bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving High-Impact Forecasts through Sensitivity-Based Ensemble Subsets: Demonstration and Initial Tests
Authors: Ancell Brian C.
Published: May 2016

Ensemble sensitivity can reveal features in the flow at early forecast times that are relevant to the predictability of chosen high-impact forecast aspects (e.g., heavy precipitation) later in time. In an operational environment, it thus might be possible to choose ensemble subsets with improved predictability over the full ensemble if members with the smallest errors in regions of large ensemble sensitivity can be identified. Since numerous observations become available hourly, such a technique is feasible and could be executed well before the next assimilation/extended forecast cycle, potentially adding valuable lead time to forecasts of high-impact weather events. Here, a sensitivity-based technique that chooses subsets of forecasts initialized from an 80-member ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) is tested by ranking 6-h errors in sensitive regions toward improving 24-h forecasts of landfalling midlatitude cyclones on the west coast of North America. The technique is first tested within an idealized framework with one of the ensemble members serving as truth. Subsequent experiments are performed in more realistic scenarios with an independent truth run, observation error added, and sparser observations. Results show the technique can indeed produce ensemble subsets that are improved relative to the full ensemble for 24-h forecasts of landfalling cyclones. Forecast errors are found to be smallest when the greatest 70% of ensemble sensitivity magnitudes with subsets of size 5–30 members are used, as well as when only the cases of the largest forecast spread are considered. Finally, this study presents considerations for extending this technique into fully realistic situations with regard to additional high-impact events.
Different percentages of false-positive results obtained using five methods for the calculation of reference change values based on simulated normal and ln-normal distributions of data
Authors: Lund Flemming , Petersen Per Hyltoft , Fraser Callum G , Sölétormos György
Published: May 2016

Background

Reference change values provide objective tools to assess the significance of a change in two consecutive results for a biomarker from an individual. The reference change value calculation is based on the assumption that within-subject biological variation has random fluctuation around a homeostatic set point that follows a normal (Gaussian) distribution. This set point (or baseline in steady-state) should be estimated from a set of previous samples, but, in practice, decisions based on reference change value are often based on only two consecutive results. The original reference change value was based on standard deviations according to the assumption of normality, but was soon changed to coefficients of variation (CV) in the formula (reference change value = ± Z ċ 2½ ċ CV). Z is being dependent on the desired probability of significance, which also defines the percentages of false-positive results. The aim of this study was to investigate false-positive results using five different published methods for calculation of reference change value.

Methods

The five reference change value methods were examined using normally and ln-normally distributed simulated data.

Results

One method performed best in approaching the theoretical false-positive percentages on normally distributed data and another method performed best on ln-normally distributed data. The commonly used reference change value method based on two results (without use of estimated set point) performed worst both on normally distributed and ln-normally distributed data.

Conclusions

The optimal choice of method to calculate reference change value limits requires knowledge of the distribution of data (normal or ln-normal) and, if possible, knowledge of the homeostatic set point.
Personality, Coping, and Well-Being for People Living with Chronic Hepatitis C
Authors: Cellar Douglas F. , Voster Devon , Fetters Rachel , Twitchell Emily , Harper Gary W. , Scott Cotler
Published: May 2016

The present study examined the relationships between personality, coping strategies, and health ratings to extend past research to people living with chronic hepatitis C (HCV). Participants were 35 people (11 men, 24 women; M age = 49.6 yr., SD = 10.6) living with chronic hepatitis C for an average of 9.0 yr. ( SD = 6.0) since diagnosis. Participants provided descriptions of stressful situations and responded to a personality inventory, Ways of Coping Questionnaire scales (planful problem solving and escape-avoidance) and SF36 Health Survey scales measuring physical functioning and mental health. The stressful situations were judgmentally clustered into seven dimensions (diagnosis/mortality, disclosure, stigma, social and work role functioning, compounding problems, and no stress). Correlational analyses indicated strong negative relationships between escape–avoidance coping and health measures. Emotional Stability and Extraversion were positively related to both health variables, and Extraversion was negatively related to escape–avoidance coping. The results suggest that research from other contexts that has examined these relationships tended to generalize to people living with HCV.
A Preliminary Study of Sex Differences in Emotional Experience
Authors: Reyes-Aguilar Azalea , Barrios Fernando A.
Published: May 2016

Evolutionary approaches have proposed that women possess an advantage over men in emotional functioning to promote attachment for child-rearing. Likewise, sex differences have been reported in traits such as personality and empathy, traits that likely modulate emotional processing. In this preliminary study, sex differences in emotional processing were analyzed, including empathy as a social emotion and personality traits, as well as whether there exist relationships between those measures. Young volunteers ( N = 105) indicated the emotional valence, activation, and dominance that they experience in situations categorized as emotionally positive, negative, or neutral. The results of comparison between sexes supported the approach that women showed more sensitivity to high activation and dominance for positive emotions and empathy, and men were more sensitive to negative situations. Correlation analysis showed only one positive relationship between scores of Self-transcendence, a subscale of Temperament and Character Inventory, with activation scores of neutral situations, but not with emotionally charged situations, perhaps because emotions are context-dependent processes while personality traits are considered context-independent descriptions of habits. These findings should be replicated to enrich knowledge about problems in emotional processing.
Interactions between Sex, Socioeconomic Level, and Children's Cognitive Performance
Authors: Alves Ana-Filipa , Martins Ana , Almeida Leandro S.
Published: May 2016

This study assesses the interactions between sex, socioeconomic level, and children’s cognitive performance. Cognitive performance was measured for a sample of 453 Portuguese children, aged between 4 and 10 years, with 218 boys and 235 girls; verbal and nonverbal cognitive ability and intelligence quotient were measured by the Cognitive Skills Scale for Children. Multivariate analysis of variance assessed the effects of sex and family’s socioeconomic level on intelligence quotient. A statistically significant interaction between sex and socioeconomic level was observed for nonverbal intelligence quotient, total intelligence quotient, and two subtests. Socioeconomic level had more influence than sex on most of the cognitive tests.
Coupling of Temperament with Mental Illness in Four Age Groups
Authors: Trofimova Irina , Christiansen Julie
Published: May 2016

Studies of temperament profiles in patients with mental disorders mostly focus on emotionality-related traits, although mental illness symptoms include emotional and nonemotional aspects of behavioral regulation. This study investigates relationships between 12 temperament traits (9 nonemotionality and 3 emotionality related) measured by the Structure of Temperament Questionnaire and four groups of clinical symptoms (depression, anxiety, antisociality, and dominance-mania) measured by the Personality Assessment Inventory. The study further examines age differences in relationships among clinical symptoms and temperament traits. Intake records of 335 outpatients and clients divided into four age groups (18–25, 26–45, 46–65, and 66–85) showed no significant age differences on depression scales; however, the youngest group had significantly higher scores on Anxiety, Antisocial Behavior, Dominance, and Thought Disorders scales. Correlations between Personality Assessment Inventory and Structure of Temperament Questionnaire scales were consistent with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, descriptors showing strong concurrent validity. Several age differences on temperament scales are also reported. Results show the benefits of differentiation between physical, social-verbal, and mental aspects of activities, as well as differentiation between dynamical, orientational, and energetic aspects in studying mental illness and temperament.
Effects of Active Listening, Reformulation, and Imitation on Mediator Success: Preliminary Results
Authors: Fischer-Lokou Jacques , Lamy Lubomir , Guéguen Nicolas , Dubarry Alexandre
Published: May 2016

An experiment with 212 students (100 men, 112 women; M age = 18.3 years, SD = 0.9) was carried out to compare the effect of four techniques used by mediators on the number of agreements contracted by negotiators. Under experimental conditions, mediators were asked either to rephrase (reformulate) negotiators’ words or to imitate them or to show active listening behavior, or finally, to use a free technique. More agreements were reached in the active listening condition than in both free and rephrase conditions. Furthermore, mediators in the active listening condition were perceived, by the negotiators, as more efficient than mediators using other techniques, although there was no significant difference observed between the active listening and imitation conditions.
Interactive Whiteboard Technologies in High School: A Comparison of Their Impact on the Levels of Measure That Determine a Return on Investment
Authors: Schipper Joseph M. , Yocum Russell G.
Published: May 2016

This quantitative, quasi-experimental, nonequivalent group study examined the impact on levels of measure that determine a return on investment of differing forms of interactive whiteboard (IWB) technology used at a high school in a suburban school district in southeastern Virginia. Three forms of IWB were compared: a full-screen IWB, a mobile IWB, and a tablet-based whiteboard app. Student performance and survey data were analyzed via one-way analysis of variance to determine the impact on participants who were exposed to the forms of technology. The return on investment levels of measure for the three technologies were also compared with groups that did not use any form of IWB. Analyses revealed small but significant differences between forms of technology in three of the four levels of measure: satisfaction, student achievement, and perception of results. Limitations and suggestions for further research are also discussed.
Local jatis and pan-Indian caste
Authors: Samarendra Padmanabh
Published: May 2016

In sociology and in the wider academia, caste is regarded as the basic unit of the Indian society. Yet, this academic notion of caste, I argue, had emerged only in the late 19th century in the course of the census operations in colonial India. Hence, the pervasive scholarly practice of translating varna and jati, indigenous social forms whose existence can indeed be traced from the earliest times, as caste, is erroneous; it has led to inconsistencies in the writings on the subject. To illustrate, I analyse the writings of the eminent sociologist M.N. Srinivas in this article. Srinivas’s explanation of caste was caught up in an inherent contradiction that led him to make inconsistent inferences. Srinivas was not unaware of the problem. However, the idea of ‘system’ that he had imbibed from the discipline of social anthropology prevented him from reviewing his historically received notion of caste. Hence, those inconsistencies continued.
Toward an Inclusive Populism? On the Role of Race and Difference in Laclau’s Politics
Authors: McKean Benjamin L.
Published: May 2016

Does the recent success of Podemos and Syriza herald a new era of inclusive, egalitarian left populism? Because leaders of both parties are former students of Ernesto Laclau and cite his account of populism as guiding their political practice, this essay considers whether his theory supports hope for a new kind of populism. For Laclau, the essence of populism is an “empty signifier” that provides a means by which anyone can identify with the people as a whole. However, the concept of the empty signifier is not as neutral as he assumes. As I show by analyzing the role of race in his theory, some subjects are constituted in a way that prevents their unmediated identification with the people. Consequently, Laclau’s view should be read as symptomatic of the problems with populist logic if its adherents are to avoid reproducing its exclusions and practice a more inclusive politics.
Mitigating the Perception of Threat to Freedom through Abstraction and Distance
Authors: Katz Sherri Jean , Byrne Sahara , Kent Alyssa Irene
Published: May 2016

This study tested theoretical relationships between key concepts in psychological reactance theory and construal level theory. Through a 3 × 2 × 2 experiment ( n = 155), we manipulate (1) how abstractly or concretely participants are processing a message, (2) the psychological distance to the message, and (3) whether or not the message restricts choice. Dependent measures include perceptions of threat to freedom and message effectiveness. Results show that increasing abstraction and/or distance can mitigate the perception of threat to freedom that is experienced when a message restricts choice. Furthermore, this process has a subsequent influence on message effectiveness. As the first study to consider the perception of threat to freedom in the context of construal level theory, this experiment furthers understanding of key theoretical relationships. Strategies for the design of successful persuasive messages are discussed.
Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire
Authors: Gallagher John M. , Ashford José B.
Published: May 2016

The Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BP-AQ) is a 29-item, four-factor instrument that measures physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, and hostility. A large number of competing versions of the original BP-AQ have been proffered in the literature, but testing with aggressive offenders is limited. The present study used confirmatory factor analysis to compare the fit of seven models with a sample of 246 men and women who pled guilty to misdemeanor aggressive offenses. The study found two similar parsimonious 12-item versions of the four-factor BP-AQ that outperformed the other models and fit the data well while retaining acceptable reliability. Taken together, superior psychometric properties, acceptable reliability, and reduced item-burden are properties that clearly support the usage of either of these 12-item versions. The relative merits of these shorter versions of the BP-AQ are examined and implications for their use in applied contexts and further research are considered.
Bartering for a Compatible Kidney Using Your Incompatible, Live Kidney Donor: Legal and Ethical Issues Related to Kidney Chains
Authors: Tenenbaum Evelyn M.
Published: May 2016

Kidney chains are a recent and novel method of increasing the number of available kidneys for transplantation and have the potential to save thousands of lives. However, because they are novel, kidney chains do not fit neatly within existing legal and ethical frameworks, raising potential barriers to their full implementation.

Kidney chains are an extension of paired kidney donation, which began in the United States in 2000. Paired kidney donations allow kidney patients with willing, but incompatible, donors to swap donors to increase the number of donor/recipient pairs and consequently, the number of transplants. More recently, transplant centers have been using non-simultaneous, extended, altruistic donor (“NEAD”) kidney chains—which consist of a sequence of donations by incompatible donors—to further expand the number of donations. This Article fully explains paired kidney donation and kidney chains and focuses on whether NEAD chains are more coercive than traditional kidney donation to a family member or close friend and whether NEAD chains violate the National Organ Transplant Act's prohibition on the transfer of organs for valuable consideration.
A Comparison of the Quality of Life in Patients With Primary and Secondary Lower Limb Lymphedema
Authors: Stolldorf Deonni P. , Dietrich Mary S. , Ridner Sheila H.
Published: May 2016

Patients with lower limb lymphedema experience symptoms that may differ in intensity and distress. This mixed-methods study compares symptom intensity and distress and the impact of lymphedema on patients’ quality of life by primary and secondary (cancer and noncancer) lymphedema groups. Individuals completed an online questionnaire (i.e., demographic form, Lymphedema Symptom Intensity and Distress Survey–Leg, and an open-ended question). Analyses included descriptive and inferential statistics (quantitative data) and content analysis (qualitative data). Participants differed statistically significantly by gender, employment status, and lymphedema location. Groups differed significantly in lack of self-confidence, χ2( df = 2) = 9.19, p = .010. Cancer patients reported higher intensity and distress scores for some symptoms, but these differences were not statistically significant. Patients reported lacking psychosocial well-being and resources and experiencing physical and functional impairments and treatment and care challenges. Patients with lower limb lymphedema experience psychosocial impairments and problems with quality of and access to care.
(Working) memory and L2 acquisition and processing
Authors: Rankin Tom
Published: May 2016

This review evaluates two recent anthologies that survey research at the intersection of cognitive psychological investigations of (working) memory and issues in second language (L2), and bilingual processing and acquisition. The volumes cover similar ground by outlining the theoretical underpinnings of models of (working) memory as well as providing empirical tests of a range of topics in bilingual and L2 acquisition and use. However, while one volume focuses specifically on issues of working memory and L2 acquisition and processing, the other provides a broader overview of the interface between memory and bilingualism more generally. Taken together, the volumes present a large array of research and will be a valuable resource for students and researchers interested in issues in bilingual memory, processing and acquisition.
Kermode’s War
Authors: LeMahieu D. L.
Published: May 2016

Frank Kermode’s autobiographical recollections of the Second World War disclose much about one of the most prominent literary critics of the twentieth century. They reveal in part the personal and affective origins of his existentialism, a philosophy that permeated his early literary criticism and contributed to a wider cultural discourse in mid-twentieth-century Britain. They also help explain his later preoccupation with the ‘fictions’ of communication. His naval experiences taught him how words could not begin to capture the traumas of lived experience, a lesson he later developed and refined. Finally, Kermode’s war experiences help explain the generational conflict that separated him from his younger colleagues and convinced him that individuals remain embedded within a historical moment they can neither choose nor escape.
Deathless Blondes and Permanent Waves: Women’s Hairstyles in Interwar Britain
Authors: Cottrell Anna
Published: May 2016

The interwar era saw a boom in women’s hairdressing, with a great number of women in Britain, Europe and America opting to wear their hair short. This article explores the contexts of the evolution of these short hairstyles during the 1920s and 1930s in Britain and their representations in the period’s literature and film. It argues that the most popular interwar hairstyles held cultural meanings and associations that were more complex than the often-cited general notions of female independence and that decoding these meanings ought to involve an examination of the material and sensory properties of the hairstyles women wanted. The ‘makeover’ changed not only the woman’s look, but also the texture and ‘feel’ of her hair, and involved complex procedures and technological innovations that offered a range of sensory experiences, from the pleasure of having one’s hair washed to the horror of having it burned. The cultural mythology that grew around the trip to the hairdresser was inseparable from this wealth of sensory detail.
Perinatal Health of Women with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Comorbid Mental Illness
Authors: Brown Hilary K. , Cobigo Virginie , Lunsky Yona , Dennis Cindy-Lee , Vigod Simone
Published: May 2016

Objective:

Women with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have high rates of adverse perinatal outcomes. However, the perinatal health of women with co-occurring IDD and mental illness (dual diagnosis) is largely unknown. Our objectives were to 1) describe a cohort of women with dual diagnosis in terms of their social and health characteristics and 2) compare their risks for adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes to those of women with IDD only.

Method:

We conducted a population-based study using linked Ontario (Canada) health and social services administrative data to identify singleton obstetric deliveries to women with dual diagnosis ( n = 2080) and women with IDD only ( n = 1852; 2002–2012). Primary maternal outcomes were gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia/eclampsia, and venous thromboembolism. Primary neonatal outcomes were preterm birth, small for gestational age, and large for gestational age. We also examined several secondary outcomes.

Results:

Women with dual diagnosis were more likely than women with IDD only to live in poor neighborhoods and to have prepregnancy health conditions; however, they had more frequent prenatal care. Infants born to women with dual diagnosis had increased risks for preterm birth (adjusted relative risk [aRR] 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08 to 1.59) and neonatal morbidity (aRR 1.35, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.76) compared with infants born to women with IDD only. All other primary and secondary outcomes were nonsignificant.

Conclusions:

Comorbid mental illness contributes little additional risk for adverse perinatal outcomes among women with IDD. Women with dual diagnosis and women with IDD alone require increased surveillance for maternal and neonatal complications.
Kennedy anniversary photos tell story of beloved leader
Authors: Dahmen Nicole Smith , McLain Hannah
Published: May 2016

An analysis of 901 photographs from newspaper front-page coverage of the 50-year anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination shows 29 percent of photos represent remembrance, such as Kennedy’s grave and the eternal flame. Although the assassination, itself, is clearly present, photographs are not highly-graphic in nature.
Does Dog Walking Predict Physical Activity Participation
Authors: Richards Elizabeth A.
Published: May 2016

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to: (1) identify characteristics associated with dog owners who walk their dog, (2) describe the frequency and duration of walking the dog, and (3) determine whether dog owners who walk their dog participate in more physical activity than dog owners who do not walk their dog and non–dog owners.

Design:

A cross-sectional study design was used.

Setting:

The study setting was nationwide.

Subjects:

Adults (n = 4010) participating in the 2005 ConsumerStyles mail-panel survey were the study subjects.

Measures:

Measures used were demographic, physical activity, dog ownership, and dog walking questions from the 2005 ConsumerStyles mail-panel survey.

Analysis:

Chi-square tests and analyses of variance were conducted to examine participant characteristics associated with dog walking and to describe the frequency and duration of dog walking. Analysis of covariance was used to determine whether dog owners who walk their dog participate in more physical activity than dog owners who do not walk their dog and non–dog owners.

Results:

Among dog owners, 42% reported some dog walking in a typical week. Dog owners walked their dog an average 4.3 ± 0.1 times and 128.8 ± 5.6 minutes per week. There were no significant differences in weekly minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity across the dog-ownership and dog walking groups.

Conclusion:

Most dog owners did not walk their dog. Dog owners were not more active than non–dog owners, except when considering the activity obtained via dog walking.
Association Between Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake and Proxies of Acculturation Among U.S. Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Adults
Authors: Park Sohyun , Blanck Heidi M. , Dooyema Carrie A. , Ayala Guadalupe X.
Published: May 2016

Purpose:

This study examined associations between sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake and acculturation among a sample representing civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. adults.

Design:

Quantitative, cross-sectional study.

Setting:

National.

Subjects:

The 2010 National Health Interview Survey data for 17,142 Hispanics and U.S.-born non-Hispanic whites (≥18 years).

Measures:

The outcome variable was daily SSB intake (nondiet soda, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, and sweetened coffee/tea drinks). Exposure variables were Hispanic ethnicity and proxies of acculturation (language of interview, birthplace, and years living in the United States).

Analysis:

We used multivariate logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for the exposure variables associated with drinking SSB ≥1 time/d after controlling for covariates.

Results:

The adjusted odds of drinking SSB ≥1 time/d was significantly higher among Hispanics who completed the interview in Spanish (OR = 1.65) than U.S.-born non-Hispanic whites. Compared with those who lived in the United States for <5 years, the adjusted odds of drinking SSB ≥1 time/d was higher among adults who lived in the United States for 5 to <10 years (OR = 2.72), those who lived in the United States for 10 to <15 years (OR = 2.90), and those who lived in the United States for ≥15 years (OR = 2.41). However, birthplace was not associated with daily SSB intake.

Conclusion:

The acculturation process is complex and these findings contribute to identifying important subpopulations that may benefit from targeted intervention to reduce SSB intake.
Examination of the Use of Healing Touch by Registered Nurses in the Acute Care Setting
Authors: Anderson Joel G. , Friesen Mary Ann , Swengros Diane , Herbst Anna , Mangione Lucrezia
Published: May 2016

Acute care nursing is currently undergoing unprecedented change, with health systems becoming more open to nonpharmacological approaches to patient care. Healing Touch (HT) may be a valuable intervention for acute care patients. Research has shown that HT helps both the patient and the caregiver; however, no study to date has examined the impact that the education of nurses in and their use of HT have on daily care delivery in the acute care setting. The purpose of the current qualitative study was to examine the use of HT by registered nurses in the acute care setting during their delivery of patient care, as well as the impact of education in and use of HT on the nurses themselves. Five themes were identified: (1) use of HT techniques, processes, and sequence; (2) outcomes related to HT; (3) integration of HT into acute care nursing practice; (4) perceptions of HT, from skepticism to openness; and (5) transformation through HT. Education in HT and delivery of this modality by nurses in the acute care setting provide nurses with a transformative tool to improve patient outcomes.
Rural District Nursing Experiences of Successful Advocacy for Person-Centered End-of-Life Choice
Authors: Reed Frances M. , Fitzgerald Les , Bish Melanie R.
Published: May 2016

Choices in care during the end stages of life are limited by the lack of resources and access for rural people. Nursing advocacy based on the holistic understanding of people and their rural communities may increase the opportunity for choice and improve the quality of care for people living and dying at home. Pragmatism and nurse agency theory were used for a practical exploration of how district nurses successfully advocate for rural Australian end-of-life goals to begin the development of a practice model. In two stages of data collection, rural district nurse informants ( N = 7) were given the opportunity to reflect on successful advocacy and to write about their experiences before undertaking further in-depth exploration in interviews. They defined successful advocacy as “caring” that empowers people in the “big and small” personal goals important for quality of life. The concepts described that enable successful advocacy were organized into a network with three main themes of “willing” investment in holistic person-centered care, “knowing” people and resources, and feeling “supported.” The thematic network description provides deep insight into the emotional skill and moral agency involved in successful end-of-life nurse advocacy and can be used as a sound basis for modeling and testing in future research.
Evoking vigilance: Would you (dis)trust a scientist who discusses ethical implications of research in a science blog?
Authors: Hendriks Friederike , Kienhues Dorothe , Bromme Rainer
Published: May 2016

The experimental studies presented here investigated whether discussing ethical implications of preliminary scientific results in a science blog would impact blog readers’ perception of the responsible scientist blogger’s epistemic trustworthiness (on the dimensions expertise, integrity, and benevolence). They also investigated whether it made a difference in who had brought forward the ethics aspects: the responsible scientist blogger or another expert. Results indicate that by the mere introduction of ethics, people infer something about the blogger’s communicative intentions: Introducing ethical aspects seems to raise vigilance about an expert’s benevolence and integrity. Moreover, ratings of epistemic trustworthiness differed depending on who added ethical arguments: If ethics were introduced by the scientist blogger himself, his benevolence and integrity were rated higher than when ethics were introduced by another expert. These results are relevant for science bloggers, science communicators, and researchers who study laypeople’s understanding of epistemic uncertainty within science.
Effect of a Financial Incentive for Colorectal Cancer Screening Adherence on the Appropriateness of Colonoscopy Orders
Authors: Morland Thomas B. , Synnestvedt Marie , Honeywell Steven , Yang Feifei , Armstrong Katrina , Guerra Carmen
Published: May 2016

Performance incentives for preventive care may encourage inappropriate testing, such as cancer screening for patients with short life expectancies. Defining screening colonoscopies for patients with a >50% 4-year mortality risk as inappropriate, the authors performed a pre-post analysis assessing the effect of introducing a cancer screening incentive on the proportion of screening colonoscopy orders that were inappropriate. Among 2078 orders placed by 23 attending physicians in 4 academic general internal medicine practices, only 0.6% (n = 6/1057) of screening colonoscopy orders in the preintervention period and 0.6% (n = 6/1021) of screening colonoscopy orders in the postintervention period were deemed “inappropriate.” This study found no evidence that the incentive led to an increase in inappropriate screening colonoscopy orders.
Effect of shear deformation on interfacial stress of fiber-reinforced polymer plate–strengthened reinforced concrete beams
Authors: Du Yun-Xing , Hou Chun-Xu , Xu Bin , Zhou Fen
Published: May 2016

For fiber-reinforced polymer–strengthened reinforced concrete beam, one of the major failure modes is debonding failure. The premature failure led to the rapid development of analytical solutions on interfacial stresses. Existing analytical solutions usually fail to consider the effect of shear deformation in the adherends completely. In this study, a new theoretical solution is proposed based on Timoshenko beam theory. The coupled governing differential equations of interfacial stresses are solved by weighted residual method based on the least squares principle. The effect of shear deformation on both interfacial shear and normal stresses is obtained simultaneously with relatively simple expressions of interfacial stresses. Moreover, the proposed solution is compared with other previous solutions to further validate the effect of adherend shear deformation on interfacial stresses. Overall, the parametric study demonstrates that the thicker adhesive layer, thinner fiber-reinforced polymer, or lower fiber-reinforced polymer modulus would effectively reduce the peak interfacial stresses at the fiber-reinforced polymer plate end.
Austerity policing’s imperative
Authors: Huey Laura , Cyr Kevin , Ricciardelli Rose
Published: May 2016

Most, if not all, police agencies are grappling with budget cuts at a time when demand for their services remains high. Discussions of how to best rationalize police service costs are challenged by the fact that police activities have grown so vast in size and scope that they present a conceptual muddle for would-be cost-cutters. Further, any recommendations for cuts tend to ignore larger and more systemic issues. In this article, we attempt to shed some conceptual clarity by mapping a range of workload and other demands that fall within two general domains of policing activity, termed here “operational” and “administrative” drivers. We believe that improved understanding of these drivers will shed needed light on how police organizations can best tackle what appears to be an intractable problem.
Grievance-based social movement mobilization in the #Ferguson Twitter storm
Authors: LeFebvre Rebecca Kay , Armstrong Crystal
Published: May 2016

Existing literature on collective action suggests that social protest activity is often driven by structural out-group grievances. This article explores how a framework of grievance-based social movement participation applies to the digital media realm and how social media are reshaping the protest landscape. Our research looks specifically at the case of the #Ferguson Twitter storm that occurred in November 2014. During a 3-week period, over 6 million tweets were sent with the indicator #Ferguson. We examine the statistics and content of those tweets to show that the Ferguson Twitter storm was driven to an enormous volume by four key mobilizers. Tweet content included structural out-group grievances that reflect established expectations about drivers of social movements and protests. In contrast to the emphasis on violence by traditional mass media, online social movement participants emphasized peace, especially after the conflict escalated and rioting in the streets began.
Predicting Levels of Policy Advocacy Engagement Among Acute-Care Health Professionals
Authors: Jansson Bruce S. , Nyamathi Adeline , Heidemann Gretchen , Bird Melissa , Ward Cathy Rogers , Brown-Saltzman Katherine , Duan Lei , Kaplan Charles
Published: May 2016

This study aims to describe the factors that predict health professionals’ engagement in policy advocacy. The researchers used a cross-sectional research design with a sample of 97 nurses, 94 social workers, and 104 medical residents from eight hospitals in Los Angeles. Bivariate correlations explored whether seven predictor scales were associated with health professionals’ policy advocacy engagement and revealed that five of the eight factors were significantly associated with it ( p < .05). The factors include patient advocacy engagement, eagerness, skills, tangible support, and organizational receptivity. Regression analysis examined whether the seven scales, when controlling for sociodemographic variables and hospital site, predicted levels of policy advocacy engagement. Results revealed that patient advocacy engagement ( p < .001), eagerness ( p < .001), skills ( p < .01), tangible support ( p < .01), perceived effectiveness ( p < .05), and organizational receptivity ( p < .05) all predicted health professional’s policy advocacy engagement. Ethical commitment did not predict policy advocacy engagement. The model explained 36% of the variance in policy advocacy engagement. Limitations of the study and its implications for future research, practice, and policy are discussed.
Deoxyrhapontigenin, a Natural Stilbene Derivative Isolated From Rheum undulatum L. Induces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress–Mediated Apoptosis in Human Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Venkatesan Thamizhiniyan , Jeong Min-Ji , Choi Young-Woong , Park Eun-Jin , El-Desouky Samy Korany , Kim Young-Kyoon
Published: May 2016

Although current chemotherapeutic agents are active at the beginning of therapy, the most common risk is the development of resistance during later stages in almost all cancer types including breast cancer. Hence, investigation of novel drugs is still a priority goal for cancer treatment. The objective of the present study is to investigate the anticancer effect of a derivative of stilbene, deoxyrhapontigenin (DR) isolated from Rheum undulatum L. root extracts against the chemoresistant MCF-7/adr and its parental MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The morphological images indicate that DR induces an extensive cytoplasmic vacuolation in breast cancer cells. Mechanistic investigations revealed that DR treatment causes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dilation and upregulated the expression of ER stress markers GRP78, IRE1α, eIF2α, CHOP, JNK, and p38. Subsequently, we also identified that DR increases the levels of apoptotic fragment of PARP (89 kDa) in breast cancer cells. Blocking the expression of one of the components of the ER stress–mediated apoptosis pathway, CHOP using siRNA significantly decreased DR-induced apoptotic cleavage of PARP. In summary, the present study suggests that the induction of ER stress–mediated apoptosis by DR may account for its cytotoxic effects in human breast cancer cells.
Survival Analysis of Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated by Using Wheel Balance Cancer Therapy
Authors: Kim Jongmin , Cho Chong-Kwan , Yoo Hwa-Seung
Published: May 2016

Objective. To investigate the clinical effect and the overall survival (OS) rate of patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have undergone Wheel Balance Cancer Therapy (WBCT). Methods. The cases of 33 patients with advanced NSCLC who were treated with WBCT at the East West Cancer Center (EWCC) between October 4, 2004, and October 3, 2013, without undergoing concurrent conventional treatment were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the OS of the cases, and the median OS was calculated according to age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS), conventional-treatment history, WBCT treatment duration, and histological tumor type. Results. The median OS of all patients was 31.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.5-58.7) months; the OS rates were 63.6% and 24.2% at years 1 and 2, respectively. The median OS rates of patients under and over 65 years were 45.2 (95% CI = 13.5-76.9) and 19.5 (95% CI = 7.1-31.8) months, respectively ( P = .189). The median OS rates of patients who received WBCT for >14 days but <28 days and those who received WBCT for ≥28 days were 16.2 (95% CI = 13.3-19.2) and 45.2 (95% CI = 14.4-76.0) months, respectively ( P = .437). The median OS rates of patients who had undergone prior conventional treatment and those who had not were 45.2 (95% CI = 9.1-81.3) and 3.9 (95% CI = unable to calculate) months, respectively ( P = .000). The median OS rates of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and non-SCC lung cancer were 5.6 (95% CI = unable to calculate) and 45.2 (95% CI = 9.1-81.3) months, respectively ( P = .262). The median OS rate of patients with ECOG PS ≥3 was 14.3 (95% CI = 8.8-19.8) months; that of patients ECOG PS <3 could not be calculated. However, the mean OS rates of patients with ECOG PS <3 and with ECOG PS ≥3 were 85.7 (95% CI = 58.4-113.0) and 12.7 (95% CI = 8.5-16.9) months, respectively ( P = .000). No severe adverse events were encountered. Conclusions. Our study indicates that WBCT might be effective to prolong the length of survival for patients with advanced NSCLC who have previously undergone conventional treatment and have an ECOG PS <3.
Probiotic Survey in Cancer Patients Treated in the Outpatient Department in a Comprehensive Cancer Center
Authors: Ciernikova Sona , Mego Michal , Semanova Maria , Wachsmannova Lenka , Adamcikova Zuzana , Stevurkova Viola , Drgona Lubos , Zajac Vladimir
Published: May 2016

Purpose. Availability without prescription restriction, low cost, and simple oral administration allow cancer patients to use probiotics without knowledge of potential risks. We present a survey of probiotic use and the association with patient tumor characteristics in cancer patients treated at the outpatient department of the National Cancer Institute in Slovakia. Patients and Methods. Between March and December 2014, 499 patients were asked to evaluate their overall experience with probiotics by questionnaire form, including the length and method of use relative to anticancer therapy, expectations, side-effect experiences, understanding of the possible risks, dietary supplement use, and others. The relevant data were statistically evaluated. Results. The cohort consisted of 323 women (64.7%) and 176 men (35.3%); 91.6% were undergoing chemotherapy (2.6% together with radiotherapy) and 8.4% had no anticancer therapy. The prevalence of probiotic use was 28.5% and only 12 patients using probiotics (8.5%) described negative side effects. Most patients declared consideration of probiotic use based on recommendation from a physician (37.3%) or a pharmacist (14.8%). Nevertheless, up to 86.6% of patients declared no knowledge of possible risks. Statistically significant correlation was found between probiotic use and age of patients (P < .008), gender (P < .023), and taking other dietary supplements (P < .000002). Conclusions. In this prospective study, we present for the first time the prevalence, side-effect experience, and aspects that most likely influence probiotic use in cancer patients. Minimal knowledge of risks underlines the importance of an active approach by oncologists to inform patients about probiotic safety.
The Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine in the Treatment of EGFR Mutated Stage IV Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma Patients Who Received First-Line EGFR-TKI Treatment
Authors: Hung Hsiu-Ying , Tseng Yen-Han , Liao Chia-Miao , Chen Sung-Yi , Wu Ta-Peng , Lee Yu-Chin , Chen Yuh-Min
Published: May 2016

Background. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been used for thousands of year in Eastern countries. First-line epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment is the standard treatment in stage IV pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients who had tumor EGFR mutations. This study was to find the efficacy of CHM on lung cancer treatment. Materials and Methods. We retrospectively reviewed chart records of our stage IV EGFR-mutated pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients who received first-line EGFR-TKI treatment from January 2010 to September 2014. Results. Total, 527 patients were studied. Among them, 34 patients received CHM treatment, including 24 patients who received CHM treatment from the beginning of first-line EGFR-TKI treatment and 10 patients who started to receive CHM treatment after their disease had progressed to EGFR-TKI treatment. Median progression-free survival (PFS) of first-line EGFR-TKI treatment was numerically better in patients who also received CHM than those who did not (12.1 months vs 10.5 months, P = .7668). Overall survival of those 24 patient who received CHM treatment together with EGFR-TKI was 30.63 months (95% CI = 11.7 to not reached), compared to 23.67 months in the remaining patients (95% CI = 21.37-26; hazard ratio = 0.75; P = .399). No increase of CHM-related toxicities was found during CHM treatment, compared with EGFR-TKI treatment alone ( P > .05). Conclusion. Alternative CHM treatment during first-line EGFR-TKI treatment did no harm to the patients and PFS and overall survival was numerically better, although not significant, than those patients who did not receive CHM treatment.
A Prospective Randomized Crossover Study on the Comparison of Cotton Versus Waterproof Cast Liners
Authors: Guillen Philip T. , Fuller Corey B. , Riedel Barth B. , Wongworawat Montri D.
Published: May 2016

Background: Many fractures are treated with casting which can cause complications likely from inability to wash the extremity. Gore-Tex-based waterproof cast liner has been compared with cotton liner and shown to be superior in physician and patient scoring but also has high cost and difficult application. The purpose of this study is to compare newer generation waterproof liners with traditional cotton liner. It is the first study to compare this new waterproof liner and cotton liner in a crossover model, allowing patients to swim in the pool with the cast. Methods: Twenty patients (ages 3-30) with upper extremity injuries were randomized to waterproof-liner or cotton-liner casts made of fiberglass. Patients would switch cast liners halfway between their treatments to fulfill crossover criteria. All fractures were within a 2-week period from original incident. At each clinic visit, patients evaluated comfort parameters through questionnaires, and physicians rated skin condition. Patients were also asked which cast liner they preferred at the end of the study. Results: There were no unscheduled cast changes. The waterproof-liner group had better scores for odor ( P = .041), sweat ( P = .016), and overall physician-rated score ( P = .038). There was no significant difference in other patient-rated parameters. Seventy-five percent of patients preferred waterproof casting to the cotton liner. Conclusions: This new waterproof cast liner, compared with cotton cast liner, had better odor, sweat, and overall physician scores. The waterproof liners allow patients to rinse casts daily, and the majority of patients prefer waterproof to cotton liner.