bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrity in democratic politics
Authors: Hall Edward
Published: January 2018

The complaint that many professional politicians lack integrity is common. However, it is unclear what such a judgement amounts to. Taking various codes of political ethics in the United Kingdom as my starting point, I examine the extent to which we can understand political integrity as a matter of politicians adhering to the obligations that official codes of ethics prescribe and, in a more general sense, the public-service ethos that underpins these codes. I argue that although this way of approaching the issue usefully draws our attention to an important class of positional duties that apply to politicians, commitment to principled political causes plays a further, indispensable role in coherent assessments of political integrity. In consequence, I claim that politicians of integrity succeed in furthering their deepest political commitments while avoiding malfeasance or misconduct. As such, the ascription of political integrity can often only be made when assessing a long train of action.
Limiting or liberating? The influence of parliaments on military deployments in multinational settings
Authors: Schade Daniel
Published: January 2018

Multilateral contexts often complicate parliaments’ efforts to scrutinise and influence security policy, as parliaments usually work in a national setting. This article explores how the internationalisation of security policy has altered parliamentary constraints on executive decision-making. It focuses on cases where multilateral decision-making is particularly advanced and studies military deployments under the auspices of the European Union’s (EU’s) Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). Using the examples of France, the United Kingdom and Germany, the article examines how the policy’s location at the intersection of decision-making on security and EU matters creates new opportunities for member state parliaments to scrutinise it. Yet, as an analysis of three CSDP military operations shows, these opportunities do not always translate into increased scrutiny practice and vary in line with factors such as national troop contributions, distinct political traditions and an operation’s salience.
Section bending resistance of new Hybrid Double-I-Box Beams
Authors: Deepak MS , Shanthi VM
Published: January 2018

This article contains original works of testing and numerical validation on section bending resistance of new innovative built-up thin-walled metal Hybrid Double-I-Box Beam sections when subjected to local buckling. The cross section of Hybrid Double-I-Box Beam section is distinctive, which has advantages of both an ‘I’ section and a closed-box section. A total of 24 sections in three series that includes 8 homogeneous sections and 16 hybrid sections were tested under four-point bending. The varying parameters considered in the test specimens were as follows: first, hybrid parameter ratio, that is, yield strengths of flange steel to web steel (Φh = fyf/fyw); second, the ratio of breadth to the overall depth (B/D) of the section; and third, the flange thickness (tf). The moment-resisting capacity of these built-up sections are high due to the presence of more material at the flanges. The closed box-web portion provides higher torsional rigidity. From the test results, it was found that the hybrid sections have higher bending resistance capacity than the homogeneous sections, so technically gains more strength to weight. The increase in B/D ratio gained the increase in both major and minor axis bending resistance. The intermediate flange stiffener which alters the flange plate slenderness (λpf) had a significant effect on the local buckling resistance of the flange plate. Verification of numerical models followed by a parametric study was undertaken using ABAQUS finite element analysis software. The test results obtained were compared with the predicted design moment of resistance (Mc,Rd) as per Eurocode design standards EN 1993-1-3: 2006-Design of Steel Structures for Cold-Formed Steel Members and Sheeting and the adequacy is confirmed.
Gender differences among adolescents with substance abuse problems at Maria clinics in Sweden
Authors: Anderberg Mats , Dahlberg Mikael
Published: January 2018

Aim:

The article describes similarities and differences regarding various risk factors between girls and boys with substance abuse problems who begin outpatient treatment at the Maria clinics in Sweden. Potential hypotheses and some implications are also discussed.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study was based on interview data from 2169 adolescents obtained over three years from outpatient clinics in 11 Swedish cities.

Results:

Girls appear to consistently have more difficult family and childhood environments than boys, and are more likely to have problems related to school, more serious substance abuse problems, and more severe mental health problems. Criminal activity is significantly higher among boys.

Conclusions:

The study shows that girls entering treatment generally have significantly more risk factors than boys and thus more extensive problems in several aspects of life, which in turn increases the risk of developing serious drug and alcohol problems in adulthood. The study supports the gender-paradoxical relationship in which a smaller proportion of girls than boys enter treatment for substance abuse, even though girls tend to have more problematic life situations.
Tracking of periodic oscillations in an underactuated system via adaptive neural networks
Authors: Puga-Guzmán Sergio A , Aguilar-Avelar Carlos , Moreno-Valenzuela Javier , Santibáñez Víctor
Published: January 2018

In this paper, the tracking control of periodic oscillations in an underactuated mechanical system is discussed. The proposed scheme is derived from the feedback linearization control technique and adaptive neural networks are used to estimate the unknown dynamics and to compensate uncertainties. The proposed neural network-based controller is applied to the Furuta pendulum, which is a nonlinear and nonminimum phase underactuated mechanical system with two degrees of freedom. The new neural network-based controller is experimentally compared with respect to its model-based version. Results indicated that the proposed neural algorithm performs better than the model-based controller, showing that the real-time adaptation of the neural network weights successfully estimates the unknown dynamics and compensates uncertainties in the experimental platform.
Numerical investigation of flow around cylinder at Reynolds number = 3900 with large eddy simulation technique: Effect of spanwise length and mesh resolution
Authors: Khan Niaz Bahadur , Ibrahim Zainah , Bin Mohamad Badry Ahmad Badarudin , Jameel Mohammed , Javed Muhammad Faisal
Published: January 2018

Flow around a cylinder at a Reynolds number of 3900 was studied using large eddy simulation with ICEM CFD and Fluent tools for meshing and analysis, respectively. Although this issue has been explored by numerous researchers, a discrepancy still exists in the results, particularly in calculating the angle of separation, recirculation length, and statistics in the wake region behind the cylinder. In addition, the effect of spanwise grid and near-field grid resolution on the wake region needs to be addressed. This study reviews previous work and performs analyses according to the literature recommendations. The effect of spanwise length (4D, 8D, and 16D), mesh resolution in the spanwise direction (1, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 160 elements), and near-field grid on calculating recirculation length, angle of separation, and wake characteristics is investigated. Hydrodynamic values and pressure distribution around the cylinder are analyzed. The wake behind the cylinder is investigated within 10 diameters. This study concluded that compared with spanwise length, mesh resolution in the spanwise direction and near-field grid are more important factors for good-quality results.
A Study on Effects of Financial Aid on Student Persistence in Dual Enrollment and Advanced Placement Participation
Authors: Lin Ching-Hui , Borden Victor M. H. , Chen Jyun-Hong
Published: January 2018

Despite concerted efforts to increase participation in advanced placement (AP) and dual credit (DC) programs, their efficacy remains unexplored. Drawing upon St. John’s model as the conceptual framework, this study employed a discrete-time event history analysis to examine the interplay between forms of financial aid and persistence toward degree completion for students participating in DC and AP programs and enrolling in a large, multicampus, Midwestern, U.S. University. First-time, first-year baccalaureate degree-seeking students who began studies in Fall 2012 were tracked for 4 years. The findings suggest that many factors are significantly related to college success, including student demographics such as race (especially Latino identity), first-generation status, housing status, socioeconomic status, and dependency status; high school performance, AP/DC participation, and SAT or ACT scores; and financial aid, such as Pell and federal grant aid and institutional grant programs. Results suggest that receiving Pell and federal grant aid and institutional grant-in-aid consistently and significantly attenuated the risks of student departure. In relation to prematriculation college-level credits, AP participants were more likely to receive institutional grant programs, whereas DC participants were more likely to have student loans. These findings have implications regarding the efficacy of DC/AP programs in regard to their interplay with financial aid systems in affecting persistence outcomes.
Genome-Wide Analysis Identified a Number of Dysregulated Long Noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in Human Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Hao Sijie , Yao Lie , Huang Jiaxin , He Hang , Yang Feng , Di Yang , Jin Chen , Fu Deliang
Published: January 2018

Background:

Long noncoding RNAs have been shown to play crucial roles in cancer biology, while the long noncoding RNA landscapes of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma have not been completely characterized. We aimed to determine whether long noncoding RNA could serve as early diagnostic biomarkers for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Method:

We conducted a genome-wide microarray analysis on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and their adjacent noncancerous tissues from 8 Chinese patients.

Results:

A total of 3352 significantly differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs were detected. Of total, 1249 long noncoding RNAs were upregulated and 2103 were downregulated (fold change ≥2, P < 0.05, FDR <0.05). These differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs were not evenly distributed among chromosomes in human genome. Hierarchical clustering of these differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs revealed large variabilities in long noncoding RNA expression among individual patient, indicating that certain long noncoding RNAs could play a unique role or be used as a biomarker for specific subtype of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Gene Ontology enrichment and pathway analysis identified several remarkably dysregulated pathways in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tissue, such as interferon-γ-mediated signaling pathway, mitotic cell cycle and proliferation, extracellular matrix receptor interaction, focal adhesion, and regulation of actin cytoskeleton. The co-expression network analysis detected 393 potential interactions between 80 differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs and 105 messenger RNAs. We experimentally verified 7 most markedly dysregulated long noncoding RNAs from the network.

Conclusion:

Our study provided a genome-wide survey of dysregulated long noncoding RNAs and long noncoding RNA/messenger RNA co-regulation networks in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tissue. These dysregulated long noncoding RNA/messenger RNA networks could be used as biomarkers to provide early diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or its subtype, predict prognosis, and evaluate treatment efficacy.
Commentary to 18F-GP1, a Novel PET Tracer Designed for High-Sensitivity, Low-Background Detection of Thrombi: Imaging Activated Platelets in Clots—Are We Getting There?
Authors: Stephens Andrew W. , Koglin Norman , Dinkelborg Ludger M.
Published: January 2018

Thrombus formation can lead to heart attacks, stroke and pulmonary embolism, which are major causes of mortality. Current standard diagnostic imaging methods detect anatomic abnormalities such as vascular flow impairment but have limitations. By using a targeted molecular imaging approach critical components of a pathology can be selectively visualized and exploited for an improved diagnosis and patient management. The GPIIb/IIIa receptor is abundantly and specifically exposed on activated platelets and is the key receptor in thrombus formation. This commentary describes the current status of GPIIb/IIIa-based PET imaging approaches with a focus on the recently published preclinical data of the small-molecule PET tracer 18F-GP1. Areas of future research and potential clinical applications are discussed that may lead to an improved detection of critical thromboembolic events and an optimization of available antithrombotic therapies by tracking activated platelets.
Activity-Based Goals Generated by Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Rodakowski Juleen , Becker Amanda M. , Golias Katlyn W.
Published: January 2018

Client-centered care is one promising rehabilitation model that may support the unique needs of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This secondary analysis examined (a) whether older adults with MCI generated activity-based goals using a client-centered model and (b) the types of goals generated. Thirteen older adults with MCI addressed 55 goals. Using client-centered care, the participants generated goals despite subtle limitations in activities and participation. Participants generated the greatest number of goals related to instrumental activities of daily living. This study demonstrated that older adults with MCI generated goals through a client-centered model. This is important because older adults with MCI are at risk for disability, and they may benefit from early rehabilitation care models that minimize activity limitations and participation restrictions despite underlying cognitive impairments.
Family Perspectives on Integrated Employment for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Gilson Carly B. , Carter Erik W. , Bumble Jennifer L. , McMillan Elise D.
Published: January 2018

Families are essential partners in efforts to elevate the employment outcomes of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). We examined the employment-related expectations, preferences, and concerns of 673 parents and other family members of adults with IDD. Participants prioritized paid integrated employment over sheltered options, and such perspectives were strongly associated with the recent employment status of their family member with IDD. In addition, they valued qualitative dimensions of a potential workplace (e.g., personal satisfaction, social interaction opportunities) more highly than prevailing employment metrics (e.g., rate of pay, hours per week, benefits). Multiple factors informed the views of parents and other family members regarding integrated employment and the extent to which their family member with IDD had been employed previously in the community. We offer recommendations for research, practice, and systems change efforts aimed at raising expectations for and access to integrated employment for adults with IDD.
Frequency and Factors Associated With Honorary Authorship in Indian Biomedical Journals: Analysis of Papers Published From 2012 to 2013
Authors: Shah Akash , Rajasekaran Sathish , Bhat Anup , Solomon John M.
Published: January 2018

Honorary authorship is the inclusion of an author on an article whose contribution does not warrant authorship. We conducted an Internet-based survey among first authors publishing in Indian biomedical journals from 2012 to 2013 to study the frequency and factors associated with honorary authorship. The response rate was 27% (245/908) with the prevalence of perceived, International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE)-defined, and unperceived honorary authorship of 20.9% (50/239), 60% (147/245), and 46.9% (115/245), respectively. Those residing in India were found to list more honorary authors. We hope to increase awareness of the ICMJE authorship guidelines and the general issue of honorary authorship among researchers in India and elsewhere.
Social Support Networks and Quality of Life of Rural Men in a Context of Marriage Squeeze in China
Authors: Wang Sasa , Yang Xueyan , Attané Isabelle
Published: January 2018

A significant number of rural Chinese men are facing difficulties in finding a spouse and may fail to ever marry due to a relative scarcity of women in the adult population. Research has indicated that marriage squeeze is a stressful event which is harmful to men’s quality of life, and also weakens their social support networks. Using data collected in rural Chaohu city, Anhui, China, this study explores the effects of social support networks on quality of life of rural men who experience a marriage squeeze. The results indicate that the size of social contact networks is directly and positively associated with the quality of life of marriage-squeezed men, and moderate the negative effect of age on quality of life. Having no or limited instrumental support network and social contact network are double-edged swords, which have direct negative associations with the quality of life of marriage-squeezed men, and have moderate effects on the relationship between marriage squeeze and quality of life.
Stent-assisted coiling of cerebral aneurysms with the Neuroform Atlas stent
Authors: Cay Ferdi , Peker Ahmet , Arat Anıl
Published: January 2018

Objectives

The Neuroform Atlas stent (AS) is the smallest intracranial stent with an open-cell design. This study reports the first clinical experience with AS.

Methods

All intracranial aneurysms treated by stent-assisted coiling using a single AS in a single institution were retrospectively evaluated. Patient demographics, aneurysm characteristics, angles between the parent artery and stented branch, technical success, and clinical and angiographic follow-up were analyzed.

Results

Fifty-five consecutive aneurysms treated with AS-assisted coiling were included. Of these, 69.1% were located distal to the circle of Willis. Technical success rate was 100%. The mean diameters of proximal and distal parent arteries were 2.62 mm (range 1.5–4.4) and 1.8 mm (range 0.8–3.5), respectively. Except for a minor stroke in a patient who completely discontinued antiplatelet therapy on postoperative day 4, there were no clinical events with permanent sequelae, and 94.1% of patients had Raymond-Roy score of 1 or 2 aneurysmal occlusion at a mean follow-up duration of 7.9 months. Although the angle between the parent artery and the stented branch increased significantly ( p < 0.001) with time, the angular change at follow-up was only 16.45 ± 11.03 degrees and was inversely correlated both with preoperative angle and the diameter of the distal parent artery ( r = −0.465 and r = −0.433, respectively, p = 0.004 for both).

Conclusion

AS-assisted coiling was associated with a favorable early clinical outcome and angiographic results in this series. This stent can be used for distally located aneurysms and results in minimal alteration of the arterial anatomy.
Influence of polycrystalline diamond compact bit geometric parameters on drilling performance during gas drainage borehole in soft coal seam
Authors: Han Xiaoming , Zhang Qiangqiang , Wang Shifeng , Li Jialiang , Chen Detuo
Published: January 2018

Polycrystalline diamond compact bit is the main rock-breaking tool of gas drainage borehole. In order to investigate the influence of geometric parameters of polycrystalline diamond bit on its drilling performance, the integrated force model of polycrystalline diamond bit pressed into rock was established. The stress analysis results show that the tooth rake angle, pressing depth, and horizontal tangential displacement are the main factors to influence the normal load and the axial load of polycrystalline diamond bit. There is an optimal tooth rake angle value of polycrystalline diamond bit cutter when it is used in the soft coal seam. The drilling experiment system was built to verify the drilling performance of drill bits with different geometric structure and different tooth rake angle through drilling the soft coal wall. The experiment results show that the drilling torque and feeding resistance of polycrystalline diamond bit are higher than that of the wing bit at the beginning of drilling the soft coal wall. With the increase in the drilling depth, the feeding resistance of wing bit will increase to exceed that of the polycrystalline diamond bit. So the polycrystalline diamond bits should be selected to drill the gas drainage borehole in soft coal seam. The polycrystalline diamond bit with bigger tooth rake angle cannot cut and break the coal rock effectively, which will reduce the drilling efficiency and the feeding speed. When the tooth rake angle is smaller, polycrystalline diamond bit cannot cut in coal wall effectively, which will increase the feeding resistance. So the polycrystalline diamond bit with tooth rake angle of 15°–20° is suitable for the gas drainage borehole in soft coal seam. With the increase in the rotary speed of polycrystalline diamond bit, the cutting thickness of coal rock decreases and the horizontal tangential displacement increases. When the rotary speed of polycrystalline diamond bit is 290 r/min, the mean drilling torque and mean feeding resistance of polycrystalline diamond bit reach the minimum. Therefore, in order to reach the optimum drilling performance, the working parameters of low drilling pressure and high rotary speed are usually selected during the actual gas drainage borehole in soft coal seam.
Event-based stereo matching using semiglobal matching
Authors: Xie Zhen , Zhang Jianhua , Wang Pengfei
Published: January 2018

In this article, we focus on the problem of depth estimation from a stereo pair of event-based sensors. These sensors asynchronously capture pixel-level brightness changes information (events) instead of standard intensity images at a specified frame rate. So, these sensors provide sparse data at low latency and high temporal resolution over a wide intrascene dynamic range. However, new asynchronous, event-based processing algorithms are required to process the event streams. We propose a fully event-based stereo three-dimensional depth estimation algorithm inspired by semiglobal matching. Our algorithm considers the smoothness constraints between the nearby events to remove the ambiguous and wrong matches when only using the properties of a single event or local features. Experimental validation and comparison with several state-of-the-art, event-based stereo matching methods are provided on five different scenes of event-based stereo data sets. The results show that our method can operate well in an event-driven way and has higher estimation accuracy.
Peer characteristics associated with improved glycemic control in a randomized controlled trial of a reciprocal peer support program for diabetes
Authors: Kaselitz Elizabeth , Shah Megha , Choi Hwajung , Heisler Michele
Published: January 2018

Objective

In a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial of diabetes reciprocal peer support, we examined characteristics of peers associated with improvements in their partner’s glycemic control.

Methods

A total of 102 adults with diabetes were randomized to the reciprocal peer support arm (vs. a nurse care management arm). The primary outcome was change in A1c over six months. Intermediate outcomes were insulin initiation and peer engagement. A number of baseline characteristics of peers were hypothesized to influence outcomes for their peer, and concordant characteristics of peer dyads were hypothesized that would influence outcomes for both peer partners.

Results

Improvement in A1c was associated with having a peer older than oneself ( P < .05) or with higher diabetes-related distress ( P < .01). Participants with peers who reported poorer health at baseline had worse glycemic control at follow-up ( P < .01). Hypothesized concordant characteristics were not associated with A1c improvements. Participants whose peers had a more controlled self-regulation style were more likely to initiate insulin ( P < .05).

Discussion

The improved outcomes of peers whose partners were older and reported more diabetes distress at baseline supports the need for further research into the peer characteristics that lead to improved outcomes. This could allow for better matching and more effective partnerships.
Comparison of two anthropomorphic test devices using brain motion
Authors: Koncan David , Post Andrew , Gilchrist Michael , Hoshizaki Thomas Blaine
Published: January 2018

The use of anthropomorphic test devices in head impact biomechanics research is common; however, each device has unique properties based on its construction. When conducting reconstructions, choice of head form is at the discretion of the researcher. In addition, different data collection methods are often used. The influence of different test devices can affect comparisons between studies, as each device elicits different impact responses due to different physical properties. This study describes a method of comparison for anthropomorphic test devices based on finite element response of brain motion. Occipital impacts were conducted on a monorail drop rig, following impact parameters similar to a cadaveric impact that has been used for validation of finite element models of the brain. Two commonly used anthropomorphic test devices, the Hodgson-WSU and Hybrid III, were impacted. These head forms were evaluated by dynamic responses, brain motion via neutral density target traces, and maximum principal strain for two impact velocities. The Hybrid III head form showed lower magnitude results compared to the Hodgson-WSU for peak linear and rotational accelerations, rotational velocity, maximum principal strain, and neutral density target excursions. The smallest differences in response were 11% for peak linear acceleration with differences in neutral density target excursions reaching 60%. Maximum principal strain is suggested as the most comparable metric between anthropomorphic test devices after peak linear acceleration, with expectation of lower responses from the Hybrid III as compared to those of the Hodgson-WSU.
Factors affecting clinical decision-making in inflammatory bowel disease and the role of point-of-care calprotectin
Authors: Derwa Yannick , Williams Christopher J.M. , Sood Ruchit , Mumtaz Saqib , Bholah M. Hassan , Selinger Christian P. , Hamlin P. John , Ford Alexander C. , Gracie David J.
Published: January 2018

Objectives:

Patient-reported symptoms correlate poorly with mucosal inflammation. Clinical decision-making may, therefore, not be based on objective evidence of disease activity. We conducted a study to determine factors associated with clinical decision-making in a secondary care inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) population, using a cross-sectional design.

Methods:

Decisions to request investigations or escalate medical therapy were recorded from outpatient clinic encounters in a cohort of 276 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s disease (CD). Disease activity was assessed using clinical indices, self-reported flare and faecal calprotectin ≥ 250 µg/g. Demographic, disease-related and psychological factors were assessed using validated questionnaires. Logistic regression was performed to determine the association between clinical decision-making and symptoms, mucosal inflammation and psychological comorbidity.

Results:

Self-reported flare was associated with requesting investigations in CD [odds ratio (OR) 5.57; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.84–17.0] and UC (OR 10.8; 95% CI 1.8–64.3), but mucosal inflammation was not (OR 1.62; 95% CI 0.49–5.39; and OR 0.21; 95% CI 0.21–1.05, respectively). Self-reported flare (OR 7.96; 95% CI 1.84–34.4), but not mucosal inflammation (OR 1.67; 95% CI 0.46–6.13) in CD, and clinical disease activity (OR 10.36; 95% CI 2.47–43.5) and mucosal inflammation (OR 4.26; 95% CI 1.28–14.2) in UC were associated with escalation of medical therapy. Almost 60% of patients referred for investigation had no evidence of mucosal inflammation.

Conclusions:

Apart from escalation of medical therapy in UC, clinical decision-making was not associated with mucosal inflammation in IBD. The use of point-of-care calprotectin testing may aid clinical decision-making, improve resource allocation and reduce costs in IBD.
Academic-Community Partnership Educating Children About Weather-Related Disaster Preparedness
Authors: Foster Melissa , Barnby Elizabeth
Published: January 2018

Children are a population that has an increased risk of harm during any disaster events. This risk can be decreased by educating children in disaster preparedness skills. This article outlines a basic modifiable curriculum for teaching weather-related disaster preparedness to children ages 10-13, and shares how this was accomplished at an elementary school in North Alabama through a collaboration between the school and a local college of nursing.
Judgment and the Preparation of Educational Leaders
Authors: Duke Daniel L.
Published: January 2018

Should the topic of judgment have a place in the preparation and development of school leaders? This question serves as the focus for an examination of the nature of judgment and obstacles to good judgment. Judgment is defined as the ability to arrive at and make a choice when faced with incomplete information, uncertain conditions, and/or competing goals and values. The article argues that judgment and the related topics of decision making and problem solving are critical components of leader preparation. Suggestions are offered concerning judgment-related curriculum content and how it can be taught in pre-service and in-service settings.
Transient Signals and Inattentional Blindness in a Multi-object Tracking Task
Authors: Palmer Dakota B. , Yamani Yusuke , Bobrow Taylor L. , Karpinsky Nicole D. , Krusienski Dean J.
Published: January 2018

Inattentional blindness is a failure to notice an unexpected event when attention is directed elsewhere. The current study examined participants’ awareness of an unexpected object that maintained luminance contrast, switched the luminance once, or repetitively flashed. One hundred twenty participants performed a dynamic tracking task on a computer monitor for which they were instructed to count the number of movement deflections of an attended set of objects while ignoring other objects. On the critical trial, an unexpected cross that did not change its luminance (control condition), switched its luminance once (switch condition), or repetitively flashed (flash condition) traveled across the stimulus display. Participants noticed the unexpected cross more frequently when the luminance feature matched their attention set than when it did not match. Unexpectedly, however, a proportion of the participants who noticed the cross in the switch and flash conditions were statistically comparable. The results suggest that an unexpected object with even a single luminance change can break inattentional blindness in a multi-object tracking task.
Public attitudes toward presidential veto powers
Authors: Sievert Joel , Williamson Ryan D.
Published: January 2018

Previous research on presidential powers has demonstrated predictable variation in the level of support for presidential usage of those powers. However, much of this work has focused solely on unilateral powers. Here, we seek to further explore public attitudes towards constitutionally prescribed powers—namely that of the executive veto. Using original survey data, we find that public support of the president’s use of the veto is dependent on respondent partisanship as well as approval of both the president and Congress. Overall, our findings provide some support for previous research on the topic, but also offer new insights. First, we find a higher baseline level of support for presidential powers. Second, our results indicate that the president’s copartisans are more supportive of the veto even after controlling for presidential and congressional approval.
Situations and strategies for cultural learning in a short exchange programme
Authors: Bønløkke Mette , van der Linde Lieneke , De Lorenzo Urien Elena
Published: January 2018

The European Nursing Module was designed to enable nursing students to benefit from a short-term exchange, offering the opportunity to experience different societies, their culture and nursing culture. Cultural learning is essential in preparing students to co-work with patients and relatives who come from other cultural backgrounds. This descriptive study aimed to identify the situations and strategies valued by students and that contribute to professional and cultural learning during a short-term exchange programme. A online survey questionnaire was answered by 329 students attending a cross-European module. From their experience students valued highest: time to observe and understand, awareness of their own culture, a positive attitude, opportunities to compare differences and similarities, sharing and communicating. Valued stepping-stones were, to realise and respect differences and a chance to reflect. More studies are needed on the role of the observer and the impact of reflection on a short-term programme.
A comparative ultrasonographic evaluation of intrarenal artery resistive index among hypertensive and normotensive adults in a black African population compared to a European population
Authors: Madubueze George , Ugwa Emmanuel
Published: January 2018

Background

Hypertensive nephropathy is an important medical problem among the black African population. Early detection of renovascular changes using ultrasonography can provide opportunity for immediate intervention towards preventing or at least delaying the irreversible hypertensive nephropathy.

Purpose

To compare intrarenal resistive index (RI) in healthy normotensive and hypertensive adults in Kano, Nigeria.

Material and Methods

A prospective comparative study of intrarenal RI using ultrasound in 150 hypertensives and 150 normotensive controls. The mean renal RI of the interlobar arteries of both kidneys were measured and recorded. The data were analyzed with the aid of computer-based SPSS 16.0 software for Windows.

Results

The age range of the study participants was 35–70 years. The mean interlobar artery RI values were 0.59 ± 0.04 and 0.59 ± 0.03 on the right and left sides, respectively, in normotensive control individuals while those of hypertensive individuals were 0.73 ± 0.03 and 0.73 ± 0.03 for the mean interlobar artery RI values on the right and left sides, respectively.

Conclusion

The intrarenal RIs were lower in normotensives when compared with the hypertensive participants, which were statistically significant. These showed that hypertension has significant effects on the kidneys, and with early detection and intervention, irreversible renal damage may be prevented.
Personalized Network Modeling in Psychopathology: The Importance of Contemporaneous and Temporal Connections
Authors: Epskamp Sacha , van Borkulo Claudia D. , van der Veen Date C. , Servaas Michelle N. , Isvoranu Adela-Maria , Riese Harriëtte , Cramer Angélique O. J.
Published: January 2018

Recent literature has introduced (a) the network perspective to psychology and (b) collection of time series data to capture symptom fluctuations and other time varying factors in daily life. Combining these trends allows for the estimation of intraindividual network structures. We argue that these networks can be directly applied in clinical research and practice as hypothesis generating structures. Two networks can be computed: a temporal network, in which one investigates if symptoms (or other relevant variables) predict one another over time, and a contemporaneous network, in which one investigates if symptoms predict one another in the same window of measurement. The contemporaneous network is a partial correlation network, which is emerging in the analysis of cross-sectional data but is not yet utilized in the analysis of time series data. We explain the importance of partial correlation networks and exemplify the network structures on time series data of a psychiatric patient.
Documentation of Contraception and Pregnancy Intention In Medicaid Managed Care
Authors: Thiel de Bocanegra Heike , McKean Alia , Darney Philip , Saleeby Erin , Hulett Denis
Published: January 2018

Context:

Clinical guidelines recommend the documentation of pregnancy intention and family planning needs during primary care visits. Prior to the 2014 Medicaid expansion and release of these guidelines, the documentation practices of Medicaid managed care providers are unknown.

Methods:

We performed a chart review of 1054 Medicaid managed care visits of women aged 13 to 49 to explore client, provider, and visit characteristics associated with documentation of immediate or future plans for having children and contraceptive method use. Five managed care plans used Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes to identify providers with at least 15 women who had received family planning or well-woman care in 2013. We conducted multilevel logistic regression analyses with documentation of contraceptive method and pregnancy intention as outcome variables and clinic site as the level 2 random effect.

Results:

Only 12% of charts had documentation of pregnancy intention and 59% documented contraceptive use. Compared to women with a family planning visit reason, women with an annual, reproductive health, or primary care reason for their visit were significantly less likely to have contraception documented (odds ratio [OR] = 11.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.8-17.7). Age was also a significant predictor with women aged 30 to 49 (OR = 0.6; 95% CI = 0.4-0.9), and women aged 13 to 19 (OR = 0.2; 95% CI = 0.1-0.6) being less likely to have a note about pregnancy intention in their chart. Pregnancy intention was more likely to be documented in multispecialty clinics (OR = 15.5; 95% CI = 2.7-89.2).

Conclusions:

Interventions to improve routine medical record documentation of contraception and pregnancy intention regardless of patient age and visit characteristics are needed to facilitate the provision of family planning in managed care visits and, ultimately, achieving better maternal infant health outcomes and reduced costs.
Naive Expectations to Resignation
Authors: Evans Michael M , Hupcey Judith E , Kitko Lisa , Alonso Windy
Published: January 2018

Purpose:

This study examined life descriptions of persons with stage D heart failure (HF) comparing those newly diagnosed to those with chronic HF.

Methods:

A secondary analysis of interviews from 75 participants followed in a longitudinal study of persons with stage D HF was thematically analyzed. There were 24 participants who were recently diagnosed with stage D HF (less than 2 years) and 51 participants with HF longer than 2 years.

Results:

Both groups shared life descriptions along a continuum, where recently diagnosed participants described naive expectations with hope for improvement, while the chronic group appeared resigned to their fate and the reality of the limitations of living with HF. Four themes illustrated differences between the groups: outlook on life, activity adjustments, understanding of HF, and mood.

Conclusions:

Although persons with stage D HF share the same life descriptions, they have differing perspectives of life with HF. Findings from this study can help health-care providers tailor interventions based on the length of time from diagnosis.
Relationship Between Claims Data and the Preferences and Trends Survey: An Analysis of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Medication Choice for Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Parikh Ravi , Feng Paula W. , Del Priore Lucian V. , Adelman Ron A. , Chaudhry Nauman A.
Published: January 2018

Purpose:

To compare published self-reported practice patterns among retina specialists with published claims data representing actual practice patterns for the use of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) medications in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the United States.

Methods:

We compared physician self-reported preference for anti-VEGF medications to treat AMD in the American Society of Retina Specialists’ Preferences and Trends (PAT) survey with a previously published study using claims data from 2006 to 2015 from OptumLabs Data Warehouse as a data source. A Pearson χ2 test compared the relative proportions of drug use between the 2 groups, with <.05 indicating statistical significance.

Results:

From 2006 to 2015, the PAT surveys had approximately 3548 respondents to questions on which anti-VEGF medication was used for the treatment of AMD. Over the study period, 62.3% (2211/3548) of respondents preferred bevacizumab, 30.4% (1078/3548) ranibizumab, and 7.3% (259/3548) aflibercept in the treatment of AMD. Claims data on anti-VEGF use for AMD noted 59.7% (359 267/601 917) of injections were for bevacizumab, 23.8% (143 200/601 917) were for ranibizumab, and 16.5% (99 450/601 917) were for aflibercept. The difference in the relative use of bevacizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept use was not significant between the data sets ( P = .1991).

Conclusions:

The PAT survey responses appear to reflect actual physician practices based upon claims data and demonstrate the prevalence of bevacizumab as the prevailing treatment for AMD.
Visual Literacy in Bloom: Using Bloom’s Taxonomy to Support Visual Learning Skills
Authors: Arneson Jessie B. , Offerdahl Erika G.
Published: January 2018

Vision and Change identifies science communication as one of the core competencies in undergraduate biology. Visual representations are an integral part of science communication, allowing ideas to be shared among and between scientists and the public. As such, development of scientific visual literacy should be a desired outcome of undergraduate instruction. We developed the Visualization Blooming Tool (VBT), an adaptation of Bloom’s taxonomy specifically focused on visual representations, to aid instructors in designing instruction and assessments to target scientific visual literacy in undergraduate instruction. In this article, we identify the need for the VBT, describe its development, and provide concrete examples of its application to a curriculum redesign effort in undergraduate biochemistry.
Inference of Germline Mutational Status and Evaluation of Loss of Heterozygosity in High-Depth, Tumor-Only Sequencing Data
Authors: Khiabanian Hossein , Hirshfield Kim M. , Goldfinger Mendel , Bird Simon , Stein Mark , Aisner Joseph , Toppmeyer Deborah , Wong Serena , Chan Nancy , Dhar Kalyani , Gheeya Jinesh , Vig Hetal , Hadigol Mohammad , Pavlick Dean , Ansari Sepand , Ali Siraj , Xia Bing , Rodriguez-Rodriguez Lorna , Ganesan Shridar
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Inherited germline defects are implicated in up to 10% of human tumors, with particularly well-known roles in breast and ovarian cancers that harbor BRCA1/2-mutated genes. There is also increasing evidence for the role of germline alterations in other malignancies such as colon and pancreatic cancers. Mutations in familial cancer genes can be detected by high-throughput sequencing, when applied to formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor specimens. However, because of the frequent lack of patient-matched control normal DNA and/or low tumor purity, there is limited ability to determine the genomic status of these alterations (germline v somatic) and to assess the presence of loss of heterozygosity (LOH). These analyses, especially when applied to genes such as BRCA1/2, can have significant clinical implications for patient care.

Materials and Methods

LOHGIC (LOH-germline inference calculator) is a statistical model selection method to determine somatic versus germline status and predict LOH for mutations identified via clinical grade, high-depth, hybrid capture, tumor-only sequencing. LOHGIC incorporates statistical uncertainties inherent to high-throughput sequencing as well as specimen biases in tumor purity estimates, which we used to assess BRCA1/2 mutations in 1,636 specimens sequenced at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

Results

Evaluation of LOHGIC with available germline sequencing from BRCA1/2 testing demonstrates 93% accuracy, 100% precision, and 96% recall. This analysis highlights a differential tumor spectrum associated with BRCA1/2 mutations.

Conclusion

LOHGIC can assess LOH status for both germline and somatic mutations. It also can be applied to any gene with candidate, inherited mutations. This approach demonstrates the clinical utility of targeted sequencing in both identifying patients with potential germline alterations in tumor suppressor genes as well as estimating LOH occurrence in cancer cells, which may confer therapeutic relevance.
Significance, Errors, Power, and Sample Size: The Blocking and Tackling of Statistics
Authors: Mascha Edward J. , Vetter Thomas R.
Published: January 2018

Inferential statistics relies heavily on the central limit theorem and the related law of large numbers. According to the central limit theorem, regardless of the distribution of the source population, a sample estimate of that population will have a normal distribution, but only if the sample is large enough. The related law of large numbers holds that the central limit theorem is valid as random samples become large enough, usually defined as an n ≥ 30. In research-related hypothesis testing, the term “statistically significant” is used to describe when an observed difference or association has met a certain threshold. This significance threshold or cut-point is denoted as alpha (α) and is typically set at .05. When the observed P value is less than α, one rejects the null hypothesis (Ho) and accepts the alternative. Clinical significance is even more important than statistical significance, so treatment effect estimates and confidence intervals should be regularly reported. A type I error occurs when the Ho of no difference or no association is rejected, when in fact the Ho is true. A type II error occurs when the Ho is not rejected, when in fact there is a true population effect. Power is the probability of detecting a true difference, effect, or association if it truly exists. Sample size justification and power analysis are key elements of a study design. Ethical concerns arise when studies are poorly planned or underpowered. When calculating sample size for comparing groups, 4 quantities are needed: α, type II error, the difference or effect of interest, and the estimated variability of the outcome variable. Sample size increases for increasing variability and power, and for decreasing α and decreasing difference to detect. Sample size for a given relative reduction in proportions depends heavily on the proportion in the control group itself, and increases as the proportion decreases. Sample size for single-group studies estimating an unknown parameter is based on the desired precision of the estimate. Interim analyses assessing for efficacy and/or futility are great tools to save time and money, as well as allow science to progress faster, but are only 1 component considered when a decision to stop or continue a trial is made.