bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Atlantoaxial Rotatory Subluxation after Removal of a Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt in the Supine-Lateral Position
Authors: Hashide Shusei , Aihara Yasuo , Nagahara Ayumi , Mitsuyama Tetsuryu , Okada Yoshikazu
Published: July 2015

Atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation (AARS) is an uncommon disease with a greater prevalence in children than adults. So far there has only been one report of AARS after surgery related to ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting. We present a new case of AARS closed reduction treatment after VP shunt removal in an 8-year-old girl with wound pain on the back of her head and torticollis after surgery. Her head was rotated in the spine-lateral position during surgery. The diagnosis of AARS was established by 3D-computed tomography. The rotatory subluxation was cured after cervical traction therapy. The successful closed reduction was the consequence of early detection and conservative treatment, which are important constituents in the management of AARS.
Satellite DNA in Plants: More than Just Rubbish
Authors: Garrido-Ramos Manuel A.
Published: July 2015

For decades, satellite DNAs have been the hidden part of genomes. Initially considered as junk DNA, there is currently an increasing appreciation of the functional significance of satellite DNA repeats and of their sequences. Satellite DNA families accumulate in the heterochromatin in different parts of the eukaryotic chromosomes, mainly in pericentromeric and subtelomeric regions, but they also span the functional centromere. Tandem repeat sequences may spread from subtelomeric to interstitial loci, leading to the formation of chromosome-specific loci or to the accumulation in equilocal sites in different chromosomes. They also appear as the main components of the heterochromatin in the sex-specific region of sex chromosomes. Satellite DNA, required for chromosome organization, also plays a role in pairing and segregation. Some satellite repeats are transcribed and can participate in the formation and maintenance of heterochromatin structure and in the modulation of gene expression. In addition to the identification of the different satellite DNA families, their characteristics and location, we are interested in determining their impact on the genomes, by identifying the mechanisms leading to their appearance and amplification as well as in understanding how they change over time, the factors affecting these changes, and the influence exerted by the evolutionary history of the organisms. On the other hand, satellite DNA sequences are rapidly evolving sequences that may cause reproductive barriers between organisms and promote speciation. The accumulation of experimental data collected in recent years and the emergence of new approaches based on next-generation sequencing and high-throughput genome analysis are opening new perspectives that are changing our understanding of satellite DNA. This review examines recent data to provide a timely update on the overall information gathered about this part of the genome, focusing on the advances in the knowledge of its origin, its evolution, and its potential functional roles.
Low Impact of Traditional Risk Factors on Carotid Intima-Media Thickness
Authors: Santos Itamar S. , Alencar Airlane P. , Rundek Tatjana , Goulart Alessandra C. , Barreto Sandhi M. , Pereira Alexandre C. , Benseñor Isabela M. , Lotufo Paulo A.
Published: July 2015

Objective—

There is little information about how much traditional cardiovascular risk factors explain common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) variance. We aimed to study to which extent CCA-IMT values are determined by traditional risk factors and which commonly used measurements of blood pressure, glucose metabolism, lipid profile, and adiposity contribute the most to this determination in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) cohort baseline.

Approach and Results—

We analyzed 9792 individuals with complete data and CCA-IMT measurements. We built multiple linear regression models using mean left and right CCA-IMT as the dependent variable. All models were stratified by sex. We also analyzed individuals stratified by 10-year coronary heart disease risk and, in separate, those with no traditional risk factors. Main models’
R
2
varied between 0.141 and 0.373. The major part of the explained variance in CCA-IMT was because of age and race. Indicators of blood pressure, lipid profile, and adiposity that most frequently composed the best models were pulse pressure, low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio, and neck circumference. The association between neck circumference and CCA-IMT persisted significant even after further adjustment for vessel sizes and body mass index. Indicators of glucose metabolism had smaller contribution.

Conclusions—

We found that >60% of CCA-IMT were not explained by demographic and traditional cardiovascular risk factors, which highlights the need to study novel risk factors. Pulse pressure, low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein ratio, and neck circumference were the most consistent contributors.
Disturbed Laminar Blood Flow Vastly Augments Lipoprotein Retention in the Artery Wall
Authors: Steffensen Lasse Bach , Mortensen Martin Bødtker , Kjolby Mads , Hagensen Mette Kallestrup , Oxvig Claus , Bentzon Jacob Fog
Published: July 2015

Objective—

Atherosclerosis develops initially at branch points and in areas of high vessel curvature. Moreover, experiments in hypercholesterolemic mice have shown that the introduction of disturbed flow in straight, atherosclerosis-resistant arterial segments turns them highly atherosclerosis susceptible. Several biomechanical mechanisms have been proposed, but none has been demonstrated. In the present study, we examined whether a causal link exists between disturbed laminar flow and the ability of the arterial wall to retain lipoproteins.

Approach and Results—

Lipoprotein retention was detected at natural predilection sites of the murine thoracic aorta 18 hours after infusion of fluorescently labeled low-density lipoprotein. To test for causality between blood flow and the ability of these areas to retain lipoproteins, we manipulated blood flow in the straight segment of the common carotid artery using a constrictive collar. Disturbed laminar flow did not affect low-density lipoprotein influx, but increased the ability of the artery wall to bind low-density lipoprotein. Concordantly, disturbed laminar flow led to differential expression of genes associated with phenotypic modulation of vascular smooth muscle cells, increased expression of proteoglycan core proteins associated with lipoprotein retention, and of enzymes responsible for chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan synthesis and sulfation.

Conclusions—

Blood flow regulates genes associated with vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic modulation, as well as the expression and post-translational modification of lipoprotein-binding proteoglycan core proteins, and the introduction of disturbed laminar flow vastly augments the ability of a previously resistant, straight arterial segment to retain lipoproteins.
Cilostazol, Not Aspirin, Prevents Stenosis of Bioresorbable Vascular Grafts in a Venous Model
Authors: Tara Shuhei , Kurobe Hirotsugu , de Dios Ruiz Rosado Juan , Best Cameron A. , Shoji Toshihiro , Mahler Nathan , Yi Tai , Lee Yong-Ung , Sugiura Tadahisa , Hibino Narutoshi , Partida-Sanchez Santiago , Breuer Christopher K. , Shinoka Toshiharu
Published: July 2015

Objective—

Despite successful translation of bioresorbable vascular grafts for the repair of congenital heart disease, stenosis remains the primary cause of graft failure. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of long-term treatment with the antiplatelet drugs, aspirin and cilostazol, in preventing stenosis and evaluated the effect of these drugs on the acute phase of inflammation and tissue remodeling.

Approach and Results—

C57BL/6 mice were fed a drug-mixed diet of aspirin, cilostazol, or normal chow during the course of follow-up. Bioresorbable vascular grafts, composed of poly(glycolic acid) mesh sealed with poly(l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone), were implanted as inferior vena cava interposition conduits and followed up for 2 weeks (n=10 per group) or 24 weeks (n=15 per group). Both aspirin and cilostazol suppressed platelet activation and attachment onto the grafts. On explant at 24 weeks, well-organized neotissue had developed, and cilostazol treatment resulted in 100% graft patency followed by the aspirin (67%) and no-treatment (60%) groups (
P
<0.05). Wall thickness and smooth muscle cell proliferation in the neotissue of the cilostazol group were decreased when compared with that of the no-treatment group at 24 weeks. In addition, cilostazol was shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect on neotissue at 2 weeks by regulating the recruitment and activation of monocytes.

Conclusions—

Cilostazol prevents stenosis of bioresorbable vascular graft in a mouse inferior vena cava implantation model up to 24 weeks and is accompanied by reduction of smooth muscle cell proliferation and acute inflammation.
Examining Barriers and Practices to Recruitment and Retention in Stroke Clinical Trials
Authors: Boden-Albala Bernadette , Carman Heather , Southwick Lauren , Parikh Nina S. , Roberts Eric , Waddy Salina , Edwards Dorothy
Published: July 2015

Background and Purpose—

The National Institutes of Health policy calls for the inclusion of under-represented groups, such as women and minorities, in clinical research. Poor minority recruitment and retention in stroke clinical trials remain a significant challenge limiting safety and efficacy in a general population. Previous research examines participant barriers to clinical trial involvement, but little is known about the investigator perspective. This study addresses this gap and examines researcher-reported barriers and best practices of minority involvement in stroke clinical trials.

Methods—

Quantitative and qualitative methods, including surveys, focus groups, and key informant interviews were used.

Results—

In a survey of 93 prominent stroke researchers, 43 (51.2%; 70% response rate) respondents reported proactively setting recruitment goals for minority inclusion, 29 respondents (36.3%) reported requiring cultural competency staff training, and 44 respondents (51.2%) reported using community consultation about trial design. Focus groups and key informant interviews highlighted structural and institutional challenges to recruitment of minorities, including mistrust of the research/medical enterprise, poor communication, and lack of understanding of clinical trials. Researcher-identified best practices included using standardized project management procedures and protocols (eg, realistic budgeting to support challenges in recruitment, such as travel/parking reimbursement for participants), research staff cultural competency and communication training, and developing and fostering community partnerships that guide the research process.

Conclusions—

This study’s formative evaluation contributes a new dimension to the literature as it highlights researcher-reported barriers and best practices for enhancing participation of minority populations into stroke clinical trials.
Condition factor and carapace width versus wet weight relationship in the blue swimming crab Portunus segnis
Authors: Noori Ahmad , Moghaddam Parvaneh , Kamrani Ehsan , Akbarzadeh Arash , Kalvani Neitali Bita , Pinheiro Marcelo Antonio Amaro
Published: July 2015

The size-weight relationship of a species allows for estimating the expected weight based on size. The present contribution aims at evaluating the body weight vs. carapace width relationship and the condition factor of the blue swimming crab Portunus segnis. These characteristics were analyzed for each sex using specimens collected monthly from April 2012 through to March 2013, at the Persian Gulf (Hormozgan Province, Iran). The size of each specimen was measured (carapace width) and weighed (total body wet weight). A total of 302 individuals of P. segnis were analyzed. The body weight-carapace width relationship indicated positive allometric growth in males and isometric growth in females. Body weight was higher in males than females of equivalent carapace width, and the means for condition factors were always higher in females than in males, due to the heavier gonads in the former, an expected pattern for many crabs. In both sexes, the lowest condition factor was detected in winter with an ascending trend in the next seasons. The oscillation in condition factor throughout the sampling year was more prominent in females and related to the reproductive cycle. The information reinforces data to define fishing closed seasons for this portunid that is used in many places in the world.
Revision of the genus Dohrniphora Dahl (Diptera: Phoridae) from China
Authors: LIU GUANG-CHUN
Published: July 2015

The Chinese species of Dohrniphora are revised, with 27 recognised species from both Oriental and Palaearctic China. The following 14 species are described as new to science: D. rectangularis sp. nov., D. capillais sp. nov., D. proxima sp. nov., D. longisetalis sp. nov., D. infrequens sp. nov., D. dentiretusa sp. nov., D. aspinula sp. nov., D. separata sp. nov., D. microtrichina sp. nov., D. dilatata sp. nov., D. disparilis sp. nov., D. carinata sp. nov., D. cespitula sp. nov., D. triangula sp. nov. D. microspinosa Shen & Liu, 2009 is regarded as a junior subjective synonym of D. prescherweberae Liu, 2001 and D. rectilinearis Liu, 2001 is a junior subjective synonym of D. malaysiae Green, 1997. Most known species were re-identified, re-described and illustrated. A revised key to Chinese male species is presented.
Discovery of the genus Loeblites Franz (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae) in China, with description of a new species
Authors: ZHOU DE-YAO , LI LI-ZHEN
Published: July 2015

Loeblites chinesis sp. n. (Scydmaeninae: Cyrtoscydmini) from Yunnan, southern China is described, and its important diagnostic characters are illustrated. This species represents the first record of Loeblites in China. A single female of Loeblites from Tengchong, Yunnan is also recorded. It is similar to Loeblites mastigicornis from Thailand in general habitus and form of the spermatheca, but the identity of this species remains unconfirmed until males are found.
Web-Application for the Presentation of Bilingual Corpora (Focusing on Bulgarian as One of the Two Paired Languages)
Authors: Dimitrova Ludmila , Dutsova Ralitsa
Published: July 2015

Web-Application for the Presentation of Bilingual Corpora (Focusing on Bulgarian as One of the Two Paired Languages)This paper briefly presents a web-application for the presentation of bilingual aligned corpora focusing on Bulgarian as one the two paired languages. The focus is given to the description of the software tools and user interface. The software is developed in IMI-BAS and will be hosted on a server there. Some examples of the usage of the web-application for the presentation of a Bulgarian-Polish aligned corpus are included.
Les ensembles rhématiques comme éléments constitutifs du niveau supraphrastique de la structure informationnelle du discours
Authors: Miczka Ewa
Published: July 2015

Rhematic sets as components of global information structures in discourseThe aim of this paper is to analyze the global organisation of rhematic part of information structures in discourse. The information structures are defined as hierarchically organized thematic-rhematic structures and, in their rhematic part, the author distinguishes two levels represented by: rhematic sets and rhemes of sentences. The author describes the configurations of rhematic sets in discourse and their internal structures.
Affirmation Modality in Bulgarian, Macedonian and Serbian
Authors: Grygiel Marcin
Published: July 2015

Affirmation Modality in Bulgarian, Macedonian and SerbianIn the case of affirmation modality the speakers transform their utterances by stressing or attributing a positive value as an additional component added to the semantic structure of a proposition. This type of affirmative polarization is triggered in opposition to negation or hypothetically negative contexts. The goal of the present paper is twofold: on the one hand to compare and contrast affirmative periphrastic constructions in Bulgarian, Macedonian and Serbian and, on the other hand, to ascertain what these constructions reveal regarding the organization of grammatical categories in general and the status of affirmation modality as a coherent and homogenous category with a linguistic validity.
"Insza prostota szczera, cnotliwa, przystojna; insza prostota co ją głupstwem zowią". O rozwoju jednego ze znaczeń prostoty
Authors: Raszewska-Żurek Beata
Published: July 2015

The transformation of a meaning of prostotaThis article is dedicated to the evolution of one of prostota lexeme meaning (and prostoć, prostość as well) – its human mental sphere significance. The analysis (definitions and examples) expands over the Polish language dictionary since its beginning till modernity. There were two main meanings of a lexeme prostota from the Old Polish till the end of the XVII century – positively characterised straight meaning regarding morality, directly linked to religious attitude and the second one, referring to mental and intelectual ability of individual, negatively regarding its undernormative features.It transformed during the XVIII century – the disredarding meaning disappeared, the first, religious aspect expanded over morality, customs, the way of living, simultanously drifting away from its religious significance.Throught the history of the prostota lexeme there was a short period regarding to a lack of culture and misbehaviour but dissapeared quickly with uprising of a prostactwo lexeme. Since the XIX century the dominating feature of prostota lexeme is being natural in a positive way. Besides the modifications of the lexeme and the transformation of its meanings prostota was mostly referring to positive values, which are the only meanings now.
Eksperymentalny korpus litewskiej gwary puńskiej w Polsce (narzędzie do badań nad gwarami polskimi i litewskimi na Suwalszczyźnie)
Authors: Roszko Danuta
Published: July 2015

Experimental corpus of the Lithuanian local dialect of Puńsk in Poland (a tool for the study on the Polish and Lithuanian local dialects in the Suwałki Region)The linguistic resources included in EkorpGP present a great cognitive value for Polish and Lithuanian dialectologists. Particularly valuable for researchers of the Lithuanian local dialects, including the local dialect of Puńsk, is subcorpus A. The material included in EKorpGP confirms that the local dialect is incessantly evolving. The typical dialectal features vanish for the sake of the standardized Lithuanian language.Whereas, subcorpora B and C are a good base for studies on the processes of the language interference in the speech of the bilingual Lithuanians of Puńsk. Amongst the potential recipients of these subcorpora it is possible also to find dialectologists dealing with the local dialects of the Suwałki Region, as well as researchers of the Polish language spoken to the east of the Polish border.The polonization suggested in EKorpGP (with reference to subcorpus A) along with subcorpora B and C will ensure a credible source of information for a wide circle of researchers of the phenomena of sociological, ethnological, cultural and historical nature. It should also be taken into account that the issues raised in the utterances given by the Lithuanians of Puńsk will capture the interest of politicians dealing with the national minorities in Poland.The extraordinary value of the materials collected in EKorpGP results from the fact that they reflect the economic, political and civilization transformations of the turbulent period of 1986–2012 in Poland, Lithuania and Europe.
Про неодиничність розв’язань в історико-етимологічних студіях: множинна мотивація і дериваційна багатозначність у контексті семантичної реконструкції
Authors: Черниш [Chernysh] Тетяна [Tetiana]
Published: July 2015

On non-uniqueness of solutions in historic-etymological researchThe author discusses the origin of the Ukrainian dialectal word копирдан (as found in J. Rieger’s A Lexical Atlas of the Hutsul Dialects of the Ukrainian Language, Warszawa 1996) hypothetically related to the Common Slavic *koprъ and its derivates denoting nettle. The problem of establishing this word’s origin illustrates some important issues in the theory and methodology of historical-etymological research caused by the genetic ambiguity of this entity. The ambiguity in question is connected, among other things, with the phenomenon of derivational polysemy, this phenomenon taking place when the same underlying stem (or its variants), or the same word-formative pattern employing this stem is interpreted differently due to the difference in extralinguistic derivational motivation reflecting different aspects and perceptions of the same object. The possibility of such plural motivation must be taken into consideration in semantic reconstruction, and the latter must anticipate, and allow for, cases of non-uniqueness of historic-etymological solutions caused by many-sidedness of analyzed linguistic entities as well as objects they denote rather than subjectivity of researchers.
Wiersze
Authors: Kwiatkowski Grzegorz
Published: July 2015

PoemsKwiatkowski’s poems resemble the spirit of The Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters, The Chronicles of the Town of Pornic by Czesław Miłosz, and uprising poems by Anna Świrszczyńska. The author is interested in the mask lyric and attempts to lead his poetry in to the domain of fact, while neither leaving the sphere of poetry nor entering the sphere of journalism. WierszePoezja utrzymana w duchu Umarłych ze Spoon River Edgara Lee Mastersa, Kronik miasta Pornic Czesława Miłosza i wierszy powstańczych Anny Świrszczyńskiej. Autora interesuje liryka maski i próba wy­prowadzenia poezji na teren faktu przy jednoczesnym niewychodzeniu poza sferę poezji i niewchodzeniu w sferę publicystyki.
Ostatni pozytywista
Authors: Burawoy Michael
Published: July 2015

The Last PositivistThe polemics between Piotr Sztompka and Michael Burawoy was originally published in Contempo­rary Sociology. A Journal of Reviews no 40/4 as Debate on International Sociology. The starting point of discussion between Piotr Sztompka and Michael Burawoy was the publication entitled Facing an Unequal World: Challenges for a Global Sociology (Volume One: Introduction, Latin America and Africa, 316 pp.; Volume Two: Asia, 362 pp.; Volume Three: Europe, and Concluding Reflections, 296 pp.), edited by Michael Burawoy, Mau-kuei Chang and Michelle Fei-yu Hsieh (Taipei, Taiwan: Institute of Sociology at Academia Sinica, Council of National Associations of the International Sociological Association & Academia Sinica, 2010). Ostatni pozytywistaPrezentowana niżej polemika pt. Debata o socjologii międzynarodowej ukazała się w „Contemporary Sociology. A Journal of Reviews” 40, nr 4. Punktem wyjścia do dyskusji między Piotrem Sztompką i Michaelem Burawoyem była książka z 2010 roku Facing an Unequal World: Challenges for a Global Sociology (t. 1: Introduction, Latin America and Africa, ss. 316; t. 2: Asia, ss. 362; t. 3: Europe, and Conclu­ding Reflexions, ss. 296), pod redakcją Michaela Burawoya, Mau-kuei Changa i Michelle Fei-yu Hsieh, wydana w Tajpej przez Institute of Sociology at Academia Sinica, Council of National Associations of the International Sociological Association & Academia Sinica.
How pluralism becomes hierarchical? Debating pluralism in contemporary Poland
Authors: Pasieka Agnieszka
Published: July 2015

How pluralism becomes hierarchical? Debating pluralism in contemporary PolandThis article discusses the multifaceted nature of religious pluralism. More specifically, it seeks to answer the question why, while advancing the claims of equality and diversity, the idea of pluralism reproduces inequalities and naturalizes hierarchies. In order to illuminate this problem, the article first presents a theoretical discussion and then refers it to the ethnographic evidence from a yearlong fieldwork in a multireligious locality in southeast Poland. It analyzes the impact of the discourse on “multiculturalism” on minorities’ plights and it exposes the processes in which religion, reconfigured as “culture” or “tradition,” is used as a discriminatory tool. By combining an exploration of a concrete ethnographic setting with an investigation of the broader implications of locally observed phenomena, it demonstrates the importance of anthropological perspective in the study of pluralism, or rather: the importance of a thorough dialogue between theory and ethnography. Dlaczego pluralizm hierarchizuje? Dyskusja na temat pluralizmu we współczesnej PolsceArtykuł podejmuje problem pluralizmu religijnego. Jego celem jest udzielenie odpowiedzi na pytanie dlaczego, mimo iż „pluralizm” promuje różnorodność i równość, równocześnie prowadzi do reprodukowania nierówności i czyni „naturalnymi” hierarchiczne relacje. W tym celu, artykuł w pierwszej kolejności przedstawia teoretyczną dyskusję, następnie zaś łączy ją z obserwacjami z rocznych badań terenowych prowadzonych w wieloreligijnej gminie w południowo-wschodniej Polsce. Poddaje analizie wpływ dyskursu na temat „wielokulturowości” na sytuację mniejszości oraz wyjaśnia, jak religia – rozumiana jako „kulturowy zasób” lub „tradycja” – staje się narzędziem dyskryminacji. łącząc analizę konkretnego przypadku z refleksją na temat szerszych implikacji badanych zjawisk, artykuł dowodzi znaczenia antropologicznej perspektywy w badaniu pluralizmu, a mówiąc precyzyjniej: znaczenia dialogu między teorią a etnografią.
Z Kaliningradu na Кёнигсберг – zapotrzebowanie społeczne czy marzenie nielicznych? Społeczna inicjatywa zmiany nazwy miasta
Authors: Zieliński Miłosz J.
Published: July 2015

Kaliningrad into Кёнигсберг – a social need or a dream of a few? Societal initiative for a change of the city’s nameKaliningrad Oblast of the Russian Federation has been subject to manifold social processes due to its specific history, geographic conditions and other factors. Some of the former resulted in rejecting numerous elements of the Soviet past by a part of the local population. This included the very name of Kaliningrad, as a tribute paid to Mikhail Ivanovich Kalinin who has been considered one of the state and party officials responsible for mass purges in the 1930s and 1940s.the purpose of the article is to analyse the initiative put forward by a group of social activists to change the name ‘Kaliningrad’ into ‘Кёнигсберг’ (Königsberg), that is to return to the pre-war name of the city. As authors of the petition refer to previous attempts of changing the name and use them as an important part of their reasoning, the history of the notion has also been outlined with emphasis on the December 1988 discussion noted by Alexander Nikolaevich Yakovlev, then a Communist Party official.In the article, a brief introduction of the petition is followed by main arguments used by its supporters and the discussion which the document triggered among the local administration and in the media, in particular the Internet. The discussion concentrated on two aspects of the petition. First, controversies around procedural handling of the petition by Kaliningrad Duma. Secondly, fierce debates about phrases used in the document and their political significance in the context of the contemporary identity of Kaliningrad Oblast.Results of the debate and the impact the petition had on broader public opinion, both in Kaliningrad Oblast and the whole of Russia, turned out to be meagre. Only 400 signatures were collected across the country to support the idea. No decisive measures were taken on the administrative level such as moving the initiative toward a referendum. No agreement was reached between those who wish to turn the whole notion down and those who would like to postpone the final decision to a more distant future.In conclusion, it is worth noting that despite the obvious failure of the petition the discussion showed considerable social activity in Kaliningrad Oblast, especially on the part of the younger generation. This was reflected by a number of threads and posts in electronic media, many of which served as a basis for a constructive debate with relatively few irrelevant (insulting, aggressive and vulgar) arguments. On the other hand, the article shows that there is still considerable nostalgia for the Soviet Union and its artifacts in Kaliningrad Oblast.
Is Team-Based Primary Care Associated with Less Access Problems and Self-Reported Unmet Need in Canada?
Authors: Zygmunt Austin , Asada Yukiko , Burge Frederick
Published: July 2015

As in many jurisdictions, the delivery of primary care in Canada is being transformed from solo practice to team-based care. In Canada, team-based primary care involves general practitioners working with nurses or other health care providers, and it is expected to improve equity in access to care. This study examined whether team-based care is associated with fewer access problems and less unmet need and whether socioeconomic gradients in access problems and unmet need are smaller in team-based care than in non-team-based care. Data came from the 2008 Canadian Survey of Experiences with Primary Health Care (sample size: 10,858). We measured primary care type as team-based or non-team-based and socioeconomic status by income and education. We created four access problem variables and four unmet need variables (overall and three specific components). For each, we ran separate logistic regression models to examine their associations with primary care type. We examined socioeconomic gradients in access problems and unmet need stratified by primary care type. Primary care type had no statistically significant, independent associations with access problems or unmet need. Among those with non-team-based care, a statistically significant education gradient for overall access problems existed, whereas among those with team-based care, no statistically significant socioeconomic gradients existed.
Public Health, Embodied History, and Social Justice
Authors: Krieger Nancy
Published: July 2015

This essay was delivered as a commencement address at the University of California–Berkeley School of Public Health on May 17, 2015. Reflecting on events spanning from 1990 to 1999 to 2015, when I gave my first, second, and third commencement talks at the school, I discuss four notable features of our present era and offer five insights for ensuring that health equity be the guiding star to orient us all. The four notable features are: (1) growing recognition of the planetary emergency of global climate change; (2) almost daily headlines about armed conflicts and atrocities; (3) growing public awareness of and debate about epic levels of income and wealth inequalities; and (4) growing activism about police killings and, more broadly, “Black Lives Matter.” The five insights are: (1) public health is a public good, not a commodity; (2) the “tragedy of the commons” is a canard; the lack of a common good is what ails us; (3) good science is not enough, and bad science is harmful; (4) good evidence—however vital—is not enough to change the world; and (5) history is vital, because we live our history, embodied. Our goal: a just and sustainable world in which we and every being on this planet may truly thrive.
What are the ideas and motivations of bureaucrats within a religiously contested society?
Authors: O’Connor Karl
Published: July 2015

This article reports research on bureaucrat behaviour. Where discretion exists, do primary associations such as religious, gender or racial identity guide behaviour or are these associations superseded by secondary learned professional or technocratic attachments? Using the theoretical lens of representative bureaucracy and Q methodology to investigate bureaucrat role perceptions, two distinct bureaucrat typologies are identified in Belfast. The evidence demonstrates that an elite-level bureaucrat may actively represent his or her own professional interests or, alternatively, may seek out and actively represent the interests of the political elite as a collective. The findings have implications for representative bureaucracy research as it is demonstrated that an elite-level bureaucrat may actively represent something other than a primary identity. This contribution also provides a useful insight into everyday life within a bureau of a successful power-sharing system of governance.

Points for practitioners

Politicians and bureaucrats from Northern Ireland are perpetually being invited to ‘teach the lessons’ of their power-sharing experience. This article highlights the importance of the elite-level bureaucrat in sustaining power-sharing regimes and provides an empirical basis for those seeking to draw on the Northern Ireland experience of conflict management and post-conflict governance.
Efficacy of rhBMP-2/Hydroxyapatite on Sinus Floor Augmentation
Authors: Kim H.J. , Chung J.H. , Shin S.Y. , Shin S.I. , Kye S.B. , Kim N.K. , Kwon T.G. , Paeng J.Y. , Kim J.W. , Oh O.H. , Kook M.S. , Yang H.J. , Hwang S.J.
Published: July 2015

The aim of this randomized single-blinded active-controlled clinical study was to evaluate the early efficacy of low-dose Escherichia coli–derived recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) soaked with hydroxyapatite granules (BMP-2/H) as compared with an inorganic bovine bone xenograft (ABX) in maxillary sinus floor augmentation. In a total of 127 subjects who were enrolled at 6 centers, maxillary sinus floors were augmented with 1 mg/mL of rhBMP-2 (0.5 to 2.0 mg per sinus) and BMP-2/H (0.5 to 2.0 g; n = 65) or with ABX alone (0.5 to 2.0 g; n = 62). Core biopsies were obtained 3 mo after the augmentation surgery and were analyzed histomorphometrically. The mean new bone formation with BMP-2/H and ABX augmentation was 16.10% ± 10.52% and 8.25% ± 9.47%, respectively. The BMP-2/H group was noninferior to the ABX group; the lower limit of the 1-sided 97.5% confidence interval for the difference between the 2 groups was calculated as 4.33%, which was greater than the prespecified noninferiority margin of −3.75%. An additional test with the Wilcoxon rank-sum test with a 2-sided 5% significance level showed that bone formation between the 2 groups was significantly different ( P < 0.0001). The soft tissue and residual graft areas showed no significant differences between the groups. With regard to safety, no significant difference between the 2 groups was observed; there was no significant increase in the amount of rhBMP-2 antibody in the serum after BMP-2/H grafting. Our study suggested that low-dose Escherichia coli–derived rhBMP-2 with hydroxyapatite was effective in early stages for enhanced bone formation after maxillary sinus floor augmentation without harmful adverse events ( Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01634308).
Predicting Collegiate Wind Players’ Practice Efficiency, Flow, and Self-Efficacy for Self-Regulation
Authors: Miksza Peter , Tan Leonard
Published: July 2015

The purpose of this study was to determine whether students’ practice efficiency, flow during practicing, and self-efficacy for self-regulation varied as a function of their practice tendencies, their tendencies toward self-evaluation, their self-regulatory tendencies to be self-reflective when practicing, tendencies to exhibit grit in their learning, and their teachers’ methods of instruction in practicing. Participants were 52 studio lesson teachers and 241 of their students from 25 large collegiate music programs in the United States. Both the teachers and students represented a diverse range of instruments: flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, saxophone, French horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, and tuba. The data for this study were self-reports collected via online questionnaires. Findings indicated that of the five predictor variables examined, only two—students’ tendencies to exhibit grit in their learning and their tendencies to be reflective about their practicing—were consistently related to the three outcome variables. Furthermore, all outcome variables were significantly related to one another.
Melodic Dictation Instruction
Authors: Buonviri Nathan O. , Paney Andrew S.
Published: July 2015

Based on relevant literature and recent qualitative findings, the purpose of this survey research was to identify pedagogical approaches to melodic dictation employed by Advanced Placement (AP) Music Theory teachers across the United States. The researcher-designed survey questions focused on pitch and rhythm skills, instructional resources, dictation strategies, test-taking skills, and characteristics of successful dictation students. The survey was distributed online to a stratified random sample of 875 AP Music Theory teachers across the United States. Of these recipients, 398 participants from 49 states and the District of Columbia completed the survey, yielding a 45.5% return rate. Results indicated that teachers preferred pitch systems that emphasized scale degree function and rhythm systems that emphasized the meter. Participants also reported the influence of the AP exam on their dictation teaching and described their need for additional instructional time and better preparation for teaching aural skills. Suggestions for further research include similar studies of other populations, including high school teachers of other theory courses and college theory instructors.
Automated tool to determine geometric measurements of woven textiles using digital image analysis techniques
Authors: Swery Elinor E , Allen Tom , Kelly Piaras
Published: July 2015

An automated geometric characterization tool for woven textiles is presented. This tool is used to obtain the in-plane geometry of woven textiles in a fast and efficient method. These measurements can be used to provide a better understanding of the textile geometry and can be used in further applications such as quality assurance and textile modeling for prediction of material properties. Unique to this tool is that the use of morphological operations has been avoided, resulting in a significantly more robust image analysis procedure, enabling the analysis of a greater range of textiles with reduced user input. This procedure is coupled with a simple image acquisition technique. The image of the textile is captured using a standard office scanner, eliminating the need for a complex setup or specialized equipment. The tool’s capability is demonstrated for a variety of textiles; an in-depth description of the techniques used is also given. The resulting geometric information obtained using the tool highlights the importance of analyzing the textile sample of interest: significant geometric variations were captured in each sample, which are not ordinarily communicated through the material data sheets provided by manufacturers.
Effects of Different-Race Exposure in School and Neighborhood on the Reading Achievement of Hmong Students in the United States
Authors: Lee Moosung , Lam Beatrice Oi-Yeung , Madyun Na’im
Published: July 2015

Based on analyses of 1,622 Hmong adolescents in a large urban school district, we illuminate a positive association between school different-race exposure and Hmong limited English proficient students’ reading achievement. However, we also note a negative association of neighborhood different-race exposure with Hmong students from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds. These findings suggest that even if school different-race exposure opportunities are developed through racially diverse schools, this does not necessarily lead to desirable interracial social ties between Hmong students and mainstream English-speaking students. Rather, Hmong students from low SES backgrounds are more likely to benefit academically when they reside in predominantly Hmong neighborhoods.
Regression From Game-Oriented to Traditional School
Authors: Westin Thomas , Wiklund Mats , Mozelius Peter , Norberg Lena
Published: July 2015

Pupils in Sweden are socialized in commercial off-the-shelf games, and, therefore, game-oriented formal education can constitute a foundation for further socialization of pupils excluded in school. However, digital illiteracy and traditional views among school staff forced a regression from the game-oriented formal trial education in this study back to the traditional education form. Research questions were as follows: How did the pupils act upon the consequences of the regression? How can these acts inform the design of education in digital culture? These questions were addressed using ethnography over 3 years. The pupils' acts differed depending on their socialization in school and in games. While the game-oriented formal education included all in the socialization process, the regression caused half of the pupils to drop out. The pupils' acts are discussed with a conceptual framework. Conclusions show the need for digital literacy and understanding pupils' perspectives on education among school staff.
Discerning worldviews: Pedagogical models for conceptualizing worldview distances
Authors: Trull Richard E.
Published: July 2015

As in all disciplines, missiology employs models to describe various complex phenomena such as Winter’s E-Scale and P-Scale of cultural distance, Engel’s model of the “spiritual-decision processes,” the C1 to C6 spectrum of contextualization among Muslims, and Bevans’s models of contextualization laid out on a spectrum. Each of the models has value in facilitating discussion and understanding of a highly complex process and system. Similarly, worldview heuristic models can be used to discern and compare broad areas of reality between diverse peoples. One method of using these pedagogical models to discern worldviews is by investigating three primary components of a worldview, the spiritual realm, the physical realm and the interaction between the spiritual and physical realms. These models also identify five core perceptions of reality to compare between differing worldviews. Utilizing models assists in discussing and discerning differences in core perceptions of reality and provides a means to develop a scale of worldview distance between a Christian worldview and another worldview. Such models are what Paul Hiebert refers to as the “synchronic model of worldviews,” which helps a person to understand how people view the structure of the world or what Clifford Geertz refers to as a “model of reality” to make complex structures comprehensible. The models in this article are pedagogically helpful in assisting cross-cultural workers in discussing and exploring the significance of worldview distances in various cultures with similar or dissimilar core perceptions of reality. The differences in these perceptions have an impact on the contextualization process missionaries face and the worldview distances they need to bridge.
Symptom Resolution Rates of Posttraumatic versus Nontraumatic Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Authors: Aron Margaret , Lea Jane , Nakku Doreen , Westerberg Brian D.
Published: July 2015

Objective

To determine the rate of symptom resolution in patients with posttraumatic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and to determine if it differs from resolution rates in patients with BPPV and without a history of head trauma.

Data Sources

Systematic review of the literature was performed using Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. English and French articles meeting inclusion criteria and published between 1946 and October 2014 were included.

Review Methods

Data were independently extracted from the articles by 2 reviewers using data collection forms developed a priori. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were decided a priori. Studies were included if they reported on at least 1 case of posttraumatic BPPV (t‐BPPV), reported on outcomes of all patients with t‐BPPV, had a clearly defined inception point, and provided a clear diagnosis of BPPV (defined a priori by reviewers).

Results

A total of 3017 titles, 362 abstracts, and 67 articles were reviewed, from which 16 articles met inclusion criteria and underwent data extraction. There were a total of 207 patients with posttraumatic BPPV identified. Among the 207 patients, 151 (73%) had resolution of symptoms. The T‐BPPV patients may have more multi‐canal involvement and may require more repositioning maneuvers for resolution compared to patients with nontraumatic BPPV.

Conclusions

Available evidence does not support the notion that symptom resolution rates in patients with posttraumatic BPPV are worse than those with nontraumatic BPPV. However, well‐designed studies with adequate cohorts are lacking. Additional well‐executed studies are needed to confirm this lack of difference in resolution rates.
The VVSymQ® instrument: Use of a new patient-reported outcome measure for assessment of varicose vein symptoms
Authors: Paty Jean , Turner-Bowker Diane M , Elash Celeste A , Wright David
Published: July 2015

Introduction

No existing patient-reported outcome instrument focuses solely on assessment of varicose veins symptoms that are bothersome to patients.

Methods

The VVSymQ® instrument is a five-item patient-reported outcome that assesses symptoms most important to patients with varicose veins (heaviness, achiness, swelling, throbbing and itching). This paper describes how the VVSymQ® instrument was incorporated into an electronic daily diary to monitor key outcomes over time and capture treatment benefit in two randomized, controlled, phase 3 clinical trials.

Results

Patients were highly compliant in completing the electronic daily diary, and the VVSymQ® instrument demonstrated ability to detect overall change and ability to detect change that is meaningful to patients.

Conclusion

The VVSymQ® instrument is a reliable, valid instrument responsive to measuring change in the patient experience of varicose vein symptoms pre- and post-intervention, and is uniquely focused on patient-reported symptoms compared with other widely used questionnaires completed by clinicians.
Recurrence of superficial vein thrombosis in patients with varicose veins
Authors: Karathanos Christos , Spanos Konstantinos , Saleptsis Vassileios , Tsezou Aspasia , Kyriakou Despina , Giannoukas Athanasios D
Published: July 2015

Objective

To investigate which factors other than history of superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) are associated with recurrent spontaneous SVT episodes in patients with varicose veins (VVs).

Materials and methods

Patients with a history of spontaneous SVT and VVs were followed up for a mean period of 55 months. Demographics, comorbidities, and thrombophilia screening test were analyzed. Patients were grouped according to the clinical–etiology–anatomy–pathophysiology classification. A multiple logistic regression analysis with the forward likelihood ratio method was undertaken.

Results

Thirteen patients out of 97 had a recurrence SVT episode during the follow-up period. All those patients were identified to have a thrombophilia defect. Protein C and S, antithrombin, and plasminogen deficiencies were more frequently present in patients without recurrence. Gene mutations were present in 38% in the nonrecurrence group and 77% in the recurrence group. After logistic regression analysis, patients with dislipidemia and mutation in prothrombin G20210A (FII) had an increased risk for recurrence by 5.4-fold and 4.6-fold, respectively. No deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism occurred.

Conclusions

Dislipidemia and gene mutations of F II are associated with SVT recurrence in patients with VVs. A selection of patients may benefit from anticoagulation in the short term and from VVs intervention in the long term.