bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increased Risk for Intracranial Arterial Stenosis in Subjects With Coronary Artery Calcification
Authors: Oh Hyung-Geun , Chung Pil-Wook , Rhee Eun-Jung
Published: November 2014

Background and Purpose—

Intracranial arterial stenosis (ICAS) is considered an important cause of stroke in Asians. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a surrogate marker for subclinical atherosclerosis. We aimed to analyze the association of ICAS assessed by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography and CAC in middle-aged Korean population.

Methods—

This study included 10 550 participants (81.3% men, mean age 43 years) from a health screening program, in whom transcranial Doppler ultrasonography was used to detect >50% intracranial stenosis based on criteria modified from the stroke outcomes and neuroimaging of intracranial atherosclerosis trial. Multidetector computed tomography was used to assess coronary artery calcium score (CACS). CAC grade (0, 1−100, and >100) was defined by CACS.

Results—

The subjects with CAC showed significantly higher proportion of subjects with ICAS compared with those without CAC (4.4% versus 2.8%;
P
<0.01). Conversely, the subjects with ICAS showed significantly higher proportion of subjects with CAC (24.8% versus 17.1%;
P
<0.01). When logistic regression analysis was performed with ICAS as the dependent variable, the presence of CAC showed significantly increased risk for ICAS after adjustment for confounding variables (odds ratio, 1.439; 95% confidence interval, 1.095–1.891). When CACS grade was included in the model, the odds ratio for ICAS was the highest in subjects with CACS >400 compared with those with CACS=0 (odds ratio, 2.754; 95% confidence interval, 1.205–2.936).

Conclusions—

The risk for ICAS was significantly increased in middle-aged Korean subjects with CAC compared with that in those without CAC. These findings suggest the possibility of a separate undetected atherosclerotic focus in subjects with 1 atherosclerotic event.
Patterns of Modulation in the Activity and Connectivity of Motor Cortex during the Repeated Generation of Movement Sequences
Authors: Gabitov Ella , Manor David , Karni Avi
Published: November 2014

It is not clear how the engagement of motor mnemonic processes is expressed in online brain activity. We scanned participants, using fMRI, during the paced performance of a finger-to-thumb opposition sequence (FOS), intensively trained a day earlier (T-FOS), and a similarly constructed, but novel, untrained FOS (U-FOS). Both movement sequences were performed in pairs of blocks separated by a brief rest interval (30 sec). We have recently shown that in the primary motor cortex (M1) motor memory was not expressed in the average signal intensity but rather in the across-block signal modulations, that is, when comparing the first to the second performance block across the brief rest interval. Here, using an M1 seed, we show that for the T-FOS, the M1–striatum functional connectivity decreased across blocks; however, for the U-FOS, connectivity within the M1 and between M1 and striatum increased. In addition, in M1, the pattern of within-block signal change, but not signal variability per se, reliably differentiated the two sequences. Only for the U-FOS and only within the first blocks in each pair, the signal significantly decreased. No such modulation was found within the second corresponding blocks following the brief rest interval in either FOS. We propose that a network including M1 and striatum underlies online motor working memory. This network may promote a transient integrated representation of a new movement sequence and readily retrieves a previously established movement sequence representation. Averaging over single events or blocks may not capture the dynamics of motor representations that occur over multiple timescales.
Recollection and Familiarity Exhibit Dissociable Similarity Gradients: A Test of the Complementary Learning Systems Model
Authors: Elfman Kane W. , Yonelinas Andrew P.
Published: November 2014

Memory can often be triggered by retrieval cues that are quite different from the originally encoded events, but how different memory processes respond to variations in cue–target similarity is poorly understood. We begin by presenting simulations using a neurocomputational model of recognition memory (i.e., the complementary learning systems model), which proposes that the hippocampus supports recollection of associative information whereas the surrounding cortex supports assessments of item familiarity. The simulations showed that increases in the similarity between retrieval cues and learned items led to relatively linear increases in a cortex-based memory signal but led to steeper and more thresholded increases in the hippocampal signal. We then tested the predictions of the model by examining the effects of varying cue–target similarity in two recognition memory experiments in which participants studied a list of computer-generated faces and then, at test, gave confidence and remember/know responses to morphed faces. In both experiments, as cue–target similarity was increased, familiarity-based recognition increased in a gradual and relatively linear fashion, whereas recollection showed significantly steeper gradients. The results show that recollection and familiarity exhibit distinct similarity functions in recognition memory that correspond with predicted retrieval dynamics of the hippocampus and cortex, respectively.
Multi-gene analysis of Pseudocercospora spp. from Iran
Authors: Bakhshi Mounes , ARZANLOU MAHDI , BABAI-AHARI ASADOLLAH , GROENEWALD JOHANNES Z. , CROUS PEDRO W.
Published: November 2014

Species of Pseudocercospora have gained much attention in recent years owing to their phytopathogenic relevance, and worldwide occurrence on a wide range of economically important hosts. Although these fungi are common in Iran, they have generally been poorly studied and no cultures have been preserved for molecular analyses. The present paper represents the first study of Pseudocercospora species from Iran evaluated by employing the Consolidated Species Concept. Nineteen isolates were obtained from seven host plant families in the northern zone of Iran. A phylogenetic analysis based on a combination of LSU, ITS, TEF1-α and ACT loci clustered these isolates into eight clades, of which five are phylogenetically new, delineating two novel species, viz. P. mazandaranensis on Nerium oleander and P. sophoricola on Sophora alopecuroides. Furthermore, P. punicae is recorded on a wild-grown cultivar of Punica granatum, and two additional species reported, namely Pseudocercospora sp. A on Phaseolus vulgaris and Pseudocercospora sp. B on Diospyros lotus. Pseudocercospora norchiensis is recorded for the first time in Asia, where it occurs on a wide host range, contrary to most other species of Pseudocercospora, which appear to be highly host specific.
Dasya patentissima (Ceramiales, Dasyaceae), a new species from the Cabrera Archipelago (Balearic Islands, eastern Spain)
Authors: Pena-Martin Carolina , Crespo Manuel B. , Gomez Amelia
Published: November 2014

Morphological studies on the genus Dasya (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) in the western Mediterranean revealed the existence of a collection from the Balearic Islands (eastern Spain) that differed considerably from the known species in the genus. Evidence is provided to regard it as a new species, which here is named Dasya patentissima. Affinities and divergences to other Mediterranean species, namely, D. ocellata and D. hutchinsiae, are discussed and illustrated.
Description of a new species of Microstoma (Pisces, Microstomatidae)
from the southwestern Pacific Ocean
Authors: GON OFER , STEWART ANDREW L.
Published: November 2014

A new species of the microstomatid genus Microstoma is described from specimens collected in the SW Pacific Ocean off New Zealand and Australia. Microstoma australis n. sp. differs from M. microsotma of the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean in having a higher number of gill rakers and vertebrae. Both species are compared with available data for NE Pacific specimens.
First New Zealand record of the Australian species Hemiodoecus leai China, 1924 (Hemiptera: Peloridiidae); a hitchhiker on moss
Authors: WAKELIN MICHAEL D. , LARIVIÈRE MARIE-CLAUDE
Published: November 2014

The Australian mossbug Hemiodoecus leai China, 1924, is recorded for the first time in New Zealand based on repeated sampling from a self-sustaining population at Opoho Creek, Dunedin (South Island) since 2011. The history of the discovery of H. leai, probably accidentally introduced with moss used to transport fish ova from Tasmania, is summarised. A brief taxonomic treatment accompanied by illustrations and data on distribution, puts this discovery in context with the 2011 taxonomic review of New Zealand Peloridiidae published in the Fauna of New Zealand series. Biological notes based on field and laboratory observations are also provided.
Proximity of Paired Nations Reveals Correlation of Masculinity With Individualism
Authors: Barry Herbert
Published: November 2014

Hofstede measured four dimensions of national differences: Masculinity, Individualism, Uncertainty Avoidance, and Power Distance. The information was obtained from IBM employees in more than 60 nations. Correlations applied to the national scores were close to zero for Masculinity with each of the three other dimensions. Correlations can be misleading because of regional and other variations in a world sample of nations. Undesirable effects of regional variations can be minimized by correlating differences between paired nearby nations in their scores on the two dimensions. Differences between pair members revealed that the nation with a higher score on Masculinity usually had a higher score on Individualism. A wide range of quantitative scores enabled large differences between the pair members and minimized omissions of data because of the same score for both members on either of the correlated dimensions. National Masculinity is highly correlated with national Individualism when regional differences are controlled.
Trust in Decision-Making Authorities Dictates the Form of the Interactive Relationship Between Outcome Fairness and Procedural Fairness
Authors: Bianchi Emily C. , Brockner Joel , van den Bos Kees , Seifert Matthias , Moon Henry , van Dijke Marius , De Cremer David
Published: November 2014

Reactions to decisions are shaped by both outcome and procedural fairness. Moreover, outcome and procedural fairness interact to influence beliefs and behaviors. However, different types of “process/outcome” interaction effects have emerged. Many studies have shown that people react particularly negatively when they receive unfair or unfavorable outcomes accompanied by unfair procedures (the “low-low” interactive pattern). However, others find that people react especially positively when they receive fair or favorable outcomes accompanied by fair procedures (the “high-high” interactive pattern). We propose that trust in decision-making authorities dictates the form of the process/outcome interaction. Across three studies, when trust was high, the “low-low” interactive pattern emerged. When trust was low, the “high-high” interactive pattern emerged. The findings suggest that when people’s experience of outcome and procedural fairness diverged from how they expected to be treated, they reacted in the direction of their experiences; otherwise, their reactions were consistent with their expectations.
Epithelial‐Mesenchymal Transition: Clinical Implications for Nodal Metastasis and Prognosis of Tongue Cancer
Authors: Han Myung Woul , Lee Jong Cheol , Kim Young Min , Cha Hee Jeong , Roh Jong‐Lyel , Choi Seung‐Ho , Nam Soon Yuhl , Cho Kyung‐Ja , Kim Seong Who , Kim Sang Yoon
Published: November 2014

Objective

The development of biomarkers for the prediction of lymph node metastasis and prognosis is critical for deciding the treatment modality of tongue cancer. The purpose of our study is to investigate the clinical implications of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) expression in tongue cancer.

Study Design

Historical cohort study

Setting

Tertiary‐care hospital.

Subjects and Methods

The study included 95 subjects with tongue cancer who underwent wide excision and neck dissection. According to characteristics of immunohistochemical staining for E‐cadherin and vimentin, we classified the tumors as complete EMT phenotype, incomplete EMT phenotype, or epithelial phenotype. The correlation between risk factors and nodal metastasis was assessed, and disease‐free survival (DFS) was analyzed.

Results

Positive lymph nodes were detected in 46 (48.4%) patients and was found to correlate significantly with depth of invasion ≥4 mm and EMT expression on multivariate analysis (P =. 030, P =. 022, respectively). The mean follow‐up period of all patients was 96.3 months (range, 6‐149 months). Overall 5‐year DFS was 61.7%. On multivariate analysis, the only factors affecting DFS were nodal stage and EMT expression (P =. 033, P =. 021, respectively).

Conclusions

Our study reveals that EMT expression is a significant biomarker for predicting lymph node metastasis and tumor recurrence in tongue cancer. Evaluation of EMT expression in tongue cancer can allow therapy to be offered accordingly.
Voice Assessment and Voice‐related Quality of Life in Patients with Benign Thyroid Disease
Authors: Pernambuco Leandro de Araújo , Almeida Marluce Nascimento de , Matias Keliane Gomes , Costa Erika Beatriz de Morais
Published: November 2014

Objective

To identify the relationship between vocal self‐assessment, the assessment of voice by a speech‐language pathologist (SLP), and the effect of voice on the quality of life of patients with benign thyroid diseases.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Setting

University hospital.

Subjects and Method

A total of 67 women with a mean age of 44.7 ± 14.8 years and a diagnosis of benign thyroid disease were included in the study. Vocal self‐assessment and SLP assessment were performed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). The Voice‐related Quality of Life Questionnaire (V‐RQOL) was used to identify the effect of voice on quality of life. The Mann‐Whitney and Kruskal‐Wallis nonparametric tests were used. Correlations between assessments were verified by the Spearman correlation test. The significance level was 5%.

Results

Patients with vocal complaints had lower scores in all assessments. Patients with thyroid nodules performed worse on the SLP assessment and on the physical functioning domain of V‐RQOL. A moderate correlation was found between the self‐assessment and quality of life and between the physical functioning domain of V‐RQOL and the SLP assessment. A weak correlation existed between the self‐assessment and the SLP assessment.

Conclusion

Patients with benign thyroid diseases had lower scores in vocal self‐assessment, the clinical evaluation of voice, and the V‐RQOL. These dimensions of voice assessment showed correlations ranging from mild to moderate and should complement the clinical routine.
Role of Direct Laryngoscopy and Bronchoscopy in Recurrent Croup
Authors: Delany Dennis R. , Johnston Douglas R.
Published: November 2014

Objective

To determine risk factors in children with recurrent croup that predict moderate/severe findings on direct laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy and need for further operative interventions.

Study Design

Retrospective chart review cohort.

Setting

Tertiary care children's hospital.

Subjects and Methods

Retrospective chart review of 103 patients diagnosed with recurrent croup who underwent diagnostic laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy from January 2004 to August 2013. Statistical analysis determined risk factors significantly associated with moderate/severe operative findings. A probability tree was formulated.

Results

Of 103 patients, 30.1% had history of intubation, 6.8% had a history of subglottic stenosis, 6.8% had a history of previous airway procedure, 11.7% consultations were inpatient, 64.1% had asthma, 47.6% had seasonal allergies, 60.2% had gastroesophageal reflux disease, 15.5% were aged ≤12 months, and 51.5% were ≤36 months. Statistically significant risk factors in predicting moderately/severely abnormal operative findings included consultation location (P =. 010), history of intubation (P =. 003), age younger than 36 months (P =. 013), and seasonal allergies (P =. 035). When using location of consultation, history of intubation, and age in a statistical model, diagnostic accuracy equaled 93.5%. Of children without history of intubation but who underwent inpatient otolaryngology consultation, 28.6% had moderate/severe findings. Likewise, 41.2% of children with a history of intubation who were younger than 36 months of age had moderate/severe findings.

Conclusion

Moderate to severe operative findings are encountered in only 8.7% of children with recurrent croup. Using statistical modeling, 2 high‐risk groups are (1) patients without a history of intubation but inpatient consultation and (2) patients with a history of intubation and age younger than 36 months.
Considerations on the role of buprenorphine in recovery from heroin addiction from a UK perspective
Authors: Nutt David J
Published: November 2014

The United Kingdom Drug Strategy emphasises recovery as a key focus in the treatment of drug dependence. A framework for recovery is defined in the Recovery-Orientated Drug Treatment report, written by an expert working group, and comprises four key phases: engagement and stabilisation, including the establishment of treatment goals; preparation for change, involving engagement in psychosocial and pharmacological interventions; active change, including detoxification and medical withdrawal; and completion, including interventions that strengthen community integration. A body of evidence supports the benefits of buprenorphine, a partial agonist at mu opioid receptors, in supporting individualised recovery based on this framework, specifically in relation to the potential for rapid stabilisation, flexibility to transition to other treatment options or achieve abstinence, effective blocking of on-top use of illicit drugs, the treatment of comorbidities through the minimisation of drug–drug interactions, and a good safety profile. In addition, the newer abuse-deterrent formulation of buprenorphine combined with the opioid antagonist naloxone is likely to strengthen recovery-orientated systems of care due to its potential to reduce misuse and diversion. Progress through the recovery journey and the ability to sustain recovery will depend on individual needs and goals and on the amount of recovery capital that individuals have developed.
Perceptions of Health System Orientation
Authors: Cunningham Brooke A. , Marsteller Jill A. , Romano Max J. , Carson Kathryn A. , Noronha Gary J. , McGuire Maura J. , Yu Airong , Cooper Lisa A.
Published: November 2014

As part of a pragmatic trial to reduce hypertension disparities, we conducted a baseline organizational assessment to identify aspects of organizational functioning that could affect the success of our interventions. Through qualitative interviewing and the administration of two surveys, we gathered data about health care personnel’s perceptions of their organization’s orientations toward quality, patient centeredness, and cultural competency. We found that personnel perceived strong orientations toward quality and patient centeredness. The prevalence of these attitudes was significantly higher for these areas than for cultural competency and varied by occupational role and race. Larger percentages of survey respondents perceived barriers to addressing disparities than barriers to improving safety and quality. Health care managers and policy makers should consider how we have built strong quality orientations and apply those lessons to cultural competency.
The language of sedation in end-of-life care: The ethical reasoning of care providers in three countries
Authors: Seale Clive , Raus Kasper , Bruinsma Sophie , van der Heide Agnes , Sterckx Sigrid , Mortier Freddy , Payne Sheila , Mathers Nigel , Rietjens Judith ,   On behalf of the UNBIASED consortium, Addington-Hall Julia , Anquinet Livia , Brown Jayne , Bruinsma Sophie , Deliens Luc , Mathers Nigel , Mortier Freddy , Payne Sheila , Raus Kasper , Rietjens Judith , Seale Clive , Seymour Jane , Smithson W. Henry , Sterckx Sigrid , Janssens Rien , van der Heide Agnes
Published: November 2014

The application of ethically controversial medical procedures may differ from one place to another. Drawing on a keyword and text-mining analysis of 156 interviews with doctors and nurses involved in end-of-life care (‘care providers’), differences between countries in care providers’ ethical rationales for the use of sedation are reported. In the United Kingdom, an emphasis on titrating doses proportionately against symptoms is more likely, maintaining consciousness where possible. The potential harms of sedation are perceived to be the potential hastening of social as well as biological death. In Belgium and the Netherlands, although there is concern to distinguish the practice from euthanasia, rapid inducement of deep unconsciousness is more acceptable to care providers. This is often perceived to be a proportionate response to unbearable suffering in a context where there is also greater pressure to hasten dying from relatives and others. This means that sedation is more likely to be organised like euthanasia, as the end ‘moment’ is reached, and family farewells are organised before the patient is made unconscious for ever. Medical and nursing practices are partly responses to factors outside the place of care, such as legislation and public sentiment. Dutch guidelines for sedation largely tally with the practices prevalent in the Netherlands and Belgium, in contrast with those produced by the more international European Association for Palliative Care whose authors describe an ethical framework closer to that reportedly used by UK care providers.
Language and translation strategies in researching migrant experience of difference from the position of migrant researcher
Authors: Gawlewicz Anna
Published: November 2014

In an era of accelerated international mobility, migrant researchers are increasingly studying their migrant co-nationals in a language different from the language in which they report their findings. This raises very significant considerations regarding language experience and translation of research data. While crucial for understanding production of knowledge, these issues have not yet been given adequate attention. In response, this article focuses first on the challenges related to the assumed shared relationship with language between migrant researchers and their migrant informants. In doing so, it contributes to the discussion about positionality of a migrant researcher. Second, it recognizes the role of a translator researcher and discusses the implications of collecting data in one language and presenting the findings in another. As such, it addresses essential methodological queries many migrant researchers face when conducting studies involving their compatriot communities.
Old Milestones and New Beginnings
Authors: Mayer Vicki
Published: November 2014

This is a summary of milestones, both for the journal and editorial board members, as well as the start of a coeditorship for the journal. A look back at Daniel Schiller’s book Theorizing Communication supports the coeditors’ conception of a media studies that broadly understands communication as labor.
The Presence of School Absenteeism
Authors: Bodén Linnea
Published: November 2014

In the vast majority of Swedish schools, computer software is used for the registration of the absences and presences of students. How can the material-discursive engagements and practices of registration be researched? The article elaborates, from an agential realist account, on “doing research” in relation to the phenomenon of school absence. Through experimenting with int raviewing, the expressions and actions of materialities are acknowledged and the subject-centrism of conventional humanist qualitative interviewing is questioned. The posthumanist theories engaged with open up a rethinking of the production of data within qualitative research, and a discussion of the inseparability of data, analysis, thinking, and writing. The knowledge created on registration as an embodied, material, affective, and intraactive practice produces school absence as a reality where the computer software is always already a part of the phenomenon and thus needs to be an agential part of researching registration.
“First and Foremost They’re Survivors”
Authors: Shdaimah Corey S. , Leon Chrysanthi
Published: November 2014

Based on qualitative data from three sites ( N = 76), we describe prostitute women’s agency and problematize dominant assumptions. Prostitute women exhibit creative, resilient, and rational conduct. Rejecting victimhood, our respondents demonstrate moral reasoning, make choices, work systems that dominate their lives, and assert power and control when they can. Their resistance, while serving a symbolic function, also expresses their system savvy and self-advocacy that produce measurable benefits. We distinguish between “being manipulative” and context-specific ethical conduct intended to further their survival.
Body Image Avoidance, Body Dissatisfaction, and Eating Pathology
Authors: Stapleton Peta , McIntyre Timothy , Bannatyne Amy
Published: November 2014

With research highlighting the increasing prevalence and severity of body image and eating disturbances in males, particularly athletes and regular gymnasium users, the current study examined body image and eating disturbances in a sample of male gym users and non–gym users ( N = 180). Based on previous research, it was predicted that male gym users would report greater body image disturbance (e.g., body image avoidance and body dissatisfaction) and eating pathology, compared with non–gym users. Results of the study partially supported hypotheses, revealing body dissatisfaction and eating pathology were significantly increased in male gym users. However, no significant differences were observed in body image avoidance behaviors, though this is likely because of methodological limitations associated with psychometric measures selected. The study provides preliminary evidence that male gym users do experience subclinical eating and body image concerns, with some also experiencing clinically significant symptoms that could be precursors to the later development of an eating disorder. Results of the current study highlight the importance of educating key stakeholders within health and fitness centers, through community-based interventions, to increase awareness regarding male body image and eating disturbances.
Carotid endarterectomy may be required in addition to best medical treatment for some patient subgroups with asymptomatic carotid stenosis
Authors: Paraskevas Kosmas I , Nicolaides Andrew N , Veith Frank J
Published: November 2014

Several guidelines recommend carotid endarterectomy for patients with severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis to reduce the risk of a future cerebrovascular event, as long as the perioperative stroke/death rate is <3%. Based on improvements in best medical treatment, it was argued that currently best medical treatment alone should comprise the treatment-of-choice for asymptomatic carotid stenosis patients and that no intervention is warranted in these individuals. While it is true that best medical treatment should be used for the management of all asymptomatic carotid stenosis patients, emerging evidence suggests that best medical treatment alone may not prevent disease progression and the development of symptoms in some asymptomatic carotid stenosis patient subgroups. This article analyzes the results of two recent independent studies demonstrating that medical therapy alone may not be adequate for stroke prevention in some asymptomatic carotid stenosis patient subgroups. These results suggest that besides best medical treatment, additional carotid endarterectomy should be considered for specific asymptomatic carotid stenosis patients.
The DNA of a Television News Story
Authors: Cummings Dean
Published: November 2014

This study challenges whether the television (TV) news story has changed due to the advancement in technologies and adaption of production methods from a Fordist to a post-Fordist routine. Textual analysis of 40 years of producing the “news package” appears to reveal minimal changes to the length and framework; however, there seems to be significant changes to the “genetic” construction. While at first, the changes appear to be driven by technology, it may be reasonable to question whether or not technological advancement is responsible. This essay looks at the construction of a TV news story from a microlevel of production as well as examines possible causes for the progressive alterations.
Chronic constipation and co‐morbidities: A prospective population‐based nested case‐control study
Authors: Choung Rok S , Rey Enrique , Richard Locke G , Schleck Cathy D , Baum Charles , Zinsmeister Alan R , Talley Nicholas J
Published: November 2014

Background

Chronic constipation (CC) is common in the community but surprisingly little is known about relevant gastro‐intestinal (GI) and non‐GI co‐morbidities.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to assess the epidemiology of CC and in particular provide new insights into the co‐morbidities linked to this condition.

Methods

In a prospective, population‐based nested case‐control study, a cohort of randomly selected community residents (n  = 8006) were mailed a validated self‐report gastrointestinal symptom questionnaire. CC was defined according to Rome III criteria. Medical records of each case and control were abstracted to identify potential CC comorbidities.

Results

Altogether 3831 (48%) subjects returned questionnaires; 307 met criteria for CC. Age‐adjusted prevalence in females was 8.7 (95% confidence interval (CI) 7.1–10.3) and 5.1 (3.6–6.7) in males, per 100 persons. CC was not associated with most GI pathology, but the odds for constipation were increased in subjects with anal surgery relative to those without (odds ratio (OR) = 3.3, 95% CI 1.2–9.1). In those with constipation vs those without, neurological diseases including Parkinson’s disease (OR = 6.5, 95% CI 2.9–14.4) and multiple sclerosis (OR = 5.5, 95% CI 1.9–15.8) showed significantly increased odds for chronic constipation, adjusting for age and gender. In addition, modestly increased odds for chronic constipation in those with angina (OR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.9) and myocardial infarction (OR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.0–2.4) were observed.

Conclusions

Neurological and cardiovascular diseases are linked to constipation but in the community constipation is unlikely to account for most lower GI pathology.
Exploring Essential Characteristics of Self-Determination for Diverse Students Using Data From NLTS2
Authors: Shogren Karrie A. , Kennedy William , Dowsett Chantelle , Garnier Villarreal Mauricio , Little Todd D.
Published: November 2014

This study explored the impact of race/ethnicity on three of the four essential characteristics of self-determination—autonomy, self-realization, and psychological empowerment—directly assessed in the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2. Specifically, the impact of race/ethnicity was examined with six disability groups established in previous research: high incidence disabilities (learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, speech language impairments, and other health impairments), sensory disabilities (visual and hearing impairments), cognitive disabilities (autism, multiple disabilities, and deaf-blindness); intellectual disability, traumatic brain injury, and orthopedic impairments. Measurement equivalence was established across groups, but significant differences in the latent means, variances, and covariances were found suggesting a complex pattern of differences based on race/ethnicity within disability groups. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.
Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage from a neuroimaging perspective
Authors: de Oliveira Manoel Airton Leonardo , Mansur Ann , Murphy Amanda , Turkel-Parrella David , Macdonald Matt , Macdonald R Loch , Montanera Walter , Marotta Thomas R , Bharatha Aditya , Effendi Khaled , Schweizer Tom A
Published: November 2014

Neuroimaging is a key element in the management of patients suffering from subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). In this article, we review the current literature to provide a summary of the existing neuroimaging methods available in clinical practice. Noncontrast computed tomography is highly sensitive in detecting subarachnoid blood, especially within 6 hours of haemorrhage. However, lumbar puncture should follow a negative noncontrast computed tomography scan in patients with symptoms suspicious of SAH. Computed tomography angiography is slowly replacing digital subtraction angiography as the first-line technique for the diagnosis and treatment planning of cerebral aneurysms, but digital subtraction angiography is still required in patients with diffuse SAH and negative initial computed tomography angiography. Delayed cerebral ischaemia is a common and serious complication after SAH. The modern concept of delayed cerebral ischaemia monitoring is shifting from modalities that measure vessel diameter to techniques focusing on brain perfusion. Lastly, evolving modalities applied to assess cerebral physiological, functional and cognitive sequelae after SAH, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging or positron emission tomography, are discussed. These new techniques may have the advantage over structural modalities due to their ability to assess brain physiology and function in real time. However, their use remains mainly experimental and the literature supporting their practice is still scarce.
Olfactomedin-4 autoantibodies give unusual c-ANCA staining patterns with reactivity to a subpopulation of neutrophils
Authors: Amirbeagi Firoozeh , Thulin Pontus , Pullerits Rille , Pedersen Bo , Andersson Bengt A , Dahlgren Claes , Welin Amanda , Bylund Johan
Published: November 2014

Testing for the presence of ANCAs in circulation is part of the clinical examinations routinely performed upon suspected autoimmune disorders, mainly vasculitis. The autoantibodies are typically directed toward neutrophil MPO or PR3. These are major granule-localized proteins, and similar to all hitherto-described ANCA antigens, they are expressed by all neutrophils, and ANCA-containing sera thus give rise to uniform reactivity toward all neutrophils in a sample. In this paper, we describe sera from 2 unrelated patients with diffuse inflammatory symptoms that gave rise to peculiar c-ANCA patterns, only reacting with a subpopulation (roughly 30%) of human neutrophils. By immunoblotting, both sera reacted to the same antigen, which was expressed in intracellular granules. The antigen could be released to the extracellular milieu through secretion but also through the formation of NETs. Neutrophils have long been considered a homogenous cell population, but it is becoming increasingly clear that distinct subpopulations, defined by the presence or absence of certain proteins, exist. One such marker that defines a neutrophil subset is the granule protein OLFM4. The unusual, subset-restricted c-ANCA sera reacted only with OLFM4-positive neutrophils, and MS analysis revealed that the autoantigen was, in fact, OLFM4. These data describe for the first time a c-ANCA pattern reactive to only a subpopulation of neutrophils and identify the granule protein OLFM4 as a novel autoantigen.
The Economics of Guilds
Authors: Ogilvie Sheilagh
Published: November 2014

Occupational guilds in medieval and early modern Europe offered an effective institutional mechanism whereby two powerful groups, guild members and political elites, could collaborate in capturing a larger slice of the economic pie and redistributing it to themselves at the expense of the rest of the economy. Guilds provided an organizational mechanism for groups of businessmen to negotiate with political elites for exclusive legal privileges that allowed them to reap monopoly rents. Guild members then used their guilds to redirect a share of these rents to political elites in return for support and enforcement. In short, guilds enabled their members and political elites to negotiate a way of extracting rents in the manufacturing and commercial sectors, rents that neither party could have extracted on its own. First, I provide an overview of where and when European guilds arose, what occupations they encompassed, how large they were, and how they varied across time and space. I then examine how guild activities affected market competition, commercial security, contract enforcement, product quality, human capital, and technological innovation. The historical findings on guilds provide strong support for the view that institutions arise and survive for centuries not because they are efficient but because they serve the distributional interests of powerful groups.
Retrospectives: The Cold-War Origins of the Value of Statistical Life
Authors: Banzhaf H. Spencer
Published: November 2014

This paper traces the history of the "Value of Statistical Life" (VSL), which today is used routinely in benefit-cost analysis of life-saving investments. The “value of statistical life” terminology was introduced by Thomas Schelling (1968) in his essay, “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.” Schelling made the crucial move to think in terms of risk rather than individual lives, with the hope to dodge the moral thicket of valuing "life." But as recent policy debates have illustrated, his move only thickened it. Tellingly, interest in the subject can be traced back another twenty years before Schelling's essay to a controversy at RAND Corporation following its earliest application of operations research to defense planning. RAND wanted to avoid valuing pilot's lives but the Air Force insisted they confront the issue. Thus, the VSL is not only well acquainted with political controversy; it was born from it.
Community Networks and the Process of Development
Authors: Munshi Kaivan
Published: November 2014

My objective in this paper is to lay the groundwork for a new network-based theory of economic development. The first step is to establish that community-based networks are active throughout the developing world. Plenty of anecdotal and descriptive evidence supports this claim. However, showing that these networks improve the economic outcomes of their members is more of a challenge. Over the course of the paper, I will present multiple strategies that have been employed to directly or indirectly identify network effects. The second step is to look beyond a static role for community networks, one of overcoming market failures and improving the outcomes of their members in the short-run, to examine how these informal institutions can support group mobility. A voluminous literature documents the involvement of communities in internal and international migration, both historically and in the contemporary economy. As with the static analysis, the challenge here is to show statistically that community networks directly support the movement of groups of individuals. I will show how predictions from the theory can be used to infer a link between networks and migration in very different contexts.
How Can Scandinavians Tax So Much?
Authors: Kleven Henrik Jacobsen
Published: November 2014

American visitors to Scandinavian countries are often puzzled by what they observe: despite large income redistribution through distortionary taxes and transfers, these are very high-income countries. They rank among the highest in the world in terms of income per capita, as well as most other economic and social outcomes. The economic and social success of Scandinavia poses important questions for economics and for those arguing against large redistribution based on its supposedly detrimental effect on economic growth and welfare. How can Scandinavian countries raise large amounts of tax revenue for redistribution and social insurance while maintaining some of the strongest economic outcomes in the world? Combining micro and macro evidence, this paper identifies three policies that can help explain this apparent anomaly: the coverage of third-party information reporting (ensuring a low level of tax evasion), the broadness of tax bases (ensuring a low level of tax avoidance), and the strong subsidization of goods that are complementary to working (ensuring a high level of labor force participation). The paper also presents descriptive evidence on a variety of social and cultural indicators that may help in explaining the economic and social success of Scandinavia.
An audit of Patient Advice Liaison Service (PALS)
Authors: Farboud Amir , Seyan Gurdeep S , Benjamin Elliot
Published: November 2014

Objectives:

To audit referrals from the Patient Advice Liaison Service (PALS) across the trust (5 hospital sites) and recommend interventions to promote changes and thereby improve overall patient experience.

Setting:

ENT departments, Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, London, UK.

Methods:

A retrospective audit of PALS referrals received from April 2009 to February 2011. Recommendations were implemented to improve patient care. A second cycle of the audit was performed, assessing referrals from March 2011 to June 2011, completing the loop. ENT department performance was also compared to other specialties.

Results:

Five categories of referrals had no complaints following the second audit. However, referrals regarding outpatient appointments and overall clinical care remained high, and the average number of referrals received per month increased.

Conclusion:

Following recommendations there were some improvements in the referrals received, but for improvements in other categories such as outpatient appointments, further recommendations and training may be required.
Small Animal Review
Authors: Tennant Bryn
Published: November 2014

Introduction:

Dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts managed surgically show improved survival times and a better quality of life.
Canine mange (part 2)
Authors: Curtis Cathy F
Published: November 2014

A previous article (Companion animal (2014) 19(1): 31–3) discussed the mites responsible for canine mange, which reside at a surface or superficial level of the skin. In this article, the subsurface mite species capable of infesting canine skin, namely demodectid and sarcoptid mites, will be addressed and the typical clinical signs associated with the skin diseases they cause will be discussed. Diagnostic tests suitable for immediate on-site diagnosis will be explained, and current UK treatment protocols will be described.
Cytology (part 4): cutaneous lesions of epithelial and mesenchymal origin
Authors: Cian Francesco
Published: November 2014

Cytopathology is a powerful non-invasive diagnostic technique, useful for the diagnosis of skin lesions in dogs. An accurate identification of the most common epithelial and mesenchymal neoplasms in dogs is considered of primary importance and may play a key role in the choice of the most appropriate therapeutic option.
Meeting report: Echinococcus 2014 ESCCAP meeting
Authors: Wright Ian
Published: November 2014

In October 2014, ESCCAP Europe presented the Echinococcus 2014 meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania. The meeting presented the opportunity for highly recognised experts and representatives from many active research groups to provide updates from the scientific field and to discuss solutions to the zoonotic threat posed by Echinococcus spp. This article summarises these findings in the prism of the control of cystic and alveolar echinococcosis.
New developments in wound therapy (part 2): honey and nanocrystalline silver
Authors: Bowlt Kelly
Published: November 2014

The requirement to manage complicated wounds in practice is commonplace, and treatment options are constantly evolving. This article series provides an update on some of the most recent developments in wound management. The reader should be mindful that existing techniques (e.g. wet-to-dry dressings, foam dressings etc.) are well proven, and new techniques may not always be preferable.
Evaluation of digital and skinfold caliper measurements of the Achilles tendon width
Authors: Kalichman Leonid , Magram Irina , Reitblat Tatiana , Kearney Rebecca
Published: November 2014

Background: A critical review of the literature shows that very few objective methods for clinically evaluating Achilles tendinopathy have been described.

Aim: To evaluate the validity and reliability of common digital and skinfold calipers in measuring the Achilles tendon width.

Methods: Reliability study of ten healthy adult volunteers (five males and five females) was performed at the Rheumatology Unit of Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel. Achilles tendon width was measured by ultrasound at two points of both legs (the tendon attachment and 5 cm proximally). Using regular and skinfold calipers, two further measurements were made, three hours apart, at the same sites.

Results: Test-retest reliability was high for the skinfold caliper at both the upper (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)=0.863, p<0.001) and lower (ICC=0.931, p<0.001) points, and moderate for the regular caliper at upper (ICC=0.730, p<0.001) and lower (ICC=0.641, p<0.001) points. Moderate association was found between ultrasound and caliper measurements at the lower point (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rho)=0.721, p=0.019 for regular calipers; rho=0.646, p=0.043 for skinfold calipers). At the upper point, the associations were high (rho=0.778, p=0.008 for regular calipers; rho=0.960, p<0.001 for skinfold calipers).

Conclusions: The skinfold caliper showed a higher correlation with ultrasound measurements and higher intraobserver reliability than the regular caliper. Therefore, the skinfold caliper can be recommended in clinics and trials when repeated measurements need to be performed.
Stuff we love: Afeto, Presença e Materialidade no Design de Livros
Authors: Andrioli Larissa
Published: November 2014

O presente artigo pretende discutir a materialidade do livro através do design gráfico. Parte de duas diferentes possibilidades de observação do objeto: o design emocional de Donald Norman (complementado pela teoria dos afetos de António Damásio) e a produção de presença de Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht. Para entender como as duas se relacionam entre si e como se podem aplicar ao livro, uma das seções do artigo centra-se numa descrição háptica de três obras. Contrastando um livro tradicional com dois livros cujo design explora a sua materialidade táctil, este artigo se propõe a entender de que forma a configuração física do livro influencia a nossa percepção da arte através da mobilização de afetos.
Demarcating Aristotelian Rhetoric: Rhetoric, the Subalternate Sciences, and Boundary Crossing
Authors: Adams Marcus P.
Published: November 2014

The ways in which the Aristotelian sciences are related to each other has been discussed in the literature, with some focus on the subalternate sciences. While it is acknowledged that Aristotle, and Plato as well, was concerned as well with how the arts were related to one another, less attention has been paid to Aristotle’s views on relationships among the arts. In this paper, I argue that Aristotle’s account of the subalternate sciences helps shed light on how Aristotle saw the art of rhetoric relating to dialectic and politics. Initial motivation for comparing rhetoric with the subalternate sciences is Aristotle’s use of the language of boundary transgression, germane to the
Engaging College Students and Cadets in Training Tomorrow’s Leaders of Character
Authors: Clark Shelby , Seider Scott
Published: November 2014

In this article, the authors describe the experiences of five cadets and college students serving as camp leaders for the United States Air Force Academy’s (USAFA) Leaders of Character Camp (LoCC). Additionally, they describe the work in which three other universities are engaged to adapt the LoCC model to their own university contexts. In so doing, the authors seek to offer insights into how such camp experiences foster college students’ leadership and character and to highlight some of the efforts to expand the reach of such experiences across the nation.