as ‘infidelity’. In this article, I analyse material from four websites offering non-consensual non-monogamies to examine how they are attempting to change the cultural script of infidelity through a combination of content and material affordances. To do so, I draw on the idea of intimacy as a kind of organizing ‘public’ narrative that determines ‘private’ acts of intimacy (Berlant, 2000).
Exploring the Minority Threat Hypothesis for Juveniles in Criminal Court
Authors: Zane Steven N.
Published: September 2017

In the context of the criminal justice system, the minority threat hypothesis posits that a growing minority population will exacerbate racial and ethnic disparities as those in power seek to establish social control over the threatening population. Decades of research have produced mixed findings, possibly due to the varied approaches to testing this hypothesis as well as the different populations to whom it is applied. To fully explore the racial and ethnic threat hypotheses for an underexamined population—juveniles transferred to criminal court—and an underexamined outcome—pretrial detention—the present article employs a series of multilevel models to test several versions of the hypothesis. Specifically, the article distinguishes between two measures of minority threat—static and dynamic—and two types of threat effects—diffuse and targeted. Findings indicate limited support for the minority threat hypothesis in all forms. Several interpretations are offered, ranging from consideration of the need for more informed measures of threat to a possible need to modify or abandon the minority threat hypothesis in the context of juvenile and criminal justice processing.
Low-Intensity Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Can Improve Erectile Function in Patients Who Failed to Respond to Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors
Authors: Tsai Chia-Chun , Wang Chii-Jye , Lee Yung-Chin , Kuo Yen-Ting , Lin Hsiao-Hua , Li Ching-Chia , Wu Wen-Jeng , Liu Chia-Chu
Published: September 2017

Managing patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) who failed to respond to phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5is) is a challenging task. Recently, low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (LI-ESWT) was reported to improve ED by enhancing perfusion of the penis. The current study was performed to evaluate whether combined treatment with LI-ESWT and PDE5is can restore erectile function in patients who failed to respond to PDE5is alone. This was an open-label single-arm prospective study. ED patients with an erection hardness score (EHS) ≦2 under a maximal dosage of PDE5is were enrolled. Sociodemographic information and detailed medical history were recorded. LI-ESWT treatment consisted of 3,000 shockwaves once weekly for 12 weeks. All patients continued their regular PDE5is use. The EHS and the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) were used to evaluate the change in erectile function 1 and 3 months after LI-ESWT. A total of 52 patients were enrolled. After LI-ESWT treatment, 35 of the 52 patients (67.3%) could achieve an erection hard enough for intercourse (EHS ≧ 3) under PDE5is use at the 1-month follow-up. Initial severity of ED was the only significant predictor of a successful response (EHS1: 35.7% vs. EHS2: 78.9%, p = .005). Thirty-three of the 35 (94.3%) subjects who responded to LI-ESWT could still maintain their erectile function at the 3-month follow-up. LI-ESWT can serve as a salvage therapy for ED patients who failed to respond to PDE5is. Initial severity of ED was an important predictor of a successful response.
An End User Perspective: The Impact of FSMA on Restaurants
Authors: Johnson Mark
Published: September 2017

On January 4, 2011, President Obama signed into law the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA or P.L. 111-353). This act may be the most far-reaching food safety legislation since the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act (FDCA) of 1938. FSMA aims to ensure that the U.S. food supply is safe by shifting the focus of regulation from contamination response to prevention. This legislation imposes administrative costs on the food supply chain in the United States by requiring additional record keeping and safety procedures. Previous research has shown that the value of food processing, wholesale and grocery firms was reduced by the passage of this legislation. We hypothesize that the negative value effects caused by the legislation may be partially passed on to end users of food products, specifically, restaurants. Consistent with this hypothesis, we find that passage of FSMA reduced the market value of publicly traded restaurants by approximately 5%. This result is roughly one half of the impact borne by other firms in the food supply chain. That is, we find evidence that a portion of the supply chain costs of FSMA are passed on to restaurant firms and possibly other end users such as consumers. We conclude that federal legislation that is not specifically directed at the hospitality industry may still have significant effects for hospitality firms.
Digital Inclusion for Access to Information: A Study on Banking and Financial Institutions in India
Authors: Mathew Martin P. J. , Rabindranath Manukonda
Published: September 2017

Banking and Financial Institutions (BFIs) show the growth of development of a country. Digital literacy and its development in a country depend on its use by the citizens of a country. In India, they have recently made strides in using digital technology due to fast development in the Internet technology. The recent “World Report on Disability” by World Health Organization (WHO) puts the disabled populations in the world at 15%. There are 26.81 million Indians who suffer from some form of disability. This research study critically probes the two determinants of the digital divide: (a) the accessibility of websites of banks and (b) the accessibility of financial and banking information on their websites. United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) guidelines has been ratified by Government of India in 2007. The websites of 103 BFIs in India were used for the study. The research study work started on December 3, 2013; it being the World Day of the Disabled. The study aimed for evaluating the websites in terms of media tool for communication, information, services, accessibility, design, and interactive participatory features for persons with disabilities. The study showed that 26% of the websites under study and 5% International BFIs in India offered information in vernacular medium, while only seven websites of the BFIs in India passed markup validation test.
Predicting the cation exchange capacity of reservoir rocks from complex dielectric permittivity measurements
Authors: Garrouch Ali A.
Published: September 2017

Dimensional analysis was performed to understand the physics of ionic dispersion in reservoir rocks and to identify the factors influencing the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of these rocks. Dimensional analysis revealed the existence of a general relation independent of the unit system between two dimensionless groups denoted as the cationic dispersion number [Formula: see text] and the conductivity number [Formula: see text]. The former group [Formula: see text] stands for the ratio of the CEC to the electrical double-layer dispersion. The latter group [Formula: see text] represents the ratio of the low-frequency ionic conductivity to the high-frequency electronic polarization. Complex dielectric permittivity measurements on 121 water-saturated sandstone and carbonate rock samples were used to validate the dimensionless groups. In retrospect, dimensional analysis was useful in identifying variables influencing the CEC of hydrocarbon rocks. In particular, these variables consist of rock porosity [Formula: see text], specific surface area, and five other parameters of the Cole-Cole function, which describes the frequency dependence of the complex permittivity of rock samples in the range 10–1300 MHz. The Cole-Cole function parameters are [Formula: see text], which is a characteristic relaxation time; [Formula: see text] is the so-called spread parameter; [Formula: see text] is the real DC conductivity of water-saturated rocks; and [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], which are the real numbers representing the static and the high-frequency dielectric permittivities of the water-saturated rock, respectively. A general regression neural network (GRNN) model was developed to predict the CEC of shaly sandstones and carbonate rocks as a function of the variables identified by the dimensional analysis as essential in predicting the CEC. The CEC prediction capability of the GRNN model has been tested with a blind data set, and it has been compared with the CEC prediction capability using a nonlinear regression model developed in this study and using a linear regression model available in the literature. The GRNN model outperformed both of these empirical models. With the GRNN model, it is possible to obtain reliable quantitative estimates of the CEC of shaly sandstone and carbonate rocks using nondestructive frequency-dependent dielectric permittivity measurements that are rapid, economic, and accurate. In return, accurate and fast estimates of the CEC are useful in many petroleum engineering applications. They can be used to identify clay types and can also be used to quantify the volume of hydrocarbon in shaly sands using well-log resistivity data. The results of this study represent a major advantage for formation evaluation, wellbore stability analysis, and designing stimulation jobs.