bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of 3-Glucosaminoglycan Sulfate on Hemorheologic Parameters in Hyperlipidemic Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) Patients
Authors: Ciuffetti Giovanni , Mercuri Michele , Susta Adelaide , Lupattelli Graziana , Pasqualini Leonella , Lombardini Rita , Mannarino Elmo
Published: April 2019

The effects of 3-glucosaminoglycan sulfate on lipids and the hemorheologic parameters were observed in a preliminary double-blind crossover study in 30 hyperlipidemic peripheral vascular disease (PVD) patients. Parenteral adminis tration of the test drug was associated with a reduction in serum lipids, espe cially in triglyceride levels, and a lowering of fibrinogen, plasma viscosity, and whole blood viscosity levels. These effects justify the drug's use in the treatment of PVD, especially when associated with hypertriglyceridemia and hemorheo logic disturbances.
Reducing Hypertriglyceridemia in Elderly Patients with Cerebrovascular Disease Stabilizes or Improves Cognition and Cerebral Perfusion
Authors: Rogers Robert L. , Meyer John S. , McClintic Karen , Mortel Karl F.
Published: April 2019

Effects of lowering serum triglyceride levels were investigated among 44 el derly hypertriglyceridemic patients with risk factors for stroke, reduced cere bral perfusion, and a history compatible with symptomatic occlusive cerebro vascular disease. Patients were randomly assigned to either treatment with gem fibrozil, a lipid-lowering agent, or control conditions. Subjects in both groups were instructed to follow a diet recommended for lowering serum lipid levels, while the treatment group was additionally administered 600 mg daily of gemfi brozil. Subjects assigned to the treatment group (n = 22) showed significant re ductions in serum triglyceride levels (p < .0005). Control subjects (n=22) did not show any significant changes in serum triglyceride levels. There were also no significant changes in total cholesterol levels in either group. Analyses of values for mean bihemispheric gray matter cerebral blood flow measured by the xenon 133 inhalation method and cognitive scores tested by the Cognitive Ca pacity Screening Examination indicated that gemfibrozil-treated patients main tained significantly higher levels of cerebral perfusion and cognitive perform ance than untreated controls did. Regression analyses for different treatment intervals indicated that both cerebral blood flow and cognition showed linear improvements that correlated directly with the duration of treatment. Lowering triglyceride levels in hyperlipidemic subjects appears to benefit cerebral perfu sion and cognitive performance after four to six months.
Effects of Pentoxifylline on Choroidal Blood Flow in Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Sebag Jerry , Tang Mai , Brown Sharon , Sadun Alfredo A. , Charles M. Arthur
Published: April 2019

Objective: Diminished blood flow plays an important role in the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Since increased blood viscosity is a contributing factor to hypoper fusion, it was of interest to determine whether therapy intended to decrease blood viscosity and induce vasodilation could increase blood flow in patients with diabetic retinopathy

Methodology: Ten patients, 4 with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy and 6 age- matched, nondiabetic controls, were studied by a noninvasive system to index choroidal blood flow. Pentoxifylline was administered daily at an oral dose of 400 mg tid in the diabetic patients for nine months.

Results: The control group had pulse amplitude=2.87 ± 0.67 mm Hg with pulsatile choroidal blood flow=714 ± 196 μL/minute. Reproducibility studies in the control group (6 patients measured on three separate occasions) demonstrated an intraclass correlation coefficient of reliability, r=0.83. In the diabetic patients, pulsatile flow=276 ± 68 μL/minute, 61% lower than the age-matched nondiabetic subjects (P=0.003). After nine months of pentoxifylline therapy the diabetic patients had an increase in pulsatile choroidal blood flow to 469 ± 152 μL/minute (P < 0.002).

Conclusions: Pentoxifylline therapy brought blood flow levels in the diabetic patients closer to those of the nondiabetic age-matched control population so that following therapy there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups although the former were still lower. The potential efficacy of pentoxifylline in improving ocular blood flow in patients with diabetic retinopathy should be tested in a large controlled clinical trial.
Changes in Blood Pressure Reactivity and 24-Hour Blood Pressure Profile Occurring at Puberty
Authors: Modesti P.A. , Pela I. , Cecioni I. , Gensini G.F. , Neri Serneri G.G. , Bartolozzi G.
Published: April 2019

To evaluate blood pressure reactivity in children and its changes in adolescents, the acute pressor response to a video-game stress test and the noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were evaluated in 62 healthy children divided into three age groups. Basal blood pressure values were measured according to the NIH Task Force. With baseline measures and body mass index controlled for, analysis of covariance showed that the video game provoked significant and incremental cardiovascular reac tivity across the games in adolescents when compared with the two other groups of children. The same group of children showed also a significantly higher systolic ambu latory pressure during the daytime, whereas no significant difference was observed by basal BP measurement.

In conclusion an increased reactivity to external stimuli was observed in adolescents, and this pattern was strictly associated with a higher daily blood pressure.
Recurrent Embolization During Intravenous Administration of Tissue Plasminogen Activator in Acute Cardioembolic Stroke
Authors: Yasaka Masahiro , Yamaguchi Takenori , Yonehara Toshiro , Moriyasu Hideki
Published: April 2019

Treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) has been applied in acute cardioembolic stroke to reopen the occluded vessel and improve the patient's neurologic deficit. However, the effect of this therapy on intracardiac thrombus has not been documented previously

A forty-five-year-old man with dilated cardiomyopathy developed acute cardioem bolic stroke with disturbance of consciousness, right hemianopia, right hemiplegia, and global aphasia. Cerebral angiography demonstrated occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery trunk. Intravenous administration of 30 megaunits (MU) of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator was commenced two hours after the ictus and completed within sixty minutes. Cerebral angiography was repeated just after this treatment and demon strated a new occlusion of the left intracranial internal carotid artery along with occlusion of a branch of the left external artery. The authors subsequently performed two-dimen sional echocardiography and found a mobile thrombus in the left ventricle.

In patients with intracardiac mobile thrombi, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator seems to accelerate breakup or detachment of the thrombi and subsequent recurrent embolization. Therefore, it seems better to pay attention to the presence of mobile intracardiac thrombus before commencing intravenous infusion of rt-PA.
Occupational therapy and posttraumatic stress disorder: A scoping review
Authors: Edgelow Megan M. , MacPherson Megan M. , Arnaly Faye , Tam-Seto Linna , Cramm Heidi A.
Published: April 2019

Background.

People who are diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can experience disruptions in their daily occupations. Occupational therapists may assist clients with PTSD to reengage in meaningful occupations.

Purpose.

This scoping review aims to identify and describe the ways occupational therapy addresses PTSD in clinical practice.

Method.

Scholarly databases were searched for documents relating to occupational therapy and PTSD. Two reviewers independently applied selection criteria and systematically extracted information. Data were extracted and synthesized in a narrative format.

Findings.

Fifty sources met inclusion criteria and three major themes were identified: recognizing trauma within specific populations, PTSD’s impact on a range of occupations, and occupational therapy’s response to PTSD.

Implications.

Occupational therapists are working in multidisciplinary teams to reduce the impact of PTSD on the daily occupations of their clients. More effectiveness studies are required to understand the outcomes of occupational therapy interventions for clients with PTSD.
Saint Brother André of Montréal and the Performance of Catholic Masculinity
Authors: Boisvert Donald Luc
Published: April 2019

Saint Brother André (1845–1937), the founder of St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montréal, remains one of the most popular religious figures in Québec. Much of his reputation as a saint rests upon the ways in which he is depicted in devotional texts and in Catholic religious imagery: humble, simple, silent and self-effacing. These are often the same characteristics attributed to St. Joseph. This article attempts to question such a facile and limited caricature of Brother André. While he certainly displayed forms of what I call a Catholic subordinate Josephite masculinity, one that was characteristic of some French Canadian men of that era, Brother André was also able to move beyond such stereotypes in both his religious and public lives, thereby performing a less restrictive and more audacious form of masculinity.
Où en sont les études sur le livre de Qohélet (2012–2018) ?
Authors: Lavoie Jean-Jacques
Published: April 2019

Dans cet article, l’auteur présente, en sept parties, environ cinquante livres publiés depuis 2012 sur le texte de Qohélet. Ces sept parties correspondent à sept thématiques importantes : la critique textuelle, la datation du livre de Qohélet, sa structure, l’explication des contradictions apparentes ou réelles, la signification du mot hbl, les comparaisons avec les textes extrabibliques et bibliques, et la réception du livre dans l’histoire.
Perceptions and Use of Computed Tomography in a Hospital Emergency Department: Technicians’ Perspectives
Authors: Parlangeli Oronzo , Liston Paul M. , Marchigiani Enrica , Bracci Margherita , Giani Alessandra
Published: April 2019

Objective:

This study traces the evolution of perceptions and use of computed tomography (CT) by radiology technicians in the emergency department (ED) of a hospital in Italy across a 7-year period.

Background:

The sociotechnical context of the CT room of an ED has been neglected by scientific research—potentially impacting safety.

Method:

Two studies were performed, one in 2011 and one in 2018. Six CT technicians were involved in each. Structured interviews were performed to gather information on perceptions related to the evolution of the use of CT according to nine different factors—e.g. the level of complexity, and mental workload. Observations were performed on duration of exams, the flow of people, conversations, and any critical issues.

Results:

The CT technology is appreciated, used effectively and with confidence by CT technicians. From 2011-2018, the execution times of the exams have decreased but not the proportion of time dedicated to the patient. Expectations for future improvements are limited by issues concerning the design of both the user interface and the social context of the ED workplace.

Conclusions:

The safety and efficiency of the system as a whole are greatly dependent on the competence of the CT technicians. CT manufacturers rely on this competence to help compensate for the deficiencies created by suboptimal user interfaces and the lack of fit of the technology with the social context of the workplace.

Application:

Training programs aimed at improving the management of relationships and communications between staff could improve performance and efficiency. CT manufacturers should try to better understand the cognitive and operational context of the workplaces where CT technicians work—and to design better diagnostic technology which accounts for these operational realities.
Leveling the Social Gradient in Health at the Local Level: Applying the Gradient Equity Lens to Norwegian Local Public Health Policy
Authors: Fosse Elisabeth , Sherriff Nigel , Helgesen Marit
Published: April 2019

The gradient in health inequalities reflects a relationship between health and social circumstance demonstrating that health worsens as you move down the socioeconomic scale. Norway’s Public Health Act (PHA) specifically aims to tackle the gradient by addressing the social determinants of health. In this article, we draw on data from 2 studies that investigated how municipalities in Norway deal with these challenges. In doing so, we apply theoretical perspectives, as defined in the Gradient Evaluation Framework (GEF), to analyze the implementation of the PHA at the municipality level. The article aims to describe and analyze how local governments follow the requirements of the act. In doing so, we address the following research questions: Which policies are implemented at the local level to reduce social inequalities in health among families and children? How is intersectoral collaboration carried out, and who is taking part in the collaboration? The article draws on both quantitative survey data from questionnaires sent to all Norwegian municipalities and qualitative interview data in 6 municipalities. The findings show that there is raised awareness of the significance of social determinants among an increased number of municipalities, indicating that the PHA is being implemented according to its objectives.
Matrix and interface microcracking in carbon fiber/polymer structural micro-battery
Authors: Xu Johanna , Varna Janis
Published: April 2019

In this paper, the propagation of radial matrix cracks and debond cracks at the coating/matrix interface in unidirectional carbon fiber structural micro-battery composite are studied numerically. The micro battery consists of a solid electrolyte-coated carbon fiber embedded in an electrochemically active polymer matrix. Stress analysis shows that high hoop stress in the matrix during charging may initiate radial matrix cracks at the coating/matrix interface. Several 2-D finite element models of the transverse plane with different arrangements of fibers and other matrix cracks were used to analyze the radial matrix crack growth from the coating/matrix interface of the central fiber in a composite with a square packing of fibers. Energy release rates of radial cracks along two potential propagation paths are calculated under pure electrochemical loading. The presence of a radial matrix crack imposes changes in the stress distribution along the coating/matrix interface, making debonding relevant for consideration. Results for energy release rates show that the debond crack growth is governed by mode II.
Chemical resistance of carbon, basalt, and glass fibers used in FRP reinforcing bars
Authors: Cousin P , Hassan M , Vijay PV , Robert M , Benmokrane B
Published: April 2019

One of the most important fields of research dealing with the use of carbon-, basalt-, and glass-fiber composites in the civil construction industry is their behavior under various chemical exposure conditions. Fiber-reinforced-polymer composites used as internal and external reinforcement in various structural applications can be subjected to widely differing pH situations. This study investigated the chemical durability of various carbon, basalt and glass fibers. The fibers were immersed in four types of solutions with acid, saline, alkaline, and deionized-water conditioning schemes. The fiber mass loss and surface damage along with changes due to chemical reactions were observed through weight-loss measurements and scanning electron microscopy. A criterion was developed to characterize the performance of fibers as very good, good, fair, and poor. This methodology can also be used by manufacturers as a quick quality-control tool for evaluating the chemical resistance of different fibers prior to large-volume production. The results reveal that the carbon fibers exhibited higher chemical resistance than the basalt and glass fibers based on weight loss and evidence of chemical reactions. Moreover, the determination of the fiber chemical composition before and after conditioning in acid and alkaline solutions clearly shows that the E-glass fibers, which are known to contain boron, were very sensitive to chemical corrosion. The ECR-glass fibers showed excellent chemical durability, even better than the basalt fibers.
Environmental, mechanical and materialistic effects on delamination damage of glass fiber composites: Analysis and optimization
Authors: Tabatabaeian Ali , Baraheni Mohammad , Amini Saeid , Ghasemi Ahmad R
Published: April 2019

Machining process of glass fiber composites usually induces delamination damage. The presence of delamination may cause changes in the mechanical characteristics of the composite structures. In this research, a comprehensive experimental study is performed to analyze the influence of different parameters such as thermal fatigue, lay-up arrangement, resin type, feed rate and cutting velocity on the delamination of glass fiber composites under different drilling processes. Besides, influence of ultrasonic vibration exerting on the tool as a new and high-tech process is investigated. To follow this aim, different composite specimens with various resin types and lay-up arrangements are fabricated and a thermal fatigue condition is provided. Additionally, the Taguchi method is employed to obtain the optimized damage reduction condition in terms of mentioned parameters. The results indicated that thermal fatigue and unsymmetrical lay-up arrangement result in more delamination damage. It was also established that the influence of mentioned parameters is more considerable in higher cutting velocities. Moreover, ultrasonic vibration application is suggested to have the least delamination damage.
EphrinB2/EphB4 Signaling Regulates DPSCs to Induce Sprouting Angiogenesis of Endothelial Cells
Authors: Gong T. , Xu J. , Heng B. , Qiu S. , Yi B. , Han Y. , Lo E.C.M. , Zhang C.
Published: April 2019

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are capable of facilitating angiogenesis resembling pericytes when located adjacent to endothelial cells (ECs). Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms orchestrating their proangiogenic functions remain unclear. Using a 3-dimensional (3-D) fibrin gel model, we aimed to investigate whether EphrinB2/EphB4 signaling in DPSCs plays a role in supporting vascular morphogenesis mediated by ECs, together with the underlying mechanism involved. The EphrinB2/EphB4 signaling was inhibited either by a pharmacological inhibitor of EphB4 receptor or by knocking down the expressions of EphrinB2 and EphB4 using lentiviral small hairpin RNA (shRNA). DPSCs were either encapsulated in fibrin gel together with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) or cultured as a monolayer on top of HUVECs to investigate both paracrine and juxtacrine interactions simultaneously. Following 10 d of direct coculture, we found that pharmacological inhibition of EphrinB2/EphB4 signaling severely impaired vessel formation and laminin deposition. When directly cocultured with HUVECs, knockdown of EphrinB2 or EphB4 in DPSCs significantly inhibited endothelial sprouting, resulting in less capillary sprouts with reduced vessel length ( P < 0.05). By contrast, when DPSCs were not in direct contact with HUVECs, attenuation of EphrinB2 or EphB4 expression levels in DPSCs did not exert any significant effects on capillary morphogenesis. Noticeably, exogenous stimulation with soluble EphrinB2-Fc or EphB4-Fc (1 µg/mL) enhanced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion from DPSCs, thereby moderately promoting angiogenic cascades in the fibrin matrix. This study, for the first time, reveals a crucial role of EphrinB2/EphB4 signaling in regulating the capacity of DPSCs to induce sprouting angiogenesis. These findings advance our understanding of postnatal angiogenesis and may have future regenerative medicine applications.
Do Self-Figure Drawings Reveal the Drawer’s Cultural Values? Thais and Israelis Draw Themselves
Authors: Binson Bussakorn , Federman Dita Judith , Lev-Wiesel Rachel
Published: April 2019

This study aimed to investigate to what extent the self-figure drawings of young adult Thais differ from the self-figure drawings of a matched Israeli group. The convenience sample consisted of 24 participants; 12 Israelis and 12 Thais were asked to draw themselves with a pencil on a sheet of A4 paper and add a narrative to the drawing. In addition, they were asked to draw how they are perceived by the other group. Analyses of variance were conducted within and between the groups of drawings. The results indicated significant differences in body size, body shape, and the addition of cultural symbols between the two groups. The differences in cultural values were discussed in light of the findings.
What Drives Virality (Sharing) of Online Digital Content? The Critical Role of Information, Emotion, and Brand Prominence
Authors: Tellis Gerard J. , MacInnis Deborah J. , Tirunillai Seshadri , Zhang Yanwei
Published: April 2019

The authors test five theoretically derived hypotheses about what drives video ad sharing across multiple social media platforms. Two independent field studies test these hypotheses using 11 emotions and over 60 ad characteristics. The results are consistent with theory and robust across studies. Information-focused content has a significantly negative effect on sharing, except in risky contexts. Positive emotions of amusement, excitement, inspiration, and warmth positively affect sharing. Various drama elements such as surprise, plot, and characters, including babies, animals, and celebrities arouse emotions. Prominent (early vs. late, long vs. short duration, persistent vs. pulsing) placement of brand names hurts sharing. Emotional ads are shared more on general platforms (Facebook, Google+, Twitter) than on LinkedIn, and the reverse holds for informational ads. Sharing is also greatest when ad length is moderate (1.2 to 1.7 minutes). Contrary to these findings, ads use information more than emotions, celebrities more than babies or animals, prominent brand placement, little surprise, and very short or very long ads. A third study shows that the identified drivers predict sharing accurately in an entirely independent sample.
Optimal Design of Free Samples for Digital Products and Services
Authors: Li Hongshuang (Alice) , Jain Sanjay , Kannan P.K.
Published: April 2019

Marketers of digital content such as books, news, video, music, and mobile games often provide free samples of the content for consumers to try out before buying the product or signing up for subscription. Similarly, firms selling software (such as software as a service), and cloud-based services may provide free limited-version products or a free-trial period for the service. In this article, the authors focus on how firms should design such free samples to maximize their revenue. They examine in an analytical setting how quality and other design parameters of the sample affect profit generated by the product or service. They then test the normative implications in the application context of a book publisher that provides free samples for the books it sells online. Using a field experiment, the authors vary the design parameters of the sample and, based on the demand estimates, provide recommendations for the firm on the optimal design of the sample. They find that, rather than being substitutes, free samples of the entire content can be very effective in increasing revenues. Furthermore, they find that higher-quality samples have a greater impact on the sales of popular content. This has important implications for freemium and free-trial business models.
Youth Mobility Scheme: The Panacea for Ending Free Movement?
Authors: Consterdine Erica
Published: April 2019

Free movement has been at the heart of the Brexit debate, with the government grappling between satisfying public and business demands for restrictive and liberal approaches to immigration respectively. In response the government have advocated temporary migration as a potential solution, including an expanded UK-EU Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) modelled on the current T5 YMS on the assumption that YMS migrants undertake low-skilled jobs. Little is known about this visa or the labour market activity of YMS migrants. Drawing on policy analysis alongside survey and interview data from Australian YMS migrants, this paper seeks to bridge some of these knowledge gaps, arguing that an expanded EU YMS will not attract significant EU migrants, and is far from a remedy for free movement ending.
‘We Don’t Want to Go and Be Idle Ducks’: Family Practices at the End of Life
Authors: Borgstrom Erica , Ellis Julie , Woodthorpe Kate
Published: April 2019

At present, end-of-life research, policy and practice typically prioritise the dying individual and consider the family an orbiting static unit. Sociological theorising of dying has reflected this trend, focusing on the macro-level and public rather than private sphere, with sociologists engaged in the study of family and relationships overlooking the end of life altogether. In addressing this gap, this article argues that the end of life is a relational experience in which everyday family practices are embedded and enacted. Drawing on two ethnographic studies, it demonstrates some of the ways in which family is actively ‘done’ at this time, principally in the transference of family practices into institutional settings, and shared decision making. In doing so, it makes a case for moving beyond a highly individualised emphasis on the person nearing the end of their life and an accompanying normative conceptualisation of family, towards an understanding that families (in all their diversity) and their continued (un)making are central to the experience.
Naturalism and the Problem of Normativity: The Case of Historiography
Authors: Kuukkanen Jouni-Matti
Published: April 2019

This article tackles the problem of normativity in naturalism and considers it in the context of the philosophy of historiography. I argue that strong naturalism is inconsistent with genuine normativity. The strong naturalist faces a difficult dilemma. If he rejects any reliance on conceptual intuitions, his epistemic inquiries will not get off the ground. As a consequence, his analyses of historiography are, in effect, normatively irrelevant: any practice is epistemically as valuable as any other. Another option for the strong naturalist is to relax methodological requirements and accept that epistemic inquiries may begin with nonempirical conceptual reflection or a priori reasoning.
A Dynamic Stratification Method for Improving Trait Estimation in Computerized Adaptive Testing Under Item Exposure Control
Authors: Chen Jyun-Hong , Chao Hsiu-Yi , Chen Shu-Ying
Published: April 2019

When computerized adaptive testing (CAT) is under stringent item exposure control, the precision of trait estimation will substantially decrease. A new item selection method, the dynamic Stratification method based on Dominance Curves (SDC), which is aimed at improving trait estimation, is proposed to mitigate this problem. The objective function of the SDC in item selection is to maximize the sum of test information for all examinees rather than maximizing item information for individual examinees at a single-item administration, as in conventional CAT. To achieve this objective, the SDC uses dominance curves to stratify an item pool into strata with the number being equal to the test length to precisely and accurately increase the quality of the administered items as the test progresses, reducing the likelihood that a high-discrimination item will be administered to an examinee whose ability is not close to the item difficulty. Furthermore, the SDC incorporates a dynamic process for on-the-fly item–stratum adjustment to optimize the use of quality items. Simulation studies were conducted to investigate the performance of the SDC in CAT under item exposure control at different levels of severity. According to the results, the SDC can efficiently improve trait estimation in CAT through greater precision and more accurate trait estimation than those generated by other methods (e.g., the maximum Fisher information method) in most conditions.
Piero Sraffa: Making a Revolution in Economic Theory
Authors: Bagchi Amiya Kumar
Published: April 2019

Ajit Sinha, A Revolution in Economic Theory: The Economics of Piero Sraffa, New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2016, pp. xviii–244.
Are Mixed-Gender Committees Less Biased Toward Female and Male Candidates? An Investigation of Competence-, Morality-, and Sociability-Related Terms in Performance Appraisal
Authors: Prati Francesca , Menegatti Michela , Moscatelli Silvia , Kana Kenfack Corine Stella , Pireddu Sara , Crocetti Elisabetta , Mariani Marco Giovanni , Rubini Monica
Published: April 2019

The present research investigated the spontaneous reference to the criteria of competence, morality, and sociability in descriptions made by professional committees evaluating female and male employees’ work performance. We examined whether professional committees used different criteria in their performance appraisal of male and female employees and how gender of committee members influences this outcome. The evidence showed that men were primarily evaluated on the basis of their competence, while women were evaluated on the basis of their performance in all the three (evaluative) criteria. Interestingly, using mixed compared with same gender committee members resulted in higher use of competence-related terms rather than sociability and morality ones, regardless of gender of employees. Overall, the evidence reveals that mixed-gender committees provide similar appraisals of male and female employees based on competence, suggesting that they might be an effective way to reduce gender bias in the performance appraisals.
Echo-chambers in online news consumption: Evidence from survey and navigation data in Spain
Authors: Cardenal Ana S , Aguilar-Paredes Carlos , Cristancho Camilo , Majó-Vázquez Sílvia
Published: April 2019

Whether people live in echo-chambers when they consume political information online has been the subject of much academic and public debate. This article contributes to this debate combining survey and web-tracking online data from Spain, a country known for its high political parallelism. We find that users spend more time in outlets of their political leanings but, generally, they engage in considerable cross-partisan media exposure, especially those in the left. In addition, we use a quasi experiment to test how major news events affect regular patterns of news consumption, and particularly, selective exposure. We find that the nature of news explains changes in users’ overall consumption behaviour, but this has less to do with the type of event than with the interest it arouses. More importantly, we find that users become more polarized along party lines as the level of news consumption and interest for news increases.
Inter-firm Trust between Emerging Markets: Chinese Firms in Africa
Authors: Elliot Esi A. , Zhu Zhen , Wang Fei-Ling
Published: April 2019

The rapid global expansion of marketers from one emerging market to another such as countries in Africa, Latin America, Central Asia, and the Middle East is dramatically changing the landscape of international business relationships. A leading example is Chinese firms in African countries. The element of trust is highlighted in such emerging market relationships that involve large investments from multiple constituents with diverging and sometimes conflicting objectives. Our study provides a broader, more encompassing macromarketing framework by investigating inter-firm trust between two emerging markets from an institutional perspective. Our study develops the inter-firm trust concept in the context of Chinese businesses in Africa on the bases of extant literature, field interviews, and observations focused mainly on three African countries (Ghana, Kenya and South Africa). Drawing from trust theory and institutional theory, our study reveals three dimensions for the inter-firm trust concept and both trustor and trustee factors influence the perception of Chinese businesses in Africa. Macromarketing and practical implications for building and managing inter-firm trust at a multi-level between emerging markets are also discussed.
The RBO dataset of articulated objects and interactions
Authors: Martín-Martín Roberto , Eppner Clemens , Brock Oliver
Published: April 2019

We present a dataset with models of 14 articulated objects commonly found in human environments and with RGB-D video sequences and wrenches recorded of human interactions with them. The 358 interaction sequences total 67 minutes of human manipulation under varying experimental conditions (type of interaction, lighting, perspective, and background). Each interaction with an object is annotated with the ground-truth poses of its rigid parts and the kinematic state obtained by a motion-capture system. For a subset of 78 sequences (25 minutes), we also measured the interaction wrenches. The object models contain textured three-dimensional triangle meshes of each link and their motion constraints. We provide Python scripts to download and visualize the data. The data are available at https://turbo.github.io/articulated-objects/ and hosted at https://zenodo.org/record/1036660/ .
Dexmedetomidine improves cognition after carotid endarterectomy by inhibiting cerebral inflammation and enhancing brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression
Authors: Ge Yali , Li Qian , Nie Yuyan , Gao Ju , Luo Ke , Fang Xiangzhi , Wang Cunjing
Published: April 2019

Objectives

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is efficient in preventing stroke for patients with significant carotid stenosis, but results in mild cognitive dysfunction. Dexmedetomidine is neuroprotective in stroke models. We hypothesized that dexmedetomidine may improve cognition after CEA.

Methods

Forty-nine patients scheduled for elective CEA were randomly assigned to intravenous dexmedetomidine treatment group (n = 25) and control group C (normal saline, n = 24). Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), as well as lactate, TNF-α, IL-6, and BDNF levels in blood, were assessed before, during, and after surgery.

Results

MMSE and MOCA scores showed subtle decline in both groups at 24 hours postoperatively; this decline remained at 48 hours postoperatively in group C. Both scores were higher in group D than in group C at 48 and 72 hours postoperatively. TNF-α and IL-6 were lower from 5 minutes post-clamping through 24 hours postoperatively in group D; lactate was lower at 5 minutes post-clamping in group D. BDNF was higher from 5 minutes post-clamping through 1 hour postoperatively in both groups, and remained high in group D at 24 hours postoperatively.

Conclusions

Dexmedetomidine improved recovery of cognition after CEA, potentially due to reduced inflammation and enhanced BDNF expression.
The Role of Mexican Immigrants in the United States on the Imagined and Invented Traditions in Mexico’s Regional Cities
Authors: Makino Fuyuki , Hirai Shinji
Published: April 2019

Mexican immigrants who move to the United States exert great influence on the reproduction of tradition in regional Mexican cities. This study examined the “changes in vistas” that appear due to the frequent migration that connects global cities with sending societies. The emphasis here is on the realities in which residents upgrade their living spaces using traditionality with their own unique strategies (posttraditional vistas), despite social and financial restrictions. Employing ethnographic methods and measurement surveys of housing, this study focused on Jalostotitlán, Jalisco, Mexico. It was found that changes in the vista of Jalostotitlán have not resulted from the unidirectional impact of people, goods, and money flowing from global cities; rather, they have arisen from the bidirectional relationship between immigrants and their hometowns. This research helps to depict another factor for discussions of the global migration narrative by placing regional cities at the core.
Availability of and Participation in Workplace Health Promotion Programs by Sociodemographic, Occupation, and Work Organization Characteristics in US Workers
Authors: Tsai Rebecca , Alterman Toni , Grosch James W. , Luckhaupt Sara E.
Published: April 2019

Purpose:

To examine how the availability of and participation in workplace health promotion programs (WHPPs) vary as a function of sociodemographic, occupation, and work organization characteristics.

Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Setting:

2015 National Health Interview Survey and Occupational Health Supplement.

Participants:

The study sample included 17 469 employed adults who completed the WHPP questions.

Measures:

The 2 dependent outcome measures were availability of WHPPs and participation in these programs when available. Independent variables included occupation and 8 work organization and employment characteristics: company size, hours worked, supervisory responsibility, hourly pay, paid sick leave, health insurance offered by employer, work schedule, and work arrangement.

Analysis:

Poisson regression analyses were conducted with SUDAAN 11.0.1.

Results:

Overall, 57.8% of 46.6% employees who have WHPPs available reported participating in these programs. This study found that adults who worked ≤20 h/wk, worked regular night shifts, were paid by the hour, or worked for temporary agencies were less likely to participate in WHPPs. Workers who supervised others were 13% more likely to participate than nonsupervisors. Borderline associations were seen for having access to employer-sponsored health insurance and working at a site with <10 employees.

Conclusion:

Despite the potential for improving physical and mental health, only 58% of US workers participated in WHPPs. Since barriers to WHPP participation (eg, time constraints, lack of awareness, and no perceived need) may vary across occupations and work organization characteristics, employers should tailor WHPPs based on their specific work organization characteristics to maximize participation.
Validation of the Spanish Version of the Beginning Breastfeeding Survey-Cumulative: A Follow-up Study
Authors: Saus-Ortega Carlos , Oliver-Roig Antonio , Richart-Martínez Miguel , Mulder Pamela , Cabrero-García Julio
Published: April 2019

Background:

The Beginning Breastfeeding Survey-Cumulative (BBSC) is an instrument that assesses the overall maternal perception of breastfeeding effectiveness during the early postpartum period.

Research aims:

The aims of this study were to adapt and validate a Spanish version of the BBSC and provide new evidence regarding its validity.

Methods:

A standard forward and back-translation process was used to obtain the Spanish version of the questionnaire (BBSC-E). A sample of 793 breastfeeding mothers was used. Data were obtained from clinical records and questionnaires self-administered at discharge and at 1–4 months postpartum. The factorial structure of the BBSC-E was examined with both an exploratory and confirmatory approach. Internal consistency, comparisons between known groups, and correlations with other variables were also assessed, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were used to determine its predictive validity.

Results:

Analysis revealed a two-dimensional structure, with infant and maternal subscales, and adequate fit statistics. The Root Mean Squared Error of Approximation (RMSEA) was .067. The Cronbach’s α of the overall scale was .91. There were statistically significant associations between the BBSC-E and (1) previous breastfeeding experience, early skin-to-skin contact, exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding difficulty and self-efficacy, and infant weight loss during hospitalization and (2) at 1–4 months postpartum, with the breastfeeding status, the intensity of breastfeeding problems, and satisfaction with breastfeeding. The total BBSC-E area under the ROC curve for any breastfeeding at 60 days postpartum was .73, and a score of 88 was the most discriminative cut-off point for maximum performance.

Conclusion:

The BBSC-E is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring breastfeeding effectiveness during early postpartum.
Transfer of Cyclobenzaprine into Human Milk and Subsequent Infant Exposure
Authors: Burra Bhaskari , Datta Palika , Rewers-Felkins Kathleen , Baker Teresa , Hale Thomas W.
Published: April 2019

Introduction:

Cyclobenzaprine is a skeletal muscle relaxant primarily used in the treatment of pain. Its use during lactation is a matter of concern as its level of exposure to infants through human milk is still unknown.

Main issue:

The aim of this study was to determine cyclobenzaprine concentrations in the milk samples collected from two lactating mothers.

Management:

The present study describes the analysis of cyclobenzaprine in human milk using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, which determined the drug concentration-time profiles in human milk.

Conclusion:

This study shows low levels of concentrations of cyclobenzaprine in human milk with calculated relative infant dose of 0.5%. However, due to the sedative properties of cyclobenzaprine, regular clinical assessment of the infant is recommended to evaluate for long-term effects.
The Perceived Influence of Role Models and Early Career Development in Native and Migrant Youth
Authors: Valero Domingo , Keller Anita C. , Hirschi Andreas
Published: April 2019

Role models provide youth with valuable information on how to pursue their career goals. However, whether the presence of role models is related to career development beyond social support has not been sufficiently addressed. We investigated how perceived role model influence and social support were related to goal engagement among 191 students and to work engagement among 500 apprentices, and whether these effects were mediated by occupational self-efficacy. We further examined differences between native and migrant youth. Data were analyzed using multigroup structural equation modeling. Our results suggested that engagement was related to role model influence beyond its relationship with social support among students and apprentices. However, this relationship was not found for migrant students. There were no significant indirect effects of role model influence on engagement via self-efficacy among students and apprentices. Our results suggest that role models should be acknowledged as a distinct facilitator of adolescents’ work-related engagement.
Stress Management Interventions for Nurses: Critical Literature Review
Authors: Chesak Sherry S. , Cutshall Susanne M. , Bowe Cassandra L. , Montanari Katherine M. , Bhagra Anjali
Published: April 2019

Background: The nursing literature contains numerous studies on stress management interventions for nurses, but their overall levels of evidence remain unclear. Holistic nurses use best-available evidence to guide practice with self-care interventions. Ongoing discovery of knowledge, dissemination of research findings, and evidence-based practice are the foundation of specialized practice in holistic nursing. This literature review aimed to identify the current level of evidence for stress management interventions for nurses. Method: A systematic search and review of the literature was used to summarize existing research related to stress management interventions for nurses and recommend directions for future research and practice. Results: Ninety articles met the inclusion criteria for this study and were categorized and analyzed for scientific rigor. Various stress management interventions for nurses have been investigated, most of which are aimed at treatment of the individual versus the environment. Contemporary studies only moderately meet the identified standards of research design. Issues identified include lack of randomized controlled trials, little use of common measurement instruments across studies, and paucity of investigations regarding organizational strategies to reduce nurses’ stress. Conclusion: Future research is indicated to include well-designed randomized controlled trials, standardized measurement tools, and more emphasis on interventions aimed at the environment.
Essential but expensive? The World Health Organization, access to medicines and human rights
Authors: Syrett Keith
Published: April 2019

Now widely accepted as a component of the international human rights framework, the concept of access to medicines nonetheless continues to generate controversial questions as to its scope and application. Through critical analysis of relevant documentary materials, this article seeks to explore the conjunction between human rights and the list of essential medicines compiled biennially by the World Health Organization in the particular context of the recent expansion of this list to embrace a number of very costly medical interventions. Such extension is intended to stimulate access in the long run, but the expense of such medicines may limit accessibility in the short term, as governments struggling to ensure the sustainability of health systems choose to allocate finite resources elsewhere. This article therefore examines the compatibility of limitations to access on grounds of unaffordability, with international human rights obligations. It focuses especially upon Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights but also considers other human rights which may be engaged.
Between facts and norms: Testing compliance with Article 8 ECHR in immigration cases
Authors: Klaassen Mark
Published: April 2019

The European Court of Human Rights plays a subsidiary role in the protection of the rights and freedoms set forth in the Convention. To enable national authorities to perform their primary role, it is important that the Court offers sufficient guidance on the interpretation of the Convention. It has already been argued that the case law of the Court on the right to respect for family life in immigration cases, lacks consistency in terms of procedural and substantive protection. The inconsistency in the case law is mostly the case in the admission and regularisation case law. This manifests itself in specific issues including the determination of whether an interference has occurred as well as the court’s determination of the best interests of the child. Consequently, the case law difficult to apply by national authorities which leads to widely diverging practices by the Contracting Parties. The objective of this article is to outline the differences and inconsistencies in the different forms of immigration cases and the corresponding compliance tests of the Court. The article aims to offer a solution that would enable both the Court and the Contracting Parties to differentiate the level of protection that is offered by Article 8 in immigration cases, while providing sufficient guidance to national decision-making authorities and judiciaries so that they can efficiently and effectively exercise the primary role they play in the protection of the right to respect for family life in immigration cases.
An Ageless Gift: Reciprocity and Value Creation By and For Older Workers
Authors: Foweraker Barbara , Cutcher Leanne
Published: April 2019

Much of the extant literature views older workers through the lenses of human capital theory or ageism and age discrimination, both of which emphasise older workers’ value deficit. Using the case of a company that employs older workers, this article explores how ongoing exchanges between the organisation, its employees and its customers create three inter-related types of value: surplus value, staging value and accrual value. The organisation extracts surplus value by employing an older workforce who, grateful for employment during older age, reciprocate by drawing on embodied social capital to gift staging value, which sees customers reciprocate by endorsing the organisation’s products. Employment in this case is viewed as extending beyond pure commodity exchange to incorporate elements of gift exchange. The ongoing interaction and exchange with others through their work is the means by which the employees attach accrual value to themselves, thereby reproducing the good and proper ageing subject.