bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systemic lupus erythematosus with inflammatory bowel disease-ulcerative colitis: case report
Authors: Mansour H Elsayed , Arafa S Gamal , Shehata W Abdelfatah
Published: January 2018

A 30-year-old female presented to the rheumatology outpatient clinic of the Internal Medicine Department, Ain Shams University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt, complaining of a large right leg ulcer consistent with pyoderma gangrenosum. There was history of recurrent attacks of bleeding per rectum of one-year duration. During hospitalization she noticed blurring of vision in the left eye with diffuse blackish discoloration of the feet and toes, consistent with small-vessel vasculitis. Colonoscopy with biopsy and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease-ulcerative colitis (IBD-UC). Meanwhile, the patient fulfilled the SLICC classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): recurrent oral ulcers, positive antinuclear antibody testing, proteinuria >0.5 gm/24-hour urine, positive test for lupus anticoagulant and consumed C3 complement component. Herein we report a rare case of coexistence of SLE and IBD-UC.
Reimagining publics and (non) participation: Exploring exclusion from science communication through the experiences of low-income, minority ethnic groups
Authors: Dawson Emily
Published: January 2018

This article explores science communication from the perspective of those most at risk of exclusion, drawing on ethnographic fieldwork. I conducted five focus groups and 32 interviews with participants from low-income, minority ethnic backgrounds. Using theories of social reproduction and social justice, I argue that participation in science communication is marked by structural inequalities (particularly ethnicity and class) in two ways. First, participants’ involvement in science communication practices was narrow (limited to science media consumption). Second, their experiences of exclusion centred on cultural imperialism (misrepresentation and ‘Othering’) and powerlessness (being unable to participate or change the terms of their participation). I argue that social reproduction in science communication constructs a narrow public that reflects the shape, values and practices of dominant groups, at the expense of the marginalised. The article contributes to how we might reimagine science communication’s publics by taking inclusion/exclusion and the effects of structural inequalities into account.
Governing diversity without naming it: An analysis of neighbourhood policies in Paris
Authors: Escafré-Dublet Angéline , Lelévrier Christine
Published: January 2018

Cities are places of diversity and notions of super-diversity or hyper-diversity have recently been proposed to provide for a more accurate description of the increased diversification of urban populations not only in terms of ethnicity, but also in terms of demographic profile and lifestyles. In the French context, however, urban policies have mainly been implemented following an income-based definition of population diversity that does not formerly acknowledge ‘ethnicity’, by contrast to other countries such as the UK. How do French urban policies adapt to the challenge of the increased diversification of urban populations considering they do not take into consideration ethnicity, to begin with? Do they simply ignore the ethnic dimension of urban life or do they find ways to address it? In this article, we analyse the ways in which French urban policies deal with the diversification of urban populations through the scope of equality, without recognizing ethnic difference. We take the example of Paris as a highly diverse but also divided city, in terms of income and nationality of origin. Based on a critical analysis of public policy documents and interviews with key stakeholders, we highlight the paradox of dealing with diversity in a colour-blind context: the focus on socio-economic characteristics makes it difficult to consider the intersectional dimension of inequalities.
Mapping of Public Health Jobs in India—Where Can the Public Health Graduates Be Employed?
Authors: Dahal Shanti , Sharma Anjali , Zodpey Sanjay
Published: January 2018

Introduction:

Public health programmes work to improve the health and well-being of communities by identifying the risks affecting people at different stages of life and finding best ways to minimize them. This article attempts to map the public health jobs available in India and contribute towards providing new insights in recruitment strategies for public health professionals (PHPs).

Methods:

A total of 427 public health jobs advertised in recruitment portals, newspapers and websites of organizations during 2012–2015 were analysed for title, qualification, location and job disciplines.

Results:

Higher qualification in public health and/or social sciences is much preferred followed by MBBS and management. The largest group of vacancies consisted of programme management responsibilities followed by profiles in RMNCH. Delhi, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar had the highest number of jobs.

Recommendations:

A dedicated public health jobs web portal can be a rich resource for employers for easy access to profiles of PHPs. It will also give due emphasis to public health as a profession. Building a public health cadre in state health services shall be a desirable step to ensure creation of enough job opportunities.

Conclusion:

Research should be undertaken to understand the changing trends in public health employment. Such studies can be beneficial for public health workforce planning and monitoring.
Social Construction of a Segregated Urban Space and Its Effects on Education
Authors: Ganguly Sriti
Published: January 2018

While segregation of Dalit habitations is assumed to be a characteristic primarily of the rural, studies indicate that a similar spatial organisation is reproduced in urban spaces as well where large populations, particularly of poor Dalits, continue to live in segregated settlements. This article draws on an exploratory study conducted in one such low-income Dalit neighbourhood in Delhi and examines the different ways in which a socially marginalised community constructs its socio-spatial environment ( mahaul) and perceives it as shaping their educational outcomes and at the same time being shaped by these outcomes. These constructions not only reveal how disadvantages in the form of existential struggles and low levels of parental education continue to influence the education of the present generation but also provide insights into their ideas about education, change and mobility.
The Interface Between Media Funding and Agenda Setting: The Conduit for Media Independence
Authors: Nyarko Jacob , Teer-Tomaselli Ruth Elizabeth
Published: January 2018

The media was accorded the status of the fourth estate with the objective of making it autonomous of society players like the government and corporate entities. However, its funding questions the independence of these entities. Using an exploratory mixed method that combines semi-structured interviews with the content analysis of newspapers, this study investigated the impact of media funding on the independence of government and private print media outlets in Ghana, tagging advertising as a revenue-generating source to determine agenda-setting patterns. In Ghana’s media economy, government and corporate entities influence editorial autonomy and favour state-owned papers than private outlets.
Compulsory Licensing under India’s New Model Bilateral Investment Treaty
Authors: Kaszubska Katarzyna
Published: January 2018

The traditional lack of patent protection for pharmaceutical products allowed India’s generic sector to expand and become ‘the pharmacy of the world’ supplying affordable medicines to both developed and developing countries. With the entry into force of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement in 2005, the mechanism of compulsory licensing was incorporated as a flexibility to ensure that the protection of intellectual property (IP) rights does not undermine the public access to affordable medicine. Following the issuance of the first compulsory licence by the India’s patent office to Natco for Nexavar in 2012, various domestic companies requested a licence for production of generic copies of patented drugs. The recourses and litigation over the compulsory licensing provisions under India’s Patent Act 1970 indicate the importance of the institution of compulsory licensing for ‘Indian pharma’ and its desire to rely on it in the future. This article attempts to assess the legal consequences of the new India’s Model Bilateral Investment Treaty providing investment tribunals with the jurisdiction to examine the compliance of domestic decision to grant compulsory licence with the World Trade Organization (WTO) TRIPS Agreement.

JEL: K33, P45, F21, O34, O53, O19
Ibrutinib targets microRNA-21 in multiple myeloma cells by inhibiting NF-κB and STAT3
Authors: Ma Jing , Gong Wei , Liu Su , Li Qian , Guo Mengzheng , Wang Jinhan , Wang Suying , Chen Naiyao , Wang Yafei , Liu Qiang , Zhao Hui
Published: January 2018

The oncogenic microRNA-21 contributes to the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma. Ibrutinib (also referred to as PCI-32765), an inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase, while its effects on multiple myeloma have not been well described. Here, we show that microRNA-21 is an oncogenic marker closely linked with progression of multiple myeloma. Moreover, ibrutinib attenuates microRNA-21 expression in multiple myeloma cells by inhibiting nuclear factor-κB and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathways. Taken together, our results suggest that ibrutinib is a promising potential treatment for multiple myeloma. Further investigation of mechanisms of ibrutinib function in multiple myeloma will be necessary to evaluate its use as a novel multiple myeloma treatment.
A Citation Analysis of the Impact of Journals on Contemporary Small Enterprise Research
Authors: Romano Claudio , Ratnatunga Janek
Published: January 2018

Small Enterprise journals have played an increasingly important role in the dissemination of information, particularly in the last decade. This study explores the impact of small enterprise journals and articles on contemporary small enterprise research (CSER) through the examination of a sample of 725 articles and approximately 16,720 of their citations. CSER is defined as all main articles published during 1986–1992 in the Journal of Small Business Management, International Small Business Journal, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Journal of Business Venturing, Small Business Economics and Asia Pacific International Management Forum. One of the conclusions of the study is that the source journal articles as a group initially had a minimal impact on contemporary small enterprise research, although there is evidence of an increasing level of impact in the more recent years. It is also evident from the present study that the Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice have had the greatest impact on the development and advancement on contemporary small enterprise research.
The Impact of Transculturality on Student Experience of Higher Education
Authors: Smith Heidi A. , Segbers Teresa
Published: January 2018

Background: Higher education outdoor studies programs retain a critical interest in student experiences as they seek to prepare citizens in a globalized, yet simultaneously neo-nationalist, world. Purpose: This research explored the impact of transculturality on the student experience of outdoor studies in the Transcultural European Outdoor Studies (TEOS) Masters, a course hosted by three universities in three countries. Methodology/Approach: A longitudinal study of the student experience, using a conceptual framework of self, place, transculturality, and outdoor learning theory underpins the research. Semistructured online interviews and one face-to-face retrospective interview were conducted with four participants throughout the course (Semesters 1, 2, 3), plus an additional five participants prior to the end of Semester 3. Findings/Conclusions: The findings elucidate students’ transcultural self-growth and transcultural capabilities, including resilience, intelligence, and fatigue. Implications: Although challenges exist for course design, considerations of transcultural pedagogy and curricula, reflective practices, support for students and teaching staff, cultural learning experiences (including language acquisition), and a willingness to move beyond traditional models of curricula at the university level are recommended.
Everyday Indignities: Using the Microaggressions Framework to Understand Weight Stigma
Authors: Munro Lauren
Published: January 2018

In this article, the author reviews the ways that the microaggressions framework has been taken up with regard to weight stigma by academics and activists and offers insight into its value for conceptualizing and challenging weight stigma.
Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking: A Normative Comparison with Refusing Lifesaving Treatment and Advance Directives
Authors: Menzel Paul T.
Published: January 2018

Refusal of lifesaving treatment, and such refusal by advance directive, are widely recognized as ethically and legally permissible. Voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED) is not. Ethically and legally, how does VSED compare with these two more established ways for patients to control the end of life? Is it more questionable because with VSED the patient intends to cause her death, or because those who assist it with palliative care could be assisting a suicide?

In fact the ethical and legal basis for VSED is virtually as strong as for refusing lifesaving treatment and less problematic than the basis for refusing treatment by advance directive. VSED should take its proper place among the accepted, permissible ways by which people can control the time and manner of death.
Linking the Governance of Research Consortia to Global Health Justice: A Case Study of Future Health Systems
Authors: Pratt Bridget , Hyder Adnan A.
Published: January 2018

Global health research partnerships are increasingly taking the form of consortia. Recent scholarship has proposed what features of governance may be necessary for these consortia to advance justice in global health. That guidance purports three elements of global health research consortia are essential — their research priorities, research capacity development strategies, research translation strategies — and should be structured to promote the health of the worst-off globally. This paper adopted a reflective equilibrium approach, testing the proposed ethical guidance against the experience of a global health research consortium with equity objectives. Case study research was performed with Future Health Systems (FHS), a health systems research consortium funded over two phases. Data on FHS Phase-2 were gathered through in-depth interviews with steering committee members and junior researchers and collection of consortium-related documents. Thematic analysis of the data for consistency with the proposed guidance generated recommendations for how the guidance might be better articulated and identified areas where it could usefully be expanded. Factors facilitating FHS alignment with the ethical guidance were also identified, including early engagement and partnership with low and middle-income country stakeholders, the learning developed during FHS Phase-1, and aspects of the grant program funding it.
Case Report of IgM Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Bonilla-Valentín Fernando Javier , Cerra Javier , Cáceres-Perkins William , Alsina Melissa
Published: January 2018

IgM multiple myeloma is an exceedingly rare hematologic entity comprising only less than 0.5% of multiple myeloma cases. Given the rarity of this disorder, it makes it a challenge to differentiate from other more prevalent hematologic disorders like Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia. These 2 diseases have the common finding of an IgM monoclonal gammopathy and distinguishing between these 2 diagnoses is of great importance given that therapy and prognosis differ significantly. This report illustrates the case of a 64-year-old man who presented with IgM lambda monoclonal gammopathy in whom signs, symptoms, laboratories, and imaging were initially thought to be consistent with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia. Upon further analysis, which included bone marrow biopsy, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and MYD88 (L265P) gene mutation analysis, the rare diagnosis of IgM multiple myeloma was confirmed. As highlighted by this patient’s case, reaching the diagnosis of IgM multiple myeloma can be a difficult task which requires a high index of suspicion and accurate diagnostic methods. By using the approach detailed in this report, more cases of IgM multiple myeloma can be diagnosed early, which in turn may lead to earlier treatment and better outcomes.
Liver Resection and Surgical Strategies for Management of Primary Liver Cancer
Authors: Orcutt Sonia T. , Anaya Daniel A.
Published: January 2018

Primary liver cancer—including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC)—incidence is increasing and is an important source of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Management of these cancers, even when localized, is challenging due to the association with underlying liver disease and the complex anatomy of the liver. Although for ICC, surgical resection provides the only potential cure, for HCC, the risks and benefits of the multiple curative intent options must be considered to individualize treatment based upon tumor factors, baseline liver function, and the functional status of the patient. The principles of surgical resection for both HCC and ICC include margin-negative resections with preservation of adequate function of the residual liver. As the safety of surgical resection has improved in recent years, the role of liver resection for HCC has expanded to include selected patients with preserved liver function and small tumors (ablation as an alternative), tumors within Milan criteria (transplant as an alternative), and patients with large (>5 cm) and giant (>10 cm) HCC or with poor prognostic features (for whom surgery is infrequently offered) due to a survival benefit with resection for selected patients. An important surgical consideration specifically for ICC includes the high risk of nodal metastasis, for which portal lymphadenectomy is recommended at the time of hepatectomy for staging. For both diseases, onco-surgical strategies including portal vein embolization and parenchymal-sparing resections have increased the number of patients eligible for curative liver resection by improving patient outcomes. Multidisciplinary evaluation is critical in the management of patients with primary liver cancer to provide and coordinate the best treatments possible for these patients.
Family-Centered Care and Positive Developmental Outcomes for Youth With Special Health Care Needs: Variations Across Family Structures
Authors: Russell Luke T. , Beckmeyer Jonathon J. , Su-Russell Chang
Published: January 2018

Drawing on a social determinants of health framework, we evaluated associations between perceived family-centered care (FCC) and positive developmental outcomes for youth with special health care needs across six different family structures (married biological families, cohabiting biological families, married stepfamilies, cohabiting stepfamilies, divorced/separated single-mother families, and never-married single-mother families). Using data from the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children’s Health, we found that married biological families perceive greater FCC than do other family structures. Perceived FCC was positively associated with all three positive youth outcomes evaluated (children’s health, participation in extracurricular activities, and flourishing) in married biological families, and two of the three outcomes (children’s health and flourishing) in married stepfamilies and divorced/separated single-mother families. Implications for health care provision and future research with structurally diverse families are discussed.
Developmental Evaluator Functional Role Activities and Programmatic Developments: A Case Study Analysis
Authors: Baldwin Cheryl K. , Lander Rachel
Published: January 2018

This case study examined the functional role activities of developmental evaluators in a school and community partnership employing a collaborative program model to improve an urban underperforming public school. Program implementers’ assessments of program developments and their experience with developmental evaluators were also examined. Data sources included program documents, evaluator field notes, and two rounds of interviews with program implementers. Findings indicate that evaluators responded to emergent needs with intervention activities, which involved diagnosing program conditions and focusing on two evaluative targets, the program in context and implementers’ evolving understanding of cross-agency collaboration. Evaluators' influence was greatest in relation to their direct facilitation of the project team and neutrality was a valued evaluator quality. Further research exploring evaluator direct and indirect influence on implementer learning is needed to advance developmental evaluation theory and the concept of program developments.
Time Series Land Cover Mapping and Change Detection Analysis Using Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing, Northern Ethiopia
Authors: Ayele Gebiaw T , Tebeje Aschalew K , Demissie Solomon S , Belete Mulugeta A , Jemberrie Mengistu A , Teshome Wondie M , Mengistu Dereje T , Teshale Engidasew Z
Published: January 2018

Land use planners require up-to-date and spatially accurate time series land resources information and changing pattern for future management. As a result, assessing the status of land cover change due to population growth and arable expansion, land degradation and poor resource management, partial implementation of policy strategies, and poorly planned infrastructural development is essential. Thus, the objective of the study was to quantify the spatiotemporal dynamics of land use land cover change between 1995 and 2014 using 5 multi-temporal cloud-free Landsat Thematic Mapper images. The maximum likelihood (ML)-supervised classification technique was applied to create signature classes for significant land cover categories using means and variances of the training data to estimate the probability that a pixel is a member of a class. The final Bayesian ML classification resulted in 12 major land cover units, and the spatiotemporal change was quantified using post-classification and statistical change detection techniques. For a period of 20 years, there was a continuously increasing demand for arable areas, which can be represented by an exponential growth model. Excepting the year 2009, the built-up area has shown a steady increase due to population growth and its need for infrastructure development. There was nearly a constant trend for water bodies with a change in slope significantly less than +0.01%. The 2014 land cover change statistics revealed that the area was mainly covered by cultivated, wood, bush, shrub, grass, and forest land mapping units accounting nearly 63%, 12%, 8%, 6%, 4%, and 2% of the total, respectively. Land cover change with agro-climatic zones, soil types, and slope classes was common in most part of the area and the conversion of grazing land into plantation trees and closure area development were major changes in the past 20 years.
Assessment of Ramadan Education and Knowledge Among Diabetic Patients
Authors: Almalki Mussa Hussain , Hussen Ibtihal , Khan Shawana A. , Almaghamsi Abdulrahman , Alshahrani Fahad
Published: January 2018

Background:

During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until dusk for one lunar month every year. Most of the Muslim patients with diabetes are unaware of the potential complications that can occur while fasting, such as hypoglycemia. The aim of this study is to assess the the patient education level and patients’ overall awareness of any possible complications that could occur while fasting during Ramadan and to determine how these patients deal with these complications.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional study and surveyed diabetic patients about their diabetes-related knowledge over a period of 4 months from the outpatient clinic at the Obesity, Endocrine, and Metabolism Center at King Fahad Medical City. Patients were included if they were ≥16 years and if they had been receiving treatment for at least 1 year before the study, irrespective of the medications used; patients were also asked about the presence or absence of complications.

Results:

This study included 477 patients (325 women and 152 men). Most patients (297; 62.3%) had type 2 diabetes. The patients’ mean age was 39.72 ± 15.29 years, and the mean duration of diabetes was 10.80 ± 5.88 years. During the preceding Ramadan, 76% of patients reported fasting, whereas 58% said that they monitored their blood glucose levels once per day. Hypoglycemic episodes were reported in 60.3% of cases with type 2 diabetes and in 8.3% of cases with type 1 diabetes. Among those who had hypoglycemia, 2.8% of patients with type 1 diabetes and 17.8% with type 2 diabetes broke their fast. Finally, 54% of patients reported that their health care providers offered them instructions on diabetes management during Ramadan.

Conclusions:

Ramadan health education in diabetes can encourage, improve, and guide patients to change their lifestyles during Ramadan while minimizing the risk of acute complications.
The Synoptic City: State, ‘Place’ and Power
Authors: Coleman Roy
Published: January 2018

Early 20th-century urban expansion developed alongside media technologies to aid communication across increasingly differentiated and divided social groupings. Early sociologists maintained that this technology was problematic in relation to the potential for social solidarity and broad citizen political participation. This article extends these early ideas in relation to the synoptic city: a component of neoliberal statecraft generating its own media infrastructure, imaginaries, and messaging pertaining to the ideal city and the right to the city. In this article, it is argued that synoptic power is conjoined with a culture of entrepreneurialism attempting to confer legitimacy on the latter in emotional, sensual and value-specific terms. Synoptic technologies attempt to cultivate common experiences ‘for the many’ but are in fact produced by ‘the few’, with the possible danger of generating highly scripted views of entrepreneurial space and ‘place’ through celebratory animation and strategic silencing.
On the user’s side
Authors: Martini Michele
Published: January 2018

The rise of YouTube as a means of social struggle is progressively reshaping the relationship between macro-level international organizations and local actors who adopt media-based resistance strategies. Accordingly, this article addresses the following issue: how has the evolution and expansion of YouTube redefined the political relevance of viewership? To answer this question, the transforming role of the viewer will be examined through the comparison of diverse human rights videos which sparked national and international outrage. This comparison will shed light on how the development and transnational diffusion of new forms of online video-mediated communication have changed the social perception of everyday media practices and experiences. Ultimately, the recent use of camera-drones and live-streaming technologies will be discussed in relation to pioneering forms of collective digital witnessing and their implications in the contemporary political landscape.
The political economy of the assessment of value of new health technologies
Authors: Karnon Jonathan , Edney Laura , Afzali Hossein
Published: January 2018

Health technology assessment provides a common framework for evaluating the costs and benefits of new health technologies to inform decisions on the public funding of new pharmaceuticals and other health technologies. In Australia and England, empirical analyses of the opportunity costs of government spending on new health technologies suggest more quality adjusted life years are being forgone than are being gained by a non-trivial proportion of funded health technologies. This essay considers the relevance of available empirical estimates of opportunity costs and explores the relationship between the public funding of health technologies and broader political and economic factors. We conclude that the benefits of a general reduction in the prices paid by governments for new technologies outweigh the costs, but evidence of informed public acceptance of reduced access to new health technologies may be required to shift the current approach to assessing the value of new health technologies.
The reliability of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment using telehealth in a rural setting with veterans
Authors: DeYoung Nathaniel , Shenal Brian V
Published: January 2018

Background

Telehealth neuropsychological services can increase the availability of specialised care for individuals in rural areas where barriers to these services are faced. As this practice becomes more commonplace, the reliability and validity of neuropsychological assessment administered by telehealth continues to be established. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment, a screener for general neurocognitive dysfunction, may be particularly useful since this measure can be given by telehealth with minimal adaptation.

Methods

Veterans from a rural area of the country who were referred to an outpatient neuropsychology clinic were administered the Montreal Cognitive Assessment either in-person or by telehealth by a clinician. A second clinician observed the administration in-person or by telehealth and independently scored the each participant’s performance. The inter-rater reliabilities across conditions were compared to assess for differences between in-person and telehealth consultations.

Results

The inter-rater reliability of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment across the three conditions of interest was acceptably high and values ranged from r = 0.88 to r = 0.98. Reliability correlations were compared and no significant differences among the conditions were observed ( p’s > 0.10). Beyond reliability, univariate comparison of the absolute mean differences of clinician scores showed no significant differences among the actual raw scores of the three conditions tested, indicating good accuracy ( p = 0.56).

Conclusions

The inter-rater reliabilities of Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores across conditions were all acceptably high, and administration of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment using telehealth technology did not significantly alter the total scores. Overall, the lack of significant differences suggests that administering the Montreal Cognitive Assessment by telehealth is reliable, accurate and well received by participants.
Spiritual Health and Life-Orientation Measure: Psychometric properties of the Brazilian Portuguese version
Authors: Valdivia Lucianne J , Alves Lucas PC , Rocha Neusa S
Published: January 2018

This study aimed to translate into Brazilian Portuguese and evaluate the main psychometric properties from Spiritual Health and Life-Orientation Measure in a sample of 487 students aged 9–15 years in Southern Brazil. Spiritual Health and Life-Orientation Measure is divided into Ideals and Lived Experience sections and showed high internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.94). Comparison of mean values between age showed a tendency to decrease spirituality scores with increasing age. Discriminate validity of mean scores between groups of atheists, “spiritual, but not religious,” and religious was significant in all domains (0.026 <  p < 0.001). Spiritual Health and Life-Orientation Measure presents adequate psychometric properties and may contribute to study spirituality in children and adolescents.
Predicting and explaining inflammation in Crohn’s disease patients using predictive analytics methods and electronic medical record data
Authors: Reddy Bhargava K , Delen Dursun , Agrawal Rupesh K
Published: January 2018

Crohn’s disease is among the chronic inflammatory bowel diseases that impact the gastrointestinal tract. Understanding and predicting the severity of inflammation in real-time settings is critical to disease management. Extant literature has primarily focused on studies that are conducted in clinical trial settings to investigate the impact of a drug treatment on the remission status of the disease. This research proposes an analytics methodology where three different types of prediction models are developed to predict and to explain the severity of inflammation in patients diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. The results show that machine-learning-based analytic methods such as gradient boosting machines can predict the inflammation severity with a very high accuracy (area under the curve = 92.82%), followed by regularized regression and logistic regression. According to the findings, a combination of baseline laboratory parameters, patient demographic characteristics, and disease location are among the strongest predictors of inflammation severity in Crohn’s disease patients.
The bright lights: The development of oppositional consciousness among DACAmented Latino youth
Authors: Martinez Lisa M , Salazar Maria del Carmen
Published: January 2018

This study asks the question, “How do diverse social spaces support or constrain the development of oppositional consciousness among DACAmented Latina/o youth?” Our analysis is based on 40 in-depth interviews with Latina/o youth and young adults living in Colorado who received a two-year reprieve from deportation and work authorization through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program enacted in 2012. The findings indicate the development of three points along a continuum of oppositional consciousness, which we term latent, emergent, and manifest. The implications of this study reveal how social spaces inside and outside of schools in a non-traditional destination can support or constrain the oppositional consciousness of liminally legal DACA recipients.
Investigating political brand reputation with qualitative projective techniques from the perspective of young adults
Authors: Pich Christopher , Armannsdottir Guja , Spry Louise
Published: January 2018

Capturing and understanding the images and reputations external stakeholders assign to brands can be confusing and challenging. This is reinforced by explicit calls for more pragmatic tools and methods to comprehend the external orientation of brands. We respond by investigating the applicability of qualitative projective techniques in exploration of the external current image and long-term reputation of the UK Conservative Party corporate brand from the perspective of young voters aged 18–24 years. This is achieved by comparing and contrasting the external brand images prior the 2015 UK General Election with the findings collected before the 2010 UK General Election. We demonstrate that qualitative projective techniques are useful applications to capture, deconstruct, and understand current image and long-term reputation of political brands. Organizations including those beyond the political context will be able to use this article as a guide to generate a deeper understanding of their brands image and consistency of their reputation.
On the myth of reported precision in public opinion polls
Authors: Peterson Robert A
Published: January 2018

Many public opinion polls report a mythical margin of error. These reported margins of error are calculated on the basis of a nonexistent (fictitious) dichotomous poll question and are completely unrelated to the actual question responses in a poll. Because it can convey a false sense of poll precision, a mythical margin of error can lead to unsupported and even incorrect inferences regarding the precision of a public opinion poll. This research note documents the existence and implications of mythical margins of error and offers suggestions for addressing them.
A condition-based opportunistic maintenance strategy for multi-component system
Authors: Zhao Hongshan , Xu Fanhao , Liang Botong , Zhang Jianping , Song Peng
Published: January 2018

As a new dynamic maintenance strategy, the condition-based opportunistic maintenance strategy for multi-component system is presented in this work. In the strategy, the degeneration of each component is described by Weibull proportional hazards model or Weibull proportional intensity model, and the condition indicator is defined to characterize the operating state of each component. Then, when and how to maintain a component can be confirmed by comparing the value of the condition indicator with that of the maintenance threshold function. Condition-based maintenance will be implemented on a component if the value of its condition indicator exceeds that of its condition-based maintenance threshold function. Meanwhile, opportunistic maintenance will also be implemented on a component if the value of its condition indicator exceeds that of its opportunistic maintenance threshold function. The two maintenance threshold functions can be determined by minimizing maintenance cost. Finally, taking the wind turbine as an example of a multi-component system, simulation analyses are described to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the condition-based opportunistic maintenance strategy.
Theoretical Literature Review: Tracing the Life Cycle of a Theory and Its Verified and Falsified Statements
Authors: Turner John R. , Baker Rose , Kellner Frank
Published: January 2018

The Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD) has proven to be a source of knowledge providing research in the forms of theory development, literature reviews, educational and descriptive analyses, critical analyses, and empirical research studies. Given this vast body of knowledge, there has not been a call for researchers to provide a literature review format for tracing the life cycles of individual theories, differentiating between formal and informal theories within human resource development’s (HRD) body of knowledge. The current article proposes a format for conducting a theoretical literature review, using path-goal leadership theory and the learning organization as two examples to showcase the benefits of using a theoretical literature review. Incorporating theoretical literature reviews to some of the AHRD’s journals could help in identifying and mapping the field’s formal and informal theories while aiding in providing additional historical reviews for the discipline.
Examining the Concurrent Criterion-Related Validity of Direct Behavior Rating–Single Item Scales With Students With Social Competence Deficits
Authors: Kilgus Stephen P. , Riley-Tillman T. Chris , Stichter Janine P. , Schoemann Alexander M. , Owens Sarah
Published: January 2018

A line of research has supported the development and validation of Direct Behavior Rating–Single Item Scales (DBR-SIS) for use in progress monitoring. Yet, this research was largely conducted within the general education setting with typically developing children. It is unknown whether the tool may be defensibly used with students exhibiting more substantial concerns, including students with social competence difficulties. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the concurrent validity of DBR-SIS in a middle school sample of students exhibiting substantial social competence concerns ( n = 58). Students were assessed using both DBR-SIS and systematic direct observation (SDO) across three target behaviors. Each student was enrolled in one of two interventions: the Social Competence Intervention or a business-as-usual control condition. Students were assessed across three time points, including baseline, mid-intervention, and postintervention. A review of across-time correlations indicated small to moderate correlations between DBR-SIS and SDO data ( r = .25–.45). Results further suggested that the relationships between DBR-SIS and SDO targets were small to large at baseline. Correlations attenuated over time, though differences across time points were not statistically significant. This was with the exception of academic engagement correlations, which remained moderate–high across all time points.
Transforming systems engineering through digital engineering
Authors: Bone Mary A , Blackburn Mark R , Rhodes Donna H , Cohen David N , Guerrero Jaime A
Published: January 2018

This article describes Department of Defense (DoD) Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC) efforts leading to and supporting the DoD Digital Engineering (DE) initiative. Topics include the SERC’s initial collaboration with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in 2013 as well as ongoing SERC DE research. The article also identifies future research needed to continue to develop the DE ecosystem for system of systems acquisition, which will require rapidly changing mission strategies to address ever-evolving threats.
Air Pollution and Human Sperm Sex Ratio
Authors: Radwan Michał , Dziewirska Emila , Radwan Paweł , Jakubowski Lucjusz , Hanke Wojciech , Jurewicz Joanna
Published: January 2018

The present study was designed to address the hypothesis that exposure to specific air pollutants may impact human sperm Y:X chromosome ratio. The study population consisted of 195 men who were attending an infertility clinic for diagnostic purposes and who had normal semen concentration of 15–300 mln/ml (WHO, 2010). Participants represented a subset of men in a multicenter parent study conducted in Poland to evaluate environmental factors and male fertility. Participants were interviewed and provided a semen sample. The Y:X ratio was assessed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Air quality data were obtained from the AirBase database. In multivariate analysis the significant reduction was observed in the proportion of Y/X chromosome bearing sperm and exposure to particulate matter >10 μm in aerodynamic diameter PM10 ( p = .009) and particulate matter <10 μm in aerodynamic diameter PM2.5 ( p = .023). The observed effects of a lower Y:X sperm chromosome ratio among men exposed to air pollution support the evidence that the trend of declining sex ratio in several societies over past decades has been due to exposure to air pollution; however due to limited data on this issue, the obtained results should be confirmed in longitudinal studies.
Motion mapping of the heterogeneous master–slave system for intuitive telemanipulation
Authors: Gong Daoxiong , Zhao Jin , Yu Jianjun , Zuo Guoyu
Published: January 2018

Heterogeneous master–slave robots are widely used as both the assistive robot system for the elder/disabled people and the teleoperation robot system in dangerous environments. For the sake of intuitive teleoperation, motion mapping should be applied to keep the slave arm possessing the similar configuration of the master arm in the whole course of telemanipulation. We propose a motion mapping on the joint analog level based on unit dual quaternions (UDQs) for the telecontrol of a heterogeneous slave robot arm via the motion of human master arm. First, we analogize the links of the slave robot to the links of the human master arm, and accordingly group the slave arm joints into “shoulder,” “elbow,” and “wrist” joint analog sets. Then, we capture the motion of the human master arm via a wearable motion capture system and take it as the motion order of the slave arm. Finally, we solve the motion of slave robot arm’s joint via UDQ-based 1-, 2-, and 3-Degree of freedom (DOF) orientation error UDQ decomposition algorithms that are suit for solving a typical class of robotic slave arms. As a result, the operator can manipulate the heterogeneous robot system intuitively and conveniently, and the fatigue degree and error rate of the user can be significantly reduced, and thus the safety of teleoperation in an unstructured and constrained environment can be significantly improved.
Development and Use of Skills in the Workforce
Authors: Williams Marilyn
Published: January 2018

This paper was presented at the World Conference on Surgical Patient Care, Barcelona, Spain, 25–29 September 2005.
Informed Consent
Authors: Steevenson Grania
Published: January 2018

The signed consent form is the physical evidence that consent has been obtained from the patient, but this alone is not enough and it is the addition of the word ‘informed’ that is open to interpretation and has needed legal definition in the past. The patient's consent should only be given, or indeed accepted, secure in the knowledge that all aspects, ramifications and possible risks have been adequately disclosed, explained and understood by the patient. This article will focus on the disclosure aspect of informed consent. Patients'’ names and identities in clinical practice have been changed to respect their confidentiality and to preserve their anonymity.
The Naked Researcher Stripping Research down to Its Bare Essentials
Authors: Tanner Judith
Published: January 2018

The Siobhan Rankin Lecture is given each year at Congress in memory of a previous Chair of the Association. Individuals invited to give this lecture are experts within their chosen fields. In 2005 Professor Judith Tanner was asked to describe her work in encouraging perioperative practitioners to undertake research in clinical practice. This paper is based on Professor Tanner's presentation.
Nil by mouth: A misleading statement
Authors: Chand Manish , Dabbas Natalie
Published: January 2018

Preoperative fasting is universally accepted as a beneficial practice to reduce the risk of pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents during the induction of general anaesthesia. What is less clear for many junior doctors and nurses is the administration of oral medication during the fasting period. This study aims to highlight the subjective understanding of the statement, ‘nil by mouth’, with regard to drug administration.
Plagiarism: Understanding and Management
Authors: Wicker Paul
Published: January 2018

An epidemic of plagiarism is sweeping the world. A study carried out in the US suggested that 80% of college students admit to cheating at least once (Ashworth et al 1997). Alternative evidence from an American education and software company, Plagiarism.org , reported that 36% of undergraduates plagiarise written material and that 90% of students believe that cheaters are never caught or disciplined ( Plagiarism.org 2005). Closer to home, research carried out in the UK by Clare (1996) suggested that 50% of students copy work and invent data. More recently the Plagiarism Advisory Service, based at Northumbria University, reported that 25% of students plagiarise, while lecturers only detect plagiarism 3% of the time (Plagiarism Advisory Service 2006).
A Reflection on the Development of the Advanced Scrub Practitioner
Authors: Deighton Christine
Published: January 2018

From the time in 1990 when I began my career in the operating theatre it has been the unwritten assumption that a member of the theatre team will assist the surgeon with his work. This has always been done on an ad hoc and, some might say, casual basis, as no member of the team was qualified to take this role upon their shoulders. There was the assumption that these ‘first assistant’ activities were performed with accountability and liability. But where was the evidence for this practice? This article considers the evolution of the Advanced Scrub Practitioner (ASP) role from its beginnings to the position it is today.