bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends in diagnosis of bipolar disorder: Have the boundaries changed?
Authors: Sara Grant E , Malhi Gin S
Published: October 2015

Objective:

There are concerns that the diagnostic boundaries of bipolar disorder have expanded. This study seeks evidence of change in diagnostic practice at three boundaries: the ‘lower’ boundary with subclinical mood conditions, the ‘lateral’ boundary with other mental health conditions (psychotic, anxiety, substance and personality disorders) and the ‘internal’ boundary within affective disorders.

Methods:

Diagnoses recorded in health system administrative data collections were used as a measure of clinician diagnostic behaviour. We examined all diagnoses made by public (state operated) inpatient and community mental health services in New South Wales, Australia, from 2003 to 2014.

Results:

A total of 31,746 people had at least one recorded diagnosis of bipolar disorder in the period. There was a significant upward trend in the age-standardised population rate of diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorders made up an increasing proportion of psychosis diagnoses. There was no increase in the rate of comorbid diagnosis of bipolar disorders with non-psychotic disorders or in the likelihood of diagnosis of bipolar disorder at first or subsequent episodes of depression. There were significant reductions in diagnoses of schizophrenia, particularly in younger people.

Conclusion:

There may be some increase in diagnoses of bipolar disorder in New South Wales public mental health services. However, some changes in diagnosis, particularly in younger adults, may reflect movement away from diagnoses of schizophrenia towards a range of other diagnoses, rather than specific movement towards bipolar disorder. Expansion of bipolar disorder may have been more marked in private practice settings and may have involved the poorly defined bipolar II subtype.
Indian Residential Schools
Authors: Reid Jennifer
Published: October 2015

In 2008 Canada’s Prime Minister apologized to survivors of Canada’s Indian Residential Schools, which had operated for almost a century, and were intended to assimilate Aboriginal children into the dominant society. Some survivors appreciated the gesture. Others were critical, especially of the Prime Minister’s description of the schools as a “mistake” rather than a crime, which they convincingly argue they were, with respect to the crime of genocide. I will suggest in this essay that this was not the only omission—that the school system also profoundly violated religious freedom. By exploring dominant Canadian narratives concerning religious freedom, I will highlight the way in which: (i) the system was intended to be a religious assault; (ii) the system contravened dominant understandings of freedom of religion; and (iii) dominant understandings of religion have marginalized Aboriginal religion, such that the profoundly religious character of the residential school assault has yet to be fully confronted.
A Machine Vision System for Tool Positioning and Its Verification
Authors: Mahapatra Prasant Kumar , Thareja Rishabh , Kaur Mandeep , Kumar Amod
Published: October 2015

This paper presents a machine vision–based precise tool positioning and verification system that may be used with milling and lathe machines, and so on. For many industrial applications, the accuracy required in machining operations is of the order of microns. The developed machine vision–based tool position verification process involves pixel calibration to compute and measure real-world minute dimensions. These measurements are based on two-dimensional spatial correlation of sequential images captured from the movement of the tool with a resolution of 250 µm. The captured sequential images are thresholded using a new bio-inspired technique named Negative Selection Algorithm, a model of Artificial Immune System. The developed system extracts the difference between the actual and target positions of the tool from the captured images through image processing and calculates the error. To compensate for the positional error, alignment commands are fed to the two-axis high precision motor. The maximum error observed was ±206 µm for 14.99999 mm movement.
Reconstruction of Peri-implant Osseous Defects
Authors: Jepsen K. , Jepsen S. , Laine M.L. , Anssari Moin D. , Pilloni A. , Zeza B. , Sanz M. , Ortiz-Vigon A. , Roos-Jansåker A.M. , Renvert S.
Published: October 2015

There is a paucity of data for the effectiveness of reconstructive procedures in the treatment of peri-implantitis. The objective of this study was to compare reconstruction of peri-implant osseous defects with open flap debridement (OFD) plus porous titanium granules (PTGs) compared with OFD alone. Sixty-three patients (36 female, 27 male; mean age 58.4 y [SD 12.3]), contributing one circumferential peri-implant intraosseous defect, were included in a multinational, multicenter randomized trial using a parallel-group design. After OFD and surface decontamination using titanium brushes and hydrogen peroxide, 33 defects received PTGs. The implants were not submerged. All patients received adjunctive perioperative systemic antibiotics. The primary outcome variable (defect fill) was assessed on digitalized radiographs. Clinical measurements of probing depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BoP), suppuration, and plaque were taken by blinded examiners. After 12 mo, the test group (OFD plus PTG) showed a mean radiographic defect fill (mesial/distal) of 3.6/3.6 mm compared with 1.1/1.0 in the control group (OFD). Differences were statistically significant in favor of the test group ( P < 0.0001). The OFD plus PTG group showed a mean reduction in PPD of 2.8 mm compared with 2.6 mm in the OFD group. BoP was reduced from 89.4% to 33.3% and from 85.8% to 40.4% for the test and control groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in complete resolution of peri-implantitis (PPD ≤4 mm and no BoP at six implant sites and no further bone loss), because this finding was accomplished at 30% of implants in the test group and 23% of implants in the control group. Reconstructive surgery using PTGs resulted in significantly enhanced radiographic defect fill compared with OFD. However, limitations in the lack of ability to discern biomaterial from osseous tissue could not be verified to determine new bone formation. Similar improvements according to clinical measures were obtained after both surgical treatment modalities (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02406001).
Shared Intention and Reasons for Action
Authors: Arruda Caroline T.
Published: October 2015

Most theories of intentional action agree that if acting for a reason is a necessary condition for the action in question to be an intentional action, the reason need not genuinely justify it. The same should hold for shared intentional action, toward which philosophers of action have recently turned their attention. I argue that some of the necessary conditions proposed for shared intention turn out to require that we deny this claim. They entail that shared intention is possible only if the participating agents form their intentions on the grounds of genuinely rational considerations. Thus, they “over-rationalize,” as I call it, shared intention.
The Politics of Peoplehood
Authors: White Jonathan , Ypi Lea
Published: October 2015

Contemporary political theory has made the question of the “people” a topic of sustained analysis. This article identifies two broad approaches taken—norm-based and contestation-based—and, noting some problems left outstanding, goes on to advance a complementary account centred on partisan practice. It suggests the definition of “the people” is closely bound up in the analysis of political conflict, and that partisans engaged in such conflict play an essential role in constructing and contesting different principled conceptions. The article goes on to show how such an account does not lead to a normatively hollow, purely historical conception of “the people,” but rather highlights the normative importance of practices that, at the minimum, de-naturalise undesirable conceptions of the people and, at their best, give political legitimacy and a representative basis to those one might wish to see prosper.
Expectant parents’ attitudes to termination of pregnancy in general and in cases of fetal abnormality
Authors: Ekelin Maria , Larsson Anna-Karin
Published: October 2015

The aim of this article was to explore whether expectant parents’ attitudes to termination or continuation of pregnancy, both in general and in case of fetal abnormality, are affected by previous experiences of miscarriage and whether attitudes change after ultrasound screening with normal findings. It was also of interest to investigate differences in attitudes in relation to age, parity and gender. A prospective one-year cohort study was carried out. Questionnaires were administered before and after the ultrasound examination. Analyses included 1258 women and 925 men. A comparison between the results pre- and post-ultrasound showed that after the ultrasound examination, there were significant changes towards a more positive attitude to give birth to a baby with an abnormality. Men were significantly more willing to terminate for a fetal abnormality and significantly less hesitant towards abortion in general than women. Women aged 35 years or older were significantly less willing to give birth to a baby with an abnormality and significantly more positive to termination for fetal abnormality than younger women. Parents showed understanding attitudes towards other parents’ decisions no matter what these were. We conclude that parents need individualized information and support in connection with prenatal diagnosis, due to parental hesitancy. Midwives play an important role in this.
Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Vivian Eva
Published: October 2015

Purpose

The purpose of this review article is to provide guidance to clinicians and diabetes educators regarding the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors as a therapeutic option for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods

The PubMed database was searched through February 2015 to identify clinical trials and meta-analyses evaluating the use of the SGLT2 inhibitors canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin administered as monotherapy or in combination with other oral antidiabetes drugs or with insulin.

Results

SGLT2 inhibitors reduce hyperglycemia in an insulin-independent manner by inhibiting the reabsorption of glucose into the systemic circulation by the kidneys. In patients with T2DM, SGLT2 inhibitors provide consistent reductions in glycated hemoglobin, fasting plasma and postprandial glucose, body weight, and blood pressure when used as monotherapy or in combination with other oral antidiabetes agents or with insulin. SGLT2 inhibitors are associated with a low risk of hypoglycemia, except when used with agents known to be associated with a higher risk of hypoglycemia, such as sulfonylureas or insulin.

Conclusions

The unique renal-specific mechanism of action and favorable efficacy and safety profile of SGLT2 inhibitors support consideration of these antidiabetes agents as a treatment option for patients with T2DM.
Effects of therapeutic ultrasound on pain, physical functions and safety outcomes in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Chi , Xie Yujie , Luo Xiaotian , Ji Qiaodan , Lu Chunlan , He Chengqi , Wang Pu
Published: October 2015

Objective:

To explore the effects of therapeutic ultrasound with sham or no intervention on pain, physical function and safety outcomes in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Data sources:

This systematic review was searched on CENTRAL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Open Gray on 4 September 2015. Trials included randomized controlled trials that compared therapeutic ultrasound with a sham or no intervention in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Review methods:

Eligible trials and extracted data were identified by two independent investigators. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for pain and physical function outcomes. Heterogeneity was assessed by the I2 test and inverse-variance random-effects analysis was applied to all trials.

Results:

Ten randomized controlled trials (645 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Therapeutic ultrasound showed a positive effect on pain (SMD = −0.93, 95%, CI = −1.22 to −0.64, p < 0.01, p for heterogeneity = 0.12, I2 = 42%). For physical function, therapeutic ultrasound was advantageous for reducingWestern Ontario and McMaster Universities physical function score (SMD = −0.37, 95% CI = −0.73 to −0.01, p = 0.04, p for heterogeneity = 0.94, I2 = 0%). In terms of safety, no occurrence of adverse events caused by therapeutic ultrasound was reported in any trial.

Conclusion:

The authors suggested that therapeutic ultrasound is beneficial for reducing knee pain and improving physical functions in patients with knee osteoarthritis and could be a safe treatment.
Leisure Functioning and Offender Rehabilitation
Authors: Link Alison J. , Williams D J
Published: October 2015

This study examined the statistical relationship between offender rehabilitation and leisure functioning of Oregon prisoners ( N = 281) soon to reenter society. The strong positive correlation between leisure functioning and rehabilitation is an important finding of the study. Perception of freedom and intrinsic motivation in leisure, as independent variables, were significantly related to rehabilitation even when controlling for the influence of demographic and important forensic variables. This study provides initial empirical evidence for the importance of leisure in offender rehabilitation and successful offender reentry. The role of leisure education programming as a supportive offender rehabilitation strategy is also discussed.
A Rasch analysis of the model of human occupation screening tool single observation form (MOHOST-SOF) in mental health
Authors: Maciver Donald , Morley Mary , Forsyth Kirsty , Bertram Nick , Edwards Tracey , Heasman David , Rennison Jane , Rush Robert , Willis Suzie
Published: October 2015

Introduction

This study examined the psychometric properties of the model of human occupation screening tool single observation form.

Method

Clinical records were extracted pre- and post-treatment for 152 mental health service users. Data were model of human occupation screening tool single observation form scores and demographics. We investigated the form using Rasch analysis; we also present an analysis of change over time.

Results

We identified four misfitting items and evidence of instability with respect to change over time. After anchoring to adjust for unstable estimates, it was possible to measure client change, and there were significant differences in form scores pre–post treatment indicating client improvement in ability.

Conclusion

The study provides initial psychometric assessment of this version of the model of human occupation screening tool.
Preserving news apps present huge challenges
Authors: Broussard Meredith
Published: October 2015

Currently the digital archives of newspapers are not archiving news apps, the interactive database-driven, multimedia projects. Because of the multiple elements required to access a news app, conversion of the dynamic news app into static HTML pages is one possible avenue for future archiving.
Survey finds differences on preserving born-digital news
Authors: Moore Jennifer E. , Bonnet Jennifer L.
Published: October 2015

A survey of newspaper workers, librarians, archivists and researchers in Maine reveals that preserving digitized newspapers is deemed most important, followed by born-digital news articles; however, they differ about who should be responsible for preserving this digital news content.
Pial Synangiosis Ameliorates Movement Disorders in the Absence of Prior Stroke in Moyamoya Disease
Authors: Greene Stephanie , Bansal Lalit , Coffman Keith A. , Nardone Raffaele , Zuccoli Giulio
Published: October 2015

Background:

Moyamoya disease is a rare cerebrovascular disease characterized by progressive stenosis of the bilateral distal internal carotid arteries and their proximal branches. Both chorea and dystonia have been reported as the initial presentation of moyamoya disease.

Objective:

The objective was to define the clinical presentation and describe the disease course following pial synangiosis of 3 patients with dyskinesias.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review of 3 cases of patients presenting with movement disorders and ultimately diagnosed with moyamoya disease was performed.

Results:

The authors present a case series of 1 patient with dystonia and 2 patients with chorea, all diagnosed with moyamoya disease. All patients experienced resolution of their movement disorders following pial synangiosis. Magnetic resonance imaging disclosed moyamoya disease-related basal ganglia anomalies in all patients.

Conclusions:

Moyamoya disease is an important and surgically treatable cause of movement disorders.
Mixed‐Methods Pilot Study
Authors: Goodhue Catherine J. , Demeter Natalie E. , Burke Rita V. , Toor Khadija T. , Upperman Jeffrey S. , Merritt Russell J.
Published: October 2015

Background: Children with special healthcare needs are a vulnerable population in disasters. Special‐needs families tend to be less prepared for a disaster than the general public. The purpose of this pilot project was to examine the disaster preparedness levels of families in an intestinal rehabilitation (IR) clinic. Materials and Methods: We administered an anonymous survey to a convenience sample of IR clinic families and conducted 2 focus groups. Descriptive analyses were used for survey data; Atlas.ti was used to analyze focus group data. Results: Survey findings revealed that 69% of families lacked an emergency supply kit, and 93% did not have a clinician‐completed emergency information form. On a scale of 1–10, the mean confidence in their family's disaster preparations was 4.9. The overarching theme from focus group discussions was challenges and/or barriers to disaster preparedness. Conclusion: IR clinic families are generally unprepared for a disaster. These findings are highly relevant to our goal of developing a disaster survival toolkit for the IR families. Toolkits are being distributed in the IR clinic.
The Face of a Mother Deprived of Liberty
Authors: Silva-Segovia Jimena
Published: October 2015

In this article, we analyze the importance of the face as the expression of stigma for incarcerated women. Using a methodological model of body mapping, we carried out a qualitative analysis from an intertextual perspective on self-portraits. A specific case study was selected: an imprisoned Andean woman (named Satu for the purpose of this research) serving a 10-year sentence in a Chilean prison for drug trafficking. Among the most relevant conclusions, is the expression of the good/evil dichotomy recorded as the manifestation of bitterness and guilt in a moral and institutional penalty system that doubly punishes women offenders, particularly at two levels: a symbolic and imaginary one because of their involvement in criminal activity dominated by males, and the second a real one that strips away their natural right to function in their maternal role, producing extreme guilt.
Sexual Assault Prevention Efforts in the U.S. Air Force: A Systematic Review and Content Analysis
Authors: Gedney Christine R. , Wood David S. , Lundahl Brad , Butters Robert P.
Published: October 2015

The issue of sexual assault in the U.S. military is problematic and prevalent. All military branches have undertaken an effort to develop and implement sexual assault prevention programs (SAPPs), yet these programs lack a rigorous and independent evaluation process, limiting an understanding of effectiveness. We examined the four official SAPPs that have been used within the U.S. Air Force (USAF) over the past decade by comparing their content and process with best practice suggestions for SAPPs. Content of the four USAF SAPPs was evaluated on 47 different criteria grouped into the following program elements: content, process, and outcome. Independent ratings of the criteria were reliable, and results indicated strengths and opportunities for improvement. Most notably, evidence of an objective program evaluation system is lacking. Recommendations for improving SAPPs are offered.
Nonenzymatic antioxidants in saliva of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Moori M , Ghafoori H , Sariri R
Published: October 2015

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibody-directed self-antigens, immune complex formation and immune deregulation, resulting in damage to essentially all the organs. SLE is associated with the increased production of free radicals. Increase in free radicals or impaired antioxidant defense system in SLE causes oxidative stress. Considering that saliva could be a reflection of the state of health, the purpose of this study was to evaluate some antioxidants in the saliva and serum of patients with SLE and compare these with healthy individuals. This could help us in obtaining a possible marker in saliva in the future. During the course of the practical part of the project, 30 patients with SLE and 30 healthy controls were investigated. After centrifugation of un-stimulated saliva and blood samples, they were examined using spectrophotometric methods and the results were analyzed by statistical software. According to the results, concentrations of malondialdehyde, uric acid and total antioxidants were significantly increased but the level of reduced glutathion was reduced significantly in the saliva and serum of SLE patients as compared to controls. It is therefore suggested that antioxidant power is impaired in saliva and serum of SLE patients. As there was a positive correlation between the antioxidant level of saliva and blood serum, the antioxidant status of saliva could be an indicator of serum antioxidants.
Physiological Arousal and Its Dysregulation in Child Maladjustment
Authors: Scarpa Angela
Published: October 2015

Arousal and its regulation are key components of emotion, temperament, and flexible responding needed for healthy adjustment. This article presents a biosocial vulnerability model suggesting that maladjustment arises when psychological mechanisms are disrupted by changes in nervous system functioning that cause the discoordination of physiological regulatory systems, potentially leading to hyper- or hypoarousal and arousal dysregulation. The model posits bidirectional relationships with adverse social context at any level, ultimately derailing affective, cognitive, and interpersonal processes, which can increase psychopathology. Applications are made to childhood aggression and autism spectrum disorder as two examples of how differences in arousal and its dysregulation can impact child adjustment.
The Two Settings of Kind and Wicked Learning Environments
Authors: Hogarth Robin M. , Lejarraga Tomás , Soyer Emre
Published: October 2015

Inference involves two settings: In the first, information is acquired (learning); in the second, it is applied (predictions or choices). Kind learning environments involve close matches between the informational elements in the two settings and are a necessary condition for accurate inferences. Wicked learning environments involve mismatches. This conceptual framework facilitates identifying sources of inferential errors and can be used, among other things, to suggest how to target corrective procedures. For example, structuring learning environments to be kind improves probabilistic judgments. Potentially, it could also enable economic agents to exhibit maximizing behavior.
Executive Function Development
Authors: Chevalier Nicolas
Published: October 2015

Emerging executive function in childhood, one of the main predictors of major life success, is goal-directed in nature. Yet children’s ability to identify goals (i.e., what should be done) has been underresearched, often because of implicit assumptions that it is trivial even in early childhood. In contrast, I review evidence for goal identification as a major force behind developing executive function. Both increasing attention to environmental cues and increased goal inferencing from these cues drive goal-identification improvement with age. This framework has important implications for assessing and supporting executive function in childhood.
Protein and cholesterol electrophoresis of plasma samples from captive cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus)
Authors: Cray Carolyn , Rodriguez Marilyn , Field Cara , McDermott Alexa , Leppert Lynda , Clauss Tonya , Bossart Gregory D.
Published: October 2015

Our study was undertaken to assess the application of semiautomated methods available at the reference laboratory level for the evaluation of plasma protein and cholesterol via electrophoresis in samples from cownose rays ( Rhinoptera bonasus). Three groups of animals were assessed: clinically normal, clinically abnormal, and parasitized with leeches. As reported previously, the albumin band was negligible; the protein electrophoretograms were dominated by a large beta-globulin fraction. While the group of samples from the leech-parasitized rays did not show any large differences, the abnormal group exhibited significantly elevated total solids and cholesterol levels. The latter was related to a significant increase in very low density lipoprotein levels. The results demonstrate the potential application of these laboratory methods in quantitation of plasma proteins and cholesterol fractions in subclass Elasmobranchii.
A comparison of two real-time polymerase chain reaction assays using hybridization probes targeting either 16S ribosomal RNA or a subsurface lipoprotein gene for detecting leptospires in canine urine
Authors: Gentilini Fabio , Zanoni Renato Giulio , Zambon Elisa , Turba Maria Elena
Published: October 2015

Leptospires are excreted in the urine of infected animals, and the prompt detection of leptospiral DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is increasingly being used. However, contradictory data has emerged concerning the diagnostic accuracy of the most popular PCR assays that target either the 16S ribosomal RNA ( rrs) or the subsurface lipoprotein ( LipL32) genes. In order to clarify the effect of the gene target, a novel hydrolysis probe–based, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay targeting the LipL32 gene was developed, validated, and then compared directly to the previously described rrs hydrolysis probe–based qPCR using a convenience collection of canine urine samples. The novel LipL32 qPCR assay was linear from 5.9 × 106 to 59 genome equivalents per reaction. Both the LipL32 and the rrs qPCR assays showed a limit of detection of 10 target copies per reaction indicating an approximately equivalent analytical sensitivity. Both assays amplified all 20 pathogenic leptospiral strains tested but did not amplify a representative collection of bacteria commonly found in voided canine urine. When the field samples were assayed, 1 and 5 out of 184 samples yielded an amplification signal in the LipL32 and rrs assays, respectively. Nevertheless, when the limit of detection was considered as the cutoff for interpreting findings, the 4 discordant cases were judged as negative. In conclusion, our study confirmed that both LipL32 and rrs are suitable targets for qPCR for the detection of leptospiral DNA in canine urine. However, the rrs target requires the mandatory use of a cutoff value in order to correctly interpret spurious amplifications.
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy with cholesterol deposits in a dog
Authors: Piñeyro Pablo , Sponenberg D. Philip , Pancotto Theresa , King Rosalind H. M. , Jortner Bernard S.
Published: October 2015

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy occurred in an 11-year-old Labrador Retriever dog. Spinal cord compression resulted from massive radiculitis with prominent cholesterol granulomas. Cholesterol deposition and associated granuloma formation is unique in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, in both its human and canine expressions.
End-of-Life Care of Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Other Nonmalignant Diseases
Authors: Tiirola Anna , Korhonen Tarja , Surakka Tiina , Lehto Juho T.
Published: October 2015

Background:

Palliative care services extend to meet the needs of patients with nonmalignant diseases.

Aim:

To explore the diagnoses, symptoms, and treatment of patients dying in hospice due to nonmalignant diseases, with special emphasis on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Design:

A retrospective study based on a detailed analysis of patient records.

Setting/Participants:

All patients with nonmalignant diseases who died in Pirkanmaa Hospice during the period 2004 to 2013 were included.

Results:

Of the 67 patients studied, 48% had ALS, and the remaining had pulmonary (18%), cardiovascular (13%), neurologic (10%), and other (10%) diseases. Dyspnea, followed by pain and fatigue, was the most common symptom reported, increasing in frequency from admission to the last day of life (31% vs 48%; P < .05). Compared with ALS, patients with other diseases had more comorbidities (3.8% vs 1.4%, P < .001) and were more likely to have very short (≤3 days) final care periods (31% vs 9%; P < .05). During the last day of life, patients with ALS were more frequently unable to swallow (87% vs 31%, P < .001) and received significantly more antidepressants, antibiotics, and laxatives but less corticosteroids and oxygen compared to other patients. Noninvasive ventilation was used in 31% of all patients.

Conclusion:

Respiratory symptoms are important in the management of nonmalignant diseases in hospice. Especially, units taking care of ALS should be prepared to meet the special needs involved in ventilation support. In contrast to ALS, late referrals to hospice are common in patients with other nonmalignant diseases.
High Job Satisfaction Despite Low Income
Authors: Ireri Kioko
Published: October 2015

This Kenya national survey of journalists conducted in 2012 to 2013 ( n = 504) examines job satisfaction, income satisfaction, and predictors of job satisfaction. Findings indicate that the vast majority of journalists are satisfied with their current jobs (83%). However, a clear majority (61.8%) are dissatisfied with their monthly incomes. Nearly a quarter of journalists fall in the monthly salary bracket of US$375 to US$625. Compared by gender, male and female journalists are equally satisfied with their jobs. Older journalists, radio journalists, high income earners, and full-time journalists reported higher job satisfaction. Income, job security, and job autonomy were the main predictors of job satisfaction.
Press Freedom in the Enemy’s Language
Authors: Mizuno Takeya
Published: October 2015

This article examines how the federal government controlled the Japanese “enemy language” newspapers in Japanese American “relocation centers” during World War II. Camp officials were facing a dilemma: They knew Japanese news media would promote effective information dissemination, but no one understood the language. As a compromising solution, they limited Japanese contents to verbatim translations of official English releases. They also conducted thorough background examinations of translators to sort out “unquestionably loyal” bilingual Japanese. Press freedom inside the barbed wire fences was conditional at best; it was even more so in the enemy’s language.
Pulmonary Emboli
Authors: Alpert Patricia T. , Gatlin Tricia
Published: October 2015

The majority of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolus occur in older adults with cardiovascular risk factors. The case study presented is significant because it involves a 23-year-old African male who presented at our federally qualified health center after he was discharged from the hospital with a second episode of pulmonary embolus and a non-occlusive thrombus in his right common femoral vein. His only risk factors were his ethnicity and inconclusive lupus anticoagulant test result.
Finding Common Ground: Exploring Undergraduate Student Volunteering as a Support for Parents of Children With Autism
Authors: Breithaupt Andrew G. , Thomas Kathleen C. , Wong Connie S. , Mesibov Gary B. , Morrissey Joseph P.
Published: October 2015

There are many unmet needs among parents of children with autism for parent respite and social time for their children. The use of undergraduate student volunteers is a potential strategy for meeting some of these needs. Separate focus groups for parents and for undergraduates were convened to assess feasibility, comfort, reservations, and mutual interest in this approach. Both parents and students identified common ground over undergraduate volunteer services, and described the boundaries of participation within which they felt comfortable. Findings suggest that student-provided respite care is a feasible support for parents raising children with autism and for students seeking volunteer and career-orientation experiences.
Parental Stress, Discipline Strategies, and Child Behavior Problems in Families With Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Shawler Paul M. , Sullivan Maureen A.
Published: October 2015

The current study investigated the parent–child relationship by examining associations between parent stress, parental discipline strategies, child disruptive behavior problems, and level of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms. A sample of 130 parents of children with ASD ages 3 to 11 years participated. Parents reported high levels of parent stress and high levels of child disruptive behavior problems. A series of mediation analyses via bootstrapping were used to examine the development of child disruptive behavior. Use of harsh and punitive parental discipline strategies mediated the link between parent stress and child disruptive behavior problems. These findings suggest that parental discipline strategies should be a central target in prevention and treatment interventions for children with ASD to reduce the emergence of child disruptive behavior problems. Reducing challenging behavior in children with ASD may improve the rate of skill acquisition and improve the parent–child relationship. Future directions for research along with clinical implications for families are discussed.
Anti-JC virus antibody titres increase over time with natalizumab treatment
Authors: Raffel J , Gafson AR , Malik O , Nicholas R
Published: October 2015

Background:

Anti-JC virus antibody status is a risk factor for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy after natalizumab treatment in multiple sclerosis. Previous studies have used a cross-sectional approach to conclude that the presence and duration of natalizumab treatment does not influence anti-JCV Ab seropositivity.

Objectives:

Using a longitudinal approach, we measured change in anti-JCV Ab results after natalizumab treatment.

Methods:

Anti-JCV Ab results ( n = 1154) from the second-generation STRATIFY JCV™ DxSelect™ test were analysed from an observational cohort of MS patients on natalizumab ( n = 485; n = 340 with repeat testing; n = 657 repeat tests on natalizumab).

Results:

Across sequential paired tests, seroconversion rate was greater than seroreversion rate (40/364 (11.0%) versus 18/293 (6.1%); p < 0.05). Moreover, anti-JCV Ab index increased across longitudinal paired tests ( mA–B 0.102; paired t(656) = 5.0; p < 0.0001). This magnitude of Ab level increase far exceeds that expected due to increasing age alone.

Conclusion:

Our data suggest that natalizumab therapy is associated with a significant and substantial increase in anti-JCV Ab index over time. Further work should focus on the underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon, and the clinical relevance to risk stratification.
The practice of evaluation as an evaluation of practices
Authors: Ivaldi Silvia , Scaratti Giuseppe , Nuti Gianni
Published: October 2015

This article describes the theoretical basis and characteristics of a process-based, negotiated and generative approach to the evaluation of organizations. Illustrated by a case study, it highlights the inappropriateness of standardized instruments in the face of complexity and uncertainty, suggesting ways to improve the practice of evaluating dynamic complex systems. It underlines how conducting an evaluation within an organization is an opportunity to produce knowledge that reflects on and can potentially transform existing systems. Using an action-research method, ‘instructions to the double’, the implications for data collection and analysis suited to complex interventions and complex environments, are presented and discussed. In particular, the article describes the monitoring and evaluation of practices as unfolding processes, in which evaluative methods and tools are context dependent and subject to social, dynamic and contested mobilization of knowledge. The collective negotiation and production of knowledge in collaboration with practitioners working within the organization, is considered as the necessary condition for enhancing the formative and transformative role of evaluation and supporting reflexivity in professional practices.
Waiting it out: Time, action, and the process of securing benefits
Authors: Seefeldt Kristin S
Published: October 2015

Waiting is an under-explored area of social stratification and domination. Lower-income Americans frequently endure long waits, including waits to secure social welfare benefits, and these waits may serve the purpose of instilling in clients the need for compliance. Using qualitative interview data, this paper explores how low and moderate-income women in a US state understand their waits for public benefits; how those understanding shape their responses to the wait; and what those responses tell us about waiting as a form of social control as it is negotiated between the parties. Despite describing the process of obtaining benefits as one of “waiting it out,” women ascribe different meanings to their waits and take action based upon their assessments of the cause of the delay, the complexity of the situation, and past experiences with public bureaucracies. These approaches allow women to assert some control over a situation in which so much is out of one’s control.
Are the Catholic Epistles a Canonically Significant Collection? A Status Quaestionis
Authors: Lockett Darian R.
Published: October 2015

Should the Catholic Epistles be read in isolation from each other, taking their individual historical situations as the guiding principle for their interpretation, or rather, do their literary and theological character as a discrete canonical collection constitute the context within which they should be read and interpreted? Though the modern era has been dominated by the historical-critical approach to biblical interpretation that considers these texts in isolation from one another, a vibrant discussion arguing that the Catholic Epistles should be read as a discrete canonical collection has been developing. This article offers a status quaestionis by outlining recent proposals for reading the Catholic Epistles as a collection, specifically considering the work of Peter Davids, Karl-Wilhelm Niebuhr, Carey Newman, David Nienhuis and Robert Wall, and Brevard Childs.
What Are the Gospels? Richard Burridge’s Impact on Scholarly Understanding of the Genre of the Gospels
Authors: Walton Steve
Published: October 2015

A quiet revolution has taken place in the scholarly understanding of the Gospel genre since the publication of Richard Burridge’s What Are the Gospels? in 1992, reversing the earlier consensus that the canonical Gospels should not be considered biographies. Burridge’s research has been widely accepted and has produced a new consensus, that the Gospels are a species of ancient biography (βίος). This article: (i) lays out the former consensus and demonstrates its widespread acceptance; (ii) outlines the key arguments of Burridge’s research and the contribution he made; (iii) provides evidence of the shift in the scholarly consensus to Burridge’s view that the Gospels are ancient biographies; (iv) maps discussion of genre in recent Gospel commentaries; and (v) suggests further work that is opened up by the new consensus, notably in fine-tuning the identification of the Gospel genre.
Selective increase in monocyte p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity in metabolic syndrome
Authors: Jialal Ishwarlal , Adams-Huet Beverley , Pahwa Roma
Published: October 2015

Objective:

Metabolic syndrome is a common disorder that predisposes to both cardiovascular disease and diabetes. There is paucity of data on cellular signal transduction pathways in metabolic syndrome. This study determined monocyte mitogen-activated protein kinase activity in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Research design and methods:

The p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 and Jun N-terminal kinase–mitogen-activated protein kinase activities were assayed in isolated monocytes from patients with metabolic syndrome and controls ( n = 36 per group) and correlated with features of metabolic syndrome, inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers.

Results:

A significant increase in p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity was observed in metabolic syndrome even following adjustment for adiposity. There were no significant differences in extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 and Jun N-terminal kinase activities. P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity correlated significantly with homeostasis model assessment–estimated insulin resistance and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress.

Conclusions:

We are first to observe a selective increase in monocyte p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity in metabolic syndrome and suggest it as a pivotal molecular target for ameliorating insulin resistance and inflammation.
Collective Representation as a Mobilizer: Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Their Intersections at the State Level
Authors: Uhlaner Carole Jean , Scola Becki
Published: October 2015

Prior research has found that descriptive representation by race, ethnicity, or gender increases political action, but it has paid less attention to how the intersection of these identities influences participation. We extend this literature by assessing the effects on voter turnout of collective descriptive representation in U.S. state legislatures on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, and their intersections. We argue that members of historically excluded groups respond to the overall composition of their state's legislature. We test this proposition in seven elections (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012). Our results are consistent with the minority empowerment literature, as overall collective representation does substantially increase turnout among previously excluded groups. However, the impact varies intersectionally. For white women, gender trumps race, as higher collective gender representation, regardless of race or ethnicity, increases voter turnout. For African Americans, race trumps gender, as both black men and women respond most consistently to higher levels of collective racial representation. For Latinos, we find less consistent results, but note a collective ethnic turnout effect for 2002 and 2006. We conclude that collective representation, especially at the intersection of identities, is an important factor influencing levels of turnout among previously excluded groups.
Planning for Private Consumption and Collective Beauty
Authors: Lowery Bryce C.
Published: October 2015

Outdoor advertising proliferation and the development of land use regulations in Los Angeles illustrate the complicated nature of balancing the economic and physical aspects of urban development. Regulating outdoor advertising is part of a movement to control the spatial structure of the consumer economy and manage the appearance of the landscape through zoning. The efforts of planners to regulate outdoor advertising are frequently challenged legally or stalled by political indecision. The history of Los Angeles billboard regulation illuminates the financial demands for encouraging the spectacle of consumer landscapes as well as the persistent difficulty planners have had regulating urban appearance.
Understanding Family Interaction Patterns in Families With Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Schaber Patricia , Blair Kate , Jost Ellen , Schaffer Molly , Thurner Emily
Published: October 2015

This qualitative study explores the dynamic changes that occur in family interaction patterns when Alzheimer’s disease is present. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants who have a family member with the disease. Using modified analytic induction, guided by the dimensions of the Family Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Orientation (FIRO) Model, participants shared how Alzheimer’s disease affected family structure, control dynamics, and intimacy among family members. Findings demonstrate that (a) families reorganize and restructure based on geographic proximity and shifting roles, act out of filial responsibility, and strive to preserve shared meanings and rituals; (b) decision making increases around care of the person with Alzheimer’s disease and shifts to the primary caregiver or other family members based on their abilities; and (c) expressions of intimacy intensify while personality is preserved in the person with the disease. The Family FIRO model can inform practitioners using family-centered care with families with Alzheimer’s disease.
What Social, Program, and Behavioral Factors Influence the Healthy Eating Index for EFNEP and SNAP-Ed Adult Participants?
Authors: Weatherspoon Dave D. , Miller Steven R. , Steele Marie E. , Newkirk Cathy J. , Santiago Olga , Dembele Assa S. , Hoerr Sharon L.
Published: October 2015

The main objectives of this article were to determine the demographic factors, the program related factors and the behavioral factors that influence Michigan Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education outcomes. Secondarily, we sought to understand the trends and changes in Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores across the differing baseline score groups. The data were collected by nutrition instructors in a pretest, posttest design to capture change in healthy eating habits through changes in HEI scores. The participants were all low-income program participants during the years of 2011 and 2012, living in Michigan. Findings show that eating habits improved most in households with weekly per-person income within $100 to $500, and with Caucasian females living in cities or suburbs. Improvements were also greater with those who took part in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, where the participants exhibited higher baseline frequency of planning meals before grocery shopping, comparing prices, and budgeting enough money for food and food related purchases. Overall, the average change in HEI scores increased by 2.3 points, however, the variability between the participants’ changes was high, suggesting that more targeted program lessons might increase program efficacy, especially for those participants with high baseline HEI scores.