bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Air Displacement Plethysmography
Authors: Fields David A. , Gunatilake Ravindu , Kalaitzoglou Evangelia
Published: March 2015

Differences in body composition are associated with increased disease risk in various stages of life. Despite numerous available methods in assessing body composition (air displacement plethysmography, dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry, bioelectrical impedance, hydrometry, and magnetic resonance imaging), due to innate technical limitations, the ability for one singular method to track body composition over the life span (ie, infancy to adulthood) is challenging and imperfect. The primary goal of this review is to determine if there are body composition methods that can accurately track body composition from infancy into adulthood. After careful consideration and taking into account the best available scientific evidence, we feel air displacement plethysmography is the best instrument at this time for tracking body composition, starting in infancy and forward into adulthood, partly because it is the only “practical” clinical tool currently available for use during infancy.
Mild Cognitive Impairment Subtypes in Older People With Depressive Symptoms
Authors: Jayaweera Hirosha K. , Hickie Ian B. , Duffy Shantel L. , Hermens Daniel F. , Mowszowski Loren , Diamond Keri , Terpening Zoe , Paradise Matthew , Lewis Simon J. G. , Lagopoulos Jim , Naismith Sharon L.
Published: March 2015

Aims:

To examine the rates and clinical characteristics of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older people with depressive symptoms and to determine the relative contribution of hippocampal volume and MCI to memory change.

Method:

One hundred and fifty-two participants with lifetime Major Depression and remitted or mild symptoms and 28 healthy controls underwent psychiatric and neuropsychological assessments. Magnetic resonance imaging was also conducted in a subset of the patients (n = 81) and healthy controls (n = 18).

Results:

MCI was diagnosed in 75.7% of the patients and was associated with increasing age, medical burden, vascular risk factors, later age of depression onset and smaller hippocampi. Multiple regression showed that both hippocampal volume and MCI diagnosis mediate memory performance in depression.

Conclusions:

MCI occurs in older adults with a history of depression and is not simply due to symptom severity. Memory change is linked to underlying hippocampal atrophy in this patient group.
Between left and right: Are descendants of slaves in Brazil still Black?
Authors: dos Santos Sales Augusto
Published: March 2015

According to some social scientists, policies of affirmative action in higher education for Blacks in Brazil were only initiated in the administration of President Fernando Henrique Cardoso. However, other authors claim that the Cardoso government actually “played a major role” in the discussion and implementation of these policies. They also claim that the Lula government wholeheartedly supported policies promoting racial equality, as demonstrated by the creation of the Special Secretariat for Policies to Promote Racial Equality (Secretaria Especial de Políticas de Promoção da Igualdade Racial) in his first year in office. However, this article seeks to demonstrate that the racial question and/or racial inequalities, as well as proposals to combat racism, were neither part of the neoliberal market-oriented agenda of Cardoso’s administration nor did they play a significant role in Lula’s pro-social policy administration. Despite ushering in changes in Brazilian official discourse and regulatory frameworks on race, Cardoso did not explicitly support those policies. And, notwithstanding President Lula’s verbally explicit support for such policies and the creation of Secretaria Especial de Políticas de Promoção da Igualdade Racial, he failed to implement any policy of affirmative action for Black students in Brazilian public higher education institutions.
Experimental study on tool condition monitoring in boring of AISI 316 stainless steel
Authors: Rao K Venkata , Murthy BSN , Rao N Mohan
Published: March 2015

In this article, effect of cutting parameters, namely, cutting speed, feed rate and tool nose radius, on the tool life was examined experimentally. The experiments were performed on boring of AISI 316 steel with cemented carbide tool inserts. Design of experiments was prepared, and eight experiments were performed with two levels of the cutting parameters. The effects of cutting parameters were analyzed by evaluating the amplitude of workpiece vibration, surface roughness and volume of metal removed. The experimental data were taken for evaluation of tool life for a flank wear of 0.6 mm in all the eight trials. A laser Doppler vibrometer was used for online data acquisition of workpiece vibration, and a high-speed fast Fourier transform analyzer was used to process the acousto-optic emission signals for the workpiece vibration. Taguchi, analysis of variance and regression analysis methods were used to identify significant cutting parameters affecting the workpiece vibrations, surface roughness and volume of metal removed. All selected analysis methods used in this study predicted similar cutting parameter.
Ultrasonic vibration–assisted electric discharge machining: A research review
Authors: Khatri Bharat C , Rathod Pravin , Valaki Janak B
Published: March 2015

Ultrasound waves are directly being used in many of the industrial applications including material removal for generating profiles on material surfaces. Trend has been shifted to use ultrasonic sound waves or ultrasonic vibrations as assisting media to enhance process performance. Electric discharge machining is one such industrial application for material removal, where ultrasonic vibrations have been introduced as assisting media for improving process performance. Ultrasonic vibrations were mainly employed in electric discharge machining process for improved debris evacuation from the sparking gap to increase process efficiency. It also resulted in stable and consistent sparking sequences by minimizing adverse arcing phenomenon in electric discharge machining. Since its introduction, technology of ultrasonic assistance in electric discharge machining has gone through considerable changes and penetrated to various variants of the electric discharge machining process mainly die sinking electric discharge machining, wire cut electric discharge machining and micro electric discharge machining.

This article presents a research review for applications of ultrasonic vibrations for electric discharge machining process. The review has been carried out in terms of modes of applying ultrasonic vibrations, effect on performance parameters, process modelling and optimization and application for difficult-to-cut advanced materials. Based on the review of present status of the ultrasonic-assisted electric discharge machining, future research needs have been identified to strengthen the capacity and capabilities of the electric discharge machining process.
Effects of grain size of AISI 304 on the machining performances in micro electrical discharge machining
Authors: Liu Qingyu , Zhang Qinhe , Zhang Min , Zhang Jianhua
Published: March 2015

The material removal process of micro electrical discharge machining is based on the instantaneous ultra-high temperature generated by a series of repetitive discharge pulses. Due to the size effects, the polycrystal cannot be considered as continuous and homogeneous material when machining is in micron scale, and the effects of material microstructure should not be neglected. In this article, the thermoelectric characteristics of grain and grain boundary are discussed, and the influence of grain size on the machining performances in micro electrical discharge machining is researched. Two kinds of austenitic stainless steels (AISI 304) which are different in grain size are chosen as the workpieces in experiments. It is verified by both theory models and experimental results that the smaller the grain size, the higher the material removal rate, under the same discharge conditions. Both thermal conductivity and melting point of the grain boundary are lower than those of the grain because of the grain boundary segregation. The effective thermal conductivity and local effective melting point of polycrystalline materials vary with their grain sizes since the grain boundary volume fractions change. As a consequence, the material removal rate of micro electrical discharge machining has direct relationship with grain size of the workpiece.
Mathematical modeling and optimization of friction stir welding process parameters in AA5083 and AA7075 aluminum alloy joints
Authors: Saeidi M , Manafi B , Besharati Givi MK , Faraji G
Published: March 2015

In this study, dissimilar joints of AA5083-H116 and AA7075-T6 aluminum alloys were successfully made by friction stir welding technique. The microstructure and mechanical behavior of the welded joints were investigated at different rotational and traverse speeds. A mathematical modeling was developed to demonstrate a relationship between the friction stir welding parameters and the ultimate tensile strength of the dissimilar joints. Then, the mathematical modeling was optimized by genetic algorithm in order to find the optimum condition in which the maximum tensile strength of welded joints can be achieved. Eventually, genetic algorithm results confirmed that the maximum tensile strength of welded joints is achievable in rotational and traverse speeds of 500 r/min and 50 mm/min, respectively. The maximum error between experimental data and predicted model was less than 1%.
Variation in viscoelastic properties of bovine articular cartilage below, up to and above healthy gait-relevant loading frequencies
Authors: Sadeghi Hamid , Espino Daniel M , Shepherd Duncan ET
Published: March 2015

The aim of this study was to determine the variation in viscoelastic properties of femoral head bovine articular cartilage, on-bone, over five orders of magnitude of loading frequency. These frequencies ranged from below, up to and above healthy gait-relevant frequencies, using<1, 1–5 and 10 Hz, respectively. Dynamic mechanical analysis was used to measure storage and loss stiffness. A maximum compressive force of 36 N was applied through a chamfered-end, 5.2-mm-diameter, indenter. This induced a maximum nominal stress of 1.7 MPa. The ratio of storage to loss stiffness increased from near parity (2.5) at low frequencies to 11.4 at 10 Hz. This was the result of a significant logarithmic increase ( p < 0.05) in storage stiffness with frequency, from 367 N/mm (0.001 Hz) up to 1460 N/mm (10 Hz). In contrast, the loss stiffness remained approximately constant. In conclusion, viscoelastic properties of articular cartilage measured at frequencies below those of gait activities are poor predictors of its relevant dynamic mechanical behaviour.
Reverse engineering of complex biological body parts by squared distance enabled non-uniform rational B-spline technique and layered manufacturing
Authors: Pandithevan Ponnusamy
Published: March 2015

In tissue engineering, the successful modeling of scaffold for the replacement of damaged body parts depends mainly on external geometry and internal architecture in order to avoid the adverse effects such as pain and lack of ability to transfer the load to the surrounding bone. Due to flexibility in controlling the parameters, layered manufacturing processes are widely used for the fabrication of bone tissue engineering scaffold with the given computer-aided design model. This article presents a squared distance minimization approach for weight optimization of non-uniform rational B-spline curve and surface to modify the geometry that exactly fits into the defect region automatically and thus to fabricate the scaffold specific to subject and site. The study showed that though the errors associated in the B-spline curve and surface were minimized by squared distance method than point distance method and tangent distance method, the errors could be minimized further in the rational B-spline curve and surface as the optimal weight could change the shape that desired for the defect site. In order to measure the efficacy of the present approach, the results were compared with point distance method and tangent distance method in optimizing the non-rational and rational B-spline curve and surface fitting for the defect site. The optimized geometry then allowed to construct the scaffold in fused deposition modeling system as an example. The result revealed that the squared distance–based weight optimization of the rational curve and surface in making the defect specific geometry best fits into the defect region than the other methods used.
Investigations of micron and submicron wear features of diseased human cartilage surfaces
Authors: Peng Zhongxiao , Baena Juan C , Wang Meiling
Published: March 2015

Osteoarthritis is a common disease. However, its causes and morphological features of diseased cartilage surfaces are not well understood. The purposes of this research were (a) to develop quantitative surface characterization techniques to study human cartilages at a micron and submicron scale and (b) to investigate distinctive changes in the surface morphologies and biomechanical properties of the cartilages in different osteoarthritis grades. Diseased cartilage samples collected from osteoarthritis patients were prepared for image acquisition using two different techniques, that is, laser scanning microscopy at a micrometer scale and atomic force microscopy at a nanometer scale. Three-dimensional, digital images of human cartilages were processed and analyzed quantitatively. This study has demonstrated that high-quality three-dimensional images of human cartilage surfaces could be obtained in a hydrated condition using laser scanning microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Based on the numerical data extracted from improved image quality and quantity, it has been found that osteoarthritis evolution can be identified by specific surface features at the micrometer scale, and these features are amplitude and functional property related. At the submicron level, the spatial features of the surfaces were revealed to differ between early and advanced osteoarthritis grades. The effective indentation moduli of human cartilages effectively revealed the cartilage deterioration. The imaging acquisition and numerical analysis methods established allow quantitative studies of distinctive changes in cartilage surface characteristics and better understanding of the cartilage degradation process.
An in vitro study of thermal necrosis in ultrasonic-assisted drilling of bone
Authors: Shakouri Ehsan , Sadeghi Mohammad H , Karafi Mohammad R , Maerefat Mehdi , Farzin Mahmood
Published: March 2015

In case of human bone fracture, the best way to better and faster knitting is when a traumatologist fixes the fractured bone ends by drilling and setting the immobilization plates by screws. Heat generation during bone drilling may result in thermal injury due to exposure to elevated temperatures, with potentially devastating effect on the outcome of orthopedic surgery. A recent and promising method for reducing temperature in bone drilling is the use of ultrasonic assistance, where high-frequency and low-amplitude vibrations are added in feed direction during cutting process. In this research, experimental tests are carried out in five cutting speeds and three feed rates. The results demonstrate that ultrasonic-assisted drilling offered lower thrust forces and lower process temperatures as compared to conventional drilling at 1000 r/min. In addition, it is obvious that at 2000 r/min, since the values of temperature rise and thermal injury are independent from the feed rate, this method can be applied in the orthopedic surgery.
Nonlinear hydrodynamic and real fluid effects on wave energy converters
Authors: Wolgamot Hugh A , Fitzgerald Colm J
Published: March 2015

Ocean wave energy has been of interest since at least the mid-1970s and great advances in the understanding of the fundamental principles of wave energy extraction and converter modelling have been made using linear hydrodynamic analysis. This paper reviews efforts that have been made to use nonlinear hydrodynamics to analyse wave energy converter behaviour and performance. Both ‘partially nonlinear’ and fully nonlinear potential flow methods, as well as computational fluid dynamics methods solving the Navier–Stokes equations and smoothed particle hydrodynamics have been used for this purpose and are reviewed here. These more complex methods have been applied primarily to single devices, so array and mooring line interactions are not considered. While a number of studies have been performed in these areas and results are encouraging, further advances are required to give accurate prediction or reproduction of experimental results.
‘So what made you decide to become a school librarian?’ Reasons people currently working in New Zealand school libraries give for their choice of employment
Authors: Walker Lynn , Calvert Philip
Published: March 2015

It is an exciting time to be a school librarian, but there are concerns about possible shortages in the profession in the not too far distant future, as the ‘baby-boomer’ generation currently working in schools approaches retirement. In order to attract and retain suitably qualified new recruits to the profession, this study examines the reasons why people choose this area of librarianship. Using Herzberg’s motivation theory in the world of work as a framework, nine librarians currently employed in secondary schools were interviewed about their reasons for choosing school librarianship as a profession. This qualitative study concludes that for most women school librarianship is a conscious lifestyle choice, as the availability of flexible hours offers superior work/life balance. Other factors are the environment, plus the people, and the job itself which offers autonomy, variety, and immensely satisfying work. The two major sources of dissatisfaction are pay and conditions of employment.
Multibacillary leprosy mimicking systemic lupus erythematosus: case report and literature review
Authors: Horta-Baas G , Hernández-Cabrera M F , Barile-Fabris L A , del S Romero-Figueroa M , Arenas-Guzmán R
Published: March 2015

Leprosy is an infectious chronic disease with a wide range of clinical and serological manifestations. We report a case of a woman presenting with a malar rash, painless oral ulcers, photosensitivity, arthritis, positive antinuclear antibodies test and leuko-lymphopenia. Our case illustrates an unusual presentation of leprosy initially diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). After the confirmation of multibacillary leprosy and multidrug therapy recommended by the World Health Organization, a good clinical response was observed. Recognition of rheumatic manifestations in leprosy is important as they may be confused with SLE. A literature review is presented to encourage clinicians to consider leprosy as a differential diagnosis. Specifically in patients with unusual rheumatic manifestations and persistent skin lesions, and when neurological symptoms are present. Leprosy has not been eradicated, so misdiagnosis can be frequent. It is necessary to increase medical practitioner awareness in order start proper treatment.
Entrepreneurship and Comparative Advantage
Authors: Dorobat Carmen Elena , Topan Mihai-Vladimir
Published: March 2015

This article advances a blueprint for understanding the function entrepreneurs perform in international trade, by drawing on the connection between comparative advantage and entrepreneurial judgement. The mutual benefits of specialisation and exchange are demonstrated whenever we find a minimum relative difference between the productivity of resources; however, we argue in this article that the concrete pattern of specialisation—manifest in exchanges between individuals, firms or states—cannot be discovered from outside the market. Rather, comparative advantage has an irreducible entrepreneurial component, and international specialisation is an entrepreneurially driven phenomenon. We explain this by unearthing the connection between entrepreneurship (understood as judgement of the allocation of resources under uncertainty), the heterogeneity of capital and comparative advantage.
Book Review: Robert A. Baron, Enhancing Entrepreneurial Excellence: Tools for Making the Possible Real
Authors: Shankar Raj K.
Published: March 2015

Robert A. Baron, Enhancing Entrepreneurial Excellence: Tools for Making the Possible Real, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2013, 185 pp.
Responding to the Moral Theology Inheritance of Benedict XVI in the Era of Francis I
Authors: McGavin P.A.
Published: March 2015

The perceptions of the moral theology of Joseph Ratzinger generally focus on his work as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, involving his directing the The Catechism of the Catholic Church project, and his upholding the teachings of John Paul II. Viewed thus, his position seems dichotomous with positions designated as ‘proportionalist’ or ‘consequentialist’. This article does not offer an appreciation or a critique of these opposing positions. Rather, drawing upon works published under Ratzinger’s own name across the span of his life as scholar, bishop, prefect and pope, offers a portrayal his manner of reasoning in moral theology, and the principles espoused for dialogue and discovery within the Catholic tradition. The article also observes congruencies between the moral theology of Ratzinger and of Bergoglio as seen in Evangelii gaudium.
Jesus shed tears in frustration: The contribution of dakryō and klaiō to the interpretation of John 11:35
Authors: Infante Joan Salazar
Published: March 2015

The shedding of tears of Jesus in Jn 11:35 has often been interpreted in four ways, namely: Jesus’ grief over the death of a friend, Jesus’ sadness over the reality of death in the world, Jesus’ grief over his own impending death, or Jesus’ anger because of the unbelief around him. None of these interpretations ventured into an in-depth analysis of the peculiar use of dakryō (a hapax legomenon) in Jn 11:35 within a narrative that uses klaiō three times (Jn 11:31, 332), even though both dakryō and klaiō belong to the same semantic domain. This article will explore the significance of John’s use of dakryō for the interpretation of Jn 11:35. The article suggests that the lexical shift from klaiō to dakryō signals the reader to differentiate the weeping of Jesus in Jn 11:35 from the weeping of Mary and the Ioudaioi in Jn 11:33. Through a narrative-critical analysis of the contexts of the occurrences of klaiō in the Gospel of John and dakryō in the LXX, along with a narrative-critical analysis of the Lazarus story (Jn 11:1–53), the article proposes that Jesus’ shedding of tears in Jn 11:35 is not to be interpreted in relation to mourning over death, but is rather due to the frustration of Jesus at the lack of faith around him, even by Martha and Mary, two people whom the Fourth Gospel specifically names as loved by him (Jn 11:5). Thus, the act of Jesus in Jn 11:35 may be interpreted as his shedding of tears out of frustration.
Parents’ Experiences of Two Different Approaches to Diabetes Care in Children Newly Diagnosed With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Sparud-Lundin Carina , Hallström Inger
Published: March 2015

Various care approaches are provided to support families with newly diagnosed children in their task of diabetes management. We conducted qualitative interviews with 36 parents of 23 children, newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The parents were recruited from participants in a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) evaluating hospital-based care (HBC) and hospital-based home care (HBHC), to explore their experiences of two different approaches to diabetes care. The HBC was considered as being safe but not family- or diabetes-oriented. The HBHC was described as a relaxed environment, providing individualized accessibility and possibilities for situational learning and was considered as more flexible, promoting normality and involvement. The transition to home was followed by a gradual discharge, which included contradictory feelings, ambivalence, and hesitation and also being prepared and ready for facing daily life. The core category depicts differences regarding the degree of family participation, from passive to more active participants in initial diabetes management.
An Empowerment Approach to Family Caregiver Involvement in Suicide Prevention
Authors: Grant Cynthia , Ballard Elizabeth D. , Olson-Madden Jennifer H.
Published: March 2015

Family members are often intimately involved in the suicidal crisis of a loved one but receive few resources and little support from the mental health community. As a result, these families can experience significant feelings of caregiver burden and powerlessness. This review outlines the experience of caring for a loved one at suicide risk, including potential barriers to involvement, risk and protective factors, and impact on the caregiver. One way to facilitate a caregiver’s sense of self-efficacy when working with a suicidal client is to implement an empowerment-based family approach in treatment planning. In this piece, we propose an existing caregiver empowerment model, Creativity, Optimism, Planning and Expert information (COPE), that can be applied to any existing suicide prevention model to assist families in the treatment of clients who are at risk for suicide.
Ankle Arthroscopy Simulation Improves Basic Skills, Anatomic Recognition, and Proficiency During Diagnostic Examination of Residents in Training
Authors: Martin Kevin D. , Patterson David , Phisitkul Phinit , Cameron Kenneth L. , Femino John , Amendola Annunziato
Published: March 2015

Background:

The purpose of this study was to determine whether low-fidelity arthroscopic simulation training improves basic ankle arthroscopy performance and efficiency among orthopedic trainees.

Methods:

Twenty-nine orthopedic surgery trainees with varying levels of experience in ankle arthroscopy were randomized into either simulation or standard practice groups. At baseline testing, all participants performed simulator-based testing and a cadaveric diagnostic ankle arthroscopy with video recording. The simulation group subsequently received 4 one-on-one, 15-minute simulation training sessions over a 4-month period, while the standard practice group received no additional simulation training or exposure. After intervention, both groups were reevaluated with simulator testing and a second recorded cadaveric diagnostic ankle arthroscopy. Two blinded, independent experts evaluated each randomized arthroscopic performance using the 15-point checklist, Arthroscopic Surgery Skill Evaluation Tool (ASSET), and total elapsed time, and all outcome measures were compared within and between groups.

Results:

Baseline arthroscopic experience, simulator task performance measures, and ASSET scores were equivalent between the simulation and standard practice groups. After completion of training, the simulation group outscored the control group in total ASSET score (34.9 vs 19.6; P < .001) and checklist score (14.5 vs 8.4; P < .001) and achieved nearly expert ASSET Safety scores (4.7 vs 2.9; P < .001) on the simulator model. Cadaver testing also demonstrated significant improvements in total ASSET score (28.8 vs 16.8; P < .001), checklist score (12.6 vs 7.1; P < .001), and ASSET Safety score (3.9 vs 2.6; P < .001).

Conclusion:

These results demonstrate that low-fidelity ankle arthroscopy simulation training can improve basic surgical skills, efficiency of movement, and anatomic recognition. The results suggest greater patient safety during ankle arthroscopy following simulation training.

Level of Evidence:

Level I, prospective comparative study.
The Parkinson Disease Mitochondrial Hypothesis
Authors: Franco-Iborra Sandra , Vila Miquel , Perier Celine
Published: March 2015

Parkinson’s disease is a common, adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder whose pathogenesis is still under intense investigation. Substantial evidence from postmortem human brain tissue, genetic- and toxin-induced animal and cellular models indicates that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a central role in the pathophysiology of the disease. This review discusses our current understanding of Parkinson’s disease–related mitochondrial dysfunction, including bioenergetic defects, mitochondrial DNA alterations, altered mitochondrial dynamics, activation of mitochondrial-dependent programmed cell death, and perturbations in mitochondrial tethering to the endoplasmic reticulum. Whether a primary or secondary event, mitochondrial dysfunction holds promise as a potential therapeutic target to halt the progression of neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease.
Planing force identification in high-speed underwater vehicles
Authors: Mirzaei Mojtaba , Eghtesad Mohammad , Alishahi Mohammad Mahdi
Published: March 2015

One of the most important issues, which high-speed underwater vehicles (HSUV) deal with, is the so-called planing force. The dynamic of HSUV includes two separate phases called planing phase and non-planing phase. Ideally, in perfect flight, the vehicle should fly within the cavity walls. However, in practice, the vehicle impacts on the cavity boundaries due to disturbances. The magnitude of the planing force is large and has a strong effect on dynamics of HSUV. However, planing force modeling is often too simple and therefore inaccurate, due to the nonlinear interaction among the solid, liquid, and gaseous phases, which is not well understood yet. Consequently, planing force identification is of great importance and should be studied in details. The present paper discusses the identification of the planing force in HSUV. For this purpose, the equations of motion are developed for the HSUV in the planing phase while the tail and the body end impact on the cavity wall. Then, a robust hybrid switching control approach is employed to deal with the highly nonlinear behavior of the underwater vehicle as it is influenced by the liquid-gas boundary interactions. An on-line planing force identification based on Lyapunov function is considered within designing controller procedure, thus the stability of the system is guaranteed. Lateral and longitudinal planing force identification are achieved and discussed. Compared to the proportional-integral-derivative control scheme, the hybrid control scheme seems to increase the stabilization of HSUV, which is useful in avoiding unsteady changes of cavity shape.
Comparison of local reactions to oxaliplatin infusions by peripheral versus central venous administration
Authors: To Yue-yun , Sutcliffe Kimberly J , Hoen Helena M , Swaney Ramona A , Nicholls Justin D , Crocenzi Todd S
Published: March 2015

Purpose

Oxaliplatin, a platinum-type alkylator, is not classified as a vesicant but can cause local reactions when infused by peripheral vein. Providence Cancer Center, like other institutions, deferred the venous administration method to clinical judgment incorporating patient preference. Patient experience was evaluated for oxaliplatin-related local reactions by peripheral or central venous administration.

Methods

A retrospective review of the electronic medical record was performed of the period of January 2011 to March 2013 to identify patients who received oxaliplatin. Included were 59 patients who were given the option of either peripheral or central venous drug administration. The two patient groups (peripheral vein vs. central vein administration) were compared in terms of frequency and type of local reactions (redness/discoloration, swelling, numbness/cold, or pain/discomfort).

Results

Nineteen (63.3%) of the patients in the peripheral vein group experienced some type of local reaction compared to none in the central vein group ( p < .0001). Pain was the most common local reaction, occurring in 17 (56.7%) patients in the peripheral group. Despite the occurrence of a local reaction, the majority of patients did not alter their initial choice of infusion method.

Conclusion

This is the first published report to characterize and quantify a single institution's experience with oxaliplatin-related local reactions. A significantly greater number of local reactions, particularly pain, occurred with the administration of oxaliplatin peripherally vs. centrally. This analysis impacted our institution's best practice for oxaliplatin infusions.
Use of Polynomial Regression to Investigate Biased Self-Perceptions and ADHD Symptoms in Young Adolescents
Authors: Fefer Sarah A. , Ogg Julia A. , Dedrick Robert F.
Published: March 2015

Objective: This study investigated biased self-perceptions of academic and social competence among young adolescents with a range of ADHD symptoms. The goal was to better understand how to measure agreement and disagreement between competence ratings from multiple informants. Method: The commonly used discrepancy methodology was used along with polynomial regression/response surface analyses to explore the relationship between biased self-perceptions and ADHD symptoms. Participants were 164 middle school students and their homeroom teachers. Students and teachers completed measures about academic and social competence, and teachers rated ADHD symptoms. Results: Discrepancy score and polynomial regression/response surface analyses both supported the relationship between student overestimation of competence and ADHD symptoms. Response surface analyses also suggest that some students with ADHD symptoms accurately perceive their impairments, particularly in the academic domain. Conclusion: Findings demonstrate the importance of using more advanced methods to understand the relationship between both accurate and discrepant perceptions of competence and ADHD symptoms.
Sleep and Attention in Children With ADHD and Typically Developing Peers
Authors: Waldon Jessica , Vriend Jennifer , Davidson Fiona , Corkum Penny
Published: March 2015

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the relationships between sleep and attention in both typically developing (TD) children and children with ADHD. Method: The current study examined sleep and attention in 50 children, from 6 to 12 years of age (25 ADHD, 25 TD). Attention was measured using the Conners’ Parent Rating Scale–Revised: Long Version and the Attention Network Test–Interaction (ANT-I), which provided an objective measure of alerting, orienting, and executive attention. Sleep was objectively measured using actigraphy. Results: Children with ADHD had poorer alerting and executive attention on the ANT-I, as well as poorer parent-reported attention. In addition, poor sleep predicted performance on alerting attention for children with ADHD and TD children, whereas the interaction between poor sleep and ADHD diagnosis predicted executive attention scores. Conclusion: The findings of the current study highlight the importance of ensuring children are getting good quality sleep to optimize attention, particularly for children with ADHD.
The Nation as a “Gentleman’s Agreement”
Authors: Maxwell Alexander
Published: March 2015

Carole Pateman’s idea of the “sexual contract” can be adapted to study the nationalist imagination. If a society defined through a sexual contract is equated to the “civic nation,” then the sexual basis of an “ethnic nation” might be called the “gentleman’s agreement.” The terms of the gentleman’s agreement, while never articulated as clearly as the sexual contract, nevertheless reveal themselves in cultural practices. Hungarians presupposed a nation consisting of ennobled men capable of seducing women to the “national brotherhood.” Hungarian ideas about the nation evolved during the nineteenth century, and Hungarian ideals of masculinity also changed: a manliness of strength increasingly gave way to a masculinity of education or refinement. Although the different types of masculinity implied different attitudes toward women, they both rested on similar cultural assumptions. This article links the cultural history of Hungarian national masculinity to everyday practices, notably moustaches, cigars, and sexuality.
A cohort study following up on a randomised controlled trial of a telemedicine application in COPD patients
Authors: Dyrvig Anne-Kirstine , Gerke Oke , Kidholm Kristian , Vondeling Hindrik
Published: March 2015

Introduction

The studies that constitute the knowledge base of evidence based medicine represent only 5%–50% of patients seen in routine clinical practice. Therefore, whether the available evidence applies to the implementation of a particular service often remains unclear. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is no exception.

Methods

In this article, the effects of implementing a telemedicine intervention for COPD patients were analysed using data collected before, during, and after a randomised controlled trial (RCT). More specifically, regression techniques using robust variance estimators were used to analyse whether the use of telemedicine, patient age, and gender could explain the risk of readmission, length of hospital admission, and death during a five-year observation period.

Results

Increased risk of readmission was significantly related to both use of telemedicine and increased age in three sub-periods of the study, whereas women showed a more pronounced risk of readmission than men only during and after the RCT period. The number of days admitted to hospital was higher for patients using telemedicine and being of older age. Risk of death during the observation period was decreased for patients using telemedicine and for female patients and increased for elderly patients. No interaction between intervention and time period was observed. Statistically significant relationships were identified between use of telemedicine and risk of readmission, days admitted to hospital, and death.

Discussion

Research on effect modification in telemedicine is essential in designing future implementation of interventions as it cannot be taken for granted that effectiveness follows from efficacy.
Internet-based questionnaire to self-assess autonomy and obtain a life-at-home services enforcement plan: a retrospective validation study
Authors: Koskas P , Scemama E , Wolfowicz B
Published: March 2015

Background

In France, a specially-designed care plan for the elderly is generally based on an interdisciplinary, complex and time-consuming process. The health system assigns care throughout the social and health care services using multiple providers and sites.

Objective

The free website www.jesuisautonome.fr offers senior citizens and their families an opportunity to assess their own independence at home using a questionnaire in order to obtain a personal, life-at-home, enforcement plan. We aim to examine the correlation between the specially-designed care plan obtained by the usual assessment method and through self-evaluation via the website.

Methods

Community-dwelling subjects, consulting for the first time from December 2012 to July 2014, were under consideration. Patients were assessed using the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) and also independently during the first consultation; patients and their caregivers were then asked to fill out the questionnaire on the website. The two methods were compared using the Bland-Altman analysis for quantitative values and Kappa values for qualitative values.

Results

73 patients completed the study. Correlation was excellent between parameters that did not include error due to risk to the patient (assistance with bathing and dressing, a nurse for drug distribution, measure of legal protection). Correlation was good with housekeeper hours that involved a financial cost to state social services and families. The GIR (Iso Ressource Groupe), which in France serves as a reference to determine social disability of the elderly, was similar.

Conclusion

Our study confirms the potential of the website www.jesuisautonome.fr . to improve the delivery of health and social care services.
Lesbian and gay parents in early childhood settings: A systematic review of the research literature
Authors: Averett Paige , Hegde Archana , Smith Justin
Published: March 2015

This article presents the first systematic review of all the existing peer-reviewed literature (n = 20) on gay and lesbian parents and their children in early childhood education settings. The review includes articles that were empirical or pedagogical practice oriented, focused exclusively on early childhood education (Birth to 5 years), and concentrated on gay and lesbian parents and their children. Considering the date range of the articles (1990–2012) and their similar content, indications are that the field of early childhood has not progressed very far in the thinking and practices in relation to gay and lesbian parents and their children. Recommendations made in 1990 are being put forth as still needed today. Implications for pedagogical change and future research needs are provided.
Mannitol versus hypertonic saline
Authors: Alvarez-Puebla MJ , Olaguibel JM , Almudevar E , Echegoyen AA , Vela C , de Esteban B
Published: March 2015

Eosinophilic asthma phenotype predicts good response to corticosteroids and associates to asthmatic exacerbations. Sputum induction by hypertonic saline (HS) inhalation is technically demanding. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to osmotic agents indirectly mirrors active airway inflammation. We compared the safety and ability of HS and mannitol to induce sputum and measure BHR. We evaluated the stability of inflammatory phenotypes. We studied 35 non-smoking asthmatics randomized to undergo HS and mannitol challenges on 2 days 1 week apart. Sputum was sampled for cell analysis and phenotyped as eosinophilic (≥3% eosinophils) and non-eosinophilic (<3%) asthma. Nineteen subjects had BHR to mannitol and nine of them also had BHR to HS. Drops in forced expiratory volume in 1 s were higher from HS challenge than from mannitol challenge. Adequate sputum samples were obtained from 80% subjects (68% mannitol and 71% HS). Eosinophils and macrophages from both challenges correlated. Neutrophils were higher in sputum from HS. Ninety percent samples were equally phenotyped with HS and mannitol. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide, sputum eosinophils and BHR correlated in both challenges. HS and mannitol showed similar capacity to produce valuable sputum samples. BHR to both osmotic stimuli partially resembled airway eosinophilic inflammation but mannitol was more sensitive than HS to assess BHR. Eosinophilic phenotype remained stable in most patients with both stimuli.
Translation of a Ski School Sun Safety Program to North American Ski and Snowboard Schools
Authors: Walkosz Barbara J. , Buller David B. , Andersen Peter A. , Scott M. D. , Liu X. , Cutter G. R. , Dignan M. B.
Published: March 2015

Health promotion programs that develop and implement strategies to promote sun safety practices to children have the potential to reduce skin cancer occurrence later in life. Go Sun Smart (GSS), a sun safety program for employees and guests of ski areas, was distributed to determine if an enhanced dissemination strategy was more effective than a basic dissemination strategy at reaching parents at ski and snowboard schools. On-site observations of GSS use and surveys of 909 parents/caregivers with children enrolled in ski and snowboard schools at 63 ski areas were conducted and analyzed using techniques for clustered designs. No differences were identified by dissemination strategy. Greater implementation of GSS (>5 messages posted) was associated with greater parental recall, 36.6% versus 16.7%, of materials, but not greater sun protection practices. Greater recall of messages, regardless of level of implementation, resulted in greater sun protection practices including applying sunscreen (p < .05), providing sunglasses and goggles (p < .01), and more use of all sun protection practices (p < .01). Ski areas with more program materials appeared to reach parents with sun safety advice and thus convinced them to take more precautions for their children. Sun safety need not be at odds with children’s outdoor recreation activities.
Intracranial Hypotension-Like Syndrome After a Spinal Tap Test Performed for Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Authors: Kaya Derya , Soysal Pinar , Isık Ahmet Turan
Published: March 2015

It is somewhat unexpected to have headaches in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) for which the treatment is drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using shunt. Moreover, intracranial hypotension syndrome (IHS) can be a challenging diagnosis, as CSF leak may be difficult to confirm as imaging findings can be normal. This report describes a woman with INPH who developed symptoms of IHS after a spinal tap test. There might be cases with IHS, like our case, who do not completely fulfill the current diagnostic criteria in terms of not having any objective evidence of intracranial hypotension but who also could not be explained by other conditions and recovered totally after classical IHS treatment. Current diagnostic criteria for IHS might be revised for those having normal neuroimaging and not accepting lumbar puncture. Nevertheless, when the history, signs, and symptoms strongly suggest IHS even with normal imaging, treatment should be started immediately.
Combining Multiple Types of Motor Rehabilitation Enhances Skilled Forelimb Use Following Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats
Authors: Adkins DeAnna L. , Ferguson Lindsay , Lance Steven , Pevtsov Aleksandr , McDonough Kevin , Stamschror Justin , Jones Theresa A. , Kozlowski Dorothy A.
Published: March 2015

Background. Neuroplasticity and neurorehabilitation have been extensively studied in animal models of stroke to guide clinical rehabilitation of stroke patients. Similar studies focused on traumatic brain injury (TBI) are lacking. Objective. The current study was designed to examine the effects of individual and combined rehabilitative approaches, previously shown to be beneficial following stroke, in an animal model of moderate/severe TBI, the controlled cortical impact (CCI). Methods. Rats received a unilateral CCI, followed by reach training, voluntary exercise, or unimpaired forelimb constraint, alone or in combination. Forelimb function was assessed at different time points post-CCI by tests of skilled reaching, motor coordination, and asymmetrical limb use. Results. Following CCI, skilled reaching and motor coordination were significantly enhanced by combinations of rehabilitation strategies, not by individual approaches. The return of symmetrical limb use benefited from forelimb constraint alone. None of the rehabilitation strategies affected the size of injury, suggesting that enhanced behavioral function was not a result of neuroprotection. Conclusions. The current study has provided evidence that individual rehabilitation strategies shown to be beneficial in animal models of stroke are not similarly sufficient to enhance behavioral outcome in a model of TBI. Motor rehabilitation strategies for TBI patients may need to be more intense and varied. Future basic science studies exploring the underlying mechanisms of combined rehabilitation approaches in TBI as well as clinical studies comparing rehabilitation approaches for stroke versus TBI would prove fruitful.