bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Host-Microbiome Cross-talk in Oral Mucositis
Authors: Vasconcelos R.M. , Sanfilippo N. , Paster B.J. , Kerr A.R. , Li Y. , Ramalho L. , Queiroz E.L. , Smith B. , Sonis S.T. , Corby P.M.
Published: April 2016

Oral mucositis (OM) is among the most common, painful, and debilitating toxicities of cancer regimen–related treatment, resulting in the formation of ulcers, which are susceptible to increased colonization of microorganisms. Novel discoveries in OM have focused on understanding the host-microbial interactions, because current pathways have shown that major virulence factors from microorganisms have the potential to contribute to the development of OM and may even prolong the existence of already established ulcerations, affecting tissue healing. Additional comprehensive and disciplined clinical investigation is needed to carefully characterize the relationship between the clinical trajectory of OM, the local levels of inflammatory changes (both clinical and molecular), and the ebb and flow of the oral microbiota. Answering such questions will increase our knowledge of the mechanisms engaged by the oral immune system in response to mucositis, facilitating their translation into novel therapeutic approaches. In doing so, directed clinical strategies can be developed that specifically target those times and tissues that are most susceptible to intervention.
Engineering Human TMJ Discs with Protein-Releasing 3D-Printed Scaffolds
Authors: Legemate K. , Tarafder S. , Jun Y. , Lee C.H.
Published: April 2016

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc is a heterogeneous fibrocartilaginous tissue positioned between the mandibular condyle and glenoid fossa of the temporal bone, with important roles in TMJ functions. Tissue engineering TMJ discs has emerged as an alternative approach to overcoming limitations of current treatments for TMJ disorders. However, the anisotropic collagen orientation and inhomogeneous fibrocartilaginous matrix distribution present challenges in the tissue engineering of functional TMJ discs. Here, we developed 3-dimensional (3D)–printed anatomically correct scaffolds with region-variant microstrand alignment, mimicking anisotropic collagen alignment in the TMJ disc and corresponding mechanical properties. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGFβ3) were then delivered in the scaffolds by spatially embedding CTGF- or TGFβ3-encapsulated microspheres (µS) to reconstruct the regionally variant fibrocartilaginous matrix in the native TMJ disc. When cultured with human mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (MSCs) for 6 wk, 3D-printed scaffolds with CTGF/TGFβ3-µS resulted in a heterogeneous fibrocartilaginous matrix with overall distribution of collagen-rich fibrous structure in the anterior/posterior (AP) bands and fibrocartilaginous matrix in the intermediate zone, reminiscent of the native TMJ disc. High dose of CTGF/TGFβ3-µS (100 mg µS/g of scaffold) showed significantly more collagen II and aggrecan in the intermediate zone than a low dose (50 mg µS/g of scaffold). Similarly, a high dose of CTGF/TGFβ3-µS yielded significantly higher collagen I expression in the AP bands compared with the low-dose and empty µS. From stress relaxation tests, the ratio of relaxation modulus to instantaneous modulus was significantly smaller with CTGF/TGFβ3-µS than empty µS. Similarly, a significantly higher coefficient of viscosity was achieved with the high dose of CTGF/TGFβ3-µS compared with the low-dose and empty µS, suggesting the dose effect of CTGF and TGFβ3 on fibrocartilage formation. Together, our findings may represent an efficient approach to engineering the TMJ disc graft with anisotropic scaffold microstructure, heterogeneous fibrocartilaginous matrix, and region-dependent viscoelastic properties.
BMI upon discharge from hospital and its relationship with survival: an observational study utilising linked patient records
Authors: Freemantle Nick , Ray Daniel , Falcaro Milena , McNulty David , Shallcross Laura , Wood John , Pagano Domenico
Published: April 2016

Objective

Current advice for patients being discharged from hospital suggests a body mass index of 18.5 to 24 kgm−2, although this aspirational target may often not be achieved. We examined the relationship between body mass index on discharge from hospital and subsequent mortality over a maximum follow-up of 3.8 years.

Design

We conducted a survival analysis using linked hospital records data with national hospital episode statistics and national death certification data.

Participants & Setting

The analysis included adult patients who were admitted to University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust for a period of over 24 h during 2011, excluding day cases and regular day case attenders.

Main outcome measures

The relationship between body mass index and mortality at medium term was estimated separately in both men and women, after accounting for case-mix.

Results

For both males and females, the relationship between body mass index at discharge and the loge hazard of death was strongly non-linear (p = 0.0002 for females and p < 0.0001 for males) and predictive (both p < 0.0001). In all models, the optimal body mass index range associated with best survival was 25 to 35 kgm−2, with a sharp increase in risk for lower body mass index.

Conclusions

There was little evidence to support current aspirational body mass index targets in the discharge population. Hospitals should ensure adequate nutrition especially among those with a reduced body mass index.
Repairing Distance and Facilitating Support
Authors: Girme Yuthika U. , Molloy Phoebe R. , Overall Nickola C.
Published: April 2016

The interpersonal consequences of reassurance seeking may depend on who is seeking reassurance. This research examined whether greater reassurance seeking during couples’ support-relevant discussions was associated with greater partner support when enacted by more avoidant individuals who typically minimize dependence in their relationships. Three dyadic studies ( N = 246 couples) demonstrated that the interpersonal effects of reassurance seeking were moderated by attachment avoidance. Greater reassurance seeking repaired the lack of closeness that partners of highly avoidant individuals typically feel (Study 3), and these partners, in turn, provided more support across studies. In contrast, greater reassurance seeking by less avoidant individuals was associated with partners feeling less close (Study 3), but was not associated with partners’ support across studies. These results provide the first evidence that reassurance seeking during support-relevant interactions can repair distance and facilitate support, but these positive interpersonal effects occur when reassurance seekers are high in attachment avoidance.
Verbal and nonverbal intelligence scores within the context of poverty
Authors: Kaya Fatih , Stough Laura M , Juntune Joyce
Published: April 2016

This study explored the relationship between verbal and nonverbal intelligence scores in students from low-income households. Researchers investigated how the verbal and nonverbal scores of these students differed both by ability level and within each grade. The Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scale was administered to 1935 kindergarten through fifth-grade students enrolled in free and reduced-price lunch programs. Large gaps were found between students’ verbal and nonverbal intelligence scores; such gaps were not specific to any particular grade or ability level but rather were seen in all of the examined grades. Gaps were even larger for students with higher nonverbal IQ scores. Results suggest that assessments based solely on nonverbal scores should be interpreted with caution.
Freedom of information laws and information access
Authors: Svärd Proscovia
Published: April 2016

Sierra Leone was engulfed in a destructive civil war between 1991 and 2002. The civil war was partly caused by the non-accountability of the government, endemic corruption, misrule and the mismanagement of the country’s resources. Efforts have been made by the country, with the help of the international community, to embrace a democratic dispensation. To demonstrate its commitment to the democratization agenda, Sierra Leone passed the Right to Access Information (RAI) Act in 2013. The Act guarantees access to government information and also imposes a penalty on failure to make information available. However, Sierra Leone’s state institutions are still weak due to mismanagement and lack of transparency and accountability. Freedom of expression and access to information are cornerstones of modern democracies. Public information/records are a means of power that governments and other political institutions use to exercise control over citizens, but are also a means of citizens’ empowerment. Through access to government information/records, media can play their watchdog role and people can assess the performance of governments and hold them accountable. The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate the fact that it is not enough to enact freedom of information laws (FOIs) if there is no political will to make government information accessible, an information management infrastructure to facilitate the creation, capture, management, dissemination, preservation and re-use of government information and investments in civil education to promote an information culture that appreciates information as a resource that underpins accountability and transparency.
Cyanoacrylate glue used to treat great saphenous reflux: Measures of outcome
Authors: Chan Yiu Che , Law Yuk , Cheung Grace C , Ting Albert C , Cheng Stephen W
Published: April 2016

ntroduction

This is a single-center clinical study for the evaluation of safety, efficacy, and performance of endovenous cyanoacrylate (Sapheon Venaseal Closure System, now Medtronic Medical) for the treatment of great saphenous vein (GSV) reflux.

ethods

Primary outcome measures included the GSV obliteration, with clinical recurrence on follow up as detected by serial clinical and duplex examinations of patients at 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year. Venous clinical severity score (VCSS), Aberdeen varicose vein questionnaire (AVVQ), Short Form Health Survey 36 Item (SF-36) questionnaires were used at clinical follow up. Diameter of the GSV, treatment length of the GSV, and pretreatment clinical severity of the varicose vein were analyzed to predict recanalization using Cox regression analysis.

esults

Fifty-seven legs in 29 patients with primary varicose veins were included. One week follow-up duplex showed successful obliteration of the GSV in all except one of the legs. Two legs had minimal extension of thrombus to deep vein. None of the patients had deep venous thrombosis. All the patients were discharged the same day of operation. Median time to return to work was 1 day (range 1–16 days). Our VCSS, AVVQ, and the SF-36 physical and mental scores changed from a mean of 6.91, 23.66, 44.24, 54.26 at baseline to 2.43, 6.10, 43.85, 52.50 at 1 month post operation, respectively. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the GSV closure rates were 98.2%, 94.3%, 89.7%, and 78.5% at post-op 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year, respectively. With median follow-up period of 9 months (range 1–13 months), no clinical recurrence of varicosity was observed. Mean GSV diameter ≥8 mm was a significant predictor for recanalization (hazard ratio 6.92, 95%CI 1.34–35.67, p = 0.021).

onclusion

This study showed that the use of endovenous cyanoacrylate in the treatment of the GSV reflux was safe. All patients had symptomatic improvement as shown by the VCSS and AVVQ.
Patterns in the management of superficial vein thrombosis
Authors: Karathanos Christos , Spanos Konstantinos , Lachanas Vasileios , Athanasoulas Athanasios , Giannoukas Athanasios D
Published: April 2016

Objective

To highlight current practice patterns in management of superficial vein thrombosis.

Methods

An electronic survey was conducted using the mailing lists of the Mediterranean League of Angiology and Vascular Surgery and European Venous Forum regarding superficial vein thrombosis diagnosis, investigation, and treatment.

Results

The response rate was 41% (175/430) and the majority of the participants were vascular surgeons practicing in a hospital. More experienced physicians considered superficial vein thrombosis as a medical issue of moderate seriousness and performed duplex ultrasound for confirmation of diagnosis. Elastic stockings were recommended by 87% of the physicians, while 57% prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Eighty six percent advised anticoagulation, although a large disparity was shown regarding regime, dose, and duration. Thrombophilia test was regularly suggested by 19% of the physicians. Ligation of the saphenofemoral junction was the treatment of choice by those who suggested intervention in the acute phase of superficial vein thrombosis.

Conclusions

A great disparity exists in the management of superficial vein thrombosis. Current guidelines have not been adopted by physicians; more focused training is needed for those involved in the management of venous diseases.
Participant-selected music and physical activity in older adults following cardiac rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Clark Imogen N , Baker Felicity A , Peiris Casey L , Shoebridge Georgie , Taylor Nicholas F
Published: April 2016

Objective:

To evaluate effects of participant-selected music on older adults’ achievement of activity levels recommended in the physical activity guidelines following cardiac rehabilitation.

Design:

A parallel group randomized controlled trial with measurements at Weeks 0, 6 and 26.

Setting:

A multisite outpatient rehabilitation programme of a publicly funded metropolitan health service.

Subjects:

Adults aged 60 years and older who had completed a cardiac rehabilitation programme.

Interventions:

Experimental participants selected music to support walking with guidance from a music therapist. Control participants received usual care only.

Main measures:

The primary outcome was the proportion of participants achieving activity levels recommended in physical activity guidelines. Secondary outcomes compared amounts of physical activity, exercise capacity, cardiac risk factors, and exercise self-efficacy.

Results:

A total of 56 participants, mean age 68.2 years (SD = 6.5), were randomized to the experimental ( n = 28) and control groups ( n = 28). There were no differences between groups in proportions of participants achieving activity recommended in physical activity guidelines at Week 6 or 26. Secondary outcomes demonstrated between-group differences in male waist circumference at both measurements (Week 6 difference −2.0 cm, 95% CI −4.0 to 0; Week 26 difference −2.8 cm, 95% CI −5.4 to −0.1), and observed effect sizes favoured the experimental group for amounts of physical activity (d = 0.30), exercise capacity (d = 0.48), and blood pressure (d = −0.32).

Conclusions:

Participant-selected music did not increase the proportion of participants achieving recommended amounts of physical activity, but may have contributed to exercise-related benefits.
Mapping the Decision-Making Process for Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy for Breast Cancer
Authors: Beryl Louise L. , Rendle Katharine A. S. , Halley Meghan C. , Gillespie Katherine A. , May Suepattra G. , Glover Jennifer , Yu Peter , Chattopadhyay Runi , Frosch Dominick L.
Published: April 2016

Background. Studies show adjuvant endocrine therapy increases survival and decreases risk of breast cancer recurrence for hormone receptor–positive tumors. Yet studies also suggest that adherence rates among women taking this therapy may be as low as 50% owing largely to adverse side effects. Despite these rates, research on longitudinal patient decision making regarding this therapy is scant. Objective. We sought to map the decision-making process for women considering and initiating adjuvant endocrine therapy, paying particular attention to patterns of uncertainty and decisional change over time. Methods. A longitudinal series of semistructured interviews conducted at a multispecialty health care organization in Northern California with 35 newly diagnosed patients eligible for adjuvant endocrine therapy were analyzed. Analysis led to the identification and indexing of 3 new decision-making constructs—decisional phase, decisional direction, and decisional resolve—which were then organized using a visual matrix and examined for patterns characterizing the decision-making process. Results. Our data reveal that most patients do not make a single, discrete decision to take or not take hormone therapy but rather traverse multiple decisional states, characterized by 1) phase, 2) direction, and 3) strength of resolve. Our analysis tracks these decisional states longitudinally using a grayscale-coded matrix. Our data show that decisional resolve wavers not just when considering therapy, as the existing concept of decisional conflict suggests, but even after initiating it, which may signal future decisions to forgo therapy. Conclusions. Adjuvant endocrine therapy, like other chronic care decisions, has a longer decision-making process and implementation period. Thus, theoretical, empirical, and clinical approaches should consider further exploring the new concept and measurement of decisional resolve, as it may help to improve subsequent medication adherence.
Understanding Workplace Flexibility in State Agencies: What Facilitates Employee Access?
Authors: Su Xuhong , Li Xueyang , Curry Endra
Published: April 2016

The case for workplace flexibility has been largely established in the private sector, yet little is known about what facilitates or constrains employee access to flexibility options in governmental agencies. Focused on both flextime and flexible careers (career breaks, job sharing, and reduced hours), this study investigates how agency strategies, motives, resources, structure, and stakeholders shape employee access to workplace flexibility. The findings suggest that employee access to workplace flexibility is largely enhanced by strategic effort and agency motives, whereas agency structure shows limited impact. Agencies with bigger budgets provide employees more access to flextime, and those short of critical human capital tend to offer more options for flexible careers. This study concludes with the discussion of research findings and potential policy implications.
Efficacy of intravenous fluid warming during goal-directed fluid therapy in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Choi Ji-Won , Kim Duk-Kyung , Lee Seung-Won , Park Jung-Bo , Lee Gyu-Hong
Published: April 2016

Objective

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of intravenous (IV) fluid warming in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery.

Methods

Adult patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery were randomly assigned to receive either IV fluids at room temperature (control group) or warmed IV fluids (warm fluids group). Each patient received a standardized goal-directed fluid regimen based on stroke volume variances. Oesophageal temperature was measured at 15 min intervals for 2 h after induction of anaesthesia.

Results

A total of 52 patients were enrolled in the study. The drop in core temperature in the warm fluids group was significantly less than in the control group 2 h after the induction of anaesthesia. This significant difference was seen from 30 min after induction.

Conclusion

IV fluid warming was associated with a smaller drop in core temperature than room temperature IV fluids in laparoscopic colorectal surgery incorporating goal-directed fluid therapy.
Dopamine 2 Receptor Genes Are Associated with Raised Blood Glucose in Schizophrenia
Authors: Lawford Bruce R. , Barnes Mark , Morris C. Phillip , Noble Ernest P. , Nyst Phillip , Heslop Karen , Young Ross McD. , Voisey Joanne , Connor Jason P.
Published: April 2016

Objective:

Type 2 diabetes is commonly found in schizophrenia and is an important contributor to mortality and morbidity in this condition. Dopamine has been implicated in the aetiology of both diabetes and schizophrenia. It is possible that both disorders share a common genetic susceptibility.

Methods:

In a cross-sectional study, we examined 2 dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously associated with schizophrenia (C939 T, rs6275 and C957 T, rs6277) along with fasting blood glucose and body mass index (BMI) in 207 antipsychotic-treated patients with schizophrenia. All participants met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia, and those with other psychiatric disorders were excluded. Analysis of covariance was used to compare fasting glucose results by DRD2 genotypes, after controlling for known confounds. For significant associations, follow-up Bonferroni post hoc tests examined differences in fasting glucose levels between genotypes. Specific comparisons were also made using analysis of variance and chi-square (Fisher’s exact test).

Results:

The 2 DRD2 risk genotypes were associated with significant increases in blood glucose, after controlling for BMI, age, sex, dosage and type of antipsychotic medication, number of hospitalisations, and negative symptoms (rs6275, F(2, 182) = 5.901, P = 0.003; rs6277 SNP, F(2, 178) = 3.483, P = 0.033).

Conclusions:

These findings support the involvement of DRD2 not only in schizophrenia but also in elevated levels of blood glucose commonly found in antipsychotic-treated patients with schizophrenia. Our data support the notion that diabetes may not merely be a comorbid condition but could be fundamentally associated with the pathogenesis of schizophrenia itself.
Gabriel Tarde and Contemporary Social Theory
Authors: King Anthony
Published: April 2016

After a century of obscurity, the work of Gabriel Tarde is once again attracting the attention of social theorists. In particular, Bruno Latour has been a fervent advocate of Tarde’s work as a form of sociology, which, he claims, anticipates actor network theory and which is therefore appropriate for an era of globalization. Rejecting Durkheimian appeals to an autonomous and preformed social reality, Tarde focuses on dynamic and hybrid processes of individual imitation and interaction. This article reexamines the work of Gabriel Tarde to assess the validity of Latour’s interpretation. It claims that Latour’s reading is inaccurate and Tarde’s work is problematic because ultimately it is individualist and teleological; it offers the contemporary social theorist little of value beyond its undoubted historical interest.
Neither private contractors nor productive partners: The English fiscal-naval state and London hospitals, 1660–1715
Authors: Neufeld Matthew
Published: April 2016

Relations between the Royal Navy and London’s great hospitals during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries concerning the care of sick and injured sailors were complicated, fraught and at times riven with conflict. This article surveys the relationship during the late Stuart era between the fiscal-naval state and the hospitals – semi-private institutions with a public mission – and attempts to re-evaluate the usefulness of the concept of partnership for understanding public and private interactions during wartime. The article contends that the state and the hospitals did not form a productive partnership because London’s hospitals were obliged to work for the navy in ways that compromised the hospitals’ ability to serve their core public.
Introduction: Reconsidering Matthew Fontaine Maury
Authors: Rozwadowski Helen M
Published: April 2016

Matthew Fontaine Maury occupies a prominent, if fraught, place in maritime history and the history of science. Naval historians have recognized him as an important reformer and scientist who, at the height of his influence, resigned his commission to join the Confederacy. Historians of science have mostly been critical of Maury’s theories about the workings of ocean winds and currents, pointing to his status as a self-trained amateur scientist who exercised considerable and, in their view, misplaced clout over government-sponsored science. Current historiography offers an opportunity to revisit Maury’s undertakings and legacies, as the Forum introduction argues. The contributions each focus on a particular aspect of Maury’s work and legacy – the Reformer, the Scientist and the Pathfinder. Together the forum demonstrates new directions for current and future Maury scholarship both in fields that have traditionally studied Maury as well as in transnational history, history of the book and environmental history.
Matthew Fontaine Maury: Pathfinder
Authors: Smith Jason W
Published: April 2016

Historians have long recognized Matthew Fontaine Maury as an important if controversial figure in the histories of science and of maritime and naval affairs. These assessments, however, rest on scholarship that is by now more than a half-century old. It is therefore appropriate to look at Maury’s significance from fresh perspectives, incorporating recent historiographical trends in the history of science and cartography, environmental history, cultural history and military history. This article focuses on the ways in which Maury’s cartographic work reframed mariners’ understanding of the marine environment away from what he perceived to be a watery wilderness towards an ordered environment safe and favourable to American commerce. Maury was long known as ‘The Pathfinder of the Seas’, but I argue that his significance, in fact, lies in the ways he and his staff at the Naval Observatory organized the sea as a ‘common highway’, tracing paths, but also imposing narratives and constructing new meanings. Maury’s tool was the nautical chart and, particularly, his Wind and Current Charts series that by the 1850s reimagined the ways mariners, navigators and naval officers understood and harnessed the ocean environment. The article briefly considers these charts from three perspectives – method, process and representation – in order to see the ways in which Maury was pushing the boundaries of the cartographic medium to usher in revolutionary ways of envisioning the ocean environment. By quantifying winds, symbolizing whales and infusing the sea with ship tracks, among other things, Maury was imposing potent, if sometimes flawed, new ways of understanding and imagining the sea that were central to American maritime expansion in the antebellum era. In this and other ways, we can see Maury anew, a figure central to the growth of American commercial empire and to new ways of understanding and thinking about the sea.
Variable thickness scroll compressor performance analysis—Part II: Dynamic modeling and model validation
Authors: Bin Peng , Lemort Vincent , Legros Arnaud , Hongsheng Zhang , Haifeng Gong
Published: April 2016

In order to investigate the performance of variable thickness scroll compressor, a detail mathematical modeling based on energy and mass balances is established in this two-part. In part II, dynamic modeling and model validation are developed. Temperature, pressure, mass flow of working chambers, friction loss power of moving parts, efficiency, and shaft power are investigated by solving the mathematical modeling. The experimental rig for variable thickness scroll compressor based on involute of circle, high order curve and arc is set up. From the comparison of the simulated and measured data, it can be seen that the compressor model predicts the mass flow, discharge temperature, and shaft power very well. So the proposed mathematical modeling can accurately describe all the suction, compression, and discharge processes for variable thickness scroll compressor.
Anemia and Iron Deficiency in Vietnamese Children, 6 to 11 Years Old
Authors: Le Nguyen Bao Khanh , Tran Thuy Nga , Nguyen Huu Chinh , Khouw Ilse , Deurenberg Paul
Published: April 2016

In a population sample of 385 children, 6 to 11 years old, venous blood parameters—hemoglobin (Hb), ferritin, red blood cell count (RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), C-reactive protein (CRP), and α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP)—were determined to get insight into the iron status. The prevalence of anemia was 11.4%; 5.6% had iron deficiency (ID), whereas 0.4% had ID anemia. Correction for inflammation based on CRP and AGP did not markedly change the overall prevalence of ID and ID anemia. Stunted children had lower Hb and ferritin values compared with nonstunted children, and thin children had lower values compared with normal-weight or overweight and obese children. Many nonanemic children had alert values for RBC, MCV, MCH, and MCHC. It is concluded that although the prevalence of anemia is of the magnitude of a mild public health problem, the iron status of many nonanemic children is borderline, as indicated by a high number of children with low values for red blood cytology.
Coping with dilemma: How German sport media users respond to sport mega events in autocratic countries
Authors: Flemming Felix , Lünich Marco , Marcinkowski Frank , Starke Christopher
Published: April 2016

In recent years, sport mega events have been frequently awarded to autocratic countries whose regimes violate democratic values and human rights. Based on the theory of cognitive dissonance, we assume that this is a potential source of internal conflict for viewers, especially for sports enthusiasts and politically aware recipients. Special attention rests on the consequences of the recipients’ strategies of addressing this predicament for important stakeholders of these events, namely the reporting media, the host country and sponsors. We conducted an online survey among 711 German respondents to examine how recipients cope with this dilemma using the forthcoming FIFA soccer World Cup 2018 in Russia as an example. Our results show that while recipients are strongly interested in soccer and politics, most of them do not necessarily perceive these two spheres as inextricably connected. Their awareness of sociopolitical issues in the context of sport events—and thus the decisive factor to explain cognitive dissonance—is arguably low. Still, when recipients experience cognitive dissonance they rely on certain strategies to reduce or avoid dissonance. They do not elude this dilemma by preferring sports broadcasting without coverage of the event’s negative circumstances, but are actually willing to pass on parts of the tournament. They also do not denigrate the credibility of the media or emphasize positive aspects of the host country Russia. In fact, the recipients would prefer if the World Cup had not been awarded to Russia in the first place. However, respondents experiencing cognitive dissonance are also more likely to engage in political consumerism, by deliberately deciding against or in favor of products and sponsors depending on whether or not those are associated with the event.
From New Black Realism to Tyler Perry
Authors: Copeland Kameron J.
Published: April 2016

In the midst of a revival of gospel theater aimed at Black female Christian audiences, Tyler Perry mastered a successful approach to Black independent gospel plays. Eventually, Perry transferred his work to the film screen, exploring the struggles of Black women in their relationships with Black men. While his depiction of Black men has garnered much controversy, Perry characterizes Black masculinity throughout his romantic storylines using a formulaic approach seeking to uplift his predominately Black female audience, while exploring the faults and various tropes of Black masculinity. In Perry’s female-oriented romantic storylines, Black men are usually categorized as an affluent shape-shifter, neglected love interest, transformed hard worker, crooked hoodlum, or Black messiah redux. Throughout this study, Perry’s usage of these characterizations is explored. Unlike 1990s New Black Realism films, which could have driven the explosion of female-oriented gospel-themed works, Perry fuses Black theological perceptions of manhood with a patriarchal-centered exploration of Black womanhood.
“Racism?!?. . . Just Look at Our Neighborhoods”
Authors: Hudson Darrell L. , Eaton Jacob , Lewis Porschea , Grant Patrick , Sewell Whitney , Gilbert Keon
Published: April 2016

Recent events in Ferguson underscore the need to better understand the unique challenges, stressors, and coping mechanisms of African American men. To this end, a focus group study was conducted in Saint Louis, a few miles from Ferguson. Although numerous stress-related themes were discussed, racial discrimination and structural racism emerged as pervasive stressors among these men. Participants described experiences of discrimination in multiple settings including workplace, school, and residential, and within the criminal justice system. Coping strategies included not only drinking and smoking but also religiosity and familial support. Men also mentioned that they found relief in simply discussing their stressors in a group setting. One implication of this study is to develop and implement group support models for this population.
A Goal Congruity Model of Role Entry, Engagement, and Exit: Understanding Communal Goal Processes in STEM Gender Gaps
Authors: Diekman Amanda B. , Steinberg Mia , Brown Elizabeth R. , Belanger Aimee L. , Clark Emily K.
Published: April 2016

The goal congruity perspective provides a theoretical framework to understand how motivational processes influence and are influenced by social roles. In particular, we invoke this framework to understand communal goal processes as proximal motivators of decisions to engage in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). STEM fields are not perceived as affording communal opportunities to work with or help others, and understanding these perceived goal affordances can inform knowledge about differences between (a) STEM and other career pathways and (b) women’s and men’s choices. We review the patterning of gender disparities in STEM that leads to a focus on communal goal congruity (Part I), provide evidence for the foundational logic of the perspective (Part II), and explore the implications for research and policy (Part III). Understanding and transmitting the opportunities for communal goal pursuit within STEM can reap widespread benefits for broadening and deepening participation.
Combining clinical and magnetic resonance imaging markers enhances prediction of 12-year disability in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Uher Tomas , Vaneckova Manuela , Sobisek Lukas , Tyblova Michaela , Seidl Zdenek , Krasensky Jan , Ramasamy Deepa , Zivadinov Robert , Havrdova Eva , Kalincik Tomas , Horakova Dana
Published: April 2016

Background:

Disease progression and treatment efficacy vary among individuals with multiple sclerosis. Reliable predictors of individual disease outcomes are lacking.

Objective:

To examine the accuracy of the early prediction of 12-year disability outcomes using clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters.

Methods:

A total of 177 patients from the original Avonex-Steroids-Azathioprine study were included. Participants underwent 3-month clinical follow-ups. Cox models were used to model the associations between clinical and MRI markers at baseline or after 12 months with sustained disability progression (SDP) over the 12-year observation period.

Results:

At baseline, T2 lesion number, T1 and T2 lesion volumes, corpus callosum (CC), and thalamic fraction were the best predictors of SDP (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.7–4.6; p ⩽ 0.001–0.012). At 12 months, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and its change, number of new or enlarging T2 lesions, and CC volume % change were the best predictors of SDP over the follow-up (HR = 1.7–3.5; p ⩽  0.001–0.017). A composite score was generated from a subset of the best predictors of SDP. Scores of ⩾4 had greater specificity (90%–100%) and were associated with greater cumulative risk of SDP (HR = 3.2–21.6; p < 0.001) compared to the individual predictors.

Conclusion:

The combination of established MRI and clinical indices with MRI volumetric predictors improves the prediction of SDP over long-term follow-up and may provide valuable information for therapeutic decisions.
The case against extrication in motorsport: Reforming the deployment method
Authors: Petherbridge Sean , Khan Mansoor
Published: April 2016

The current method of extricating a driver after a collision in motorsport remains controversial. The current setup and deployment of both vehicles and personnel are outdated and in certain circumstances potentially dangerous to drivers. This analysis, based on current literature and the specialist expertise of the authors, endeavours to address the issues and make evidence-based recommendations.
Ethnography in absentia: Applying Lefebvre’s rhythmanalysis in impossible-to-research spaces
Authors: Lee Siew-Peng
Published: April 2016

This article aims to illuminate the theoretical basis for rhythmanalysis as developed by Henri Lefebvre, who intended it to be a transdisciplinary concept that could be used to theorize everyday life, ‘from the most natural (physiological, biological) to the most sophisticated’. I will attempt to show how this concept can be transformed into a toolkit to research people groups (such as refugees, migrant workers, professionals) where it is impossible to conduct traditional ethnographic fieldwork either because of the difficulty of access or when an event (such as migration) has already taken place. It is a mainly theoretical paper informed by the author’s research on older migrants in Britain. It argues that if the principles behind rhythmanalysis can be distilled to conduct ethnography in absentia for a migrant worker group, then these same principles can be adapted to conduct research in most spaces where access and/or co-presence are difficult.
Miners’ lamp: memory and the underground through a light installation on Bonsall Moor
Authors: Jaramillo George S
Published: April 2016

The historic lead mines of the southern Peak District embody the labour and efforts of miners gone, as well as, reflect the industrial past of the region. In my research, I have come to explore these underground places. In the darkness of the underground, light provides not only the ability to see, but also offers comfort. This article focuses on the creation and execution of a temporary 5-day light art installation, named Miners’ Lamp, on Bonsall Moor within the Peak District National Park. Inspired by my subterranean explorations and immersive research, the Miners’ Lamp engages the local community and encourages a reconsideration of the ‘hidden’ labour landscapes on the moor. The installation works with the ideas of darkness, light, memory and the underground showcasing the practice of geography and art in a rural setting and speaking to the politics of preservation through a different aesthetic.
On the generalization to swirling flows of Lighthill’s eighth-power law: Part I: Waves in axisymmetric sheared and swirling isentropic flows
Authors: Campos LMBC
Published: April 2016

The Lighthill–Proudman theory of sound generation by turbulence, inhomogeneities, and dissipation in a medium at rest is extended to an axisymmetric mean flow with (i) arbitrary unidirectional shear velocity profile and (ii) arbitrary angular velocity of rotation, both depending only on the radius and also (iii) isentropic conditions. The forced acoustic-vortical wave equation is obtained in space-time and in frequency-wavenumber domain retaining the radial dependence. The wave operator describes the propagation of coupled acoustic-vortical waves including the special cases of potential vortex and rigid-body swirl. The forcing term specifies the compressive, shear, and swirl wave sources that model the generation of acoustic-vortical waves (part II).
Outcome Measures for Evaluating Intimate Partner Violence Programs Within Clinical Settings: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Sprague Sheila , McKay Paula , Madden Kim , Scott Taryn , Tikasz Diana , Slobogean Gerard P. , Bhandari Mohit
Published: April 2016

Background:

Multiple intimate partner violence (IPV) identification and assistance programs have been implemented across clinical settings. The results of these studies are inconclusive and frequently conflicting, resulting in clinical uncertainty and controversy regarding the merits of IPV identification and assistance programs. We aimed to describe the choice of outcome measures used in previously published randomized trials of IPV identification and assistance programs.

Method:

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the Medline, Embase, PyscInfo, and CENTRAL databases. The outcomes assessed in each included study were extracted and categorized, and the methodological quality of each eligible study was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool.

Results:

Of 20 eligible studies, 6 evaluated IPV identification programs and 14 studies examined IPV assistance programs. The included studies used 48 different outcomes that we classified into 10 categories. For identification studies, the most commonly used outcome categories were IPV disclosure (66.7%) and resource use (66.7%). The most commonly used outcome categories for the IPV assistance studies included IPV recurrence and severity (64.3%) and health outcomes (50%). The included studies demonstrated a number of methodological limitations as identified by the Cochrane Risk of Bias instrument.

Conclusions:

IPV identification and assistance programs are evaluated using many different outcome measures. Although this diversity enriches the IPV literature, it makes it challenging to compare studies. The results of this review highlight the challenges of conducting research in the field of IPV and the complexity of selecting, measuring, and interpreting outcomes.
Smoking Status at Time of Listing for a Heart Transplant Predicts Mortality on the Waiting List
Authors: Gali Kathleen , Spaderna Heike , Smits Jacqueline M. A. , Bramstedt Katrina A. , Weidner Gerdi
Published: April 2016

Objective:

We examined the association of smoking status at time of listing with waitlist mortality among heart transplant (HTx) candidates.

Participants and Design:

Data were analyzed from 316 participants (aged 53 ± 11; 18% female) of the Waiting for a New Heart Study, a prospective observational study of patients newly listed for HTx at 17 hospitals.

Results:

During the study period (April 2005 to March 2010), 14% of those who never smoked died, 18% among former smokers died, and almost half (42%) died among those who reported smoking at time of wait listing. Multivariate Cox regression models controlling for age, sex, and disease severity revealed smoking at time of listing was associated with significantly higher risk of mortality compared to never smoking (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.43; P = .03). The relationship between smoking and mortality risk appeared to follow a dose-dependent pattern: adjusted HRs were 1.80 for those who quit ≤1 year ago, 1.25 for those who quit >1 to 10 years ago, and 0.90 for those quit >10 years ago, compared to never smokers. Smoking at time of listing may increase risk of mortality during the waiting period, indicating the need for improved strategies to achieve smoking cessation as early as possible in the course of HTx.
Advocacy for the Poor
Authors: Phinney Robin
Published: April 2016

While a large body of research examines cross-state variation in social policy, few studies systematically examine the policy influence of organizations that advocate on behalf of people living in poverty. This article examines relationships between state advocacy communities and policy choices following the passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), or welfare reform. Using an original data set of states’ advocacy communities, political and economic characteristics, and welfare policy choices, the article analyzes whether a state’s advocacy community is associated with its decisions to reduce the government’s commitment to low-income families on one hand and enact policies providing additional supports to families on the other. The analysis reveals that significant relationships exist for both types of policies, suggesting that organizational advocates may play a role in shaping state-level social policy decisions.
An Evidence-Based Review of Creative Problem Solving Tools
Authors: Vernon David , Hocking Ian , Tyler Tresoi C.
Published: April 2016

Creative problem solving (CPS) requires solutions to be useful and original. Typically, its operations span problem finding, idea generation, and critical evaluation. The benefits of training CPS have been extolled in education, industry, and government with evidence showing it can enhance performance. However, although such training schemes work, less is known about the specific tools used. Knowing whether a particular tool works or not would provide practitioners with a valuable resource, leading to more effective training schemes, and a better understanding of the processes involved. A comprehensive review was undertaken examining the empirical support of tools used within CPS. Despite the surprising lack of research focusing on the use and success of specific tools, some evidence exists to support the effectiveness of a small set. Such findings present practitioners with a potential resource that could be used in a stand-alone setting or possibly be combined to create more effective training programs.
Pharyngeal Electrical Stimulation in Dysphagia Poststroke
Authors: Vasant Dipesh H. , Michou Emilia , O’Leary Neil , Vail Andy , Mistry Satish , Hamdy Shaheen ,   Greater Manchester Stroke Research Network
Published: April 2016

Background. Pharyngeal electrical stimulation (PES) appears to promote cortical plasticity and swallowing recovery poststroke. Objective. We aimed to assess clinical effectiveness with longer follow-up. Methods. Dysphagic patients (n = 36; median = 71 years; 61% male) recruited from 3 trial centers within 6 weeks of stroke, received active or sham PES in a single-blinded randomized design via an intraluminal pharyngeal catheter (10 minutes, for 3days). The primary outcome measure was the Dysphagia Severity Rating (DSR) scale (<4, no-mild; ≥4, moderate-severe). Secondary outcomes included unsafe swallows on the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS ≥ 3), times to hospital discharge, and nasogastric tube (NGT) removal. Data were analyzed using logistic regression. Odds/hazard ratios (ORs/HRs) >1 for DSR <4, hospital discharge, and NGT removal and OR <1 for PAS ≥3, indicated favorable outcomes for active PES. Results. Two weeks post–active PES, 11/18 (61%) had DSR <4: OR (95% CI) = 2.5 (0.52, 14). Effects of active versus sham for secondary outcomes included the following: PAS ≥3 at 2 weeks, OR (95% CI) = 0.61 (0.27, 1.4); times to hospital discharge, 39 days versus 52 days, HR (95% CI) = 1.2 (0.55, 2.5); NGT removal 8 versus 14 days, HR (95% CI) = 2.0 (0.51, 7.9); and DSR <4 at 3 months, OR (95% CI) = 0.97 (0.13, 7.0). PES was well tolerated, without adverse effects or associations with serious complications (chest infections/death). Conclusions. Although the direction of observed differences were consistent with PES accelerating swallowing recovery over the first 2 weeks postintervention, suboptimal recruitment prevents definitive conclusions. Our study design experience and outcome data are essential to inform a definitive, multicenter randomized trial.
Peculiarities of the static and dynamic failure mechanism of long-term exploited gas pipeline steel
Authors: Maruschak Pavlo , Bishchak Roman , Prentkovskis Olegas , Poberezhnyi Lyubomyr , Danyliuk Iryna , Garbinčius Giedrius
Published: April 2016

Mechanical properties are substantiated, that are the most vulnerable to maintenance material deterioration of under prolonged operating time, accompanied by intense damage. The opposite behavior of relative elongation and contraction indicates the intensity of scattered damage of the operated metal. Reducing the percentage reduction indicates operational metal embrittlement, as a result of strain hardening, which can serve as confirmation of the increase in hardness and microhardness. Fractographic analysis of failure mechanisms of steel 17G1S cut in the length and breadth of the pipe is implemented.