bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analyzing Antidiabetes Drug Prescriptions With World Health Organization Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Dose Index to Assess Drug Utilization Pattern in Elderly Population of Rural Eastern India
Authors: Lahiry Sandeep , Kundu Avijit , Mukherjee Ayan , Choudhury Shouvik , Sinha Rajasree
Published: April 2017

Objective:

To analyze drug utilization (DU) pattern of antidiabetes drug (ADD) prescription in elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in rural West Bengal based on 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Dose (ATC/DDD) Index.

Methods:

This was a prospective observational study. Prescription data of 600 elderly patients (age > 60 years) attending outpatient clinic were screened over 12 months (January 2015 to January 2016) from 5 different rural hospitals in West Bengal. Pooled data were sorted and classified in accordance with 2016 ATC/DDD WHO Index. Direct cost associated and consumption of ADD were measured as DDD/1000 patients/day. The adverse drug reactions (ADRs) related to antidiabetic medicines were monitored.

Results:

During the study period, mean age of patients recorded was 66.4 ± 5.0 years, with 66.6% (n = 396) having history of T2DM > 5 years. Follow-up encounters (n = 2328) revealed metformin (94.67%), sulfonylureas (SUs) (50.54%), pioglitazone (24.22%), voglibose (22.50%), insulin (9.75%), and acarbose (6.82%) to be more prevalent, constituting DU 90% (92.01%). Combination of metformin plus SU was recorded in most of the patients (56%). Insulin, however, was found to be an underutilized class ( P < .005). The DDD/1000 patients/day of metformin (2.918), glimepiride (1.577), and gliclazide (0.069) conformed to 2016 WHO ATC/DDD Index. The total ADD consumption during study period was 5.03 DDD/1000 patients/day. The average drug cost per encounter per day was Rs 11.24 ± 2.01. Nineteen ADRs were reported and their descriptions were found to be of hypoglycemia (n = 9), pedal edema (n = 2), and gastrointestinal upsets (n = 8). Target glycemic status was achieved in 40% monthly follow-up encounters. Low-store drug availability and poor compliance to treatment (>60%) were major determinants. Lack of regular aerobic exercises (>85%) and proper knowledge regarding medical nutrition therapy (MNT) (>80%) and low average consultation time (3.5 ± 0.6 minutes) were important contributing factors.

Conclusions:

The study exhibited increased utilization of 2 drug combinations of oral ADD and lower utilization of insulin during study period. Such inferences merit further exploration.
Ten-year single-centre experience with type II endoleaks: Intervention versus observation
Authors: Haq Ikram-Ul , Kelay Arun , Davis Meryl , Brookes Jocelyn , Mastracci Tara M , Constantinou Jason
Published: April 2017

Our objective was to determine the relative merits of intervention or observation of type II endoleaks (T2Ls). A retrospective analysis was performed on 386 infra-renal endovascular aneurysm repair (IR-EVAR) patients from 2006 to 2015. Annual surveillance imaging of patients undergoing EVAR at our centre were analysed, and all endoleaks were subjected to a multidisciplinary team meeting for consideration and treatment. In the 10-year time frame, 386 patients (79.5±8.7 years) underwent an IR-EVAR. Eighty-one patients (21.0%) developed a T2L and intervention was undertaken in 28 (34.6%): 17 (60.7%) were treated via a transarterial approach (TA) and 11 (39.3%) using the translumbar approach (TL). Fifty-three patients (65.4%) with T2Ls were managed conservatively. Patients who received T2L treatment had a greater proportion of recurrent T2Ls than patients who were conservatively managed ( p=0.032). T2Ls associated with aneurysmal growth were more resistant to treatment than those where there was no change or a decrease in aneurysm size during follow-up (0.033). There was no significant difference in the TA and TL approach with respect to endoleak repair success ( p=0.525). Treatment of a T2L did not confer a survival advantage compared to conservative management ( p=0.449) nor did the choice of either the TA or TL approach ( p=0.148). Our study suggests the development of a T2L associated with aneurysm growth may represent an aggressive phenotype that is resistant to treatment. However, this did not lead to an increased risk of mortality over follow-up. Neither a transarterial nor a translumbar approach to treating a T2L conferred superiority.
Electronic health record use among cancer patients: Insights from the Health Information National Trends Survey
Authors: Strekalova Yulia A
Published: April 2017

Over 90% of US hospitals provide patients with access to e-copy of their health records, but the utilization of electronic health records by the US consumers remains low. Guided by the comprehensive information-seeking model, this study used data from the National Cancer Institute’s Health Information National Trends Survey 4 (Cycle 4) and examined the factors that explain the level of electronic health record use by cancer patients. Consistent with the model, individual information-seeking factors and perceptions of security and utility were associated with the frequency of electronic health record access. Specifically, higher income, prior online information seeking, interest in accessing health information online, and normative beliefs were predictive of electronic health record access. Conversely, poorer general health status and lack of health care provider encouragement to use electronic health records were associated with lower utilization rates. The current findings provide theory-based evidence that contributes to the understanding of the explanatory factors of electronic health record use and suggest future directions for research and practice.
Patients are doing it for themselves: A survey on disease-specific knowledge acquisition among people with Parkinson’s disease in Sweden
Authors: Riggare Sara , Höglund Pär J , Hvitfeldt Forsberg Helena , Eftimovska Elena , Svenningsson Per , Hägglund Maria
Published: April 2017

Effective self-management is key to living well with Parkinson’s disease and one important aspect is disease-specific knowledge. This article explores how people with Parkinson’s disease in Sweden (1) acquire disease-specific knowledge and (2) use Parkinson’s disease–related healthcare. Data were collected through an online survey, which had 346 respondents (16–87 years old, median age: 68 years, 51% male; time since diagnosis: 0–31 years, median time: 7 years). Our results show that disease-specific knowledge is mainly found online, especially for women with Parkinson’s disease and people with Parkinson’s disease of working age, that most people with Parkinson’s disease in Sweden see their neurologist for 1 h or less per year and only one in two people with Parkinson’s disease has regular contact with other Parkinson’s disease–related healthcare professionals. We also find that people with Parkinson’s disease reporting higher levels of specific knowledge also are more likely to be satisfied with the amount of time they get with their neurologist, regardless of the amount of time.
‘Asking for another’ online: Membership categorization and identity construction on a food and nutrition discussion board
Authors: Gordon Cynthia , İkizoğlu Didem
Published: April 2017

This discourse analytic study integrates theories of stance and membership categorization to investigate one online discussion thread initiated by a woman who asks for diet and health advice on behalf of her boyfriend, an interactive move we term ‘asking for another’. Posters to the thread, in relatively explicit ways, construe the original poster as a ‘nag’ and ‘mother-figure’ and her boyfriend as a ‘victim of nagging’ and ‘childish’. Our analysis illuminates how two features of the asking-for-another post (inadvertently) evoke these identities: (1) extreme case formulations, created via adjectives and adverbs, lead others to view the woman as inappropriately involved and controlling and her boyfriend as immature, and (2) details about the boyfriend’s diet, provided via nouns and adjectives, index cultural ideologies of food and identity. This study illuminates the ambiguity and polysemy of the move of asking for another, contributing to research on identity construction and health-related advice-seeking online.
Navigating contextual constraints in discourse: Design explications in institutional talk
Authors: Herijgers MLC (Marloes) , Maat HLW (Henk) Pander
Published: April 2017

Although institutional discourse is subject to a vast ensemble of constraints, its design is not fixed beforehand. On the contrary, optimizing the satisfaction of these constraints requires considerable discourse design skills from institutional agents. In this article, we analyze how Dutch banks’ mortgage advisors navigate their way through the consultations context. We focus on what we call discourse design explications, that is, stretches of talk in which participants refer to conflicting constraints in the discourse context, at the same time proposing particular discourse designs for dealing with these conflicts. We start by discussing three forms of design explication. Then we will examine the various resolutions they propose for constraint conflicts and show how advisors seek customer consent or cooperation for the proposed designs. Thus our analysis reveals how institutional agents, while providing services, work on demonstrating how the design of these services is optimized and tailored to customers.
Global health policy in Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Koivusalo Meri
Published: April 2017

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent global policy goals in contrast to Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), which had developmental focus. This is the global potential of SDGs for global health policy. However, the large number of goals bear the risk of prioritisation between different goals and broad global frameworks and specific targets may not be useful in shaping policy guidance and global approaches in policy areas, where we already have a global institutional and normative presence. In contrast to some other global social policy areas, global health policy has also something to lose. SDGs are thus likely to be better for global health in other policies, than for global health policy priorities, institutions and practice. This is a particular concern for the global health policy role of the World Health Organisation, global health policies seeking normative action as well as for such health policy priorities, which contrast or conflict with other policy areas or strong corporate interests. This has particular relevance to multistakeholder partnerships and the role of private sector in implementation of SDGs.
Migration and the SDGs
Authors: Piper Nicola
Published: April 2017

International migration has been subject to rising attention by policymakers at the global as well as national level, thus, amounting to ‘global migration governance’. The flurry of multi-lateral actions and regional activities have revolved around two interlinked concerns: 1. Management of migration, and 2. The migration-development nexus. Migrant rights issues have not been absent from these debates but are generally sidelined or appear in the context of extreme forms of human rights violations such as trafficking. The SDGs, by contrast, not only for the first time incorporate migration explicitly into global development policy, but they also have the potential to address the key factors that underline migration from a rights perspective if – as argued here - their realisation goes beyond the provision of ‘safe and orderly migration’ pathways to also address the lack of ‘decent work’ and participatory decision making from a (gendered) workers’ rights perspective at all stages of migration.
NOx emissions in direct injection diesel engines – part 1: Development of a phenomenological NOx model using experiments and three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics
Authors: Brückner Clemens , Pandurangi Sushant Sunil , Kyrtatos Panagiotis , Bolla Michele , Wright Yuri Martin , Boulouchos Konstantinos
Published: April 2017

There exists a well-established correlation of exhaust NOx emissions arising from diesel engines with the adiabatic flame temperature, in particular for conventional (i.e. short ignition delay, diffusion combustion-dominated) operating conditions. Most published NOx emission models rely on this correlation. However, numerous experimental studies have identified operating conditions where this correlation fails to capture the exhaust NOx trend. In this work, a novel phenomenological NOx model concept is introduced, including a first successful validation against experimental data. The model development is based on experimental observations and is supported by three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics computations, strengthening the understanding of the underlying mechanisms leading to the discrepancy between the adiabatic flame temperature and exhaust NOx trend. For long ignition delay operating conditions, the improved mixture preparation before ignition leads to reduced mixing rates during and after combustion. Both the improved mixture preparation before ignition and the instantaneous increase of mass observed above 2000 K after start of combustion are due to compression heating of the burned gases. Key features of the model are improved description of mixture distribution at start of combustion, NOx formed in products of premixed burn, different physical treatments of premixed and diffusion sourced products, and inherent consideration of burned gas compression heating. Model results capture the NOx emissions for conventional diesel combustion, as well as for operating conditions where the NOx emissions do not follow the adiabatic flame temperature trend. Moreover, the results show that the contribution of NOx from products from premixed burn and the consideration of compression heating effects on burned (post-flame) gases are essential to capture the NOx emissions under the latter conditions.
An Unauthorized Autoethnography of the Academic Life of Dr X
Authors: Henson Donna F.
Published: April 2017

A layered, fractured text, this piece plays in the space afforded by an invitation to reflect on neoliberalism in the academy. Seeking by way of story to make sense, make meaning of the personal in the political, the author finds herself in a poetic “ruminarrative” accounting of the fragments, the fictions, and the funnies that define (and defy) this academic life.
Progress Monitoring Using Direct Behavior Rating Single Item Scales in a Multiple-Baseline Design Study of the Daily Report Card Intervention
Authors: Fabiano Gregory A. , Pyle Kellina , Kelty Mary Bridget , Parham Brittany R.
Published: April 2017

Direct behavior rating (DBR) may be a viable assessment for documenting current areas of impaired functioning and progress monitoring students’ response to a behavioral intervention. Challenging behaviors are often addressed in general education settings using interventions such as the daily report card (DRC). To best implement and monitor such interventions, effective progress monitoring tools are needed. The present study reports on the results of a multiple-baseline design across three elementary school children who had a DRC implemented to address academic engagement and social behaviors. The DRC and systematic direct observation (SDO) were compared with teacher-completed DBR to investigate the correspondence between these two measures of progress monitoring. Relative to SDO, results indicated that DBR was generally an effective means of monitoring progress for most cases and most target behaviors. The results of the present study support using DBR to monitor progress following the use of a behavioral intervention such as the DRC.
The Extract of Lycium depressum Stocks Enhances Wound Healing in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Naji Siamak , Zarei Leila , Pourjabali Masoumeh , Mohammadi Rahim
Published: April 2017

In diabetes, impaired wound healing and other tissue abnormalities are considered major concerns. The aim of the present study was to assess the wound-healing activity of methanolic extracts of the extract of Lycium depressum leaves. A total of 60 healthy male Wistar diabetic rats weighing approximately 160 to 180 g and 7 weeks of age were randomized into 10 groups for incision and excision wound models: sham surgery group (SHAM), including creation of wounds and no treatment; base formulation group (FG) with creation of wounds and application of base formulation ointment; treatment group 1 (TG1) with 1 g of powder extract of the plant material in ointment; treatment group 2 (TG2) with 2 g; and treatment group 4 (TG3) with 4 g of powder extract of the plant material in ointment. A wound was induced by an excision- and incision-based wound model in male rats. The mature green leaves of L depressum were collected and authenticated. Extractions of dried leaves were carried out. For wound-healing activity, the extracts were applied topically in the form of ointment and compared with control groups. The healing of the wound was assessed based on excision, incision, hydroxyproline estimation, and biomechanical and biochemical studies. The extract of L depressum leaves enhanced wound contraction, decreased epithelialization time, increased hydroxyproline content, and improved mechanical indices and histological characteristics in treatment groups compared with SHAM and FG ( P < .05). These findings permit the conclusion the extract of L depressum benefits parameters of wound healing in a diabetes induced model
Barriers and Strategies Related to Qualitative Research on Genetic Ancestry Testing in Indigenous Communities
Authors: Blanchard Jessica W. , Tallbull Gloria , Wolpert Chantelle , Powell Jill , Foster Morris W. , Royal Charmaine
Published: April 2017

Conducting genetics-related research with populations that have historically experienced considerable harm and little benefit from genetics research poses unique challenges for understanding community-based perceptions of new genetic technologies. This article identifies challenges and strategies for collecting qualitative data on the perceptions of direct-to-consumer (DTC) Genetic Ancestry tests (GAT) among diverse Indigenous communities. Based on a 3-year project related to perceptions, attitudes, and values associated with genetic ancestry testing among diverse Indigenous communities in Oklahoma, the engagement process revealed specific opportunities to improve the process of qualitative data collection related to GAT, and more broadly, to conduct genetics-related research with Indigenous communities in culturally and methodologically appropriate ways. Priority areas include issues related to participant recruitment and tribal advisory boards, challenges of self-identification as a recruitment mechanism, and the necessity of including Indigenous researchers in all aspects of the research process.
Reflections on Using a Flash Card Activity for Studying Social Representations of Sexually Transmitted Infections
Authors: Mapp Fiona
Published: April 2017

Image elicitation methods generating visual data are becoming more common in social science research to generate rich and detailed findings and access topics using nonverbal approaches. Current elicitation techniques using photos and drawing methods have limited application for studying sexually transmitted infections (STIs). To address this, I describe a novel elicitation method—the flash card activity—which involves ranking STI flash cards according to predetermined themed continua. The activity was embedded within semistructured interviews focusing on social representations of STIs and experiences and meanings of STI symptoms and care-seeking behavior with 27 participants. Participants were recruited from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles that took place in Britain 2010–2012. This article reports on the methodological findings of implementing the flash card activity. The activity generated linked verbal and visual data that were more fluent, cohesive, and diverse than other interview data and disrupted normative accounts of infections, enabling participants to reflect on the formation and influences on their social representations. Acceptability of the flash card activity was high, although there were feasibility issues when either language comprehension or time were limited. There is scope for further methodological innovation and adaptation for different topics.
An Appraisal of Bird-Mediated Ecological Functions in a Changing World
Authors: Morante-Filho José Carlos , Faria Deborah
Published: April 2017

Birds perform several ecological roles for ecosystem functioning and generate great benefits for human population in some circumstances. However, environmental disturbances, mostly due to anthropogenic actions, have caused a decrease of bird diversity and can lead to the loss of their functions in the remaining habitats. Here, we conducted a scientific literature review to understand the general trends on the ecosystem functions executed by birds and the possible effects of environmental disturbances on them. Our research was conducted in September 2016 in Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, which returned 154 papers that targeted the importance of birds to the ecosystems’ maintenance. Among the studies ( n = 99) that effectively assessed the ecological role of bird species, most were conducted in natural habitats ( n = 63), and the most evaluated function was invertebrate population control ( n = 70). About 58% of the publications related some environmental characteristic to the ecological function, but patch and landscape-scaled factors were poorly investigated. Furthermore, 52% of the papers showed that the ecological function of birds can arise from a cascade effect on other trophic levels, though this may depend on the environmental characteristics. Despite the numerous studies in the ornithology field, the ecological roles of birds in several ecosystems are still poorly understood. Future research should consider others ecological functions mediated by birds, such as disease control, and must take different spatial scales and human modification of habitats into consideration, enabling generalizations based on ecosystem type and landscape composition variation.
Mucosal healing and the risk of serious infections in patients with celiac disease
Authors: Emilsson Louise , Lebwohl Benjamin , Green Peter HR , Murray Joseph A , Mårild Karl , Ludvigsson Jonas F
Published: April 2017

Background

Patients with celiac disease (CD) are at increased risk of certain infections, but it is unknown if mucosal healing influences this risk.

Methods

We collected data on 29,096 individuals with CD (equal to villous atrophy) through Sweden’s 28 pathology departments undergoing biopsy 1969–2008. Through the Swedish Patient Register we obtained information on any infection and specifically sepsis, streptococcal infection, influenza, Clostridium difficile, herpes zoster and pneumococcal infection up until December 2009. We used Cox regression to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for the risk of future diagnosis of infection according to mucosal healing on follow-up biopsy (persistent villous atrophy vs mucosal healing).

Results

Of 5598 CD individuals with no record of any infections before follow-up biopsy, 45% had persistent villous atrophy, 619 (24%) of them had a later infection, compared to 579 (19%) in those with mucosal healing ( p < 0.01); the yearly incidence was 2.1% in both groups. Adjusting for age, sex, calendar period, time between biopsies and education, persistent villous atrophy was however not associated with later infection overall (HR = 0.99; 95% CI = 0.88–1.11) or with any of the specific infections.

Conclusions

In CD, mucosal healing does not influence the risk of serious infection requiring hospital-based medical attention.
Trading pounds for points: Engagement and weight loss in a mobile health intervention
Authors: Hales Sarah , Turner-McGrievy Gabrielle M , Wilcox Sara , Davis Rachel E , Fahim Arjang , Huhns Michael , Valafar Homayoun
Published: April 2017

Objective

The objective of this study was to describe participant engagement and examine predictors of weight loss and points earned through the point-based incentive system of the Social Pounds Off Digitally (POD) app.

Materials and methods

Overweight and obese adults with Android smartphones/tablets (body mass index 25–49.9 kg/m2; N = 24) were recruited for a 3-month weight loss intervention. Participants completed a survey assessing demographics and personality and had their weight measured. Participants received the content of the intervention via podcasts and used the Social POD app to self-monitor diet, physical activity, and weight. The Social POD app contained: tracking features; in-app notifications to track; pre-set goals for tracking; newsfeed for updates on others’ goal attainment; ability to earn and track points for usage (exchanged for study-provided prizes); and a message screen. Analyses examined relationships between percent weight loss, personality characteristics, and total points earned.

Results

A total of 4843 points were earned (mean = 202 ± 105 points/participant). Most participants earned all three prizes (62.5%), followed by two prizes (21%), no prizes (12.5%), and one prize (4%). Total points earned significantly predicted percent weight loss ( B = −0.02, p = .01), and higher conscientiousness significantly predicted greater total points earned ( B = 10.27, p = .01), but other personality characteristics assessed did not.

Conclusion

A mobile app yielded moderately high participant engagement, as demonstrated by points earned. Earning points was significantly associated with percent weight loss, and conscientiousness was significantly associated with total points earned. Future research should examine whether point systems impact health behavior and weight loss when rewards are discontinued.

Clinical trial registration number

NCT02344836
A framework for synthesis of safety justification for digitally enabled healthcare services
Authors: Despotou George , Ryan Mark , Arvanitis Theodoros N , Rae Andrew J , White Sean , Kelly Tim , Jones Richard W
Published: April 2017

Background

Digitally enabled healthcare services combine socio-technical resources to deliver the required outcomes to patients. Unintended operation of these services may result in adverse effects to the patient. Eliminating avoidable harm requires a systematic way of analysing the causal conditions, identifying opportunities for intervention. Operators of such services may be required to justify, and communicate, their safety. For example, the UK Standardisation Committee for Care Information (SCCI) standards 0129 and 0160 require a safety justification for health IT (superseded versions were known as the Information Standards Board (ISB) 0129 & 0160. Initial as well as current standards are maintained by the NHS Digital.

Method

A framework was designed, and applied as proof of concept, to an IT-supported clinical emergencies (A&E) service. Evaluation was done qualitatively based on the authors’ experience, identifying potential benefits of the approach.

Results

The applied framework encapsulates analysis, and structures the generated information, into a skeleton of an evidence-based case for safety. The framework improved management of the safety activities, assigning ownership to stakeholders (e.g. IT developer), also creating a clear and compelling safety justification.

Conclusions

Application of the framework significantly contributed to systematising an exploratory approach for analysing the service, in addition to existing methods such as reporting. Its application made the causal chain to harm more diaphanous. Constructing a safety case contributed to: (a) identifying potential assurance gaps, (b) planning production of information and evidence, and (c) communication of the justification by graphical unambiguous means.
Patient-perceived acceptability of a virtual world-based cardiac rehabilitation program
Authors: Brewer LaPrincess C , Kaihoi Brian , Schaepe Karen , Zarling Kathleen , Squires Ray W , Thomas Randal J , Kopecky Stephen
Published: April 2017

Background

Despite its benefits, cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participation rates remain subpar. Telehealth lifestyle interventions have emerged as modalities to enhance CR accessibility. Virtual-world (VW) technology may provide a means to increase CR use.

Objectives

This pilot study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a VW-based CR program as an extension to medical center-based CR. Our goal is to apply the study results toward the design of a patient-centered VW platform prototype with high usability, understandability, and credibility.

Methods

Patients ( n = 8, 25% women) recently enrolled in outpatient CR at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota participated in a 12-week, VW health education program and provided feedback on the usability, design and satisfaction of the intervention at baseline and completion. A mixed-methods approach was used to analyze the participant perceptions of the intervention.

Results

Overall, there were positive participant perceptions of the VW experience. There was unanimous high satisfaction with the graphical interface appearance and ease of use. Participants placed value on the convenience, accessibility, and social connectivity of the remote program as well as the novelty of the simulation platform presentations, which aided in memorability of key concepts. Greater than 80% of participants reported that the program improved their health knowledge and helped to maintain better health habits.

Conclusions

Our pilot study revealed the feasibility and acceptability of an innovative VW-based CR program among cardiac patients. This novel delivery method for CR has the potential to influence healthy lifestyle change and to increase accessibility to vulnerable populations with higher cardiovascular disease burdens.
Nomination and Argumentation Strategies in Oratory Discourse: The Case of an English Sermon
Authors: Mansouri Sara , Biria Reza , Mohammadi Najafabadi Mohammad , Sattar Boroujeni Susan
Published: April 2017

Inspired by critical discourse analysis and regarding language as a social medium whereby individuals, social groups, and institutions tend to express their beliefs and values, this study seeks to explore the persuasion and discourse strategies utilized in sermons. By focusing on the sermon of an influential native English orator and by employing Wodak’s discourse–historical approach, it aims to investigate how the targeted religious genre unfolds to disclose the persuasive powers of the orator and its impact on the audience. The results obtained from the qualitative analysis of the corpus under investigation revealed that the speaker resorts to significant presentation of a wide range of topics to establish the oratory, and constructs the social actors through the application of nomination tools to qualify the selected actors through carefully formulated predication devices by laying out discursively logical justifications concerning various topos. Alternatively, the complementary quantitative corpus analysis using Corpus Presenter software also provided an insightful evidential basis reflecting orator’s involvement, intensification of the intended illocutionary force, and his utilization of thought-provoking linguistic resources. Notably, the results presented here may shed light on the function of intertextuality in the genre of the sermon operationalized and activated through nomination strategies, the tools of argumentation theory, and interdiscursivity. Second, language learners’ awareness of such elements may have an overriding importance in the process of text generation in speaking and writing processes.
The Strength of Strong Ties Reconsidered: Social Ties and Collective Power in a Gentrifying Community
Authors: Balzarini John E. , Shlay Anne B.
Published: April 2017

Widespread gentrification has increasingly been accompanied by community-based conflicts between newer and long-established residents. These conflicts raise questions about the strategies long-time residents can use to resist displacement and neighborhood change. This article examines a conflict in Fishtown, a gentrifying Philadelphia neighborhood, over plans to build a casino in the community. It looks at the role of strong community ties based on shared place-based identities and experiences as a resource to galvanize community power for long-time residents. The findings show that strong ties can be a source of power used to challenge the interests of newer residents disputing the idea that the market power of incoming gentrifiers always overshadows and displaces the original community. Newer residents with their weaker but more widespread connections did not acquire the leverage to prevail over the strong relationships that long-time residents had with each other. Long-established residents supported the casino as a form of community investment somewhat akin to investments made by manufacturing establishments of yesteryear. Their belief in the concrete monetary benefits that the casino would accrue to their community propelled the organizational activities that the strong ties facilitated, making long-time residents partners in bringing a casino to their neighborhood.
No Camphor Toxicity in Cambodian Infants
Authors: Johnson Casey R. , Porter Samuel G. , Coats Debra , Whitfield Kyly C. , Mengkheang Khin , Topazian Mark D. , Fischer Philip R.
Published: April 2017

Thiamine deficiency and beriberi are prevalent in Cambodia, although most infants with nonspecific clinical symptoms of beriberi, including tachypnea, lack echocardiographic evidence diagnostic of the disease. Camphor activates transient receptor potential vanilloid 3 (TRPV3), a nonselective ion channel expressed in the medial preoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus and thought to be important for thermo-sensitivity. Because camphorated ointments are used commonly among Cambodian infants, we hypothesized that topical camphor modulates thermoregulatory behaviors, causing beriberi-simulating tachypnea, separate from any influence of thiamine deficiency. We assessed 9 tachypneic and 10 healthy infants for Tiger Balm use and for presence of camphor in whole blood. However, no camphor was found in blood from any infants, indicating that camphor is unrelated to tachypneic illness in Cambodian infants.
Can people memorize multilevel building as volumetric map? A study of multilevel atrium building
Authors: Lu Yi , Ye Yu
Published: April 2017

The question of whether multilevel buildings are memorized as volumetric map or collection of floors is central to spatial cognition and wayfinding studies about multilevel buildings. The stacked-floor buildings used in previous studies may limit people’s ability to integrate floors into a volumetric mental map. In this study, we assessed wayfinding and cognitive performances of 31 participants in a multilevel shopping mall with five atriums which provided adequate visual access and smooth floor transitions. (1) In the wayfinding task, we observed path choice for 31 participants in this mall. The participants’ choice for all path segments, also vertical path segments, clearly gravitated toward the most accessible spaces in the whole building, rather than most accessible space within individual floors. (2) Participants were also asked to identify the locations where they can see maximum number of stores. The identified locations can be reliably predicted by objectively measured three-dimensional visibility information, but not two-dimensional visibility information. (3) In the pointing task, participants can accurately point to out-of-sight targets in the same floor and in the different floor, in both azimuth and elevation direction. In sum, those findings suggest that people can memorize a multilevel atrium building as a volumetric map. This study also demonstrates the usefulness of developing three-dimensional configurational variables to explain human spatial behavior and spatial cognition.
Seek, test, treat: substance-using women in the HIV treatment cascade in South Africa
Authors: Wechsberg Wendee M. , van der Horst Charles , Ndirangu Jacqueline , Doherty Irene A. , Kline Tracy , Browne Felicia A. , Belus Jennifer M. , Nance Robin , Zule William A.
Published: April 2017

Background

Women in South Africa who use alcohol and other drugs face multiple barriers to HIV care. These barriers make it difficult for women to progress through each step in the HIV treatment cascade from diagnosis to treatment initiation and adherence. This paper examines correlates of HIV status, newly diagnosed HIV status, and use of antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Methods

Outreach workers recruited sexually active Black African women who used substances in Pretoria as part of a U.S. National Institutes of Health-funded geographically clustered randomized trial examining the effect of an intervention to reduce alcohol and drug use as well as sexual risk behaviors. To address the question of interest in the current investigation, cross-sectional baseline data were used. At study enrollment, all participants (N = 641) completed an interview, and underwent rapid HIV testing and biological drug screening. Those who tested positive for HIV and were eligible for ART were asked about their barriers to initiating or adhering to ART. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine correlates of HIV status, newly diagnosed HIV, and ART use.

Results

At enrollment, 55% of participants tested positive for HIV, and 36% of these women were newly diagnosed. In multivariable analyses of the entire sample, women who had completed 10th grade were less likely to be living with HIV (OR 0.69; CI 0.48, 0.99) and those from the inner city were more likely to be living with HIV (OR 1.83; CI 1.26, 2.67). Among HIV-positive participants, women were less likely to be newly diagnosed if they had ever been in substance abuse treatment (OR 0.15; CI 0.03, 0.69) or used a condom at last sex (OR 0.58; CI 0.34, 0.98) and more likely to be newly diagnosed if they were physically assaulted in the past year (OR 1.97; CI 1.01, 3.84). Among women eligible for ART, fewer were likely to be on treatment (by self-report) if they had a positive urine test for opiates or cocaine (OR 0.27; CI 0.09, 0.80).

Conclusions

These results, although cross-sectional, provide some guidance for provincial authorities to address barriers to HIV care for sexually active, substance-using vulnerable women in Pretoria. Targeting the inner city with prevention campaigns, expanding and improving substance abuse treatment programs, linking clients with simultaneous HIV testing and treatment, and targeting women who have experienced sexual assault and violence may help the government achieve the UNAIDS 90-90-90 treatment target.

Clinical Trials.gov NCT01497405 registered on December 1, 2011.
Randomized Phase III Trial of Trastuzumab Plus Capecitabine With or Without Pertuzumab in Patients With Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2–Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Who Experienced Disease Progression During or After Trastuzumab-Based Therapy
Authors: Urruticoechea Ander , Rizwanullah Mohammed , Im Seock-Ah , Ruiz Antonio Carlos Sánchez , Láng István , Tomasello Gianluca , Douthwaite Hannah , Badovinac Crnjevic Tanja , Heeson Sarah , Eng-Wong Jennifer , Muñoz Montserrat
Published: April 2017

Purpose

To assess the efficacy and safety of trastuzumab plus capecitabine with or without pertuzumab in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–positive metastatic breast cancer who experienced disease progression during or after trastuzumab-based therapy and received a prior taxane.

Patients and Methods

Patients were randomly assigned to arm A: trastuzumab 8 mg/kg → 6 mg/kg once every 3 weeks plus capecitabine 1,250 mg/m2 twice a day (2 weeks on, 1 week off, every 3 weeks); or arm B: pertuzumab 840 mg → 420 mg once every 3 weeks plus trastuzumab at the same dose and schedule as arm A plus capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 on the same schedule as arm A. The primary end point was independent review facility–assessed progression-free survival (IRF PFS). Secondary end points included overall survival (OS) and safety. Hierarchical testing procedures were used to control type I error for statistical testing of IRF PFS, OS, and objective response rate.

Results

Randomly assigned (intent-to-treat) populations were 224 and 228 patients in arms A and B, respectively. Median IRF PFS at 28.6 and 25.3 months’ median follow-up was 9.0 v 11.1 months (hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.65 to 1.02; P = .0731) and interim OS was 28.1 v 36.1 months (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.90). The most common adverse events (all grades; incidence of ≥ 10% in either arm and ≥ 5% difference between arms) were hand-foot syndrome, nausea, and neutropenia in arm A, and diarrhea, rash, and nasopharyngitis in arm B.

Conclusion

The addition of pertuzumab to trastuzumab and capecitabine did not significantly improve IRF PFS. An 8-month increase in median OS to 36.1 months with pertuzumab was observed. Statistical significance for OS cannot be claimed because of the hierarchical testing of OS after the primary PFS end point; however, the magnitude of OS difference is in keeping with prior experience of pertuzumab in metastatic breast cancer. No new safety signals were identified.
Designing Matching Mechanisms under General Distributional Constraints
Authors: Goto Masahiro , Kojima Fuhito , Kurata Ryoji , Tamura Akihisa , Yokoo Makoto
Published: April 2017

To handle various applications, we study matching under constraints. The only requirement on the constraints is heredity; given a feasible matching, any matching with fewer students at each school is also feasible. Heredity subsumes existing constraints such as regional maximum quotas and diversity constraints. With constraints, there may not exist a matching that satisfies fairness and nonwastefulness (i.e., stability). We demonstrate our new mechanism, the Adaptive Deferred Acceptance mechanism (ADA), satisfies strategy-proofness for students, nonwastefulness, and a weaker fairness property. We also offer a technique to apply ADA even if heredity is violated (e.g., minimum quotas). (JEL C78, D47, D63, D82, I20)
Importância da prática de atividade física para as pessoas com autismo
Authors: Aguiar Renata Pereira de , Pereira Fabiane Silva , Bauman Claudiana Donato
Published: April 2017

Introdução: O termo “autismo” foi utilizado para caracterizar a perda de contato com a realidade, gerando dificuldade ou impossibilidade de comunicação. Hoje, o autismo faz parte dos transtornos globais do desenvolvimento, chamados de Transtornos do Espectro Autista (TEA). Os autistas necessitam de cuidados multidisciplinares; o tratamento envolve técnicas de mudança de comportamento, programas educacionais ou de trabalho, além de terapias de linguagem/comunicação. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar uma revisão literária de trabalhos que apontassem a importância da prática de atividades físicas para o desenvolvimento de pessoas com TEA, apresentando exemplos de atividades já executadas com essa finalidade, e quais os resultados obtidos. Métodos: O presente estudo trata-se de uma revisão de literatura narrativa sobre a importância da prática de atividades físicas por parte de pessoas com autismo, e como esta variável pode auxiliar seu desenvolvimento. Resultados: Estudos demonstram que, por meio da prática de exercícios como caminhada, equinoterapia, e atividades aquáticas as pessoas com autismo conseguem desenvolver melhor sua capacidade comunicativa, reduzir o comportamento antissocial, diminuir comportamentos que demonstram inadaptação, estereotipias e agressividade. Conclusão: Apesar de ser um tema extremamente importante, não se encontram muitos estudos que abordam essa temática; por esse motivo, o presente trabalho adquire relevância e abre espaço para que outras pesquisas sobre o assunto sejam realizadas, levando a um maior conhecimento sobre o tema. Dessa forma, as pessoas com autismo poderão ser mais bem atendidas em todas as suas necessidades biopsicossociais.
Prevalência de enteroparasitos em crianças de uma unidade de educação infantil municipal de Rondonópolis – MT
Authors: Zamprone Jéssica Teixeira , Reimann Daiane Laingvoit Wilhelms , De Moura Daniele Cristie , Roma José Henrique Francisco , Castro Ludiele Souza , Marques Aline Pereira , Castro Lisie Souza , Da Silva Marcondes Alves Barbosa , Melo Laura Valdiane Luz
Published: April 2017

Objetivos: Este estudo teve como um de seus objetivos avaliar a presença de enteroparasitos em crianças que frequentavam um Centro de Educação Municipal Infantil (CMEI) de Rondonópolis - MT. Métodos: Foram realizadas as coletas das amostras fecais no período de março a maio de 2016 e, posteriormente, analisadas pelo método de Hoffman, Pons e Janer (HPJ) no laboratório de Ciências Básicas da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Campus Universitário de Rondonópolis, finalizando com um questionário sócio demográfico de fatores de risco para a infecção. Resultados: Entre as 57 crianças pesquisadas, detectou-se positividade para enteroparasitoses em 10 (17,54%) delas, o parasita mais prevalente foi a Giardia lamblia (70%). Em relação ao sexo, a maior positividade das amostras se deu entre crianças do sexo masculino. Conclusão: Os achados dessa pesquisa demonstram que, embora o Ministério da Saúde venha aplicando medidas de controle dos enteroparasitos como o Programa Saúde na Escola, mais medidas deverão ser tomadas, principalmente pelos profissionais de saúde da Atenção Primária. Uma medida simples e eficaz é a educação em saúde executada de forma específica para a conscientização dessas crianças e de seus responsáveis sobre cuidados e higienização para uma melhor qualidade de vida.
COMPASS: Continuous Open Mouse Phenotyping of Activity and Sleep Status
Authors: Brown Laurence A. , Hasan Sibah , Foster Russell G. , Peirson Stuart N.
Published: April 2017

Background: Disruption of rhythms in activity and rest occur in many diseases, and provide an important indicator of healthy physiology and behaviour. However, outside the field of sleep and circadian rhythm research, these rhythmic processes are rarely measured due to the requirement for specialised resources and expertise. Until recently, the primary approach to measuring activity in laboratory rodents has been based on voluntary running wheel activity. By contrast, measuring sleep requires the use of electroencephalography (EEG), which involves invasive surgical procedures and time-consuming data analysis.

Methods: Here we describe a simple, non-invasive system to measure home cage activity in mice based upon passive infrared (PIR) motion sensors. Careful calibration of this system will allow users to simultaneously assess sleep status in mice. The use of open-source tools and simple sensors keeps the cost and the size of data-files down, in order to increase ease of use and uptake.

Results: In addition to providing accurate data on circadian activity parameters, here we show that extended immobility of >40 seconds provides a reliable indicator of sleep, correlating well with EEG-defined sleep (Pearson’s r >0.95, 4 mice). 

Conclusions: Whilst any detailed analysis of sleep patterns in mice will require EEG, behaviourally-defined sleep provides a valuable non-invasive means of simultaneously phenotyping both circadian rhythms and sleep. Whilst previous approaches have relied upon analysis of video data, here we show that simple motion sensors provide a cheap and effective alternative, enabling real-time analysis and longitudinal studies extending over weeks or even months. The data files produced are small, enabling easy deposition and sharing. We have named this system COMPASS - Continuous Open Mouse Phenotyping of Activity and Sleep Status. This simple approach is of particular value in phenotyping screens as well as providing an ideal tool to assess activity and rest cycles for non-specialists.