bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sexual Abuse of Elderly Victims Investigated by the Police: From Motives to Crime Characteristics
Authors: Chopin Julien , Beauregard Eric
Published: December 2018

Elderly sexual abuse has been almost completely ignored from researchers and practitioners alike. However, the occidental population is aging and living longer, suggesting that the number of cases of elderly sexual abuse should increase. Moreover, elderly sexual assaults have been described as being more violent, resulting in more severe injuries, and are more frequently committed by strangers, making criminal investigations more difficult to solve. The current study aims to identify the various motivations associated with elderly sexual abuse and to test whether it is possible to link offender and modus operandi characteristics to these motivations. In other words, the main objective is to identify “why” the elderly are sexually abused, “how,” and “by whom”? Using two-step cluster analysis on a sample of 128 cases of extra-familial elderly sexual assaults (aged 65 years or more) from France, four clusters of offenders’ motivation were identified. Congruent with previous studies, results showed that elderly sexual abuse was motivated by sex, anger, and opportunities. However, a fourth cluster was identified, describing offenders motivated by experimentation. These offenders, in addition to being young with a lack of criminal experience, were also more likely to perform the most intrusive sexual acts and to use physical violence, sometimes to the point of killing their victim. To test the external validity of our cluster solution, a series of bivariate analyses were conducted. Results showed that the four motivations were also associated with specific offender and crime characteristics. These findings highlight the importance of looking at the motivations underlying elderly sexual abuse to suggest better interventions strategies as well as improve the criminal investigation of these cases.
Accuracy of Medical Marijuana Claims Made by Popular Websites
Authors: Boatwright Katelyn D. , Sperry Morgan L.
Published: December 2018

Background

With increasing popularity of marijuana, consumers are likely turning to the internet for information regarding medical marijuana. Accuracy of medical marijuana claims is a significant concern because consumers change their medication management based on information from a single website.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and quality of medical marijuana claims on popular websites. Methods : Commonly used websites containing claims regarding medical marijuana were selected by utilizing three online marketing tools that rank websites based on number of views, number of visitors, and visitor engagement. Once the top ten most popular websites were selected, medical claims regarding marijuana were reviewed for accuracy and quality using evidence-based tools.

Results

Seventy-six percent of claims made by websites were inaccurate and were based on low-quality evidence. Of the medical marijuana claims reviewed, 10% of websites made appropriate cause and effect conclusions. Furthermore, approximately 3% of the medical marijuana claims were written by a healthcare professional.

Conclusion

The findings show there is misleading and inaccurate information readily available to consumers online.
Designing of the body shape of an autonomous underwater vehicle using the design of experiments method
Authors: Alijani Majid , Zeinali Marhamat , Nouri Nowrouz Mohammad
Published: December 2018

The process of designing autonomous underwater vehicles comprises several steps, including the designing of the body shape. The hydrodynamic designing of the body shape is a major step in designing the body of an underwater vehicle. The effective parameters in the hydrodynamic design of body shape include the lengths of nose and tail, nose and tail profiles, and also the dimensions of the blunt sections in front of the nose and behind the tail. In the present study, the design of experiments method has been employed to investigate the effect of each of the above parameters on the drag coefficient of an autonomous underwater vehicle body. For this purpose, in addition to introducing the body classes of the Hydrolab family of underwater vehicles, the numerical simulation results of fluid flow over the body of a Hydrolab500 AUV have been used for the design of experiments. In the first step, an experiment has been performed in water tunnel on a test model in order to validate the pressure profile for the body of Hydrolab500. The comparison between the empirical and numerical results related to Hydrolab500 body confirms the validity of the numerical approach used in this paper. The results of the present work show that the drag coefficient of an autonomous submersible in the final design can be accurately estimated with the help of the presented method.
Cobalt chloride toxicity elicited hypertension and cardiac complication via induction of oxidative stress and upregulation of COX-2/Bax signaling pathway
Authors: Oyagbemi AA , Omobowale TO , Awoyomi OV , Ajibade TO , Falayi OO , Ogunpolu BS , Okotie UJ , Asenuga ER , Adejumobi OA , Hassan FO , Ola-Davies OE , Saba AB , Adedapo AA , Yakubu MA
Published: December 2018

Cobalt is a ferromagnetic metal with extensive industrial and biological applications. To assess the toxic effects of, and mechanisms involved in cobalt chloride (CoCl2)-induced cardio-renal dysfunctions. Male Wistar rats were exposed orally, daily through drinking water to 0 ppm (control), 150 ppm, 300 ppm, and 600 ppm of CoCl2, respectively. Following exposure, results revealed significant ( p < 0.05) rise in markers of oxidative stress, but decreased activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, and reduced glutathione content in cardiac and renal tissues. There were significant increases in systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure at the 300- and 600-ppm level of CoCl2-exposed rats relative to the control. Prolongation of QT and QTc intervals was observed in CoCl2 alone treated rats. Also, there were significant increases in the heart rates, and reduction in P wave, and PR duration of rats administered CoCl2. Histopathology of the kidney revealed peritubular and periglomerular inflammation, focal glomerular necrosis following CoCl2 exposure. Further, cyclooxygenase-2 and B-cell associated protein X expressions were upregulated in the cardiac and renal tissues of CoCl2-exposed rats relative to the control. Combining all, results from this study implicated oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis as pathologic mechanisms in CoCl2-induced hypertension and cardiovascular complications of rats.
Aligning Malaysian SMEs with the Megatrends: The Roles of HPWPs and Employee Creativity in Enhancing Malaysian SME Performance
Authors: Ismail AbdussalaamIyanda , Majid Abdul Halim Abdul , Rahman Maria Abdul , Jamaluddin Noor Asma , Susantiy Ade Irma , Setiawati Cut Irna
Published: December 2018

Leveraging the findings of the extant body of literature, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia, like any other country of the world, are central to economic development, industrial development, job creation and poverty reduction. Nevertheless, given the megatrends, which represent huge transformative global forces with far-reaching effect on individuals, society, culture, business and economies, and the need for enhancement of Malaysian SMEs to facilitate the achievement of Malaysian SME master plan (2012–2020), Malaysian SMEs are left with no option other than aligning their policies and strategies with the megatrends, which demands that SMEs should provide ‘added-value’ services, and products, or high-quality and innovative products and services. SMEs could achieve this through the strategic development of the firm’s rare, inimitable and non-substitutable human resource. To offer empirical insights on this issue, this study investigated the mediating role of employee creativity in the high-performance work practices (HPWPs)–performance nexus. Via the cross-sectional research approach, data were collected from a sample of 287 managers of Malaysian SMEs in Kedah, Penang and Perak states of Malaysia. The partial least squares algorithm and the bootstrapping technique were used for data analysis. The overall findings signify the mediating effect of employee creativity on job design–performance nexus, indicating that job design, which facilitates workers’ autonomy to utilize their capabilities, would enable and stimulate the workers to adapt their approaches to meet the unique needs of the customers and the transformative global forces, because digital transformation has changed SMEs’ operations and delivery models. Also, HPWPs that focus on development of creative problem-solving skill can enhance workers’ ability to generate alternative solutions, product knowledge and customer service skills which are crucial to creativity in the organization. Finally, the implications, limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Financial Deepening and Income Inequality in Indonesia
Authors: Rachmawati Alya May , Wulandari Dwi , Narmaditya Bagus Shandy
Published: December 2018

The research aims to determine the relationship between financial deepening and income inequality in Indonesia. This research applied vector error correction model analysis by using time series data to show the long-term and short-term relationship between financial deepening indicators and income inequality. The research utilizes quarter time-series data from 2000 to 2016. The findings show that the higher ratio of money supply to GDP will increase income inequality in the long run. The development of the stock market has a positive impact on people in higher economic level so it increases the income inequality in the short run, while in the long run, a better financial market will reduce income inequality because all levels of economy can enjoy the benefit of its development. The ratio of private sector credit to GDP has a negative impact on the Gini ratio only in the short run. It can be concluded that financial deepening significantly affects the Gini ratio in Indonesia but government must decide which part of the financial deepening needs to be triggered in short run or which one in long run to improve income equality because better income equality will promote economic growth and welfare.
Trajectories of Resting Heart Period and Shyness in Adolescent Females Exposed to Child Maltreatment
Authors: Poole Kristie L. , MacMillan Harriet L. , Schmidt Louis A.
Published: December 2018

Relatively little is known about the psychophysiological processes underlying the development of socioemotional vulnerabilities that are common among adolescents exposed to child maltreatment. Using a prospective, longitudinal design, we investigated whether trajectories of resting heart period (HP; a physiological correlate of stress vulnerability) across three visits (separated by 6 months) was associated with shyness (a type of socioemotional vulnerability) in adolescent females exposed to child maltreatment ( N = 55; Mage = 14.07 years). Adolescents’ resting HP across visits was best characterized by two latent trajectories: a stable high class (25.5%) and a stable low class (74.5%). The stable low HP trajectory was associated with higher shyness at Time 1 (T1), and HP trajectory moderated the association between T1 and Time 3 (T3) shyness. Females in the stable low HP trajectory demonstrated stability of shyness from T1 to T3, whereas T1 and T3 shyness were unrelated for females in the stable high HP trajectory. We also found that shyness at T1 and T3 was associated with greater levels of anxiety at T3. These findings illustrate heterogeneity in the developmental patterns of resting autonomic activity in adolescent females exposed to child maltreatment; such differences may influence the continuity of some traits linked with socioemotional vulnerability such as shyness.
A comparison of clinical, radiographic and surgical outcomes of total hip arthroplasty between direct anterior and posterior approaches: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Jia Fangteng , Guo Bin , Xu Feixiang , Hou Yuechao , Tang Xiongfeng , Huang Lanfeng
Published: December 2018

Objective:

A systematic review and meta-analysis were used to directly evaluate the direct anterior approach (DAA) and the posterior approach (PA) for early efficacy and safety of total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods:

Control-led trials assessing DAA and PA for the efficacy and safety of THA were searched in the database. Articles were reviewed according to predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria; the quality of the methodology included in a given study was strictly assessed before data extraction. Moreover, meta-analysis was performed for outcomes that can be combined; otherwise, descriptive analysis was performed.

Results:

There were 20 articles included, with a total of 7377 patients. Among these, 3728 and 3649 cases were in the DAA and PA groups, respectively. There was no difference between the DAA and PA groups at postoperative week 2 in the number of patients using the assistive ambulatory device or in time needed to completely discontinue all assistive ambulatory devices. Descriptive analysis found that DAA was slightly better than PA regarding early functional recovery and activity after surgery, as well as postoperative pain relief. Hospitalisation stay in the DAA group was shorter than in the PA group, in which the patients had a shorter operative time. Radiographic outcomes showed that there was little difference in prosthetic position between the DAA and PA groups. The proportions of intraoperative fractures and postoperative lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh (LCNT) neuropraxia were significantly higher in the DAA group than in patients who underwent PA.

Conclusion:

Compared with PA, DAA presents superior early recovery following THA.
Insertion of peripherally inserted central catheters with intracavitary electrocardiogram guidance: A randomized multicenter study in China
Authors: Yin Yu-Xia , Gao Wei , Li Xu-Ying , Lu Wei , Deng Qian-Hong , Zhao Cui-Yun , Liu Xue-Rong , Zhou Chao , Hou Wen-Bo , Lu Shou-Tao , Liu Guang , Wang Lu-Ning , Li Mao-Quan , Zhang Hai-Jun
Published: December 2018

Introduction:

Ultrasound-guided venipuncture and tip location by intracavitary electrocardiogram have many advantages during the insertion of peripherally inserted central catheters, both in terms of safety and cost-effectiveness. Recently, a new tip-conductive peripherally inserted central catheters and new Doppler ultrasound device integrated with intracavitary electrocardiogram have been introduced into clinical practice in China. A randomized multicenter study (clinical trial no. NCT03230357) was performed to verify the feasibility and accuracy of intracavitary electrocardiogram, as performed with this new peripherally inserted central catheters and device.

Methods:

Our study enrolled a total of 2250 adult patients in 10 different Chinese hospitals. The patients were randomly assigned to either the study group (intracavitary electrocardiogram) or the control group (anatomical landmark guidance) in a 2:1 allocation. Ultrasound was used in both groups for venipuncture and tip navigation. All patients underwent chest X-ray after the procedure to verify the position of the catheter tip.

Results:

No insertion-related complications were reported in either group. In the study group, first-attempt successful tip location was 91.7% (95% confidence interval: 90.3%–93.1%), significantly higher than 78.9% (95% confidence interval: 76.0%–81.9%) observed in the control group (p < 0.001). As evaluated by post-procedural chest X-ray, tip location in the study group had a sensitivity of 99.3% (95% confidence interval: 98.8%–99.7%), significantly higher than 86.8% (95% confidence interval: 84.4%–89.2%) observed in the anatomical landmark group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

These results indicated that during peripherally inserted central catheters insertion in adult patients, tip location with intracavitary electrocardiogram guidance, as carried out by a new tip-conductive peripherally inserted central catheters and intracavitary electrocardiogram integrated ultrasound device, was more effective and more accurate than tip location using anatomical landmarks.
VafusQ: A methodology to build visual analysis applications with data quality features
Authors: Triana Jhon Alejandro , Zeckzer Dirk , Hagen Hans , Hernandez Jose Tiberio
Published: December 2018

The use of interactive applications to support the decision-making process is more common every day. However, a huge amount of data is required in order to make more informed decisions. Fortunately, with the arrival of new technologies there are many data sources available. This requirement of data causes heterogeneity and data quality problems. A set of data quality problems are reduced in the preprocessing stage. However, many data quality issues persist after the preprocessing stage. For this reason, we proposed a methodology to take the data quality problems, to represent them and simultaneously support the analysis process. In addition, an application is developed as a use case of the methodology by analyzing the public transport system in Bogotá. Furthermore, a case study is performed to test the usefulness of the developed application. As a result, the methodology made possible the development of interactive visualizations that constitute an application that is useful to achieve the analysis tasks by including data quality features.
Embodied cognition and its significance for education
Authors: Shapiro Lawrence , Stolz Steven A.
Published: December 2018

Psychology has made, and continues to make, a significant contribution to the discipline area of education. Since one of the main aims of education concerns student learning – which is an indisputably psychological phenomenon – we argue that the emerging research agenda of embodied cognition has much to offer educational practitioners, researchers, and/or policy-makers. Although embodied cognition is still in its infancy, the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary nature of the literature provides some thought-provoking recommendations to enhance educational practice or practices, which in turn can bring about student learning more effectively. Consequently, this article will be concerned with the discussion of two issues: first, we provide a brief historical overview that foregrounds embodied cognition, and, second, we outline the educational implications of embodied cognition through the use of some examples significant to education. We conclude with an argument for the importance of making findings in an area we call ‘embodied education’ available to teachers.
Recommendations for services for people living with chronic breathlessness in advanced disease: Results of a transparent expert consultation
Authors: Brighton Lisa Jane , Tunnard India , Farquhar Morag , Booth Sara , Miller Sophie , Yi Deokhee , Gao Wei , Bajwah Sabrina , Man William DC , Reilly Charles C , Ogden Margaret , Bailey Sylvia , Ewart Colleen , Higginson Irene J , Maddocks Matthew
Published: December 2018

Chronic breathlessness is highly distressing for people with advanced disease and their informal carers, yet health services for this group remain highly heterogeneous. We aimed to generate evidence-based stakeholder-endorsed recommendations for practice, policy and research concerning services for people with advanced disease and chronic breathlessness. We used transparent expert consultation, comprising modified nominal group technique during a stakeholder workshop, and an online consensus survey. Stakeholders, representing multiple specialities and professions, and patient/carers were invited to participate. Thirty-seven participants attended the stakeholder workshop and generated 34 separate recommendations, rated by 74 online survey respondents. Seven recommendations had strong agreement and high levels of consensus. Stakeholders agreed services should be person-centred and flexible, should cut across multiple disciplines and providers and should prioritize breathlessness management in its own right. They advocated for wide geographical coverage and access to expert care, supported through skills-sharing among professionals. They also recommended recognition of informal carers and their role by clinicians and policymakers. Overall, stakeholders' recommendations reflect the need for improved access to person-centred, multi-professional care and support for carers to provide or access breathlessness management interventions. Future research should test the optimal models of care and educational strategies to meet these recommendations.
More “Bank” for the Buck: Microtargeting and Normative Appeals to Increase Social Marketing Efficiency
Authors: Metcalf Alexander L. , Angle Justin W. , Phelan Conor N. , Muth B. Allyson , Finley James C.
Published: December 2018

Successful conservation in the United States relies on collective stewardship by millions of private landowners, challenging those agencies and nongovernment organizations tasked with engagement and outreach. Perennially limited resources compound this challenge, highlighting a deep need for efficient social marketing. In the following research, we test the efficacy of two social marketing strategies—microtargeting and normative appeals—through a randomized controlled trial of an integrated social marketing campaign targeting riparian landowners in the Pennsylvania portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. We used a microtargeting algorithm to predict landowners’ likelihood of responding to a conservation outreach campaign to create treatment groups of high-likelihood prospects versus random prospects (i.e., no microtargeting). A normative appeal was also included as an experimental factor in the campaign communicating that forested riparian buffer investments were common among similar landowners. Among microtargeted landowners, we observed a 66% increase in response to a riparian restoration survey compared to the control group. Additionally, we found a significant influence of a normative message among random (nonmicrotargeted) prospects, increasing response by 23% over the control group. We conclude conservation outcomes may be more efficiently achieved by deploying these marketing techniques on a wider scale to a variety of conservation challenges.
The Dosimetric and Temporal Effects of Respiratory-Gated, High-Dose-Rate Radiation Therapy in Patients With Lung Cancer
Authors: Rouabhi Ouided , Gross Brandie , Bayouth John , Xia Junyi
Published: December 2018

Purpose:

To evaluate the dosimetric and temporal effects of high-dose-rate respiratory-gated radiation therapy in patients with lung cancer.

Methods:

Treatment plans from 5 patients with lung cancer (3 nongated and 2 gated at 80EX-80IN) were retrospectively evaluated. Prescription dose for these patients varied from 8 to 18 Gy/fraction with 3 to 5 treatment fractions. Using the same treatment planning criteria, 4 new treatment plans, corresponding to 4 gating windows (20EX-20IN, 40EX-40IN, 60EX-60IN, and 80EX-80IN), were generated for each patient. Mean tumor dose, mean lung dose, and lung V20 were used to assess the dosimetric effects. A MATLAB algorithm was developed to compute treatment time.

Results:

Mean lung dose and lung V20 were on average reduced between −16.1% to −6.0% and −20.0% to −7.2%, respectively, for gated plans when compared to the corresponding nongated plans, and between −5.8% to −4.2% and −7.0% to −5.4%, respectively, for plans with smaller gating windows when compared to the corresponding plans gated at 80EX-80IN. Treatment delivery times of gated plans using high-dose rate were reduced on average between −19.7% (−0.10 min/100 MU) and −27.2% (−0.13 min/100 MU) for original nongated plans and −15.6% (−0.15 min/100 MU) and −20.3% (−0.19 min/100 MU) for original 80EX-80IN-gated plans.

Conclusion:

Respiratory-gated radiation therapy in patients with lung cancer can reduce lung dose while maintaining tumor dose. Because treatment delivery during gated therapy is discontinuous, total treatment time may be prolonged. However, this increase in treatment time can be offset by increasing the dose delivery rate. Estimation of treatment time may be helpful in selecting patients for respiratory gating and choosing appropriate gating windows.
Evolution of Dementia Related to the Use of Alcohol in the French Nationwide Discharge Summary Database Between 2007 and 2017
Authors: Rochoy Michaël , Gautier Sophie , Béné Johana , Bordet Régis , Chazard Emmanuel
Published: December 2018

Background:

The French nationwide exhaustive hospital discharge database (PMSI) is used for activity-based payment of hospital services. We hypothesized that the release of articles about alcohol and dementia could influence the identification of these diagnoses in PMSI.

Methods:

We analyzed temporal evolution of coding for dementia and other persistent or late-onset cognitive impairment (OPLOCI) due to alcohol and other psychoactive substances in the PMSI database from 2007 to 2017 (285 748 938 inpatient stays). These codings use the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10).

Results:

The number of inpatient stays with dementia and OPLOCI due to alcohol increased from 34 to 1704 from 2007 to 2017. While the number of diagnosed dementias remained stable at around 400 from 2013, the number of OPLOCIs increased 10-fold from 2013 to 2017. This increase was not found with dementia or OPLOCI due to other psychoactive substances than alcohol.

Conclusion:

Notoriety of a diagnosis in the literature seems to have an impact on the coding.
College Aspirations Among Incarcerated Juvenile Offenders: The Importance of Maternal Education and Neglect
Authors: Kremer Kristen P. , Vaughn Michael G.
Published: December 2018

Youth incarcerated in juvenile detention facilities in Western Pennsylvania completed questionnaires related to family history, educational attainment, and psychological traits. Linear regression models were conducted to examine the influence of family and individual trait factors on youth’s aspirations to attend college. Nearly 90% of youth aspired to attend college. Findings from regression analyses indicate that maternal education, neglect, and youth irresponsibility were significantly associated with aspirations. In particular, juveniles with a mother who completed some college or more had 3.37 times greater odds of aspiring to attend college compared to juveniles with a mother who had a high school diploma or less ( OR = 3.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.02, 11.11]). Additionally, juveniles experiencing greater neglect ( OR = 0.42, 95% CI [0.18, 0.94]) and reporting higher irresponsibility ( OR = 0.84, 95% CI [0.72, 0.99]) were less likely to have college aspirations. Practitioners should capitalize upon aspirations to attend college and help youth establish concrete plans for turning their aspirations into reality.
Sustainable production process: An application of reliability, availability, and maintainability methodologies in automotive manufacturing
Authors: Soltanali Hamzeh , Garmabaki A.H.S , Thaduri Adithya , Parida Aditya , Kumar Uday , Rohani Abbas
Published: December 2018

Automotive manufacturing industries are required to improve their productivity with higher production rates at the lowest cost, less number of unexpected shutdowns, and reliable operation. In order to achieve the above objectives, the application of reliability, availability, and maintainability methodologies can constitute for resilient operation, identifying the bottlenecks of manufacturing process and optimization of maintenance actions. In this article, we propose a framework for reliability, availability, and maintainability evaluation and maintenance optimization to improve the performance of conveying process of vehicle body in an automotive assembly line. The results of reliability, availability, and maintainability analysis showed that the reliability and maintainability of forklift and loading equipment are the main bottlenecks. To find the optimal maintenance intervals of each unit, a multi-attribute utility theory is applied for multi-criteria decision model considering reliability, availability, and costs. Due to the series configuration of conveying process in automotive assembly line, the optimized time intervals are obtained using opportunistic maintenance strategy. The results could be useful to improve operational performance and sustainability of the production process.
Systematic review of facilitated communication 2014–2018 finds no new evidence that messages delivered using facilitated communication are authored by the person with disability
Authors: Hemsley Bronwyn , Bryant Lucy , Schlosser Ralf W , Shane Howard C , Lang Russell , Paul Diane , Banajee Meher , Ireland Marie
Published: December 2018

Background and aims

Facilitated Communication (FC) is a technique that involves a person with a disability pointing to letters, pictures, or objects on a keyboard or on a communication board, typically with physical support from a “facilitator”. Proponents claim that FC reveals previously undetected literacy and communication skills in people with communication disability. However, systematic reviews conducted up to 2014 reveal no evidence that the messages generated using FC are authored by the person with a disability. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review of the literature on FC published between 2014 and 2018 to inform the 2018 update of the 1995 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Position Statement on FC.

Method

A systematic search was undertaken to locate articles about FC in English published in the peer reviewed literature since 2014; and to classify these according to the study design for analysis. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria were classified according to four categories of evidence: (a) quantitative experimental data pertaining to authorship, (b) quantitative descriptive data on messages produced using FC, (c) qualitative data, or (d) commentary material on FC.

Main contribution

In total, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. There were no new empirical studies and no new descriptive quantitative studies addressing the authorship of messages delivered using FC. Three new qualitative studies qualified for inclusion; these did not first establish authorship. Of the 15 new commentary papers on FC located, 14 were critical and one was non-critical. The results could be used to inform the development or update of current position statements on FC held locally, nationally, and globally.

Conclusion

There are no new studies on authorship and there remains no evidence that FC is a valid form of communication for individuals with severe communication disabilities. There continue to be no studies available demonstrating that individuals with communication disabilities are the authors of the messages generated using FC. Furthermore, there is substantial peer-reviewed literature that is critical of FC and warns against its use.

Implications

FC continues to be contested in high profile court cases and its use promoted in school settings and workshops at university campuses in the US. Our empty systematic review will influence both clinical practice and future clinical guidance; most immediately the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Position Statement on FC and any future guidance issued by the 19 associations worldwide with positions against FC.
The 17β-Estradiol induced upregulation of the Adhesion G-protein coupled receptor (ADGRG7) is modulated by ESRα and SP1 complex
Authors: Hassan Amani , Bagu Edward T. , Levesque Mathieu , Patten Shunmoogum A. , Benhadjeba Samira , Edjekouane Lydia , Villemure Isabelle , Tremblay André , Moldovan Florina
Published: December 2018

The physiological role and the regulation of ADGRG7 are not yet elucidated. The functional involvement of this receptor was linked with different physiological process such as reduced body weight, gastrointestinal function and recently, a gene variant in ADGRG7 was observed in patients with idiopathic scoliosis. The physiological role and the regulation of Adhesion G protein coupled receptor7 (ADGRG7) are not yet elucidated. The functional involvement of this receptor was linked with different physiological process such as reduced body weight, gastrointestinal function and recently, a gene variant in ADGRG7 was observed in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Here, we identify the ADGRG7 as an estrogen-responsive gene under the regulation of estrogen receptor ERα in scoliotic osteoblasts and other cells lines. We found that ADGRG7 expression was upregulated in response to estrogen (E2) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) cells. ADGRG7 promoter studies indicate the presence of an ERα response half site in close vicinity of an SP1 binding site. Mutation of the SP1 site completely abrogated the response to E2, indicating its essential requirement. ChIP confirmed the binding of SP1 and ERα to the ADGRG7 promoter. Our results identify the ADGRG7 gene as an estrogen-responsive gene under the control of ERα and SP1 tethered actions, suggesting a possible role of estrogens in the regulation of ADGRG7.
The 3rd Antibody Validation meeting: Bath UK 20-21st September 2018
Authors: Goodman Simon L.
Published: December 2018

The International Antibody Validation meetings offer a welcome British forum for discussing this important topic, which is existentially crucial for the biological sciences community. Now in its 6th year, the biennial meeting is organized by Andrew Chalmers (University of Bath; CiteAb), this year with Carly Dix (Astra Zeneca).  The organizers gathered some 100 members of industry and academia, producers and users, for a day and a half to describe their efforts to ensure that their antibodies have the desired specificity and selectively for well-defined molecular targets. The meeting is largely available as WebCasts (http://www.antibodyvalidation.co.uk/past-events/2018).
Participation in Leisure Activities as an Indicator of Inclusion: A comparison between Children with and without Disabilities in Portugal
Authors: Sanches-Ferreira Manuela , Alves Sílvia , Silveira-Maia Mónica , Gomes Manuela , Santos Bárbara , Lopes-dos-Santos Pedro
Published: December 2018

Participation is recognised as an important indicator of school inclusion and educational success of children with and without disabilities and one of the fundamental human rights. In particular, the participation in leisure activities plays a vital role in children’s life and needs to be given a higher attention. The aim of the present exploratory study was to reflect on the inclusion of children with disabilities in Portuguese schools, by portraying and comparing their participation profiles in leisure activities to those of typically developing peers. The participation patterns in leisure activities of 61 children with disabilities and 114 children without disabilities were assessed. Results indicate that the pattern of participation of children with and without disabilities differs whether they are school or community-based activities. Regarding school-based activities, findings reveal that children with disabilities participate more frequently in these activities, but in solitary and constrained spaces at school compared to children without disabilities. For community contexts, our findings indicate that children with disabilities participate in less diverse activities than children without disabilities. In addition, the range of activities is correlated to their level of independence. This exploratory study contributes to an understanding of the pattern of participation of children with and without disabilities.
Settler-Colonial Violence, Primitive Accumulation and Australia's Genocide
Authors: Grewcock Michael
Published: December 2018

This article explores ways in which state crime theory, which is predominantly based on contemporary conceptions of human rights, might be applied to settler-colonial violence and the forced dispossession of the land from Indigenous peoples. The Australian state was established through the foundational violence inherent to settler colonialism and the processes of primitive accumulation that underpinned it. This created the conditions for ongoing structural violence, inflicted through a continuum of criminogenic, arguably genocidal state practices designed to disrupt – if not eliminate – the social worlds and collective identities of Indigenous peoples. These practices have been normalized through Australian nationalist ideology and its associated narratives of progress, democracy and the rule of law. Theories of state crime need to break from these normative narratives to make sense of the criminogenic nature of settler colonialism.
“They Were Treating Me Like a Dog”: The Colonial Continuum of State Harms Against Indigenous Children in Detention in the Northern Territory, Australia
Authors: Anthony Thalia
Published: December 2018

The analytic lens of state crime can inform our understanding of the mistreatment of Indigenous children and young people in settler-colonial state institutions. Based on a critical analysis of the proceedings and findings of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory (2016–2017), this article identifies state crimes of torture and abuse inflicted on Indigenous children in carceral and non-carceral institutions. These crimes breach international human rights laws but are more than a set of individual harms. They are also part of a pattern of ongoing structural violence that reasserts the settler-colonial state's sovereign position. This article identifies that the Royal Commission itself is complicit in reproducing state sovereignty. It argues that redressing state crimes against Indigenous children requires challenging the structural injustice of the settler-colonial state.
D. Walter and P. Lewis,
Colonial Violence: European Empires and the Use of Force
Authors: Deckert Antje
Published: December 2018

None
Relative hypoxia and oxidative stress in spleen lymphocytes of immunized Balb/c mice as indicated by HIF-1α, HIF-2α, Nrf2 expression, and glutathione peroxidase activity
Authors: Praditi Citra , Prijanti Ani R. , Jusman Sri W.A. , Sadikin Mohamad
Published: December 2018

Background: Lymphocytes activated by immunization must increase their metabolism to meet the energy requirements for mitosis, differentiation, and protein synthesis, which may subject the cell to conditions of relative hypoxia and oxidative stress. This study was conducted to investigate the increase in the levels of transcription factors involved in both conditions.Methods: Male Balb/c mice were divided into the following four groups, each consisting of six animals: the control and three experimental groups. The experimental groups were immunized by injection of 0.2 ml of 2% sheep red blood cells (SRBC) suspended in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Lymphocytes were harvested from the spleens of each group at time intervals of 24-, 48-, and 72-h post-immunization. The buffy coat from splenocytes was separated using Ficoll Histopaque as the medium. The lymphocytes were separated from adherent cells by incubating the purified splenocytes in microtubes for 2-h. Cells were lysed by three freeze–thaw cycles (−80°C and 37°C) and used to analyze the levels of HIF-1α and HIF-2α (mRNA and protein), Nrf2 (protein), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity.Results: The treatment caused an increase in GPx activity and HIF-1α protein concentration 24-h post-immunization, whereas the HIF-1α mRNA levels remained static. Elevated Nrf2 protein levels were detected within 48-h after treatment. Meanwhile, the HIF-2α mRNA and protein levels increased within72-h after immunization.Conclusion: Immunization with SRBC suspension induced relative hypoxia, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS), and oxidative stress in the lymphocytes as indicated by the increase in both HIF-1α and HIF-2α protein and mRNA levels, GPx activity, and Nrf2 protein levels.
HemoCue against Coulter LH-750 in the estimation of hemoglobin levels of blood donors in mobile collection settings: a comparative study
Authors: Saghir Sultan A.M. , Almaiman Amer A. , Shatar Aishah K.A. , Naim Norris , Baqir Huda S.
Published: December 2018

Background: The fast and outpatient setting for a determination of the hemoglobin (Hb) level is a well-recognized prerequisite to detect anemia in blood donors. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the HemoCue methods (HemoCue B-Hb and HemoCue-301) against Coulter LH-750 as a reference method for Hb determination.Methods: This study was an experimental cross-sectional study. It includes 455 blood samples that were collected from volunteer blood donors between January 15, 2010 and February 15, 2011. The performance of the three methods and their comparisons were assessed using the analysis of coefficients of variation (CV), linear regression, and mean difference. Correlation coefficient and Bland–Altman plots were drawn to compare the two HemoCue measurements and the automated cell analyzer against each other and to evaluate their results. The Hb concentrations were compared using the concordance correlation coefficient.Results: The findings exhibited that the CV for the three methods Coulter LH-750, HemoCue B-Hb, and HemoCue-301 were 0.60%, 0.72%, and 0.92%, respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed between the means of the Hb measurements for the three methods (p<0.001). The HemoCue B-Hb and HemoCue-301 methods showed the best agreement, and the Coulter LH-750 method gave a lower Hb value compared with the two HemoCue methods. The results showed a positive correlation of HemoCue Hb results compared with the reference method.Conclusion: All three methods provide a good agreement for Hb determination. The new device HemoCue-301 was found to be more accurate compared with HemoCue B-Hb and Coulter LH-750.
Molecular survey on Merkel cell polyomavirus in patients with colorectal cancer
Authors: Karbalaie Niya Mohammad Hadi , Safarnezhad Tameshkel Fahimeh , Alemrajabi Mahdi , Taherizadeh Mahsa , Keshavarz Mohsen , Rezaee Mohsen , Keyvani Hossein
Published: December 2018

Background: Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) has been associated with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) in humans, and its role in other human cancers is under investigation. The aim of this study was to investigate MCV genome infection in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).Methods: This retrospective, case-control study used archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples from colorectal cancer patients (cases) and matched healthy subjects (controls) diagnosed by an expert pathologist from hospitals affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran from 2011 to 2016. After DNA extraction with a QIAamp® DNA FFPE Tissue Kit, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for diagnosis. A positive control was produced by cloning with the Generay Biotechnology system. SPSS v.22 was used for analysis of demographic variables.Results: There were 157 participants included in the study: 66 were cases and 91 were controls. Their mean ages (±SD) were 59.35±14.48 and 57.21±14.66, respectively. The proportion of males was 57.6% in the case group and 57.1% in the control group. None of the samples were positive for MCV expression by real-time PCR assay. Association was detected between males with CRC and tumor location in the rectum and between males with CRC and the mucinous tumor type.Conclusion: None of the tissues from the CRC or non-cancerous control groups were positive for MCV genome infection, although a low viral load, the sample type, or the method of use should not be neglected. Further studies are recommended to obtain more comprehensive results.
The effect of albendazole toward anemia in children with soil-transmitted helminths infection in a remote and endemic area
Authors: Sungkar Saleha , Tambunan Fitry B.J. , Gozali Meutia N. , Kusumowidagdo Gladys , Wahdini Sri
Published: December 2018

Background: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infections lead to nutritional disorder and anemia among children. Albendazole 400 mg is used to control STH, although it has a low cure rate for Trichuris trichiura. The effectiveness of albendazole could be increased by giving a dose of 400 mg for 3 consecutive days. The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of the triple-dose albendazole 400 mg course in decreasing STH and anemia prevalence.Methods: This study used an experimental comparative design conducted in July 2016 and January 2017 in Perobatang Village, Southwest Sumba, Indonesia. Children aged 1–15 years were asked to collect fecal samples to be examined using a Kato-Katz method. Hemoglobin level (Hb) was tested using a rapid test diagnostic strip. STH positive subjects were given 400 mg of albendazole for 3 days witnessed by the researchers. Six months after, the stool samples and Hb levels were re-examined (post-test).Results: From the 156 subjects examined (pretest), the prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworm were 65.4%, 55.8%, and 15.4%, respectively, and the prevalence of anemia was 71.2%. On post-test, the prevalence of A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, and hookworm decreased to 8.3%, 12.8%, and 0%, respectively, and the prevalence of anemia decreased to 25%. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of STH infection and anemia before and after the administration of triple-dose albendazole (p=0.001).Conclusion: The triple-dose albendazole is effective in reducing the prevalence of STH and anemia in children with STH infection.
Anxiety and depression among caregivers of hemodialysis patients at the Indonesian national referral hospital
Authors: Bawazier Lucky A. , Stanley Ignatius , Sianipar Wicensius , Suhardjono Suhardjono
Published: December 2018

Background: In Indonesia, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is primarily managed by hemodialysis (HD) because limited resources rule out the possibility of renal transplantation. HD patients are commonly accompanied by caregivers. However, most studies have neglected the health of caregivers, who play an important role in the survival of HD patients. This study aimed to determine the proportion of caregivers who suffer from anxiety and depression and the factors involved.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 100 caregivers in the HD unit of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta. This study used the hospital anxiety depression scale (HADS) to determine the extent of anxiety and depression among caregivers. All caregivers were asked to fill out the questionnaire without assistance.Results: A total of 28% and 18% of caregivers were found to be anxious and depressed respectively. The caregiver’s relationship with the patient, whether the caregiver was being paid or unpaid, the total duration of care, and income were not associated with levels of anxiety and depression. However, the proportion of each 24-hour period spent on care was significantly associated with anxiety (p=0.037) and depression (p=0.015). The time spent on care every 24 hours was also a significant predictor of anxiety (p=<0.001) and depression (p=0.021).Conclusion: One-third of caregivers were found to be anxious and/or depressed. The time spent on care every 24 hours was a strong predictor of both anxiety and depression.