bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Associated With Outcomes After Lumbar Spine Surgery?
Authors: Carreon Leah Y. , Jespersen Annette B. , Støttrup Christian C. , Hansen Karen H. , Andersen Mikkel O.
Published: May 2019

Study Design:

Longitudinal cohort.

Objectives:

The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was developed to provide clinicians a reliable, valid, and practical tool to identify and quantify the anxiety and depression in medical patients. Several studies have shown that patients with chronic low back pain may have subclinical depression and impairments in mental health and that these in turn may lead to less than optimal results after lumbar spine surgery. The purpose of this study is to determine if there are associations between preoperative HADS and differences in pre- and postoperative health-related quality-of-life (HRQOLs) scores after spine surgery.

Methods:

From a single center, a consecutive series of patients completed the HADS, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Short Form-36 (SF-36), EuroQOL-5D (EQ-5D), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for back and leg pain. Except for HADS, the patients completed the same HRQOLs 1 year after surgery.

Results:

Of 308 eligible cases, 208 (68%) had follow-up data available and were included in the analysis. Patients in the HADS-Anxiety (HADS-A) Abnormal category had the worst preoperative HRQOLs but had the greatest improvement in 1-year postoperative scores. Except for VAS Leg Pain, preoperative HRQOLs were better in patients in the HADS-Depressed (HADS-D) Normal category. Patients in the HADS-D Abnormal category had statistically significantly greater improvement in 1-year postoperative EQ-5D and ODI scores when compared with the other cohorts.

Conclusion:

Worse HADS-A and HADS-D scores are associated with worse preoperative HRQOL scores in patients with lumbar degenerative disorders scheduled for spine surgery. However, similar improvements in HRQOLs can be expected 1 year postoperative regardless of the patients’ HADS scores.
Enhancing Geometric Fidelity of 3-Dimensional Electroanatomic Mapping During Open Chest Epicardial Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation
Authors: Soto Gabriel E. , Gibbons Joseph G.
Published: May 2019

Although electroanatomic mapping techniques have been previously applied to open chest epicardial ablation procedures, such efforts have often been limited by significant geometric distortions introduced by the need to use nonstandard mapping patch placements and by intrathoracic conductance changes introduced by having the pericardial space exposed. In this article, we present a case of a patient with recurrent hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia who underwent a successful open chest epicardial ablation procedure with electroanatomic mapping in which geometric distortions were minimized by judicious placement of mapping patches and the use of a saline bath within the pericardial space.
Preoperative Factors Associated With Subsequent Distal Clavicle Resection After Rotator Cuff Repair
Authors: Chalmers Peter N. , Granger Erin , Ross Hunter , Burks Robert T. , Tashjian Robert Z.
Published: May 2019

Background:

Acromioclavicular osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tears are commonly coincident.

Purpose:

To determine the rate of subsequent distal clavicle excision (DCE) when rotator cuff repair (RCR) is performed without DCE and the risk factors for subsequent DCE after RCR.

Study Design:

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

The operative logs of 2 surgeons from 2007 to 2016 were retrospectively reviewed for all patients who underwent RCR with or without DCE. Preoperative demographic data, symptoms, physical examination, and standardized outcomes (visual analog scale for pain, Simple Shoulder Test, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score) were noted. Acromioclavicular (AC) arthritis was classified on preoperative radiographs. The rate of subsequent surgery on the AC joint was determined via chart review, and univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine risk factors for revision.

Results:

In total, 894 patients underwent isolated RCR, and 46 underwent concomitant RCR and DCE. On retrospective chart review, of those who underwent isolated RCR, the revision rate for any reason was 7.5% (67 patients), and the rate of subsequent AC surgery was 1.1% (10 patients). Preoperatively, 88% of the total cohort was considered to have a radiographically normal AC joint. On multivariate analysis of patients who underwent isolated RCR, the risk factors for subsequent AC surgery included preoperative tenderness to palpation at the AC joint (10% vs 63%, P < .001), female sex (35% vs 80%, P < .001), and surgery on the dominant side (60% vs 100%, P = .002). On multivariate analysis, these 3 factors explained 50% of the variance in revision AC surgery. When these 3 factors were present in combination, there was a 40% rate of revision AC surgery.

Conclusion:

This records review found that 10 of 894 (1.1%) rotator cuff repairs underwent subsequent distal clavicle resection. Risk factors for subsequent DCE included tenderness to palpation at the AC joint, female sex, and surgery on the dominant side, with subsequent DCE performed in 40% of cases with a combination of these 3 factors. Because the duration of follow-up was short and the number of reoperations small, some caution is recommended in interpreting these results, as the analyses may be underpowered.
Dimensions of Inequality: Black Immigrants’ Occupational Segregation in the United States
Authors: Tesfai Rebbeca , Thomas Kevin J. A.
Published: May 2019

The U.S. labor market is increasingly made up of immigrant workers, and considerable research has focused on occupational segregation as an indicator of their labor market incorporation. However, most studies focus on Hispanic populations, excluding one of the fastest growing immigrant groups: foreign-born blacks. Because of their shared race, African and Caribbean immigrants may experience the same structural barriers as U.S.-born blacks. However, researchers hypothesize that black immigrants are advantaged in the labor market relative to U.S.-born blacks because of social network hiring and less discrimination by employers. Using 2011–2015 pooled American Community Survey data, this study is among the first quantitative studies to examine black immigrants’ occupational segregation in the United States. The authors use the Duncan and Duncan Dissimilarity Index to estimate black immigrants’ segregation from U.S.-born whites and blacks and regression analyses to identify predictors of occupational segregation. Consistent with previous work focusing on Hispanic immigrants, foreign-born blacks are highly overrepresented in a few occupations. African and Caribbean immigrants experience more occupational segregation from whites than the U.S.-born, with African immigrants most segregated. Africans are also more segregated from U.S.-born blacks than Caribbean immigrants. Results of the regression analyses suggest that African immigrants are penalized rather than rewarded for educational attainment. The authors find that the size of the coethnic population and the share of coethnics who are self-employed are associated with a decline in occupational segregation. Future research is needed to determine the impact of lower occupational segregation on the income of self-employed black immigrants.
Cognitive Function and Digital Device Use in Older Adults Attending a Memory Clinic
Authors: Wu Ya-Huei , Lewis Manon , Rigaud Anne-Sophie
Published: May 2019

This study investigated cognitive function in relation to the use of a computer and a touchscreen device among older adults attending a memory clinic. The entire sample ( n = 323) was categorized into four profiles, according to the frequency of digital device use (either daily or non-daily usage). Results showed that on a daily basis, 26% of the sample used both a computer and a touchscreen device, 26.9% used only a computer, 7.1% used only a touchscreen device, and 39.9% used neither type of digital device. There were significant group differences on age, education, and clinical diagnosis ( p < .001). Non-daily users of digital devices had significantly lower performance, compared with daily users of both types of digital device, on measures of global cognitive function, processing speed, short-term memory, and several components of executive function ( p < .001). Falling behind with regard to the use of digital devices might reflect underlying poor cognitive capacities.
Development and validation of the Adolescent Asthma Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (AASEQ)
Authors: Holley Simone , Knibb Rebecca , Latter Sue , Liossi Christina , Mitchell Frances , Radley Ruth , Roberts Graham
Published: May 2019

Perceived self-efficacy is the belief that one can manage prospective situations. Good asthma self-management self-efficacy is associated with better asthma outcomes. However, a well-developed and validated tool to measure adolescent asthma self-management self-efficacy is lacking. Our objective was to develop and validate an Adolescent Asthma Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (AASEQ).

The first stage of the study included a review of the literature, interviews with adolescents with asthma and consultations with parents and relevant healthcare professionals to develop a prototype scale. To assess reliability and validity, a further group of adolescents completed the prototype scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale and KidCOPE (measures coping styles). Retesting was undertaken to assess longitudinal validity.

Interviews with 28 adolescents and consultations with other stakeholders resulted in a 38-item prototype scale. Key themes were medication, symptom management, triggers, knowledge, attitude and beliefs around asthma, supportive relationships, schools and healthcare professionals. The prototype scale was completed by 243 adolescents. Factor and reliability analysis reduced it to a 27-item scale with four subsections: symptom management; medication; friends, family and school; and asthma beliefs. The 27-item scale had respectable to excellent internal consistency (α's 0.78–0.91) with results that were stable over time (intra-class correlation=0.82) in 63 subjects who completed it twice. Better adolescent asthma self-efficacy was associated with better general self-efficacy and indices of better asthma management.

The AASEQ is a reliable and valid tool that is likely to aid future research and practice focused on adolescent asthma self-management and could be a useful intermediate outcome measure to assess the impact of behavioural interventions.
Detection, survival and infectious potential ofMycobacterium tuberculosisin the environment: a review of the evidence and epidemiological implications
Authors: Martinez Leonardo , Verma Renu , Croda Julio , Horsburgh C. Robert , Walter Katharine S. , Degner Nicholas , Middelkoop Keren , Koch Anastasia , Hermans Sabine , Warner Digby F. , Wood Robin , Cobelens Frank , Andrews Jason R.
Published: May 2019

Much remains unknown aboutMycobacterium tuberculosistransmission. Seminal experimental studies from the 1950s demonstrated that airborne expulsion of droplet nuclei from an infectious tuberculosis (TB) patient is the primary route of transmission. However, these findings did not rule out other routes ofM. tuberculosis transmission. We reviewed historical scientific evidence from the late 19th/early 20th century and contemporary studies investigating the presence, persistence and infectiousness of environmentalM. tuberculosis. We found both experimental and epidemiological evidence supporting the presence and viability ofM. tuberculosisin multiple natural and built environments for months to years, presumably following contamination by a human source. Furthermore, several studies confirmM. tuberculosisviability and virulence in the environment using guinea pig and mouse models. Most of this evidence was historical; however, several recent studies have reported consistent findings ofM. tuberculosisdetection and viability in the environment using modern methods. WhetherM. tuberculosisin environments represents an infectious threat to humans requires further investigation; this may represent an untapped source of data with which to further understandM. tuberculosistransmission. We discuss potential opportunities for harnessing these data to generate new insights into TB transmission in congregate settings.
Myricetin improves endurance capacity by inducing muscle fiber type conversion via miR-499
Authors: Wu Luting , Ran Li , Lang Hedong , Zhou Min , Yu Li , Yi Long , Zhu Jundong , Liu Lei , Mi Mantian
Published: May 2019

Background

Reprogramming of fast-to-slow myofiber switch can improve endurance capacity and alleviate fatigue. Accumulating evidence suggests that a muscle-specific microRNA, miR-499 plays a crucial role in myofiber type transition. In this study, we assessed the effects of natural flavonoid myricetin on exercise endurance and muscle fiber constitution, and further investigated the underlying mechanism of myricetin in vivo and in vitro.

Methods

A total of 66 six-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into non-exercise or exercise groups with/without orally administered myricetin (50 or 150 mg/kg) for 2 or 4 weeks. Time-to-exhaustion, blood biochemical parameters, muscle fiber type proportion, the expression of muscle type decision related genes were measured. Mimic/ inhibitor of miR-499 were transfected into cultured L6 myotubes, the expressions of muscle type decision related genes and mitochondrial respiration capacity were investigated.

Results

Myricetin treatment significantly improved the time-to-exhaustion in trained rats. The enhancement of endurance capacity was associated with an increase of the proportion of slow-twitch myofiber in both soleus and gastrocnemius muscles. Importantly, myricetin treatment amplified the expression of miR-499 and suppressed the expression of Sox6, the down-stream target gene of miR-499, both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, inhibition of miR-499 overturned the effects of myricetin on down-regulating Sox6.

Conclusions

Myricetin promoted the reprogramming of fast-to-slow muscle fiber type switch and reinforced the exercise endurance capacity. The precise mechanisms responsible for the effects of myricetin are not resolved but likely involve regulating miR-499/Sox6 axis.
National trend of gastric cancer mortality in China (2003–2015): a population‐based study
Authors: Gao Kun , Wu Jun
Published: May 2019

Background

Gastric cancer mortality decreased substantially over the last decades in most countries worldwide. This study aimed to assess the most recent national trend of gastric cancer mortality and examine the disparity of gastric cancer mortality between rural and urban areas in China.

Methods

The crude mortality data of gastric cancer by sex, age group, and area were obtained from China Health Statistical Yearbooks (2003–2015) covering 10% of Chinese population. The age‐standardized rates of mortality (ASRM) of gastric cancer in rural and urban areas were estimated using the 2010 Chinese Census population stratified by age, sex, and area. The trend of mortality of gastric cancer was assessed by using Joinpoint analysis.

Results

During the 13‐year period, the ASRM was reduced from 31.5/100,000 in 2003 to 20.9/100,000 in 2015 in rural areas and from 18.9/100,000 in 2003 to 14.5/100,000 in 2015 in urban areas. In the male population, the annual percent changes of mortality were − 2.2% in urban areas (95% confidence interval [CI] − 3.8% to − 0.6%; P < 0.001) and − 3.4% in rural areas (95% CI − 5.1% to − 1.8%; P < 0.001). In the female population, the annual percent changes of mortality were − 2.7% in urban areas (95% CI − 4.2% to − 1.2%; P < 0.001) and − 4.6% in rural areas (95% CI − 5.5% to − 3.7%; P< 0.001).

Conclusions

The declining trend of mortality of gastric cancer was presented from 2003 to 2015 in both rural and urban areas in China. The decrease in gastric cancer mortality is greater in rural areas than in urban areas in China.
Cognitive Implications of Ototoxicity in Pediatric Patients With Embryonal Brain Tumors
Authors: Olivier Traci W. , Bass Johnnie K. , Ashford Jason M. , Beaulieu Rebecca , Scott Sarah M. , Schreiber Jane E. , Palmer Shawna , Mabbott Donald J. , Swain Michelle A. , Bonner Melanie , Boyle Robyn , Chapeiski Mary Lynn , Evankovich Karen D. , Armstrong Carol L. , Knight Sarah J. , Wu Shengjie , Onar-Thomas Arzu , Gajjar Amar , Conklin Heather M.
Published: May 2019

PURPOSE

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is associated with intellectual and academic declines in children treated for embryonal brain tumors. This study expands upon existing research by examining core neurocognitive processes that may result in reading difficulties in children with treatment-related ototoxicity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Prospectively gathered, serial, neuropsychological and audiology data for 260 children and young adults age 3 to 21 years (mean, 9.15 years) enrolled in a multisite research and treatment protocol, which included surgery, risk-adapted craniospinal irradiation (average risk, n = 186; high risk, n = 74), and chemotherapy, were analyzed using linear mixed models. Participants were assessed at baseline and up to 5 years after diagnosis and grouped according to degree of SNHL. Included were 196 children with intact hearing or mild to moderate SNHL (Chang grade 0, 1a, 1b, or 2a) and 64 children with severe SNHL (Chang grade 2b or greater). Performance on eight neurocognitive variables targeting reading outcomes (eg, phonemics, fluency, comprehension) and contributory cognitive processes (eg, working memory, processing speed) was analyzed.

RESULTS

Participants with severe SNHL performed significantly worse on all variables compared with children with normal or mild to moderate SNHL ( P ≤ .05), except for tasks assessing awareness of sounds and working memory. Controlling for age at diagnosis and risk-adapted craniospinal irradiation dose, performance on the following four variables remained significantly lower for children with severe SNHL: phonemic skills, phonetic decoding, reading comprehension, and speed of information processing ( P ≤ .05).

CONCLUSION

Children with severe SNHL exhibit greater reading difficulties over time. Specifically, they seem to struggle most with phonological skills and processing speed, which affect higher level skills such as reading comprehension.
High-Frequency Jet Ventilation in the Prone Position to Facilitate Cryoablation of a Peridiaphragmatic Pulmonary Neoplasm: A Case Report
Authors: Vazquez Rafael , Beermann Stephanie L. , Fintelmann Florian J. , Mullen Eleanor M. , Chitilian Hovig
Published: May 2019

Percutaneous cryoablation of pulmonary tumors at the posterior lung base is challenging due to diaphragmatic motion and the requirement for prone positioning. High-frequency jet ventilation allows oxygenation and ventilation with minimal diaphragmatic movement. In this case report, we describe the use of high-frequency jet ventilation in the prone position to facilitate the cryoablation of a peridiaphragmatic pulmonary neoplasm.
Jesus versus Jesus: Inheritance Disputes, Patronage Networks, and a Nineteenth-Century African Bahian Family
Authors: Caulfield Sueann
Published: May 2019

The case of Hermelinda Permínia de Jesus versus Roberto da Trindade de Jesus was apparently the last in a series of disputes over judicial legitimization to reach Brazil's Supreme Court in the late nineteenth century. Analysis of the litigation between the two claimants to the Jesus estate—one an illegitimate child, the other a former slave—reveals complex social and legal dynamics that surrounded debates over illegitimacy and family rights throughout the nineteenth century. Digging deeper into the life story of the African-descended grandfather whose death sparked the litigation, this article contributes to the historiography on household formation and property accumulation among a small black elite in Brazil's slave society. By following the fortunes of some of his legatees, I illustrate how difficult it was for African-descended Brazilians to transfer wealth to the next generation.
Speaking of Sterilization: Rumors, the Urban Poor, and the Public Sphere in Greater Mexico City
Authors: Freije Vanessa
Published: May 2019

In 1974, rumors spread that the Mexican government and foreign doctors were colluding to sterilize schoolchildren. The allegations sparked panic across the Valley of Mexico and prompted popular protests and school closures. Public officials and mainstream journalists portrayed worried parents as ignorant pawns in a conservative conspiracy. Ordinary residents and leftist groups, meanwhile, accused the government of using family planning to uproot opposition or even to eliminate the poor. This article analyzes the epistemological contests that surfaced in response to the rumors. Contrary to the claims of cultural and political elites, hearsay was not opposed to informed engagement but rather an integral component of it. As literacy, readerships, and political consciousness increased, so too did the efforts to understand and influence the news by talking about it. At the center of Mexico City's protracted political opening were debates over what counted as legitimate knowledge production.
Incentivizing Better Quality of Care: The Role of Medicaid and Competition in the Nursing Home Industry
Authors: Hackmann Martin B.
Published: May 2019

This paper develops a model of the nursing home industry to investigate the quality effects of policies that either raise regulated reimbursement rates or increase local competition. Using data from Pennsylvania, I estimate the parameters of the model. The findings indicate that nursing homes increase the quality of care, measured by the number of skilled nurses per resident, by 8.7 percent following a universal 10 percent increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates. In contrast, I find that pro-competitive policies lead to only small increases in skilled nurse staffing ratios, suggesting that Medicaid increases are more cost effective in raising the quality of care. (JEL I11, I13, I18, I38, J14, L13)
Revenue Guarantee Equivalence
Authors: Bergemann Dirk , Brooks Benjamin , Morris Stephen
Published: May 2019

We revisit the revenue comparison of standard auction formats, including first-price, second-price, and English auctions. We rank auctions according to their revenue guarantees, i.e., the greatest lower bound of revenue across all informational environments, where we hold fixed the distribution of bidders’ values. We conclude that if we restrict attention to the symmetric affiliated models of Milgrom and Weber (1982) and monotonic pure-strategy equilibria, first-price, second-price, and English auctions are revenue guarantee equivalent: they have the same revenue guarantee, which is equal to that of the first-price auction as characterized by Bergemann, Brooks, and Morris (2017). If we consider all equilibria or if we allow more general models of information, then first-price auctions have a greater revenue guarantee than all other auctions considered. (JEL D44, D83)
Inferior mesenteric artery embolization for persistent postpartum hemorrhage after sufficient bilateral iliac arteries embolization: safety and efficacy in eight patients
Authors: Chen Chengshi , Chu Hee Ho , Shin Ji Hoon , Li Hai-Liang , Ko Heung-Kyu , Kim Jong-Woo , Yoon Hyun-Ki
Published: May 2019

Objective:

To assess the safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) for the management of post-partum hemorrhage (PPH).

Methods:

A retrospective analysis was performed regarding eight patients (mean age, 34.4 y; age range, 31 – 40 y) who underwent TAE of the IMA for PPH between March 2001 and September 2018. Obstetric records, including maternal characteristics, clinical manifestations, complications, and clinical outcomes, as well as TAE details were obtained.

Results:

All eight patients had primary PPH and the vaginal delivery mode. CT scans of two patients showed active bleeding from the lower uterus or hematoma and with the origin of contrast extravasation abutting the adjacent rectum. In seven patients, an aortogram or IMA arteriogram following persistent vaginal bleeding after sufficient embolization of the bleeding focus from the bilateral iliac arteries, found the bleeding focus of the IMA, while in one patient, the IMA bleeding focus was found at the second session 4 h after the first session. TAE of the IMA was technically successful in all eight patients and cessation of bleeding without repeated TAE or additional hemostatic surgery was achieved in all patients after TAE of the IMA. There were neither procedure-related complications nor bowel ischemia during follow-up.

Conclusion:

TAE of the IMA for PPH was safe and effective with successful hemostasis. Bleeding from the IMA should be suspected when there is persistent vaginal bleeding after sufficient embolization of bleeders from the bilateral iliac arteries.

Advances in knowledge:

Bleeding from the IMA should be suspected when there is persistent vaginal bleeding after sufficient embolization of bleeders from the bilateral iliac arteries.
New MRI series for kidney evaluation: Saving time and money
Authors: Renzulli Matteo , Brocchi Stefano , Pettinari Irene , Biselli Maurizio , Clemente Alfredo , Corcioni Beniamino , Cappabianca Salvatore , Gaudiano Caterina , Golfieri Rita
Published: May 2019

Objectives:

This study investigates the diagnostic performance of a new T1 imaging series, generated by the digital subtraction of the opposed phase from in phase T  1 weighted images, in MRI for renal angiomyolipoma (AML) evaluation.

Methods:

This retrospective study involved 96 patients, 63 (65.6%) with at least one renal AML and 33 (34.4%) healthy patients. Two radiologists having different experience retrospectively reviewed two MR imaging series, starting with in and out-phase T  1 weighted images and then the new subtracted T1 images, in which AML appeared white on black background. The presence, number, location, and dimensions of the AMLs, and reading time were collected separately for the two kidneys. Statistical analysis was carried out using the appropriate tests.

Results:

The number of lesions identified and the evaluation of lesion dimension did not statistically differ between the different MR imaging series evaluated, without interobserver variability. Both percentage agreement of the total number of observations and the κ coefficient showed very good agreement between the radiologists. The median time for the diagnosis was statistically lower when using the subtracted T1 imaging series for both observers with a median gain from 6.5 to 15 s per identified lesion, resulting in a total time-saving of more than half (52.9%), in both patients with and without AMLs, and in patients with a single or with more than one AML (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

The new subtracted T1 imaging series proved to be reliable in identifying fat-containing renal lesions, by both expert and non-expert radiologists, resulting in a saving of both time and money. Moreover, this new subtracted T1 imaging series could be an effective tool in non-dedicated kidney examinations in which a faster reading is advisable.

Advances in knowledge:

The opportunity of using a single set of MRI images in kidney evaluation for identifying fat-containing lesions, considerably reducing reading time, resulting in cost-effectiveness.
Gestão de redes de inovação nos escritórios de transferência de tecnologia no Ceará: a implementação de um modelo de gestão colaborativo
Authors: Mota Teresa Lenice Nogueira da Gama , Câmara Samuel Façanha , Antenor Gisele Aparecida Chaves , Lima Brenno Buarque de
Published: May 2019

Este artigo possui o objetivo de abordar como se deu a implementação de um modelo de gestão inteligente de rede na Redenit-CE, a partir de um estudo empírico nos escritórios de transferência de tecnologia (ETTs) das Instituições de Ciência e Tecnologia (ICTs) localizadas no estado do Ceará, Brasil. A originalidade da contribuição consiste na implementação de um modelo baseado na teoria da complexidade em uma rede de inovação colaborativa. O trabalho foi realizado a partir da pesquisa-ação, na qual também foram conduzidas entrevistas com atores da rede. Assim, concomitante à implementação do modelo teórico, no qual um dos resultados foi o Plano de Ação da Rede, realizaram-se atividades de gestão, como diagnóstico e planejamento estratégico da rede, com o envolvimento de representantes de cada um dos ETTs. Dos resultados até o momento alcançados, pode-se concluir que a proposta de gestão fundamentada na colaboração mostra-se aderente aos modelos de redes não hierárquicas e capaz de maturar a gestão da Redenit-CE.
Measures of family planning service quality associated with contraceptive discontinuation: an analysis of Measurement, Learning & Evaluation (MLE) project data from urban Kenya
Authors: Feeser Karla , Chakraborty Nirali M. , Calhoun Lisa , Speizer Ilene S.
Published: May 2019

Introduction: Several measures to assess family planning service quality (FPQ) exist, yet there is limited evidence on their association with contraceptive discontinuation. Using data from the Measurement, Learning & Evaluation (MLE) Project, this study investigates the association between FPQ and discontinuation-while-in-need in five cities in Kenya. Two measures of FPQ are examined – the Method Information Index (MII) and a comprehensive service delivery point (SDP) assessment rooted in the Bruce Framework for FPQ.

Methods: Three models were constructed: two to assess MII reported in household interviews (as an ordinal and binary variable) among 1,033 FP users, and one for facility-level quality domains among 938 FP users who could be linked to a facility type included in the SDP assessment. Cox proportional hazards ratios were estimated where the event of interest was discontinuation-while-in-need. Facility-level FPQ domains were identified using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using SDP assessment data from 124 facilities.

Results: A woman’s likelihood of discontinuation-while-in-need was approximately halved whether she was informed of one aspect of MII (HR: 0.45, p < 0.05), or all three (HR: 0.51, p < 0.01) versus receiving no information, when MII was assessed as an ordinal variable. Six facility-level quality domains were identified in EFA. Higher scores in information exchange, privacy, autonomy & dignity and technical competence were associated with a reduced risk of discontinuation-while-in-need (p < 0.05). Facility-level MII was correlated with overall facility quality (R= 0.3197, p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The MII has potential as an actionable metric for FPQ monitoring at the health facility level. Furthermore, family planning facilities and programs should emphasize information provision and client-centered approaches to care alongside technical competence in the provision of FP care.
The Slow HTTP Distributed Denial of Service Attack Detection in Cloud
Authors: Dhanapal A. , Nithyanandam P.
Published: May 2019

Cloud computing became popular due to nature as it provides the flexibility to add or remove the resources on-demand basis. This also reduces the cost of investments for the enterprises significantly. The adoption of cloud computing is very high for enterprises running their online applications. The availability of online services is critical for businesses like financial services, e-commerce applications, etc. Though cloud provides availability, still these applications are having potential threats of going down due to the slow HTTP Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack in the cloud. The slow HTTP attacks intention is to consume all the available server resources and make it unavailable to the real users. The slow HTTP DDoS attack comes with different formats such as slow HTTP headers attacks, slow HTTP body attacks and slow HTTP read attacks. Detecting the slow HTTP DDoS attacks in the cloud is very crucial to safeguard online cloud applications. This is a very interesting and challenging topic in DDoS as it mimics the slow network. This paper proposed a novel method to detect slow HTTP DDoS attacks in the cloud. The solution is implemented using the OpenStack cloud platform. The experiments conducted exhibits the accurate results on detecting the attacks at the early stages. The slowHTTPTest open source tool is used in this experiment to originate slow HTTP DDoS attacks.
Triangulation Resource Provisioning for Web Applications in Cloud Computing: A Profit-Aware Approach
Authors: Singh Parminder , Gupta Pooja , Jyoti Kiran
Published: May 2019

The elasticity feature of cloud attracts the application providers to host the application in a cloud environment. The dynamic resource provisioning arranges the resources on-demand according to the application workload. The over-utilization and under-utilization of resources can be prevented with autonomic resource provisioning. In literature, the Service Level Agreement (SLA) based, load-aware, resource-aware and user-behavior aware solutions have been proposed. The solutions are rigid for a particular metric which provides benefit either to end users or to the application providers. In this article, we proposed a Triangulation Resource Provisioning (TRP) technique with a profit-aware surplus VM selection policy. This policy ensures the fair resource utilization in hourly billing cycle while giving the Quality of Service (QoS) to the end-users. The proposed technique used time series workload forecasting, CPU utilization and response time in the analysis phase. The experiment results show that the TRP resource provisioning technique is a profit-aware approach for the application providers and ensure the QoS to the end-users.
Ontology Driven Social Big Data Analytics for Fog enabled Sentic-Social Governance
Authors: Kumar Akshi , Sharma Abhilasha
Published: May 2019

Conventional e-government has many practical infrastructure development and implementation challenges. The recent surge of SMAC (Social media, Mobile, Analytics, Cloud) technologies re-defines the e-governance ecosystem. Cloud-based e-governance has numerous operational challenges which range from development to implementation. Moreover, the contemplation and vocalization of public opinion about any government initiative is quintessential to be cognizant of how citizens perceives and get benefitted from cloud/fog enabled governance. This research puts forward a semantic knowledge model for investigating public opinion towards adaption of fog enabled services for governance and comprehending the significance of two s-components (sentic and social) in aforesaid structure that specifically visualize fog enabled Sentic-Social Governance. The results using conventional TF-IDF (Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency) feature extraction are empirically compared with ontology driven TF-IDF feature extraction to find the best opinion mining model with optimal accuracy. The results depict that the implementation of ontology driven opinion mining for feature extraction in polarity classification outperforms the traditional TF-IDF method validated over baseline supervised learning algorithms. An average of 7.3% improvement in accuracy and approximately 38% reduction in features has been reported.
Influence of Montoring: Fog and Edge Computing
Authors: Prasad Vivek Kumar , Bhavsar Madhuri D , Tanwar Sudeep
Published: May 2019

The evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT) has augmented the necessity for Cloud, edge and fog platforms. The chief benefit of cloud-based schemes is they allow data to be collected from numerous services and sites, which is reachable from any place of the world. The organizations will be benefited by merging the cloud platform with the on-site fog networks and edge devices and as result, this will increase the utilization of the IoT devices and end users too. The network traffic will reduce as data will be distributed and this will also improve the operational efficiency. The impact of monitoring in edge and fog computing can play an important role to efficiently utilize the resources available at these layers. This paper discusses various techniques involved for monitoring for edge and fog computing and its advantages. The paper ends with a case study to demonstarte the need of monitoring in fog and edge in the healthcare system.
Information Transparency in Business-to-Business Auction Markets: The Role of Winner Identity Disclosure
Authors: Lu Yixin , Gupta Alok , Ketter Wolfgang , van Heck Eric
Published: May 2019

One of the central issues in auction design is how much information should be disclosed to bidders. In this paper, we examine bidder's identity disclosure in sequential business-to-business (B2B) auctions. Specifically, we compare two information disclosure policies, one that publicly discloses winners’ identities (the status quo) and an alternative policy that conceals winners’ identities. Using a large-scale field experiment in the Dutch flower auction market, we find that concealing winners’ identities can significantly increase the average winning price and thereby raise the seller’s revenue. We further explore the underlying mechanism that drives the observed effect. The empirical analysis of bidding behavior in these auctions suggests that bidders tend to imitate some of their competitors who have won in previous rounds of auctions and shade their bids accordingly. Concealing winners’ identities can disrupt such imitation heuristic, which in turn mitigates the price-declining trend in sequential rounds. Our findings have important implications for the design of information disclosure policies in B2B auction markets.

This paper was accepted by Chris Forman, information systems.
The importance of language in maternity services
Authors: Marsh Anna
Published: May 2019

An essential element of communication in maternity services is the use of language. This article will examine three key themes in the use of language: medical jargon, emotive language and those for whom English is not a first language. Medical jargon detracts from patient autonomy, and emotive language can influence women's mindset and experience both positively and negatively. When English is not an individual's first language, women feel defenceless and lack understanding. This can be mitigated by the use of an interpreter; however, their misuse, or a health professional's inexperience in using them, can limit their effectiveness.
Suicide and self-harm: vulnerable children and young people
Authors: Burton Maddie
Published: May 2019

Children and young people are increasingly experiencing mental health problems, including self-harm and suicidal behaviour. Maddie Burton explores the triggers of these two conditions and explains what practice nurses can do for their patients

Children and young people’s mental health continues to be a cause for concern at a time of reduced mental health service provision. Worryingly, suicide and self-harm rates continue to rise. An estimated two hundred children and young people lose their lives annually through completed suicide. Half of that number will have a previous self-harm history. Practice nurses are often favoured by young people as being less stigmatising; therefore they can potentially provide opportunities for early help through being vigilant, informed, hearing the young person’s story and then knowing how to support and appropriately respond and signpost. This article explores both the differences between self-harm and suicidal behaviour, and how they are connected.
New tools to help boost your prevention impact
Authors: Waterall Jamie
Published: May 2019

Public Health England has launched a series of new e-learning tools to enhance health and care professionals’ knowledge and skills. Professor Jamie Waterall discusses how these will address key public health issues and enhance approaches to preventing illness
AT THE JUNCTION OF MATHEMATICS AND PSYCHOLOGY: COGNITIVE ORIENTATION OF THE AHP/ANP AND NEW PERSPECTIVES OF STRUCTURING COMPLEXITY
Authors: Milkova Maria , Andreichikova Olga , Andreichikov Alexander
Published: May 2019

This paper aims to draw attention to the interdisciplinary research of the AHP/ANP methodology by emphasizing how it can be studied from a cognitive perspective. We provide an overview of the main cognitive approaches in decision-making, and consider different heuristics that lie at the basis of pairwise comparisons. We emphasize that the AHP/ANP must be considered at the junction of mathematics and psychology, and for further development of the methodology, we should examine the AHP/ANP from the cognitive point of view. We review the recent experimental studies of the AHP/ANP that test human behavior in real decision problems. We also discuss the future applicability of the AHP/ANP methodology in the Experience Age - the age of not only digital information and knowledge, but also behavior. This article is just a small step on the way to discovering the cognitive aspects and future extensions of decision making with the AHP/ANP.
SERBIA JOINING THE EUROPEAN UNION: AN ANP MODEL FOR FORECASTING THE ACCESSING DATE
Authors: Mimovic Predrag Miroslav , Krstic Ana , Savic Jovana
Published: May 2019

For the Republic of Serbia to acquire full membership in the European Union depends on a large number of factors, and it is very difficult to predict whether the country will attain membership and when it will happen. This paper first describes the Analytic Network Process (ANP), which is then applied to predict the most probable date of the Republic of Serbia's entry into the European Union taking into account the economic, political and legal conditions that the Republic must fulfill in the stabilization and association process. The model is based on negotiating chapters that are considered crucial in the process of Eurointegration and their interactions and relationships. The work is an extensive and improved version of the paper titled "Forecasting the accession of the Republic of Serbia to the European Union by using the Analytic Network Process" (Krsti? et al., 2018). It is based on the complex network model of the Analytic Network Process, which encompasses not only multiple clusters and their elements, as well as their external and internal networks of influence, but in particular the impact of alternatives on relevant factors. All calculations were performed using the SuperDecisions software package.
HIGH SCHOOL CHOICE: HOW DO PARENTS MAKE THEIR CHOICE?
Authors: Marcarelli Gabriella , Mancini Paola
Published: May 2019

Location, well-qualified teachers, leaving score and academic performance are the main factors associated with parents' high school choices. This paper aims to provide students and their parents with a helpful tool for synthesizing these elements. By focusing on a small Italian town, we analyze Eduscopio and ScuolainChiaro’s data concerning high schools’ characteristics and students’ performances, and apply the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) in order to derive the ranking of high schools taking into account three criteria: the students' performance at school, their academic performance and the school’s characteristics (such as the number of students per class and per teacher). The results from the AHP procedure using only school performances and characteristics highlight that the classic lyceum has the best performance and the scientific lyceums rank second, albeit rather close to the other lyceums. Entering the academic performance factor into the model changes the ranking of preferences in favor of the scientific lyceum, whose value is slightly higher than the classic one, and decreases the values of the other lyceums and technical high schools. This is due to the excellent academic performance of those who leave scientific schools, mostly in terms of credits at the end of the first year and average exam scores.
AN AHP-BASED COMPOSITE INDEX FOR SECTOR PRIORITIZATION
Authors: Go Daryn Joy , Promentilla Michael Angelo , Aviso Kathleen , Yu Krista Danielle
Published: May 2019

Economic sectors are highly interdependent, allowing them to promote sustainable development and inclusive growth by generating positive spillover effects from small investments in the economy. However, this interdependent nature can also generate negative spillover effects that lead to widespread inoperability and unemployment. While interdependence and the problem of scarce resources have led to the development of multiple sector prioritization tools, none of these tools have been able to wholly measure sector significance based on its multiple dimensions. Hence, this paper develops a composite sector prioritization index that identifies the key sectors based on five criteria of sector significance: degree of influence, structural significance, degree of interconnectedness, dependence on domestic economy, and contribution to risk of inoperability. The index is constructed using the Analytical Hierarchy Process, which shows the economy’s priorities and primary concerns in order to aid policymakers in investing in sectors that would generate the highest positive spillover effects to the economy. A case study from the Philippines is considered and the results show that much of the economy’s resources must be allocated towards the manufacturing, trade, and private services sectors.
Beginning our 11th year!
Authors: Mu Enrique
Published: May 2019

Dear IJAHP Reader:

We are glad to publish our first issue for 2019. It has been 10 years now since we published our very first issue and this is a reason to say thank you for your support. It is the IJAHP community as a whole who make this journal possible, not just by authoring papers and reading and recommending it but also by volunteering as reviewers.
A lament for the Three Wise Men (or Women)
Authors: McDonald Peter
Published: May 2019

A call for a radical change in the way doctors are treated when complaints are levied against them.
Storytelling and the making of a global luxury fashion brand: Christian Dior
Authors: Donzé Pierre-Yves , Wubs Ben
Published: May 2019

This article discusses the storytelling strategies adopted by luxury fashion companies to build global brands from the 1990s onwards. Using the example of Christian Dior, it is demonstrated that heritage is a social construction based on strong narratives rather than the mere outcome of the history of a brand. Storytelling is a powerful instrument used in the context of creating global luxury brands over the last two decades. This makes it possible to emphasize the timelessness of a brand while disregarding the contradictions resulting from a change in its identity over time. As a consequence, this article argues that, although the use of heritage through storytelling is a useful tool for the practice of brand management, it is not an academic concept and should be avoided by scholars.
Ecos do religioso na filosofia de P. Ricoeur: a poética da revelação
Authors: Portocarrero Maria Luísa
Published: May 2019

Embora P. Ricoeur tenha tido sempre o cuidado de distinguir o pensamento filosófico do religioso, procurando não os confundir, podemos dizer que é considerável a atenção consagrada ao fenómeno religioso na sua obra. É o horizonte da crença o motivo principal das suas preocupações em matéria de hermenêutica do religioso. Para o filósofo, o problema da interpretação da linguagem religiosa não pode desaparecer do horizonte filosófico, apesar de o discurso filosófico dever manter a sua autonomia própria. É, pois, possível identificar, no contexto de uma investigação filosófica a particularidade da linguagem religiosa e, tendo em conta que toda a experiência religiosa se articula numa linguagem, é a dimensão poética e narrativa da religião cristã que Ricoeur analisa, sob a ótica nomeadamente da problemática da verdade –revelação.