bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Імунологічний статус пацієнтів із переломами щелеп на тлі генералізованого пародонтиту
Authors: Bandrivsky Y. L. , Bandrivska O. O. , Dutko K. O.
Published: October 2017

Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lesions of the maxillofacial area is one of the most urgent modern medical and social problems, the signifi cance of which is determined by the constant increase in the frequency of maxillofacial injuries, which averages from 6.0 to 16.4 % of all traumas of peacetime.The aim of the study – to learn the individual immunological parameters in patients with fractures of the jaws against the background of generalized periodontitis.Materials and Methods. The article presents the analysis of individual parameters of cellular factors (phagocytic index, phagocytic count, phagocytosis completeness, NK-cells) and humoral immunity (total protein, globulin fractions, albumin, C-reactive protein, titre of lysozyme, immunoglobulins A, G, M) in serum in patients with jaw fractures on the background of generalized periodontitis (GP) (group A) and in patients with traumatic jaw lesions without periodontal tissue pathology (group B). The obtained values were compared with the data of the average norm.Results and Discussion. Investigation of changes in cellular factors of congenital immunity was performed in 45 patients with fractures of the jaws against the background of generalized periodontitis II-III stages (group A) and 41 patients with jaw fractures without concomitant periodontal pathology (group B). The obtained results were compared with the data of the average norm. The obtained results were processed statistically.Conclusions. As a result of the studies of the main parts of non-specifi c immunity in patients with jaw fractures, certain violations of humoral and cellular factors, which manifested themselves both in decreasing and dangerous increase of most of the studied parameters, were found, and in the patients with traumatic jaw lesions on the background of GP this tendency was worn more pronounced character.
Wine and Cardiovascular Health
Authors: Haseeb Sohaib , Alexander Bryce , Baranchuk Adrian
Published: October 2017

Alcoholic beverages have been consumed for thousands of years, attracting great human interest for social, personal, and religious occasions. In addition, they have long been debated to confer cardioprotective benefits. The French Paradox is an observation of a low prevalence of ischemic heart disease, with high intakes of saturated fat, a phenomenon accredited to the consumption of red wine. Although many epidemiological investigations have supported this view, others have attributed it to beer or spirits, with many suggesting that the drink type is not important. Although excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages is commonly regarded to be detrimental to cardiovascular health, there is a debate as to whether light-to-moderate intake is cardioprotective. Although there is extensive epidemiological support for this drinking pattern, a consensus has not been reached. On the basis of published work, we describe the composition of wine and the effects of constituent polyphenols on chronic cardiovascular diseases.
The Pietà in Jacob Steinhardt’s Early Œuvre
Authors: Czekanowska-Gutman Monika
Published: October 2017

This essay explores the Pietàs by Jacob Steinhardt, an Eastern-European Jewish artist, in connection with his involvement in the Pathetiker movement. The paper proceeds to examine them against the backdrop of German and Austrian Expressionist movements, as well as other treatments of the theme by Jewish artists. Through stylistic and iconographic analysis of Steinhardt’s Pietàs, Czekanowska-Gutman demonstrates that both of the works in question are in fact revisions of one of the most important Christian iconographic “framing themes,” which Steinhardt situates within the Jewish context and perspective. The central argument of the paper is that Steinhardt’s Pietàs address Christian audiences in their own representational conventions in order to denounce anti-Jewish violence, such as the pogroms of the time. The artist achieves this through the portrayal of Jesus and Mary as elderly Eastern European Jews (Ostjuden), using—remarkably—the visual language of anti-Jewish caricature. Finally, the paper investigates Steinhardt’s masterful use of drypoint and woodcutting techniques to visualise the suffering of Mary and her dying son.
A new slipper lobster of the genus Petrarctus Holthuis, 2002 (Crustacea, Decapoda, Scyllaridae) from Southwest coast of India
Authors: YANG CHIEN-HUI , KUMAR APPUKUTTANNAIR BIJU , CHAN TIN-YAM
Published: October 2017

A new species of slipper lobster of the genus Petrarctus Holthuis, 2002 was discovered from southwestern India during a survey of deep sea crustaceans. The new species closely resembles P. veliger Holthuis, 2002 from the Andaman Sea and western Pacific but differs mainly in the color marking on abdominal somite I, having a relatively lower cardiac tooth but with better developed tubercles on the abdomen, as well as a differently shaped anterior part of the thoracic sternum. Molecular genetic analysis also confirms the distinct taxonomic status of the new species. To fix the identity of the type species of the genus, a neotype of P. rugosus (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) was selected from a recently collected Indian specimen with color and genetic information.
First record of Psilacrum Becker 1912 (Chloropidae, Diptera) from Brazil, with the description of a new species
Authors: RICCARDI PAULA RAILE , ISMAY JOHN WALAND
Published: October 2017

Psilacrum Becker was recorded from the Neotropical Region by Wheeler (2010) based on Oscinoides annulicrus (Duda, 1933) described from Costa Rica with a further five to six species from the Region (Wheeler, 2010). Here we describe a new species from Brazil.
The Oklahoma Meso-Scale Integrated Socio-Geographic Network: A Technical Overview
Authors: Jenkins-Smith Hank , Ripberger Joe , Silva Carol , Carlson Nina , Gupta Kuhika , Henderson Matt , Goodin Amy
Published: October 2017

Established as a social companion to the Oklahoma Mesonet, the Oklahoma Meso-Scale Integrated Socio-Geographic Network (M-SISNet) is a network of approximately 1500 “social monitoring stations” (geolocated households) across the state of Oklahoma that provide data on household perceptions and responses to signals that are sent from agricultural, hydrological, and meteorological systems. This paper outlines the purpose and nature of the M-SISNet, with specific focus on the sample frame, protocols for recruitment, retention, and survey implementation. It concludes with example survey questions, analyses, and directions for accessing the data.
Influence of Storm–Storm and Storm–Environment Interactions on Tropical Cyclone Formation and Evolution
Authors: Fowler James P. , Galarneau Thomas J.
Published: October 2017

The aim of this study is to examine the development of four tropical cyclones (TCs) in the North Atlantic basin in late August and early September 2010. This period is of interest because four consecutive easterly waves emerged from West Africa and resulted in a multiple TC event (MTCE) over the North Atlantic. The first two TCs—Danielle and Earl—quickly developed into TCs east of 40°W and eventually intensified into major hurricanes. Conversely, the last two TCs—Fiona and Gaston—developed more slowly reaching only weak tropical storm intensity at their peak. The close proximity and differing evolution of these four TCs provides a unique opportunity to examine how these TCs interacted with each other and their surrounding environment, which influenced their development as they moved westward across the North Atlantic. The results showed that concurrent extratropical cyclogenesis events over the western and eastern North Atlantic and the recurvature of TC Danielle produced increased meridional flow over the midlatitude North Atlantic. This increased meridional flow resulted in subsynoptic-scale regions of increased vertical wind shear in the subtropics, which delayed Earl’s development and led to Fiona’s demise. Additionally, increased meridional flow in midlatitudes contributed to anomalous drying of the subtropics. This dry air was entrained into Gaston’s circulation leading to reduced convection and weakening. These TC–TC and TC–environment interactions highlight the difficult challenge of forecasting TC genesis and position posed by MTCEs in a rapidly evolving synoptic-scale flow.
The Not-So-Marginal Value of Weather Warning Systems
Authors: Miller Benjamin M.
Published: October 2017

Knowing the benefits of creating or expanding programs is important for determining optimal levels of investment. Yet estimates of the benefits of weather warning systems are sparse, perhaps because there is often no clear counterfactual of how individuals would have fared without a particular warning system. This paper enriches the literature and informs policy decisions by using conditional variation in the initial broadcast dates of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) transmitters to produce both cross-sectional and fixed effects estimates of the causal impact of expanding the NWR transmitter network. Results suggest that from 1970 to 2014, expanding NWR coverage to a previously untreated county was associated with an almost 40% reduction in injuries and as much as a 50% reduction in fatalities. The benefits associated with further expansion of this system have likely declined over time.
The politics of cultural capital: Social hierarchy and organizational architecture in the multinational corporation
Authors: Levy Orly , Reiche B Sebastian
Published: October 2017

How is social hierarchy in multinational corporations (MNCs) culturally produced, contested and reproduced? Although the international business literature has acknowledged the importance of culture, it gives little consideration to its role in constructing social hierarchies and symbolic boundaries between individuals and groups within MNCs. We take a Bourdieusian approach to understanding the role of cultural capital in structuring the social hierarchy in the MNC under two contrasting organizational architectures: hierarchical and network architecture. We argue that cultural capital serves as an instrument of power and status within the MNC, influencing access to valuable resources such as jobs, rewards and opportunities. Our framework further suggests that the transition from hierarchical towards network architecture sets in motion a high-stakes political struggle between headquarters and subsidiary actors over the relative value of their cultural capital in a bid to preserve or gain dominance and to determine the ‘rules of the game’ that order the social hierarchy in the MNC. We elaborate on this political struggle by theorizing about the relative dominance of cultural versus social capital, the content and relative value of firm-specific and cosmopolitan cultural capital, and the convertibility of cultural capital into other forms of capital under hierarchical and network architectures.
Psychotic-like experiences in help-seeking adolescents: Dimensional exploration and association with different forms of bullying victimization – A developmental social psychiatry perspective
Authors: Catone Gennaro , Marotta Roberta , Pisano Simone , Lennox Belinda , Carotenuto Marco , Gritti Antonella , Pascotto Antonio , Broome Matthew R
Published: October 2017

Background:

Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are common in the general population and increase the risk of psychotic disorders. Adolescents are a high-risk group of this condition. Stressful events, such as bullying, have a role in the onset of PLEs. This study has several aims: (1) to assess PLEs in adolescents seeking help from a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, (2) to assess the association of PLEs with specific bullying victimization and (3) to assess difference in PLEs and victimizations by sex and age.

Methods:

Participants were help-seeking (HS) adolescents initially screened for PLEs. They completed an assessment including characteristics of PLEs and bullying victimization. We paid particular attention to different kinds of PLEs and victimization.

Results:

In total, 50 PLE-positive adolescents screened from 324 HS adolescents (15.4%) constituted the sample. Paranoia and verbal bullying were the PLEs and form of victimization most represented, respectively. Verbal bullying was strongly associated with paranoia (odds ratio (OR): 4.40, confidence interval (CI): 2.8−5.9, p < .001). Results remained significant after controlling for confounder (socio-demographic, anxiety, depression and for the latter analysis also other forms of victimization). Furthermore, social manipulation showed a strong association of paranoia and physical bullying with grandiosity. Verbal bullying was also associated with psychotic negative symptoms, but controlling for emotional symptoms and other victimization led to a reduction in the effect. Men were more involved in physical victimization and experienced grandiosity; on the contrary, late adolescents were most involved in social victimization and negative psychotic symptoms

Conclusion:

PLEs are relevant in HS adolescents. Bullying victimization interacts with the onset of these phenomena. In particular, verbal bullying predicted paranoia onset significantly.
An Exploratory Study of Violent Media Consumption and Aggression in Black College Students
Authors: Williams Jamie M. , Phillips Tommy M. , Stockdale Laura , Holmgren Hailey G. , Wong Daniel W. , Peterson Donna J.
Published: October 2017

One-hundred Black college students attending a historically Black college and university (HBCU) on the east coast of the United States participated in a study intended to explore and provide baseline information on the relationship between violent media consumption and aggression in Black college students. Results suggest that, consistent with college students and emerging adults in general, Black college students are heavy users of violent media and that violent media is related to aggression. This study makes an important contribution to the research literature by illuminating violent media consumption and the relationship between violent media consumption and aggression in a population that has been overlooked or understudied by previous media violence-aggression research.
A Mindfulness Program Manual for People With Dementia
Authors: Chan Joanne , Churcher Clarke Anna , Royan Lindsay , Stott Joshua , Spector Aimee
Published: October 2017

This article describes a 10-session group-based Mindfulness Program for people with mild to moderate dementia. It aims to equip people with dementia with skills to manage psychological distress, with support from carers. The Mindfulness Program was developed through reviews of existing literature, consultation with experts, and a focus group with people with dementia. In a randomized controlled feasibility and pilot trial with people with mild to moderate dementia in care homes, it was found to significantly increase quality of life. The manual presented here is designed to be administered flexibly to promote participants’ personhood. The protocol is designed for use by therapists with experience in practicing mindfulness meditation.
Left atrial outflow obstruction in double-outlet right atrium
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Arun , Sasidharan Bijulal , Tharakan Jaganmohan , Valaparambil Ajitkumar
Published: October 2017

We describe an unusual case of partial atrioventricular septal defect with malalignment of the septum primum to the left atrium with respect to the ventricular septum, committing the tricuspid valve to both ventricles (double-outlet right atrium). Abnormal attachment of the septum primum to the lateral aspect of mitral annulus resulted in left atrial outflow obstruction. The patient underwent successful surgical correction.
Learn from experience: Probabilistic prediction of perception performance to avoid failure
Authors: Gurău Corina , Rao Dushyant , Tong Chi Hay , Posner Ingmar
Published: October 2017

Despite significant advances in machine learning and perception over the past few decades, perception algorithms can still be unreliable when deployed in challenging time-varying environments. When these systems are used for autonomous decision-making, such as in self-driving vehicles, the impact of their mistakes can be catastrophic. As such, it is important to characterize the performance of the system and predict when and where it may fail in order to take appropriate action. While similar in spirit to the idea of introspection, this work introduces a new paradigm for predicting the likely performance of a robot’s perception system based on past experience in the same workspace. In particular, we propose two models that probabilistically predict perception performance from observations gathered over time. While both approaches are place-specific, the second approach additionally considers appearance similarity when incorporating past observations. We evaluate our method in a classical decision-making scenario in which the robot must choose when and where to drive autonomously in 60km of driving data from an urban environment. Results demonstrate that both approaches lead to fewer false decisions (in terms of incorrectly offering or denying autonomy) for two different detector models, and show that leveraging visual appearance within a state-of-the-art navigation framework increases the accuracy of our performance predictions.
The Effect of Pain Scale for functional capacity evaluations
Authors: Dornian Shelly , Short Joel A , Smith Shannon I , Townsend Lindsey A , Morassaei Sara , Forwell Susan J
Published: October 2017

Introduction

The Effect of Pain Scale is a new tool to evaluate the effect of pain on function during functional capacity evaluations. The aim was to test the clinicometric properties of the scale with clinicians familiar with the tool and workers with musculoskeletal injuries.

Method

The study was conducted in two stages. Stage 1 assessed clinical utility and content validity of the scale using a questionnaire for clinicians using the tool during functional capacity evaluations. In stage 2, data were collected from clients and clinicians during functional capacity evaluations and were used to assess criterion validity, inter-rater reliability, and responsiveness.

Results

Twelve clinicians responded to the survey on clinical utility and content validity, and data were recorded from 30 clients during their functional capacity evaluations. The tool demonstrated good clinical utility, content validity, inter-rater reliability, and criterion validity, and was responsive to the effects of pain on function as rated by both clients and clinicians.

Conclusion

Findings show its credibility as a tool with sound clinicometrics and establish its value for functional capacity evaluations with clients who have musculoskeletal injuries. Further testing in other clinical settings and client populations is needed to further establish the clinical value of this tool.
Improved Chondrotoxic Profile of Liposomal Bupivacaine Compared With Standard Bupivacaine After Intra-articular Infiltration in a Porcine Model
Authors: Shaw K. Aaron , Moreland Colleen , Jacobs Jeremy , Hire Justin M. , Topolski Richard , Hoyt Nathan , Parada Stephen A. , Cameron Craig D.
Published: October 2017

Background:

Increasingly, liposomal bupivacaine is being used with multimodal pain management strategies. In vitro investigations have shown decreased chondrotoxicity profiles for liposomal bupivacaine; however, there is no evidence regarding its in vivo effects.

Hypothesis/Purpose:

This study sought to investigate the in vivo chondrotoxicity of liposomal bupivacaine, hypothesizing that there would be increased chondrocyte viability after exposure to liposomal bupivacaine when compared with standard bupivacaine.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Eight juvenile, female Yorkshire cross piglets underwent a lateral stifle joint injection with either 1.3% liposomal bupivacaine or 0.5% bupivacaine. Injections were performed on one joint per animal with no injection to the contralateral knee, which served as the control. Chondrocyte viability was assessed 1 week after injection with a live-dead staining protocol and histologic examination.

Results:

Significant chondrocyte death was seen with the live-dead staining in the bupivacaine group (33% nonviable cells) in comparison with liposomal bupivacaine (6.2%) and control (5.8%) groups ( P < .01). However, histologic examination showed no differences in chondral surface integrity, fibrillation, and chondrocyte viability.

Conclusion:

Liposomal bupivacaine was found to be safe for intra-articular injection in this animal model. Although bupivacaine demonstrated decreased chondrocyte viability on a cellular level, histologically there were no changes. This study highlights the dichotomy between fluorescent staining and histologic appearance of articular chondrocytes in short-term analyses of viability.

Clinical Relevance:

This study supports the peri-articular application of liposomal bupivacaine in the setting of preserved articular cartilage. A single injection of standard bupivacaine did not produce histologic changes in the articular cartilage.
An Evaluation of Reach for a Work Site Implementation of the National Diabetes Prevention Program Focusing on Diet and Exercise
Authors: Zigmont Victoria A. , Shoben Abigail B. , Kaye Gail L. , Snow Richard J. , Clinton Steven K. , Harris Randall E. , Olivo-Marston Susan E.
Published: October 2017

Purpose:

Our objective is to evaluate the “reach” component of the Reach Effectiveness Adoption Implementation Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework by comparing prediabetics who were and were not interested in enrolling in a free work site diabetes prevention program (DPP) during the first year of the program. Reach is defined as the proportion of eligible participants who enroll in a health program.

Design:

A cross-sectional study design was used.

Setting:

The setting was a large health system in the Midwest.

Participants:

Prediabetic health plan enrollees and spouses (N = 2158).

Measures:

An online health survey, annual voluntary biometric screenings delivered by a trained health-care professional using standardized protocols via point-of-care testing, and records from the DPP office were the sources of data for this study.

Analysis:

Health behaviors and biometric screening results were simultaneously compared using multivariable logistic regression.

Results:

The study population was 63% female, 79% white, and 16% black, and the mean age was 50.2 years (SD = 10.2). The reach of this program was 10%. Prediabetics were more likely to express interest in the DPP, if they were female (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.4; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.55-3.72; P < .001), black (AOR = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.43-3.47; P < .001), older in age (AOR: 1.08; 95% CI: 0.99-1.17; P = .05), or had a high-risk waist circumference (AOR = 1.44; 95% CI: 0.98-2.13; P = .07), lower self-efficacy to make healthy changes (AOR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.26-0.91; P = .03), and 5 or more doctor visits in the last year (AOR = 2.13; 95% CI: 0.99-4.57; P = .05), after controlling for other covariates.

Conclusion:

Current recruitment and implementation strategies are reaching only a small group of individuals who are not representative of the larger prediabetic population. These findings inform future engagement strategies, and we recommend that public health practitioners evaluate reach to ensure that health promotion programs are of high value.
Low-Income Senior Housing Residents’ Emergency Department Use and Care Transition Problems
Authors: Coe Antoinette B. , Moczygemba Leticia R. , Ogbonna Kelechi C. , Parsons Pamela L. , Slattum Patricia W. , Mazmanian Paul E.
Published: October 2017

Older adults may be at risk of adverse outcomes after emergency department (ED) visits due to ineffective transitions of care. Semi-structured interviews were employed to identify and categorize reasons for ED use and problems that occur during transition from the ED back to home among 14 residents of low-income senior housing. Qualitative thematic and descriptive analyses were used. Ambulance use, timely ED use or a wait-and-see approach, and lack of health-care provider contact before ED visit were emergent themes. Delayed medication receipt, no current medication list, and medication knowledge gaps were identified. Lack of a personal health record, follow-up care instruction, and worsening symptoms education emerged as transition problems from ED to home. After an ED visit, education opportunities exist around seeing primary care providers for nonurgent conditions, follow-up care, medications, and worsening condition symptoms. Timely receipt of discharge medications and medication education may improve medication-related transition problems.
Multi-objective performance investigation of orthopaedic bone drilling using Taguchi membership function
Authors: Singh Gurmeet , Jain Vivek , Gupta Dheeraj
Published: October 2017

Orthopaedic bone drilling attacks the surrounded bone cells and tissues in terms of thermal and mechanical in such a way that these cells can get damaged permanently. This damage to the surrounding of drill point upsurges the rehabilitation time of injury and in some cases leads to the failure of the bone screw joint. This study is based on the optimization of multiple response characteristics to minimize the damage during the bone drilling. All real-life problems, including bone drilling, require the multiple response optimization for getting a combined optimization result for all countable response characteristics. The Taguchi optimization technique is observed as a highly recommended tool for single response optimization. This article uses the Taguchi technique with little modification of membership function that will help to convert the multiple response characteristics into single response and further optimize it as a single function of performance. Rotational speed, feed rate of tool at three different levels with three different kinds of drilling tools are the drilling parameters selected for the study. The objective of this study is to minimize the surface roughness and thrust force simultaneously. Analysis of variance helps to find the percentage contribution and significance of each parameter on the performance.
6-Gingerol prevents MEHP-induced DNA damage in human umbilical vein endothelia cells
Authors: Yang G , Gao X , Jiang L , Sun X , Liu X , Chen M , Yao X , Sun Q , Wang S
Published: October 2017

Mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) is the principal metabolite of di (2-etylhexyl) phthalate, which is widely used as a plasticizer, especially in medical devices. MEHP has toxic effects on cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility that 6-gingerol may inhibit the oxidative DNA damage of MEHP in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the potential mechanism. The comet assay was used to monitor DNA strand breaks. We have shown that 6-gingerol significantly reduced the DNA strand breaks caused by MEHP. MEHP increased the levels of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde, decreased the level of glutathione and activity of superoxide dismutase, and altered the mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, DNA damage-associated proteins (p53 and p-Chk2 (T68)) were significantly increased by the treatment of MEHP. Those effects can all be protected by 6-gingerol. The results firmly indicate that 6-gingerol may have a strong protective ability against the DNA damage caused by MEHP in HUVECs, and the mechanism may relate to the antioxidant activity.
The Authenticity of Cultural Products: A Psychological Perspective
Authors: Kreuzbauer Robert , Keller Joshua
Published: October 2017

Authenticity is a central concern in the evaluation of cultural products. But why do people judge some cultural products as more authentic than others? We provide a psychological explanation centered on the judgment of authenticity as a “truth-seeking” process. Observers evaluate whether the perceivable features of the cultural product truthfully capture cultural knowledge as well as the inferred agency control and intentionality of the producer as a conveyer of cultural knowledge. We argue that while no cultural product is inherently authentic, individuals rely on the same psychological processes when judging cultural products’ authenticity. We discuss how our approach applies to any cultural product, including art, architecture, cuisine, tourism, and sports.
Using near infrared spectroscopy to determine moisture and starch content of corn processing products
Authors: Chen Ye , Delaney Lauren , Johnson Susan , Wendland Paige , Prata Rogerio
Published: October 2017

Due to the rapid development of the corn-to-ethanol industry, the demand for process monitoring has led to the gradual substitution of traditional analytical techniques with fast and non-destructive methods such as near infrared spectroscopy. In this study, the feasibility of using Fourier transform–near infrared technology as an analytical tool to predict operational parameters (dry solids, starch, carbohydrate, and ethanol content) was investigated. Corn flour, liquefied mash, fermented mash, and distiller’s dried grains with solubles were selected to represent the feedstock, two intermediate products, and one primary co-product of corn-to-ethanol plants, respectively. Multivariate partial least square calibration models were developed to correlate near infrared spectra to the corresponding analytical values. The validation results indicate that near infrared models can be developed that will predict various parameters accurately (root mean square error of prediction: 0.16–1.14%, residual predictive deviation: 3.0–6.3). Measurement of starch or carbohydrate content in corn flour or distiller’s dried grains with solubles is challenging due to low accuracy of wet chemistry methods as well as sample complexity. The study demonstrated that near infrared spectroscopy, a high-throughput analytical technique, has the potential to replace the enzymatic assay.
Determination of temperatures of aqueous-based samples directly from near infrared spectra
Authors: Kuda-Malwathumullage Chamathca PS , Small Gary W
Published: October 2017

The temperature sensitivity of underlying water absorption bands can lead to baseline artifacts or apparent spectral band shifts in near infrared spectra and can negatively impact multivariate calibration models used in quantitative analyses. To address this issue, efforts can be made to suppress the temperature-induced spectral variation or knowledge of the temperature can be used to adjust the calibration. To facilitate the latter approach, we explored the ability to estimate the aqueous temperature of the sample directly from the combination region of the near infrared spectrum. This temperature modeling strategy addresses applications in which it is difficult to obtain an accurate sample temperature with a conventional measurement probe. Temperature models were developed by use of partial least-squares regression combined with the discrete wavelet transform. Models were constructed from the 5000 to 4000 cm−1 region of near infrared spectra for pH 7.4 buffer solutions over the temperature range of 20.0–40.5℃. The long-term predictive ability of the models was assessed by use of 13 sets of prediction spectra collected over the course of 13 months, yielding values of the root mean square error of prediction ranging from 0.19 to 0.36℃. In addition, laboratory-prepared solutions of glucose, mixture solutions of glucose, lactate, urea in buffer, and bovine plasma were used to assess the predictive ability of the temperature models in increasingly complex matrixes. The effects of pH and buffer molarity were also studied. While increasing the complexity of the spectral background resulted in increases in root mean square error of prediction (0.33–1.01℃), retuning the models to incorporate the modified spectral backgrounds lowered the resulting root mean square error of prediction values to the range of 0.3℃. This work demonstrates the practical utility of spectral-based temperature measurements that employ the absorbance of the water baseline rather than the peak absorbance.
Rapid determination of oil content in dried-ground oil palm mesocarp and kernel using near infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Sudarno  , Silalahi Divo D , Risman Tauvik , Widyastuti Baiq L , Davrieux F , Yuan Yong Yit , Caliman Jean P
Published: October 2017

Near infrared spectroscopy calibrations for rapid oil content determination of dried-ground oil palm mesocarp and kernel were developed. Samples were analyzed, one set using the Soxhlet extraction method for reference analysis and the other set scanned by near infrared spectroscopy instrument for calibration. Successful calibrations were obtained with good accuracy and precision for mesocarp and kernel, based on statistical models. Math treatment and scatter correction had significant effects on the fitting of the calibration model. The best obtained calibration models were demonstrated by multiple correlation coefficient (R2), standard error of calibration, standard error of cross validation, coefficient of determination in cross validation (1-VR) and relative predictive deviation of calibration, which respectively were 0.997, 1.21%, 1.23%, 0.997 and 17.89 for mesocarp and 0.952, 0.47%, 0.53%, 0.94 and 4.00 for kernel. The correlations between reference and predicted values for samples in the validation sets were in agreement with high linearity, high ratio performance to deviation of prediction (≥4.00) and low standard error of prediction samples for both samples. The results demonstrated that near infrared spectroscopy can be used as an alternative and reliable technique to estimate the mesocarp and kernel oil contents in dry matter basis accurately and rapidly.
Book Review: L. Lalita and Deepa Dhanraj (Eds), Rupture, Loss and Living Minority Women Speak about Post-conflict Life
Authors: Philipose Pamela
Published: October 2017

L. Lalita and Deepa Dhanraj (Eds), Rupture, Loss and Living Minority Women Speak about Post-conflict Life. Hyderabad: Orient Blackswan, 2016, 434 pages, ₹1025. ISBN: 978812506415-2.
The Two Lives of Leela Dube Introductory Remarks on her Life and Work
Authors: Madan T.N.
Published: October 2017

This essay presents an integrated account of the personal and professional lives of Leela Dube. Born and brought up in a traditional, Maharashtrian, Brahman household, which was urban and in some respects modern too, Leela Dube journeyed from such a home through modern school and college education into a marriage by personal choice and a professional career in anthropology. It is an account of the engagement of an intelligent and highly educated person with two distinct — in some respect discrepant — worlds without completely separating them. Happy to be a home-maker with a family, she also carved out a place of distinction for herself as a scholar of kinship studies and the anthropology of women. Indeed, she came to be hailed as a pioneer in the field of gender studies in India. One of the implications of the interpretation offered here is that the enclosing of complex lives in easy-to-grasp theoretical pigeon holes may well fail to capture in their fullness the struggles and achievements of an extraordinary multi-dimensional person.
Decreasing Physical Activity Levels across Religious Sikh Male South Asian Migrant Population in Kent, UK
Authors: Sarkar S. , Ellahi B. , Zotor F.B. , Amuna P.
Published: October 2017

Physical activity (PA) plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). We investigated intergenerational physical activity level (PAL) among first and second generation Sikh Punjabi male subjects ( n = 137), recruited from two Sikh temples in Medway, UK. Employing a cross-sectional survey PA was quantified using the validated Global PA Questionnaire (GPAQ). Data were analysed using SPSS 20 and Epi Info software. Ninety-one per cent of the subjects were classified as overweight. Mean PAL range was sedentary to low levels of PA (1.45–1.60). Comparisons between first and second generation Punjabi male subjects showed that the two groups are equally culpable in not engaging in work-related or recreational PA, but for the second generation this is significantly lower. Low PAL is a contributory factor to increased risk and prevalence of NCDs among this population and a public health concern. Efforts to increase PA in this group should continue.
Burden of NCDs among Nuclear Families
Authors: Gangopadhyay Soumik , Sur Soma
Published: October 2017

In search of economic growth and prosperity, Indian civilization has developed new problem. In the maze of crisscross attack of communicable diseases, it is a matter of concern that non-communicable disease (NCD) is silently infecting the underdeveloped and developed nations leaving its long-term intensified effect on both social and political front, that is, a public health burden. Unhealthy lifestyle, such as urban consumption pattern, is the ‘anti-hero’ in the tragedy of development of health disparity contributing to lifestyle diseases. Nuclear family, being the most vulnerable to have NCDs, needs to be observed for its extended status of threat. With this objective, this article concentrated on the subjective probability of individuals of nuclear family to get affected by lifestyle diseases. The analysed result of primary data collected from 10 Kolkata-based superspeciality hospital’s OPD patients has confirmed the vulnerability of nuclear family of having NCDs. It also indicates the non-competitive probability of attack of NCDs and contagious diseases among nuclear families.
A Robust Predictive Resource Planning under Demand Uncertainty to Improve Waiting Times in Outpatient Clinics
Authors: Munavalli Jyoti R. , Rao Shyam Vasudeva , Srinivasan Aravind , Manjunath Usha , van Merode G. G.
Published: October 2017

Background and context:

Resource planning is performed ahead of time within outpatient clinics (OPC). Due to local control of operations (department-centric decision-making) and limited resources, OPCs cannot handle high variability and uncertainty in demand. There is always a difference between planning and reality, and this leads to operational problems such as excessive waiting times. The OPCs often react to the situation when problems are encountered and reaction times play an important role in determining patient waiting times.

Objectives:

To propose a predictive resource planning that incorporates variability in the short term with the OPC-wide perspective, not department-centric.

Methodology:

The process and patient data were collected from the OPC under study by observation, interviews and from the records of the hospital management information system. A resource planning model (RPM) was developed that matched resources according to demand in short term. A mathematical model with outputs resource plan for a day was formulated utilizing Takt time (the average time a patient needs to move out of the OPC system) management that is used in Toyota Production System (TPS), to allocate resources to all the departments. Using a Discrete Event Simulation Model, the effects of predictive resource planning with different reaction times on waiting times and cycle times were analyzed. The resource plans were implemented in the OPC of Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, that has high patient volumes and random patient arrivals.

Results and discussion:

The simulation and implementation results indicate that predictive resource planning is robust and improves waiting times, and cycle times in OPCs. Study findings confirm that the predictive planning model reduces the average waiting time by 43.4 per cent during simulation and by 41.1 per cent during its implementation. The reduction in standard deviations in waiting times indicate reduction of unregulated waiting times. The OPC scheduled 28 resources throughout the day, whereas with predictive resource planning, the number of resources varied between a minimum of 12 to a maximum around 30–34 resources.

Conclusions:

The OPCs currently match demands to their supply, while matching resources to varying demand in short term; throughout the OPC (all departments) improves patient flow, and minimizes waiting time and cycle time. Previously, Takt time management (TTM) has applied to systems with even and stable demand; in this study, it has been applied to stochastic demand.

Implications:

This planning model helps the management to identify resource requirements: types of resources and number of resources, for the future demand growth and expansion. It can probably be extended to general hospitals by considering their demand forecast, precedence constraints and workflow complexities.
Outsource Services to Improve Financial Performance: Is There a Limit?
Authors: Sanchís-Pedregosa Carlos , Gonzalez-Zamora María-del-Mar , Palacín-Sánchez María-José
Published: October 2017

Outsourcing has been identified as one of the key factors for improving companies’ financial performance. Moreover, the procurement of business services has become an important element of companies’ acquisition of external resources. However, there is a lack of evidence linking services outsourcing and performance. Limited prior literature has mostly assumed that this relationship is positive and linear. Our empirical study reveals that firms may be able to increase their performance through services outsourcing; however, this is only true up to a point, beyond which the performance decreases as a consequence of further outsourcing. Identifying the type of relationship between the variables under study is a key point to company managers formulating their service outsourcing strategies. They must be aware that there is a level of outsourcing that should not be exceeded. Future research should help managers to determine which is the most effective level of service outsourcing for their companies.
The First Meat Sector IPO: Al Shaheer Corporation
Authors: Seyyed Fazal Jawad , Butt Arslan Shahid , Ashfaq Hafsa
Published: October 2017

This case examines the June 2015 decision of Muhammad Asad, a fund manager at Al Meezan Investment Management Limited, to participate in the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Al Shaheer Corporation, a leading meat sector company of Pakistan. He was interested in increasing the exposure of the Meezan Islamic Fund (MIF) to the food sector, provided attractive risk-adjusted returns could be achieved. Based on the research team analysis and his own assessment, Asad had to decide whether or not to participate in the IPO book building process and the number of shares to bid for at each price level. Both Market Multiples and Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) valuation methods had yielded share value higher than the IPO floor price of PKR 43 per share which encouraged Asad to consider the investment opportunity. He also had to decide on the amount that he could allocate to the IPO on behalf of MIF. Asad had to prepare his recommendations on the IPO for presentation and approval by the investment committee in the upcoming meeting. He has asked you to conduct an independent analysis and valuation of Al Shaheer stock over the weekend and share your findings with him early Monday morning.
Business as Usual: District Education Authorities in Punjab
Authors: Rana Muhammad Ahsan
Published: October 2017

The recently established District Education Authorities (DEAs) are expected to improve governance of government schools in Punjab by decentralizing authority to local stakeholders. Presumably, grassroots-level elected representatives will oversee the performance of schools more effectively than has been the case so far. However, a critical assessment shows DEAs to be largely irrelevant to improving governance and quality of education in government schools. DEAs place all hope of improving education delivery solely on better supervision of the existing human, physical, and financial resources. Even if this were possible – and this is a big if – it is unclear as to how the DEAs will take teaching to new heights from its present low or how the DEAs will produce the money they will need for the various necessary improvements at the schools. There seems to be little forward thinking accompanying the establishment of the DEAs on how to respond to key issues, such as improving the teaching effort, generating resources for expansion and improvement of the school infrastructure, and targeting out-of-school children. The DEAs are expected to somewhat rearrange, but not disturb, business as usual on the educational landscape in Punjab.
Independent yet accountable
Authors: Follesdal Andreas
Published: October 2017

An important ‘stress test’ for regional human rights courts would be to see how well such courts perform when faced with authoritarian, human rights-violating regimes that they are supposed to hinder or constrain. These states are not only subjects of the court, but also its masters insofar as they enjoy various forms of control and accountability mechanisms that may constrain the court’s independence. The article argues that, at least in the case of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), its precarious ‘constrained independence’ should be modified to enhance its impact even under such circumstances. Such changes could strengthen the ECtHR’s impartial and independent role without running the risk of turning it into a so-called ‘juristocracy’ - subjecting European states to the arbitrary rule of international judges.
‘Trust me, I’m a doctor’: a qualitative study of the role of paternalism and older people in decision-making when they have lost their capacity
Authors: Cole Joanne , Kiriaev Oleg , Malpas Phillipa , Cheung Gary
Published: October 2017

Objective:

The objective of this study was to explore whether older people want their doctors to make treatment decisions on their behalf when they no longer have capacity to do so, and their reasons for these preferences.

Method:

A convenience sample of older people from two retirement villages were interviewed and asked to respond to a hypothetical vignette. Their responses were analysed using qualitative thematic methodology.

Results:

Thirty-seven people (56.8% female; mean age = 83.9 years; mean Mini Mental State Examination = 26.5) participated; 73.0% indicated that they would want their doctor to make treatment decisions on their behalf. Three key themes emerged: 1) trust in the doctor–patient relationship; 2) doctor-derived factors: knowledge and expertise, professionalism, role and responsibility; 3) patient-derived factors: vulnerability, dependence and reliance, compromised autonomy.

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that the paternalistic model within medical care can be an expectation of some older patients and if taking a paternalistic approach we should not underestimate the trust and power that is imparted to us.