bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regional Microstructural and Volumetric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Abnormalities in the Corpus Callosum of Neonates With Congenital Heart Defect Undergoing Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Hagmann Cornelia , Singer Jitka , Latal Beatrice , Knirsch Walter , Makki Malek
Published: July 2015

The purpose of the study is to investigate the structural development of the corpus callosum in term neonates with congenital heart defect before and after surgery using diffusion tensor imaging and 3-dimensional T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We compared parallel and radial diffusions, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), fractional anisotropy, and volume of 5 substructures of the corpus callosum: genu, rostral body, body, isthmus, and splenium. Compared to healthy controls, we found a significantly lower volume of the splenium and total corpus callosum and a higher radial diffusion and lower fractional anisotropy in the splenium of patients presurgery; a lower volume in all substructures in the postsurgery group; higher radial diffusion in the rostral body, body, and splenium; and a higher apparent diffusion coefficient in the splenium of postsurgery patients. Similar fractional anisotropy changes in congenital heart defect patients were reported in preterm infants. Our findings in apparent diffusion coefficient in the splenium of these patients (pre and postsurgery) are comparable to findings in preterm neonates with psychomotor delay. Delayed maturation of the isthmus was also reported in preterm infants.
Social Justice Advocacy in the Belly of the Beast
Authors: Bird Melissa
Published: July 2015

This article presents an experience of applied social justice advocacy to maintain and advance women’s reproductive rights and is a call to action for the entire social work profession. The reader is offered a strategy that can be used to effect broad policy change in all political climates. Drawing upon some fundamentals of the social work profession such as coalition building, advocacy engagement, and stakeholder outreach, this article shows how social workers can become engaged in the political arena to pass legislation. It is the author’s hope that this article will be used by social workers and social workers in training to deepen their commitment to women’s issues and social justice advocacy and facilitate their engagement in making policy change.
Unwanted Behaviors and Nuisance Behaviors Among Neighbors in a Belgian Community Sample
Authors: Michaux Emilie , Groenen Anne , Uzieblo Katarzyna
Published: July 2015

Unwanted behaviors between (ex-)intimates have been extensively studied, while those behaviors within other contexts such as neighbors have received much less scientific consideration. Research indicates that residents are likely to encounter problem behaviors from their neighbors. Besides the lack of clarity in the conceptualization of problem behaviors among neighbors, little is known on which types of behaviors characterize neighbor problems. In this study, the occurrence of two types of problem behaviors encountered by neighbors was explored within a Belgian community sample: unwanted behaviors such as threats and neighbor nuisance issues such as noise nuisance. By clearly distinguishing those two types of behaviors, this study aimed at contributing to the conceptualization of neighbor problems. Next, the coping strategies used to deal with the neighbor problems were investigated. Our results indicated that unwanted behaviors were more frequently encountered by residents compared with nuisance problems. Four out of 10 respondents reported both unwanted pursuit behavior and nuisance problems. It was especially unlikely to encounter nuisance problems in isolation of unwanted pursuit behaviors. While different coping styles (avoiding the neighbor, confronting the neighbor, and enlisting help from others) were equally used by the stalked participants, none of them was perceived as being more effective in reducing the stalking behaviors. Strikingly, despite being aware of specialized help services such as community mediation services, only a very small subgroup enlisted this kind of professional help.
Torn: Social Expectations Concerning Forgiveness Among Women Who Have Experienced Intrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse
Authors: Tener Dafna , Eisikovits Zvi
Published: July 2015

The authors examine how women who experienced intrafamilial child sexual abuse (IFCSA) perceive social expectations of society toward forgiveness, how they incorporate IFCSA and reconstruct their life stories in relation to these expectations, and the costs and gains from such reconstructions. This is part of a larger study on the phenomenology of forgiveness for IFCSA among grown women. Twenty Jewish Israeli women who had experienced IFCSA were interviewed in depth. Interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data analyses lead to four types of social expectations: forgiveness by forgetting, avenging, family preservation through forgiveness, and satisfying the voyeuristic needs of society, which has limited interest in forgiveness. These contradictory expectations are discussed in light of the cultural context and the experience of the women interviewed. Implications for practice are suggested.
A granulation analysis method for cutting tool material selection using granular computing
Authors: Zhou Danchen , Dai Xuan
Published: July 2015

Reasonable selection of cutting tool materials has an important effect on machining efficiency, machining quality, cutting tools life, and production cost. There always exists a problem of correct matching between cutting tool materials and workpiece materials. The multi-criteria decision-making is currently the predominant method for cutting tool material selection, and its accuracy can be further improved based on full consideration of the workpiece materials and cutting parameters. For this reason, a granulation analysis method based on granular computing is presented. Firstly, according to the similarity of various cutting tool materials across different attributes represented in interval values including physical properties, mechanical properties, and cost, a fuzzy similarity matrix of all the cutting tool materials to be analyzed is established; and a series of material information granular layers with different granularity is constructed by using quotient space theory based on fuzzy tolerance relation. Afterwards, information entropy is applied to measure their granularity, and an optimal granular layer is determined based on a quantitative and objective standard. Finally, in the optimal granular layer, through determining the averages and ranks of all the material information granules under different attributes, the corresponding common characteristics of similar cutting tool materials in each material information granule are analyzed, and their matching workpiece materials and cutting parameters are summarized. The analysis and summary will provide effective guidance for subsequent multi-criteria decision-making of cutting tool materials. An application example proves the feasibility and validity of the proposed method.
The alleged tradeoff between explanatory breadth and predictive power
Authors: Trafimow David , Uhalt Joshua
Published: July 2015

It is almost a cliché that as theories gain in explanatory breadth, they lose in predictive power and as they gain in predictive power, they lose in explanatory breadth. We acknowledge that it is easy to generate examples in psychology that seem to exemplify the tradeoff between explanatory breadth and predictive power. Nevertheless, we believe that the tradeoff is far less clear-cut than psychology researchers have understood. Our argument is based on the necessity to make auxiliary assumptions when traversing the distance between non-observational terms in theories and observational terms in empirical hypotheses.
Reflections on Aboriginal perinatal mental health, mothers, babies, families and community: A South Australian trainee’s experience
Authors: Laddipeerla Aparna , Alexander Jacob , Lattanzio Adriana
Published: July 2015

Objective:

This paper explores novel training opportunities that the Expanded Setting Training Program (ESTP) provides for advanced psychiatry trainees. It is a reflection of a trainee’s learning experiences during a year-long posting in Aboriginal Perinatal Mental Health, working alongside the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program, coupled with reflection and supervision.

Conclusions:

ESTP provided a fertile area to hone an advanced trainee’s skills in the niche areas of Aboriginal mental health, perinatal mental health, culture and psychiatry. In addition, it provided skills in the area of leadership, health advocacy and the establishment and maintenance of successful programs in disadvantaged, culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The ESTP Aboriginal Mental Health rotation provides a unique experience for training, and the learning opportunities are limited only by the creativity of the trainee and supervisor.
Exploring Professional Help-Seeking for Mental Disorders
Authors: Savage Hannah , Murray Joanna , Hatch Stephani L. , Hotopf Matthew , Evans-Lacko Sara , Brown June S. L.
Published: July 2015

Only a third of people with mental disorders seek professional help. In this study, we aimed to investigate attitudes toward help-seeking among non-help-seekers drawn from a community survey in South London. We conducted qualitative interviews with 24 participants with symptoms of mental disorders. We analyzed data using thematic analysis. Participants’ reasons for not seeking professional help included perceiving their problems as normal or unsuitable for professional help, negative expectations of professional help, believing informal strategies were sufficient, fearing being stigmatized for having a mental disorder and help-seeking, and self-perceptions of being strong and/or self-reliant. A small number ( n = 4) had resolved their problems. Participants with unresolved mental disorders ( n = 20) had more chronic stressors, particularly about finances and family relationships, and greater concerns about professional help and stigma than other participants. Potential targets for interventions to encourage help-seeking could be focused around stigma about help-seeking as well as the self-perception of being strong.
A Description of Inpatient Palliative Care Actions for Patients With Acute Heart Failure
Authors: Jorgenson Ann , Sidebottom Abbey C. , Richards Hallie , Kirven Justin
Published: July 2015

In a recent randomized trial, inpatient palliative care (PC) visits were associated with improved quality of life and symptom burden for patients with heart failure. To better understand what actions by PC providers may have led to those outcomes, we conducted chart reviews of 101 patients in the intervention group (who received PC). Palliative care actions are described for all patients and for those with higher symptoms. Orders were written for 24% of patients, most frequently for pain. Recommendations to change current care were made for 40% of patients. At least 1 element of future care planning was documented for 99% of patients. Palliative care for inpatients with HF led to additive actions beyond standard care, especially for pain, and promoted HF-specific goals of care discussions.
Epigenetic Therapy for the Treatment of Hypertension-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy and Fibrosis
Authors: Watson Chris J. , Horgan Stephen , Neary Roisin , Glezeva Nadezhda , Tea Isaac , Corrigan Niamh , McDonald Ken , Ledwidge Mark , Baugh John
Published: July 2015

Background:

The development of heart failure is associated with changes in the size, shape, and structure of the heart that has a negative impact on cardiac function. These pathological changes involve excessive extracellular matrix deposition within the myocardial interstitium and myocyte hypertrophy. Alterations in fibroblast phenotype and myocyte activity are associated with reprogramming of gene transcriptional profiles that likely requires epigenetic alterations in chromatin structure. The aim of our work was to investigate the potential of a currently licensed anticancer epigenetic modifier as a treatment option for cardiac diseases associated with hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis.

Methods and Results:

The effects of DNA methylation inhibition with 5-azacytidine (5-aza) were examined in a human primary fibroblast cell line and in a spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model. The results from this work allude to novel in vivo antifibrotic and antihypertrophic actions of 5-aza. Administration of the DNA methylation inhibitor significantly improved several echocardiographic parameters associated with hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction. Myocardial collagen levels and myocyte size were reduced in 5-aza-treated SHRs. These findings are supported by beneficial in vitro effects in cardiac fibroblasts. Collagen I, collagen III, and α-smooth muscle actin were reduced in a human ventricular cardiac fibroblast cell line treated with 5-aza.

Conclusion:

These findings suggest a role for epigenetic modifications in contributing to the profibrotic and hypertrophic changes evident during disease progression. Therapeutic intervention with 5-aza demonstrated favorable effects highlighting the potential use of this epigenetic modifier as a treatment option for cardiac pathologies associated with hypertrophy and fibrosis.
Prophylaxis and treatment recommendations for sinusoidal obstruction syndrome in adult and pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant: a review of the literature
Authors: Hopps Sarah A , Borders Emily B , Hagemann Tracy M
Published: July 2015

Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome, a complication occurring early after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, is a concern for clinicians. There are no guidelines to direct clinicians on the optimal way to prevent and treat this disease. Newer data show that defibrotide is a promising drug both for prevention and treatment, although it is not yet FDA approved.
Stress analysis of a functionally graded magneto-electro-elastic strip with multiple moving cracks
Authors: Bagheri R , Ayatollahi M , Mousavi SM
Published: July 2015

This paper investigates the linear steady state problem of several moving cracks in a functionally graded magneto-electro-elastic strip subjected to anti-plane mechanical and in-plane electric and magnetic loading. For simplicity, it is assumed that the properties of the strip vary continuously according to exponential functions along the thickness of the functionally graded piezoelectric piezomagnetic (FGPP) layer. By combining the dislocation method and integral transform technique, an exact solution in closed form to this problem is obtained. Electro-magneto-mechanical loads are applied on the crack surfaces, which are assumed to be magneto-electrically impermeable. Numerical examples are presented to show the interesting mechanical and electromagnetic coupling phenomena induced by multi-crack interactions. Finally, the effects of crack velocity, material constants, and geometric parameters upon the field intensity factors are studied. The results are useful for the design of the magneto-electro-elastic structures.
Power and the diffusion of management ideas: The case of McKinsey & Co
Authors: O’Mahoney Joe , Sturdy Andrew
Published: July 2015

In studies of the diffusion or translation of management ideas, power is frequently implied but is rarely theorised explicitly. Moreover, when it is recognised, the focus is often on only one form of power. This can obscure how different forms of power relate to each other, shape idea diffusion and connect to different forms of resistance. Using Lukes’ classic framing of power, we explore the activities of a key agent in the diffusion of ideas – management consultancy – and one of the leading players in that field – McKinsey & Co. We draw on diverse, publicly available forms of data on three different management ideas to identify how different forms of power and resistance enable and constrain the diffusion of management ideas. Our study emphasises both the dynamic relations between different forms of power over time and the importance of acknowledging the unintended consequences of power. At the same time, by focusing on power dynamics mostly operating outside of consulting projects, we add to our understanding of the role of consultancy in the diffusion of management ideas more generally.
From pregnancy out of place to pregnancy in place: Across, within and between landscapes of meaning
Authors: Lund Anna
Published: July 2015

Through his metaphor of landscapes of meaning, Reed provides a way of looking at meaning in terms of how it explains action, with the assumption that action occurs within landscapes of meaning. However, my ethnographic evidence suggests that Reed’s metaphor needs to enlarge its scope. In doing this I use my research on immigrant girls in Sweden. The aim is to demonstrate that people can and do live across, within and between landscapes of meaning. This interstitiality can both produce extreme hardship and possibilities of freedom and agency. I share the story of one person, Nazira, who is negotiating with different social and cultural worlds. This allows her to criticize different cultural contexts and to work towards emergent cultural forms. I conclude by arguing that my ethnographical accounts could be used in support and as a critique of the theoretical understanding of landscapes of meaning within Reed’s interpretivist sociology.
Personal value preferences and burnout of social workers
Authors: Tartakovsky Eugene
Published: July 2015

The present study examines the connection between the personal value preferences of social workers and their burnout. A total of 512 Israeli social workers participated in the study.

Findings

Socio-demographic characteristics explained only a small proportion of the variance in the social workers' burnout; however, years of experience in social work, education, and salary were significant predictors of the social workers' burnout. Personal value preferences explained a substantial proportion of the variance in the social workers' burnout beyond the effect of the socio-demographic variables. A higher preference for the benevolence, universalism, and achievement values and a lower preference for the power and face values were associated with less burnout.

Applications

The results obtained are discussed in light of the value congruence paradigm. The study's implications for the training and practice of social workers are discussed.
Determination of the resonance response in an engine cylinder with a bowl-in-piston geometry by the finite element method for inferring the trapped mass
Authors: Broatch Alberto , Guardiola Carlos , Bares Pau , Denia Francisco D.
Published: July 2015

Cylinder resonance phenomenon in reciprocating engines consists of high-frequency pressure oscillations excited by the combustion. The frequency of these oscillations is proportional to the speed of sound on pent-roof combustion chambers and henceforth the resonance frequency can be used to estimate the trapped mass, but in bowl-in-piston chambers a geometrical factor must be added in order to deal with the bowl disturbance. This paper applies the finite element method (FEM) to provide a resonance calibration for new design combustion chambers, which are commonly dominated by the bowl geometry near the top dead centre. The resonance calibration does not need any sensor information when it is solved by a FEM procedure, and consequently, is free from measurement errors. The calibration is proven to be independent of the chamber conditions and the results obtained are compared with experimental data by using spectral techniques and measuring precisely the trapped mass.
‘Looking into the countryside from where he had come’: placing the ‘idiot’, the ‘idiot school’ and different models of educating the uneducable
Authors: Philo Chris
Published: July 2015

The article begins with the story of ‘the savage of Aveyron’, a wild boy of the woods who some early 19th-century experts identified as an ‘idiot’ (a version of what is now widely termed ‘learning disability’). In seeking to tame, civilise and educate this boy, the French physician Itard learned to avoid wild nature, the remoter reaches of the rural, but still sought to enlist, as part of a thoroughly embodied training regime, encounters with patches of cultivated nature in Paris. A contrast is thereby suggested between different models and geographies of how the apparently ‘uneducable’ might be educated, one dwelling within the remote rural as a source of sensory enchantment and other enlisting domesticated ‘natural’ settings within a broader programme of disciplining the mind-body. This contrast is illustrated through the later 19th-century extremes of, first, Guggenbühl’s ‘idiot school’ on a remote Swiss mountain and, second, Séguin’s blueprint for a North American ‘idiot school’ with carefully regulated buildings, gardens and outdoor gymnasiums not too ‘isolated’ from urban areas. This contrast loosely maps on to disputes between Romanticism and Enlightenment, as well as on to shifts in forms of power enacted in educational establishments, and it informed specific controversies over where exactly to locate ‘idiot schools’ on the ground. The article concludes with brief reflections on such wider matters beyond the empirical materials to hand.
Engaging Men in Chronic Disease Prevention and Management Programs
Authors: Gavarkovs Adam Gregory , Burke Shauna M. , Petrella Robert J.
Published: July 2015

Chronic disease has become one of the largest health burdens facing the developed world. Men are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with chronic disease than women. Although lifestyle interventions have been shown to reduce the risk of chronic disease in participants, men are often underrepresented in such programs. The purpose of this study was to explore the individual-level and program-specific factors that affect male participation rates in chronic disease prevention and management (CDPM) programs. A scoping review methodology was selected, and 25 studies met the criteria for inclusion in the review. Results showed that traditional group-based programs that focused on topics such as nutrition and physical activity were often seen by men as inherently feminine, which served as a barrier for participation. Program-specific factors that attracted men to participate in interventions included a group component with like-minded men, the use of humor in the delivery of health information, the inclusion of both nutrition and physical activity components, and the presence of some manner of competition. A past negative health event, personal concern for health status, and motivation to improve physical appearance were cited by men as facilitators to CDPM program participation. Gaps in the research are identified, and results of this study can be used to inform the development of CDPM programs that will improve the engagement and participation of men.
Pharmacokinetic and Genomic Effects of Arsenite in Drinking Water on Mouse Lung in a 30-Day Exposure
Authors: Chilakapati Jaya , Wallace Kathleen , Hernandez-Zavala Araceli , Moore Tanya , Ren Hongzu , Kitchin Kirk T.
Published: July 2015

The 2 objectives of this subchronic study were to determine the arsenite drinking water exposure dependent increases in female C3H mouse liver and lung tissue arsenicals and to characterize the dose response (to 0, 0.05, 0.25, 1, 10, and 85 ppm arsenite in drinking water for 30 days and a purified AIN-93M diet) for genomic mouse lung expression patterns. Mouse lungs were analyzed for inorganic arsenic, monomethylated, and dimethylated arsenicals by hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy. The total lung mean arsenical levels were 1.4, 22.5, 30.1, 50.9, 105.3, and 316.4 ng/g lung tissue after 0, 0.05, 0.25, 1, 10, and 85 ppm, respectively. At 85 ppm, the total mean lung arsenical levels increased 14-fold and 131-fold when compared to either the lowest noncontrol dose (0.05 ppm) or the control dose, respectively. We found that arsenic exposure elicited minimal numbers of differentially expressed genes (DEGs; 77, 38, 90, 87, and 87 DEGs) after 0.05, 0.25, 1, 10, and 85 ppm, respectively, which were associated with cardiovascular disease, development, differentiation, apoptosis, proliferation, and stress response. After 30 days of arsenite exposure, this study showed monotonic increases in mouse lung arsenical ( total arsenic and dimethylarsinic acid) concentrations but no clear dose-related increases in DEG numbers.
A picture paints a thousand words: Heart drawings reflect acute distress and illness perception and predict posttraumatic stress symptoms after acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Princip Mary , Koemeda Miriam , Meister Rebecca E , Barth Jürgen , Schnyder Ulrich , Znoj Hansjörg , Schmid Jean-Paul , von Känel Roland
Published: July 2015

The aim of this study was to examine whether heart drawings of patients with acute myocardial infarction reflect acute distress symptoms and negative illness beliefs and predict posttraumatic stress symptoms 3 months post-myocardial infarction. In total, 84 patients aged over 18 years drew pictures of their heart. The larger the area drawn as damaged, the greater were the levels of acute distress ( r = 0.36; p < 0.05), negative illness perceptions ( r = 0.42, p < 0.05), and posttraumatic stress symptoms ( r = 0.54, p < 0.01). Pain drawings may offer a tool to identify maladaptive cognitions and thus patients at risk of posttraumatic stress disorder.
Stigma Resistance and Well-being among People in Treatment for Psychosis
Authors: Thoits Peggy A. , Link Bruce G.
Published: July 2015

We examine whether individuals’ coping strategies help to explain the negative relationships of stigma-related stressors (perceived public devaluation, discrimination experiences, and internalized stigma) with their well-being (self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and quality of life). Two forms of stigma resistance (challenging and deflecting) were compared with concealment responses (maintaining secrecy, avoiding other people). Patients with psychoses at four psychiatric hospitals were interviewed ( N = 65). Patients who perceived public devaluation made fewer attempts at stigma resistance. Those who experienced discrimination engaged in both concealing and resisting responses. Individuals with internalized stigma used concealment strategies only. Patients employing concealment tactics had lower self-esteem and greater depression, while those who challenged stereotypes or held deflection beliefs (“I am not mentally ill”) trended to higher self-esteem and had more positive quality of life. Coping tactics rarely mediated the links between stigma-related stressors and well-being; given these data are cross-sectional, other plausible stress dynamics need examination. Longitudinal data verifying that stigma resistance is beneficial could lead to future interventions.
Becoming Educational Advocates
Authors: Dresser Rocío , Mathur Ravisha
Published: July 2015

This article deals with the importance of building partnerships between legislators and educators in order to impact educational legislation. To this end, the faculty in the college of education at a large, urban university made institutional changes to establish a proactive relationship amongst stakeholders. As a result of this exchange, we were able to impact two important legislative bills, Assembly Bill (AB) No. 1871 on bilingual teacher credentialing and the State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB). The AB No. 1871 authorized multiple paths to a bilingual teaching certification. The Biliteracy seal, effective from 1 January 2012, recognizes secondary school graduates who have achieved a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading and writing in one or more languages in addition to English. In the latter part of the article, we share valuable tips for educators who wish to engage in local and national advocacy.
Effects of welding environment on microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded AZ91C magnesium alloy joints
Authors: Rouhi S. , Mostafapour A. , Ashjari M.
Published: July 2015

Friction stir welding is a solid state, environment friendly and energy efficient welding process for joining many engineering alloys including magnesium alloys. In this study, the effect of different cooling rates on microstructural and mechanical properties of friction stir welded AZ91C magnesium alloy was investigated. AZ91C magnesium samples were friction stir welded in air as well as in water. The effects of submerging environment on tensile and hardness properties of samples were discussed. The results showed that water, as a welding environment, has a considerable impact on the mechanical properties of the weld.
Review: magnetically assisted resistance spot welding
Authors: Li Y. B. , Li D. L. , Lin Z. Q. , David S. A. , Feng Z. , Tang W.
Published: July 2015

Currently, the use of advanced high strength steels (AHSSs) is the most cost effective means of reducing vehicle body weight and maintaining structural integrity at the same time. However, AHSSs present a big challenge to the traditional resistance spot welding (RSW) widely applied in automotive industries because the rapid heating and cooling procedures during RSW produce hardened weld microstructures, which lower the ductility and fatigue properties of welded joints and raise the probability of interfacial failure under external loads. Changing process parameters or post-weld heat treatment may reduce the weld brittleness, but those traditional quality control methods also increase energy consumption and prolong cycle time. In recent years, a magnetically assisted RSW (MA-RSW) method was proposed, in which an externally applied magnetic field would interact with the conduction current to produce a Lorentz force that would affect weld nugget formation. This paper is a review of an experimental MA-RSW platform, the mode of the external magnetic field and the mechanism that controls nugget shape, weld microstructures and joint performance. The advantages of the MA-RSW method in improving the weldability of AHSSs are given, a recent application of the MA-RSW process to light metals is described and the outlook for the MA-RSW process is presented.
The Influence of Contraception, Abortion, and Natural Family Planning on Divorce Rates as Found in the 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth
Authors: Fehring Richard J.
Published: July 2015

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of contraception, abortion, and natural family planning (NFP) on divorce rates of US women of reproductive age. The variables of importance of religion and frequency of church attendance were also included in the analysis. The study involved 5,530 reproductive age women in the (2006–2010) National Survey of Family Growth who indicate that they were ever married. Among the women who ever used NFP only 9.6 percent were currently divorced compared with the 14.4 percent who were currently divorced among the women who never used NFP ( x2 = 5.34, P < 0.21). Odds ratio analysis indicated that ever having an abortion, sterilization, and/or methods of contraception increased the likelihood of divorce – up to two times. Frequency of church attendance decreased the risk of divorce. Although there is less divorce among NFP users the reason might be due to their religiosity.

Lay summary

Providers of natural family planning (NFP) frequently mention that couples who practice NFP have fewer divorces compared to couples who use contraception. Evidence for this comment is weak. This study utilized a large data set of 5,530 reproductive age women to determine the influence that contraception, sterilization, abortion, and NFP has on divorce rates. Among the women participants who ever used NFP only 9.6 percent were currently divorced compared with the 14.4 percent who used methods of contraception, sterilization or abortion as a family planning method. Frequency of church attendance also reduced the likelihood of divorce.
Emerging functions of serum amyloid A in inflammation
Authors: Ye Richard D , Sun Lei
Published: July 2015

SAA is a major acute-phase protein produced in large quantity during APR. The rise of SAA concentration in blood circulation during APR has been a clinical marker for active inflammation. In the past decade, research has been conducted to determine whether SAA plays an active role during inflammation and if so, how it influences the course of inflammation. These efforts have led to the discovery of cytokine-like activities of rhSAA, which is commercially available and widely used in most of the published studies. SAA activates multiple receptors, including the FPR2, the TLRs TLR2 and TLR4, the scavenger receptor SR-BI, and the ATP receptor P2X7. More recent studies have shown that SAA not only activates transcription factors, such as NF-κB, but also plays a role in epigenetic regulation through a MyD88-IRF4-Jmjd3 pathway. It is postulated that the activation of these pathways leads to induced expression of proinflammatory factors and a subset of proteins expressed by the M2 macrophages. These functional properties set SAA apart from well-characterized inflammatory factors, such as LPS and TNF-α, suggesting that it may play a homeostatic role during the course of inflammation. Ongoing and future studies are directed to addressing unresolved issues, including the difference between rSAA and native SAA isoforms and the exact functions of SAA in physiologic and pathologic settings.
Heroin on trial: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials of diamorphine-prescribing as treatment for refractory heroin addiction
Authors: Strang John , Groshkova Teodora , Uchtenhagen Ambros , van den Brink Wim , Haasen Christian , Schechter Martin T. , Lintzeris Nick , Bell James , Pirona Alessandro , Oviedo-Joekes Eugenia , Simon Roland , Metrebian Nicola
Published: July 2015

Background

Supervised injectable heroin (SIH) treatment has emerged over the past 15 years as an intensive treatment for entrenched heroin users who have not responded to standard treatments such as oral methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) or residential rehabilitation.

Aims

To synthesise published findings for treatment with SIH for refractory heroin-dependence through systematic review and meta-analysis, and to examine the political and scientific response to these findings.

Method

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of SIH treatment were identified through database searching, and random effects pooled efficacy was estimated for SIH treatment. Methodological quality was assessed according to criteria set out by the Cochrane Collaboration.

Results

Six RCTs met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Across the trials, SIH treatment improved treatment outcome, i.e. greater reduction in the use of illicit ‘street’ heroin in patients receiving SIH treatment compared with control groups (most often receiving MMT).

Conclusions

SIH is found to be an effective way of treating heroin dependence refractory to standard treatment. SIH may be less safe than MMT and therefore requires more clinical attention to manage greater safety issues. This intensive intervention is for a patient population previously considered unresponsive to treatment. Inclusion of this low-volume, high-intensity treatment can now improve the impact of comprehensive healthcare provision.
Inhibitory neuron migration and IPL formation in the developing zebrafish retina
Authors: Chow Renee Wei-Yan , Almeida Alexandra D. , Randlett Owen , Norden Caren , Harris William A.
Published: June 2015

The mature vertebrate retina is a highly ordered neuronal network of cell bodies and synaptic neuropils arranged in distinct layers. Little, however, is known about the emergence of this spatial arrangement. Here, we investigate how the three main types of retinal inhibitory neuron (RIN) – horizontal cells (HCs), inner nuclear layer amacrine cells (iACs), and displaced amacrine cells (dACs) – reach their specific laminar positions during development. Using in vivo time-lapse imaging of zebrafish retinas, we show that RINs undergo distinct phases of migration. The first phase, common to all RINs, is bipolar migration directed towards the apicobasal center of the retina. All RINs then transition to a less directionally persistent multipolar phase of migration. Finally, HCs, iACs and dACs each undergo cell-type specific migration. In contrast to current hypotheses, we find that most dACs send processes into the forming inner plexiform layer (IPL) before migrating through it and inverting their polarity. By imaging and quantifying the dynamics of HCs, iACs and dACs from birth to final position, this study thus provides evidence for distinct and new migration patterns during retinal lamination and insights into the initiation of IPL formation.
RNA splicing regulated by RBFOX1 is essential for cardiac function in zebrafish
Authors: Frese Karen S. , Meder Benjamin , Keller Andreas , Just Steffen , Haas Jan , Vogel Britta , Fischer Simon , Backes Christina , Matzas Mark , Köhler Doreen , Benes Vladimir , Katus Hugo A. , Rottbauer Wolfgang
Published: June 2015

Alternative splicing (AS) is one of the major mechanisms to warrant the proteomic and functional diversity of eukaryotes. However, the complex nature of the splicing machinery, its associated splicing regulators and the functional implications of alternatively spliced transcripts is only poorly understood.

We investigated here the functional role of the splicing regulator rbfox1 in vivo using the zebrafish as a model system. We find that loss-of rbfox1 leads to progressive cardiac contractile dysfunction and heart failure. By using deep-transcriptome sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR we show that depletion of rbfox1 in zebrafish results in an altered isoform expression of several crucial target genes, such as actn3a and hug.

This study underlines that tightly regulated splicing is necessary for unconstrained cardiac function and renders the splicing regulator rbfox1 an interesting target to be investigated in human heart failure and cardiomyopathy.
Percepções de qualidade do serviço público
Authors: Novaes Cristina , Lasso Sarah , Mainardes Emerson Wagner
Published: June 2015

Identificar o conceito de qualidade que mais influencia a percepção dos usuários quanto à qualidade de um serviço público é o objetivo fundamental desta pesquisa. A partir dos tradicionais conceitos apresentados na literatura, foi realizada uma pesquisa descritiva do tipo survey, com uma abordagem quantitativa com uma amostra de 207 cidadãos. Os dados foram coletados por meio de um questionário contendo 21  afirmações acompanhada de uma escala de concordância. O questionário foi formulado com cinco afirmações para cada conceito: Qualidade como Excelência, Qualidade como Valor, Qualidade como Conformação de Especificações e Qualidade como Superação das Expectativas dos Clientes.  Foi realizada uma afirmação geral: “Eu sei identificar quando um serviço público é oferecido com qualidade.” Após análise dos dados, os resultados evidenciam que a percepção do cidadão está relacionada ao conceito de Qualidade como Conformação de Especificações. O gestor público pode agir sobre as variáveis deste conceito para influenciar a percepção do cidadão sobre a qualidade de um serviço público.
Avaliação da sustentabilidade corporativa e da cultura organizacional – survey no setor brasileiro de cosméticos
Authors: Romano André Luiz , Teixeira Isabela Tatiana , Alves Filho Alceu Gomes , Helleno André Luís
Published: June 2015

Os benefícios oriundos das práticas de sustentabilidade são aqueles ligados a redução de custos, ampliação do volume de vendas, melhoria do clima organizacional, e o aumento das parcerias de ordem estratégicas. Sabe-se que esses benefícios podem relacionar-se a determinados tipos de cultura, que resumidamente pode ser definido, como o jeito no qual as coisas são realizadas em determinado ambiente, que vai desde uma casa, até um país, passando pelos diversos agentes envolvidos nas relações. Para se tratar da questão nas empresas, existe a chamada cultura organizacional. Essa pesquisa faz parte de um estudo de doutorado que buscou avaliar as diversas relações entre Sustentabilidade Corporativa e Cultura Organizacional. Aqui são apresentados os resultados da avaliação da cultura organizacional no setor de cosmético brasileiro, por meio da análise de correspondência. As análises mostram a existência de quatro grupos com associação entre posicionamentos. Verificou-se a associação entre empresas que consideram na maioria das vezes, os principais valores como liberdade e valorização das conquistas com empresas que tiveram benefícios muito grandes das práticas de sustentabilidade. Empresas com dificuldade de planejamento, estruturação, organização e capacidade analítica são empresas que tiveram apenas uma moderada melhoria no clima organizacional. Empresas sem a divisão de gênero e os funcionários podem falar diretamente com seus diretores são empresas que conseguiram uma ampliação muito grande do volume de vendas e expansão de mercado com a adoção dos programas de sustentabilidade. Nesse estudo, foi possível identificar importantes elementos da percepção gerencial sobre os benefícios oriundos de práticas de sustentabilidade no setor de cosmético brasileiro, não esgotando as possibilidades de análise, que podem ser aprofundadas e comparadas com os resultados de outras abordagens, como sugestão para futuras pesquisas no setor.
Implementation Arrangements for the Model of State and Public Management of the Educators Training and Development System
Authors: ������  , Bychkov Maksim , �����������  , Polozhentseva I.
Published: July 2015

The paper analyzes implementation arrangements for the model of state and public management of the educators training and professional development

system. The authors consider implementation arrangements of the model, the role and influence of internal and external factors on the model

development in improving efficiency of the educators training and professional development system.
Sequential Selection with Unknown Correlation Structures
Authors: Qu Huashuai , Ryzhov Ilya O. , Fu Michael C. , Ding Zi
Published: July 2015

We create the first computationally tractable Bayesian statistical model for learning unknown correlation structures in fully sequential simulation selection. Correlations represent similarities or differences between various design alternatives and can be exploited to extract much more information from each individual simulation. However, in most applications, the correlation structure is unknown, thus creating the additional challenge of simultaneously learning unknown mean performance values and unknown correlations. Based on our new statistical model, we derive a Bayesian procedure that seeks to optimize the expected opportunity cost of the final selection based on the value of information, thus anticipating future changes to our beliefs about the correlations. Our approach outperforms existing methods for known correlation structures in numerical experiments, including one motivated by the problem of optimal wind farm placement, where real data are used to calibrate the simulation model.
Female pelvic shape: Distinct types or nebulous cloud?
Authors: Kuliukas Algis , Kuliukas Lesley , Franklin Daniel , Flavel Ambika
Published: July 2015

The objective of this study was to re-evaluate the Caldwell-Moloy (1933) classification of female pelvic shape, which has been traditionally, and still is currently, taught to students of midwifery and medicine. Using modern pelvimetric methodologies and geometric morphometric (GM) analysis techniques, we aim to elucidate whether these classic female pelvic types are an accurate reflection of the real morphometric variation present in the female human pelvis.

GM analysis was carried out on sets of pelvic landmarks from scans of women living in a contemporary Western Australian population. Sixty-four anonymous female multi-detector computer tomography (MDCT) scans were used for most of the study and 51 male scans were also examined for comparison.

Principle component analysis (PCA) found that there was no obvious clustering into the four distinct types of pelvis (gynaecoid, anthropoid, android and platypelloid) in the Caldwell-Moloy classification, but rather an amorphous, cloudy continuum of shape variation.

Until more data is collected to confirm or deny the statistical significance of this shape variation, it is recommended that teachers and authors of midwifery, obstetrics and gynaecological texts be more cautious about continuing to promote the Caldwell-Moloy classification, as our results show no support for the long taught ‘four types’ of pelvis.
I became an inspector
Authors: Gouldsboro Julia
Published: June 2015

What do you feel when you hear the words ‘Ofsted are here’? Do you feel you are on the same ‘side’? Having worked for 30 years in the sector, Julia Gouldsboro decided to give something back to sector.
Early education in Kenya
Authors: Watson Clair
Published: June 2015

The Kenyan government has ambitious plans for its schools system, despite the many shortages that are currently hampering the drive; now a growing private early years sector is springing up in response.
Furry animals welcome
Authors: Cruickshank Sarah
Published: June 2015

Most children will have some experience of owning and caring for a small animal, whether it is at their own home, or at a family member's house. This makes pets an ideal focus for learning opportunities.
Opening forest doors
Authors: Wilsenski Deb
Published: June 2015

In the first of a series of three articles that serve to follow up from June's introduction to adventures and emotions in forests, Deb Wilenski explores the power of the imagination to enter doors into new worlds.
Paediatric death and dying: exploring coping strategies of health professionals and perceptions of support provision
Authors: Forster Elizabeth , Hafiz Alaa
Published: July 2015

Without question a child's death is a devastating event for parents and families. Health professionals working with the dying child and family draw upon their expertise and experience to engage with children, parents and families on this painful journey. This is a delicate and sensitive area of practice and has strong and penetrating effects on health professionals. They employ physical, emotional, spiritual and problem solving strategies to continue to perform this role effectively and to protect their continued sense of wellbeing.

Aim:

To explore health professionals' perceptions of bereavement support surrounding the loss of a child.

Methods:

The research was underpinned by social constructionism. Semi-structured interviews were held with 10 health professionals including doctors, nurses and social workers who were directly involved in the care of the dying child and family in 7 cases of paediatric death. Health professional narratives were analysed consistent with Charmarz's (2006) approach.

Results:

For health professionals, constructions around coping emerged as peer support, personal coping strategies, family support, physical impact of support and spiritual beliefs. Analysis of the narratives also revealed health professionals' perceptions of their support provision.

Conclusion:

Health professionals involved in caring for dying children and their families use a variety of strategies to cope with the emotional and physical toll of providing support. They also engage in self-assessment to evaluate their support provision and this highlights the need for self-evaluation tools in paediatric palliative care.
Cream of the crop: nutritional choices in the care home
Authors: Murray Sophie
Published: June 2015

When it comes to eating and drinking, it is important to make mealtimes as appealing as possible. Sophie Murray discusses how to provide the most choice for residents and ensure that mealtimes are an enjoyable, collaborative affair
Companionship, intimacy and sexual expression in dementia
Authors: Mendes Aysha
Published: June 2015

Intimacy and sexual expression are not just for the young and beautiful. In the latest in a series on dementia, Aysha Mendes explores relationships between older people living in the care setting and promotes understanding from relatives and staff